DesignApplause » Autos

T@b XL.

PRand — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:05:24 +0000

The premium T@B for epicures has meanwhile taken over the editors of the first league: Auto, Motor and Sport.

( below ) The T@b.

You are an individual and a non-conformist. 
You don’t drive on holidays. 
You drive into life.

You don’t stand at the ocean shore, look out at the blue and say: “It’s beautiful here”. You stand at the ocean, close your eyes and feel the beauty of the ocean.

Holidays aren’t the most beautiful time of the year for you. For you, the year is the most beautiful time.

You are you. 
Others have caravans. 
You have T@B.  

via T@b

Axon eco-car. 2010.

PRand — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:05:15 +0000

Anyone wondering what gasoline will cost in 2010? Here is a car from the Sexy Green Car Show you should keep abreast of. It’s a four seater eco car built from lightweight materials and should be on the market by 2010.

The British-designed Axon uses a tiny 500cc engine to give a fantastic 100 miles per gallon plus a top speed of 90 miles an hour.

It’s made from recycled carbon fibre – the same lightweight stuff used to make the bodies of Formula 1 cars.

And it has also been wind-tunnel tested to make it as aerodynamic as possible.

The two cylinder engine has only 43bhp, but that should be enough to help it keep up with other traffic because of the light weight.

It will meet the latest emissions standards, emitting only 70g/km of carbon dioxide according to the makers.

You can place an order now.

Interior

There is space for two adults and two children in child seats, and if the rear seats are not being used, this versatile design has a removable rear to turn it into a pickup.

The seat covers in the prototype are made from recycled denim and pin-striped suits, and will remain an option.

Fast facts

Price: £10,900 ($19,000 USD)

Mechanical: 43bhp, 500cc, 2 cyl petrol driving front wheels via 5 speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 90mph
0-62mph: N/A
Combined mpg: 100
Insurance group: N/A
CO2 emissions: 70g/km
BIK 15%
Warranty: N/A
Marks: 10/10 if the quality is there
Main Rival: VW Polo Bluemotion.

via eco friendly driver

Want a free Smart car?

PRand — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:15:31 +0000

Chicago developer hits design button to bolster condo sales. The contemporary condos are in not-yet-arrived Edgewater. Units range from 1200 to 1538 square feet priced at $350K to $452K.

Yes, this is a design blog but we have a national election coming up in a few days featuring an economy button. Let’s continue.

Recently, Donald Trump was in town to top off his 92-story Trump Tower. Here is an excerpt from the Chicago Tribune:

…Throughout the nine-county Chicago area, sales of existing homes plunged 30 percent in August from the same month a year ago. And home prices—a critical component of any housing sector recovery—continued to fall in August, down 5.7 percent from a year ago.

“There are no buyers and that’s the problem,” said Liz Sidorowicz, an agent at Re/Max Signature in Chicago. “Buyers are scared or they just can’t get the financing. [The bailout] does not change one thing. The banks may be a little better off, but on Main Street, how is that going to help my guy with a condo appraised at $240,000 that he cannot even sell for $200,000?”

Typically, the highest end of the market is the last affected in a slowdown and the first to recover, but recovery appears far off. In the second quarter, there were more than 5,800 condominium units for sale within Chicago priced at $800,000 or more, enough to satisfy demand for 70 months, according to research firm, Metrostudy.

Developers find themselves in the untenable situation of trying to woo enough buyers to get their projects financed, and then trying to find a lender willing to take a chance. The projects’ futures rest in the hands of consumers and lenders, and both are strapped right now.

Design button or wallet button? What’s it like out there in your city?

Speaking of design: the Smart car.

via smart car and chicago tribune

BTW: if an incentive is necessary we applaud this developer for thinking out of the box.

Megane coupe. Concept.

PRand — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:30:00 +0000

As with many of the concepts shown this year of the Renault Megane Coupe foreshadows a production version that’s set to be released at a later date. Of course, don’t expect the gullwing doors or the futuristic interior to find their way into production, but you can get a general idea of what Renault has in store for us when it presents its answer to the VW Scirocco Coupe in a couple of years.

Measuring in at 4,51m or 177.5-inches in length, the compact coupe is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine delivering 200 Hp that’s matted to a six-speed manual gearbox. According to the French carmaker, while the prototype coupe sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.2 sec, it manages to deliver an avg fuel consumption of just 6.5 lt / 100 km or 36.2 MPG (US).

