Toyota FT-86 II 2011 Concept

2011 Toyota FT-86 II Concept

While everyone was expecting to see the production version of the Toyota FT-86 sports car, the company has decided to tease us with yet another concept version of the car. Called the FT-86 II, the new concept made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show and, according to Toyota, it takes us a step closer to the final design of its next sports car.

 

Since Toyota has decided to aim its next sports car at younger buyers, they’ve stepped up their game with a more attractive exterior design. Although we are a little perturbed that we received a second concept instead of a production model, we have to say that the added work on the FT-86 II does make it look a lot better. Guess some extra hours at the drawing board paid off after all. As did the design inspired by the legendary 2000 GT which was first displayed at the 1965 Tokyo Motor Show.

Toyota may have had to bring out two concepts to get the design just right, but after being postponed more times than we would like, sales for the Toyota FT-86 will begin in Europe in 2012. Prices will start from around $25,000.

 

 

With the Subaru BRZ Concept revving its way into the Frankfurt Motor Show, there was no way Toyota would be missing the opportunity to showcase the BRZ’s competition - the FT-86 II Concept. So, in true competitive fashion, Toyota will also be at the Frankfurt Motor Show with its "faster, lighter, and sportier" FT-86 II Concept. Check out the teaser video by clicking on the image above!

Carbon Motors E7 Future USA Police Car

Carbon Motors E7 Future USA Police Car

The Carbon Motors E7: A new police car prototype equipped with sensors for weapons of mass destruction and automatic numberplate scanners has become the talk of a law enforcement convention in the US

The purpose-built Carbon E7 is a 300-horsepower car that runs on biodiesel fuel, making it both faster and greener than current model police vehicles

The intriguing Carbon Motors E7, is so-called “purpose built” police car that can run on biodiesel and has such features as integrated shotgun mounts, a driver-specific intelligent key and a “hose-able rear passenger compartment.” This vehicle is built specifically for police work only, compared to retrofitted civilian-to-police cars such as the Dodge Charger, Ford Crown Victoria? or Chevy Impala.

“It should be illegal to impersonate a police car,” says the sales brochure, which also describes the E7 as “a new brand of justice.”

The Carbon E7, which is on a nationwide rollout, is powered by a 3.0-liter diesel that churns out 300 horsepower and delivers 420 pound-feet of torque. The engine is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission. The E7 rides on a 122-inch wheelbase and has a curb weight of 4,000 pounds. Its makers say it sprints from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph. It also boasts a 75-mph rear impact crash capability.

Carbon Motors said detailed pricing on the E7 will be announced in a few months.

Concept 1969 BMW Spicup Convertible Coupe

In the early 1960s BMW has unveiled the 3200CS - a coupe developed in cooperation with Carrozzeria Bertone. But Giorgetto Giugiaro wanted to prove he can do even more than that. The result of this desire was the "Spicup" concept. The concept was unveiled at the 1969 Geneva Salon and in the same year was exhibited at the Concorso d’Eleganza in Allassio in June and finally at that year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

After that it is believed that the concept was sold to a private owner and in the mid-1970 it has been spotted at the German mega-dealer Auto Becker in Düsseldorf.

After that the car has been registered in the Netherlands and used as a ’daily driver’. Now the concept has been restored to concurs condition and has been auction at the Bonhams auction for an impressive €460,000 or about $600,000 at the current exchange rates.

Hit the jump to read more about the BMW Spicup Convertible Coupe.

Standard concept


The concept unveiled in the 1969 was powered by a 2.8-litre version of the SOHC straight-six engine and came with a chassis numbered ’V.0010’ – the V standing for Versuchswagen (experimental car).

One of the most impressive feature of the concept was its novel roof, which consisted of stainless steel panels that retracted into the hefty roll bar.

The concept’s design has been started by Giorgetto Giugiaro and finished by Marcello Gandini who has added his signature front end with its part-concealed headlamps.

Restoration process

The Dutch client who bought it use the Spicup as a daily car, reason why it had on the odometer a total of 100,000 kilometers, which makes it probably the most-used one-off show car in the world! However, in the 1980s the concept was put away in a storage and remained there for about 20 years.

In 2008 the Spicup has been purchased by current vendor, a noted collector of coachbuilt exotica. But the car was in a very bad situation: tired, incomplete, scratched and dented and with some serious signs of corrosion.

So he transported the car to Carrozzeria Granturismo in Milan for a complete restoration. After they have managed to find the original color and materials, Carrozzeria started the restoration process.

They had to replace the floorpan, the sills and the doors, while parts like the steering wheel, Spicup emblems, interior trim and rear bumper have been remade to the exact original specifications. After that the concept was repainted in its original green metallic livery with silver grey accents.

The engine cover has been once again fixed to the air filter - its original position, and the final work has been done to the special roof mechanism.

 

Auction result

After the restoration process the Spicup was first shown again to the public at the Villa d’Este concours d’élégance in 2009, and subsequently at the BMW Museum during the summer of 2010. At this year’s Bonhams auction the car was sold for an impressive €460,000 or about $600,000 at the current exchange rates.

 

New Car Concept By Subaru BRZ 2011 Concept

At this rate, we’d probably use a paddle and a canoe to get to Frankfurt, Germany for the year’s biggest automotive event. That’s how huge this event is shaping up to be and it’s about to get even bigger after Subaru has announced their intention to bring a new "technology concept" called the BRZ Prologue - Boxer Sports Car Architecture II.

The BRZ, which stands for ’Boxer engine’, ’Rear-wheel drive’, and ’Zenith’, could very well be the Japanese automaker’s answer to Toyota’s version of the FT-86 that, ironically, the two are co-developing.

We don’t know exactly what to expect from the BRZ other than thinking it will be an RWD sports coupe and that it "embodies ultimate passion for the new sports car and confidence in its distinctive trademark and core technology." Subaru hasn’t revealed anything other than announcing that they’re bringing the car to Frankfurt and that the start of production is being planned for the spring of 2012, but hopefully, everything becomes crystal clear when the biggest auto show of the calendar year opens this September.

New Design 2011 Peugeot VELV Concept

 

As a response to Opel’s recently launched RAK e Concept, Peugeot has unveiled the VELV Concept in Paris. The VELV is a fuel-efficient electric three-wheeler that offers interior room for three and weighs only 1433 lbs.

The VELV concept delivers a total output of 26 HP and has an autonomy of 62 miles. The concept can hit a top speed of 68 mph and consumes only 85 Wh per kilometer, which means that its environmental footprint is equivalent to that of a train trip. The concept indicates in real time the area that can be covered based on the driving range and identifies charging stations that can be reached with the remaining charge.

The concept is aimed at corporate fleets, traditional rental companies, and self-service schemes like Autolib’, second-car buyers and numerous customers who want a better option for getting around town. It has been designed by Peugeot and Citroen in cooperation with a research laboratory who have joined forces to meet the mobility challenges of tomorrow.

 

Beautiful Concept Car Ferrari Celeritas

If you like Ferrari 612 GTO Concept featured on Beautiful Life earlier then you should pay attention to this new Ferarri concept. Created by designer Aldo Schurmann the Ferrari Celeritas is a dream car. "It has all the hallmarks of the Scuderia: a low profile, sweeping wheel arches, a visible engine block in the rear — but each has been turned up to 11. The wheel arches tower over the Celeritas and are nearly as tall as the driving position, while the rear sprawls behind the driver and passenger cabin, encompassing two large spoilers that both move independently to increase and decrease downforce." What do you think? Do you like it?