Displayed at the 2010 Delhi Auto Expo, the Renault Twizy is due to go on sale at the end of 2011 in Europe.
Posts
9 years ago
Showing posts with label buy car. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buy car. Show all posts
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tata Pixel, a cool city car concept
The Tata Pixel, with ‘Zero Turn’ drive and an innovative diamond-shaped door system, is a city car concept for Europe from Tata Motors.
The Tata Pixel also introduces “My Tata Connect” -- the first integrated human-machine interface (HMI) concept from Tata Motors for its new generation programmes.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Audi Reveals Urban Concept Car
Audi has released more detailed images of the Audi Urban Concept it plans to reveal to the public for the first time at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show next month.
The Audi urban concept has a sleek body. The wheels are free-standing, their surrounding protective plates feature blinking strips of LED lights.
Monday, August 8, 2011
An Icon of Progress – the BMW i8 Concept.
The emotional design of the BMW i8 Concept ensures its qualities are clear for all to see. Its dynamic proportions give the BMW i8 Concept the appearance of surging forward before it even turns a wheel and lend visual form to its extraordinary performance.
The sporting character continues into the interior. Boasting a driver-focused environment unmatched by any BMW Group vehicle before it, the BMW i8 Concept immerses the driver fully in the unique driving experience. The BMW i8 Concept is the sports car for a new generation – pure, emotional and sustainable.
The design of the BMW i8 Concept is as special as the car's overall concept embodying the perfect synthesis of technology and aesthetic allure. Its sweeping lines and flat silhouette lend the vehicle a strikingly dynamic appearance even when standing still. A large, transparent greenhouse lends the exterior an extraordinary feeling of lightness and highlights the exceptional efficiency of this vehicle concept. Short front and rear overhangs round off the sporting overall impression. Despite its dynamic appearance, the 2+2-seater can accommodate four people, giving it a high degree of everyday practicality.
As with the BMW i3 Concept, layering again serves as the central design element of the interior and exterior. The individual vehicle components are also clearly visible from the outside, the black and transparent Life module clearly setting itself apart from the silver-coloured body components around it. This layering approach lends the BMW i8 Concept an extremely technical and cutting-edge appeal.
The design of the BMW i8 Concept is as special as the car's overall concept embodying the perfect synthesis of technology and aesthetic allure. Its sweeping lines and flat silhouette lend the vehicle a strikingly dynamic appearance even when standing still. A large, transparent greenhouse lends the exterior an extraordinary feeling of lightness and highlights the exceptional efficiency of this vehicle concept. Short front and rear overhangs round off the sporting overall impression. Despite its dynamic appearance, the 2+2-seater can accommodate four people, giving it a high degree of everyday practicality.
As with the BMW i3 Concept, layering again serves as the central design element of the interior and exterior. The individual vehicle components are also clearly visible from the outside, the black and transparent Life module clearly setting itself apart from the silver-coloured body components around it. This layering approach lends the BMW i8 Concept an extremely technical and cutting-edge appeal.
Dynamic side view.
Taut surfaces and precise edges form an extremely sculptural and organic surface structure. The precise lines along its flanks and BMW i "stream flow" also give the BMW i8 Concept a strong sense of powering forward even when it is standing still. The BMW i8 Concept's doors swing upwards like wings to provide an undeniably emotional and sporting allure. Below the doors, the silver-coloured layer moulds the car's flanks into a powerful wedge shape, opening out from the door sills towards the rear. A blue flourish accentuates the dynamic presence of the sills. Together, the bonnet and door sill sculpting emphasise the BMW i8 Concept's forward-surging stance, and their smooth lines imbue the car with a touch of lightness.
Striking front end.
The BMW i8 Concept also displays its dynamic sports car persona when viewed from the front. A number of different levels interact with one another in the design of the front end, while the expressive surface treatment exudes dynamic verve and advertises the car's sporting potential. The full-LED headlights of the BMW i8 Concept are designed as two U-shaped configurations.
