Concept Car and Truck News
Geneva 2008: Opel Meriva Concept Revealed
Posted Mar 02, 2008 @ 10:32 pm
Prior to its unveiling at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Opel has released details and photos of the Opel Meriva Concept. The four door hatchback features Opel's new design language, first seen in the previous GTC and Flextreme concepts.
The Meriva concept features a few unique design elements including suicide doors, which Opel is calling "FlexDoors". Another notable design element is the windshield, which continues up onto the roof to create two long, narrow sun roofs.
The Meriva concept is a vast improvement over the current production Meriva, which is a pretty boring and forgettable hatch. Will we see the Meriva on US shores as a Saturn? Right now it looks doubtful, but if American consumer preferences continue to shift towards smaller cars, it's possible.
Category: GM International, Concept Cars
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Prior to its unveiling at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Opel has released details and photos of the Opel Meriva Concept. The four door hatchback features Opel's new design language, first seen in the previous GTC and Flextreme concepts.
The Meriva concept features a few unique design elements including suicide doors, which Opel is calling "FlexDoors". Another notable design element is the windshield, which continues up onto the roof to create two long, narrow sun roofs.
The Meriva concept is a vast improvement over the current production Meriva, which is a pretty boring and forgettable hatch. Will we see the Meriva on US shores as a Saturn? Right now it looks doubtful, but if American consumer preferences continue to shift towards smaller cars, it's possible.
Category: GM International, Concept Cars
Comments
Chicago 2008: Flex Fuel, Hybrid GMC Denali XT Concept Debuts
Posted Feb 13, 2008 @ 11:37 pm
The El Camino returns! Well, not quite... In Chicago, GM unveiled the GMC Denali XT Concept, a car based pickup featuring a flex fuel, 2-mode hybrid powertrain. This concept is GM's first hybrid vehicle (concept or production) to be flex fuel capable; pretty suprising considering GM's zeal for E85. The combination of a 2-mode hybrid system, a V8 direct injection engine, active fuel management (cylinder deactivation), a lightweight car-based platform and a lower, more aerodynamic stance give the Denali XT 50% greater fuel economy than a standard pickup truck.
The GMC Denali XT comes to the US courtesy of the boys down under at Holden. The car-based truck concept sits on the Zeta platform, which also underpins the upcoming Camaro, G8 as well as the Holden Utes in Australia. The Aussies also handled the design work for the Denali XT. The intent was clearly to make a more masculine, truck-looking vehicle than the Holden Utes. The interior makes extensive use of leather and has some very cool retro touches.
Will this concept ever hit dealer lots? As oil prices rise, the chances get better and better. These car-based trucks provide much of the utility of a truck with considerably better fuel economy. While body on frame trucks will surely remain the standard for those who rely on trucks for towing, a unibody ute like the Denali XT is a compelling choice to those who use their trucks more recreationaly.
Category: GMC, Green/Alternative Fuels, Concept Cars
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The El Camino returns! Well, not quite... In Chicago, GM unveiled the GMC Denali XT Concept, a car based pickup featuring a flex fuel, 2-mode hybrid powertrain. This concept is GM's first hybrid vehicle (concept or production) to be flex fuel capable; pretty suprising considering GM's zeal for E85. The combination of a 2-mode hybrid system, a V8 direct injection engine, active fuel management (cylinder deactivation), a lightweight car-based platform and a lower, more aerodynamic stance give the Denali XT 50% greater fuel economy than a standard pickup truck.
The GMC Denali XT comes to the US courtesy of the boys down under at Holden. The car-based truck concept sits on the Zeta platform, which also underpins the upcoming Camaro, G8 as well as the Holden Utes in Australia. The Aussies also handled the design work for the Denali XT. The intent was clearly to make a more masculine, truck-looking vehicle than the Holden Utes. The interior makes extensive use of leather and has some very cool retro touches.
Will this concept ever hit dealer lots? As oil prices rise, the chances get better and better. These car-based trucks provide much of the utility of a truck with considerably better fuel economy. While body on frame trucks will surely remain the standard for those who rely on trucks for towing, a unibody ute like the Denali XT is a compelling choice to those who use their trucks more recreationaly.
Category: GMC, Green/Alternative Fuels, Concept Cars
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Geneva 2008: Opel/Vauxhall Meriva Concept
Posted Feb 08, 2008 @ 12:06 am
GM Europe's Opel/Vauxhall have given us a little teaser for a new concept to be shown at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The Meriva Concept fits in what GM calls the "monocab" segment and draws on the styling cues from two Opel concepts, the GTC and Flextreme. This concept should hint at what future MPVs from GM will look like. One of those MPVs, the Opel Zafira, is planned to be produced and sold in the US, likely as a Saturn.
The Meriva Concept is one of three GM world premieres that will take place in Geneva.