The existing Megane – along with its distinguished curved rear window – is on its way out, and Renault is assuredly working hard at a new design that will capture buyers’ attention in an increasingly crowded market. Maybe we will see more at the 2008 Paris Auto Show.

autoblog

Top 10 hybrids.

PRand — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:36:49 +0000

source = http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/469/top-10-2008-hybrids (show cars.com though!!)

Hybrid rankings have often been simplistic: Most are little more than lists of the highest-mileage models on the market. Here, we ranked hybrids based on how much fuel savings they get when compared to their non-hybrid version, as well as how much all that saved gas is going to cost you. Examinations that compare hybrids to “comparably equipped” versions miss an important point. Hybrids are almost always among the most expensive trim levels, if not the most costly, but our premise is that you’re looking for efficiency first, followed closely by price. This isn’t about acceleration, so the hybrids are compared to the lowest-priced, most-efficient gas-only trim level in their model line. Our rankings take into account the hybrid’s mileage and price premium, in percent, as well as its suggested retail price. This gives less-expensive models a boost while penalizing more-expensive ones.

No. 1: Toyota Prius

MSRP: $21,100

EPA-estimated mileage (city/highway, mpg): 48/45

After seven years on the market, the Prius is still the best hybrid for people who just plain want to burn less gas. It’s arguably also the best for people who hope to save money in the long run. Built from scratch as a hybrid, it maximizes interior space and offers a roomy cargo hatch, whereas hybrid sedans tend to diminish trunk space and/or eliminate folding backseats. There is no gas-only version, but there doesn’t have to be. It’s both the most efficient and most affordable hybrid out there.
No. 2: Saturn Vue Green Line
MSRP: $24,170

EPA-estimated mileage: 25/32

Dramatic mileage boosts get all the attention, but Saturn is onto something with this mild hybrid approach. The current Vue Green Line’s premium over the lowest-priced gas-only version is modest — only 14 percent. All the same, its city and highway mileage increases are 32 and 23 percent, respectively. What’s more, it’s priced below the V-6 version, whose mileage it roughly doubles. The only drawback: The Vue is the only hybrid SUV not to offer all-wheel drive. (Note: A second Green Line with 2 Mode technology is coming late in 2008 as a 2009 model.)

No. 3: Honda Civic Hybrid

MSRP: $22,600

EPA-estimated mileage: 40/45

Even though its cost premium over the base Civic is 51 percent, its city and highway mileage are 54 percent and 32 percent higher, respectively, than that already-efficient model, making the payoff quite high. It happens to be an excellent car, too.

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No. 4: Toyota Camry Hybrid

MSRP $25,200

EPA-estimated mileage: 33/34

Not everyone wants a small, less-refined car like the Prius, which makes the Camry Hybrid the one for the masses. Priced 36 percent higher than the base four-cylinder model, it gets 57 and 10 percent better gas mileage (city and highway), and even more dramatic improvements over the V-6 versions whose prices it rivals.

No. 5: Lexus RX 400h

MSRP: $41,280

EPA-estimated mileage: 27/24

Though it’s a luxury model, the RX 400h’s price premium is a mere 10 percent over the gas-only RX 350. Combined with a 50 percent city mileage improvement and 4 percent highway bump, it’s a compelling package overall. The RX is similar to the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which has a lower overall price and 1 mpg higher highway mileage, but that model’s higher price premium gives it a lower rank. With optional AWD, the RX 400h (26/24 mpg) is an even better deal, with mileage improvements of 53 percent and 9 percent compared to the all-wheel-drive RX 350.

No. 6: Toyota Highlander Hybrid

MSRP: $33,700

EPA-estimated mileage: 27/25

The Highlander Hybrid comes only with AWD. The most efficient gas Highlander has FWD. In comparison, the Hybrid costs 23 percent more and delivers 50 percent better city mileage but only a 4 percent highway improvement. If you want AWD, however, the Hybrid costs only 17 percent more than the gas-only model and boasts 59 and 9 percent higher mileage in city and highway driving, respectively.

No. 7: Ford Escape Hybrid

MSRP: $26,505

EPA-estimated mileage: 34/30

The Escape Hybrid’s rank is a little surprising, given its impressive mileage, but it’s hard to overcome the fact that it costs 40 percent more than the base, four-cylinder Escape. Because of this, its 55 percent city and 7 percent highway mileage improvement can’t compensate. If you compare it to the thirstier V-6, however, this hybrid would be higher on the list.

