Concept car : AirPod

The AirPod is a three-seat and three-wheel car that runs on compressed air.

(Credit: CNET)

Among the plethora of alternative fuels being put forth to replace oil, the most odd might seem simple: air. But MDI International, based in Luxembourg, showed off a car at the 2009 Geneva auto show that runs on just that. What motivates the little AirPod concept is the energy from compressed air stored in a tank at 5,000 pounds per square inch (PSI).

The driver sits alone in the AirPod, turning the front wheel with a joystick.

(Credit: CNET)

The AirPod vehicle is small, holding just three passengers, with a single seat facing front for the driver and a bench facing backward for two more people. MDI claims a range of more than 112 miles in an urban setting, and less than two minutes to refill the 46-gallon air tank. But even though the AirPod can reach speeds of just less than 45 mph, the air-powered engine produces only 8 horsepower, suggesting slow acceleration.

Because of the low horsepower, the AirPod is designed to be exceptionally light, coming in at 485 pounds. Because the air tank and engine don't take up much room, most of the AirPod is devoted to passenger space. The car is a three-wheeler, and the driver uses a joystick to turn, rather than a conventional steering wheel.

Although air power means the AirPod drives emission-free, some energy is required to compress air into its tank. MDI puts the cost of a tank refill at just 1 euro.

MDI has announced deals with Air France and KLM to run a test fleet of the AirPod cars at Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris and Schipol airport in Amsterdam.

See more Geneva auto show 2009.

Concept Car : Galpin Auto Sports unveils radical Scythe

Remember the mysterious Mustang-based "Project B" concept car that we spied at Galpin Auto Sports last month? The completed version was unveiled this past weekend during a celebrity-packed party at the shop's Southern California facility. We were spot-on with the specs of the car, including the twin-supercharged 5.0L V8 that is pushing out a claimed 1005 horsepower and the massive 16.5-inch Wilwood disc brakes. The Scythe also features unique composite body panels, a wrap-around pillarless glass cockpit, reverse opening vertical doors, and a voice-controlled computer that can offer up weather, traffic, sports, and more through a 3G network connection. Full details on the car can be found in the press release after the jump, and we'll be sure to bring you more photos when we see the car at SEMA in just a few weeks.
[Source: Galpin Auto Sports]
PRESS RELEASE:
Most custom shops have a backyard BBQ for friends when they want to show off a new car. Galpin Auto Sports (GAS) in Van Nuys, California took that concept to a new level on Saturday, October 18, when it debuted one of the most radical custom show cars of the modern era to a packed house of automotive icons, celebrities and media. While smoke rose from the floor and a massive twin supercharged engine crackled in the background, GAS president Beau Boeckmann unveiled Scythe, a one-of-a-kind machine packed with the most advanced onboard technology ever showcased in an automotive application. Other highlights from the evening included the unveiling of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's long-lost Orbitron show car, a charity silent auction with proceeds going to three local charities and performances by a variety of top-tier rap and rock stars culminating in an all-star jam session between Ozzy Osbourne and members of Guns N' Roses, The Cult, Jane's Addiction and more.
"With Scythe, we set out to showcase all of our unique fabrication abilities here at GAS," Boeckmann says. "From the hand-made composite body and voice-activated onboard computer system, to the twin-supercharged 1,005 horsepower engine, this car was built to make a statement. In the 1950's and '60s, show cars were meant to shock and amaze people, and we wanted the same effect from Scythe but with a high-tech twist. This isn't a hollow concept car, it's a fully functional, incredibly fast and usable machine with a talking onboard computer and over a thousand horsepower running on methanol."
Scythe exemplifies the melding of old-world coachbuilding techniques and cutting-edge digital technology. The GAS team started with a proven performance platform, a 2008 Ford Mustang GT Convertible. After the body panels were removed, the unibody structure was covered in clay, which was sculpted to match renderings drawn by famed Kustom Kulture icon Ed "Newt" Newton. Molds were pulled from the clay sculpture, and composite body panels were formed and fitted to the Mustang pan. Reverse opening vertical doors, a wrap-around pillarless glass cockpit with no B- or C-pillars and custom headlights and taillights surrounded by hand-made aluminum trim are the highlights of the unique design.
The interior features some of the most sophisticated technology ever installed in a vehicle. Scythe features an onboard Shuttle XPC computer that manages every function of the car and is controlled entirely by voice commands. Simply speak to the electronic personal assistant in your own words and through a digital uplink to a 3G network Scythe will provide real-time weather, traffic, sports, stock market and news information and maintain your daily calendar. Other onboard electronics include flush mounted exterior cameras that offer 24-hour monitoring via cell phone or internet and a voice-activated iPod compatible JL Audio 5.1 Surround Sound system allows the driver to choose artist, song or music type verbally.
Scythe also offers unparalleled power and performance. Hand-built by GAS, the twin Magnuson supercharged 5.0L racing engine with custom ported 24-valve SOHC cylinder heads pump out up to 1,005 horsepower. A GAS custom fabricated intake manifold, custom performance grind camshafts and a custom electronic shifter complete the powertrain of this one of a kind vehicle. Other performance advances include a custom Air Ride Technologies suspension system by GAS and an onboard CPU which constantly adjusts ride height for maximum performance. Dual driving positions with retractable motorized steering wheels allows for left and ride side driving control of the vehicle and custom GAS designed brakes using Wilwood 16.5" rotors and 6-piston calipers on all four corners make Scythe stop on a dime.

