Saturday, April 14, 2012

Pininfarina BO, 2010

 
 
 
 
 
 
Pininfarina B0, 2010

Bolloré and Pininfarina have entered into a partnership featuring all the expertise required to launch serial production of an electric car which, thanks to its technical characteristics and its attractive styling, is bound to make waves in motoring circles.

The car will not be a prototype. It will be a mass production model, with the first units coming off the production line at the end of 2009, after which production will be ramped up gradually based on the availability of the batteries. Built in Turin by Pininfarina-Bolloré, a joint venture formed by the two family-owned groups, the Pininfarina B0 electric car will be powered by Bolloré's proprietary LMP technology, using a combination of batteries and supercapacitors manufactured in Bolloré's plants in Quimper, France and Montreal, Canada. The Pininfarina B0 will be a fully-electric vehicle without any carbon dioxide production, having been designed from the ground up with that aim in mind. Its batteries will be housed in a compartment specially designed for that purpose and located under the car, between its axles, lowering its centre of gravity and providing it with outstanding road-holding properties.

With its superb body styled by Pininfarina, Italy's renowned vehicle design shop, the Pininfarina B0 electric car will be an elegant four-seater, four-door hatchback with an automatic gearbox. Its LMP battery, which will be rechargeable in a matter of hours from a standard domestic main socket, will provide it with a range of 250 km (153 miles). The Pininfarina B0 will have a top speed that is electronically limited to 130 km/h (80 mph) and will feature potent acceleration, reaching 60 km/h from a standing start (0 to 37 mph) in 6.3 seconds. The Pininfarina B0 will also feature solar panels on its roof and hood, so as to help recharge its electrical power reserves.

LMP: revolutionary battery technology
At the heart of any electric car, lies the battery. Bolloré is a highly diversified group of companies with a combined yearly turnover of 10 billion US dollars and 35,000 employees. For the past 30 years, the group has been the world's leading producer of components for capacitors. Thanks to its acquired know-how in extruded polymers and the storage of electrical energy, Bolloré has been working for 15 years through its subsidiary, Batscap, to develop a solid-state lithium polymer battery. This battery is able to store, weight-for-weight, and it can be recharged in just a few hours. The battery does not require any maintenance and has a lifespan of around 200,000 km (125,000 miles). Another key benefit is its unmatched safety while in operation. Added to that, the Pininfarina B0 electric car does not emit any exhaust gases, nor any fine particles. The car's LMP batteries thus help combat air pollution. The batteries of the Pininfarina B0 also contribute to reducing noise, another nuisance which affects people's quality of life in urban environments.

Supercapacitors: boosting acceleration and recycling power
Supercapacitors are sophisticated energy storage components developed by the Bolloré Group. In an electric car, supercapacitors draw and store energy generated while the car is braking and feed it back into the system when the car moves off again. The result is greater acceleration, increased range and a longer lifespan for the car's battery. The electric cars powered by BatScap's LMP batteries and supercapacitors have a range of over 250 km. They are fast (with a top speed of 130 km/h), pleasant to drive, safe, and long-lasting.

Natural energy from solar panels
The Pininfarina B0 does not generate any pollution. But the process of generating the electricity which the car uses must also, as far as possible, not have produced any atmospheric pollution. That is why the creators of the Pininfarina B0 have designed it to incorporate every possible solution designed to optimise the car's energy efficiency and use of clean energy sources. For instance, the Pininfarina B0 electric car is fitted with supercapacitors, which enable it to store and recycle the energy that is generated while braking. Similarly, the car's roof and part of its hood are covered with highperformance solar panels which help power some of its equipment. It goes without saying that a responsible environmental approach must be coherent throughout. Which is why all the materials used to build the car's body, battery and interior trim have been carefully selected for their low environmental impact. All are recyclable or reusable. The Bolloré Group is also in the process of developing straight-forward panels of photovoltaic cells which might be installed
Read More

De Tomaso Deauville Concept, 2011

 
 
 

De Tomaso Deauville Concept, 2011

The Pininfarina welcomes the De Tomaso Deauville styling model on its stand at Geneva. For the glorious brand founded in Modena in 1959 by Argentine racing driver Alejandro De Tomaso, which has been brought back to life thanks to efforts of businessman Gian Mario Rossignolo, Pininfarina has designed a 5-door Sport Luxury Sedan, with an aluminium chassis and four-wheel drive. A complete product that embodies high technology and craftsmanship, combining luxury and love for engines with a decisive modern approach to design.