A black, semi-transparent "V" rises out of the bonnet just behind the kidney grille, opening out towards the windscreen and guiding the eye to the electric motor below. The "V" also offers the first glimpse of the CFRP module and extends back towards the rear like a black band to provide a visual connection between the different sections of the car.
Sporty rear end.
Similarly to the front end, the rear of the car is also very low, horizontal and sculptural in design. The silver-coloured side sections form a striking vertical frame around the rear of the car, with a precise line extending out to the sides enjoying particular prominence. In its centre the silver-coloured and blue-framed rear diffuser is a wider and lower interpretation of the version on the BMW i3 Concept, adding a distinct sporting flavour to its relationship with its stablemate.
At the rear, the car's exceptional sporting credentials are also expressed in width-accentuating lines, three-dimensional air outlets and "floating" tail lights with air through-flow. The tail lights, which also have a distinct horizontal design, are integrated into the upper layer of the rear and share the signature U-shape of the BMW i light concept.
Taut surfaces and precise edges form an extremely sculptural and organic surface structure. The precise lines along its flanks and BMW i "stream flow" also give the BMW i8 Concept a strong sense of powering forward even when it is standing still. The BMW i8 Concept's doors swing upwards like wings to provide an undeniably emotional and sporting allure. Below the doors, the silver-coloured layer moulds the car's flanks into a powerful wedge shape, opening out from the door sills towards the rear. A blue flourish accentuates the dynamic presence of the sills. Together, the bonnet and door sill sculpting emphasise the BMW i8 Concept's forward-surging stance, and their smooth lines imbue the car with a touch of lightness.
Striking front end.
The BMW i8 Concept also displays its dynamic sports car persona when viewed from the front. A number of different levels interact with one another in the design of the front end, while the expressive surface treatment exudes dynamic verve and advertises the car's sporting potential. The full-LED headlights of the BMW i8 Concept are designed as two U-shaped configurations.
A black, semi-transparent "V" rises out of the bonnet just behind the kidney grille, opening out towards the windscreen and guiding the eye to the electric motor below. The "V" also offers the first glimpse of the CFRP module and extends back towards the rear like a black band to provide a visual connection between the different sections of the car.
Sporty rear end.
Similarly to the front end, the rear of the car is also very low, horizontal and sculptural in design. The silver-coloured side sections form a striking vertical frame around the rear of the car, with a precise line extending out to the sides enjoying particular prominence. In its centre the silver-coloured and blue-framed rear diffuser is a wider and lower interpretation of the version on the BMW i3 Concept, adding a distinct sporting flavour to its relationship with its stablemate.
At the rear, the car's exceptional sporting credentials are also expressed in width-accentuating lines, three-dimensional air outlets and "floating" tail lights with air through-flow. The tail lights, which also have a distinct horizontal design, are integrated into the upper layer of the rear and share the signature U-shape of the BMW i light concept.
Purpose-built interior.
The transparent surfaces in the doors and roof give the exterior and interior design of the BMW i8 Concept the appearance of merging into one another. The colour concept and underlying structure of the BMW i8 Concept interior closely mimic those of the BMW i3 Concept. Here again, the Porcelain White support structure, black technical level and comfort section with Mocha Brown leather are split into three different layers. The arrangement of the air vents, control panels and displays also betrays the car's family ties to its BMW i3 Concept sibling. Overall, however, these features have a more sporting character and are geared much more clearly towards the driver. Indeed, a level of driver focus beyond that of any BMW Group vehicle before it allows the BMW i8 Concept to immerse the driver fully in the unique experience behind the wheel. Driver-relevant functions such as the gearshift lever, start-stop button and parking brake are arranged around the driver on the centre console and are graphically strongly geared towards the driving seat as well. The three-dimensional displays are extremely clear and flash up the relevant information for the driving situation at hand. At the same time, occupants in the BMW i8 Concept sit in a highly integrated position low down in the car and are separated by the battery running lengthways through the interior. This longitudinal bisection of the cabin underlines the sporting and forward-looking character of the BMW i8 Concept interior.
Optimum information.