Concept Car : MOY

The contest winner, MOY concept car was designed by Elvis Tomljenovic received first price in contest held during auto(r) automotive design conference in Zagreb, Croatia. Elvis Tomljenovic is student of the Zagreb School of Design. Elvis Tomljenovic is finishing student of the Zagreb School of Design. He is currently looking for sponsors/scholarships to continue education in field of automotive design at postgraduate level.

MOY concept is made for generation who uses technology as a means to express themselves and communicate with others. The idea behind MOY concept is that everyone can design their own car on their own computer and then apply the design to the vehicle using wireless data transfer or share it with other people through web-site, forum, e-mail etc. To those who lack the necessary skills or time to create their own design, we offer the option of downloading ready made designs. The vehicles are interconnected, so the change is possible in motion. Movement recognition technology enables us to draw on the car in real time.

Since MOY can display both static images and videos, it can be used as a new medium of promotion. Vehicle is powered by batteries that charge electro motors set in wheels and controlled by drive-by-wire technology. The body of the car is made of outer and inner polycarbonate layers, with layers of liquid crystals, LED diodes and electro chromic foil (film) in between.

auto(r) is the biggest automotive design conference in Europe in 2009 and the first ever held in South East Europe (SEE). The conference theme: “Professional automotive designers from SEE”, born or originated. This is the first time ever that this subject has been taken to the public. A title auto(r) has been chosen because it combines two words - automobile and author. Our mission is to present designers as authors of automobile designs.

Concept Car : Nissan Pivo 2 - Unbelievable Cuttie

As the Frankfurt Auto Show 2007 has finished, it is came time to open new shows and to view new cars, the next show, that I am going to pay my attention at is - Tokyo Motor Show (October 26 to November 11).
The funniest and the most unusual model of this show will be (I am almost sure) an electric-powered Pivo 2 concept car from Nissan manufacturer. Pivo looks like a space ship and has the most bold design of the year and may be the following years as well.
The new Pivo possesses a cabin that revolves 360-degrees, so you don’t have to reverse, also, a front door can be accessed from any position. This car has only 2 seats. It is rather small, so the maneuverability is extremely high.
Pivo is a very user and environmentally friendly car. Because of: Nissan’s Around View Monitor (reduces the appearance of blind spots), mounted in dash infrared commander - provides to driver an opportunity to operate the navigation and stereo systems with a single finger movement. Also, Pivo has lithium-ion battery and new Nissan Super Motor.
Nissan Pivo 2 is aimed to be an ideal car for city driving. It is easy to park and easy to drive, also, it is easy to push through crowded city roads. The length of the car is just 2,700 mm. The driver will seat in the middle and can take 2 more passengers, they will seat side-by-side. A door is also electrically powered.
By the way, have you heard a Russian word PIVO? That means beer. But, this car has no connection to it, its name came from the English word PIVOT (meaning a turning point). Also, because of its extremely sophisticated parking abilities.

Surrealistic appearance

Nissan Pivo is a unique combination of innovations, it is even hard to believe, that such number of innovations can be united in one car. Pivo offers incredible packaging characteristics, high distribution of torque to 4 wheels and possesses 2 electric motors. This concept car is based on a drive-by-wire technologies (the car weigh less and has less mechanical parts). I mean, you can do everything by wire: to stop, to steer, to park. Thus, a steering wheel is so comfortable and compact.

A dash-mounted infrared (IR) commander provide a driver with a possibility to switch radio and audio system without taking eyes from the road. Moreover, Also, Pivo can be proud of a new human-machine interface. For example, if you want to make music louder, just raise your finger. You will never feel lonely with Pivo 2, it has a Robotic Agent, that will make your life funnier and more exciting. Conversations are possible in English and Japanese.

Concept Car : Morgan Fuel-Cell

I suppose, these auto shows will never stop surprising us and car creators will never get tired of making new and completely great cars. Have you ever heard about Morgan? Yeah, but apart from a famous fashion apparel brand, it is the traditional British car brand, and it has officially announced that it is going to launch a LifeCar concept, that is a hydrogen-fueled car possessing a wood-frame body. This super car will be presented at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show.

Needless to say, that the LifeCar is a zero-emissions car. How does it look like? As for me it looks like a combination of the Aero 8, but with extremely large coverings on the wheels. Resembles concept and not a real car. Apart from it super natural body, it looks too sophisticated. According to Morgan such prominent companies as Oscar Automotive, QinetiQ, Oxford University and Linde took part in its development.

There is a new model in the Aero range - the Morgan Aero 8 America. Starting price looks like this $115,000 and you will get graphite side scoops, a rear diffuser, and side exit exhausts. As to its interior, we have a deal with full quilted leather. Engine: 4.4-liter BMW V8.

Italian industrial firm Tazzari Zero's

Italian industrial firm Tazzari has announced preliminary specs and launched a new website for its plug-in auto, the Zero. Measuring 113.5 inches long and sporting 15-inch wheels, the city-bound electric car weighs in at 1,200 pounds -- 312 of that from the lithium-ion Fe battery. It'll handle 88 miles with a full charge that takes 9 hours to fill, but you can reportedly juice up to 80% in just 50 minutes. Top speed is 56 MPH, so don't expect to be driving this on the highway, and it can go from 0 to 31 in under 5 seconds. The company says it's due out later this year in Europe and the Carribean for less than 20,000 Euros ($25,760), and yes, there's a dozen Crayola-inspired colors available. Hit up the official site for a trailer.

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