The project was launched at the end of 2009, when Pininfarina S.p.A. drew up with De Tomaso Automobili SpA (formerly Innovation Auto Industry S.p.A. - IAI) a company chaired by Gian Mario Rossignolo, the definitive agreement for the sale of a branch of the company that included the manufacturing plant of Grugliasco (Turin). The two companies also agreed that the first model to be produced by the reborn De Tomaso company would be designed by Pininfarina.

From the very first stages of the design process, De Tomaso and the Pininfarina design team set themselves the target of exploring new territory and creating a new market niche, developing a Sport Luxury Sedan for an exclusive clientele, designed and developed with the utmost luxury.

Luxury is not a coincidence: the development of the De Tomaso Deauville hinges on exploiting the concept of quality products that are "Made in Italy", reviving and refining in the present the characteristics of beauty and craftsmanship that are inherent in the Italian manufacturing heritage. All the cars are "custom-built" and the assembly of the details is guaranteed by the manual skills of De Tomaso specialist craftsmen. Each De Tomaso Deauville is therefore unique and self-sufficient.

However the luxury is not only embodied in the artisan construction. In addition to the Pininfarina design, the car also boasts a high technological content that puts it ahead of its time. The De Tomaso Deauville is manufactured using the innovative UNIVIS technology, which means that the bodyshell is assembled using aluminium extruded sections joined together by crossbeams that are pressed, trimmed by laser and welded. This new technology, developed and patented by IAI (Innovation in Auto Industry), the parent company of the De Tomaso group, makes it possible to drastically reduce the times and investment necessary to design a car, because the number of dies is drastically reduced to a few dozen.

The Pininfarina team tackled the design of the De Tomaso Deauville by first carrying out a historical analysis of the De Tomaso brand, and focusing on the stylistic elements that have characterised earlier models like the Mangusta or the Pantera. The challenge was to imagine a completely new type of car without distorting such an important heritage, but also to firmly avoid turning it into an exercise in nostalgia.

The result is a car that has no equal in today's car market. A sporty, seductive saloon of a considerable size (height 1630 mm, length 5080 mm, width 1950 mm), with clean, elegant lines, a decisive and immediately recognisable character and a sporty feel that is reflected on the motorist as a pleasant driving experience, while guaranteeing performance, safety, roominess, maximum comfort and all the options one would expect on a luxury saloon.

The resolution of the front is expressed by the personality of the large hexagonal grille that urges forward, transmitting assertiveness and sportiness, and reflecting the car's potential for performance, while the front light clusters, which slip towards the sides of the car, underline its dynamism. The hexagon, which harks back to motifs dear to De Tomaso history, is repeated on the side of the car (air outlet, front wing and shape of windows) and in the design of the rear light clusters. Another leitmotif runs through the car: the three upper wings of the grille, which are reiterated in the direction indicator on the front headlight and continue in the side repeater and the rear light.
Read More

Devon GTX, 2010

 
 
 
 Devon GTX, 2010

Constructed of aircraft-quality carbon fiber from stem to stern, the Devon GTX instantly communicates its ultra-performance capability through aggressive, compact proportions and large (up to 20-inch) lattice-structure center-lock wheels. In all, the exterior design navigates between the past and science fiction, subtly blending muscle, curves, exquisite shapes and dynamic graphics to create a classical, yet futuristic, statement that's ready to stand the test of time.

The Vehicle Structure
Overlaying its steel structure is a glove-fit, single-piece molded superstructure made of carbon fiber. Construction of the superstructure requires a complex mold - essentially the size of the vehicle - in which all datum and attachment points are positioned within literally fractions of a millimeter. Once the superstructure is in place, all body panel attachment points are inherently accurate for uncommonly consistent builds. The superstructure - due to the use of carbon fiber - is also extremely lightweight, strong and stiff, ensuring outstanding crash performance, noise / vibration tuning, and incredibly accurate chassis tuning.

The Exterior
While overall shape of the new Devon GTX carries traditional "muscle car" dimensions with a long dash-to-axle and short front and rear offsets, it's executed in the context of sophistication and athletic grace. Seemingly honed from a single billet, the Devon GTX's flowing exterior skin is formed of carbon fiber, which enables precise molding - rather than traditional stamping - of exterior fenders, panels, and closures. Large (18 / 19-inch or 19 / 20-inch combinations) 12-spoke aluminum forged monoblock lattice structured wheels lead the eye to large, ultra-performance calipers (carrying the Devon insignia) and rotors, leaving no doubt about the supercars's performance competency.

