Concepts

DETROIT--Ford rolled out a new concept, the Vertrek, at the 2011 Detroit auto show, defining a new small SUV. Significantly, the Vertrek is based on Ford's new C-segment platform, which also supports the Focus and C-Max models.

Ford says that the next version of the Escape will be based on the Vertrek, replacing the current boxy model. Vertrek also solidifies Ford's Kinetic design language for a small SUV, with a trapezoidal grille and dynamic side contours.

Cabin tech was not the focus of the Vertrek, as the car mostly demonstrates exterior design and power train tech. For the … Read more

LAS VEGAS--During his keynote speech, Audi chairman Rupert Stadler said that the most exciting area for consumer electronics was not in the home, but in the car. Every year at CES, car technology has become a bigger part of the picture. And this year, Ford actually unveiled an entirely new model at the show.

Cars During his keynote speech, Ford CEO Alan Mulally brought out the Focus Electric, a new electric car due out from Ford by the end of the year. Not to be outdone, GM brought a small fleet of electric-powered two-seater pod prototypes, a model named En-v, … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Analog gauges in your car are so 1900s; this century it's all about to go digital. At CES 2011 we saw a number of concepts for entirely digital instrument clusters designed for the automobile.

Nvidia demonstrated a 3D instrument cluster running off its new Tegra 2 process, and considering that the company is working with Audi, BMW, and Tesla, there's a good chance of implementation. Visteon also showed digital instrument cluster concepts using Open GL 3D architecture. As an automotive supplier, Visteon is showing these to potential customers in the automotive industry. QNX also showed a digital … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Automotive equipment manufacturer Visteon showed up at CES 2011 with two concept cars, each showing off different aspects of the company's new technology. One car, the C-Beyond, shows what can be done with LED headlights, a digital instrument cluster, and a whole new design for climate control. The Growth Market Vehicle shows how even very inexpensive cars can incorporate modern technology.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the C-Beyond is how Visteon configured the climate control system. Instead of putting traditional vents in the dashboard, circular vents are mounted in the roof, above each seating position. These … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Automotive supplier Visteon showed off a conceptual buttonless dashboard at CES 2011. This dashboard uses an infrared field to determine finger placement, which it then correlates to different functions.

Although its display included a panel showing button placement, this panel merely indicates to drivers where they should touch to activate volume, scrolling, and other functions. The panel is actually inert.

Infrared emitters flank the panel projecting what Visteon calls a curtain. This system can sense where the curtain gets broken, such as when a driver touches one of the inert button areas. Each area in the curtain equates to … Read more

Volkswagen will unveil an unnamed new midsize sedan (dubbed NMS) at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week. The carmaker posted a photo of the cloaked NMS on its Web site announcing the January 10 reveal date.

Although VW has teased sketches of the NMS, little is known about the concept except that it will be built in Tennessee. The car is likely to be an update for Volkwagen's Passat model. Automotive News reported that the carmaker will also debut a hybrid concept at the Detroit show.

Last month, Hyundai gave us a sneak peek at its upcoming Veloster sport coupe, set to be revealed at the 2011 Detroit auto show. This week, we get a second look at the Veloster that reveals that the coupe isn't exactly a coupe after all. It has four doors, but not in the way that you might expect.

At first, the teaser shot (depicted above) appears to illustrate a five-door hatchback design. However, closer inspection reveals that the Veloster will feature an asymmetrical design with a single door on the driver's side and a pair of doors on … Read more

Last year Kia showed us how to roll, with hamsters in the commercials for its Soul subcompact.

Now, it hopes to turn heads with its newest model at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month. The Korean automaker last week released a photo and a few details in a two-sentence press release about the KV7 concept.

The KV7 isn't just another boxy crossover. The company said it will make a "dramatic design statement" with gull-wing rear doors and hardwood floors.

Now, what little critters will be hawking the KV7, if the model makes … Read more

There have been rumblings and spy shots floating around the Internet for some time, but today Hyundai makes its upcoming compact sport coupe official with the launching of a teaser campaign for the 2011 Hyundai Veloster.

The teaser site doesn't show much more than a countdown to the vehicle's unveiling at the 2011 Detroit auto show on January 10. However, a teaser video found on the automaker's YouTube channel (embedded below) lets us know that the coupe will feature a direct-injected engine--likely a four-cylinder--mated to a dual-clutch automatic gearbox that delivers an estimated 40 mpg. Those numbers … Read more