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Showing posts with label Concept. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Concept. Show all posts

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Audi Urban Concept – Auto Shows

Audi Urban Concept – News – Car and Driver #pallet {margin:0;}#echoice li.category {margin:0;}Car and DriverIntelligence. Independence. Irreverence. VehiclesReviewsNewsFeaturesBuyer's GuideFollow UsSubscribeSearch Car and DriverHome › News › Audi Urban Concept - Auto Shows

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Audi Urban Concept - Auto ShowsAudi imagines an e-tron for the city.BY DAVID GLUCKMAN
August 2011

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Audi Urban Concept

Photos (5)Visit Our Buyer's Guide »AudiNews & Reviews2013 Audi A3 Spy Photos - Future Cars2014 Audi RS7 Spy Photos - Future Cars2012 Audi A6 Hybrid - First Drive Review2012 Audi A6 Avant TDI Diesel - First Drive ReviewHow Audi Hybrids Could Keep the Wankel Rotary Alive - Tech Dept.2012 Audi A5 / S5 - Car News2012 Audi S8 Spy Photos - Future Cars2012 Audi Q3 - First Drive Review2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder - Car News

Audi is to be commended for avoiding the use of the word “mobility” in describing the Frankfurt-bound Urban concept. That oft-employed term has a way of reducing motoring to a means of getting from place to place, something with which the final portion of this publication’s title conflicts. Audi’s latest future-car vision promises to continue to involve the driver in the process, but do it in a smaller, lighter, more maneuverable way. And it’s electric, of course.

Audi bills the Urban concept as “a completely new kind of concept car,” but it brings to mind other hyper-efficient VW pods from the recent past, namely the Up!, as well as the L1 and XL1 “1-Liter” cars. Those and the Messerschmitt KR200.

In this Audi, two passengers sit in a fighter-jet-looking cockpit, complete with a rollback canopy in place of doors. The chassis is made of carbon fiber, into which the seat buckets are molded; the steering wheel and pedals adjust to the driver. The seats are staggered, as in the XL1, to afford a little more shoulder room in the narrow vehicle. Twenty-one inch wheels stick out from the body and are covered by cycle fenders with built-in LEDs.

Unlike the turbo-diesel 1-Liter concepts, the Urban deals in Audi’s not-yet-realized electric promise. The vehicle itself isn’t billed as an e-tron (it doesn’t quite have the stun factor of the early e-tron concepts), but it does employ two electric motors that carry that branding. A lithium-ion battery pack serves as the power supply.

While we like what we hear so far, we haven’t been told too much about this concept. Audi will wait until the Frankfurt show in September to fully unveil the car and share more details. Here’s hoping the “M-word” doesn’t come up at the press conference.

 
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Related Stories »Audi A3 E-Tron Concept - Car NewsThis fully electric A3 may reach production.

Audi A1 E-Tron Concept - First Drive ReviewIt’s like a Volt with a rotary engine from Audi. But still a lot like a Volt.

Audi E-Tron Spyder Concept - Auto ShowsBringing you two e-tron firsts: roofless cruising and a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

Audi E-Tron Detroit Concept - Auto ShowsA stunning, smaller e-tron wows us at the Detroit show.

Audi E-Tron Concept - Prototype DriveAudi tries to win us over with this electric supercar.

Volkswagen XL1 Concept - Prototype DriveIt gets a VW-estimated maximum of 261 mpg—and it’s going into production.

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Monday, August 15, 2011

2012 Honda CR-V Concept – Official Image and Info

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2012 Honda CR-V Concept - Official Image and InfoHonda calls it a concept, but this is the next CR-V.BY JUSTIN BERKOWITZ, PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT WHITLEY, KGP PHOTOGRAPHY, AND THE MANUFACTURER
July 2011

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2012 Honda CR-V Concept

Photos (34)Visit Our Buyer's Guide »Honda CR-V› Overview› Specifications› Price with Options› Photos & 360° View› Get a Free QuoteNews & Reviews2012 Honda CR-V Spy Photos - Future CarsHonda CR-V 2.2 i-CDTi EX - Short Take Road Test2009 Honda CR-V - Review2008 Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD - Short Take Road Test2007 Honda CR-V - First Drive Review2007 Honda CR-V - First Drive Review2007 Honda CR-V - SpiedHonda CR-V EX - Road TestTop CompetitorsChevrolet EquinoxFord EscapeKia SportageSubaru ForesterToyota RAV4

Honda has released a picture of the concept version of its next-generation CR-V, and it looks, well, pretty much like we expected based on recent spy photos. The vehicle seen here is, as is typical with Honda’s concepts, a loosely disguised version of the production car.

That’s not to say that when the fourth-generation CR-V arrives at dealerships some time in late 2011, it will be festooned with some of the concept’s more colorful design elements. Items like the smoked-out headlights, prominent front skid plate, gargantuan wheels, and polished black lower trim likely will remain the domain of the show car. Otherwise, though, what you see here is what we’ll get.