The wheels carry a machined or polished finish and painted inner-spoke surfacing leading to the Devon insignia defining the center hub. The Devon GTX is also equipped with center-mounted locking hubs, a lug-free design more commonly seen on race cars.

A wheelbase of 98.8-inches - combined with a flush wheel-to-body relationship defined by distinctive, offset-flush, tone-shaded wheel surrounds - ensures well-grounded appeal and presence as well as an agile look with more muscular front fenders and rear haunches.

The front "face" of the vehicle is absent of a traditional grille, resulting in a clean, aero-sloped front section defined by a center-positioned billet that runs uninterrupted to the center of the hood. Ample air for combustion and brake cooling is achieved through large intakes positioned in the lower forward corners. The intakes carry large chrome trapezoid-shaped inlets (approximately 3-inches wide) that lead to channeling for optimal combustion air intake and engine cooling.

Three-inch wide trapezoidal chrome dual exhaust tips match the intake inlets in the front, are side-by-side positioned, and pass through the center portion of the rear fascia, further communicating the ultra-performance capability of the new Devon offering.

Posted exterior rear-view mirrors have been aero-optimized - along with the rest of the exterior - by a dedicated team led by Dr. Joe Katz of San Diego State University (SDSU). The team's efforts led to the incorporation of a three-piece belly pan constructed of carbon fiber. In addition to providing enhanced under-car surface appeal and aerodynamics, the belly pan carries revolutionary "vortex generators" for improved downforce - a key enabler to the vehicle's exceptional agility and balance.

The Interior
The interior of the new Devon GTX has been designed with the driving enthusiast top of mind - all features, surfaces and dimensions have been created to ensure a second-to-none performance experience. A smaller diameter, thick-rimmed, leather-wrapped steering wheel ensures a performance grip and optimal feel. Carbon-fiber reinforced structured seats - carrying a racing shell design and integrated headrests - incorporate six-point racing harness seat belts (optional; five point standard) - are chrome trimmed, outfitted with stiff performance durometer seat and bolsters, and skinned with the softest real-leather hide available.

Dual-grain leather surfacing ensures a dynamically tactile environment. Seat and center console areas carry softer leather with smoother animal grain; the upper IP, pillars, headliner and door surfaces incorporate a coarser, three-dimensional tactility. All audio, HVAC, and cluster instrumentation is communicated via digital analog graphics on high-definition displays. All instrumentation incorporates bluish fluorescent illumination. The speedometer, tachometer, fuel, temperature and other mechanical related instrumentation is displayed in the cluster under a fixed hood. Audio and HVAC is displayed in the integrated centerstack. The traditional neo-retro white ball-head stick-shift is constructed of stiff polished aluminum for optimal feel and connectivity; it is directly connected to the world-class transmission that engages beneath. The shift is surrounded by a piano black finish, which carries back-lit, surface-flush touch switches for windows, door locks, related chassis controls, and an electronically actuated parking brake system.

Suspension
The independent front and rear suspensions on the 2010 Devon GTX carry aluminum components for optimized un-sprung mass, ensuring agile handling and optimal tuning for boulevard and track performance.

The Brakes
The brake system on the new Devon GTX is engineered to deliver world-class performance, appearance and durability without compromise. The technology has proven itself by winning professional sports car races and championships, yet also provides benefits that can be experienced and appreciated every day. The brake system is designed to provide shorter stopping distances, better brake modulation, firmer pedal feel and less brake fade than other high-performance luxury cars, resulting in powerful, confidence-inspiring performance.

With six pistons in each front caliper and four in each rear, the brake system is custom-tailored to the uncompromising requirements of the Devon GTX. The opposed-piston brake calipers are first forged, then weight-optimized by fully machining all exterior surfaces. The two-piece rotor design reduces weight by one-third compared to a one-piece brake rotor of the same dimensions. The patented, directional AeroRotor vane design induces up to 80-percent more cooling airflow than the rotors used as original equipment on many high-performance luxury vehicles. This reduces maximum and average operating temperatures, improving pad and rotor life.
The brake pad material was specially selected to combine the good manners required of a true high-end luxury offering in daily driving with high performance driving. The standard brake pads provide low noise levels and much less dust than typical of many high-performance luxury vehicles. At the same time, they have the high temperature capability to withstand race track lapping with low susceptibility to accelerated wear or judder that may afflict other cars.

