Renault New Mégane

The official images and information released by Renault for the New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet. The model will debut at Geneva and will feature a large foldable black glass roof and satin chrome trims. The launch is expected for next spring.

Set to debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet completes the renewal of the new Renaul Mégane family with the sixth body type.

Like its predecessor, the new model will feature a large, folding glass roof, with an unruffled open-top motoring experience thanks to the forward position of the windscreen and a fixed glass wind deflector situated behind the rear head restraints.

The roof has a high-gloss black glass finish which contrasts with contrasts with the satin-effect chrome windscreen frame. The fully-automatic, electro-hydraulic opening mechanism of the two-part roof enables the driver to lower the top in just 21 seconds.

Among the distinctive styling cues are the sweep of the waistline and the dark red taillights, which feature a linear lighting pattern and LED brake lights to provide a very personal lighting signature.

The interior layout is available with three choices of trim, which range from dark charcoal and light beige to the charcoal and red two-tone finish with leather seats.

The floating dashboard is identical to that of New Mégane Hatchback, while the seats offer additional lateral support, and the 'butterfly wing' door trim panel is specific to New Mégane Coupé- Cabriolet.

The standard folding glass hard roof has a transparent glazed area of 0.47 sq. metres to ensure a brightly lit cabin and a sensation of space and freedom.

The torsional rigidity of the bodyshell has been uprated by 80 per cent compared with Mégane II Coupé-Cabriolet in order to match the increased stiffness of the suspension and even greater handling precision.

New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet will be launched in Spring 2010 with a choice of seven gasoline and diesel powertrain configurations.

The extensive range of equipment will include tire pressure monitoring system, directional bi-Xenon headlamps with cornering dipped beams, automatic headlamp activation, automatic windscreen wiper activation, cruise control with speed limiter. Electronic driving adis will inclide ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, Emergency brake assist and ESC with understeer control.

(Source: Renault)

car Barracuda Concept

Created by Brazilian designer Rafael Reston, the Barracuda Concept is a sportscar that follows the American Muscle Car revival trend and takes inspiration from the 1971 Plymouth model.

The 'Cuda' Concept is inspired by the 1971 Plymouth Barracuda and is defined by its designer Rafael Reston as a "real and original american muscle car."

The Cuda Concept was created to following the current trend of reestyling, iniated by Ford Mustang, and followed by GM Camaro, Dodge Challenger.

Among the design details are the very high belt line, 22-inches aluminum wheels and some styling cues that remind of the Mustang by Giugiaro concept car, such as the front end layout and the orange-black color scheme.

Most of the body panels, including the hood, spoilers and side panels, are in carbon fiber. The 2+2 coupe project is based on the Chrysler 300M platform, and is powered by a V8 Hemi Engine.

E-Sphyra Concept

E-Sphyra is a working prototype of a racing sportscar created by a team of students from the French Belfort-Montbéliard University of Technology. Among the features are the electric powertrain, a weight of 800 kg and a fiberglass body.

E-sphyra is a concept created by a team of students from the Belfort-Montbéliard University of Technology(Montbéliard, North-East of France). The aim of the project wasto develop a sports car with a modern design that would be performance-oriented and integrate new technologies.

The electric powertrain features a rear-mounted motor which delivers a total output of 100 KW, while the total weight of just 800 kg allows to achieve a power-to-weight ratio of 125W/kg.

car New Opel Meriva

The official design sketches released by Opel for its new Meriva, the compact monocab set to debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and characterized by a contemporary design with rear-hinged doors and a focus on versatility and flexible use of space.

After exploring automobile on-board versatility with the compact seven-seater Zafira in 1999, Opel created a new market segment for small, affordable monocabs when it launched the first generation Opel Meriva in 2003.

With its FlexSpace rear-seating concept, high seating position and roomy cabin, the Opel Meriva was big on flexibility yet small in size.

On the new  Opel Meriva the FlexSpace system has been further developed to become more intuitive and easier to use.

The new model also introduces FlexDoors, innovative rear-hinged rear doors that facilitate access to its cabin – a premiere for a volume manufacturer.

The interior storage space is enhanced by a flexible center console, as well as the FlexFix system - the integrated rear bicycle carrier that is stored like a drawer under the luggage compartment.

Aesthetically there are many details that remind of the Opel Insignia such as the chrome grille or the outline drawn on the doors and wheel arches.

Also, several details remind of the new Opel Astra, including the shape of the headlights and tail-lights. Another distinctive design element is the panoramic glass roof which is available as an option and gives the cabin extra light.

New Opel Meriva Interior Sketch New Opel Meriva Interior SketchInside and out, the Opel Meriva moves forward Opel's new design language,  and adheres to the same aesthetic language already seen on Insignia and the new Astra.

car nissan

Nissan e Sony Computer Entertainment Italia eleggeranno il campione italiano della GT Academy2010 il 13 febbraio, a Roma. I 24 piloti più veloci si sfideranno virtualmente in una gara che eleggerà i due migliori: il premio, per loro, sarà Silverstone, dove gareggeranno, stavolta su un circuito vero, contro i 18 giocatori più talentuosi degli altri paesi partecipanti.

A partire dal lancio della competizione, il 17 dicembre 2009, oltre 70.000 videogiocatori italiani di Gran Turismo (e più di 1.000.000 nei 15 paesi europei coinvolti, in Australia e in Nuova Zelanda) si sono cimentati su PlayStation Network, tentando di registrare il giro più veloce per accedere alle fasi finali.

Queste, come scrivevamo in apertura, si terranno sabato 13 febbraio dalle 11 alle 17, presso la Sala Multimediale di RDS, dove i 24 "piloti virtuali" gareggeranno in anteprima su una selezione di circuiti e automobili di GT5 per PS3.

Ford Focus RS WRC Edition

La filiale svizzera del gruppo Ford ha realizzato cinquanta esemplari della Focus RS WRC Edition, amarcord sovralimentato e prima vettura a sancire il passaggio negli "anta" del reparto RS, nato nel 1970 e subito prosperato con la sempiterna Escort RS1600. La sportiva dell'Ovale Blu sarà commercializzata nella colorazione Frozen White con grafiche suggerite (e votate) da internauti elvetici potendo scegliere fra cinque proposte, mentre i cerchi in lega da 19 pollici, bruniti, rientrano nella linea OZ Superturismo GT.

La Focus RS WRC dispone di una targhetta interna con gli autografi dei piloti ufficiali Mikko Hirvonen e Jarmo Lehtinen. Il motore 2.5 turbo eroga i medesimi 305 cavalli garantiti dalla RS in listino, cosicché le prestazioni (0-100 km/ in meno di 6 secondi per 263 km/h di velocità massima) ne rispecchino il bell'andare. Ciascuno dei cinquanta esemplari è proposto a 37.950 euro.

The Cadillac

The Cadillac World Thorium Fuel concept is a design study for a futuristic vehicle powered by a nuclear powetrain and built to last 100 years without any maintenance. The author is designer Loren Kulesus.

The Cadillac World Thorium Fuel concept was designed with longevity in mind: it is powered by a Thorium nuclear powertrain andfeatures redundant major systems.

Replacing the conventional wheels are four sub-systems made up of six individual tires, each integrating an induction motor, for a total of 24 units.

As Loremo Kulesus explains: "The vehicle would require the tires to be adjusted every five years, but no material would need to be added or subtracted."

About the Designer

Graduated from the Art Center College of Design, Loremo Kulesus has worked - among the others - for General Motors Advanced Concepts (2006-2008) and Nissan Design America, San Diego (2006).

• Personal portfolio: Coroflot

(Source: Coroflot via Autoblog.com)