No. 8: Chevrolet Tahoe 2 Mode Hybrid

MSRP: $49,590

EPA-estimated mileage: 21/22

To people who say a full-size truck defeats the purpose of a hybrid, we say “nonsense.” People who want or need a large SUV may have even better reason for cutting back on gas than the owner of an already-efficient car does. The Tahoe Hybrid gives up practically none of the original’s capability, including towing, and gets a stunning 50 percent increase in city mileage and 16 percent bump on the highway. It comes in eighth not because of its size, but because of its added cost: 43 percent more than the lowest-priced gas-only Tahoe. In a rare twist, the cheapest Tahoe isn’t the most efficient. The LT trim level gets higher mileage (it’s an engine thing) but also a higher price. Here the price premium is less, at 35 percent, but the Hybrid’s highway mileage is only 10 percent better than this version, rather than 16 percent.

No. 9: Saturn Aura Green Line

MSRP: $22,140

EPA-estimated mileage: 24/32

Known as a mild hybrid, the Aura Green Line delivers modest mileage improvements over the four-cylinder Aura — 9 percent in the city and 7 percent on the highway — but its price premium is a mere 12 percent. (Note: Chevrolet will soon also market a mild hybrid version of its Malibu. Later on, 2 Mode hybrid versions of each are expected to join or replace them, adding efficiency and cost.)

No. 10: Lexus GS 450h

MSRP: $54,900

EPA-estimated mileage: 22/25

Lexus’ GS 450h sedan comes in last because its cost increase outweighs the gains it gets in mileage. The base GS is the GS 350, a relatively efficient and low-priced V-6 model. There’s a 24 percent premium between it and the GS 450h, and what you get for it is a 16 percent city mileage improvement and a 7 percent decrease in highway driving. One could argue that the 450h is being shafted because Lexus offers such a high-mileage gas-only version. (When compared to the V-8-powered GS 460, the hybrid isn’t very expensive and gets better mileage.) But our assumption is that you want a GS and don’t want to pay a lot for efficiency. The 450h’s gains over the V-8 460 certainly have worth, but only you can conclude how much. In this ranking, the GS hybrid looks like a lot of money for little gain.

Tesla roadster.

PRand — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:17:53 +0000

High-design. Electric. 50-state approved (USA).

After quite a bit of tweaks, good and bad press the FDA finally blessed the Tesla in January 2008 and this red (green) car can go on sale. The car won’t solve the world problems, at least not this particular car — $100K — but it is a start.

Tesla is probably doing it right as they are a small company. Start with a small luxury — sport market and then move to the mass market. The big auto makers will probably beat them to a mass market electric.

Tesla says it’ll churn out 40 of the $100,000 cars per week. So put your name on the list. And there may be perks down the road too. In Norway if you drive an electric car you can drive in bux/taxi lanes, get free pass in toll booths, have parking near the entrance of large stores.

Interestingly at $100K this one is actually cheaper than most low end luxury cars.

Performance
How powerful is the acceleration? A quick story to illustrate. A favorite trick at Tesla Motors is to invite a passenger along and ask him to turn on the radio. At the precise moment we ask, we accelerate. The passenger simply can’t sit forward enough to reach the dials. But who needs music when you’re experiencing such a symphony of motion.

Rest assured that this responsiveness works at all speeds, as noticeable when you’re inching your way through parking lots as when flying along freeways.

100% Torque, 100% of the Time
The Tesla Roadster delivers full availability of performance every moment you are in the car, even while at a stoplight. Its peak torque begins at 0 rpm and stays powerful at 13,000 rpm.

How It Works
When you build a car that’s electric, you start with one built-in advantage: Electric cars just don’t have to be as complex mechanically as the car you’re probably driving now. Sophisticated electronics and software take the place of the pounds and pounds of machinery required to introduce a spark and ignite the fuel that powers an internal combustion engine.

For example, the typical four-cylinder engine of a conventional car comprises over a hundred moving parts. By comparison, the motor of the Tesla Roadster has just one: the rotor. So there’s less weight to drive around and fewer parts that could break or wear down over time.

But the comparison doesn’t end with the counting of moving parts. The engine and transmission of a conventional car also need lubricating oils, filters, coolant, clutches, spark plugs and wires, a PCV valve, oxygen sensors, a timing belt, a fan belt, a water pump and hoses, a catalytic converter, and a muffler — all items requiring service, and all items that aren’t needed in an electric car.

