<< CONCEPT CARS >>

by Kun-Pyo Hong

A concept car or show car is a car prototype made to showcase a new design of vehicle, new styling, technology and more. They are often shown at motor shows to see customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced in the factory for people to drive on the street.
Concept cars never go into production directly; in modern times all would have to have many changes made to them before any decision is made to introduce them in any way to anyone outside of the company.
Because previous models of car are judged by both themselves, other car manufacturers and the population alike, car companies are constantly trying to make and out-do eachother in the war to make the best car for that year. Today you can see new ideas coming through such as, electric cars and bio fuels... all of which certain things have to bee changed to accomodate, like engines and power sources.
Materials for concept cars are endless, the materials range from cheap paper and plastics to the most expensive like carbon fiber and alloy. Manufacturers are constantly thinking of new materials and futuristic "looks" that they can incorperate into a new car, from the dash to the seatbelt configuration, everything is rigourously tested to achieve optamim performance, styling a driving satisfaction.

Below I will try to explain certain examples of concept design and explain design features of what you are seeing in the pictures.

Some examples of new concepts of styling and performances can be seen here

BMW

There isn't a four-door sedan on the road right now—sorry Jag—that's as sexy as Maserati's Quatroporte. But if BMW actually brings this CS Concept to market, Maser is won't be king of the hill anymore. While it's irritating the company is calling it a "four-door coupe"—coupes have four doors!—the CS Concept looks incredibly sleek, and its presence in showrooms would probably send most of their competitors back to the drawing board. With its sleek and stylish lines to its BMW trademark grill sticking out from the front this car oozes looks and technology. Sometimes you just have to say WOW. . Presented first as a concept at the Shanghai Auto Show, this will probably be the next 8 series BMW, which will compete the Mercedes CLS and the upcoming Porsche Panamera, in the sporty 4 doors coupe class.Measuring at 5.1 m in length, the high-end car features 21 inch wheels, giving the concept an aggressive look. Apparently, BMW will fit the production car with a 6.0L V12 engine.

AUDI

Surfing around the web, I came across this concept car, Audi Locus by Ugur Sahin. Looking like TT and R8’s son from the future, this concept car impresses with its curved design, creating a continuous flow from front until the back of the car. The Audi Locus looks really nice, too bad we’ll probably never gonna see it on the streets.

The main characteristics of the design are the way its surface shapes are formed with a continuous flow from the front end until the back of the car. The front has an aggressive look with the traditional Audi grille. The air intakes are shaped like the headlights to create a coherent feeling.
The rear section has very defined curves and subtle details, tail lights are designed to have integrated air outtakes underneath. The sleek design of the rear volume is defined by the dual exhaust tail pipes located at the very sides and by the dark surfaces of the diffuser.

LEXUS

The LF-A Roadster is based on the sturdy yet lightweight carbon-fiber and aluminum body used for the LF-A Coupe which helps maintain the cars strength and rigidity even without a top.
The LF-A Roadster is powered by a 5.0 liters V10 engine, capable of more than 500 horsepower and test-track speeds greater than 200 mph. (FAST)

The "F" logo, located on each front fender of the Roadster, indicates the vehicle's status as a part of the new "F" marque.
The name is derived from the original "F" designation for the first Lexus LS prototype. That vehicle was internally coded "Circle-F," with the "F" standing for "flagship." Luxury that is intriguing, subtle and slightly surprising. The key to the formula is how the visual contrast between simplicity and elegance creates a look that is dynamic, forceful and vigorous.

