Zap Zebra Approved for UK Roads

Free passes for London

While ZAP is in Californian courts battling Daimler and smart, they are also expanding their markets. After opening a Chinese factory, now the 40 mph (64 km/h) ZAP Zebra 'city car' has been approved for UK roads.

But besides just being street-legal, the ZAP Zebra will also be one of the first (if not the first) car to be eligible for 'free passes' from London daily congestion tolls and parking. ZAP CEO Steve Schneider: "Here is a unique electric vehicle that will help drivers save significantly on fuel costs as well as free passes for the daily congestion tolls and parking.”

A very noble attempt, and most definitely a step in the right direction in regards to saving the planet but we'd still not want to be caught in a Zebra, let alone the pick-up truck version.

Caparo T1 Test Drive

Revolution at every turn

A Formula One car for the road is about as tired a phrase as you're likely to hear in the annals of supercar history. Every time I hear the phase only to be presented with a 300bhp, one tonne piece of wishful thinking my teeth grate, a chill heads down my spine and a little part of me dies inside.

With a genuine 3g of lateral force trying to push my face down into the fast moving tarmac beneath like some equally clichéd movie villain, though, before the full-on assault of a sledgehammer blow to the back there was only way to describe the forces at work inside the Caparo T1. It's like, well, a Formula One car for the road.

This is a revolution at pretty much every turn, a two-seater where the passenger sits slightly behind and slightly to the side, but still in pretty close contact. You'd better be friends to share this car, and it's no long-distance cruiser. But then it's designed for getting to the track and then flying round it marginally faster than the private jet that you could probably have taken instead. At £190,000 + local taxes it's about as pricey as a track car is liable to get, but then it is also the fastest.

It hits 60mph in a near indecent 2.5s and a natural spring will run out of steam before this car. Just bang up the sequential 'box and keep it nailed and it will burst through 100mph in five seconds and keep going all the way to 205mph, if you can find a straight long enough. With just 575bhp at it's disposal that's no mean feat, but then the whole car weighs in at 550kg, giving it a power/weight ratio of 1045bhp tonne, which is double that offered by a Bugatti Veyron.

It's lighter than an F1 entry, with room for two, so don't expect too many creature comforts, although the stitching in the cockpit is inevitably superb you can forget boot space and ornate switchgear. And while the car has been paraded with a canopy-style roof that is an optional extra and in most countries in this world requires the addition of an air-conditioning system and 20kg. Now that's the weight of a few gallons of fuel, but you can almost feel the disdain for additional weight in the designers' voices.

The car looks like the result of illegal genetic experimentation with F1 and Le Mans cars. It's built around a carbon-fibre and aluminium honeycomb chassis, which stops short of a full carbon-monocoque, but not by enough that you'll notice the difference, and there isn't one piece of unnecessary bodywork - you can virtually see the components, or at least how they're laid out, and where possible everything serves a dual purpose. That's why the lights are built into the struts of the rear wing and the front fairing bleeds into a cunning wing mirror.

It's all designed in the wind-tunnel, unsurprisingly, and form has followed function without a moment's dissent. That it looks pretty, in its own special way, is either happy coincidence or proof positive that a tool that is fit for purpose is inherently beautiful. And that's a debate for the Arts section…

The Physics department will be happier to know that the car produces a staggering 800kg of downforce with a combination of Venturi effect underneath the car, that adjustable single-plane rear wing and a twin-plate front. That helps produce that 3g cornering force, which incidentally is double that of the formerly great flyweight the Lotus Exige, and a similar amount when the driver mashes the brake pedal.

So the driver should pass out before the car lets go on high speed bends, and it should feel like barrel-rolling an F-16. In slower corners there's more than enough power to boot the back end out of line and GT ace and Caparo development driver Rob Schirle worked overtime to keep the car on the straight and narrow, using all the leeway allowed by the limited slip diff and traction control.

Incidentally the T1 relies on steel AP Racing brakes, rather than the ceramics that are becoming de rigeur in the supercar world, which makes you think we might be spending over the odds for a set of yellow callipers that aren't really necessary - or that the flyweight nature of the T1 taxes the stoppers far less.

The brainchild of Ben Scott-Geddes and Graham Halstead, who both worked on the design team of the legendary McLaren F1, the project has recently gained the backing of Caparo.

This company has a £1 billion turnover every year and their money bought Gordon Murray, the man credited with the McLaren F1 and parting the Red Sea, among other projects. His influence helped take the T1 to another level, and three years after the first sketches we were invited to Goodwood racing circuit to taste the fruits of their efforts. And oh yes, it tastes mighty good.

The 3.5-litre engine that revs to a near dangerous 10,500 is developed in partnership with Menard, in-house, that's part of Caparo's philosophy and why they bought AP Racing brakes. They want to supply everything, be it pre-formed steel or a complete car. And while engine development is a risky strategy, as proved by technical glitches on the day, if they get it right then they will have nobody to thank but themselves, and nobody to share credit with for their 205mph missile.

Whereas the McLaren F1 and the Bugatti Veyron are supercars that also perform on the track, the Caparo T1 is a track car that can be driven on the road. There is no matching luggage, no great lifestyle statement, the T1 is purely about blistering speed.

At the expense of road usability, I suspect. Every hack emerged from the car complaining of a painful rear and that was on the glass-smooth tarmac of a race track. Now the T1 comes with five-way adjustable dampers and can be lifted for the drive home, which will help. But this machine is just too stripped, just too basic for a normal drive to the shops - it's a track car through and through and I'd give up on the road aspirations.

The only question that remains is who will buy one. Caparo went to great pains to outline a suave, successful businessman that was a racer in a former life, who was good enough to make the grade but didn't. The also talked about corporate experiences offering the ultimate passenger ride, but to be honest I would fire the market researcher.

When a car looks like this and has enough noughts in the price tag to pass for a big company's telephone number, there will always be a market. Rich Russians, Middle Eastern and American car collectors would have reached for the deposit without even hearing the final spec, that's the way it has always been.