The Tesla Roadster’s elegantly designed powertrain consists of just the four main components discussed below. Mind you, these aren’t “off-the-shelf” components, and each includes innovations, both small and large. But when you build a car from the ground up, you have the luxury of questioning every assumption — and to distill as you reinvent.

The Energy Storage System (ESS)
When we set out to build a high-performance electric car, the biggest challenge was obvious from the start: the battery. Its complexities are clear: it’s heavy, expensive, and offers limited power and range. Yet it has one quality that eclipses these disadvantages and motivated us to keep working tirelessly: it’s clean.

The Tesla Roadster’s battery pack—the car’s “fuel tank”—represents the biggest innovation in the Tesla Roadster and is one of the largest and most advanced battery packs in the world. We’ve combined basic proven lithium ion battery technology with our own unique battery pack design to provide multiple layers of safety. It’s light, durable, recyclable, and it is capable of delivering enough power to accelerate the Tesla Roadster from 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds. Meanwhile, the battery stores enough energy for the vehicle to travel about 220 miles without recharging, something no other production electric vehicle in history can claim.

Motor
Some people find it hard to imagine our car’s Lamborghini-beating acceleration comes from a motor about the size of a watermelon. And while most car engines have to be moved with winches or forklifts, ours weighs about 115 pounds — a strong person could carry it around in a backpack (although we don’t recommend it). Compare that to the mass of machinery under the hood of $300,000 supercars that still can’t accelerate as quickly as the Tesla Roadster.

But more important than the motor’s size or weight is its efficency. Without proper efficiency, a motor will convert electrical energy into heat instead of rotational energy. So we designed our motor to have efficiencies of 85 to 95 percent; this way the precious stored energy of the battery pack ends up propelling you down the road instead of just heating up the trunk.

Transmission
Our transmission couples the fuel efficiency of a manual with the driving ease of an automatic. The Tesla Roadster has only two forward gears, allowing you to fine-tune your driving experience (but either gear will work for most driving scenarios). Unlike a manual transmission, the car will not stall if you have it in the wrong gear. There’s also no clutch pedal. Just move the lever and the electronic control module takes care of the shift, so you can launch from a full stop to freeway speed without taking your focus off the road, your foot off the accelerator, or your hands off the wheel.

Power Electronics Module (PEM)
Most of the subsystems in the Tesla Roadster are completely electronic and under direct software control. But unlike all other cars, these systems are not a hodge-podge of independent systems — instead, they are designed as an integrated system, the way complex network and computer systems are designed today.

You’ll see the hub of this network every time you pop the trunk — the Power Electronics Module. When you shift gears or accelerate in the Tesla Roadster, the PEM translates your commands into precisely timed voltages, telling the motor to respond with the proper speed and direction of rotation. The PEM also controls motor torque, charging, and regenerative braking, and it monitors things like the voltage delivered by the ESS, the speed of rotation of the motor, and the temperatures of the motor and power electronics.

The PEM controls over 200 kW of electrical power during peak acceleration — enough power to illuminate 2,000 incandescent light bulbs.

Recycling the battery (ESS)
There are questions if the battery is toxic and can it be safely disposed. The company claims at present that yes, it should be 60% recyclable and reuse a further 10%. They are hoping too that there won’t be a need to recyclce for many years and technology and disposal methods will only improve.

via Tesla Motors

Ecomobile.

PRand — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:43:22 +0000

The bad news: $77,000 USD and Peraves will only make 100 units a year. The good news: This unusual vehicle is manufactured by the Swiss company Peraves. The Ecomobile is essentially an enclosed motorcycle. The power for the Ecomobile originates from a rear mounted liquid cooled 4 cylinder BMW K series motorcycle engine.

When in turbocharged form it has a claimed, and rather disturbing, top speed of 202 miles per hour. Inside are two leather covered car style seats, and all the equipment expected in a luxury car.
Vehicle body & structure

Body and structure
Self-supporting composite-monocoque made from glass, kevlar and carbon weave bonded with epoxy-resin and reinforced with strong aluminum crash and roll bars. Engine frame, steering head and stabilizer axles made from aircraft grade alloy steel. Front suspension Marzocchi 50mm USD-fork, rear Monolever shaft swingarm. Gull-wing door with integrated sunroof, opening to the left. Glazing made from tinted PMMA in aviation quality. 200 liter baggage compartment.