Steering
Steering feedback to the driver is performance tuned through a premium rack and pinion steering gear. The steering system incorporates outstanding torsional stiffness with less operating friction. The result is steering precision of the highest order, with near-perfect linear response and smooth, predictable transitions.

Wheels and Tires
For sure-footed, enhanced handling, the Devon GTX is equipped with purpose designed and built Devon Motorworks forged aluminum alloy wheels with center lock configuration. Wheel sizes are 18- by 10-inches in the front; 19- by 13-inches in the rear. Larger wheels are optional and measure 19- by 10-inches in front; 20- by 13-inches in the rear. The lattice structure wheels incorporate a geometric design which not only enable views to the large brakes (static or in motion), but enable weight optimization - a key to reducing un-sprung mass.

The Powertrain
The all-new 2010 Devon GTX blends athletic strength with uncompromising refinement thanks to what is perhaps the most powerful naturally aspirated production car powertrain system in the industry. The Devon GTX is equipped with an 8.4-liter (510 cubic inches) V-10 engine that produces 650 horsepower (484.7 kW) at 6100 rpm. The V-10 engine is mated with a track-proven six-speed manual transmission.The end result is a propulsion system that rivals - and in most cases surpasses - the most powerful offerings in the world.

6 Speed Manual Transmission
The transmission on the Devon GTX incorporates a host of applications to ensure effective transfer of the 8.4-liter engine's exceptional power and torque while delivering high-performance, fun-to-drive shifting characteristics. The end result: is short, crisp shift throws; smooth gear synchronization, and overall improved shift feel with little or no vibration. The transmission boasts wider gears for increased torque-handling capability; a six-gear synchronizer system for exceptional shift feel and reduced efforts; double-cone reverse gear synchronizer for eased "R" selection; strengthened housing for minimal "flex" and improved shifting; and a dual mass flywheel with twin-disc clutch.
Read More

Friday, April 13, 2012

Peugeot iOn, 2011

 
 Peugeot iOn, 2011

With the Peugeot iOn, the 100% electric car launched at the end of 2010, Peugeot offers a concrete and accessible response to the challenges of urban mobility and environmental responsibility. With its battery and its innovative services, including Peugeot Connect (emergency call and data feedback) and Mu by Peugeot (à la carte mobility), the Peugeot iOn will be available for a monthly rental of less than €500, with a running cost of less than 1.50€ per 100km.

Peugeot is on the offensive, taking concrete action on the electric vehicle market with:
  • 2 letters of intent signed with Veolia and Greenwheels
  • a partnership with the European project Electric Vehicles for Advanced Cities
  • 2500 contacts with private customers.

The Peugeot iOn can be fully charged in 6 hours and offers a 30-minute quick charge.

Environmentally-friendly mobility: lithium-ion batteries rechargeable in six hours, quick charge in 30 minutes.

The city will be the Peugeot iOn's preferred territory. With four doors, four seats, a length of 3.48 m and a turning circle radius of 4.50 m, this 100 % electric Peugeot develops a maximum power of 47 kW (64 bhp) and a torque of 180 Nm, offering a level of performance perfectly suited to 90% of car journeys, with in particular:
  • a maximum speed of 130 kph
  • a comfortable range of 130 km in the European standardised cycle
  • lithium-ion batteries rechargeable in six hours using a traditional 220 V socket,
  • a 30-minute quick charge system ensuring 80 % capacity.
Peugeot iOn
These characteristics make this "zero emission" city run-around very versatile to use, comparable in terms of performance and capacity to a small conventionally powered vehicle.

Its environmental-friendliness, compactness, safety and simplicity of use will be its main strengths... but not the only ones.

Indeed, inside the vehicle there will be innovative services:
  • Peugeot Connect authorises the emergency call, of which Peugeot is the leader in Europe, but also feedback of valuable data for professional fleet management: battery status, mileage, distance before next service.
  • Mu by Peugeot, currently being deployed in Europe, providing easy access to products and accessories in the Peugeot range: cars, light commercial vehicles, scooters, bicycles.
Accessible mobility: Peugeot is off to a flying start on the emerging electric vehicle market.