Despite a relatively significant change in the CR-V’s design—it’s major by Honda’s conservative standards, at least—the new car will be mechanically similar to the one it replaces. Front-wheel drive definitely will again be standard, with optional all-wheel drive returning to the menu, too. It’s doubtful that Honda will make any major changes in the engine department from last year’s car, meaning that buyers will probably get a 2.4-liter inline four good for about 180 hp. Unlike the 2011 CR-V, which had a five-speed automatic transmission, the new model is likely to receive a six-speed unit. If Honda does go this route, you can expect a modest boost in fuel economy over the current CR-V’s 21 mpg city/28 highway for front-drive models and 21/27 for those with AWD.

While the CR-V has never fully roused the enthusiast’s soul, it has always been one of the more involving small crossovers to pilot. (Pun intended as an excuse to post a link to the face-lifted 2012 Pilot, which Honda also announced.) At the same time, the CR-V has been one of the more practical and easy-to-use small utes, too, a factor we’re sure is of higher importance to most of the people with one in their driveway. (There are a lot of those people: 227,760 CR-Vs were sold in the past 12 months alone.) We don’t expect those traits to change with this next-gen model, although we’ll have to wait until Honda decides to show us the production model to find out for sure.

 
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Related Stories »2012 Honda CR-V Spy Photos - Future CarsHonda continues its trend of gentle evolution with the next-gen CR-V.

2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X Touring - Short Take Road TestA new engine—really, it is new—doesn’t change our opinion of Subaru’s tall wagon. That’s a good thing.

2012 Ford Focus SE vs. 2012 Honda Civic EX - Comparison TestsBridging the Gap: In their own ways, these two small sedans prove that compact is the new mid-size.

2012 Toyota Prius V Hybrid - First Drive ReviewSelf-righteousness in a large economy size.

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Terrain vs. CR-V, RAV4, Tiguan, Mariner, Outlander, Forester, Grand Vitara - Comparison TestsThe (Just) O.K. Corral: We gallop through Bluegrass Country, exercising eight SUVs that are not so much quarter horses as miniature ponies.

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Thursday, July 14, 2011

Mercedes-Benz’s 60 Years Unimog Concept Leaves Our Brains Hanging Upside Down

June 7, 2011 at 3:45pm by Davey G. Johnson

In 1951, the U.S. government’s Nevada Test Site began earning its atomic stripes, The Catcher in the Rye was published, and direct-dial, coast-to-coast telephone service became a reality. In West Germany, Mercedes-Benz unveiled something called a Universal-Motor-Gerät. Beloved the world over (except in North America, where Freightliner couldn’t move the blasted things), the Unimog has fulfilled most conceivable 4×4 roles, from high-mobility ambulance to snowplow to Dakar truck. To celebrate, Daimler has unveiled something profoundly strange.

According to Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks, the U5000-based concept “has an impressive, dynamic and extremely expressive  ‘face’ corresponding to the future form language of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle design. The design concept combines the past and future of the Unimog in an extremely avantgardist way.” We’re all for avantgardist, though we’re not exactly sure we’re onboard with the hyperbling wheels. We do, however, dig the truck’s super-weird face and red coil springs. And the aluminum-clad chassis, as well as the open top that hearkens back to fresh-air ’Mogs of yore. Benz claims Bertrand Janssen’s design team was inspired by the poison dart frog. To us, it seems as if the design brief were simply “Sindelfingen goes to SEMA.” We’re a little afraid to think of which synapses overload when Germans hear the tired line about what happens in Vegas.

If this isn’t enough toy-like in looks for you, you can always go buy an actual Unimog toy.

Tags: concept, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz Unimog |


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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet Concept Drops at Wörthersee Festival

June 2, 2011 at 11:35am by Alexander Stoklosa

Volkswagen’s upcoming 270-hp, all-wheel-drive Golf R is an impressive hot hatch, and for the annual Wörthersee GTI meet, VW chopped off its lid to create the Golf R cabriolet concept. We recently drove the new, Euro market-only Volkswagen Golf cabriolet and came away smitten with its driving manners and clean, basket-handle-less top-down looks. VW engineers have made a good thing even better by adding all of the Golf R’s go-fast goodies. This means that in addition to the R’s 4Motion all-wheel drive and powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, the cabrio sits on a similarly lowered suspension and sports huge 19-inch wheels through which 17-inch brake discs clasped by blue calipers painted with the R logo are visible.

The interior of the Golf R cabriolet concept features grey nappa and dark blue carbon leather slathered over thin racing seat shells. The leather is set off by contrasting piping and liberal amounts of carbon, aluminum, and piano black trim. Volkswagen claims the Golf R cabrio posts identical performance numbers to its roofed counterpart, and while we found almost no chassis flex in the regular Golf cabrio, it remains to be seen if that is the case for the roofless R. VW is mum on whether we are looking at potentially the hottest (no pun intended) topless production Golf cabrio, but we don’t see why it couldn’t become a reality given its utilization of existing components and platforms.