2018 Mazda 3 at LA Auto Show

From lump of clay to life-size model

Last September Mazda started their search for the 2018 Mazda3 via a Facebook competition called the Mazda Design Challenge. Anyone could enter by submitting a 150-word description of their vision, a sketch was optional.

Mallory 'Car Girl' McMorrow, Industrial Design major at Notre Dame, won by a landslide and Mazda designer Jacques Flynn helped produce an early design sketch, “Jacques took everything I said and sketched, and put my thoughts and feelings on paper,” said McMorrow. In her own words 'I want a car with the body and soul of a sports car, but a car that knows that sometimes I want to bring my friends, my things, or my dog.'

Best part of the competition will be that Mazda designers will make a life-size model of the 2018 Mazda3 live at the LA International Auto Show!

“Now the hard part comes – to see if we can actually build a full concept car on the show stand in ten days and in full-view of show goers.” said Franz von Holzhausen, director of design at Mazda. The final unveiling will take place at 3 PM Nov 24.

It’s neither a commuter vehicle nor boring sedan. It is also not an undersized sports coupe or awkward, disproportionate hatchback. At the moment, the 2018 MAZDA3 is nothing more than a lump of clay on stage at the Mazda booth at the 2007 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show – and the vision of Mallory McMorrow of South Bend, Ind., the winner of the Mazda Design Challenge. By the time the auto show comes to a close, an exciting, life-size model will be unveiled for all eyes to see – and a talented woman will be one step closer to fulfilling her automotive design career dream.

A landslide victory, McMorrow’s entry was voted number one by Facebook members, as part of the first-ever program between Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) and the social networking site. To enter, contestants submitted a 150-word description of their vision of the 2018 MAZDA3 and an optional sketch drawing.

After weeks of voting – first by Mazda designers, then Facebook members – McMorrow was selected as a finalist, at which time she was paired with Mazda designer Jacques Flynn who helped bring her design to life on paper. “Jacques took everything I said and sketched, and put my thoughts and feelings on paper,” said McMorrow. “I was thrilled when I opened up the images of the final renderings. I’m proud to say that the end design was still definitely my car and I can’t wait to see it come to fruition on the show floor.”

Today McMorrow will begin working one-on-one with Franz von Holzhausen, director of design, MNAO, and his team to bring her concept to life, live from the Mazda booth at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show. A formal press conference will be held at 12:50 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Mazda booth.

“The Mazda Design Challenge brought in a flood of cool, unique design ideas. The winning design concept is a fresh new way to look at the design of a vehicle,” said von Holzhausen. “This competition was a tremendous success, and the entire process was really beneficial to my team and me to understand what design means to our target buyers. Now the hard part comes – to see if we can actually build a full concept car on the show stand in ten days and in full-view of show goers.”

Auto show attendees can watch von Holzhausen and his team in action from 12 noon to 8:00 p.m. daily, as they mold, carve and smooth the would-be 2018 MAZDA3. The final clay sculpture of the concept will be unveiled at 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 24.

Mallory McMorrow – “Car Girl” by design

An Industrial Design major at the University of Notre Dame, McMorrow, 21, of Whitehouse, NJ, first heard of the Mazda Design Challenge from her professor, Paul Down. Dubbed “the car girl” by her classmates in the Industrial Design department, McMorrow, who discovered her love for cars at a young age, jumped at the chance to enter.

With a background in graphic and industrial design, most of McMorrow’s design experience to date has focused primarily on product design, including automotive cleaning and car products. “All throughout college, I’ve heard nothing but how hard it will be to get into the auto design world, how I should keep my options open, and even how I should ‘think about interiors (because) …women work on interiors,” said McMorrow. “Now, thanks to this contest, I have a completely refreshed feeling about pursuing a career in cars.”

Mallory’s 2018 MAZDA3– In her own words

“A decade from now, I want a car that doesn’t believe in falling into a category. A car that makes sure sedan and hatchback are no longer four letter words. A chassis made to handle every s curve that comes its way. Fast. I want a car with the body and soul of a sports car, but a car that knows that sometimes I want to bring my friends, my things, or my dog. I want a car that has a sunroof that’s actually a sunroof, not a sun-one-quarter roof. I want a car that causes heads to turn – even before the first rev of the engine. I want a car that went from concept to showroom without meeting muted for the masses – unapologetically. I want a MAZDA3 that gets me – the everyday sports car, the 5-door that makes me forget I own a 5-door.”

In addition to McMorrow, finalists in the Mazda Design Challenge included Christopher Chung, Silver Spring, Md.; Preston Gilliam, East Bend, N.C.; Andrew Kinomoto, Bothell, Wash.; and Danny Song, San Mateo, Calif.

Evolution Through the Season

Depending on the nature of the circuit - featuring long straights such as Monza or tight corners like Monaco - the engineers in the BMW Sauber F1 Team continue to develop the car throughout the course of the season. According to Willy Rampf, Technical Director of the BMW Sauber F1 Team, Aerodynamics played a central role in the development of the F1.07. The aim was to build a car with high aerodynamic efficiency, yet at the same time one that handled well through corners.
In Barcelona the engineers added an extra multi-piece wing to the rear crash element for the first time in order to increase downforce. A transitional version of the front wing was used for the roll-out. A lot of work is put into the endplates, in particular, with the goal of achieving high downforce even when turning in.

The tight corners in Monaco saw the team opt for a new front suspension package with modified geometry to allow a sharper turn-in angle. The short straights there mean the brakes hardly have any time to cool, and they therefore used brake ducts with a large inflow area.

The new rear wing with modified endplates was the key element in a medium-downforce package the team developed for Montréal and Indianapolis. They fitted this in combination with the extra single-piece wing on the rear crash element in order to achieve high efficiency. With the four long straights at Monza producing speeds of over 300 km/h, a low-downforce package with highly efficient wing combinations to keep drag low was used. Plus, several additional fins on the engine cover were removed, again in the interests of ensuring low drag. The rear wing for the high-speed Monza circuit differed fundamentally from other variants, as the main wing was shorter than the flap. In addition it was given a zigzag profile, which ensured both high efficiency and good airflow stability.

