Concept car : Daihatsu Lineup 2009

DAIHATSU MOTOR CO., LTD. (Daihatsu) plans to exhibit six concept cars of four different vehicle series and nine production vehicles along with new technologies at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show to be held from October 24 to November 4 at the International Convention Complex (Makuhari Messe) in Makuhari, Chiba Prefecture.



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Concept car : BMW Active Hybrid X6 2010

 

BMW announced the production version of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6. The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 will make its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in September and will reach US BMW Centers in fourth-quarter 2009. The overall drive system featured in the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 consists of a 400 hp twin-turbocharged V8 gasoline engine and two electric synchronous motors delivering 91 hp and 86 hp, respectively. Maximum system output is 480 hp, and peak torque reaches 575 lb-ft. 

 

Precisely controlled interaction of the three power units optimizes the overall efficiency of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 at all speeds, with acceleration from a standstill to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. Top speed of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 is limited electronically to 130 mph, with average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle improved by roughly 20%, and a CO2 emission rating of 231 grams per kilometer. EPA ratings will be available closer to the market introduction.

BMW ActiveHybrid X6 able to run exclusively on electric power – and that is entirely free of CO2 – up to a speed of 37 mph (60 km/h), with the combustion engine being activated automatically whenever required. With the two electric motors, three planetary gearsets and four multi-plate clutches, drive power is transmitted through a 7-speed automatic transmission. As would be expected in a BMW, the driver can operate the transmission manually. BMW’s lauded xDrive all-wheel-drive system distributes the power between the front and rear axles.

Model concept cars

The auto shows are amazing. They show all of these super cool looking cars that are to come and some of the new features on the current model cars. They also show new designs that will be implemented on current cars. As amazing as it is, there is one thing that gets me about these shows. It's the concept cars.
Concept cars are cars that are seriously being thought about publicly selling. When they show off a concept car they are getting feedback on the car they are thinking about releasing. Concept cars are usually not in final form but they can be almost completed as far as the body work goes.
One thing about concept cars is that they look really awesome. The new styling on some of these cars is just amazing to look at. Even if all you see are the pictures online! Now here lies the problem with concept cars. They are not done yet. They are like a teaser of the real car that may or may not be made available and produced for the public.
Take for instance the new Chevy Volt. A lot of buzz was created when GM introduced a concept car, the Chevy volt a few years ago. The car not only looked amazing it had some great features. It could run on all battery power and it did not use its gas engine to power the wheels. Instead it used its motor to power a generator to charge a set of batteries which then ran the car. Each wheel has an electric motor built in.
It has yet to be released, but it could be the style of car for the future.The future in which cars are electric. The problem is they ruined it! General Motors teased us with a beautiful looking car only to change its body style almost completely compared to the concept version. Now it looks like a Chevy Impala/Toyota Yaris smashed together. It is a bit different than the impala but it's too similar for my liking. There is nothing wrong with the impala but what GM had was a totally new style, a body for a new never released car. It looked great and would have stood out a lot. Now for the preview of the production car we get half of what we wanted.
So that's what bugs me about car shows and the concept cars. Just don't fall in love with a concept car too much as you may be disappointed by the production version.