VW Nils

The Nils measures 3.04 meters (119.6-in.) long, 1.39 meters (54.7-in.) wide and just 1.20 meters (47.2-in.) tall, making it about 0.5 meter shorter than the new Volkswagen Up! 


It is built on a lightweight aluminum spaceframe while the same material has been used on certain body parts such as the gullwing-style doors and free-standing wheels. As a result, the Nils tips the scales at just 460kg or 1,014 pounds.


Propulsion is provided by an electric motor positioned right behind the driver. The motor develops a continuous 20HP (15kW) and 130Nm (95.9 lb-ft), and a short boost of 33.5HP (25kW).


Volkswagen says the Nils can sprint from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in less than 11 seconds and reach speeds of up to 130km/h (81mph).


The concept rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels equipped with 115/80 (front) and 125/80 (rear) tyres optimised for low rolling resistance.


A lithium-ion battery, which is also mounted at the back, has a capacity of 5.3 kWh, enough to provide energy to cover a driving distance of around 65 kilometers or 40 miles.


The automaker says that's more than enough to cover the needs of city duelers as according to the German Bureau of Statistics, 73.9 per cent of all commuters residing between Berlin and Munich cover less than 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) on their way to work.

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Audi A2 Concept

The new A2 concept is, however, a different car - and a very confused one at that. First of all, it’s a five-door hatchback but it's actually smaller in size than the three-door A1 measuring just 3.80 meters (12.47 ft) long, 1.69 meters (5.54 ft) wide and 1.49 meters (4.89 ft) tall. In comparison, the A2 is 3.95 meters long, 1.74 meters wide and 1.42 meters tall.


At this stage, Audi has not revealed many technical details on the A2 Concept, but it is believed that the car is based on a shortened version of the A1's platform.


The German automaker says that the A2 offers "plenty of room for four people" and that it features flat interior floorboard. There are four individual seats, with the center console attached to the driver’s seat and the rear console extending forward between the two rear seats. The load area has two levels with a frame creating the upper level.


The only piece of information we get about the drivetrain from Audi is that the A2 Concept sports a "powerful electric drive system for agile performance and long range".


And what does the future hold for the A2? Well, at last year's Geneva Salon, Audi execs hinted  the A2 but noted that if the company were to produce such a model, it would be offered with both conventional and electric powertrains.

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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. 

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2012 Toyota Tacoma Facelift

Toyota's designers started on the outside by adding a new front grille on all grades that led to restyling of the headlamps, while the hood and the front bumper are also new.


Inside, the new model year brings a revised instrument gauge panel and controls on the center console along with a new steering wheel and a fresh choice of audio systems for certain models including Toyota's new Entune infotainment and navigation systems on the higher-grade versions.
There are no mechanical changes for 2012, with the Tacoma line offering buyers three options, a 2.7-liter four-pot with 159-hp and 180 lb-ft. of torque, a 4.0-liter V6 that generates 236-horsepower with 266 lb-ft. of torque, and a TRD-prepped 4.0-liter supercharger V6 capable of delivering 304 horsepower and 334 lbs.-ft. of torque.

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