Showing posts with label Electric. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Electric. Show all posts

3/19/15

Porsche 356e Electric Powered Sports Coupe


While the Cayman GT4 does a fine job maintaining Porsche's traditions in the 21st century, it’s cars like the 918 Spyder that point the way to the future. And like it or not, electrification, be that through hybrid, plug-in hybrid, pure-battery or fuel-cell solutions, is here to stay.

Porsche has shown a remarkable ability to quickly adapt to changing times and tastes, all while keeping its core values alive – granted, sometimes more (911, Cayman), sometimes far less (Cayenne, Panamera). 

That said, it's in Porsche DNA to present a pure-electric powered model at some point in the very near future, but the question is, what will that model be? 

Perhaps Porsche could follow Audi's example and electrify one of its existing models such as the 911 or even the Panamera, or they could go all BMW i8 on us and create a dedicated EV from the ground up, which frankly, does sound like something Stuttgart would do. 

Bez Dimitri, a freelance designer who graduated from the ENSAAMA in Paris, France, prefers the second scenario, so he came up with a proposal for a standalone, pure-electric Porsche model named 356e. 

Dimitri tells us that the study combines a back-to-basics approach inspired by the classic 356 small sports car with a modern Porsche design twist. About the hump at the back, Dimitri explains that the "elevated rear volume houses the batteries and the motor". 

What say you about a small electric-powered Porsche sports coupe?















9/2/11

Renault 4 Ever Concept





It’s a modern design with retro-styling cues, perhaps designed to be built on an existing architecture. And like most new cars today, the Revival has been designed with alternative power plants – such as hybrid and all-electric ones – in mind.

Much like the exterior, the interior is attractive in its simplicity. The instrument panel retains the look-and-feel of the original Quatrelle, though uses an LCD screen that folds away when the engine is switched off in place of analogue gauges.

There’s also an LCD satellite navigation screen, a dashboard-mounted shift lever and conventional push button / turn knob controls for the radio and HVAC.

Of all the entrants, I feel this one looks the most production-ready. It surprises with its practicality: how it’s not some way-out design for a future that will never come.

Obendorfer’s Revival was one of the fifty projects shortlisted in DesignBoom’s Renault 4 Evercompetition, and is definitely one of our favourites. 














8/29/11

Peugeot 508 RXH Diesel-Electric Hybrid Crossover




Based on the estate version of the 508, the RXH follows in the lines of the Audi Allroad and Volvo XC70 featuring a unique front end, flared wheel arches, and of course, higher-riding suspension along with 18-inch wheels and wider tracks.


Unlike other models of the sort, the 508 RXH adopts a new four-wheel-drive system that makes use of an electric motor similar to the one used in the 3008 and the HX1.


The Hybrid4 system comprises a 2.0-liter HDi FAP turbo diesel located up front and an electric motor mounted at the rear. Each motor drives its respective axle, providing four-wheel-drive capability and, at the same time, four modes: Automatic, Sport, 4WD or Zero Emissions when the electric motor is powering the car.


Despite the system's combined output of 200HP, the 508 RXH offers an exceptionally low average fuel consumption figure of just 4.0 lt/100 km (58.8 US mpg or 70.6 UK mpg) and CO2 emissions of 109 g/km.


The 508 RXH will be available from spring 2012, one year after the debut of its 508 stable mate.
Peugeot will also display in Frankfurt a limited edition of the RXH that will be individually numbered and feature a Calern Brown exterior color and alcantara leather upholstery. It will be produced in only 300 units available to order this fall.

















4/1/11

Buick Ampera



According to a recent report, Buick is developing a rebadged version of the Opel Ampera.Like the standard model, motivation would be provided by a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery which sends power to an electric motor that produces 149 hp (111 kW / 151 PS) and 273 lb-ft (368 Nm) of torque. This should enable the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than nine seconds, hit a top speed of 100 mph (161 km/h), and travel up to 50 miles (80 km) on electricity alone. Of course, when the battery is depleted, a 1.4-liter petrol engine would act as a generator to extend the range up to 310 miles (499 km).
If the vehicle is approved for production, the Buick Ampera could be launched as soon as 2013.
















3/31/11

Kia Naimo Electric Concept




The Naimo's name is derived from the Korean word 'Ne-mo' which means 'square shape'. And this is one concept which isn't running away from its boxy design. It features no B-pillar and rear-hinged doors.
But the design of the Naimo is influenced by Asian Celadon-style pottery, with its asymmetrical shapes reflected in the roof design of this concept as well as in the dot-styled LED headlamps which also provide an off-center feel to the car. Those off-kilter design cues are meant to contrast with the square shape of the car.


On the inside, things get a little more down to earth with the use of Korean oak for the floor and interior door panels. Korean "Han-ji" paper serves as the headlining and these hand-crafted interior touches are complimented by the off lines of that sunroof design.


Powering the Naimo is a PMSM (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor) electric motor with an output of 80 kW (109 PS / 109 bhp) and 280 Nm (206 lb-ft) of torque. Juice is supplied by a 27 kWh lithium-ion battery pack positioned under the rear trunk.
The car rolls on low-resistance tires on 20-inch alloy wheels.
Top speed on the Naimo is 150 km/h (93 mph) and the car has a range of around 200 km (124 miles) on a single charge. A quick-charge system (50 kW) allows the battery to reach 80 percent capacity in about 25 minutes.