Mechanics
4 cylinder in-line BMW K-engine 1171cc, 16 valves, liquid cooling.
Dry reinforced single plate clutch. Sequential PG-gearbox with 4 forward speeds and
electrically locked reverse, shifted by push-button selector on left handlebar. Automatic clutch optional.
Reinforced BMW shaft drive. 3 x 320mm brake discs with 4-piston-hydraulic callipers, fully integrated electronic
ABS. Ceramic brake discs and brake pads, ASP anti spin control optional.
Computer-supervised electrically operated stabilizer servo system,
with a deployment time of less than half a second (Semi-automatic, hydraulically operated “softmode” system optional).

Equipment + Accessories
Contoured seats with 3-point automatic safety belts.
Interior lining in high-tech material with sound-absorbing padding.
Heating + ventilation system with ample flow and intake air filter.
Full air-conditioning optional.
GPS-RDS-4LSP-audio-system.
“Tempomat” cruise control, Bi-Xenon-lights, CD-players optional.

World’s cheapest car.

PRand — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:02:27 +0000

Tata Nano. A car christened “the peoples car” debuted in 2007 amid a lot of controversy. Its an unremarkable car if you don’t take into account that it’s sticker price is $2,500 USD. The negative is it is manufactured in India as an easy-entry into owning an automobile. Many feel that India’s densely populated cities, and streets, are ill-equipped to handle the additional emissions.

The car will have a 624-cc petrol engine generating 33 bhp of power. It will sport a 30-litre fuel tank and 4-speed manual gearshift. The car will come with air conditioning, but will have no power steering. It will have front disk and rear drum brakes. The company claims mileage of 23 km per litre.

The car’s dashboard features just a speedometer, fuel gauge, and oil light. The car does not have reclining seats or radio. The shock absorbers are basic.

The Nano car is expected to be commercially launched in the second half of 2008. News reports say that Tata Motors hopes to sell 500,000 units.

Let’s give Tata Motors a little time to come up with a green solution to their car. After all, Toyota recently revealed that it’s 2007 top seller is its full-size pickup Tundra, not the green Prius.

Quaranta concept.

PRand — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:49:14 +0000

Italdesign Ggiugiao Quaranta concept powered by Toyota Hybrid Synergy drive

Uncompromising innovation in Giugiaro tradition

An ‘extreme’, clean-technology project embodying 40 years of styling research and engineering celebrated by Italdesign Giugiaro in Geneva

The ‘Quaranta’ project is a concept car designed to celebrate Italdesign Giugiaro’s forty years of business in styling and technological research at the service of the automotive sector. The Quaranta, world-premiered at the 2008 Geneva International Motor Show, is a synthesis of Italdesign Giugiaro’s unmatched experience of automotive design: from city cars to super sports-cars, from MPVs to medium-engined saloons up to and including luxury flagships and environment-friendly SUV, not to mention light/heavy duty commercial vehicles, in complete cooperation with leading manufacturers all over the world.

The Quaranta is an ‘extreme’ product, an environment-friendly, 4WD super sports-car which incorporates a series of innovative aspects: its styling, but also its drive technology, which combines a hybrid engine with solar energy, and its internal layout which, despite its mid-mounted rear engine, can accommodate three adults and a child, also providing a generous luggage compartment.

The idea which inspired the Quaranta project is that of the first single-volume concept car with central engine and drive. The original reference is to the 1968 Bizzarrini Manta which, at that time, represented a major breakthrough in styling, now adapted to state-of-the-art technology and enriched with Italdesign Giugiaro’s forty years experience of research.

The style of the future
Despite its flat, highly compact shape, the Quaranta features a single-volume shape characterized by a continuous body line stretching from its clipped nose to the tail that exploits the almost horizontal rake of the windscreen.

Access to the cabin is ’step-in’ via an upper door incorporating the side ones. At the touch of an electric on/off button, the door opens upward in a downwind direction, regulated by proximity sensors. The door is hinged to the hood pillar and is aligned with a second upper rear door, for access to the engine compartment and boot.

The roof houses the array of solar panels, necessary to power the electric battery, in the space between the two doors. Along with the other solar panels positioned on the front end, these create a central opaque strip, a distinctive signature of the model, thanks to the interplay of light with the bright paint of the bodywork. The solar panels can generate a power of up to 250 W, sufficient for the functioning of the cockpit conditioning system and for recharging the electric battery.