At the Brussels Motor Show, Peugeot signed two letters of intention (L.O.I.) with Veolia and Greenwheels, companies operating in Europe, with a view to the purchase of electric vehicles and the development of mobility services.

In addition, a partnership has been agreed to join the European EVA project (Electric Vehicles for Advanced Cities), a consortium which to date brings together more than 20 European cities, car manufacturers and electricity suppliers from many countries.

Buoyed by 2500 customer contacts and this intensification of its approach to B to B customers, Peugeot is off to a flying start on the emerging electric vehicle market.
Today, the Marque takes a new marketing step by fixing its minimum monthly rental at under €500, a simple and accessible electric offer as the vehicle's running cost is below that of a conventional vehicle.

Characteristics
  • Urban/semi-urban vehicle 4 doors - 4 occupants, environmentally-friendly, compact and easy to handle
  • No exhaust emissions
  • Silent
  • Meeting 90 % of daily travel requirements
  • Reduced running costs: less than €1.50 per 100 km
  • Reduced servicing
    * Dimensions
          o Length: 3.480mm
          o Width: 1.475mm
          o Wheelbase: 2.550 mm
          o Height: 1.600 mm
    * Easy to handle: Turning circle radius between walls 4.5m
 
   * Synchronous electric motor with permanent magnets
          o Maximum power: 47 kW @ 2500-8000 rpm
          o Maximum torque: 180 Nm @ 0-2500 rpm
          o Maximum engine speed: 8500rpm

    * Maximum speed: 130kph

    * Performance (half payload)
          o 0-400 m: 19.9 s
          o 0-1000 m: 36.9 s

    * Battery, range and recharging
          o Lithium-Ion battery
          o Range: 130 km
          o Fully charged in 6 hours from an earthed domestic socket
          o Rapid charge using a special terminal from 0 to 80% in 30 minutes

    * Services
        o Peugeot Connect - thanks to a localised communication system - including Peugeot Connect SOS, for emergency calls
          o Peugeot Connect Assistance, for breakdown assistance
          o Peugeot Connect Fleet, for fleet management
          o Mu by Peugeot: à la carte mobility
  •     * A single specification level - 2 levels of finish
  •     * ABS - ESP - 6 air bags
  •     * Electric power steering
  •     * 15" alloy wheels
  •     * Fog lamps
  •     * Central locking
  •     * Electric windows - electrically-operated door mirrors
  •     * Automatic switching-on of headlamps
  •     * Semi-automatic air conditioning
  •     * RDE radio (MP3, Bluetooth, USB)
  •     * Telematics unit for Peugeot Connect services
  •     * Height-adjustable driver's seat
  •     * 50/50 separate and tilting rear bench seat (6 positions)
  •     * Isofix in both rear seats
Read More

Saab PhoeniX Concept, 2011

 
 
 
 
Saab PhoeniX Concept, 2011

Sleek, innovative and exceptionally efficient: the Saab PhoeniX Concept car showcases design features and technologies which will shape the next generation of cars from Saab.

Based on an new architecture which will empower the next Saab 9-3 model, the Saab PhoeniX Concept introduces 'aeromotional' design: a visual evocation of the aerodynamic design principles and passion for innovation that inspired the creators of Saab's first car, the iconic Ursaab.
The Saab PhoeniX Concept embraces teardrop, 'liquid metal' forms and a dramatic jet canopy-inspired glasshouse that gives fresh expression to Saab's signature 'wraparound' and translucent ice-block design themes.

The clean, muscular shape enables an exceptionally low drag co-efficient of just 0.25 and also explores the potential for airflow management through the use of distinctive, side-mounted 'winglets'.
Butterfly opening doors give easy access to a 2+2 cabin that blends simplicity with technology. It has a minimalist, 'stripped out' feel, including a new expression of Saab's driver-focused layout and a world debut for Saab's innovative IQon infotainment and communications system. In true Saab tradition, there is also a surprisingly versatile cargo deck.

Under its rippling bodywork, the Saab PhoeniX deploys an innovative driveline, with an electrically-driven rear axle mated to a sophisticated 200 hp, 1.6-liter gasoline turbo engine. The result is an intelligent, hybrid all-wheel-drive capability that enhances driving pleasure while reducing fuel consumption. Combined cycle fuel economy and CO2 emissions are projected to be just 5.0 l/100 km and 119 g/km.