In Japan the engineers introduced a new version of the additional wing on the roll hoop for the first time. Its optimised form allowed improved air flow to the rear wing. "The aero elements on the F1.07 at the roll-out in Valencia - the engine cover, front and rear wings, turning vanes and underbody - changed completely over the course of the season", Willy Rampf explained.

Advanced Paintjob that Changes Colour at the Touch of a Button

A new era has dawned. Well for paint, anyway. A decision affecting residual car values as much as it does neighbourhood standings is that of car colour. Be it graphite, silver or gray, the choices are endless. But with the introduction of a new technology using 'paramagnetic' paint coating, the choice won't be set in stone the moment the car rolls off the production line. In fact, the concept is to allow owners to change the paintjob whenever they see fit - whether that be in the car park or at the lights.

The technology works by running a current through a special polymer applied to the vehicle before painting. This polymer contains particles of 'paramagnetic' iron oxide. With the application of an electric current, the spacing of the oxide's crystals is adjusted, affecting their level of light reflection and thus our colour perception.

Cars, being rather conductive metal objects, are therefore the perfect medium for such a technology, with the small current maintaining a particular colour. However, with no current, such as when the car is turned off, the paint would return to its default colour of white, making finding the car after a shopping trip a tricky business indeed.

It may sound like science fiction, but first commercial applications of the technology are expected on the market as early as 2010, with Nissan having already developed a 'self-healing' paint. Make sure you check out our recently-introduced and expanding Technology category.

New Geely Logo Unveiled

Congratulations go out to Yue Xian De, the recently announced winner of Geely's logo design contest. For creating the winning submission, Yue receives a Gold Medal, and two million Chinese Yuan (just shy of $270,000).

Yue beat out over 27,000 other submitters and earned the giant check, given to him in a presentation at the Beijing Geely University. While the logo should look a little better on a grill, hood, or trunk than the weird, mountainous, upside-down-Skoda-badge logo, we thnk it looks a bit too much like Coily from Q*bert.

One reader at China Car Times referred to it as being more like a piece of "chromed dog poo."

Regardless, good luck to you, Yue!

Geely announces new logo

Geely today announced the winner of the Geely Logo Competition. Lucky winner, Yue Xian De, walked away from the Beijing Geely University held show with 360,000rmb in cold hard cash (well, actually a big cardboard check) The new logo is pretty much as we guessed the other day, we think the new logo looks pretty upmarket, but others think it looks like a chromed dog poo.

A while back Geely launched a competition for designers all around the world, the goal was simple: Sort Geely out with a new logo, and they’ll give you cash, not a lot, but not a little either. Surprisingly, the competition became worldwide news in a matter of hours, and we STILL get emails about it even now.

Two of the logos that are rumored to be in the final running are these two:

Kimi Wins F1 Championship in Memorable Race

His first championship

Two races ago the world was convinced of Lewis Hamilton writing Formula 1 history to be the first rookie to take the championship, even after the McLaren team was disqualified from the constructors championship. But Kimi showed some famous Finnish 'sisu' and did what all McLaren fans and the UK feared most, to win twice in a row while Lewis stumbled, twice. Finland went crazy last night celebrating the first championship since Mikä Häkkinen's 1999 victory.

Kimi 'Ice Man' Raikkonen was even seen smiling, a first for this season of F1. Kimi: "It is very difficult for me to explain in words what I am feeling at the moment: it is an incredible emotion. Even when we went through some difficult times and it looked as though there was no way to fight back, we never gave up and this work produced its reward today.”

Obviously Lewis Hamilton was not in the best of moods but was still able to put this season into perspective: “Obviously I am pretty disappointed with the result today, having lead for so much of the season and then not to win the Championship. However I have to put the result into perspective, this is only my first year in Formula 1 and overall it has just been phenomenal.” We are not expecting Lewis to make the same mistake (he lost 28 seconds while resetting his gearbox) next season.

The McLaren doom scenario became a reality with Kimi gathering 110 points throughout the season and both Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso ending on 109 points, Lewis takes second place. Next season should prove interesting with three championship candidates on three different teams, Raikkonen at Ferrari, Hamilton at McLaren and Alonso at Renault.

Caparo T1 Police Car

With the MPH show set to start today at Earls Court in London, Jeremy Clarkson and co. have teamed up with the Metropolitan Police to produce what really can only be described as an awesome looking Caparo T1 RRV (Rapid Response vehicle).

Capable of accelerating to 100mph in just 5 seconds (yes thats five seconds), and capable of reaching speeds of up to 200 mph, this Caparo T1 RRV would be deployed on the M25 Motorway.

As you would expect this is purely just for show and will never make it onto the british roads but if you do find one of these chasing you down, here's a piece of advice from WCF - don't waste your time trying to get away, this is one car you wll not outrun.

MET POLICE - RAPID RESPONSE VEHICLE

Getaway drivers and outside lane lovers beware! The Met Police has a teamed up with Brit supercar manufacturer, Caparo, to conceive a brand new Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) for the future – on show at MPH ’07 this weekend.

Capable of accelerating from a Police lay-by to 100mph in just 5 seconds and onto a top speed of 200mph, the Caparo T1 RRV would be deployed to hunt down car criminals within the M25.

Like everything else in the Met Police’s armoury, this bespoke RRV is intended as a deterrent. Just check your mirrors next time you fancy breaking the speed limit!

2007 New York International Auto Show

Toyota FT-HS concept

Lexus LF-A concept

Maserati GranTurismo concept

Maserati GranTurismo concept

Mazda Nagare and Hakaze concepts

Mercedes CLK63 AMG

Nissan NISMO 350z concept

Lamborghini Superleggera

Ford Shelby GT500KR concept

Dodge Demon concept

Chevy Volt hybrid concept

Audi S5

KTM reveals completed X-Bow prototype

Austrian motorcycle builder KTM today released photos of a full-scale prototype of its new X-Bow (crossbow) roadster. The 1500-pound car has a four-cylinder Audi engine offering 220 horsepower in the base model, and a potential 300 horsepower in a more expensive variant. A choice of either a six-speed manual or DSG gearbox will be given. KTM says the base X-Bow will hit 62 mph in 3.9 seconds.

