The Bugatti Galibier 16C Concept has finally reached the US soil. This greatest sedan ever made will make its public debut in Los Angeles. The long hood of the Bugatti Galibier truly reminds of the incredibly luxurious cars of the 20s, 30s, and 40s. In the past, long hoods made room for big engines but in today’s time it is considered luxurious.

The body of the car is ultra polished that you can see your reflection very conspicuously. The car is even better inside. The wood, leather and metals are precisely chosen and they perfectly complement the outside body of the car. The vents, long slices accented with aluminum are brilliantly designed. It has an iPod-like menu in the dash. Its center console flows through the centered gauges.

Every single feature and detail adds up equally to the elegant look of the car. It will be released in 2012. The car will cost a whopping $1.6 million. Nothing comes cheap these days and when it comes to luxury, the price naturally ought to be sky high, especially if you are talking about luxurious cars. However, I so love this Bugatti Galibier.

Via: Sub5Zero\Bugatti

Driving and teenagers… That is one combination that seems to give sleepless nights to both authorities and parents alike. Yet, it is also one issue that is constantly overlooked and not attended to as well as issues such as DUI in the last few years. Car crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers in the UK today and with one-third of all accident related deaths across the globe involving those between the age group of 16 and 19, monitoring is a key issue indeed. Oren Musicant, an engineer at Ben-Gurion University in Israel has come with a nice and simple new method to keep this hazardous problem under check; at least to some extent.

In-vehicle data recorders (IVDRs) have been used by officials in the UK recently to monitor the driving patterns of teenagers and this data clubbed with new software has been used in developing an IVDR that lights up according to the driver’s performance and the degree of safety that is being followed. Green red and yellow LEDs are placed on a dashboard-mounted box and they constantly glow giving the driver an indication of the danger involved in his current driving style. So any sharp turns or undue acceleration and the red instantly lights up!

Researchers claim that this has shown positive results in tests while others still question its effectiveness. When you already know that going over the speed limit is not safe and consciously do it, will the red lights on the dashboard really stop you? A question that only time could answer…

newscientist

Unleashing the perfect green vehicle on to the roads is the dream of every automaker right now on the planet. There obviously is more reason than one for this very ‘green and clean’ outlook that automobile firms have taken up. Green in terms of the cash they make might also depend on eco-friendly features as we head into a future where fossil fuel is becoming harder to come by with each passing second. EarthSure, a renewable energy company, has officially offered us the first glimpse into its own version of the four-wheeled green carrier of the future with the launch of the AirRay.

Sporting a rood clad with solar honeycomb-membrane panel that is laced seamlessly into the frame of the car and wind turbines on the front which run on the wind flow generated by AirRay’s aerodynamic design, the car can supposedly run on just solar and wind energy; absolutely not a drop of petrol or diesel ever needed. What more, you can even remove its Vehicle to Grid power storage unit and use energy when required at your own home or office.

If you are still imagining a slow, sturdy and clumsy car when we talk about completely emission-free models of the future, then AirRay does away with that misconception as well with its sleek and sexy design and scintillating design that turns heads just like the green energy that turns its wheels over. Its Ferrari-esque look surely has us all floored!

earth-sure

Recession seems to be looming large on everyone’s mind. Even a brand like Volkswagen has decided to talk about value for money. Instead of emphasizing on luxury, comfort, design and speed their latest Banknote campaign talks straight about money and savings. They have actually used banknotes of different denominations and stamped them with different distances to show how far one can travel in Bluemotion Volkswagen for the money one spends on fuel.

The Volkswagen Banknote campaign is very innovative, creative and appropriate for the financially difficult times. It is good thinking since it would be futile and obscene to talk about luxury and pleasure when everything from fuel to car has become unaffordable. Volkswagen subtly promises the true value for money that their customers can expect. The message of more distance for less money is direct and clear.

This thinking is not surprising since automobile industry is among the worst hit by financial crunch and advertising revenues are hit too. This campaign is very simple and wouldn’t have cost the company a lot. One can’t help but wonder is there a need of flashy expensive campaigns with celebrity brand ambassadors to sell the cars?

Via Invisible Red

Although the sight of those attractive cars may have been replaced by the fancy electric bikes at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009, “Supasse V”, the little two-seater from Japanese manufacturer Suzusho is attracting a huge attention at the show. Toshio Suzuki, the company’s head honcho along with his two sons developed this lightweight unibody chassis and exclusive suspensions. The car features unique scissor doors.

