Autoblog

Design chief Callum says he'd like a Jaguar city car

Noah Joseph — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Jaguar, UK, Design/Style, Luxury

When we think of British automobiles, they tend to land in one of two extremes: big luxury vehicles from Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Range Rover on the one hand, and Mini on the other. Both extremes are quintessentially British, but if any company can bridge that divide, it's Jaguar.

The Coventry marque makes vehicles of various sizes, and if its design chief has his way, it could branch southwards into the city car segment. Speaking with Britain's What Car? magazine, Ian Callum expressed his viewpoint that a properly high-end small hatchback, coupe or sedan could anchor the shallow end of the company's lineup, though he did qualify that his was a "personal view."

In that respect, any such car would be following in the footsteps of former sister-company and longtime rival Aston Martin - whose DB7, Vanquish and Vantage were also designed by Callum - which recently teamed up with Toyota to offer the Cygnet city car. As long as Callum doesn't envision a Tata Nano with a Leaping Cat on the hood, we'll wait and see how this turns out.

Design chief Callum says he'd like a Jaguar city car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen Nils Concept is a new take on urban transport

Michael Harley — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Volkswagen, Design/Style, Electric

Small, lightweight, electric and seats just one. That pretty much sums up the new Volkswagen Nils concept which was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show today.

The sole occupant sits inside an ultra-light all-aluminum chassis with aluminum skin and polycarbonate door panels. According to the automaker, overall length is just 120 inches (for reference, the Smart Fortwo is just over 98 inches long) and the weight has been kept below 1,000 pounds. Motivation comes from a 33-horsepower electric motor that weighs just 42 pounds, pulling power from a 5.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The range is about 40 miles and charging takes just two hours.

Facing the driver is a seven-inch TFT display with digital instrumentation. The Nils is also fitted with a portable infotainment unit to controls navigation, radio, phone and Internet access. With multi-link suspension, drilled disc brakes at all four corners and a wide stance, the Nils looks fun to drive. Designed with short-commute Europeans in mind (the project is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development) the concept probing the feasibility of micromobility probably won't look very practical to Americans, even if it does appear pretty cool.

Volkswagen Nils Concept is a new take on urban transport originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi City E-tron Concept caught during film shoot

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Spy Photos, Audi, Electric

Our spies recently turned their lenses on this little guy in Berlin, deeming it an Audi concept for the coming Frankfurt Motor Show. Supposedly rolled out from under Audi's e-tron umbrella, its silent running suggests electric propulsion, and its tandem seating suggests an evolution of the Volkwagen L1 concept that bowed at Frankfurt in 2009.

That VW effort was a small-displacement diesel hybrid, and although the design was quite funky, it was more conventional with a fuller body that enclosed the rear wheels. This project from The Four Rings, on the other hand, is more like a sleeked-out version of Gordon Murray's T.25 city car. We have no idea what new thread this will start in the Audi quilt, but we'll bring you all the news from Germany next month.

Audi City E-tron Concept caught during film shoot originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Mercedes-Benz planning urban BMW MegaCity rival

Zach Bowman — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Japan, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill

Autocar is reporting that Mercedes-Benz is hard at work on a competitor to the BMW MegaCity. According to the report, MB is currently putting its designers to work to come up with suitable styling studies for an alternative-fuel city car. Currently, the project is said to be operating under the working title "Mega City Mobility," though there's no telling what, if anything, will land on the production line as a result of the project. Autocar says that Mercedes-Benz intends to answer vehicles like the BMW MegaCity and a rumored electric Audi built on the same bones as the Volkswagen Up city car.

Interestingly enough, the Mega City Mobility project is based in Japan, where the automaker says that the country's focus on intelligent ways to overcome spatial constraints provides plenty of inspiration. So far, designer have come up with at least one clay model that could use underpinnings from the next Smart ForFour (previous model pictured above).

