Product Reviews Net » Concept Cars http://www.product-reviews.net Information on the latest gadgets, technology, news and product reviews Sat, 26 May 2012 11:39:50 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Cars of the future: Five of the best http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/06/30/cars-of-the-future-five-of-the-best/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cars-of-the-future-five-of-the-best http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/06/30/cars-of-the-future-five-of-the-best/#comments Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:24:22 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=135742 Cars of the future are often associated with weird and wonderful designs that have no chance of making it to production – maybe because the technology is not plausible or the design is just not practical enough? So what about the ones that we do know will make it to market, in this article we will take a look at what we believe to be five of the best future cars.

The 2014 Porsche 550 is the first, and it has does not have the potential to become a vintage car like these models on our recent list. The 550 will not look like something from the 50’s or 60’s, so we have to wonder why it shares its name with a car from 1953. Now we are uncertain what the car itself will look like, but one expects it to make driving a Porsche even more affordable.

The German automaker is not afraid to do what Ferrari will not, and that is use a small 1.6-liter engine. The car will still be able to achieve 200 horsepower and will come in at a respectably €40,000 – you heard right. More details on this can be found over at Motorward.

The 2011 Scion FR-S Concept is the second on our list, but do not be put off by its concept status, as there is a very good chance that Toyota will be making this model. There are a few reasons for this; the first is that they have been showing a video of the engine being used in the FR-S, the next is that testing is now said to be underway, and the third is that you can see a video of this car below on a test drive.

Third up is the 2013 McLaren MP4-12C Spider. I could not offer what I believe to be the best future car list without putting a McLaren in there, as I am a great fan of the Woking based company. Teamspeed reports that this car was first rumored back in 2009, as McLaren knew that they needed a retractable hard top version of the popular standard model. Not much should change performance wise with its 3.8-liter V-8 engine, which can produce 592HP.

Our fourth car that needs to be on this list has to be the 2013 Jaguar XE. How can you not look to the future and not see a Jag there? There were a few rumors that this roadster was to be dropped, but you will be pleased to know that production is still on track. The one issue that we have with this car is the fact that a soft top has replaced the rumored hard top. However, you can clearly see from these spy shots from Inside Line that it still has that special something.

The final car for the near future has to be the 2012 e-Wolf Alpha-2. This is one of those cars that you think will never make it to production, but when it does there will be a few tweaks here and there. Images have recently been released, and we are so excited, as the car still looks awesome. What makes this car so different is that it is powered by electric and will produce 374 horsepower. Jalopnik tells us that the Alpha-2 will go from 0-60mph in around four seconds and will hit a top speed of 143MPH – that will give Tesla Motors something to think about.

There you have it, three of our favorite future cars. What models are you looking forward to the most?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/06/30/cars-of-the-future-five-of-the-best/feed/ 0 Cars made of strange stuff: Hemp, Play-doh and more http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/06/03/cars-made-of-strange-stuff-hemp-play-doh-and-more/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cars-made-of-strange-stuff-hemp-play-doh-and-more http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/06/03/cars-made-of-strange-stuff-hemp-play-doh-and-more/#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:49:33 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=133083 Over the years we have seen cars made of strange stuff, but we have to wonder what has been the weirdest? Some of the cars made from alternative materials have still been able to function in the normal way; but they are not the interesting ones. What we like are those made from hemps, Play-Doh etc, the more outrageous the better.

The first car that we have for you is the Chevrolet Orlando that was made from Play-Doh. As you would imagine this was not a working model, and was crafted as part of a publicity stunt. It was blue in color and measured 4.6 meters long and weighed the same as the real Orlando model, which is 1.5-tonne.

Next up we have the BamGoo, which has been made from bamboo. What makes this one strange yet special is the fact that it has an electric vehicle. Now we know how cheap this car will be to run, but not certain about the safety features and how much of the body will be lost on a windy day?