HUMMER

Unveiled at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the two-door HX Concept is more compact than a HUMMER H3 – (81 inches)The HX concept can be easily tranformed into a convertible thanks to its removable roof panels above the driver and front passenger, and a modular, removable rear roof assembly.“The HX is HUMMER’s vision of an agile, trail-ready, open-air vehicle that fits the lifestyles of everyone who needs or wants to drive off road," said Martin Walsh, HUMMER general manager. "Of course, it carries exceptional off-road capability and the distinctive styling for which all HUMMERs are known.”And while the headlamps and grille are clearly HUMMER cues, they’ve evolved on the HX with a “chopped circle” shape. The grille slots and headlamps, as well as elements on the interior, have the appearance of circles or ovals that have been clipped at the top and bottom, creating a unique appearance that speaks to the vehicle’s purposeful looks.
From aircraft-inspired seats to integrated, off-road-ready tools, the HUMMER HX’s interior has a beauty that lies in its purposeful intent. It was inspired by the functional and lightweight elements found in aircraft. The console also houses a resting place for phones, MP3 player and iPods or iPhones. Altogether a very tidy piece of finetuned and powerfuly ruggered machinery.

I have tried to explain what the purpose of a concept car is and how car makers strive for eyecatching and various design perfection; Taking an idea and turning it into a road legal (or not) machine capable of capturing the minds and hearts of auto lovers alike. I have tried to explain certain design feature and spec so that you may know more about the pictures and the cars themselves.... here are more pictures below for you veiwing pleasure.

.......NISSAN PIVO 2 ............................. MAZDA TAIKI............................SHELBY COBRA Kc427.....

Initial D- Last curve in Gunma.

Initial D-
Last curve in Gunma.

By Ellen Leung

As the faint morning glow lights up the eastern sky both team head home after a hard night practice. As the day nears its end, storm clouds appear in the sky above Gunma.
A yellow Mazda FD3S and a white Toyota AE86 are parking beside a vending machine on the middle of a highway.

Keisuke Takahashi owner of the yellow FD, also the number-two driver of Team Project D. is talking with the owner of AE86 Takumi Fujiwara who is the number-three driver of Project D.
They both are starring at a pink S-15 which parking on the side of the road with its high beam on.
“That S-15 is really ticking me off, look at it…just parked up there, doing nothing!” said Keisuke.
“ah, there’re two people sitting in it, what are they trying to do?” asked Takumi.
“Creeps are probably looking for an ambush race! Whatever, if they make a move on us, I’m just not going to take it!” said Keisuke.
A minute of silence, Keisuke changed his mind,
“…Maybe No! Let’s bring them on!” said Keisuke with a smile on his face.
“Are you sure? So you are not having enough of the practice that we just done for the uphill?” said Takumi.
“You now get it, I am now feeling excited for a downhill race.”
“You sure you want to take him on? We don’t know where this S-15 comes from, if we lost, we will lose our face of project D.!” said Takumi after a few second of considering.
“Well, The S-15 isn’t crap on a downhill run, but I will show them the project D. way!” said Keisuke.
“Good to see you with such confident.”
“Because I am the second driver of Team Red Sun too, if I don’t take this race, I think I can’t face my team in the future. But, Takumi, I need your help.”
“Huh? my help?”