Volkswagen will also show off two closed-top Golf R “concepts” at the Wörthersee GTI meet, previewing possible special trim packages and paint colors for the production Golf R, and of course its Euro-only GTI Edition 35 that we reported on a few weeks ago. Check out the Golf R cabrio concept in the gallery below.

Tags: concept, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet, Volkswagen Golf R |


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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Škoda’s Fabia-Based Four-Door Roadster RS 2000 Concept Unveiled at Wörthersee

June 2, 2011 at 1:54pm by Alexander Stoklosa

Volkswagen Group’s Škoda division is showing off the Fabia RS 2000 concept, a rally-inspired, roofless four-door design study that it purpose-built for the GTI meet at Wörthersee. Despite its GTI moniker, the Wörthersee meet attracts not only GTI tuners, but even non-GTI-associated aftermarket parts companies and tuning fans. The RS 2000 should play well to that crowd—borrowing an aggressive disposition from Škoda’s rally-prepped Fabias with add-ons like white multi-spoke racing wheels, widebody fender flares, and gaping lower front fascia air intakes, the green roadster exudes rally cool. On their own, the rally bits aren’t all that new or exciting, but paired with the concept’s chopped windshield and pillarless side glass ensconcing an open, four-seat, four-door cabin they certainly create a looker. To guard against the possibility the RS2000’s bodywork fails to grab onlookers’ attention, Škoda topped it off with a searing coat of bright green paint punctuated by blacked-out windshield pillars, grille, and chin spoiler.

Škoda claims that the open cabin and low windshield combine to deliver a dynamic and sporty drive with a “constant supply of fresh air and a sense of being at one with nature.” We dig the look, but we think that in reality, a constant supply of insects and road grime might dull some of the shine of that “fresh air” deal. Skoda didn’t mention what powers its mean, green machine, but if it shares any powertrain elements with the Škoda Fabia Super 2000 Intercontinental Rally Challenge car it was inspired by, we’d happily don a full-face helmet and jump behind the wheel.

Tags: Škoda, Škoda Fabia RS 2000 concept |


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Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Infiniti Etherea Concept – Prototype Drive

May 18, 2011 at 6:31pm by Jens Meiners

Infiniti Etherea concept

We drive Infiniti’s one-of-a-kind Geneva concept and upcoming Audi A3 fighter.

It is extremely rare for automakers to invite journalists to drive their concepts, so we didn’t hesitate for a second when Infiniti Europe’s Wayne Bruce offered to let us take a spin behind the wheel of the compact Etherea. Launched in March at the Geneva auto show, the Etherea is, unlike many other concept cars, not just the next series-production car on slightly bigger wheels. While the Etherea points to a compact Infiniti that could be reality in as little as three years, we can safely assume that the production car won’t share much with the carbon-fiber skin of the concept.

Keep Reading: Infiniti Etherea Concept – Prototype Drive

Tags: concepts, Infiniti, Infiniti Etherea concept, Japanese |


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Sunday, June 5, 2011

Ford and Health Industry Collaborate on Concept System to Monitor Your Health … In Your Car

May 19, 2011 at 3:21pm by Alexander Stoklosa

Yesterday, Ford and several health industry partners unveiled a vision of a future in which its SYNC device becomes not just a voice-activated infotainment system, but a “health and wellness” tool for drivers and occupants of a vehicle. The system will not attempt to cure your sniffles with a song; instead, it would serve as a platform for extending the reach of healthcare and disease monitoring. Before you cry “Big Brother,” Ford reminds us that drivers suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease can pose an acute safety risk to themselves and others when behind the wheel.

Ford and its partners, Medtronic, SDI Health, and WellDoc, believe they can keep passengers connected to doctors and monitoring services by using SYNC and existing health industry technologies and data analysis. The rapid proliferation of wireless tech and micro sensors has resulted in such conveniences as implanted blood-glucose monitors that can pair with Bluetooth-enabled devices to transfer blood sugar data to a cloud computer in real time. These could be set up to pair with Ford’s SYNC system, for example. An app called Allergy Alert (pictured above) is another proposal. It would let vehicle occupants know the pollen levels in the air around them; a simple “location” command geolocates the car, pulls pollen data from a network, and then verbally recites the pollen levels and sources to occupants while displaying them in the central multi-function screen.

While Ford made it clear that its research into health-monitoring app integration into its vehicles is intended for series production someday, the full cloud-based capabilities are still several years away from landing in the hands of consumers.

Tags: Ford, infotainment, Sync |


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Aston Martin V12 Zagato Race Car Concept No Longer Sketchy, Official Photos and Info Released

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Side

What once was a car-shaped smudge of a sketch is now real: Aston has released official images of the V12 Zagato concept, the British marque’s latest collaboration with the Italian design house. One dash beautiful and several jiggers of weird—plus a dollop of Nissan GT-R—the model previews a racer that will compete in the wild-’n'-wooly 24 Hours of the Nürburgring on June 25 and 26.