Back in 1941 Henry Ford designed a car that was made from of resin-stiffened hemp fiber. Now this might have seemed strange back then, but when you look at some of the supercars of today, they are also made out of fibers. We all assumed that Ford had lost it, but we all know how strong cars are when made from fibers.

These are just a selection of some of the cars made from strange stuff, what more do you have to offer?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/06/03/cars-made-of-strange-stuff-hemp-play-doh-and-more/feed/ 0 2012 Concept Cars: Future Vehicle Forecast http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/04/30/2012-concept-cars-future-vehicle-forecast/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2012-concept-cars-future-vehicle-forecast http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/04/30/2012-concept-cars-future-vehicle-forecast/#comments Sat, 30 Apr 2011 14:54:54 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=129123 Early today Daniel discussed the 2012 Jaguar XF; this got us thinking and thought we would see what other 2012 concept cars there are. This future vehicle forecast looks at the vehicles that were shown some time back as a concept and will finally make it to production as a 2012 model.

Motor Trend understands just how hot Ford is at the moment with their hatchback vehicle, the 2012 Ford Focus ST Track. The standard model is already in showrooms, but those wanting a little more will have to wait a little while longer for this sportier/faster version.

Next up we have the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept, which makes the current A-Class look like a classic model. As you will notice, the styling has taken a more aggressive stance, and shows that they are still able to compete with the likes of Audi when it comes to style.

For those looking for a bit of muscle, then the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette C7 could be just what the doctor ordered. Not much is known about this vehicle, but we do know that the American car maker will have to do whatever it takes to make it stand out in a crowd – which is certainly a tall order.

These are just three 2012 concept vehicles, which of the three do you prefer, or is there another model we have not mentioned?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/04/30/2012-concept-cars-future-vehicle-forecast/feed/ 1 2012 Concept Cars: Back to the Future For Jaguar http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/04/30/2012-concept-cars-back-to-the-future-for-jaguar/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2012-concept-cars-back-to-the-future-for-jaguar http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/04/30/2012-concept-cars-back-to-the-future-for-jaguar/#comments Sat, 30 Apr 2011 11:33:48 +0000 Daniel Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=129113 When it comes to 2012 concept cars we can look at them in two ways, those that are shown this year with no real release in mind, and those that were shown as concept cars in the past and are now about to appear in 2012.

You may remember the Detroit Auto Show in 2007, and more specifically the Jaguar C-XF concept that wowed the crowd. It now looks like we’ll see this car as a 2012 production vehicle, in the name of the 2012 Jaguar XF.

Jaguar is going back to the future by tweaking the XK for 2012. The XJ had a revamp for 2010, which saw improved engine performance more like the concept car in 2007, and now we’ve the promise of improved looks for 2012.

The improvement was said to be “more like the C-XF” concept, according to the chief designer of the XF, Wayne Burgess. He also added that the technology has caught up in 2012, which is expected to deliver on the features of the 2007 concept.

Take a look at some more photos and insight into the 2012 Jaguar on Auto Blog, which shows the Jaguar C-XF concept and other cars. Also visit this article to read about 2013 concept cars, a future models list and Ford Taurus.

With the 2012 Jaguar able to mimic features of the C-XF concept thanks to improved production technology, will you be buying?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/04/30/2012-concept-cars-back-to-the-future-for-jaguar/feed/ 0 2013 Concept Cars: Ford Taurus and Future Models List http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/04/25/2013-concept-cars-ford-taurus-and-future-models-list/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2013-concept-cars-ford-taurus-and-future-models-list http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/04/25/2013-concept-cars-ford-taurus-and-future-models-list/#comments Mon, 25 Apr 2011 11:17:24 +0000 Alan Ng http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=128565 If you are an auto lover, we have a treat for you now, as we have the first concept images to show you of one 2013 model which Ford are planning to release. That model is the 2013 Ford Taurus, a model which Ford has upgraded and confirmed that it’s on the way.