The X-Bow has no windshield, and instead will come with specially designed helmets, intended to offer shelter from the elements rather than full crash protection.

After its debut in Geneva, 100 units will be manufactured in-house by Italian racing car specialists Dallara and sold by KTM. The price for the basic version will be around 40,000 euros.

If all goes well, KTM plans further small series productions of the car. This production will take place in Austria and begin in 2008. KTM is working on the basis of a projected 500 units per year. The decision concerning production will be made at the end of April 2007.

Related entries:

KTM X-BOW Unveiled in Geneva
KTM X-Bow to Make UK Debut
2008 KTM X-Bow Spied On The Ring
KTM to present production ready version of X-Bow at Geneva

Goodbye For Now, Audi RS4

The end of Audi RS4 production is coming sooner than expected, according to Dutch website Autoblog. Audi's RS model of the A4 will begin to die a somewhat-temporary death, with production of the sedan ending in early November.

Avant models should begin disappearing from the landscape before 2008 rolls in, with the Cabrio hanging on to dear life a little bit longer, reports the Dutch site.

Eventually, the new A4 will have a model badged as an RS, but until then Audi celebrants will have the choice of either using the new A4 as a stop-gap or switching to competitors' models. Rival models include the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-Benz C63.

Production dates of a new RS4 are unknown.

The WCF Preview Of The Tokyo Motor Show

With so much hype coming from the world's automakers about this week's Tokyo Motor Show, we thought it was high time to put together a preview of the oftentimes unusual biannual show.

Nissan GT-R

3.8-liter, twin-turbo, V6 engine. 473 horsepower, 434 ft-lb of torque. 0-60 in 3.5. 11.7 second quarter-mile. The Nissan GT-R will be a blockbuster at the Tokyo Motor Show. Expected to have a price below $80,000, the Nissan GT-R will have a rear-mounted transaxle, GR6 dual-clutch six-speed automatic transmission, and styling cues from the G35. Expect this car to be a show stopper.

Audi A1 Metroproject Quattro Concept

While the GT-R is a show stopper, this Audi A1 concept is a potential scene-stealer. Audi's MINI competitor will bow in Tokyo as the hybrid Metroproject Quattro concept. A cute-yet-menacing looking car on the outside, this supermini is clean and comfortable inside. With a choice between 1.2 litre or 2.0 liter turbocharged engines (gas or diesel), and a base price expected below $25,500, Audi will be trying to capture their share of young, hipsters with disposable income.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

This Mitsubishi icon may have gotten its motor show debut in Australia earlier this month, but many gearheads in Tokyo have been waiting for this with a tremendous amount of anticipation. The 10th generation of the Evo gets 286 horsepower and 300 ft-lb of torque from its 2.0 litre all-alloy four-banger engine. Add 18-inch rims to the mix and a Sportronic twin-clutch sequential manual transmission, and you get one of the hottest cars of 2008. With an estimated price around $32,000, this car will be hard to beat. The rally version of this car will race in the WRC Rally Japan this weekend.

Subaru Impreza WRX STi

Looking mildly better than the previous version, the Subaru Impreza WRX STI has a brand new, turbo-charged, four-cylinder, horizontally-opposed 2.0 litre engine. Subaru thinks this car will be most appreciated for its high performance, and strong handling in any situation. Currently planned as a five-door only, the car will have a six-speed manual transmission with Subaru Intelligent drive, multi-mode Driver's Control Center Differential, and Vehicle Dynamics Control, to give drivers more traction and stability.

BMW 1-Series Concept

We've already seen the BMW 1-Series in its four configurations (3-Door, 5-Door, Coupé, and Cabrio). So what could BMW possibly have in store for us at Tokyo? We know BMW is planning to unveil a concept based on the 1-Series, but no details have emerged about this concept. Could it be a special rally-inspired hot hatch? Or perhaps something crazier, like the second version of the MINI Clubman concept which was shown at 2005's Tokyo Motor Show. No matter what it is, we can't wait to see what is under the cloth at the BMW stand. Please be the M1... Please be the M1... Please be the M1.

Honda CR-Z Concept

Compact Renaissance Zero (CR-Z, for short) will be Honda's foray into a new generation of lightweight sports cars. As a possible successor to the CR-X, this new compact concept car should be roomy and overall more spacious-feeling. Expect Honda to really try and hammer home this hybrid concept's green features and its low impact on the environment.

Lexus LF-Xh

A V6 hybrid mated with all-wheel-drive, in an aggressive body makes us really excited about the Lexus LF-Xh. Exuding sophistication, Lexus brags about this vehicle's "superior environmental and power performance." This specialty SUV should turn some heads in Tokyo, but maybe not as much as Lexus' other concept...

Lexus LF-A

We've already seen the super-cool LF-A, unveiled in Detroit earlier this year. This time around, Lexus will show off its 5.0 litre V10 sports car wrapped in super-light carbon fiber reinforced plastic as a more road-ready vehicle. We know the LF-A will get over 500 horsepower, and top out around 200 mph. But we want concrete numbers, as do all other Japanese car fans. Hopefully, Lexus will let us know what's what with this almost-production ready sports car.

Nissan Intima

Nissan's Intima concept, focusing on "Modern Living", is meant to provide an overall sense of relaxation in and out of the car. Outside, you will notice the vehicle's suicide doors, unusual "crystal like" headlights, and a streamlined design meant to resemble jewelry. Inside, the car's tranquil blue lights, clean dash, and smooth interior may make you so relaxed you fall asleep at the wheel. The concept could potentially see production, especially if it gets an overwhelmingly positive reaction from the Tokyo audience.