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading Geneva 2008: Opel/Vauxhall Meriva Concept
Category: GM International, Concept Cars
Comments
GM Europe's Opel/Vauxhall have given us a little teaser for a new concept to be shown at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The Meriva Concept fits in what GM calls the "monocab" segment and draws on the styling cues from two Opel concepts, the GTC and Flextreme. This concept should hint at what future MPVs from GM will look like. One of those MPVs, the Opel Zafira, is planned to be produced and sold in the US, likely as a Saturn.
The Meriva Concept is one of three GM world premieres that will take place in Geneva.
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading Geneva 2008: Opel/Vauxhall Meriva Concept
Category: GM International, Concept Cars
Comments
Detroit: Buick Riviera Concept To Make NA Debut
Posted Dec 20, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
You might remember this oh-so-sexy gull winged coupe from the Shanghai Motor Show. For those of you who don't, this is the Buick Riviera concept, which was designed by GM's Chinese design studio. The latest and greatest Buick concept will be making its North American debut next month at the auto show in Detroit. Unfortunately, Buick has said their are no plans to produce the Riviera.
Taking cues from a previous Buick concept (the Velite), the Riviera's bold styling is reportedly a hint at what future Buicks will look like. The first production Buick to be graced with this styling will be the next gen Lacrosse (no word yet on when that's coming).
Category: Buick, Concept Cars
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You might remember this oh-so-sexy gull winged coupe from the Shanghai Motor Show. For those of you who don't, this is the Buick Riviera concept, which was designed by GM's Chinese design studio. The latest and greatest Buick concept will be making its North American debut next month at the auto show in Detroit. Unfortunately, Buick has said their are no plans to produce the Riviera.
Taking cues from a previous Buick concept (the Velite), the Riviera's bold styling is reportedly a hint at what future Buicks will look like. The first production Buick to be graced with this styling will be the next gen Lacrosse (no word yet on when that's coming).
Category: Buick, Concept Cars
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Detroit: Production Volt Teaser!
Posted Dec 10, 2007 @ 9:16 pm
You're looking at the first pictures of the redesigned Chevy Volt Concept. After being unveiled at last year's Detroit Auto Show, GM engineers put the car through some aerodynamic tests and were very disappointed. Bob Lutz even went as far to say that the results probably would have been better if they had put the Volt in the wind tunnel backwards. Anyways, the design had to be changed to reduce drag, and this photo here is our very first look at that new design.
So far, GM says they have reduced drag on the Volt by 30% and that more tweaks are to come. This reduction in drag should significantly help improve the all electric range of the car.
The more slippery Volt Concept will be unveiled at the year's Detroit Auto Show in January.
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading Detroit: Production Volt Teaser!
Category: Chevy, Green/Alternative Fuels, Concept Cars
You're looking at the first pictures of the redesigned Chevy Volt Concept. After being unveiled at last year's Detroit Auto Show, GM engineers put the car through some aerodynamic tests and were very disappointed. Bob Lutz even went as far to say that the results probably would have been better if they had put the Volt in the wind tunnel backwards. Anyways, the design had to be changed to reduce drag, and this photo here is our very first look at that new design.
So far, GM says they have reduced drag on the Volt by 30% and that more tweaks are to come. This reduction in drag should significantly help improve the all electric range of the car.
The more slippery Volt Concept will be unveiled at the year's Detroit Auto Show in January.
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading Detroit: Production Volt Teaser!
Category: Chevy, Green/Alternative Fuels, Concept Cars
Detroit: Hummer HX Concept Drawings Released
Posted Dec 10, 2007 @ 9:03 pm
Director of Hummer design, Carl Zipfel, recently challenged 3 young designers to come up with a concept that would be a "vision for the future design of off-road vehicles." The designers, all recent grads of Detroit's Center for Creative Studies, where given a few restraints such as wheelbase, approach and departure angles, and stance.
Here are the three vehicles that they came up with. One of them will be selected to be built as the Hummer HX Concept vehicle to debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month.
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading Detroit: Hummer HX Concept Drawings Released
Category: Hummer, Concept Cars
Director of Hummer design, Carl Zipfel, recently challenged 3 young designers to come up with a concept that would be a "vision for the future design of off-road vehicles." The designers, all recent grads of Detroit's Center for Creative Studies, where given a few restraints such as wheelbase, approach and departure angles, and stance.
Here are the three vehicles that they came up with. One of them will be selected to be built as the Hummer HX Concept vehicle to debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month.
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading Detroit: Hummer HX Concept Drawings Released
Category: Hummer, Concept Cars
Opel Flextreme Unveiled at Frankfurt
Posted Sep 10, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
Opel's FLEXtreme concept, which uses the E-Flex architecture, debuted today at the Frankfurt Motor Show. We showed you some renderings that leaked early, but now we've got this baby in the sheet metal.
Like the Chevy Volt concept, the Flextreme is an electrically driven vehicle with a range extender (In other words, it's a series hybrid). While the Volt uses a gasoline engine, the Flextreme's range extender is a 1.3L diesel engine.