The Supasse V is similar in size to the Lotus Exige. Its stylish bodywork was crafted by designer Kenji Mimura. The car weighs 850 kilos and comes with a 264 horsepower on tap. It has a 2.3 liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine under the hood, which is derived from a Mazdaspeed3 and teams up with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The engine is beautifully and carefully mounted on a rear sub-frame that is bolted to the main structure and offers easy access. The car looks too snazzy in its bright red color. For sure this tiny car will be the next big thing on the road and it will give tough competitions to the racing cars like the ones at Le Mans.

Via: Auto123

Dell’s headquarters in Round Rock, Texas, now sport a swanky new shaded solar parking structure called the Solar Grove. Of course it hardly has an resemblance to a real wooded grove, but a step in that direction, it is.

The Grove, was built by Envision Solar, to produce solar energy that could help save 145,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions in a year. Dell tied up with McBride Electric Inc and BP Solar to design alongside Envision Solar. And it nearly works as a solar tree which gives the car some shade. The 516 panel solar structure is designed to generate 130,000 kilowatt hours of solar power annually.

The parking lot used by employees has two plug-in charging stations, which is an added feature.

Considering a computer major like Dell has done something small but significant in cutting energy consumption, it is time other corporates followed suit.
Via: Treehugger

Frankfurt Motor Show is round the corner and many are excited about it. Frankfurt can however hold while we focus on some of the amazing wild concept cars from what’s almost shaping up to be a European Tokyo Motor Show. Unfortunately, they never get materialized into production vehicles. Well, if you were asked to name your favorite unrealized concept car, which would you pick?

As for now, Dodge Tomahawk concept – a four-wheeled motorcycle featuring a 500 HP Viper V10 wedget underneath the seat is a favorite choice of many people. The vehicle can speed up to 350 MPH, which is virtually insane! The car looks very masculine and it will suit the best when a thug drives it. It’s car for the perfect blend of creativity and bravado, which unfortunately vanished after its brief appearance.

It is believed that the company sold ten of its non-running versions in the Neiman Marcus catalog for an insignificant fortune of $550K a pop. The irony is no functioning version was ever sold. It’s too bad that the car could never reach to the public. It would have been very popular among the bikers too because of its similar designs.

Via: Jalopnik

It is widely believed by every eco-expert across the globe that fuel cell technology and one that can convert water into hydrogen and use it as a stable fuel, is where the future of green and clean technology lies. With the world running out of fossil fuel at an alarming rate and the efficiency of both wind and solar energy increasing in a trickle, hydrogen fuel cell technology could be the ultimate answer to all our energy needs. The H2Go is a prototype vehicle that is the blue print for those giants that will roam around on the roads of tomorrow.

Designed to reduce drag, increase efficiency and yet maintain a performance output that does not compromise on speed or mileage, the RC prototype vehicle runs on a combination of solar, wind and fuel cell technology. The combination takes the pressure of harnessing energy entirely from one source and hence makes accommodation for back up power even on a rainy and calm day. With its ultra-cool and stylish design and emission-free ride, the H2Go is ideal for urban commuters. One only hopes that such models will one day see daylight!

Via: 7gadgets

Some things are just too hard to resist! Peugeot Shoo is a concept of an eco-friendly design, which may soon hit the roads. It has got a solar roof that collects sun rays, which can be further converted into useful energy that the car can use and make it more eco-friendly. Peugeot Shoo is a zero-emission car, besides being a futuristic evolution of design.

The coolest part about this car is that it is designed in a stable triangle shape to give more designs and allow a lot of space. However, some people do not believe that Peugeot Shoo will ever be produced in real but if it does, it simply will be the best car to drive. I love the triangle shape of the car.

There is no information available with regard to its price or launch date. However, I hope it comes with an affordable price tag so that many people can buy it and lessen the air pollution. I also wonder why these cars are not manufactured often. Surely the ‘Green Peace activists’ will support this idea.

Via: IGreenSpot

Hyundai has been quite tardy about launching a hybrid vehicle but not anymore. The Korean Auto giant has unveiled the BLUE_WILL which comes with many eco-friendly features within it. It has an awesome 100kw electric motor and also a 1.6-liter gas engine. This way, it is a hybrid vehicle but also stays clean and green.

This is still a concept and has not been manufactured yet. It comes with a solar-paneled top and the most likeable lithium ion polymer pack. The car looks as if it is grinning and is rather funny to look at.

Nevertheless, it would be great to have a car like this at your discretion and have a go when you want to drive along without damaging the environment. Let’s just hope this car arrives in the market soon to allow us to appreciate its beauty! Hyundai would certainly be trying to compete with other auto giants in order to reach this untapped market.

Via: DVICE