Skip to main content

ads1

Peugeot Design Competition Finalists Highlight Alternative Fuels and Fun

PARIS — The 10 finalists in Peugeot's annual design competition include the Concept LiiON, a three-wheeler powered by lithium-ion cells with a rear end that resembles a lion's tail, and the Speedlite, a high-performance hybrid with a Wifi-driven driver console.

The finalists are a global group from around the world including Brazil, China and the United States. As a group, they tended to favor hybrids and other alternative powertrains, often with an emphasis on "extreme power."

Inspiration was drawn from old Formula 1 cars, as well as open-wheel hot rods of the 1950s.

Peugeot said more than 4,000 cars from 113 countries were entered into the 2007 competition, the most since the event started four years ago. Part of the selection phase included a vote by Internet users to help determine the 10 finalists. The winner will be named at the Geneva Motor Show in March. A full-scale model of the winner will be presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in the fall, and the car will be replicated in an upcoming Xbox 360 game, Peugeot said.

Finalists include the Speedlite, a creation of Turin design students

peugeot design concept speedliteNemanja Lalcic and Mateo Krzanowsky. The glass-and-carbon-fiber hybrid has a maximum speed above 186 mph and goes from zero to 62 mph in under 5 seconds.

The Peugeot Flux was designed by Italian Mihai Panaitescu,

peugeot design concept fluxwho said the open-air concept runs on hydrogen and has an integrated Xbox 360.

The Allscape concept by Venezuelan Gustavo Ferrero is outfitted with a natural gas-powered 2.0-liter twin-turbo V4 mated to a seven-speed gearbox. Ferrero said the emphasis is on "extreme power." The concept has an ultralight aluminum-and-carbon-fiber frame, as well as an anti-noise sound system and a "geographical console" with a compass, altimeter and artificial horizon.

Dario Gagula's Peugeot e-motion is an electric sports car that combines concave and convex surfaces. The orange and silver Peugeot 910 has a transparent roof and an elaborate security system, including doors with no keyholes.

The one-seater Peugeot N Joy by Wesley Saikawa of Brazil
peugeot design concept njoy was inspired by old Formula 1 cars and is "omnidirectional." Saikawa says its sphere can roll in any direction, and the car can turn 360 degrees around itself.

Peugeot Concept LiiON by Christian Sano of Romania

peugeot design concept liion is a three-wheeler with a system that allows the driver to choose between "Sunday cruise driving" mode and "daredevil" mode.

Other finalists include the Peugeot Cub by Ka Dan of China and the MiawoO roadster by Noumid Bendifallah of France.

peugeot design concept miawoo
The sole U.S. finalist is the hybrid Peugeot Plaire by James Ma.

peugeot design concept plaire It was inspired by the open-wheel hot rods of the 1950s combined with sporty roadsters of today. The open-cockpit Plaire uses recycled materials.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

First Drive: 2007 Honda Civic GX

Previews Greenie spendthrifts wanted: A heavier, slower Civic with a smaller trunk. Oh, yeah, and it costs 50 percent more. Never mind that we in Michigan are just emerging from our igloos after a long cold winter. The world is heating up, the ice caps are melting, and when that melt is complete, we’ll all be living high in the mountains in houses on stilts to stay dry. Forty days and 40 nights the waters will rage, and when the ice caps refreeze, we’ll all be fighting over who called first dibs on those last two pigs for our celebratory barbecues, since the unicorns were already eaten by sharks. There are people who would argue that that sinister little creation, the automobile, is responsible for it all. We blame Al Gore, China, sweatshops, and greenie celebrities who flit about in private jets. Those who want to make a difference drive hybrids, while those who researched their decision drive diesels. Those who are truly enlightened and want to make a difference, however, seek someth...

NAIAS Detroit 2007: Volkswagen continues BLUETEC offensive

Volkswagen is presenting the Concept Tiguan SUV study at the North American International Auto Show. In the first half of next year the series version of the “Touareg’s little brother” will be debuting in the US. The Tiguan is being advanced as a significant component in Volkswagen’s model range in order to expand the market position in the US. Moreover, Volkswagen expects additional US growth starting in 2008 from the market launch of the cleanest TDI of all times. The introduction of the Turbodiesel direct injection engine equipped with a NOx secondary treatment system is taking place as part of the BLUETEC offensive in the latest Jetta– the most successful car in America from a German manufacturer. European injection technologies are increasingly convincing US customers: In 2006 Volkswagen of America had sales 4.9 percent above the previous year. This corresponds to 235,140 vehicles sold in the US. The positive signs for 2007 include the Eos being offered for the first time over an ...

Ford Offers Sneak Peek at New Mondeo

BRENTWOOD, England — Ford has released teaser images of its new Mondeo in advance of the car's world debut at the 2007 Geneva Auto Show. The vehicle should be of major interest to U.S. buyers, even though the car initially will only go on sale in Europe this summer, since it is one of several vehicles under consideration by the Dearborn automaker for launch in America. Just as Saturn has done with the Astra, sister car to the Opel Astra, Ford is taking a hard look at whether its European models, such as the Mondeo , would be appealing to American buyers who have shown a decided distaste for products like the Ford Five Hundred. The Five Hundred was recently renamed the Taurus in a bid to boost the vehicle's showroom traffic. The Mondeo is said to be one of several vehicles being studied for a U.S. launch at the behest of Ford's new president and CEO Alan Mulally. The new Mondeo goes upscale, apparently adopting design cues from sister brand Jaguar. It will be offered in ...