Volvo Range Extenders

Volvo is set to explore range extender technology early next year using three new concepts.



Recognising that the appeal of purely electric cars remains hampered by current battery capacities, the vehicles will all feature a three-cylinder petrol / ethanol engine in combination with an electric motor.



The first is a series-connected C30 Range Extender, which features a 59 bhp (45 kW / 60 PS) engine that’s mounted under the boot floor. Ordinarily, it’s used to drive a 109 bhp (82 kW / 111 PS) electric motor via a 40 kW generator, although the generator can also be used to recharge the battery. Running in pure electric mode, the C30’s range is around 70 miles (110 km).

Next up is another C30, although parallel connection means it functions more like a traditional hybrid. Thanks to a turbocharger, the combustion engine’s output is increased to 187 bhp (140 kW / 190 PS), and it directly drives the rear wheels via a six-speed auto transmission.



Power can also be sent to the on-board generator, which in turn charges the battery. Electric range is up to 45 miles (75 km), but the benefit of parallel connection means that the engine and motor can be used together. In this configuration, combined power is over 295 bhp (220 kW / 300 PS), and it’s reckoned that that should result in a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of under six seconds.

Finally, there’s the parallel-connected V60 Range Extender. This uses the same powertrain as its C30 counterpart, but the larger body means that everything can fit under the bonnet. A difference is that when travelling at up to 31 mph (50 km/h), the V60 is driven solely by the electric motor, with the battery being good enough for a range of about 30 miles (50 km). At higher speeds, the petrol engine automatically kicks in to drive the front wheels.

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Audi A1 clubsport quattro

Audi has revealed the A1 clubsport quattro, a one-off show car that will debut at the upcoming Wörtherseetour 2011.

Under the bonnet is the familiar 2.5 litre, five cylinder turbocharged motor from the TT RS and RS 3 Sportback, but output has been boosted by nearly 50% to 496 bhp (370 kW / 503 PS). Maximum torque is a substantial 660 Nm (486 lb/ft).



As expected, loads of power plus a small lightweight hatchback equals very rapid acceleration. The 0-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint is completed in 3.7 seconds, while the 50 - 75 mph (80 - 120 km/h) increment takes just 2.4 seconds in fourth gear. However, Audi wasn’t brave enough to ditch the speed limiter, so the A1 clubsport quattro won’t go beyond 155 mph (250 km/h).



It should be able to stop okay though, thanks to carbon fibre ceramic discs with six-piston calipers up front, paired with steel discs at the rear. Those brakes sit behind bespoke 19” alloy wheels that are shod with 255/30 section tyres.



Visually, there’s no mistaking the clubsport quattro. The front and rear wings have been widened by six centimetres, and the roof panel is made from carbon fibre reinforced polymer. A revised front valance incorporates larger air intakes, while the prominent double rear spoiler is there to ensure sufficient down force is generated.



On the inside, there’s a pair of leather-trimmed bucket seats borrowed from the R8 GT that come complete with four-point racing harnesses. In keeping with the stripped out racer look, the rear seats have been ditched altogether, as has the audio system. Even the door handles have disappeared, replaced by red fabric loops.

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Aston Martin V12 Zagato

Fifty years after the DB4GT Zagato, and following in the wheel tracks of several subsequent collaborations with the Italian design house, Aston Martin has unveiled the new V12 Zagato concept.

Its debut will be at the Villa D'Este Concours on 21st May 2011, which takes place near Lake Como in Italy. Aston Martin is going to use the occasion to ‘gauge customer interest’, despite already confirming that a strictly limited run of cars will be built.



But the V12 Zagato isn’t just going to be a road car. In the tradition of previous Aston Martin Zagatos a race programme is planned, starting off with the four hour VLN Nürburgring race on 28th May 2011, and then followed by a 24 hour event at the same venue on 25th and 26th June 2011.

Unsurprisingly for a Zagato creation, the looks are arguably more challenging than those of a series production Aston Martin.



