I.DE.A Era Concept may hint future Abarth Roadster

Fiat and I.DE.A Institute have been partners for a long time. They have created cars that were hugely successful, such as Tipo. Now I.DE.A Institute intends to present a roadster concept car. Fiat has also recently announced it intends to create a new Abarth roadster. Could this be a sign the two companies are planning a new car together?



The Era Concept is not new, but Fiat's intention to have a high performance, low-weight sportscar with the Abarth label may point at the mass production of this concept. The car will be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. Let's wait for more news both on Abarth's roadster and on Era Concept. These two ideas may be just one, afterall.







Source: AutoBlog.it via AutoBlog

Porsche releases pictures and details on Cayenne S Hybrid

Porsche needs the North American market to survive. This is why it is betting on hybrid powertrains as well as in diesel units. And the first vehicle to receive the new system is Porsche's Guinea pig, Cayenne. The German company has released information on the new vehicle, which will be on sale by 2010.



As any hybrid, it is powered by two engines, a combustion and an electric one. But, as it is Porsche's tradition, the hybrid system has a difference: the electric engine is not beside the combustion powertrain, but between this engine and the transmission.

This is, according to Porsche, what allows the car to reach speeds of up to 132 km/h and a fuel consumption of 11.1 km/l. The electric engine also works as an alternator and recharges the nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery that is placed in the spare tyre compartment. Summing up, the German automaker promises a V8 performance car with a four cylinder fuel consumption. Considering it is equipped with a 3-litre V6 from Audi with direct fuel injection and 333 bhp, this is quite an achievement. Soon in a Porsche dealer near you.




Source: Porsche via Autoblog Green

ItalDesign pays homage to Frazer Nash with the fastest hybrid of the world

Giorgetto Giugiaro has recently turned 70 and he still likes to surprise us. His next creation will debut at the Geneva Motor Show and, as most of his company's vehicles, it is remarkable. The old Italian design master only wanted to give us a glimpse of the car, the fastest hybrid of the world, but it has been fully revealed. It is called Frazer Nash, an homage to the old British carmaker.



According to LignesAuto.com, this car can reach over 300 km/h with a carbo dioxide emission of mere 50 g/km. More information is about to emerge, but we can already seize the car's elegant lines.



Source: ItalDesign via LignesAuto.com

DiMora will create the most expensive car in history, Natalia SLS 2

Do you believe Bugatti Veyron is the most expensive car that will ever be? Not if DiMora Motorcar manages to put the Natalia SLS 2 into production. The supersedan, equipped with a V16 engine able to produce over 1,200 bhp, will have a US$ 2 million price tag. If it ever reaches the production lines. Meanwhile, all we have to present the car are these sketches.



Besides the huge engine, called Volcano, which promises to have such a different sort of construction it will not even need to use catalytic converters to meet emission standards, Natalia is also supposed to offer a bunch of different features to justify its price.

The latest offering would be an MP3 horn for the owner to choose what he wants to honk around. It is the sort of equipment that would be best suited to tuned cars other than a ultra luxury vehicle, but some really rich people may find it interesting... We don't.

Natalia will also be built with aerospacial technology and materials, what should make it weigh 680 kg less than any similar vehicle of its class. This will make it incredibly fast and fuel efficient.

All four wheels will drive the car, both pushing it forward and getting it in the right direction. In other words, all wheels will steer. Considering Natalia will be a huge car, it will help maneuvers the car in tiny spaces, such as parking lots.

The car will also be able to change its colour depending on the weather, what will bring the car problems in some countries where the colour of the car has to be written in the property certificate.

Other features are video projector on the headlights, nigh vision, Nasa foam seats, thermally controlled cupholders, front passenger seat with handicaped-assistance, biofeedback lighting systems and some other minor equipments.

What the car will really need is extraordinary mechanical qualities, high quality construction and materials and a beautiful appearance. All this in order to beat the fact that DiMora is not a known company and has never produced anything. We wish them the best of luck. They will need it.








Source: DiMora MotorCar

Rolls-Royce releases images of 200EX Concept. But you may call it baby Rolls

Rolls-Royce has been developing a new car that is smaller than Phantom in order to have a bigger sales volume. Dubbed RR4, the baby Rolls, as it has been called by the press, has just made its first appearance, even if under a different name. This is the 200EX Concept.



This concept car is not exactly a concept, as we have already told you, but an anticipation. It is 5.40 m long, 1.95 m wide, 1.55 m tall and will be powered by a brand new V12 engine created by BMW. The new Rolls-Royce, in fact, will be heavily based on the new BMW 7 Series, although its platform is said to be completely different. Even if it not, this is something Rolls-Royce would have to say in order to clients not to feel fooled when buying the new car. With an expected price tag of 180,000 pounds, 200EX production version has to be a true Rolls-Royce.

Sales are expected to take place by the second quarter of 2010, with an official presentation of the RR4 at 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The official new name for the car is not known, yet, but rumours about bringing back the name Silver Ghost may give us the tip that was missing.











Source: Car Magazine