We also have a list of some other new 2013 car models to show you, and a lot of cars have already been revealed. First though, take a look at this concept image of the 2013 Ford Taurus, which has been provided over at DrivetheCars:

According to Ford, the Taurus has gained ‘significant’ upgrades from the 2010 model, upgrades which will result in a higher quality and also an enhanced fuel-efficient motor for consumers to enjoy.

Here is a second image to show you, giving you a glimpse at what the interior is likely to look like in the 2013 Ford Taurus – we think you’ll agree that it looks pretty slick:

If you’re interested in seeing what other 2013 cars are on the way, check out this great list which has been provided by Intellichoice. Models to look out for include the 2013 Dodge Viper, the 2013 Ford Focus EV and the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze SS. Take a look yourself and tell us which model you’re most interested in.

Are you planning to buy the 2013 Ford Taurus?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/04/25/2013-concept-cars-ford-taurus-and-future-models-list/feed/ 1 Abarth’s Alfa Romeo 4C Spyder Coming to US http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/03/31/abarths-alfa-romeo-4c-spyder-coming-to-us/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=abarths-alfa-romeo-4c-spyder-coming-to-us http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/03/31/abarths-alfa-romeo-4c-spyder-coming-to-us/#comments Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:25:33 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=127126 The Geneva Motor Show is now well and truly over, but there were a few gems that we could take away with us, and one of them was the fact that Abarth is to build the Alfa Romeo 4C Spyder. We know that the concept will be coming to the US, but we are uncertain how long it will be after the release of the 4C GTA.

Nothing is known about the Spyder version, but one would assume that it would be very similar to the GTA version. This model – which does not have a roof – will be powered by a 1750 4-cylinder turbo-charged engine, which will produce 200 horsepower. That is enough to propel the car from standstill to 60mph in less than five seconds and reach a limited top speed of 155mph.

The Spyder version, which will be on show during the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year will be a little slower because of the inclusion of a roof, but we assume that Abarth will make a few tweaks to counter this problem – maybe a performance tweak to the engine?

Looking at the rendering on Eurocar Blog you can see that Alfa Romeo has not lost its flair for design – how can you not fall in love with those lines on the front and sides of the Spyder? Let us hope that Abarth stays faithful to the rendering, if they do then they could be on to a winner.

What are your thoughts on the Alfa Romeo 4C Spyder?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/03/31/abarths-alfa-romeo-4c-spyder-coming-to-us/feed/ 2 Concept Cars For Geneva, Best in 2011 http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/02/28/concept-cars-for-geneva-best-in-2011/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=concept-cars-for-geneva-best-in-2011 http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/02/28/concept-cars-for-geneva-best-in-2011/#comments Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:00:49 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=122686 The 2011 Geneva Motor Show will take place on Thursday March 3, 2011, that’s just a day to digest all the details given to us during Apple’s press event for the iPad 2. This will be the 81st auto show from Geneva, and as always will be a common ground for a host of carmakers to show us what they have and will have for the future. However, if you are like us, then it will be the concept cars that appeal to us the most.

This year will be no different, and some cars have already been teased ahead of the show, but picking the best ones will be a little hard. One of the most recent additions is the Ssangyong SUT1 concept, but what we like about this model is how a production version is planned to hit the streets next year.

As always Mazda will be bringing something special to the show, and this year they will give us the Minagi concept. This CUV will most likely be called the CX-5 once it hits production, but we are not so convinced about this design, as it reminds us a little of a BMW 1-series. Although, we do expect to see a huge amount of technology packed into this one.

One of the most exciting has to be the Infiniti compact concept; this model will be all about the performance. Not much is really known about this car, but we do know that it will be powered by an engine collaboration with Renault-Nissan and Daimler. That’s all we know at the moment, but the news will come thick and fast in a few short days. For more details visit the official website for the 81st International Motor Show.

