Driverless Electric Bus Eases Driver Shortages and Congestion In Madrid During Maiden Service

– Courtesy of EMT ©, released to Euronews

After five years of testing, an autonomous electric bus has been deployed to a park in Madrid for one final, real-world experiment in driverless vehicles for public transit.

If it succeeds, the cute little caterpillar-shaped bus may become a mainstay in the Spanish capital, ferrying passengers around Casa de Campo park and beyond.

Developed through a partnership with the Madrid transit authority (EMT) and Automotive Technology Center of Galicia (CTAG), in northern Spain, the driverless bus has been in action between the 15th of September and 24th of October.

It drove in a circuit around Casa de Campo, picking up passengers at 6 stops, and operating for five of the city’s peak hours.

The vehicle is 100% electric, and though many of its body components were manufactured abroad, the brain, eyes, ears, and other software were made at CTAG.

“This bus is one of the best I have ever tested,” César Omar Chacón Fernández, head of the EMT’s Rolling Stock Planning Division, told Euronews. “It behaves very well dynamically. Let’s say that the technology is very well integrated, it doesn’t behave erratically or robotically like other buses.”

The aim of EMT and CTAG is not replacing drivers, but providing a suitable and safe alternative for predictable, shorter routes that can help cities address a current shortage of professional bus drivers.

Though fully autonomous, and capable of detecting pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, scooters, animals, crosswalks, stop signs, traffic lights, and roundabouts, and making decisions over when to brake, accelerate, turn, and open/close the doors, a safety officer is always on board just in case.

“The vehicle detects any object, from a bicycle to an animal, and reacts accordingly to avoid collisions,” Chacón said. “It is a fully autonomous line, but we never leave anything to chance.”A cute little thing, it joins a growing number of miniature, electric, European automotive options that fit better into crowds of cyclists, narrow streets, and cramped parking spaces. Driverless Electric Bus Eases Driver Shortages and Congestion In Madrid During Maiden Service

Back To Top

Tell-Us

Windowless jet designed to look transparent from inside

Design company creates the 'ultimate window seat' for all passengers using high-res displays

A Paris-based design team has created an innovative concept for a private jet that gives passengers the impression that the aircraft in which they're flying has entirely transparent walls. High-resolution cameras mounted on the jet's fuselage and wings capture real-time video footage of the world outside and beam it onto flexible display panels on the cabin walls and ceiling.

"Every seat on this private jet is the ultimate window seat, but there's just one catch – there are no windows," says the Daily Mail. 

Instead, passengers can see the panoramic view from outside streamed onto the walls. Alternatively the displays could be used for in-flight video conferencing or for other pre-programmed images, such as these space or mountain scenes, or even to mimic a more traditional aircraft interior.

Gareth Davies, design director at the Technicon Design's Paris studio, said: "The brief of the project is simple, to challenge current thinking, and propose something a little different but not just a fantasy. It has to be credible and relevant, yet provoke discussion."

A jet without windows also allows for a "svelte and elegant" exterior, says Davies.

The IXION windowless jet was designed for a National Business Aviation Association show last year and earned the team an award at the International Yacht & Aviation Awards in May.

Omar Kardoudi at Gizmodo says it "might look like an impossible sci-fi concept" but he believes we are "not very far" from seeing something similar in real life. "Perhaps flying inside a giant semi-cylindrical display would get tiring at one point," he adds, "but I would like to see it built and try it." For further concise, balanced comment and analysis on the week's news, try The Week magazine. Subscribe today and get 6 issues completely free. Source: The Week UK

Back To Top

Tell-Us

Honda Teases New Urban SUV Concept Ahead of Detroit Auto Show Debut

A single teaser image along with a very short statement is all we get about Honda's new Urban SUV Concept study that will receive its world premiere in January at the 2013 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Here's what the Japanese automaker told us in the press blurb: "The Urban SUV Concept, teased in a sketch released today, is a global concept model combining a sporty and dynamic SUV profile with a spacious, functional interior." While the automaker may not be willing to divulge specific information about the prototype at this time, we remember that during a press event at the company's headquarters in Japan this September, Honda president Takanobu Ito said that the carmaker will launch a small SUV based on the next Fit/Jazz subcompact. We believe that the Urban SUV Concept previews this model, which Honda has said will enter the market within two years after the launch of the new Fit/Jazz in 2013. Source: Carscoop