Mitsubishi Concept-ZT

The Mitsubishi Concept-ZT is quite possibly the concept car with the most mass-market potential. Environmentally sound, incredibly safe, and a strong & rigid frame gives this a very realistic shot at production. The sedan gets 188 horsepower from its 2.2 litre clean diesel engine. Mitsubishi tried to make the Concept-ZT simple-but-elegant on the outside, presumably to appeal to a broader audience.

Suzuki Concept Kizashi 2

The Suzuki Kizashi 2 concept attempts to fix automaker's mistake at Frankfurt, where Suzuki unveiled a Kizashi concept that looked little more than a Citroën C-Metisse wannabe. The Kizashi 2, a sportswagon crossover, looks like it will be a more original car than previously seen, and will have a 3.6L V6 with 6-speed automatic transmission.

Odd Concepts

We have seen details on a bevy of new concepts from Honda, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota, set for debut at the Tokyo show. Nissan's Pivo2 has a revolving cabin and wheels that rotate 90 degrees, so you can get in and out of small spots like Frogger jumping between trucks. Honda has their PUYO concept, which looks like a giant container for cotton swabs. The Honda PUYO does have a pretty cool luminescent gel body as a safety feature. Subaru G43 will be shown off at the show. This electric concept can be charged to 80% capacity in 15-minutes, and travel for 200km on a full charge. The Toyota RiN, which looks like a glass enclosed golf cart, is meant to bring driver and passengers into harmony with nature. Toyota i-Real is a new kind of mobility concept, which is almost like a re-imagined motorized wheelchair. Keeping its passengers at eye-level, the i-Real has a three-wheel design with a variable-length wheelbase to improve stability at different speeds.

Green Energy

The big word with many of these concepts and new cars is "green". As the Kyoto Protocol, a framework set forth by the UN to help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, enters its final phase in 2008, many companies will be expected to help countries reduce their emissions levels. The protocol, signed in Kyoto, Japan, back in 1997, calls for many industrialized nations to substantially reduce emissions between 2008 and 2012. Further hype around green energy has been the silver-lining around the oil and gas price cloud. Expect many of the world's carmakers to talk about their new concepts and future product lines using green plastics, and other Earth-friendly materials. Automakers will be expected to try and generate positive public relations with regards to the environment at the Tokyo Motor Show. After all, Tokyo is only two hours away from Kyoto...

Press preview of the 40th Tokyo Motor Show begins October 24th. WorldCarFans will provide up-to-the-minute coverage, including photos and stories from the floor of the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba City, Japan. The bi-annual show will be open to the public from October 26th thru November 11th.

Tough new rules for solar car race

The World Solar Challenge for cars powered only by sunshine is on this weekend in Darwin, and for the first time in its 20-year history, organisers are making it tougher, demanding that today's sun-fuelled contraptions conform to the designs of more conventional cars.

They have been years in the making. Now these solar prototypes are going through final adjustments before Sunday's race.

Cars of every weird and wonderful shape will showcase the latest in solar technology as they travel from Darwin to Adelaide.

But with solar power almost verging on mainstream, race director Chris Selwood says organisers have set a new challenge by redefining the car.

"We've taken 25 per cent of their solar cells away from them so their power generation capacity is cut by a quarter," he said.

"We've given them an aerodynamic disadvantage by telling them that the driver should sit in a normal, upright seating position and not laying down in the car as they have in the older cars, and certain practical things, like the driver has to get in and out of the car unaided."

The tougher rules make it unlikely this year's race will set any speed records, which is just as well because for the first time, drivers have to contend with the Northern Territory's new 130-kilometres-per-hour road limit.

And in keeping with the green theme, organisers have included a Greenfleet category for cars powered on alternative fuels like canola oil, hydrogen and ethanol derived from sugar cane.

One team is confident it won't have to refuel at all during the 3,000-kilometre trip. New Zealander Cam Feast says his team, Bios Fuel, has developed a revolutionary car that runs on waste oil and water

"If you just took waste oil and water and you poured it into an engine, it will blow up, basically. It will blow the injectors off," he said.

"What Steve has worked out is a way of bonding the structures of the waste oil and the water so that they actually bond together, and then can be used to burn and create energy in an engine."

He says he is literally burning up waste.

"What we're doing is taking this waste stream, taking the energy from that and converting it to fuel," he said.

MINI Clubman: In Depth

Introduction

• More doors, more space, more legroom, more individuality, more British production.
• Same great driving dynamics, same leading residual values, same tlc, same low emissions.

The new MINI Clubman will go on sale in the UK on Saturday 10 November 2007. Based on a concept first shown at Frankfurt Motor Show in 2005, the new car is a modern interpretation of its famous Mini predecessors taking into account all the demands and technologies of the 21st century.

It takes a sneaky peek back in time, but has its eyes firmly ahead on the engineering, design, safety and image demands that today’s customers expect of a premium car. Still a MINI, but with a little bit extra.

Available from launch in three engine variants: Cooper, Cooper D and Cooper S, the new model offers practical flexibility, easier access through innovative door concepts, more space for rear passengers and high levels of safety and customisation options. But nothing compromises MINI’s revered driving dynamics and the Clubman look will be unique on the streets.

The stand-out styling (and added practicality) reinforces MINI’s position in the 21st century as the most in-demand small car on the planet. Over 188,000 were demanded in 2006 and 2007 will be yet another record sales year for MINI. But it is the swinging ‘60s that had a hand in the Clubman development.

The new car takes inspiration and styling cues from the Morris Mini Traveller, Austin Mini Countryman and the Mini Clubman Estate. The new MINI Clubman nevertheless stays true to the successful, modern MINI design language. It’s still a MINI, so owners get short body overhangs, wide track, a long wheelbase, the high shoulder line rising towards the rear and, of course, MINI decals for the roof.

