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Thursday, June 17, 2010

Toyota FT-86 Concept, 2009

Toyota FT-86 Concept, 2009





The Toyota FT-86 Concept is 4,160mm long, 1,760mm wide, and 1,260mm high with a wheelbase of 2,570mm, giving it a compact feeling that is easy for the driver to handle while able to accommodate four occupants. In addition to being light and having a low center of gravity, the Toyota FT-86 Concept boasts the handling of a racing car as well as a 6-speed manual transmission and ADVICS brakes.

The stylish concept captures the heart with the "functional utility" of its highly-refined body. It is the creation of Toyota Europe Design Development known as ED2, which has established body lines that take into consideration a low center of gravity and aerodynamics. The interior is distinctive, featuring an instrument panel with a gray and white base, gauges with red neon lights and digital displays, and a navigation system. In addition, a zipper that evokes an image of interior lapping with minimal covering of a highly-refined body presents a striking display.

The Toyota FT-86 Concept is neither an electric vehicle nor a hybrid vehicle, but is a sports model with a gasoline engine developed to convey the essential appeal of automobiles in a new era. It is a must-see concept car that expresses TMC's desire to once again create a Toyota sports car.

The Small FR Sports Concept Vehicle that Combines Environmental Performance and the Joy of Driving

TMC seeks to develop the ultimate earth-conscious environmentally-considerate vehicle with a focus on hybrid technologies without losing sight of the appeal of cars themselves or the joy of driving.

Over the past several years, the need has been rising for motor vehicles that take into consideration global warming and other environmental issues, while there has also been concern that there have been too few new sports cars that make the heart beat faster and that the time is right for a new generation of sports cars. In response to these needs, TMC has developed the Toyota FT-86 Concept, a sports car equipped with a 2,000cc, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated gasoline engine that evokes the joy of driving a car and the pleasure of vehicle ownership.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Scion tC Series 1.0, 2005

Scion tC Series 1.0, 2005


The Scion tC is a sports compact automobile introduced by Toyota in 2004 as a concept vehicle under its recently introduced Scion brand name. The Scion tC was designed to appeal to the Generation Y market and get them locked into the Toyota brand before any other car manufacturer could have a chance.

The Scion tC uses the chassis of the Avensis which is sold in the European market, and the Camry's 2.4 L 2AZ-FE I4 engine. Its low price (base MSRP of US$16,715 for the 2006 model) is a major feature, as well as the pure pricing marketing style that Toyota has adopted.

The name tC does not fit in with its stablemates the xA and xB because the name xC has already been taken by Volvo for its XC70 and XC90 models. According to Scion, tC stands for "Touring Coupe."

Specifications
* Engine: Double overhead cam (DOHC) 16-valve VVT-i 2.4 L 4-cylinder
* Power: 160hp (119 kW) @ 5700 rpm
* Torque: 163 ft�lbf (221 N�m) @ 4000 rpm
* Transmission: 5-speed manual or 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission
* Highway fuel economy/consumption: 35-30 mi/U.S. gal (7.8 L/100 km) (automatic); 34-29 mi/U.S. gal (8.1 L/100 km) (manual)
* City fuel economy/consumption: 29-23 mi/U.S. gal (10.7 L/100 km) (automatic); 28-22 mi/U.S. gal (10.7 L/100 km) (manual)
* Fuel tank: 14.5 gal (54.9 L)
* Brakes: 4-wheel anti-lock braking system employing disc brakes on both the front and rear
* Curb weight: 2,970 lb (1,347 kg) (automatic); 2,905 lb (1,318 kg) (manual)
* Displacement: 2382 CC

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Fisker Latigo CS, 2006

Fisker Latigo CS, 2006





The BMW 6 Series 650Ci Coupe provides the base vehicle architecture for the FISKER LATIGO CS. Signature FISKER cues bring a new gravitas and balance to the luxury sports coupe - it is understated elegance at its best. As in the FISKER TRAMONTO, all electronic, telematic and safety systems remain untouched from the original manufacturer, and every original vehicle option is available.

The FISKER LATIGO CS is currently nearing production status, so final technical details are still in flux. Engine specifications call for a standard 32-valve, 4.8-liter V8 pumping 367 horsepower, and an optional V10 that generates over 550 horsepower if you choose a BMW M6 as your base architecture.

LATIGO CS DESIGN
The LATIGO CS evidences signature Fisker style, with details that can only be done by hand. "Hand craftsmanship is at the forefront of this coachbuild design. Coachbuilding is an art form," explains Henrik Fisker, CEO FISKER COACHBUILD.

FISKER COACHBUILD works with a hand-picked team of classic car body builders, wheelers, panel beaters, wing makers, and fender manufacturers who are highly skilled in their work with aluminum, steel, stainless steel, carbon fiber and magnesium alloy.

The lines of the car bear a tension - like an arrow pulled back in the bow. C-pillars have been redesigned to flow in a more sculptured manner, sitting solidly over rear wheels. Dimensions front and rear have been shortened. A sculptured power dome highlights the hood. Overall, brilliantly balanced proportions lend a solid, unmistakable presence to the FISKER LATIGO CS, while advanced aerodynamic sculpting creates a shape that is virtually invisible to the air.

Exterior detail highlights include:
+ Low ground-hugging stance
+ Lightweight, high-strength carbon fiber and steel define the outer shape
+ Sculptured power dome highlights the hood
+ Slim, beautifully proportioned head lamps tie together the strong front graphic
+ Fog lights inset with carbon fiber bezels on the lower front spoiler
+ Fisker family resemblance with distinctive, black powder-coated grille
+ 3-dimensional milled aluminum and hand painted badge
+ Side indicators set in a chromed aluminum bezel
+ Clean, unbroken lines
+ Carbon fiber rear diffuser sits above twin stainless steel round exhausts
+ Integrated rear bumper design creates a sculptured look and feel
+ C-pillars are designed to sit proportionally correct over rear wheels
+ Lightweight, purpose-designed, 10-spoke, 3-piece 20" wheels

LATIGO CS INTERIOR DESIGN
Inside the FISKER LATIGO CS you see the true art form of custom coachbuild craftsmanship. Interior fit and finish are distinctive. The touch of the finest materials can be felt everywhere. And sumptuous, hand-stitched leather surrounds.

FISKER COACHBUILD has partnered with Distinctive Industries, the American-based leather interior experts, to produce a high-performance, high-luxury environment that is deceptively spacious. Every technological feature remains intact, including the home-theater quality Logic7 audio system and the optional heads-up display.

The creature comforts of the base architecture are all still available - and then some. A myriad of hand-crafted upgrades creates a new level of luxury you'll be sure to notice.

Interior detail enhancements include:
+ Spacious, high-performance and high-luxury environment
+ Aluminum sill plaques engraved with FISKER COACHBUILD, which sit on the polished carbon fiber sill panel
+ Soft, hand-stitched leather throughout the car, including seat backs
+ Hand-stitched three-spoke steering wheel
+ Unique numbering system on an aluminum plaque atop center console
+ Hand-stitched leather headliner
+ Sun roof cover lined with Alcantara leather
+ Milled aluminum accents on the sun visor around the vanity mirror
+ Milled aluminum enhancements to the BMW "iDrive" components
+ Gear shift knob with aluminum and leather incorporates aluminum FISKER logo
+ Driver-facing center console design