The freestanding information display in the dash is joined by an equally large display taking the role of the instrument cluster. Designing the central instruments in this way enables driver-relevant information to be conveyed in a three-dimensional and high-resolution format. In keeping with BMW i style, the displays are premium, modern and purist. Depending on the driving mode, the two drive systems are depicted by a pair of ellipses, which supply information on their operation at any given time. Other information – such as the available range and fuel level – can be found here, too.
The transparent surfaces in the doors and roof give the exterior and interior design of the BMW i8 Concept the appearance of merging into one another. The colour concept and underlying structure of the BMW i8 Concept interior closely mimic those of the BMW i3 Concept. Here again, the Porcelain White support structure, black technical level and comfort section with Mocha Brown leather are split into three different layers. The arrangement of the air vents, control panels and displays also betrays the car's family ties to its BMW i3 Concept sibling. Overall, however, these features have a more sporting character and are geared much more clearly towards the driver. Indeed, a level of driver focus beyond that of any BMW Group vehicle before it allows the BMW i8 Concept to immerse the driver fully in the unique experience behind the wheel. Driver-relevant functions such as the gearshift lever, start-stop button and parking brake are arranged around the driver on the centre console and are graphically strongly geared towards the driving seat as well. The three-dimensional displays are extremely clear and flash up the relevant information for the driving situation at hand. At the same time, occupants in the BMW i8 Concept sit in a highly integrated position low down in the car and are separated by the battery running lengthways through the interior. This longitudinal bisection of the cabin underlines the sporting and forward-looking character of the BMW i8 Concept interior.
Optimum information.
The freestanding information display in the dash is joined by an equally large display taking the role of the instrument cluster. Designing the central instruments in this way enables driver-relevant information to be conveyed in a three-dimensional and high-resolution format. In keeping with BMW i style, the displays are premium, modern and purist. Depending on the driving mode, the two drive systems are depicted by a pair of ellipses, which supply information on their operation at any given time. Other information – such as the available range and fuel level – can be found here, too.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
The Royal car at the Royal Wedding
Designed with inputs from the Queen herself, Prince Phillip and the head chauffeur, this bespoke limo ensures it's perfect for the Royal family's exacting standards.
Understandably, details of this one-off limo are scant. Three feet longer, 10 inches taller, and six inches wider than a standard Bentley Arnage, it is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 6.75-litre V8 Engine that has been modified from Bentley's Arnage R version to produce 400 hp (300 kW) and 616 lb•ft (835 N•m) of torque. Maximum speed is 130 mph (210 km/h). It is equipped with broad coach doors that open to the rear almost 90 degrees.
The car has been given armoured bodywork and glass, a mine-resistant floor, a cabin that can be sealed against a gas attack, and kevlar enforced tires. These security and safety measures raise the car's weight to almost 4,000 kg.
The only seat in the car that's leather is the driver's because the Queen and Prince Phillip prefer lamb's wool covering on their seats. British textile manufacturer Hield Brothers produced the Lambswool Sateen cloth used for the upholstery of the rear seats.
Only two such cars were made, making it even rarer than the Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, of which just 18 were built for royalty and heads of state. You could have all the money in the world and Bentley wouldn't be swayed to build another.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Cervo: Maruti’s Answer to Tata Nano?
India experienced a watershed moment when Ratan Tata fulfilled his promise with the launch of Nano, the most economic vehicle in the Indian market, and arguably, in the world. Ever since the launch of Tata Nano, the whole globe is behind the idea of cheaper wheels. Now, it’s the turn of Maruti, who is seriously planning a car priced closer to Nano, and it could apparently be the Cervo, a compact five door mini that might put the other kids on the block in the shade.
The Cervo looks like a smaller Chevrolet Beat with cues from Honda Jazz’s design. The phenomenal fuel efficiency is one of the USPs of this car.
Powered by Suzuki’s 660cc engine – as against Nano’s 623cc – the Cervo could be priced between 1.5 to 2 lakhs, a little higher than Nano. But Cervo looks too stylish and futuristic to be priced under 2 lakhs. So it’s obvious that Maruti needs to delete some of the features available in the car, or use a cheaper material to make a potent contender to Nano.