The new MINI Clubman is 24cm longer than the Hatch. Inside, it offers 8cm more legroom for rear passengers and is the first new MINI to enter the market with five seats. Boot capacity has increased to 260 litres with the seats in place and up to 930 litres with the rear seats down. Access to this extra space has been made easier via the split rear doors and additional Clubdoor on the right-hand side.

Andy Hearn, MINI UK General Manager, said: “MINI remains the most successful small car of the decade, and its appeal to a wider variety of customers has increased even more in 2007. The MINI Clubman is the third model in the range to join the successful MINI Hatch and MINI Convertible. We have a great choice of engines that satisfy low emissions and high fuel efficiency desires, but also keep the fun in driving. The new MINI Clubman has all the plus points of a MINI, with added functionality and a unique style.”

Modern high-performance engines, designed specifically for the 2nd generation MINI, feature new improvements to optimise fuel economy and emissions management. Auto Start-Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration and a Gearshift Point Indicator are standard on all variants. The greatest impact is seen on the MINI Cooper D Clubman, which achieves a hybrid-matching low emissions figure of 109 g/km C02.

The Clubman body style adds to the MINI family of Hatch and Convertible models, which have sold over one million models worldwide since 2001. All three derivatives are built at Plant Oxford, where £100 million has been invested in the past two years to increase production up to 240,000 by 2008. This is more than double the planned production capacity prior to the first car coming off the line in spring 2001.

Oliver Zipse, Managing Director BMW Group Plant Oxford, said: “The new MINI Clubman is another milestone in the MINI success story. Our highly committed associates in the MINI production triangle plants in the UK at Oxford, Hams Hall and Swindon have so far produced more than one million MINIs since the car was relaunched in 2001. With the MINI Clubman we are expecting new production and sales records for MINI which is great news for the UK automotive industry.”

As with the Hatch models, the petrol engines will be assembled at Plant Hams Hall in the Midlands and the body panels and sub-assemblies are from Plant Swindon. This ‘MINI production triangle’ employs a workforce of approximately 6,800 in the UK, and delivers MINIs to over 70 markets worldwide.

Clubman’s vital statistics

Model	Power hp	Torque Nm	0-62 mph secs	Top speed	Combined mpg	Emissions EU g/km	VED tax band
Cooper £14,235	120	160	9.8	125	51.4	132	C
Cooper D £15,400	110	240*	10.4	120	68.9	109	B
Cooper S £17,210	175	240*	7.6	139	44.8	150	C

The new MINI Clubman will be sold through the UK MINI network of 148 dealers spanning the country. Over the past few years, MINI dealers have been investing in their dealerships, expanding or re-locating to fit the growing MINI range.

Andy Hearn, MINI UK General Manager, said: "It’s a great time to be a MINI dealer. They’re very excited and confident about the imminent arrival of the Clubman. The planned expansion of the MINI range is in no small part down to the great service MINI owners receive at their dealerships, and this is reflected in the year-on-year growth. Dealers in the UK have invested close to £40 million in the last two years in expanding or moving premises, enabling them to present the huge choice of models, options and accessories to customers in the showroom.”

Hearn continued: “Demand continues to grow with 2007 sales up nearly 14 per cent, including three record sales months from March. Residual values remain the best in the industry according to Lex and the arrival of Clubman will further add to MINI's growth over the coming years."

Standard Specification MINI Cooper Clubman

Safety

• Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
• Central locking, automatic at 10mph
• Corner Braking Control (CBC)
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) inc. Hill Assist
• Automatic Stability Control + Traction (ASC+T)
• Crash sensor
• Disc brakes all round – vented at front
• Electronic Braking Distribution (EBD)
• MINI Mobility System (MINI MS)
• Passenger airbag deactivation
• Tyre defect indicator
• Driver and front passenger front airbags
• Driver and front passenger side airbags
• Curtain head airbags
• Three-Point safety belts with pretensioners

Exterior

• 15” light alloy wheels – 5-Star Spooler
• 6-Speed manual gearbox
• Automatic rear wash wiper
• Chrome-plated door handles
• Electric door mirrors
• Heated rear window
• Front and rear bumpers in body colour
• Third brake light
• Black side air inlets with integrated orange indicator
• Silver or black contrast roof and door mirrors
• Chrome-plated grille
• Chrome-plated tailgate handle
• Security locking wheel bolts
• Silver or black contrast C pillars

Interior

• Automatic start/stop function (MSA) (manual only)
• Brake Energy Regeneration (iGR)
• Switch Point Display (SPA) (manual only)
• 3 rear seats (2 rears seats as a no-cost option)
• 50 / 50 split folding rear seats
• CD changer preparation
• Aux In connection (3.5mm plug) for MP3 players
• Cloth Cosmos
• Cup holders front and rear
• Easy entry function (a seat release lever that moves the whole seat forward to allow easy access to the rear)
• Start/Stop button
• Electric front windows
• Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS)
• Height adjustable driver’s seat
• Steering column height and length adjustable
• ISOFIX child seat attachment on rear seats
• Radio BOOST with single CD
• Remote central locking and alarm (Thatcham CAT1)
• Glove box
• Rev counter with outside temperature display

MINI Cooper D Clubman

Standard Specification above MINI Cooper

• Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)

MINI Cooper S Clubman

Standard Specification above MINI Cooper

• 16” light alloy wheels – S Winder
• Twin scroll turbo charger
• Sport button

2008 KTM X-Bow Spied On The Ring

K-Bow introduced their X-Bow at the Geneva Auto Show in February 2007, showing us what the first 100 of these superlight sports cars would look like. While the first 100 will be built by Dallara, and carry a special number badge, the rest of the production will take place in Austria, home of KTM. This introductory lot has already been sold.

One of our excellent spy photographers caught the higher production version of the KTM X-Bow on the Nürburgring earlier today performing some handling tests. Australian motorcycle manufacturer KTM will again sell the street-ready track car starting February 2008.

The X-Bow will come out with an Audi 2.0 litre four-banger engine churning out 240 horsepower. While that may not sound like a massive amount of power, the fact needs to be put in context.