The V12 Zagato’s beauty comes from the classic proportions, borrowed from the V12 Vantage that served as this car’s starting point, and the muscular haunches. The weirdness lies in the details, like the taillights and lower rear fascia that appear as if they’re being extruded through the back end, Play-Doh–style. Thick racing pipes jut out of the carbon diffuser, with the on-track night/rain light mounted between. The roof, cantilevered like the GT-R’s, carries Zagato’s traditional double bubbles, originally intended to extend a roofline skyward to accommodate helmets and/or people with giant heads. Forward of the A-pillars is where things get especially funky. The giant fender vents, chrome spears, and multiple hood strakes look fussy, and the gaping Aston grille, which looks awesome on the firm’s DBR9 racers, makes this car look like a smoked-up carp. We do dig the way the front fender peak runs below the windowline and beyond, though, and the car looks pretty sweet on the whole.

The exterior panels are aluminum, and were hand-formed just like your grandpa did it, with an English wheel and body bucks. Achieving the car’s complex shapes required several pieces of aluminum to be formed and then combined; Aston says each front fender is comprised of seven individual pieces and the roof five. A 510-hp fusillade feeds the rear wheels from the front-mounted 5.9-liter V-12, which also thunders out 420 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the regular V12 Vantage, which is available solely with a six-speed manual transaxle, this car uses a six-speed single-clutch automated gearbox; the V12 feeds it via a carbon driveshaft within a magnesium torque tube. The clutch is uprated to a twin-plate racing piece, the suspension is adjustable, and the huge front brake rotors are pinched by six-piston calipers. (Four-piston calipers grab the smaller rear discs.) Finally, there’s a steel roll cage, a limited-slip diff, and racing-style vents in the side windows.

To check out the original sketch of the V12 Zagato and to read a primer on the history of the car to which this model pays homage, the early-’60s DB4 GT Zagato, head over to this post.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Rear 3-4

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Front 3-4


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Monday, May 23, 2011

Ram’s Long-Hauler Concept Can Almost Certainly Eat Your Ride for Breakfast

Chrysler’s Ram brand describes its Long-Hauler concept truck as a “dream vehicle for hauling, range, and comfort.” Anybody in a Honda Fit or a Smart ForTwo would likely describe it as their worst nightmare. Indeed, the Long-Hauler is no mere full-size pickup or heavy-duty tow monster. The Long-Hauler instead is based on a Class 5 Ram 5500 chassis cab, upon which Ram dropped a Mega Cab passenger compartment, an 8-foot box, and an auxiliary fuel tank—with the option to add a third tank to live in the bed itself.

At 170 gallons of total fuel capacity, a topped-off Long-Hauler would be carrying more than 1000 pounds of diesel, contributing to an estimated curb weight of 9300 pounds. The truck’s 24-foot length, 197.4-inch wheelbase, and 37,500 Gross Combined Weight Rating make the Long-Hauler “just the truck for those wanting to step up from a traditional Class 3 or Class 4 truck,” according to Ram. Its wheelbase is so long, in fact, that most vehicles can fit between the front and rear wheels of the Hauler, including a Mercedes-Benz E-class and a Volkswagen Touareg.

Powering the monster is a 6.7-liter Cummins turbo-diesel inline-six. The turbo-diesel’s 800 lb-ft of torque is fed to the pavement through an Aisin six-speed automatic and a four-wheel-drive transfer case.

The interior features 2+2 leather seating with power-adjustable foot rests for rear-seat passengers and a “high comfort” driver’s seat. A refrigerator and tray tables live between the two rear seats, complemented by front and rear 115-volt and 12-volt power outlets and Wi-Fi connectivity, making for a highly productive interior—one could even say it would be perfect for keeping busy over a long haul.

Ram is clear that the Long-Hauler is just a concept for now, and as such there is little in the way of pricing information. But nothing about this rig is likely to be cheap—it would have to be positioned above the $36,395 Ram 3500—and fill-ups alone will make your heart stop: At current diesel prices, it would cost more than $700 to fill. Ram will be touring the beast about the country in the coming months to measure consumer interest, but if fuel prices continue their upward march, Ram may have a tough sell on its hands.


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Friday, April 29, 2011

Mini Goodwood Concept headed to Shanghai Motor Show

by Matt Davis (RSS feed) on Mar 15th 2011 at 11:28AM

Mini logo

At the recent Geneva Motor Show, a source within Mini revealed to Autoblog that the automaker will be bringing a new concept, dubbed "Goodwood," to the Shanghai Motor Show next month.

The Goodwood concept is a fully plushified, hand-wrought hatchback updo that pays hommage to not only the current Rolls-Royce headquarters on the Goodwood estate (hey, it's all in the BMW Group family), but also to the Rolls-Royce/Bentley glory years of bespoke treatments by the in-house Mulliner Park Ward department. Consider it a high-margin fluff job for present-day good-taste barometer nations like China, Russia, India, Abu Dhabi and Switzerland.

Coachbuilder Park Ward of London became a wholly owned part of Rolls-Royce/Bentley in 1939, while H.J. Mulliner & Co. was absorbed in 1961. Together these workers melded into one under the legendary Mulliner Park Ward bespoke umbrella. In 1998 when Rolls-Royce and Bentley were hewn asunder, Mulliner was eventually reconstituted under the Bentley brand as its bespoke group, while Park Ward lasted until 2002 at the end of the limited-run Rolls-Royce Park Ward extended-wheelbase model.