The aeromotional design
The Saab PhoeniX Concept's 'aeromotional' design theme is inspired by Saab's aviation roots and draws expression from Ursaab, the prototype designed by aircraft engineers that spawned Saab's first generation of cars.

The entire form of the Saab PhoeniX Concept is seemingly molded by the wind. Tightly-wrapped by a liquid-like skin, the teardrop cabin resembles a dark ice block and appears to erupt from the center of the muscular bodywork. Two prominent ripples flow along the hood into the disguised windshield pillars, as if barely able to contain a powerful structure underneath.

At the rear, the dark screen also bursts through the outer skin of the rear deck, The tapering form hints at the teardrop rear styling of Ursaab, while the 'sawn off', kamm tail echoes a form from Saab's first coupé, the Sonett.

The low, frontal styling features a stretched interpretation of Saab's signature three-port grille. A body-colored central wing is now dominant and, in keeping with the car's minimalist design, LED headlamps are almost invisibly located at its tips. The new grille and hood forms are among the styling themes likely to be seen in future Saab production cars.

Butterfly-opening doors provide enhanced access to the low-slung cabin. There are no visible door handles or mirrors to disrupt airflow, and small cameras on slim stalks provide rearward vision.
Roof-mounted 'winglets' enable Saab PhoeniX Concept to cleave the air as efficiently as possible. They channel airflow from the side of the car and direct it across the rear deck, reducing lift forces for greater stability without increasing drag.

Minimalist interior
In true Scandinavian tradition, the 2+2 cabin adopts a clean, minimalist look. It has the 'stripped out' feel of a competition car, with shell-like seats and metalized interior sections that mimic the exposed network of a rollover cage.

Fresh expression is given to Saab's traditional, driver-focused instrument layout. A circular pod in front of the driver, shaped like the afterburner of a jet engine, presents data in tandem with the head-up display.
Angled at 45º to the driver, a separate module accommodates Saab's advanced IQon infotainment and communications system. For good ergonomics, the 8-inch touch-screen is as close to the driver's finger tips as the steering wheel.

Saab IQon (see separate release for full details) is a ground-breaking car communications platform using Google's AndroidTM operating system. Based on pioneering 'open innovation' with third-party service providers and applications developers, it comprises an embedded computer platform which seamlessly connects to the internet when the car's ignition is switched on. The touch-screen provides access to audio and entertainment streaming, online navigation, on-board music storage and smartphone-like downloading of applications.

Red illumination for all instrument and ambient cabin lighting brings warmth and emotion to the cabin. This includes the floor, where LED light tubes are exposed by perforations in the black carpeting. It is all part of the new 'aeromotional' design strategy, incorporating 'fire and ice' effects.
The Saab PhoeniX Concept's curvaceous rear deck disguises a deep-opening tailgate. It gives access to a flat cargo deck, including fold-flat rear seatbacks and a cargo track for adaptable load carrying.

Efficient propulsion
Under its sculpted hood and beneath its cargo deck, the Saab PhoeniX Concept advances Saab's rightsizing powertrain strategy. Its propulsion system combines a highly efficient, 1.6-liter turbo engine with innovative, electric rear wheel drive technology.

The compact, all-aluminum gasoline engine packs 200 hp (147 kW) and includes variable valve timing and lift control, as well as start/stop functionality, minimal parasitic losses and a fuel cut-off function. A stainless steel tank is fitted, which is lighter and less expensive than a conventional plastic design,

The engine is supported by Saab's innovative eXWD system. It comprises a rear drive unit housing a 25 kW (34 hp) electric motor/generator powered by a small battery pack. Regenerative braking is used to sustain the battery's charge.

Now under development for the next generation of Saab cars, this hybrid propulsion system enables the benefits of all-wheel-drive while also reducing fuel consumption. Using a six-speed manual transmission, projected combined cycle fuel economy and CO2 emissions are just 5.0 l/100 km and 119 g/km.

The driver can select one of three eXWD operating modes. The default Eco mode delivers optimal fuel and CO2 efficiency with power assistance to reduce load on the gasoline engine at low speeds; Sport mode includes maximum power assistance with torque vectoring across the rear axle for greater chassis control; and Traction mode enables optimal grip at take-off and in slippery conditions.

