What an IDEA!

IDEA ERA

The I.DE.A Institute, the outfit responsible for the creation of the Fiat Tipo, Nissan Terrano II and the Daihatsu Move, unveiled the ERA at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, marking the end of a ten-year absence at the Swiss event.

The first in a series of models that the Institute intends to unveil over the next few years, the two-seater ERA roadster is built on a monocoque steel chassis clad in layers of carbon. Developed from shapes emerging from instinctive pencil strokes on a sheet of paper, the design features a long, sloping hood and a rear veil that rests on the bodywork, creating harmonious curves while underlining a play of unfettered volumes in a blend of romanticism and rationality.

Simplicity and exclusive materials have inspired the interior, which is fitted with visible tubular structures in brushed aluminum and analogue instruments at the center of the IP. Its wraparound seats are upholstered in a high-tech fabric created by a fashion designer.

Designed to accommodate 4- or 6-cylinder engines and front- or rear-wheel drive, the ERA can also be powered by an endothermic engine combined with an electrical alternator/actuator.

MY COMMENTS:

This is a design exercise that caters the basic nature of Men when it comes to cars... It is really basic actually, an Open top roadster concept is always the perfect sex machine, it provides an undeniable statement of male virility no matter what engine is planted inside this contraption.

The eyes are nice looking, somehow the designer is able to project a very good mannered less mischief character to this roadster.

I give it a 4 stars.

Hyundai Nuvis - Nuovo Auto!

Hyundai Nuvis concept (w/ Gallery)

Hyundai's North American design team unveiled the HCD II ‘New Vision Utility' (NUVIS) concept at the New York Auto Show, the eleventh signature concept car to be designed at the company's California Design Center in Irvine, California.

In addition to showcasing the brand's cutting-edge capabilities, Nuvis also hints at a possible design direction for a future-generation crossover, blending attributes of a tall urban car and a premium utility vehicle.

Read our opinions of the concept in our 2009 New York Auto Show Highlights.

MY COMMENTS:

Now this is what I call a really good design, from concept to actual construction and it's adherence to the conceptual image. The wide doors are excellent for both front and rear passenger ingress and egress, it saves a lot of components or parts. Instead of using 4 door latches, this SUV uses only 2 sets.

The design looks exotic, but it is actually more practical than it seems to project.

I give this 5 stars!

TIGER - by Geely, a Jaguar Nemesis? Not likely...

Geely GT Tiger concept

Geely Auto, one of the 'Big 5' Chinese car manufacturers, is set to reveal 22 production and concept cars under three different sub-brands at Auto Shanghai 2009 next week. One of these will be the Geely Tiger, a sports GT concept first shown at Auto China in Beijing last year.

The Chinese automaker claims that this year's GT concept is much closer to the production version, with 90 per cent of the engineering problems - which forced it to display only the exterior dummy model a year ago - having been fixed. The model on show in Shanghai will be complete with an interior, functioning lamp details and butterfly doors.

The design, which polarized opinion due to its graphical details and deceiving size, will again be up for a critical review, with the only noticeable difference being a bodyside molding and a higher, more realistic, greenhouse.

MY COMMENT:

The Geely Tiger is nothing but an amateurish attempt to make China appear to be a TIGER force when it comes to Automobile Design and Industry. There is nothing wrong with the desired statement... but the car itself, the design itself is too whimsical.

It was designed from the outside... a superficial approach in creating a vehicle.

As you can see, the obvious face of this car is the eyes of the tiger as well as the fangs of the tiger which is reflected by the over-sized grills.

IMHO, the car lacks the required prestige and heritage of a true blooded sports car.

You can't build sports cars overnight like the way you build cheap utility vehicle models. A Sports Car concept takes a build up of heritage and reputation. Many Rallyes or Races must be joined by a prototype race car and this prototype will not really give a clue of the future production model based on it's outside appearance.

The performance in the races will build up the kudos, reputation and heritages of the future sports car production model.

As soon as these elements are at hand, then and only then will it be the ripe time to start building the production model from inside - out.

This way, you can safely say- it is platform technology in practice or in essence.

Doing so, will ensure a more well thought off - fool proof design.

- ehnriko -

ONE 77 - A Halo Car for Aston Martin

Aston Martin One-77

Aston Martin revealed its first complete One-77 coupe at the Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance this weekend in Lake Como, Italy - and collected its first prize for the car. This collectors'-edition coupe received the Design Award for Concept Cars and Prototypes, voted the clear winner ahead of seven other entrants including the Morgan Aeromax Supersports, the Zagato-designed Perana Z One, the Infiniti Essence and the Rinspeed iChange.

The V12-engined, 200mph-plus One-77 has an all-new monococque body structure with hand-crafted aluminum panels, and Aston Martin pledges "extraordinary workmanship and money-no-object commitment to quality". As indeed one would, for a car costing £1million plus local taxes.

The two-seater, two-tone cabin is finished in carbon fiber and leather, with dramatically curved air vents, dashboard cowl, instrument panel and sweeping center console. The lightweight shell-type bucket seats are white with dark gray inserts echoing the pattern of the carbon fiber, and the Concours show car featured pale blue-gray interior panels to complement its exterior paintwork.

Sales of the One-77 are to start officially next year, though Aston Martin is reported to have buyers signed up for all the 77 examples it will build.

MY COMMENT:

This car is meant to save the nobility of English roadster prestige. The target Market is only the Elite of the elites. why 77?... I will leave this at that.

The number "7" is a mysterious number, I will have to keep it that way.