The car has a pretty sleek and smooth design, aided by the use of cameras instead of side mirrors and no door handles. Presumably this will help aerodynamics and fuel economy. A key design element is the way the hatch opens. The hatch opens in two pieces in gull wing fashion (trust me it's hard to explain, just look at the pictures!)
The Flextreme also has a small luggage compartment located under the floor. In this compartment are two Segway scooters. Opel says this increases mobility as the Segways can go places cars can't. Is this a dumb gimmick or actually useful? I'm leaning towards the former...
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading Opel Flextreme Unveiled at Frankfurt
Category: GM International, Green/Alternative Fuels, Concept Cars
Opel's FLEXtreme concept, which uses the E-Flex architecture, debuted today at the Frankfurt Motor Show. We showed you some renderings that leaked early, but now we've got this baby in the sheet metal.
Like the Chevy Volt concept, the Flextreme is an electrically driven vehicle with a range extender (In other words, it's a series hybrid). While the Volt uses a gasoline engine, the Flextreme's range extender is a 1.3L diesel engine.
The car has a pretty sleek and smooth design, aided by the use of cameras instead of side mirrors and no door handles. Presumably this will help aerodynamics and fuel economy. A key design element is the way the hatch opens. The hatch opens in two pieces in gull wing fashion (trust me it's hard to explain, just look at the pictures!)
The Flextreme also has a small luggage compartment located under the floor. In this compartment are two Segway scooters. Opel says this increases mobility as the Segways can go places cars can't. Is this a dumb gimmick or actually useful? I'm leaning towards the former...
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading Opel Flextreme Unveiled at Frankfurt
Category: GM International, Green/Alternative Fuels, Concept Cars
Opel E-Flex Concept Renderings Leaked!
Posted Sep 07, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
Today renderings of the new Opel E-Flex concept emerged online. This concept was supposed to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but someone leaked the photos. The Opel concept features the same E-Flex series hybrid system as the Chevy Volt, but uses a diesel engine instead of an internal combustion engine for the range extender.
The Opel concept has a sleek, curvey design. It looks like a hatchback, but the from the renderings it doesn't look like there actually is a hatch. Another interesting feature are the suicide doors (at least that's what it looks like!). Should be interesting to see this one in sheet metal.
Category: GM International, Green/Alternative Fuels, Concept Cars
Today renderings of the new Opel E-Flex concept emerged online. This concept was supposed to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but someone leaked the photos. The Opel concept features the same E-Flex series hybrid system as the Chevy Volt, but uses a diesel engine instead of an internal combustion engine for the range extender.
The Opel concept has a sleek, curvey design. It looks like a hatchback, but the from the renderings it doesn't look like there actually is a hatch. Another interesting feature are the suicide doors (at least that's what it looks like!). Should be interesting to see this one in sheet metal.
Category: GM International, Green/Alternative Fuels, Concept Cars
Transformers and More To Be At Dream Cruise
Posted Aug 09, 2007 @ 10:47 pm
Everyone's favorite alien robots will be on display next weekend at the Woodward Dream Cruise in metro Detroit. You'll be able to get up close and personal with Bumblebee (Camaro Concept), Iron Hide (GMC TopKick), Ratchet (Hummer) and Jazz (Pontiac Sostice hardtop). The Decepticon killers will be on display in the parking lot of Athens Coney Island.
But the Transformers won't be GM's only vehicles on display. About a mile north of the robots in disgue (the corner of Woodward and Old Woodward, north of Maple Rd in Birmingham) the Chevy Racing Tour, the XM Ultimate Listening Tour, a Pontiac G8 and the Chevy Volt concept will be on hand.
If you're in Royal Oak, you can check out some Chevrolet SS and Cadillac V-Series models that will be shown in Royal Oak's Memorial Park.
Full press release after the jump...
Continue reading Transformers and More To Be At Dream Cruise
Category: Cadillac, Chevy, Pontiac, Concept Cars
Everyone's favorite alien robots will be on display next weekend at the Woodward Dream Cruise in metro Detroit. You'll be able to get up close and personal with Bumblebee (Camaro Concept), Iron Hide (GMC TopKick), Ratchet (Hummer) and Jazz (Pontiac Sostice hardtop). The Decepticon killers will be on display in the parking lot of Athens Coney Island.
But the Transformers won't be GM's only vehicles on display. About a mile north of the robots in disgue (the corner of Woodward and Old Woodward, north of Maple Rd in Birmingham) the Chevy Racing Tour, the XM Ultimate Listening Tour, a Pontiac G8 and the Chevy Volt concept will be on hand.
If you're in Royal Oak, you can check out some Chevrolet SS and Cadillac V-Series models that will be shown in Royal Oak's Memorial Park.
Full press release after the jump...
Continue reading Transformers and More To Be At Dream Cruise
Category: Cadillac, Chevy, Pontiac, Concept Cars