The inside and out, the Saab PhoeniX Concept showcases new design directions and technologies that will be part of forthcoming Saab products.
Read More

Renault Clio Estate, 2010

 
 
 
Renault Clio Estate, 2010

On its existing popularity (17 per cent of Clio III sales in Europe), New Renault Clio Estate features the same front-end styling cues as the hatchback version, which itself takes its inspiration from New Renault Mégane. With a length of 4,228mm (an increase of 26mm over Clio III Estate), New Renault Clio Estate continues to stand out as one of the market's most compact estates, while its dynamic stance is heightened by its steeply-raked rear screen. 

The latter is topped by a spoiler and black or chrome profiled roof bars (depending on version) which are unmistakable pointers to New Renault Clio Estate's calling as the perfect leisure car. The longer rear overhang frees up a generous boot volume of 439dm3 (VDA, up to parcel shelf), a figure which extends to 1,277dm3 (VDA) with the easy-to-manipulate rear benchseat fully folded. 

The  New Renault Clio Estate's removable boot floor gives owners the opportunity to choose between maximum carrying capacity or a completely flat floor and makes it easy to switch between a wide variety of uses. The baggage cover, which is often seen as something that gets in the way, and the removable floor can both be stored away in their own clever, practical compartments.
Read More

Renault Frendzy Concept, 2011

 
 
 

 
 

 Renault Frendzy Concept, 2011


The latest concept car to be produced under the leadership of Laurens van den Acker is the perfect multi-talented vehicle. As a commercial business vehicle which can double up perfectly as a comfortable passenger car, it meets the requirements of business users on the one hand and those of families on the other.

A fully fledged office on wheels with the introduction of the new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, the electrically powered Frendzy showcases Renault's new design language.
Laurens van den Acker, Senior Vice President, Design Renault: "Frendzy is the fourth vehicle to illustrate Renault's new design strategy, a series which started with DeZir. Frendzy takes an original and innovative stance on the world of light commercial vehicles - a key part of Renault's activities".

Renault Frendzy Concept, a multi-faceted friend
Renault Frendzy Concept has a dual personality. These days, professional and personal lives are so intricately interwoven that drivers find themselves permanently channel-hopping between one world and the other. The role of Frendzy is to be a partner that takes the strain out of this lifestyle.
Axel Breun, Design Director, Concept and Show Cars: "Frendzy is the must-have vehicle for flexibility and versatility. It is efficient and modern as a work tool, yet sporting and warmly welcoming for the family".

On the outside
On the passenger's side, there's no glazing and no centre pillar, just one conventional door and one sliding side door which incorporates a 37-inch widescreen display. This is the world of work. The driver's side, complete with side windows, still no centre pillar, but with centre opening doors represents the world of the family. Ease of loading and ease of entry go without saying in both worlds!

The exterior designer, Deyan Denkov: "The concept of an asymmetric body design was the most logical way to express this vehicle's two roles. From the very start, I wanted to move away from the traditional format for commercial vehicles and, in doing so, show that this type of vehicle could also be more emotional, more dynamic and more attractive. I took inspiration from a wide variety of sources, including unconventionally shaped aircraft such as the Airbus Beluga and the Antonov 224."

On weekdays, Renault Frendzy Concept is a vehicle that adapts to the requirements of the business user, with a large external screen that can display useful messages or information (such as "making deliveries" or "back in five minutes", the battery-charging method or the remaining charge) or advertising messages, either whilst parked or on the move. Come the weekend, the vehicle transforms itself into a family vehicle, with a comfortable passenger seat and, in the rear, a big bench seat. Depending on their mood of the moment, children can watch a film or play games on the touch-sensitive pad which slides out from the back of the driver's seat. They can even draw on a special slate integrated into the sliding door.

The driver, likewise, can adapt the vehicle to his or her needs. In 'work' mode, the rear-view mirrors sit upright and the interior lighting is green; in 'family' mode, the mirrors swivel round to the horizontal position and the interior is bathed in a radiant orange ambience. Coloured repeater lights in the headlamps and tail lights provide an external indication of the mode in which Frendzy is operating.
With Frendzy, Renault - as Europe's light commercial vehicles' market leader for the past 13 years - is once again able to showcase the practicality, modularity and versatility already proven by the Kangoo, Trafic and Master on our roads today.

On the inside
The driver's side cockpit is designed along the theme of a futuristic 'work bench' featuring a structure which appears to be made from molten metal. Green light emanating from the dashboard brings this smooth and organic architecture to life. These lights signify the 'work' mode and tie in with the colour displayed on the exterior of the vehicle.
In the 'family' mode, the atmosphere becomes warmer as the green lights turn orange - a subtle reference to the colour of the previous concept car, the family-oriented R-Space.

