Volkswagen chose the Frankfurt motor show to unveil the revolutionary L1 Concept - a diesel-electric hybrid vehicle constructed from aluminum and carbon fiber.
Weighing 380kg, the L1 can seat two occupants in tandem. They enter through a side-hinging, electrically operated canopy which maximizes aerodynamic efficiency. It has a Cd figure of just 0.195.
Measuring 3813mm in length, the L1 Concept is comparable to the Fox yet, at just 1143mm in height, it's as low as a Lamborghini Murcielago. Its width, at just 1200mm, is narrower than any conventional car on sale today.
Read our opinions of VW's L1 Concept in our 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show Highlights.
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Bugatti presented customers and opinion-makers with the Bugatti 16C Galibier concept last weekend in Molsheim, France. Intended to be the most exclusive, elegant, and powerful four door automobile in the world, it is one of several concepts the company is considering for the future of the marque.
Named after a four-door version of the Type 57 and one of the most difficult alpine passes along the Tour de France route, the Galibier is built from aluminum and handmade carbon fiber parts colored dark blue, communicating the core values of the Bugatti brand. The Galibier's design picks up on the torpedo-like character of the Type 35, which was already revived in the Veyron, and reinterprets it. The typical Bugatti radiator grille, big round LED headlights and a subtle spine running the length of the vehicle are synonymous with the brand identity created under Jean Bugatti in the Type 57.
The interior reflects the elemental design of the exterior. The dash panel has been reduced to the essential; two centrally located main instruments keep even the rear passengers informed of the actual speed and previous performance. Swiss watch maker Parmigiani created a removable Reverso Tourbillon clock for the Galibier, which may also be worn on the wrist.
Mercedes-Benz will debut the all-new SLS 63 AMG at the Frankfurt motor show next week. The company's latest supercar creation was designed in-house and features many design cues reminiscent of the iconic 300 SL.
Mercedes consistently refers to the 'purist design' of the new SLS AMG, claiming it 'reflects the philosophy of contemporary sports car engineering'. The hood, which measures just under two-meters, covers the 6.3-liter V8 powerplant, while the low greenhouse is positioned well to the rear. An undoubted styling highlight comes courtesy of the gullwing doors which lend the SLS AMG its incomparable charisma - making a unique statement in this vehicle segment.
"The styling of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is not only very special because of the exclusive gullwing doors. Our aspiration is to utilize this interpretation to create the classic of tomorrow and roll out the most alluring sports car of the 21st century. Our aim is also to create a new design icon," said Mercedes' Head of Design, Gorden Wagener. "The new SLS paves the way for the design philosophy of forthcoming Mercedes-Benz sports cars."
Photo Gallery: Mercedes SLS AMG
McLaren today revealed its MP4-12C, the first in a range of high-performance sports cars the independent sports car maker plans to unveil in the coming years.
The two-seat mid-engined MP4-12C follows the principles of Formula 1 cars, where everything is there for a reason. All lines, surfaces and details communicate the car's engineering through its design, while particular attention was paid to aerodynamics and weight savings. In the construction of the new car, McLaren employed a single piece carbon fiber chassis the company calls a Carbon MonoCell, which not only reduces the weight of the structure but also allows for the use of lighter body panels.
"I hope that with the 12C we have produced a car that looks great today and will still look great in years to come," said Frank Stephenson, McLaren's Design Director. The aero-led design was finalized well before Stephenson's appointment last year, though the ex-Ferrari-Maserati designer was responsible for the integration of several dramatic convex and concave surfaces and details such as the air scoops and LED running lights that resemble the McLaren logo in form.
Photo Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C
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The Reva Electric Car Company has released information on two new vehicles it is set to reveal at the forthcoming IAA in Frankfurt.
The first model (pictured) is called the NXR; a four-seat, three-door hatchback intended for urban environments. Production is scheduled to commence at the beginning of 2010.
The Bangalore-based company (formed as a joint venture between Maini Group of India and AEV LLC of California) will also debut the NXG, a vehicle designed by Dilip Chhabria of DC Design. Reva plans to bring the two-seat, targa-roofed sports car to market by 2011.
The production Ghost will be officially unveiled at the forthcoming Frankfurt motor show, Rolls-Royce has confirmed. Visually identical to the 200EX concept revealed at the Geneva motor show in March, the new Ghost - which is smaller than the Phantom but larger than a BMW 7 Series - exhibits a balanced and elegant design aesthetic.
The new Ghost features large, uninterrupted surfaces that flow between finely sculpted horizontal lines, an upward-sweeping sill line and a low-cut roof. "Simplicity is the hardest design principle to follow," said Chief Designer Ian Cameron. The car's shoulders draw in sharply from the rear fenders to the tail lights, while the optional chromed exhausts hint at Ghost's more dynamic nature.
Inside, the interior design team has come up with a contemporary ambience that stays true to Rolls-Royce's traditions of quality materials and unparalleled comfort. Traditional violin key switches, chrome handles, fine wood and eyeball air vents combine with frosted white dials and refined instrumentation.
Photo Gallery: Rolls-Royce Ghost
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