We're eager to get our hands on the official images and details sometime before the Wee Roller's debut next month. Should be rich.

[Image: Drew Phillips/AOL]

Filed under: Concept Cars, China, Hatchback, Mini, Rolls-Royce, UK, Specialty, Shanghai Motor Show, Design/Style, Luxury

Tags: 2011 shanghai, concept, goodwood, mini, shanghai 2011, shanghai motor show


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Thursday, April 28, 2011

Geneva 2011: Rolls-Royce 102EX Concept is going to rock down to Electric Avenue

102EX – PHANTOM EXPERIMENTAL ELECTRIC

INTRODUCTION

"Today, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars begins an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which technology may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future. The alternative drive-train we choose must deliver an authentic Rolls-Royce experience. It must be a technology that is right for our customers, our brand and which sets us on a sound footing for a sustainable future. That is why this project is so important." – CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly presents 102EX, a car that represents one of the most significant initiatives taken by the company in recent years. It is the world's first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment and continues a tradition of experimental cars running through the model generations.

Rolls-Royce produces cars that represent the pinnacle in luxurious motoring for the world's most discerning customers. However, the company also recognises the need to look to the future and to plan for long-term sustainable growth. An investigation into alternative drive-train options is an important step in that process.

With 102EX, also to be known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), it is the company's intention to carefully test the opinions and reactions to alternative drive-train options of a range of stakeholders including owners, enthusiasts, members of the public and the media.

Throughout 2011 Phantom EE will serve as a working test bed, giving owners, VIPs, the media and enthusiasts the opportunity to experience an established alternative drive-train technology and to feed back their experiences, thoughts and concerns directly.

The bank of research gathered from a global drive programme that will include Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America will be crucial to decisions affecting alternative drive-trains for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

There are no plans to build a production version of this car. Phantom EE's role is as a test bed, designed to explore established BEV technologies, to pose as well as to answer questions.

Can Phantom EE deliver an acceptable range for customers without frequent re-charging? Is there confidence in its ability to operate in extreme conditions? Will reliability and quality be consistent with expectations of the world's pinnacle automotive brand?

Phantom EE also poses more fundamental questions: Is an all-electric drive-train able to deliver an authentic Rolls-Royce experience for customers, an experience that truly befits the marque?

Whether all-electric or another alternative drive-train option is right for Rolls-Royce will become clearer when the test programme is complete at the end of the year.

102EX – PHANTOM EXPERIMENTAL ELECTRIC (EE)

Reinvention is part of being timeless and Phantom EE is the latest in a line of experimental vehicles from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. It builds on a legacy which dates back to 1919 and 1EX.

Experimental models are used to test and evaluate new technologies and applications which could shape future Rolls-Royce products. Unlike a concept car, Rolls-Royce experimental models are always fully functioning, drivable vehicles using tangible materials such as wood, leather and metals rather than clay and foam or other concepts.

They present engineers and designers with the opportunity for real-world innovation and are used not only to showcase new components and engineering techniques but also to evaluate them.

The latest in this line of experimental projects began with a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a strikingly modern and immaculately proportioned car in which high technology and hand-craftsmanship combine to produce something extraordinary.

Phantom EE features the car's ground-breaking aluminium spaceframe, so important to dynamic prowess, as well as the sense of calm and tranquillity enjoyed by occupants. However, the naturally aspirated 6.75-litre V12 petrol engine and 6-speed gearbox have been replaced by a lithium ion battery pack and two electric motors mounted on the rear sub-frame. These motors are connected to a single speed transmission with integrated differential.

Each motor is power rated to 145kW, giving Phantom EE a maximum power output of 290kW and torque of 800Nm available over a wide band. This compares with 338kW for standard Phantom with maximum torque of 720Nm, delivered at 3,500rpm.

The Nickel Cobalt Manganese battery chemistry holds around 230Wh/kg,a high energy density which is important in achieving an acceptable range between re-charges. Pre-launch tests suggests Phantom EE should run to a range of up to 200km. Delivered on an effortless wave of torque, 0-60mph will be achieved in under eight seconds (5.7 seconds in standard Phantom), with top speed limited to 160kph.

This is the first application of the technology in a GKL++ segment (super luxury vehicles priced at more than €200,000) and the battery pack is thought to be the largest ever fitted to a road car.

Evaluation of technology is an important part of the test programme. However, more fundamentally the car will seek answers to questions posed of Rolls-Royce owners: what their needs might be for the future considering factors such as range, performance and re-charging infrastructure.

The feedback from customers – as well as media, stakeholders and enthusiasts via the website www.electricluxury.com - will prove essential in evaluating the appropriateness of battery electric technology for Rolls-Royce.

It will help inform a decision on whether all-electric, or another alternative drive-train technology, will be most appropriate for the world's best cars of the future.