“I want to use your AE86 for this race.”
“What!? But you haven’t driven it before! Are you sure you can handle it?” asked Takumi.
Keisuke didn’t answer Takumi’s question, he grabbed AE86’s key from Takumi’s jacket and hopped inside AE86, Takumi tried to open the doors and get in, but Keisuke already locked the doors.
“Hey! Keisuke! Don’t drive this AE86! Because the engine is…”
Not until Takumi finish his talking, Keisuke already turn on 86, the sounds of engine covered Takumi’s voice.
Keisuke turn on 86’s high beam to the S-15.
S-15 received Keisuke’s signal, and flash its high beam twice.
The race is going to begin.
Both of the engine sound so roared, the race started after 3 second.
S-15 get in front of 86 with its 250 hp, of course a 150hp AE86 won’t beat it with racing straight.
“Ha! Ha! Ha! What is going on with that old crap car behind us? How come such an old car trying to race my S-15!” said the driver of S-15.
“ I though they’re project D. I heard they’re number one at Gunma, no wonder they use such an old car for race, maybe they’re too poor to get a new car!” said the guy next to the driver.
After 1 minute the race had began, AE86 still behind S-15.
“I bet the guys in s-15 are now laughing at my ae-86, but when we get to the curve, I will show you my power!” Keisuke had a strategy to beat the s-15 completely.
Actually there is no time for Keisuke to think, because the curve is now in his sight.
The back of S-15’s red light is on, as it ready to take a drift.
“So there you go ey?” Keisuke is getting more and more excited.
S-15’s body makes a slide, it wasn’t a professional move at all, but it did hit over the curve in 3sec.
Now is turn for Keisuke to show his move, his left hand is on the shift knob and shifts down with his left foot steps the clutch pedal.. Right hand started to makes a turn on steering.
AE86 wasn’t moving as smooth as before, Keisuke started feeling there must be something wrong with 86. But what it is!?
Maybe it have no time for Keisuke to think too much, because this drift took him 3 sec and a half to finish it, this may be the worst record in his life.
Also there’re strange sounds come out from 86’s engine!
“What the..! I heard this engine sounds before! I am sure it won’t come out from a 1995 AE86! But…what is it!?” Keisuke started to panic.
S-15 still heading in front of 86, Keisuke feeling himself going lose to this S-15, but he remember himself is the second driver of Project D and Red Sun! How can he lose to a S-15 who don’t even know how to drift well!?
Keisuke paid more power to 86, the strange sounds become more and more strong,
“…this engine is too much powerful that I ever though of! Am I dreaming? Will a AE86 afford this powerful engine? I now really want to win this battle, but I more want to see this monster engine!”
Keisuke had no way to control this monster 86, he cannot smell the victory at all.
At this moment the last and the dangerous curve have come.
Back of S-15 red light on again, but this time is really not a perfect move, the guy in S-15 panic with this curve, his hands couldn’t control too well, he cannot see what is behind the curve, but suddenly another engine’s sounds have come in front his eyes.
It’s a Lancer Evolution IV with a brunch of gangster sitting in it, having a great fun of their new Evo IV without turning the headlight on.
That really shocked s-15, because this car comes with no sign, not even turning on its head light!
These two cars comes face to face, S-15 does not have such skills to drift over this Evo, S-15 tried to brake as hard as it can, but it couldn’t help much, both car crash its side, this curve had block by this S-15 and Evo.
Keisuke was way behind, he didn’t know what had happened, he saw the last curve and tend to drift over with this monster 86.
He shifts down again, ready for the last drift at this battle, Ae86 get through half of the curve, but the things happened in Keisuke’s eyes were too shocked.
2 cars crash together, and the way is totally block! Only a little tiny space can fix one car over!
But Keisuke now driving a monster Ae86 with such speed won’t able to stop at once,
If he doesn’t try to get over these 2 cars, the only thing it will happen is, he won’t see his FD again.
But Keisuke didn’t consider to get over these two cars, he stepped on the paddle hard and held his brakes up, its such a rush for Keisuke at this moment, Ae86 started to spin 360 degree, it’s a real danger move for Keisuke, if it spins without any professional skills, Ae86 will crash on the side or even in to these 2 cars together.
Ae86 keeps spinning, and Keisuke stepped hard on the paddle again while the car head to the opposite site of the road. Ae86 alive again, and heading back to the starting point.
“How was the race?” asked Takumi.
Keisuke told Takumi all about this race, and Takumi got real shocked, after they both called the ambulance come.
Keisuke got one thing in his mind.
“Takumi, I don’t think a normal AE86 will have such nice spin, can you open Ae86’s bonnet?”
Takumi did what Keisuke told him to.
“OH MY GOD… that’s an illegal engine, which is only used for professional races, where did you get it!” Keisuke got so surprised and a little exciting.
“um… I don’t know too, but I hate this engine, if I know how to use this well, this Ae86 will be the faster ever, but it takes long time to get used to this engine.” Said Takumi.
But Keisuke had a different though.
“Hey, Takumi! You should love this engine, guess what, if I didn’t use Ae86 to this race today, I may be the one who crash to the bloody Evo! And if you didn’t have such new engine, Ae-86 won’t spin that smoothly!”
“Oh! You are right, bro! Even you didn’t win this match, but the last curve really show how much power you have! I am proud of you! ”

As the sky turned dark, Keisuke and Takumi went back to their home and took a good sleep ready for the next match.