Inside, the dashboard of the Cervo looks almost like the Swift, with the rectangular air vents in the centre and the circular ones on the sides. Power windows and airbags are available in the international markets but chances are that Indians will have to compromise on that.
Although not all can repeat the Nano story, Maruti has resources and expertise to come up with such a model at a cheap price without compromising on quality. But can they pull it off? Let’s all hope so.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Six tips to spot a clocked car
Clocking is one of the biggest threats to used car buyers. If you've never heard the term before, it's when a crafty seller tinkers with the odometer to make it look as though a car has covered fewer miles, which increases its value.
What's worse is that it's almost impossible to spot, so you could be paying well over the odds for a car that's a lot more tired than it looks.
A BBC 'Watchdog' investigation recently uncovered serial car clocker, Ashley Singh, who sold such cars from home via used car sales websites. Singh used fake identities and doctored service histories to keep buyers in the dark, and it was only when he bought a car from the 'Watchdog' team that he was discovered.
Journalists from the programme sold Singh a car with 128,000 miles on the clock for £2,300, but later found him selling the same vehicle for £6,000 with a claimed 47,000 on the clock.
With that in mind, it's essential to be as knowledgeable as possible when you're buying your next second-hand car. Our top six tips for spotting a potentially clocked vehicle will keep you in the know and dodgy dealers at bay.
Check the service history
It's tempting to just skim through the service history when you get caught up in the excitement of buying a car - but don't. Inspect every document thoroughly.
Not every car will have a full service history, but the more documents, the better. Look for stamps from a genuine dealer, as these are good signs that the work has been carried out by a professional - and you can trace each fix, MoT or service back to an individual garage.
Get an HPI check
Vehicle history specialist HPI reckons that one in 12 used cars has a mileage discrepancy, so it's well worth shelling out the nominal cost for a comprehensive history check. Single HPI checks start at £19.99 and the company has a database of 135 million mileages. If you're paying a four figure sum for your next car, £20 for peace of mind seems worth it.
Double check the mileage on collection
A common trick by cheeky fraudsters is to wind the mileage figure back to a lower level when the buyer first comes to view the car, then change it to its correct level shortly before the car is collected.
Make a note of the mileage - and the general condition of the rest of the car - during your first viewing. On the second visit, give it a quick once over to make sure everything matches before you hand over your cash.
Talk to the previous owner
If you're buying the car from anyone other than a private seller then it's worth contacting the previous owner. Their details can be found on the front page of the vehicle's logbook - write them down and contact the last owner before you buy.
See if what the previous owner says matches the service history. They're not likely to know everything off by heart, but if there are any glaring differences then it could be time to walk away.
Look for wear and tear
Clocked cars are hard to spot, but if a vehicle has covered a lot more miles than the seller claims, then there are telltale signs. Worn steering wheels and seats and damaged or loose interior trim suggest that the car has been used heavily.
Look for new but easily replaceable parts too, like wiper blades hub caps. This could mean that the seller has shelled out a small amount to get the car looking tidy, when in fact, it's not up to scratch.
Trust your judgement
Check out the front page of the logbook. If the previous owner was a fleet or business then the mileage will usually be quite high. If the car was for business use only and it has only covered 6,000 miles in a year then you have reason to be wary. Stay savvy and keep your wits about you and you have far less chance of buying a dud.
What's worse is that it's almost impossible to spot, so you could be paying well over the odds for a car that's a lot more tired than it looks.
A BBC 'Watchdog' investigation recently uncovered serial car clocker, Ashley Singh, who sold such cars from home via used car sales websites. Singh used fake identities and doctored service histories to keep buyers in the dark, and it was only when he bought a car from the 'Watchdog' team that he was discovered.
Journalists from the programme sold Singh a car with 128,000 miles on the clock for £2,300, but later found him selling the same vehicle for £6,000 with a claimed 47,000 on the clock.
With that in mind, it's essential to be as knowledgeable as possible when you're buying your next second-hand car. Our top six tips for spotting a potentially clocked vehicle will keep you in the know and dodgy dealers at bay.
