A360 Concept: Moves on spheres, looks weird

The A360 Concept from designer Huynh Ngoc Lan looks like a crossbreed between a UFO and some stealth fighter jet. Not that the concept is bad, it is just sort of weird. The triangular body has a panoramic glass roof, then there is the camera system on the exteriors that works to provide the driver with additional feedback. The car moves on three spheres, not wheels, which actually makes some sense considering that it is capable of moving in any direction on the ground.

Since the wheels are spherical, they need not move as the car makes a radical change in angle. To settle well with the new direction, the cabin is capable of a full rotation. To accommodate these functions, the steering wheel has undergone a bit of a change. A control ball takes the role of a steering wheel, with integrated functions for right, left and rotation.

Via: Local Motors

A360 Concept: Moves on spheres, looks weird

The A360 Concept from designer Huynh Ngoc Lan looks like a crossbreed between a UFO and some stealth fighter jet. Not that the concept is bad, it is just sort of weird. The triangular body has a panoramic glass roof, then there is the camera system on the exteriors that works to provide the driver with additional feedback. The car moves on three spheres, not wheels, which actually makes some sense considering that it is capable of moving in any direction on the ground.

Since the wheels are spherical, they need not move as the car makes a radical change in angle. To settle well with the new direction, the cabin is capable of a full rotation. To accommodate these functions, the steering wheel has undergone a bit of a change. A control ball takes the role of a steering wheel, with integrated functions for right, left and rotation.

Via: Local Motors

iMo Apple car concept looks for an ‘i’ addition

About a year back, there were rumors of Apple teaming with Volkswagen to make a car. That never happened, but UK based designer Anthony Jannarelly has come up with a car that could go well with Apple’s image. The sleek concept is called iMo. The car has been designed for 2024, but the technology it requires is either available today, or is gearing up to go off the drawing board into the production world.

The automated vehicle moves on a two-wheeled gyroscopic drive, and parks itself at earmarked iPark locations. Controls are managed by a holographic interface that relies on gesture recognition, and then there’s the impressive “soft sphere” that allows the vehicle to be customized according to user needs, to the point of increasing space to add more passengers.

Innovative and interesting as the iMo concept is, IMO it could land the designer into trouble. As Autopia puts it:

    We love the concept, but fear that Mr. Jannarelly will soon become acquainted with another Apple philosophy — this one involving the process of eliminating anything with an Apple logo that didn’t come straight from Cupertino.

Via: Autopia/ iMo Concept

iMo Apple car concept looks for an ‘i’ addition

About a year back, there were rumors of Apple teaming with Volkswagen to make a car. That never happened, but UK based designer Anthony Jannarelly has come up with a car that could go well with Apple’s image. The sleek concept is called iMo. The car has been designed for 2024, but the technology it requires is either available today, or is gearing up to go off the drawing board into the production world.

The automated vehicle moves on a two-wheeled gyroscopic drive, and parks itself at earmarked iPark locations. Controls are managed by a holographic interface that relies on gesture recognition, and then there’s the impressive “soft sphere” that allows the vehicle to be customized according to user needs, to the point of increasing space to add more passengers.

Innovative and interesting as the iMo concept is, IMO it could land the designer into trouble. As Autopia puts it:

    We love the concept, but fear that Mr. Jannarelly will soon become acquainted with another Apple philosophy — this one involving the process of eliminating anything with an Apple logo that didn’t come straight from Cupertino.

Via: Autopia/ iMo Concept

The dynamic Acura 2+1 Concept

Acura 2+1 concept from designer Leon Paz is a design aimed at the youth. The aggressively designed concept looks at the people who would like a performance like the NSX, but cannot afford it. This concept will bridge the gap to provide NSX-like performance at more affordable costs. The aggressively-attractive concept is a great design, and built with focus squarely on the performance.

Via: Car Body Design

The dynamic Acura 2+1 Concept

Acura 2+1 concept from designer Leon Paz is a design aimed at the youth. The aggressively designed concept looks at the people who would like a performance like the NSX, but cannot afford it. This concept will bridge the gap to provide NSX-like performance at more affordable costs. The aggressively-attractive concept is a great design, and built with focus squarely on the performance.