Back To Top

Tell-Us

U Design: The New Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

If anything else, the community here at CarScoop seems hyped about Alfa's return to its roots with the upcoming 4C series. After one of our readers who attended an Alfa Romeo dealer meeting in Europe shared detailed information about the 4C, including preliminary pricing, production numbers and even the company's plans to expand the range with Racing, Spider and Stradale versions, another reader, Anton Gjorsev, sent us this rendering of the convertible model. Gjorsev's Alfa Romeo 4C Spider proposal keeps the same lines as the coupe dropping the center section of the roof and the rear windshield, under which, you will find a 1.75-liter turbocharged four rated for 240PS (equal to 237hp), that's connected to a dual-clutch automatic transmission feeding the rear wheels. We will remind you that the coupe iteration of the 4C is rumored to debut in production-ready form at next month's Geneva Motor Show. Kudos to Anton Gjorsev for the design! Source: Carscoop

Back To Top

Tell-Us

First Photos of the Updated Acura NSX Concept II?

A Chinese  website  has  dropped  a  pair of  pictures of  what is claimed  to be the latest Acura NSX Concept, which the Japanese carmaker has already confirmed for the Detroit Auto Show. Acura itself has described the car as "the next evolution of the NSX Concept". While we can't see any differences on the outside compared to the original study displayed at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, there's a picture of the interior, which was not shown previously. The new NSX will enter production under the Acura nameplate in North America and as a Honda for the rest of the world within the next two years. It will be manufactured for the first time in model's history in the U.S. and will sport a mid-mounted naturally aspirated V6 engine aided by the firm's new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) hybrid system that incorporates three electric motors. Story References: Xgo via Source: Carscoop

Back To Top

Tell-Us

What do you Say About this Lamborghini Supercar Design Concept?

Unless you own/owned one and have/had bitter memories about servicing bills, reliability issues and other tedious matters of the sort, exotic supercars have and will always fuel gearheads' dreams. The same goes for aspiring automotive designers like Alex Imnadze who has shared his vision of what a Lamborghini supercar 

should look like through a new concept study. Imnadze doesn't tell us a lot about the coupe, in fact, we don't even know the name of his Lamborghini model, only that inspiration came from several production and conceptual raging bull vehicles, such as the classic Miura, the Estoque and the Diablo. Looking at the renderings, we're going to say that it's a 2 seater, possibly featuring a mid-engine configuration – even though 

the absence of air-inlets on the profile and –outlets at the rear end doesn't quite sit well with us. You can take a look at the pictures of the concept four yourself below and tell us what you think about it in the comments. Designer: Alex Imnadze via, Source: Carscoop

Back To Top

Tell-Us

New Photos and Details of Peugeot's Onyx Supercar Concept, gets a 680HP V8 Diesel-Hybrid Powertrain

Set to be one of the most impressive concepts at this year's edition of the Paris Motor Show, the Onyx is Peugeot's vision of what a 21st century supercar should be. The concept's sharply styled body features wings and doors that are handmade from pure copper sheet, and whose appearance Peugeot says will change over time gaining a patina, while the other panels are from carbon fibre painted matte black. The Onyx incorporates  some design references to the RCZ such as the ‘double-bubble’ roof and aluminium arches, but overall, it's a unique looking model. "The silhouette of the Onyx is sculpted softly, sensuously, but it is also alive and technological," explains Sandeep Bhambra, Onyx Exterior Stylist. "From the first sketches I wanted to create a showcase for technological excellence and craftsmanship by combining elements  demonstrating high 

aerodynamic performance, Black Diamond lamps and copper bodywork panels fashioned by hand." The study is 4.65m long, 2.20m wide and 1.13m tall, and according to Peugeot, has a drag coefficient of 0.30 and tips the scales at just 1,100kg (2,425 pounds). The Onyx is built around a carbon fiber central structure that consists of 12 parts and weighs only 100kg (220  pounds). Power comes from a diesel-hybrid drivetrain comprising a 3.7-litre V8 hybrid HDi FAP engine (and not a 1.6-liter unit as previously rumored) capable of delivering 600-horses to the rear wheels via a 6sp sequential gearbox and a kinetic energy system that turns braking power to electricity that is stored in a set of lithium-ion batteries and which can offer an

additional 80hp. The concept features double wishbone and an in-board controlled suspension on both ends, while braking power is provided by four carbon discs, 380mm at the front and 355mm at the rear. It is fitted with tires specially developed by Michelin, size 275/30 at the front and 345/30 at the rear, with 20-inch lightweight alloy rims. The passenger compartment of the Onyx sports a minimalistic design and plenty of light thanks to the glass roof. Unusually, the concept doesn't feature traditional seats but two separated areas with Peugeot using foam under the felt, in the areas of contact with the body. "For the interior, I was inspired by an everyday object, the egg box. With remarkable economy of material, it protects very fragile items. I adapted the concept into an intuitive space, with a minimum of connected parts, to become one with the car," explained Julien Cueff, Onyx Interior Stylist. Other highlights include the materials used in the interior such as the dashboard that is made from recycled newspapers that are compressed to create new ‘logs’ from which the parts are made. Peugeot says this material is named "Newspaper Wood". Needless to say, Peugeot has no plans to produce the Onyx. Source: Carscoop