Check the service history
It's tempting to just skim through the service history when you get caught up in the excitement of buying a car - but don't. Inspect every document thoroughly.
Not every car will have a full service history, but the more documents, the better. Look for stamps from a genuine dealer, as these are good signs that the work has been carried out by a professional - and you can trace each fix, MoT or service back to an individual garage.
Get an HPI check
Vehicle history specialist HPI reckons that one in 12 used cars has a mileage discrepancy, so it's well worth shelling out the nominal cost for a comprehensive history check. Single HPI checks start at £19.99 and the company has a database of 135 million mileages. If you're paying a four figure sum for your next car, £20 for peace of mind seems worth it.
Double check the mileage on collection
A common trick by cheeky fraudsters is to wind the mileage figure back to a lower level when the buyer first comes to view the car, then change it to its correct level shortly before the car is collected.
Make a note of the mileage - and the general condition of the rest of the car - during your first viewing. On the second visit, give it a quick once over to make sure everything matches before you hand over your cash.
Talk to the previous owner
If you're buying the car from anyone other than a private seller then it's worth contacting the previous owner. Their details can be found on the front page of the vehicle's logbook - write them down and contact the last owner before you buy.
See if what the previous owner says matches the service history. They're not likely to know everything off by heart, but if there are any glaring differences then it could be time to walk away.
Look for wear and tear
Clocked cars are hard to spot, but if a vehicle has covered a lot more miles than the seller claims, then there are telltale signs. Worn steering wheels and seats and damaged or loose interior trim suggest that the car has been used heavily.
Look for new but easily replaceable parts too, like wiper blades hub caps. This could mean that the seller has shelled out a small amount to get the car looking tidy, when in fact, it's not up to scratch.
Trust your judgement
Check out the front page of the logbook. If the previous owner was a fleet or business then the mileage will usually be quite high. If the car was for business use only and it has only covered 6,000 miles in a year then you have reason to be wary. Stay savvy and keep your wits about you and you have far less chance of buying a dud.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Car auction world record smashed
A 1936 Bugatti has sold for at least $30,000,000 (£20m) at auction, making it the world's most expensive. It dwarfs the previous auction record, set at £15.7m for a Ferrari 250 GTO in September 2008.
The Bugatti Type 57C Atlantic was bought by the Mullin Automotive Museum in California, which means it will now be seen by thousands of enthusiasts. It had belonged to Dr Peter D Williamson, a neurologist and car collector who died in 2008.
It was sold by auctioneers Gooding and Company on behalf of Dr Williamson's family - though the actual price could be anything up to $40m.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Gooding and Company President David Gooding said the car is "one of the world's most significant and valuable automobiles."
Mr Gooding would not reveal the final sale price of the car, though a source 'close to the sale' confirmed it was between $30- and $40m, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The car was first unveiled at the 1935 Paris Motor Show, with a 200bhp engine and a 123mph top speed - quite incredible statistics at the time. Dr Williamson purchased the car in 1971, reportedly for $59,000. Fashion designer Ralph Lauren owns another of the few remaining Type 57C Bugattis.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Ferrari Superamerica sells for £2.4 million
Top auction house RM made its way into the record books yet again when it sold a 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet Pininfarina SWB for £2.4 million at a prestigious auction in Monaco in May 1 - the highest recorded price for a Superamerica.
The Sporting Classics of Monaco sale, held at the Grimaldi Forum, was packed with rare and exotic classic cars, five of which sold for over €2 million (£1.7 million). Four of the top five sellers were Ferrari 250s from the 1950s and 1960s, along with a 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage, which sold for £2.11m.
A total of 105 cars went under the hammer, 88 of which sold at auction to produce an 86 percent sell-through rate and total sales of over £28 million. The sale's cover car - a 1937 BMW 328 MM Bügelfalte - failed to sell at auction, but it was bought after the event for an undisclosed sum.
Bidders from 33 countries fought it out over the telephone, online and in the standing only venue. RM estimates that around 3,300 people watched the live steaming footage of the auction online.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