KTM's motorcycle-on-four-wheels weighs a mere 721 kilograms (1589 pounds). This means the X-Bow has a power-to-weight ratio of .151 (333 bhp per tonne), and goes 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. What's more is that this car may even get a more powerful engine taken from an Audi S3, bursting with 300 brake horsepower, making the power-to-weight ratio .189 (416 bhp per tonne).

The car will be street-legal in Finland (thanks to intense lobbying from WorldCarFans), as well as other countries, including Austria, Germany, Greece, The Netherlands, Portugual, and Switzerland. Sorry Americans; looks like you guys might be out of luck.

Base price of the KTM X-Bow is $65,000. First deliveries are expected in spring 2008.

Related entries:

KTM X-BOW Unveiled in Geneva
KTM X-Bow to Make UK Debut
KTM reveals completed X-Bow prototype
KTM to present production ready version of X-Bow at Geneva

KTM X-BOW Unveiled in Geneva

KTM’s first car, the X-Bow has been unveiled during a press conference at the Geneva Motorshow. The presentation received great attention and has been performed by Stefan Pierer, CEO of KTM Power Sports AG and Gerald Kiska, Head of Kiska Design. In the course of the presentation, Stefan Pierer declared the targets and visions of the company’s first car: KTM aims for a small series production of around 500 units per year, which should take place in Austria.

Amongst others, the implementation of this type of production depends on the reactions to the car’s first appearance at the Geneva Motorshow. A final decision about the production, which could be started in mid-2008 will be made until the end of April, Stefan Pierer said. The pilot-series of 100 units, which will be built in Italy by Dallara from autumn 2007 remains unaffected by these plans.

The KTM X-Bow in Detail

• KTM’s first automobile

• Racing technology for the road

• Light and safe carbon fibre monocoque

• Spectacular design

• Four-cylinder TFSI from Audi

• Puristic, unfiltered driving experience

• Supersport performance

• Outstanding power-output values

• Production of a 100-unit pilot series begins at the end of 2007

• A decision about producing a small series will be made until April 2007

An aggressive design and sporty potential: the X-Bow is not merely a milestone in the KTM brand’s more than 50-year history, it’s also a new citation in the small, but elite segment of radical, lightweight sports cars. This exceptional position is the result of the concept: for their first car, KTM employs the finest materials, high-tech and the know-how of respected development partners such as Audi and Dallara. The result is a street-homologated sports car with racing technology, like an avantgarde, carbon fibre monocoque. Thanks to the basic version’s light weight and the 162 kW (220 hp) Audi TFSI engine, the performance values of the KTM X-Bow outstrip those of super-sport cars with more than twice the power: with a deadweight of approx. 700 kilos, the KTM X-Bow accelerates to 100 kph in just 3.9 seconds.

But the X-Bow isn’t just a racing machine, even if it is going to accomplish spectacular performance feats on racing circuits. With its modern technologies and exceptional solutions, it’s much more oriented towards sporty drivers who seek a purist’s driving experience. By foregoing electronic assistants and today’s standard comfort features, the X-Bow offers an unfiltered adventure – aided by its standalone wheels in the style of monoposto racing cars, transparent technology and the car’s reduced concept, i.e. no roof, doors or windscreen. The sports car has only a 70-millimeter, transparent wind deflector. With all these unique features, driving the KTM X-Bow becomes an experience with an immediacy that otherwise can only be felt when riding a motorcycle.

The Next Step into the Future

For the Upper Austrian motorcycle manufacturer – Europe’s second largest – the decision to expand its line of business into the automobile market was of great strategic significance. It was made possible by the company’s extraordinarily dynamic growth over the past 15 years. Since 1992, KTM vehicle sales have risen an average of 21% each year, while the volume of sales even climbed to 25% each year. Today, KTM is the world’s leading brand in the offroad segment and in recent years has successively expanded its model portfolio into the street sector. “Moving into the automotive sector is the logical continuation of this strategy. With the X-Bow, KTM can now offer the classic KTM driving experience to all those who don’t have a motorcycle licence,” says Stefan Pierer, CEO of the listed KTM Power Sports AG, explaining this investment in the company’s future.

Carbon Fibre Monocoque: Racing Know-How from Dallara

Carbon fibre monocoques have been the Formula 1’s safety net for years. On the road, this technology was formerly reserved for the elitist, supersports cars in the highest price classes. KTM would now like to be the first to offer this solution in a much more affordable environment.

KTM has thereby been able to call upon the expertise of its development partner, Dallara. These specialists from Varano (near Parma) in Northern Italy have long been acclaimed as carbon technology experts, from the conception to the production of components made of this light, yet rigid material. The monocoque developed for the KTM X-Bow is not only extremely robust it is also safe, thanks to an integrated crashbox. And yet it weighs only about 70 kilos and is therefore a crucial factor in the vehicle’s spectacular performance.

The Engine: TFSI Technology from Audi

KTM was able to gain Audi AG as its partner in developing the drive unit. The four-cylinder TFSI engine represents the X-Bow’s construction principles in an ingenious way: by featuring lightweight, high-performance and intelligent technologies.

The engine’s outstanding attribute is its gasoline direct injection technology, FSI. In this case, it’s combined with an exhaust turbocharger plus an intercooler. Thanks to FSI, the engine can utilize fuel better than one with ordinary intake manifold injection and it even gets by on less fuel in the frequently used partial load range.

The injection takes place at a pressure level between 30 and 110 bar, valves in the intake system direct the inflowing air into a cylindrical movement. A continuously variable intake camshaft ensures optimal cylinder charging at any speed. Two balancer shafts compensate the second order inertia forces and so guarantee superior, low-vibration operation.

The KTM X-Bow’s long-stroking, four-valve engine delivers a powerful performance: 300 newton-metres of torque peaks at a level between 2200 and 4000 rpm. The peak performance of 162 kW (220 hp) is achieved at 5900 rpm. Even more powerful engine variations in the 300-horsepower range are planned at a later date.