Dominant throughout is the sense that the interior forms a cosy cabin which echoes the simple yet practical world of camping, and this is further reflected by extensive use of wood. Indeed, as much a symbol of warmth as it is of strength and timelessness, wood forms a link between the two modes. The leather latticework seats and removable accessories also refer to the camping metaphor.

Antoine Génin, Design Director, Interior and Colour/Materials: "Our research into materials centred on the area where the technology of industry meets the cosy softness of the family nest. This modern combination of wood and metal picks up on Renault's strategic design values of simplicity, sensuousness and warmth."

On a practical level, the fabric roof adapts itself to the shape of bulky objects, magnetic fixings allow the load to be secured to the floor, and modular stowage systems are a practical bonus for business users. The single-piece rear seat is integrated into the floor, while the front seat folds forward in order to free up space. Thanks to its practical, modular interior, Frendzy lends itself perfectly to the requirements of traders and tradesmen.

Interior designer Ana Zadnik explains: "The interior of the vehicle reflects its double identity: on the one hand, it provides a roomy, uncluttered cargo carrying space and, on the other hand, a space that's fun and interactive and which seats up to four people. The organic volumes of the dashboard and rear door panels are extruded by strikingly shaped "nozzles", which become "receptors" for accessories, which can be plugged directly into the dashboard and door panels."

An innovative office on wheels
The user-friendly layout of the driver's environment and tablet turn Renault Frendzy Concept into a truly interactive and communicative tool. The BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet recently launched by Research In Motion (RIM), plugged into the dashboard, has enabled the concept of an office on wheels to become reality. BlackBerry PlayBook is ultra-portable (seven-inch touchscreen, 425g in weight, measuring 130mm x 194mm x 10mm), yet it delivers advanced performance, uncompromised web browsing with support for Adobe® Flash®, HD multimedia, advanced security features and out-of-the-box enterprise support.

BlackBerry Play Book can allow users to benefit from an effective workplace and unrestricted mobility while on the go. This makes it particularly well suited to neighbourhood deliveries and local craftsmen, for whom it is a genuine work tool, both inside and outside of the vehicle. The tablet connects directly into the centre console, ensuring perfect convenience of operation once on the move. As soon as it is plugged in, it becomes an integral element of the vehicle and configures itself into the Renault environment. Continuity of work is assured once the device is removed, and it can of course be used for all of the renowned BlackBerry Play Book tablet features.

The device has an important role to play, too, in the customization of the vehicle as it controls the exterior screen while the vehicle is in motion and when parked, for business as well as for personal uses - pictograms illustrating life with electric vehicles, or the viewing of a film, for example.

Sensors located on each door sill log the loading or unloading of packages equipped with RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) chips containing key information such as destination address, weight and dimensions. This gives users a real-time inventory of the goods being carried in their vehicle. In addition, tradesmen can automatically calculate or re-calculate their itineraries on the basis of this information.

Renault Frendzy Concept - a commercial vehicle that's also electric
Like DeZir, which was unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, Frendzy is an electric vehicle. As for Frendzy's powertrain, it is the same as that of Kangoo Z.E., although the charging point - located under the Renault logo at the front of the vehicle - is identical to that on ZOE Preview.

The chief new feature of Renault Frendzy Concept as an electric vehicle is the extensive work that has gone into the sounds it produces. This work was carried out in conjunction with IRCAM (Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique / Musique). Electric vehicles are silent, so one of the big challenges facing Renault is customizing the sound they produce for safety reasons, notably at slow speeds.
The collaboration between Renault and IRCAM began with the creation of a sporty sound for DeZir which conveys the driving enjoyment associated with the car. In the case of Frendzy, the aim was to produce a custom sound which corresponds with the new concept car's calling as an "office on wheels".

The Renault Frendzy Concept's dual personality prompted Renault and IRCAM to develop a broad range of sounds. The programme has led to a variety of sounds that are emitted both inside and outside of the vehicle to ensure that everyone can tell whether it is in business or passenger car mode, thanks simply to its sound signature.
More impressive still, it is possible to distinguish the passenger side (the world of work) from the driver's side (the world of the family) merely by the sound produced by Renault Frendzy Concept.
Read More