DESIGN

"It's a credible design concept that perfectly complements the experimental nature of the car, exploring options in light, space and use of materials. Had we changed the overall aesthetic, the concept would have lost credibility; our audience would assume it was simply a styling exercise. The reality is that this is an experimental vehicle in its truest sense, challenging perceptions, emotions and values - as well as exploring alternative drive-train technology." – Ian Cameron, Chief Designer Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

102EX bears the famous hallmarks of the Rolls-Royce Phantom on which it is based, such as hand craftsmanship, fine detailing and iconic design cues like the pantheon grille and the Spirit of Ecstasy which celebrates its centenary in 2011. However, at the core of its design is the essence of an experimental vehicle, establishing this car's status as a test bed, while subtly alluding to its electric power plant.

The design creates a different aesthetic, experimenting with interior space and materials, as well as trims and illumination. These are framed around functional considerations for a battery electric Rolls-Royce - how the car is likely to be used and the changes that the technology brings in terms of interior space and exterior detailing. Naturally, these changes are executed in a way that affirms the car's credentials as a Rolls-Royce.

ATLANTIC CHROME EXTERIOR

Our designers were challenged with creating a finish for Phantom EE which immediately signified a special car, distinguishing it from standard Phantom models in the absence of many overt design changes. Not an easy task, since all Phantom models are special – with customers benefitting from a range of bespoke paint options running to some 45,000 colours.

Extensive research however had revealed a highly reflective paint using ceramic nano particles. Under a microscope these mimic the impression of a silver metal, but are between 8,000 and 80,000 times smaller than the thickness of a hair or 1,000 times smaller than the size of a normal metallic paint particle.

Test parts were produced and the design team were impressed with the results, knowing that the larger the object covered the better it would look. But they were under no illusions as to the task ahead.

In all sixteen coats of paint were needed, of which four were Atlantic Chrome, and many hours of time dedicated to ensuring a perfect end result. The finish is a striking one. Phantom EE commands the stage, with taut almost chiselled lines giving a wet impression to the car. This only grows in character as light conditions change.

ILLUMINATED SPIRIT OF ECSTASY

As well as the launch of 102EX, 2011 marks another milestone in the history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. On 6 February 1911, the design for Charles Sykes' Spirit of Ecstasy was first registered, signalling the start of a 100 year period in which this famous icon has adorned the prow of Rolls-Royce cars, from the famous Silver Ghosts, Clouds and Shadows of the 20th Century to today's hand-built Phantom and Ghost models.

Phantom EE's Spirit of Ecstasy, sits atop the radiator grille above the red double-R badge applied to EX models. Made of Makrolon, rather than stainless steel, it will be bathed in blue LED light, hinting at the electric technology beneath the bonnet. This stunning image complements the keynote graphic of website – www.electricluxury.com – where Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will expand the debate on the question of electric luxury to the online community, taking views from enthusiasts, media and members of the public.

INTERIOR DETAILING

Atlantic chrome-finished dashboard dials echo the exterior colour, providing a sense of interior-exterior balance and their analogue displays maintain the timeless architecture that every Phantom interior commands.

Other changes hint at further evolutionary designs applied to the car. For example, some dials have been subtly modified to provide information needed by the driver of an electric vehicle. The fuel gauge in particular has been replaced by an elegant battery charge indicator.

One of the most pleasing features of every Rolls-Royce Phantom interior is the power reserve dial located beside the speedometer. This reveals how much of the V12 engine's power remains at a driver's disposal. Phantom EE takes this concept a step further.

It features a regeneration symbol which takes the dial beyond the normal 100% line of standard Phantom. Depending on the momentum gathered, it conveys the degree of re-charge taking place as the vehicle is in motion.

EXTERIOR RE-CHARGING POINT

Re-charging is undertaken with a plug and five-pin socket which takes the place of the normal fuel filling mechanism for Phantom.The standard fuel filler cap has been replaced by a design featuring a clear window, displaying the RR logo and 102EX motif. The window frames rear-mounted, tricolour LEDs which present the car's charging status.

On start up, the socket is bathed in blue light. This begins to flash as charging commences. When completely charged, the display turns green, then flashing green as the solenoid is disengaged. A potential fault in the system is indicated by either constant or flashing red light.

Charging can be halted via a switch located adjacent to the plug. The process can also be operated inside the vehicle using controls accessed beneath the centre console, for example when induction charging is taking place.

CENTRE CONSOLE DETAIL

A key identifier for Phantom EE is the design of the centre console charging and display, sited below the central arm rest. A simple switch is used to start and halt charging, while the display itself features a bright plate with an image of a battery, lit by LEDs.

Reflecting the lights applied to the exterior charging point, this image changes colour according to the charge status of the car. A blue-lit battery shows the vehicle is on standard charge, while pulsating blue indicates that inductive charging is taking place. Green indicates a fully charged battery while red notifies engineers of a potential fault in the system.