The drive unit package is complemented by a manual 6-gear transmission, which is also made by VW and can be equipped with a limited-slip differential if so desired. An optional S tronic transmission will also be offered. The drive comes from the rear wheels.

The Chassis: Direct and Competent

The X-Bow’s driving dynamics profit not only from the car’s low centre of gravity but also from its superior chassis, which also draws on racing technology for its basic principles. Suspended on double triangular wishbone axles, the wheels feature suspension and damping elements by WP Suspension, with a pushrod arrangement up front.

The Italian brake manufacturer Brembo can also be proud of its reputation for excellence. KTM is also expanding this partnership (which began in the motorcycle sector) into the automobile realm. The X-Bow’s powerful braking system consists of 305 mm discs at the front and 262 mm discs at the rear. The interaction of the vehicle’s light weight, ideal balance, low centre of gravity and a 17-/18-inch tyre mix results in spectacular braking performance: when the brakes are warm, the KTM X-Bow needs only 33.1 metres to decelerate from 100 kph to a standstill.

The Aerodynamics: Exceptional Contact Pressure

The primary development goal for the KTM X-Bow was not attaining extreme final velocities, but in optimising the driving dynamics. The sports car is thereby aided by an ingenious aerodynamics arrangement, the result of many hours in Dallara’s wind tunnel. The most vital element in this area is the underbody, which is equipped with a prominent diffusor at the rear. To make this diffusor work even more effectively, the linking points for the rear suspension were set as high as possible. This enables the KTM X-Bow to achieve a phenomenal downforce of about 200 kilograms at a speed of 200 km/h – about three times more than most other supersport cars.

In combination with the high-performance chassis, this fantastic downforce makes extreme curve speeds possible. The transversal acceleration of 1.23 g that can thus be attained noticeably surpasses the usual values achieved by street homologated sports cars.

The aerodynamic concept was a great challenge for the designer as well. It meant that sufficient air had to be channelled into the inlets located in the sides, behind the passengers. The radiator is also located at the rear of the vehicle, to avoid having to install longer, heavier cooling hoses. This mission was accomplished by using special air baffles, which are installed horizontally on the sides of the car so the passengers can also use them as boarding aids.

Safety: Racing Technology

The crucial component protecting the driver and the passenger is the solid, carbon fibre monocoque – safety technology straight from Formula 1. This structure is supplemented by a crashbox in the nose of the vehicle. The silencer, which is built into the rear of the car, was also designed to act as a crashbox; it absorbs the force of an impact to the rear of the vehicle.

The driver and passenger are also protected by four-point safety belts, which were inspired by the racing world. If so desired, this unit can be equipped with a fifth securing point. The two roll bars are clearly visible. They not only appear to be solid, they are skilfully integrated into the monocoque’s structure.

Design: Floating Elements

Gerald Kiska’s design studio can take credit for the shape of the vehicle. Coming from Salzburg, he has worked closely with KTM for the past 15 years and is entrusted not only with the design of the motorcycles, but also with the appearance of the company itself.

For the concept of the KTM brand’s first automobile, Kiska incorporated many characteristics that are more closely associated with motorcycles than cars. Every part fulfils a function, the technology remains transparent, the form is noticeably simple. The few, orange-coloured body panels are “floating elements”, like those of motorcycles, and suggest lightness and simplicity.

The deliberate reduction in all things even includes the lights: simple headlamps, embedded indicators flush with the car’s contours and round lights at the rear forego superficial, showy effects. Instead, the carbon structure also takes on design duties, meaning that components which are frequently hidden in cars, such as the silencer, suddenly serve an aesthetic purpose in addition to their usual functions.

The Equipment: Puristic and Functional

As a result of its clear concept, the KTM X-Bow can do without a lot of elements that ordinarily add complexity and extra weight. So the narrow wind deflector makes an elaborate heating system and windscreen wipers unnecessary; doors are also not included in the design, due to the vehicle’s low profile and the extra-low side profile.

You’ll also look for a standard instrument panel in vain. The driver can find all the information needed for driving on the hub of the steering wheel.

The seats are further examples of the X-Bow’s intelligent and simple construction: the shells for the driver’s and passenger’s seats are already integrated into the carbon fibre construction of the monocoque. An overlay provides solid comfort. In order to provide the best ergonomics for drivers of various heights, the X-Bow has manually adjustable pedals.

The KTM X-Bow doesn’t have a luggage compartment. But it does feature an innovative, mobile storage box for the car documents. The equipment required by law, such as the warning triangle, first aid kit and a tyre-fit system, are kept in storage compartments beside the passenger’s foot well. A cover is stowed in this same location; it protects the interior of the car when it’s parked. Two helmets can be fixed in the passenger’s legroom.

Extras: for the Automobile and the Driver

Supplementary equipment – like kits to increase the engine’s performance or an aerodynamics package – give the sporty potential of the KTM X-Bow an even greater boost.

Another segment of the accessories programme aims in the opposite direction: together with Dainese, the renowned Italian specialist for motorcycle apparel, a new line of clothing and helmets is being developed especially for the KTM X-Bow. These intelligent components are designed to assume functions that are normally performed by the car: weather protection, climate control and – thanks to integrated technology – even infotainment functions such as sound and mobile telephony.

The Vision: Producing a Small Series Beginning in 2008

Depending upon the reactions to the vehicle presentation in Geneva, KTM is considering extending the pilot series of the X-Bow into small-series production. This small-series production would take place in Austria beginning in 2008 and entail an annual production of between 500 and 1000 vehicles. Parallel to this small-series production, an efficient distribution structure would also be established. The plan includes a network of around 15 to 20 partners throughout Europe, who not only have experience in motorsports, but also a connection to the Volkswagen enterprise.

A decision will be made concerning the small-series production of the KTM X-Bow by the end of April 2007.

Related entries:

KTM X-Bow to Make UK Debut
2008 KTM X-Bow Spied On The Ring
KTM reveals completed X-Bow prototype
KTM to present production ready version of X-Bow at Geneva