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Mercedes-Benz planning urban BMW MegaCity rival originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Lotus city car confirmed for 2013

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Hybrid, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Lotus, Electric

Lotus unveiled a flurry of new concept models earlier this year at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Five brand-new concepts took center stage, but there was a sixth vehicle unveiled that got far less press - the Lotus City Car. According to CAR Magazine, Lotus head Dany Bahar says that the City Car will arrive in production form for an October 2013 launch date.

The City Car rides on a platform developed for a range-extended hybrid powertrain. A 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine powers electric drive motors, which are mated to a single-speed transmission. This means that around town, the Lotus City Car will be able to run solely on battery power, while the gasoline engine can kick on for needed assistance if necessary.

Lotus is planning to build three versions of the City Car; one for Asia, a European version and eventually a sportier model.

[Source: CAR Magazine]

Report: Lotus city car confirmed for 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin Cygnet gets the green light

Noah Joseph — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Aston Martin, Luxury

Aston Martin Cygnet - Click above for high-res image gallery

Niche automakers like Aston Martin are facing increasing difficulties with our overcrowded planet. On the one hand, emissions regulations are tightening, forcing automakers to reduce their carbon footprint across their range. On the other, big GTs like those that Aston builds, svelte though they are, are becoming increasingly inconvenient for navigating crowded city streets. Aston's answer to both these problems is the Cygnet, and it's just been announced for production.

The city car shown until now in concept form is based heavily on the Toyota iQ, but in Cygnet form will be hand-assembled at Aston's factory at Gaydon in Warwickshire, England, alongside the company's Grand Tourers. Production is slated to begin next year in 2011, with pricing and specifications due to be announced later this year. Official announcement in the press release after the jump, updated high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: Aston Martin Cygnet

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin Cygnet gets the green light

Aston Martin Cygnet gets the green light originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Gordon Murray's T.25 city car revealed

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, UK, Design/Style

Gordon Murray Design T.25 - Click above for high-res image gallery

After hinting at doing so for a couple of years, Gordon Murray has finally revealing his new T.25 city car at an event at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment in Oxford, England. The 1,212-pound car is just over four feet wide, less than eight feet long and seats three adults in a 1+2 layout. Like Murray's McLaren F1, the driver sits front and center and the passengers sit behind on either side.

The whole front section of the body is hinged at the front and flips forward for access in a manner not dissimilar to BMW's Isetta microcar of the mid-Fifties. Power comes from a 51 horsepower, in-line three-cylinder engine mounted in the back to propel the T.25 to 62 mph in 16.2 seconds while achieving 61.9 miles per gallon. The diminutive size allows it to turn in just 19.7 feet and park perpendicular to the curb and the design's hinged cockpit and narrow width allow three T.25s to be parked in a single parallel parking space.

Gallery: Gordon Murray Design T.25

[Source: Gordon Murray Design]

Continue reading Officially Official: Gordon Murray's T.25 city car revealed

Officially Official: Gordon Murray's T.25 city car revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shot: Gordon Murray's T25 city car caught

Dan Roth — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, UK

Whenever Gordon Murray is attached to a project, the hope is that some of the brilliance underscored Brabham racing cars and the McLaren F1 will rub off on his latest effort. A peek at the seating arrangement in the T25 city car does start us reminiscing about the 1990s supercar that many still regard as the pinnacle of the art. The driver sits front-and-center, with passenger seats set back on either side, just as they did with Murray's seminal supercar.

UK publication Autocar has snagged a photo of the T25 as it headed out on double-secret road tests in England. The image shows the car looking like a contraption assembled around living room furniture, like all microcars tend to do. There's but one door, which swings up and away, and a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine is mounted out back.

The difference between the T25 and competitors like the Smart ForTwo and Toyota iQ is that Murray's influence promises a vehicle that will be pleasing for enthusiasts to drive, regardless of the footprint. We'll see for ourselves once the iStream manufacturing process - said to drastically reduce the costs, space, and energy requirements of typical auto manufacturing efforts - swings into action and T25s start to become available.