CORINOVA LEATHER

"At Rolls-Royce we pride ourselves in producing an authentic and natural product for customers, the quality of which is second to none. Seton Corinova is an experimental vegetable-tanned leather that allows us to celebrate more of the curves, creases and other features that are part and parcel of the life of the animal. It's a more sympathetic process that stretches our understanding of Rolls-Royce interior expectations. Owners' reactions will prove fascinating during the tour." – Andrew Monachan, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars General Manager, Leathershop.

Interior wood veneers present Phantom owners with unique grains, patterns and detail adding weight to the fact that every model leaving Goodwood is as unique as the finger print of its owner. Phantom EE takes this concept a step further.

Its leather interior is derived from a natural vegetable tanning process christened Corinova. This gives life to the car, adding definition to the seats, floor and arm rests.

Most leather produced for automotive applications is chrome tanned. This is an important constituent that helps to stabilise animal hides and transfer collagen into leather fibres. The barrel-dyeing process used to colour Phantom interior leathers gives a rich, uniform pigmentation while maintaining the natural feel and softness.

An experimental leather, Corinova distinguishes itself by being entirely chrome free. It starts with a preparation of Glutardialehyde to prepare for tanning. Chestnut extract, sustainably sourced from Southern Europe and Tara powder from crushed fruit of the Tara bush in South America are used for drum-spun colouring. Fruits are harvested without damage to the plant and the product is finished with a combination of natural binders and high tech polymers.

The process lends itself only to certain earthy colours – in the case of Phantom EE a chestnut colour for seat covers and Quebracho Brown for other areas such as the floor and trunk lining, both of which are made of durable saddle leather.

As well as aesthetic differences, Corinova leather presents a number of practical benefits. It uses less paint finish than in standard chrome-tanned leather and creates less waste. It negates the use of petrol-refined products and with further development, it may be possible to use recycled Corinova leather in agriculture to aerate soil.

Rolls-Royce fully expects perceptions to be challenged and first impressions will no doubt focus on appearance, as features that define the life of the animal are more clearly visible in areas like seats and armrests than in production Phantom interiors. A change from the sumptuous finish applied to Phantom leather may imply a compromise to some owners, but others may welcome distinguishing features that stretch individualisation for Rolls-Royce Phantom models ever further.

As well as gauging owner feedback, the leather will be tested for its durability and performance after several months on tour.

INTERIOR PANELS

The interior of Phantom EE represents a departure from the traditional wood sets that define the majority of cars delivered to customers, providing a unique finish to the car. It features a distinctive aluminised foil weave that lifts the environment of the interior, contrasting sharply with the darker natural leather within. As is the case with Corinova leather, the aim is to challenge traditional perceptions of what might constitute a Rolls-Royce interior design scheme.

BATTERY PACK

Phantom EE is thought to have the largest passenger car battery in the world. Peak current is 850A, delivered at 338V DC. Overall capacity is 71kWh.

The pack is comprised of large-format NCM pouch cells. NCM (Lithium-Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese-Oxide) is a variant of lithium-ion chemistry that has particularly high energy and power densities.

The Phantom EE battery pack houses five modules of cells, a 38-cell module, a 36-cell module, and three smaller ones of ten, eight and four arranged in various orientations within an irregular shaped unit. This resembles the overall shape of the original engine and gearbox.

Each of the 96 cells was individually tested before assembly into modules to determine their characteristics and capacity. Sub-assemblies were further tested under load to verify that the power connections between each cell perform to specification.

The electronic sensing units for each group of cells were tested and calibrated prior to assembly and put through a rigorous temperature cycling regime designed to provoke failure of weak components. The main electronic box, which contains the switching and control gear, was tested in isolation from the other components to verify correct operation.

Three separate charger units (3kW each) are fitted to the battery, which allow both single-phase (20 hours) or three-phase charging (8 hours); for a passenger car this is unique. A fourth induction charger is also fitted to enable wireless charging, a technology being trialled in Phantom EE.

The battery pack would be expected to last over three years were it to be used every day. Part of the programme however will be to test this assumption in a real world environment and deliver a more robust answer to the question of battery lifespan.

INDUCTION CHARGING

Concerns about lack of available re-charging infrastructure in towns and cities are well documented and critics of electric motoring point to the additional inconvenience of trailing cables connected between power source and vehicles.

To present Rolls-Royce owners with a vision of a potential solution to these problems, Phantom EE is testing a technology called induction charging. This allows re-charging to take place without any physical connection, delivering greater convenience for owners and hinting at the potential for a network of remote charging facilities.

There are two main elements to induction charging; a transfer pad on the ground that delivers power from a mains source and an induction pad mounted under the car, beneath Phantom EE's battery pack. Power frequencies are magnetically coupled across these power transfer pads.

The system is around 90 percent efficient when measured from mains supply to battery and it is tolerant to parking misalignment. For example, it is not essential to align the transmitter and Phantom receiver pads exactly for charging to take place. While pads are capable of transmitting power over gaps of up to 400mm, for Phantom EE the separation is in the region of 150mm.