Even Marek Reichman, Director of Design at Aston Martin, described it as ‘an elegant yet brutal design which reflects the great balance between race performance and pure Aston Martin style. The original DB4GT Zagato was a true icon, powerful and graceful; the new design is a true representation of the spirit of DB4GT Zagato. The muscular organic forms define the thoroughbred nature of the car's racing credentials.’



Regardless of whether the styling divides opinion, there’s no disputing the craftsmanship that has gone into building the car. Sitting atop the bonded aluminium structure (borrowed from the V12 Vantage) is a handmade aluminium body, assembled using traditional techniques. The front wings, for example, are each made from seven separate pieces of metal, while the roof panel alone uses five pieces.



No word on prices yet, but that probably won’t be of much concern to prospective owners.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato (Endurance Race Specification)
Body
Type	Two door, two seat coupe
Chassis	Bonded aluminium structure
Body	Hand crafted aluminium
Roll cage	FIA compliant; steel
Fuel system	120 litre endurance racing fuel tank
Suspension	All-round independent double wishbone with fully adjustable Multimatic DSSV dampers
Front brakes	Ventilated floating grooved discs with 6 piston callipers
Rear brakes	Ventilated floating grooved discs with 4 piston callipers
Engine
Type	All alloy, quad overhead cam 48-valve 5,935 cc V12
Location	Front mid-mounted
Power	510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS)
Torque	570 Nm (420 lb/ft)
Compression ratio	10.9:1
Transmission
Drive	Rear-wheel drive; limited slip differential; magnesium alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft
Gearbox	Six-speed automated manual gearbox with auto shift manual / select shift manual (ASM / SSM) electric hydraulic control system; rear-mid mounted
Clutch	Twin plate competition

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Electric Defender on safari

Land Rover may already be working on a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain, but the company’s South African subsidiary has gone one step further by producing an all-electric Defender in collaboration with lithium-ion battery pack specialists Axeon and Baker Performance Products.



Based on a 110 High Capacity Pick Up, the Electric Defender Game Viewer Concept Vehicle is designed for use in game parks where the ability to run quietly has obvious benefits.

The custom-made 300 volt 27 kW/hr battery pack fits entirely within the engine bay, so that ground clearance is unaffected and the electrical systems are kept dry when the Defender is wading. It powers an air-cooled AC induction motor that produces 79 bhp (59 kW / 80 PS), with a regenerative capacity of 13 bhp (10 kW / 14 PS), and 330 Nm (243 lb/ft) of torque.



It’s said that three typical game drives can be completed on a single charge, which equates to a range of around 50 miles (80 km) plus 12 miles (20 km) in reserve. Recharging is via the mains or a solar adapter.



For the moment the Electric Defender is just a one-off, although there could be other applications where the technology proves to be useful.



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Jaguar to build C-X75

Jaguar has announced that its C-X75 supercar is to make it to production, with the project getting assistance from the Williams F1 team.

Although the micro-turbine of the original 2010 Paris Motor Show concept will be swapped for a small capacity internal combustion engine, the C-X75 remains a hybrid thanks to a pair of electric motors powering an axle each.



That arrangement is claimed to offer an astonishing combination of performance and efficiency.



The targets are a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) acceleration time of under three seconds and a top speed of over 200 mph (321 km/h), combined with CO2 emissions of less than 99 g/km. What’s more, the C-X75 should be able to operate as a pure electric vehicle for at least 30 miles (50 kilometres).

Williams F1’s involvement is to focus on aerodynamics, hybrid technologies and the use of carbon composites for the Jaguar’s chassis.



Only 250 examples of the Jaguar C-X75 are going to be built, and prices will be between £700,000 and £900,000 depending on local taxes. That’s around €800,400 - €1,030,000 or US$1,146,000 - US$1,473,400 based on today’s exchange rates.