Back To Top

Tell-Us

Future Cars: 2013 Seat Leon Cupra R Visualized

With the first juicy details and photos of the all-new Seat Leon Mk3 out in the open, it's time to imagine what the range-topping Cupra / Cupra R model, likely to be presented next year, could look like. The design made by Khalil Bouguerra suggests that Seat will adorn the Cupra model with a black finish for the grille surround, alloy wheels and mirror caps while also adding a new rear bumper with side vents, a diffuser and a centrally mounted single exhaust pipe. We think that the real Cupra may also feature a different front bumper than the Leon FR upon which this CGI is based, along with side skirts and possibly a roof spoiler. In it is current form, the Leon Cupra R features the VW Group's 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged inline-four with 261hp (265PS) driving the hatchback's front wheels. We wouldn't be surprised if its replacement made use of the same powertrain, perhaps tweaked to improve its green credentials and fuel economy numbers. Photo Credits: Khalil Bouguerra, Source:   Carscoop

Back To Top

Tell-Us

With a Little Help from VW, Italdesign Giugiaro Looks Into the Future with the Brivido Concept

Carscoop: It's been close to two years since the Volkswagen Group took a 90.1 per cent stake in Italdesign Giugiaro and exactly one year after the Italian company celebrated the marriage with the VW-branded Tex Coupe and Go! MPV conceptsat the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The design house will return to Switzerland forthis year's edition of the auto salon with a single concept model named the Brivido, which may not feature VW's  logos on  its 

hood, but its underpinnings and hybrid powertrain are sourced from within the German group. "2012 will be an important year for us and for the Group, and with this car we want to continue to allow people to dream and to imagine the future," said Giorgetto Giugiaro. "This is an exercise to show a vehicle that delivers awesome sports car performance in an eco-friendly manner, to show great technological content, and above all to have superb comfort," he added. The Brivido is a fully working concept model designed, engineered and manufactured in the Italdesign Giugiaro plant at Moncalieri. It sports a hybrid powertrain comprising a 3.0-liter engine and presumably an electric motor (the company didn't elaborate) producing 360-horses, which allow the gullwing-door coupe to reach 100km/h (62mph) in 5.8 seconds and attain a top speed of 275km/h (171mph). On the outside, the Brivido is defined by the use of aluminium, carbon fibre, and glass materials. Inside, the four-seater prototype gets an impressive looking dashboard with interactive

electronics and displays that were developed by Italdesign in cooperation with the Volkswagen Group Electronics Research Lab (ERL) in California. Both the driver and passenger get their own instrument panels. On the driver's side, there are two LCD screens that display images from the side and rear cameras while the passenger side houses an integrated iPad system.Source: Carscoop

Back To Top

Tell-Us

Toyota Video Teases New NS4 Plug-in Hybrid Concept Car – Is it a Coupe?

Carscoop: In addition to a very closely cropped teaser photo, Toyota has now published a new video on the NS4, a plug-in hybrid concept car that will be fully revealed at next week's 2012 North American International Motor Show in Detroit. While mystery continues to shroud the details on the NS4, the new promotional clip gives us a sneak peek on some of the car's styling and tech

.

 elements such as instrument panel and center console. We also get a quick glimpse of a few sketches that appear to be showing a coupe or perhaps a sporty looking four-or five-door fastback, but we can't be sure. Follow the break to watch the video for yourself. Source: Carscoop

Back To Top

Tell-Us

Next Generation 2014 Chrysler 200 Sedan Conceptualized

Carscoop: It may feature a different name and fancier looks, but pay close enough attention and it’s not hard to see that the current Chrysler 200 is a heavily facelifted Sebring. That doesn’t  come  as  a  surprise  as  the Detroit 

automaker wanted to buy some time before it develops an all new replacement based on the CUSW platform used on the Dodge Dart, which has been jointly-developed with Fiat. Chrysler has already admitted that the 200's successor will arrive in the market within the next year or so, but we still don't know what it will look like. Lawrence Technological University design student Colin Bonathan, whom we came to know through his Chrysler Review Coupe and Lincoln Continental studies, attempts to shed some light on a possible design direction

for the next 200 mid-size sedan. Check out the renderings after the break and tell us what you think.Design and Photo Credits: Source: Colin BonathanNext Generation 2014 Chrysler 200 Sedan Conceptualized - Carscoop

Back To Top

Tell-Us

Taiwan's Luxgen Launches its First Sedan Model, the Luxgen5

Mazda isn't the only automaker to use its name as a designation for its model series. Taiwan's aspiring new automotive brand Luxgen has adopted the same nomenclature for its range of models that has now been expanded with its first ever four-door sedan, the Luxgen5 that joins the Luxgen7 MPV and Luxgen7 SUV. The newly revealed Luxgen5 is the production version   of   the   Neora   EV   concept   study   that   was exhibited at the Auto

. . ..