Via: Car Body Design

The amphibian Mazda TONBO concept

Mazda TONBO Concept was built as a collaborative project between DedekDesign and Mazda of Europe. A concept for Active People , Tonbo is the stuff of holidays. The car has a racking system to carry sport equipment, and it’s a good swimmer too. So, go out fishing, and you don’t need to waste time moving to a boat, there’s no need to, when you can drive your car straight into the lake (and not drown).

Tonbo’s anti-vandal parking system takes care of some parking woes, and the fact that it uses fuel cells for power takes care of the environmental aspect as well. TONBO concept has been designed by Jan Dedek, Aleksandra Sladek and Kazz Imomota.

Via: dedek design

The amphibian Mazda TONBO concept

Mazda TONBO Concept was built as a collaborative project between DedekDesign and Mazda of Europe. A concept for Active People , Tonbo is the stuff of holidays. The car has a racking system to carry sport equipment, and it’s a good swimmer too. So, go out fishing, and you don’t need to waste time moving to a boat, there’s no need to, when you can drive your car straight into the lake (and not drown).

Tonbo’s anti-vandal parking system takes care of some parking woes, and the fact that it uses fuel cells for power takes care of the environmental aspect as well. TONBO concept has been designed by Jan Dedek, Aleksandra Sladek and Kazz Imomota.

Via: dedek design

Eco Cars: 'Mutant-X' electric car for a green drive in 2020

Glimpses of the future have always attracted one and all. These visions get even more exhilarating if they show green and non-polluted urbanities. The “Mutant-X”, designed by Rajeev Nair, is one such car that has the potential to clean the future with its electric, zero emission engines.

The car can carry three passengers and is powered by a battery that powers the independent motors fixed on the wheels of the car. The car comes with thin wheel spokes, sharp rear view cameras, a center-mounted steering wheel with all touch sensitive multifunction displays, advanced passive safety systems and other safety features that include posture sensors and emotion sensors, which sound an alarm in the car if the person on the wheel gets lazy.

 
The vehicle also includes advanced cruise control, which enables the car to change its wheel base according to the speed at which it’s cruising. The rear wheels along with the extended wheel arc can shrink inside along the axis of the vehicle, thus changing its wheelbase, which betters the aerodynamics of the car, making it more energy-efficient. The car is intended for the 2020 market.

The technology included in the car would ensure a comfortable, safe and sustainable ride, but all this would come at a cost, which most people are not likely to be able to afford. However, if the cost factor is set aside the car could do wonders for places where high traffic and high CO2 levels will have made life miserable by the year 2020.

Eco Cars: 'Mutant-X' electric car for a green drive in 2020

Glimpses of the future have always attracted one and all. These visions get even more exhilarating if they show green and non-polluted urbanities. The “Mutant-X”, designed by Rajeev Nair, is one such car that has the potential to clean the future with its electric, zero emission engines.

The car can carry three passengers and is powered by a battery that powers the independent motors fixed on the wheels of the car. The car comes with thin wheel spokes, sharp rear view cameras, a center-mounted steering wheel with all touch sensitive multifunction displays, advanced passive safety systems and other safety features that include posture sensors and emotion sensors, which sound an alarm in the car if the person on the wheel gets lazy.

 
The vehicle also includes advanced cruise control, which enables the car to change its wheel base according to the speed at which it’s cruising. The rear wheels along with the extended wheel arc can shrink inside along the axis of the vehicle, thus changing its wheelbase, which betters the aerodynamics of the car, making it more energy-efficient. The car is intended for the 2020 market.

The technology included in the car would ensure a comfortable, safe and sustainable ride, but all this would come at a cost, which most people are not likely to be able to afford. However, if the cost factor is set aside the car could do wonders for places where high traffic and high CO2 levels will have made life miserable by the year 2020.