Mercedes Concept A-Class

Mercedes-Benz looks to be taking its A-Class in a totally different direction. The Concept A-Class, which will be unveiled at this month’s Auto Shanghai show, eschews the tall, short mini-MPV shape of the previous two A-Class generations for an altogether more dynamic appearance.

A low stance and long bonnet completely change the proportions, while the complex swage lines along the side and the front-end styling echo the CLS. It certainly looks very different, and the more conventional body could allow the entry level Mercedes-Benz to take sales from its BMW 1 Series and Audi A3 competitors.



As with most show cars, there are plenty of features on the Concept A-Class that are unlikely to make it into production. The dashboard treatment is a prime example, as it has a stretchable and translucent textile covering, which apparently ‘enables the bionic, cellular structure of the component to remain visible’…



The Concept A-Class retains a front-wheel drive configuration, with power coming from a BlueEFFICIENCY four-cylinder petrol engine producing 207 bhp (155 kW / 210 PS). No performance, economy or emissions figures have been released, but Mercedes-Benz is claiming that a combination of turbocharging and direct injection will benefit all three measures. Drive is via a new dual-clutch transmission.

BMW Concept M5

BMW has revealed the 2012 M5 - albeit in ‘concept’ form - ahead of its debut at this month’s Shanghai motor show.

Performance figures have yet to be released, although BMW has confirmed that the V10 engine of the previous generation E60 M5 has been ditched in favour of a twin-turbo V8 for the new F10 model.



This is expected to be an adapted version of the 4.4 litre unit already seen in the X5 M and X6 M, and BMW is promising increased power combined with a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions.



Drive to the rear wheels will be via a seven-speed M double-clutch transmission, while a specially calibrated active differential has been engineered to minimise wheel spin and maximise traction.

Visually, all of the usual M5 styling cues are present. These include subtly widened wheel arches housing bespoke 20” forged alloy wheels, neat front wing gills and reworked front and rear aprons that are designed to aid both cooling and aerodynamics.



The interior remains a mystery for now though. The blacked-out glass of the concept suggests that it’s probably still work in progress.



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Kia Naimo electric concept

Kia has revealed its Naimo (pronounced neh-mo) electric concept car at the Seoul Motor Show.



Powered by a motor producing 107 bhp (80 kW / 109 PS) and 280 Nm of torque, it’s claimed that the Naimo will achieve a top speed of 93 mph (150 km/h).

Not bad outright performance, but the more relevant issue for any electric vehicle is always going to be how far it can travel before running out of juice.



Thanks to a 27 kWh lithium ion polymer battery pack, which is housed under the boot floor, the Kia should be good for a range of around 124 miles (200 km). By comparison, that’s slightly more than a Nissan Leaf manages.



Recharging time is another area that has clearly received plenty of attention, because the result is that the Naimo’s battery can be restored to 80 percent of its capacity in a reasonable 25 minutes. A full recharge would take five and a half hours, though.



Promising figures then, but the disappointing news is that this particular concept isn’t going to make it to production. Rather, Kia will be using it as a test-bed to help develop future models.

Hyundai Blue2 FCEV

Hyundai has unveiled the Blue2 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle at the Seoul Motor Show.

Powered by hydrogen, the Blue2 (say it ‘Blue Square’ not ‘Blue Two’, apparently) is a mid-size saloon that generates 120 bhp (90 kW / 122 PS). That name is an amalgamation of ‘Blue Drive’ - Hyundai’s eco sub-brand - and H2, the chemical symbol for hydrogen.



Other features on the Blue2 are pure show car, and include cameras instead of rear-view mirrors, a transparent organic LED screen in place of a conventional instrument binnacle, and an automatic door opening system.

It’s not known whether the Blue2 is going to lead to a production version, or if the design language will transfer across to future models. Dubbed ‘Intersected Flow’, Hyundai claims it’s innovative and dynamic, although it seems to borrow elements such as the Saab 9-5’s glasshouse and the Vauxhall / Opel Ampera’s headlight treatment.