Shanghai 2011 in China earlier this year. The Taiwanese automaker says it is targeting the medium-large sedan market with the new Luxgen5 that will make its world premiere at the 2012 Taipei Auto Show next April. According to Luxgen, the four-door model has been created for global markets in mind since its inception. The chassis has been designed with the support of US engineering analysts Altair, while the car was tested by UK safety organization Mira to meet the chassis configuration requirements of local and overseas markets. Read Full: Taiwan's Luxgen Launches its First Sedan Model, the Luxgen5 [Videos and Gallery] - Carscoop

Back To Top

Tell-Us

Russian MC-21 Airliner To Debut In India

Chhindits, By Suman Sharma: The Russian MC-21 new generation airliner will be presented for the first time in India at the Indian Aviation (IA) 2012 exhibition in Hyderabad from March 14-18, 2012. A life size mock-up of the cockpit and cabin will be demonstrated at a special hanger in the static display area of IA 2012. The unique feature of the MC-21 airliner is that compared to existing aircraft of its generation in the 150-180 seat category, the MC-21 offers 12-15% operational costs reduction. The family of aircraft will have expanded operational capabilities and will match future environmental requirements. MC-21 airliner provides higher level of comfort compared with existing narrow-body aircraft. The MC-21 program was started by IRKUT Corporation following a decree of the President of Russian Federation on June 6th, 2010. It envisages a family of

short/medium range aircraft intended for passenger transportation on domestic and international routes. In the MC 21 concept, IRKUT’s designers have set out to achieve substantial improvement in the aircraft’s operating efficiency doubled with better comfort. Mr.Kyrill Budaev, vice-president, IRKUT Corp., opines that each MC-21 will be bringing to an airline US$4-5 million of additional profit annually. The MC-21 project is being developed as an international cooperation including companies from Russia, USA and Europe. Among them are Pratt-Whitney, Hamilton Sundstrand, Rockwell Collins, Honeywell, Thales, Eaton and Zodiac Group of companies. It is visualized to complete the certification of the 180 passenger MC-21-300 aircraft by 2017. IRKUT Corp already has 235 orders on hand. IRKUT, Source: Chhindits

Back To Top

Tell-Us

Infiniti's Emerge-E Pure Electric Supercar Concept Uncovered in Patent Designs

Carscoop: Looks like we won't have to wait for Infiniti to stop the teasing and drop the full blown pictures of its all-new Emerge E sports car concept to get out first view of the electric-powered model after all as the patent designs made their way onto the internet today. Though rough around the edges and lacking certain details

such as the wheel designs, the greyscale computer generated images outline the shape of the Japanese carmaker's concept for a high-end performance model with the unique characteristic of featuring a range-extender drivetrain mounted in a mid-ship position. Infiniti has not made it clear yet if the Emerge E is a pure conceptual study or if there are plans to build a production version. In a recent promo video, Nissan vice president, Andy Palmer, commented about the Emerge E: "Infiniti already has hybrid and clean diesel models on sale. And with an all-electric sedan on the way, the natural next step was to push the boundaries where performance and the environment intersect." Hopefully, Infiniti will provide more details on the Emerge E at its world premiere at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show next month.Source: Carscoop

Back To Top

Tell-Us

BMW Classic Opens Online Parts Shop for Cars and Motorcycles Built from 1960 to 1990

Carscoop: If you happen to be a European owner of aclassic BMW and either prefer to shop original parts directly from the automaker or you need a specific component that can't be found anywhere else, the German company has some good news in store for you. BMW announced today that it has launched a new online shop dedicated to its classic models offering customers the opportunity to buy parts straight from their computer. Currently, the BMW Classic Parts website is available only for

customers in Germany but the service will be expanded to further European markets in April. The Bavarian automaker tells us that the range of parts in the new online shop currently totals some 35,000 items and covers cars and motorcycles manufactured from 1960 to 1990. The company notes, however, that certain parts that are heavy, along with dangerous goods and materials, and electronic components are not including in the range. You can take a look at the German version of the website at www.bmw-classic.de and European at www.bmw-classic.com.BMW Classic Opens Online Parts Shop for Source: Carscoop