Nissan NV2500 Concept Makes World Debut - Previews Nissan's Entry Into U.S. Commercial Vehicle Market

Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) (Nasdaq: NSANY) today unveiled the Nissan NV2500 Concept at a media event at its Nissan Technical Center North America's (NTCNA) Michigan headquarters. The NV2500 Concept provides an original take on Commercial Vehicle (CV) design, as well as providing a preview of Nissan's entry into the CV market in North America.

The Nissan NV2500 Concept offers fresh design and fresh thinking - including a 3-Zone interior and flexible utility and storage solutions. Its "wall-less" mobile office/workspace design includes a computer workstation, fold-down conference table, numerous storage compartments, cargo/tool tie-down racks, nearly six feet of interior height and an awning-style side panel that opens to create a standing outside workshop table. All elements of the interior are designed to be multi-functional and highly durable, able to stand up to the rigors of heavy use at a construction site or other real world locations.

In addition, making its North American debut was the Nissan NV200 Concept, another conceptual depiction of a potential future Nissan commercial vehicle product. The NV200 Concept, which was originally shown at the Tokyo Motor Show, represents a fuel-efficient, delivery-type van and mobile office in one. The NV200 Concept is a cab-forward design with a unique sliding cargo "pod" that extends from the rear to reveal an IT workspace and living quarters.

Nissan will enter the CV business in the United States in 2010 with a product lineup that will incorporate three new products being developed by Nissan specifically for the North American market. These products will be built at Nissan's manufacturing facility in Canton, Miss. Nissan is investing $118 million to expand Canton's production to manufacture CVs.

The new vehicles will be joined by commercial vehicles from Nissan's global CV lineup, creating a multi-segment CV lineup up to class 5 gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR).

Nissan Commercial Vehicles (CV)
Nissan North America, Inc. is entering the CV business through a significant investment in North America as part of a global commitment to the CV segment. Nissan will forge partnerships with Cummins Inc. for the engines and ZF Friedrichshafen AG for the transmissions. The first Nissan commercial vehicle is scheduled to be launched in the first half of 2010.

Nissan In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling.

SOURCE Nissan North America, Inc.

Nissan NV2500 Concept Makes World Debut - Previews Nissan's Entry Into U.S. Commercial Vehicle Market

Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) (Nasdaq: NSANY) today unveiled the Nissan NV2500 Concept at a media event at its Nissan Technical Center North America's (NTCNA) Michigan headquarters. The NV2500 Concept provides an original take on Commercial Vehicle (CV) design, as well as providing a preview of Nissan's entry into the CV market in North America.

The Nissan NV2500 Concept offers fresh design and fresh thinking - including a 3-Zone interior and flexible utility and storage solutions. Its "wall-less" mobile office/workspace design includes a computer workstation, fold-down conference table, numerous storage compartments, cargo/tool tie-down racks, nearly six feet of interior height and an awning-style side panel that opens to create a standing outside workshop table. All elements of the interior are designed to be multi-functional and highly durable, able to stand up to the rigors of heavy use at a construction site or other real world locations.

In addition, making its North American debut was the Nissan NV200 Concept, another conceptual depiction of a potential future Nissan commercial vehicle product. The NV200 Concept, which was originally shown at the Tokyo Motor Show, represents a fuel-efficient, delivery-type van and mobile office in one. The NV200 Concept is a cab-forward design with a unique sliding cargo "pod" that extends from the rear to reveal an IT workspace and living quarters.

Nissan will enter the CV business in the United States in 2010 with a product lineup that will incorporate three new products being developed by Nissan specifically for the North American market. These products will be built at Nissan's manufacturing facility in Canton, Miss. Nissan is investing $118 million to expand Canton's production to manufacture CVs.

The new vehicles will be joined by commercial vehicles from Nissan's global CV lineup, creating a multi-segment CV lineup up to class 5 gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR).

Nissan Commercial Vehicles (CV)
Nissan North America, Inc. is entering the CV business through a significant investment in North America as part of a global commitment to the CV segment. Nissan will forge partnerships with Cummins Inc. for the engines and ZF Friedrichshafen AG for the transmissions. The first Nissan commercial vehicle is scheduled to be launched in the first half of 2010.

Nissan In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling.

SOURCE Nissan North America, Inc.