The styling of the Quaranta prototype is further enhanced by the attention dedicated to surface aerodynamics, designed to ensure maximum possible efficiency and penetration, also by using sharp edges on the rear. This can also be noted in the front end of the vehicle where the radiator grille has been eliminated and replaced by two side air inlets, positioned above the lighting clusters, which perform the delicate function of front stabilizers. The rear of the vehicle has also been conceived to improve overall aerodynamic performance: an attentively-molded spoiler, with a perfectly square-edged cut and a very technical design, has the scope of supporting the lower wing, modeled according to latest generation F1 styling, that makes up for the absence of the traditional upper stabilizer.

Styling research aimed at top aerodynamic performance is also reflected on the sides, characterized by extremely generous glazing stretching from the front fender to the tail and in which the air vents are housed, located after the doors but also along the sill, in which the water cooling ducts are inserted. The most innovative feature of the side profile is certainly the contour line, between the door-windows and the sill, which is ‘negative’ in the shoulder section, a particular, absolutely innovative feature for super sports-cars.

Interiors: technology for safety and comfort
Inside, the most striking innovation can be found in the multi-control steering wheel which reflects an idea already incorporated in the 1980 Medusa, a prototype developed by Italdesign and on display at its stand in Geneva: all vehicle driving and control functions are concentrated on the spokes, where the stalks have been eliminated and replaced with keys. This guarantees easier control by the driver, in a central position which can be obtained due to the absence of the gearbox-transmission block tunnel. This is possible thanks to the electric four-wheel drive system which eliminates any obstacles on the floor pan, making it completely flat. The generously-scaled central space of the cockpit can accommodate two adults and a child, behind the driver. The dashboard has been conceived with a sporting, modern look, with clean-cut details matching the style of the exterior, and equipped with a vast array of instruments. These are organized on two levels: the screens of the side and rear TV cameras are positioned on the upper level, with particular attention to the left-hand view mirror, useful when overtaking; the lower level is dedicated to the management of the vehicle. The drive-panel also includes a visor for X-ray sensors for night driving. The dark-colored leather and alcantara upholstery reflects the most refined Italian taste.

The lighting clusters are extremely modern: the low-beam lights are based on led technology, while the full-beam are of the Bi-xenon type. The direction indicators, the tail and rear stop lights are of the full led type, inserted in a single box but differentiated according to color, assembled and adapted by hand at Italdesign Giugiaro.

Last but not least, the Quaranta features 9 ½ by 20′ alloy wheels, without hub caps for improved styling and aerodynamics, and four Vredestein tires as standard, which differ only in shoulder height: 275/35/R20 front and 275/40/R20 rear. The dimensions are certainly tight for a super sports-car but suitable for a 4WD car.

Mold-breaking mechanicals
The structure of the prototype is made up of the carbon monocoque frame onto which aluminum and special steel parts are assembled, while the windscreen and roof are made of stratified glass with UVA filter. The Quaranta is fit with electronic four-wheel drive, divided in a small electric motor on the fore-carriage and the thermal engine/electric engine system located in a central rear position. This particular structure, which has seen Toyota’s involvement in the electronic control management, has made it possible to develop the vehicle on a 2620-mm wheelbase, ideal for a mid-engined car.

The batteries which assist the electric motors are located between the engine compartment and the cockpit and are powered directly by the solar panels. The Quaranta features a double fuel-tank, integrated in the supporting frame, with a total capacity of 60 liters, giving a mileage of up to 1000 km. Posted on conceptcarz.com.

Dynamic asset is variable in two ride height positions: sporting and raised. Maximum ground clearance is 230 mm, an absolute record which means that the super sports-car can take any type of terrain in its stride. The main technical aspect that distinguishes the mechanical design of the Quaranta is the weight balance and in particular the ‘weight centering’: all the mechanical weight of the vehicle is contained between the two axles, including the mufflers which are positioned in front of the rear wheels. Only the radiator and a large overhanging luggage compartment, able to accommodate two golf-bags, remain outside.