Back To Top

Tell-Us

Honda to Display NSX and European CR-V Concept Plus New 1.6L Diesel at the Geneva Salon

Carscoop: Honda today revealed its line-up for the Geneva Motor Show that takes place in March. The highlight of the Japanese firm's display will be theNSX Concept that features a mid-mounted V6 and a hybrid all-wheel drive system. The production version will arrive within the next three years. The second Honda concept that will make its European debut in Geneva will be the EV-STER, an electric roadster, akin to a 21st century version of the early ‘90s Beat Kei-car. Much closer to production, and of bigger interest to a most customers, is the European version of 

the all-new CR-V crossover. Although it will be displayed as a prototype, the new CR-V, which is already available in the U.S., will effectively preview the European model that is set to go on sale this autumn. Also targeted to the European market is Honda's new 1.6-liter turbo diesel engine. The company claims that it is the lightest and most fuel efficient engine in its class, emitting less than 100 g/km of CO2. It will find its way under the hood of several Honda models including the new Civic hatchback. Last, but not least, are two new versions of the Jazz supermini: the Si, which will go on

sale this summer featuring a sports package with a re-tuned suspension and sporty additions to the bodywork and the interior, while the Jazz 1.2 will gain an Idle Stop auto stop-start system that reduces CO2 emissions by 3g/km compared to the standard 1.2 version. Source: Carscoop

Back To Top

Tell-Us

Mahindra unveils `clean, green, low-cost' concept electric car

Domain-B: Mahindra and Mahindra has unveiled its concept electric car `NXR' - a low-cost mobility solution - placing itself at the center of a big shift towards renewable energy use amidst rising cost of depleting conventional energy. ''We want to change the way people commute. And we want to do it in a way that is responsible, that is clean, that does not tax the planet and that makes the experience of commuting guilt-free and a very joyous one,'' Anand Mahindra,

   Image Link Flickr                                                                                       1 | 2 Next Page

Auto vice chairman and managing director of Mahindra & Mahindra, said unveiling the concept car at the Delhi Expo. He said the company was working on an integrated ecosystem to provide that kind of a transport solution. ''Just imagine travelling from Connaught Place to Delhi international airport for an energy cost of Rs10 and doing so in air-conditioned, climate controlled comfort in your own car without emitting a single molecule of harmful gases,'' Dr Pawan Goenka, president – automotive sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, said while unveiling the concept electric car – NXR – from Mahindra Reva. ''That is how we believe we could shape the future of mobility. To enable this, we are already working on integrating a comprehensive eco-system of sustainable mobility solutions, encompassing alternative technologies such as electric, hybrid and fuel cells into our research, development and commercialisation plans,'' he added. Goenka said the feasibility of electric vehicles' commercial success depended on some kind of subsidy because the cost of battery, controller and motor was still high. Till the volumes increased, manufacturers would continue to need government subsidy. domain-b.com : Mahindra unveils `clean, green, low-cost' concept electric car

Back To Top

Tell-Us

Students Design an All-Electric Lincoln Continental for 2025

...

Carscoop: At the 2012 Detroit Auto Show that comes to an end on Sunday, January 22, Lincoln put on display the MKZ Concept to preview both the looks of its soon to be launched mid-size sedan as well the brand's new styling direction. But FoMoCo isn't the only one to present a design concept for a future Lincoln as the Lawrence Tech University had its own  proposal in

the form of a quarter-scale model for a pure-electric Continental for 2025. The study for a luxury sedan model is the work of Lawrence Tech students Colin Bonathan and Jeeho Cha and it was endorsed by the Ford Motor Company. It all started in the summer of 2011 when Bonathan and Cha came up with plans for a Lincoln concept as part of their undergraduate degree program in transportation design. The university said that Ford officials liked the concept so much that they commissioned the quarter-scale model for display at the Detroit event. Bonathan, who was responsible for the exterior design, says that he began by choosing the desired wheelbase length and then placed the occupants, the electrical system and other components in the Continental

...

study before finalizing the design. His partner Cha created the interior of the Lincoln concept model. It was his first take on designing the cabin of an automobile. "I like doing interiors more now. It’s not just one form, but several forms that have to be designed in a cohesive way. There are more problems to solve,” said Cha. Hop over the break to check out the design renderings from the various phases of the project. Photo Credits: Colin Bonathan via Lawrence Tech Source: Carscoop

Back To Top

Tell-Us