It is so hard to say how popular this year’s Geneva Motor Show will be, but there has been a trend that these auto shows has been losing their appeal. No matter what the carmakers do, consumers are just not willing to put their hands in their pockets as much as they used to. What will do industry do to counter this issue?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2011/02/28/concept-cars-for-geneva-best-in-2011/feed/ 0 2010 LA Auto Show Concept Round Up http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/11/17/2010-la-auto-show-concept-round-up/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2010-la-auto-show-concept-round-up http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/11/17/2010-la-auto-show-concept-round-up/#comments Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:26:50 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=114304 The 2010 LA Auto Show is well underway, and a host of hot cars have already been on show, such as the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG that we discussed earlier. However, there were a number of cool concept cars that caught our eye, as they always do.

The first model is the Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept, the first thing you will notice is just how small the interior, the exterior is certainly strange looking – but I like that in a car. According to Autoblog, the Urban can still hold up to four passengers – that will have to be seen to be believed; more details here.

Another vehicle is the Ford Focus Race Car Concept; the U.S. is just starting to fall in love with the hot hatch, but has been something of a tradition in the UK. The Blue Oval as always has been at the top of their game in this market, and this latest offering is no exception. Get more details here.

I believe that I have saved the best model till last, the Jaguar C-X75 Concept. This made an appearance at the Paris Auto Show, so was only polite to show itself in Los Angeles. Get more details on this in our previous post.

These are just three concept models, which of the three would you choose?

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/11/17/2010-la-auto-show-concept-round-up/feed/ 0 Extreme Transportation: Futuristic Concept Cars http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/11/04/extreme-transportation-futuristic-concept-cars/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=extreme-transportation-futuristic-concept-cars http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/11/04/extreme-transportation-futuristic-concept-cars/#comments Thu, 04 Nov 2010 22:59:07 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=112775 Whenever we think of extreme transportation loads of things goes through our minds, but for me all I think about is those cool looking futuristic concept cars – the ones that never make it off the drawing board. There are some designs that actually come away from the drawing board and developed into a working model.

Those are still nice, but it I love the ones that look as though they are 50 years or so into the future. The website diseno-art has a full list of concept vehicles from different brands, such as BMW, Audi, Nissan, Toyota and more. So let us take a look at a couple.

One vehicle that jumped out at me was the Mitsubishi MMR525. This design was entered into a design competition to come up with a motorsport vehicle for 2025. Take a look for yourself below, not exactly like anything you have ever seen before; more details here.

Having searched through all the extreme concept vehicles I would have to say that the Audi Makaon Speedsailor is my favorite. The vehicle was designed in the hope of being produced by 2040 – not certain if that will happen? The best part about the Speedsailor is how it would use both sun and wind energy – that will keep tree-huggers happy. Get more details on this here.

These are just two, for a complete list of awesome concept vehicles visit diseno-art.

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]]> http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/11/04/extreme-transportation-futuristic-concept-cars/feed/ 0 Science Fiction Cars: Memorable Modes Of Transportation http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/11/01/science-fiction-cars-memorable-modes-of-transportation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=science-fiction-cars-memorable-modes-of-transportation http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/11/01/science-fiction-cars-memorable-modes-of-transportation/#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:25:50 +0000 Peter Chubb http://www.product-reviews.net/?p=112377 When it comes to watching science fiction movies, it seems that we remember the vehicles in them rather than a number of the actors. There have been many movies over the years where the car has become a major part of that franchise, and I know what tops my list.

The best-loved car from the movies has to be the DeLorean DMC-12 from “Back to the Future”. I know now that it was not exactly the best car in the world, but those gull-winged doors and how the car could fly was just awesome to me in my teens.

Then there are the most recent Batman movies; the Batmobile was nothing like the one from the TV Series. This one had an aggressive look, something that would be at home in any Halo game.

Another iconic vehicle from a science fiction movie is the concept Lexus/Toyota that featured in Minority report. In the movie the car could change its color and did not have a gasoline engine; instead using an electrical/magnetic energy system.

These are just three Science Fiction Cars that have now become Memorable, which would you put on your list?

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