The front suspensions also represent a breakthrough: designed according to F1 cars, they are equipped with a central mono-shock echoing an idea already presented by Italdesign – Giugiaro on the 2004 Toyota Volta and on the 1997 Alfa Romeo Scighera. The linkage mechanism of the levers guarantees exceptional stability in any type of situation, simulating a ‘multilink’ mechanism. The links have been designed and engineered entirely by ITALDESIGN GIUGUIARO: the ‘ovalized’ down tubes are made of special steel and the uprights of Ergal.

The entire Quaranta project is an idea of Italdesign Giugiaro, constructed in accordance with the classical formula of the package of services furnished to automotive manufacturers.

Quaranta confirms the classic Italdesign – Giugiaro versatile service formula for car manufacturers. The competence and capability of designing a new car model considering style development, frame development, safety and ergonomics analyses and mechanics development, starting only from a given functioning engine.

The chassis, bodywork and layout of the Quaranta prototype have been designed by the Engineering Division of Italdesign Giugiaro, while the mechanicals and electronics have been developed in cooperation with Toyota. The vehicle was entirely built at the Moncalieri facilities.

The Italdesign Giugiaro construction process
The Italdesign Giugiaro construction and prototyping process, tried and tested during forty years of activity in the automotive sector but also extended to industrial design, preserves certain characteristics of technical specialization and production quality of unequalled value.

- Construction of a prototype involves various completely independent phases that can also be carried out with a modular approach. Starting from hand-made drawings, the next step is Styling Research and definitive development of the master models, using state-of-the-art CAD technologies. In parallel, the phases of technical design of the prototype

interior, or even of only some parts, can be integrated with style development, producing a unique technical result. This is the most complete, professional process that Italdesign can offer its clients. Following consolidation of the styling-engineering project, a full-scale mockup is built. The mock-up gives the possibility of physically evaluating modifications and integrations and represents the basis for the subsequent construction of the final prototype. Italdesign can also carry out various technical tests, including the model crash-test;

• The prototyping phase, a mainly hand-crafted process with the aid of forefront automated systems, includes preparation of the assembly jigs (so-called negatives), usually constructed by hand in the workshop, and hitting models milled according to the style master models, useful for beating the sheets of aluminum or stratified carbon;

• Work on the interior is necessary in order to prepare the seats, facial, door panels and all the other elements inserted in the cabin of the vehicle. Lined fiberglass-reinforced parts are always constructed at Italdesign, and also the upholstery, available in any type of material or shape required;

• The above phases are followed by construction of the mechanical and structural parts of the prototype, preparation of the tooling and uprights necessary for the construction phase and beating of the parts, assembly of the structure, of the interior and accessories and lastly painting. In the case of the Quaranta prototype, the door was designed and constructed entirely at Italdesign using a temporary piston tubular structure, subsequently reproduced and fastened to the chassis.

Cooperation between Toyota-Italdesign Giugiaro
Cooperation between Italdesign Giugiaro and Toyota Group started with the supply of the high performance hybrid engine fit on the Volta prototype, displayed for the first time at the 2004 Geneva Show.

For the Quaranta, Toyota furnished Italdesign Giugiaro with a derivative of the latest available hybrid system, Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. The innovative aspect of this engine lies in the ability of the electronic control system to regulate the power distributed by the electric motors to the wheels, making the clutch-gearbox-transmission block superfluous.

The Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive system guarantees power, acceleration and top performance still keeping high mileage, reduced emissions and extremely silent operation. The compact battery makes it possible to store the energy produced in the braking or deceleration phase instead of dispersing this as heat.

The electric motor is complementary to the thermal engine but can also operate independently, activated by the electronic traction control unit where ideal conditions exist.

The Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive system consists of a V6 3.3 liter gasoline engine and of two electric motors that operate in synergy, delivering a high power output, comparable to that of an 8-cylinder engine, but with fuel
consumption and emissions lower than those of a 4 cylinder engine. To improve efficiency and handling, the intelligent E-Four system automatically activates two- or four-wheel drive, taking advantage of the increased handling and stability of four-wheel drive in acceleration, cornering or braking, and the reduced consumption and acoustic comfort of rear wheel drive at normal cruising speed.

The Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive system also includes the E-CVT Electronic-Continuously Variable Transmission, an automatic planetary gear transmission with ratios varying infinitely as speed changes.

The real innovation of the Quaranta prototype is reflected in the mid-ship positioning of a hybrid engine on a super sports-car that guarantees high performance with reduced consumption and low emissions.

producer - Italdesign-Giugiaro S.p.A. via concept carz

DesignApplause » Autos

T@b XL.

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