Concepts

Toyota's FCV-R hydrogen concept car heads to Europe

On the second stop of its world tour, the Toyota FCV-R fuel cell concept vehicle will make its European premiere at the Geneva auto show next month.

The hydrogen-powered concept debuted at the Tokyo Motor show late last year. Few details about the FCV-R were shared, but the compact car seats four and has a cruising range of about 434 miles on a full tank.

Toyota is currently holding field trials of the Highlander Fuel Cell Hydrogen Hybrid Vehicle (FCHV) in the U.S. Although it's not clear what will become of the hydrogen-powered SUV, the FCV-R concept is … Read more

Kia to chase luxury buyers with new sedan

To be seen as more than a budget car maker, Kia follows the example of Hyundai's Equus in releasing a luxury sedan.

The Korean automaker published several images of its upcoming flagship sedan that's set to debut on its home turf in the first half of 2012. Code-named the "KH," the rear-wheel drive car is targeted toward the high-end performance market, and it's likely coming to the U.S., although dates haven't been announced.

Thanks to its fast rising sales in the U.S., Kia is becoming a bigger player in the automotive industry, … Read more

Tesla Model X: Electric, all-wheel drive, and crazy folding doors

LOS ANGELES--The highlight of the Model X introduction, Tesla's SUV, was not the electric power train, but what the company calls the falcon-wing doors.

The manufacturer being Tesla, it was a given that the Model X would be an electrically driven vehicle. So during a preview for a small group of journalists at Tesla's design center in Los Angeles, Tesla CEO Elon Musk focused on the innovative side doors.

These doors lift up from the sides, then hinge in the middle before gaining their full height. Unlike gull-wing doors, Tesla's doors can open in much narrower spaces. Musk said they give the Model X the largest door openings of any passenger car. Impressively, he was able to stand in the car, his head underneath the open door, without crouching.… Read more

Are you ready for a car that teleports?

What kind of car would you design if you didn't have to pay attention to cost, practicality, or even the laws of physics?

To visualize the potential of futuristic technologies, Portuguese industrial designer Tiago Miguel Inacio penned a halo vehicle for the 22nd century--the Mithos Electromagnetic Vehicle concept.

Inspired by Tim Burton's Batmobile, the Mithos is equipped with a 1.5 megawatt electric motor that gives the vehicle a zero to 60 mph acceleration of 2.1 seconds. It can reach its top speed of 250 mph in 12 seconds.

The body is coated in crash resistant body … Read more

Nissan design regains coherence with Invitation concept

At the 2012 International Motor Show in Geneva, Nissan will show off a small car concept with striking new design language.

For the last couple of years it seemed like Nissan's design department was playing exquisite corpse with its vehicles, one designer taking over where another left off, not looking at the previous section of the car. Both the Juke and the Quest seem a mishmash of styles, while earlier design cues, such as the boomerang headlight casings from the 370Z and GT-R, haven't made it past the sports cars.

Then there's the coherent but conservative design of the Versa, leading to a nondescript little car that will have people wandering around parking lots for hours trying to find it.

But the photos just released for the Invitation concept show a car with a solid and attractive design. The wide grille stretches across the front of the car, fitting into cutouts in the headlight casings. The lower air intake and parking lights mirror the upper half of the front.

The side shows a powerful contour line that runs down the back, then forward, hooking back again in the front doors. Nissan calls it the Squash Line. To paraphrase The Dude, it really ties the car together.

Nissan has not released many details of the concept, which will be the basis for a new European B segment car alongside the Juke.… Read more

Are composite pickup trucks in our future?

Transportation design firm Motive Industries released computer-generated images of what a pickup made of composite material could look like.

The Bison is a midsize truck concept with the the cargo capacity of a full-size Ford F-series, according to Motive. Constructed of carbon fiber composite, the Bison offers a 50 percent weight savings over a steel truck without sacrificing strength.

The same chassis could be used with conventional gas or diesel engines, and it can also accommodate a hybrid, electric, or fuel cell power train, according to Motive. The flexible platform and body design would make it an attractive option for … Read more