The coupling circuits are tuned through the addi­tion of compensation capacitors. Pick-up coils in the receiver pad are magnetically coupled to the primary coil. Power transfer is achieved by tuning the pick-up coil to the operating frequency of the primary coil with a series or parallel capacitor.

The pick-up controller is an essential part of the technology because it takes power from the receiver pad and provides a controlled output to batteries. It is required to provide an output that remains independent of the load and the separation between pads. Without a controller, the voltage would rise as the gap decreases and fall as the load current increases.

The transmitter pad has been constructed to shield magnetic fields to prevent EMI egress to bystanders and the system operates well within internationally agreed limits.

ELECTRIC CARS AND THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF ROLLS-ROYCE

Charles Rolls, Henry Royce and Claude Johnson played their part in an electrical revolution that pre-empted the establishment of internal combustion as the dominant car engine technology.

Henry Royce had developed a career as an accomplished electrical engineer before turning his expert hands to car manufacturing.

His business F.H. Royce and Co, which began selling simple lights and bell sets in the 1890s, became prosperous through the design and delivery of dynamos, electric motors and industrial cranes. Royce's many innovations include the patent for the bayonet bulb holder, a design that endures today.

One of Royce's clients was Pritchett and Gold, a company based in Feltham in Middlesex. As well as manufacturing accumulators they had developed a two-seater electric car, at least one of which was powered by a Royce electric motor.

The Honourable Charles Rolls also toyed with electric motoring in the years before the two men met. He had negotiated for the selling rights of an electric brougham, through C.S Rolls and Co, in Conduit Street, London which latterly established exclusive rights to sell Rolls-Royce models.

It is likely that this car was part of the City and Suburban Electric Car Project, a joint venture of two men, Paris Singer and one Claude Johnson. The project had a short life and Johnson left to join the rapidly expanding business of Rolls, latterly taking the role of managing director of Rolls-Royce. He became known as 'the hyphen in Rolls-Royce', with a pivotal role in its success.

Charles Rolls was on record outlining the merits of electric drive-trains - as well as raising prescient concerns about range and re-charging. He regarded a model called the Columbia as the best of its type, commenting in Automobile Journal:

"They are perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration and they should become very useful for town use when fixed charging stations can be arranged. But for country use I do not anticipate they will be very serviceable – at least not for many years to come."

Later, when the first exports of petrol powered Rolls-Royce models were made to America, some authorities refused to believe they were not electrically powered, thanks to their legendary near-silent running.

In the 21st Century silence remains a key signature for Rolls-Royce cars. Other attributes of all-electric drive-trains also allude to famous Rolls-Royce characteristics. Power at low speeds is one example.

Thanks to improvements in battery technology, it may be that the serviceability to which Rolls referred more than a century ago is now sufficiently developed to re-visit all-electric motoring as an option.

And to pose a 21st Century question of customers, enthusiasts and the media:

Electric luxury – can it be perfection or does it present an unacceptable compromise for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars?

www.electricluxury.com

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

No of doors/seats 4 / 5 (optionally 4)

Vehicle length 5840 mm / 229.9 in

Vehicle width 1990 mm / 78.3 in

Vehicle height (unladen) 1638 mm / 64.5 in

Wheelbase 3570 mm / 140.6 in

Turning circle 13.8 m / 45.3 ft

Track, front 1687 mm / 66.4 in

Track, rear 1671 mm / 65.8 in

Width at shoulder height, front 1509 mm / 59.4 in

Width at shoulder height, rear 1431 mm / 56.3 in

Leg room, front 1028 mm / 40.5 in

Leg room, rear 1109 mm / 43.7 in

Head room, front 1051 mm / 41.4 in

Head room, rear 979 mm / 38.5 in

Boot volume (DIN) 460 ltr / 16.2 cu ft

Unladen weight (DIN) 2,720 kg

Gross vehicle weight 3,030 kg

Payload 300 kg

Axle load limit, front 1,473 kg

Axle load limit, rear 1,548 kg

Maximum power output 290 kW

Torque 800 Nm

Battery:

Chemistry NCM (Lithium-Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese-Oxide) li-ion

Number of cells 96 in pouch design

Capacity 71kWh

Battery pack weight 640 kg

Peak current 330 kW at 850 Amps

Charge time (est) 20 hours single phase / 8 hours three-phase

Transmission type Single speed 6:5:1 with integral differential

Steering type EHPS Rack and pinion, speed-sensitive

variable-rate power assistance

Brakes

Front / diameter Ventilated disc / 374 mm / 14.7 in

Rear / diameter Ventilated disc / 370 mm / 14.6 in

Drag Cd 0.37

Drag Cd x A 1.041m2 / 11.2 ft2

Top speed 160 kph (governed)

Acceleration 0-60 mph Under 8 seconds

CO2 emissions Nil

Tyre, front Goodyear EMT 255/50 R21 106W

Tyre, rear Goodyear EMT 285/45 R21 109W

Wheels (21 in alloy)

Wheel size, front 8 in x 21 in

Wheel size, rear 9.5 in x 21 in

12V Battery capacity / installed position 90+70 Ah / boot


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