Tata Pixel concept

Tata’s contribution to the host of concept cars on display at the Geneva International Motor Show is the Pixel, a Nano-based city car designed especially for Europe.

Measuring just over three metres (about 9’10”) long, the Pixel’s party piece is its turning circle of just 2.6 metres (8’6”). That’s possible thanks to an acute steering lock on the front wheels, plus what Tata describes as ‘zero turn toroidal traction drive infinitely variable transmission’ - a system that pushes the outer rear wheel forward while moving the inner rear backwards.



Like the Nano, the Pixel is a full four-seater. Access to the cabin is via a pair of scissor doors, which look impressive and negate the need for four doors. However, judging by the images, their opening height could cause a few problems in parking garages or multi-storey car parks.



Power comes from a 1.2 litre, three-cylinder turbo diesel engine. Rear-mounted, it features stop-start technology and low friction internals for enhanced economy. Indeed, Tata claims that the Pixel will be good for 83.0 mpg (3.4 l/100km) and have CO2 emissions of 89 g/km.

Alfa Romeo 4C Concept

Alfa Romeo stunned visitors to the 2002 Geneva International Motor Show with the Brera concept. The gorgeous looks might have eventually made it into production, but excessive weight, so-so performance and below par chassis dynamics sadly meant the showroom Brera was ultimately rather disappointing.



Now, nine years later, the Italian manufacturer has once again provided a Geneva star in the shape of the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept. A compact two-seat, mid-engined, rear-wheel drive coupé measuring around 4 metres (13 feet) long, the 4C makes extensive use of carbon fibre and aluminium in its construction to limit weight to just 850 kg (1,870 lbs). To put that into perspective, a Lotus Elise tips the scales at 876 kg (1,931 lbs).

With more than 197 bhp (147 kW / 200 PS) on offer from its 1,750 cc four-cylinder turbocharged engine, a sub five second zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) time is promised, along with a top speed in excess of 155 mph (250 km/h). The 4C Concept is equipped with an Alfa TCT dual-clutch transmission, as well as the marque’s trademark ‘DNA’ control system.



The good news is that the 4C is destined to lose its ‘Concept’ suffix, as Alfa Romeo has stated that sales are set to begin in late 2012. What’s more, pricing is reckoned to be around £38,000 (€45,000 / US $62,000), plus it’ll also be available in the United States.



A production run of 15,000 to 20,000 units is rumoured, stretched across a five year period. The 4C is also expected to form the basis for a bespoke Abarth model.



All of which brings us back to the Brera incident: hopefully Alfa Romeo has leant from that experience, and the 4C Concept will survive the transition into series production relatively unscathed.

Škoda Vision D at Geneva

Škoda has unveiled an Octavia-sized concept that previews the manufacturer’s future design direction.

Characterised by its sharp styling, long wheelbase and short overhangs, the Vision D also introduces a refreshed brand identity for Škoda.



That includes a new logo, which loses the ‘Škoda Auto’ word mark around the rim but features a more prominent version of the winged arrow device. Meanwhile, the grille has evolved. Although there are still vertical slats, the chrome surround is now finer, and the badge assumes a more prominent position.

Jürgen Stackmann, Škoda Board Member responsible for sales and marketing, said: ‘We are keen to express the new power of our brand not only through our future products, but also in the way we present ourselves to partners and customers.



‘Škoda is synonymous with attractive cars offering exceptional value for money, countless clever solutions and precisely executed work. All this is clearly reflected by our updated corporate design. As it forges ahead, Škoda is eager to flex its newfound strength in the international arena. Škoda is steadily evolving and it shows. Our new design and fresh outlook reflect our plans for the future.’



All of which points to an ever more desirable Škoda. Bad news for its competitors of course, but it could also cause real problems for sister brand Volkswagen. Differentiating between the two marques’ products is already increasingly difficult, making the extra cost of the Polo, Golf et al harder to justify.