[Source: Autocar]

Spy Shot: Gordon Murray's T25 city car caught originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Four-door Fiat 500 reportedly in the works with North America in mind

Noah Joseph — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Hatchback, Chrysler, Fiat, Rumormill

Fiat 500 - Click above for high-res image gallery

In a couple of days, Fiat/Chrysler chief exec Sergio Marchionne is anticipated to officially announce plans to bring the Fiat 500 to North America. But if the diminutive hatchback strikes you as too small for American tastes, new reports indicate that a four-door version is in the works.

Set to be built at the Fiat factory in Mirafiori, Italy, AutoWeek reports that the four-door 500 - code-named L0 - will be classified as a small minivan in Europe, and arrive on the European market at the end of next year. If and when it comes Stateside, however, it will join the two-door, convertible and Abarth performance models, set to be built atop a new platform at the Chrysler plant in Toluca, Mexico.

In addition, the Italian-American alliance is reportedly considering bringing another subcompact built at the recently acquired Zastava Yugo plant in Serbia to North America in 2013.

Gallery: Fiat 500

[Source: AutoWeek]

Four-door Fiat 500 reportedly in the works with North America in mind originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Mercedes developing super-eco car to take on BMW Mega City

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:39:00 EST

Filed under: Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill

Mercedes-Benz is throwing everything at the small car game in what appears to be a bid to keep up with BMW, with BMW working to keep up with/stay ahead of Audi, when Audi was only trying to catch up to BMW in the first place. The Audi A1 was developed with the Mini in mind, now BMW is reportedly developing a sub-1 Series car, a car that could wear the Roundel and Mini badges to compete with... the A1... as well as a Megacity EV, and now Mercedes is apparently developing a sub A-Class car to compete with the Megacity.

For Mercedes, this would be in addition to the coming Smart ForFour, sub-C-Class AMG on the sketchboards and the BLK aimed at the Mini Countryman and X1 crossovers. Not much is known about the little Mercedes, but an insider has suggested to Autocar that it will be the length of the original A-Class, which was about 15 inches (338 mm) shorter than the current car. To pull that off, the Mega City challenger could be built on the next Smart ForFour platform. Got all that? It's about to get really crowded at the shallow end of German pool.

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Mercedes developing super-eco car to take on BMW Mega City originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Want an Aston Martin Cygnet? You'll need to have a big boy Aston first

Chris Shunk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Concept Cars, Marketing/Advertising, Aston Martin, Toyota, Design/Style

Aston Martin Cygnet - Click above for high-res image gallery

There are few automakers on earth as exclusive as Aston Martin, so we were more than a little surprised when the English exoticmaker announced it was going to build the Cygnet, a city car based on the prosaic Toyota iQ. After all, we chastise automakers for rebadging all the time, but Ford, Honda and General Motors products don't have anywhere near the exclusivity of Aston Martin. Then there is the Cygnet's reported $35,000 price tag. Some Aston purists were a little taken back by the "modest" $120,000 price tag of the V8 Vantage, so a $35,000 Toyota with a Rapide grille probably won't go over well with more than a few loyalists.

The New York Times has shed a little light on the subject, reporting that only owners of full-sized Astons will be eligible to purchase the Cygnet. Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez said in the winter issue of Aston Martin magazine that "this concept is akin to an exclusive tender for a luxury yacht." If that doesn't make sense to you non-yacht owners, think of it as a 105 mph golf cart for Aston owners.

To further help the Cygnet stay exclusive, Aston only plans to build 2,000 copies of the iQ-based city car and there are no current plans to sell the mini car in the U.S. market, so it might be fair to say this is a bit of a commuter special for Londonites. Even still, while this novel sales plan may help to mitigate potential brand degredation that Cygnet skeptics suggest it may bring about, we can't help but wonder how the thousands of non-Cygnet toting Aston owners will feel about their favored brand dipping a foot into the House of Toyota.

Gallery: Aston Martin Cygnet

[Source: The New York Times]

REPORT: Want an Aston Martin Cygnet? You'll need to have a big boy Aston first originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva Preview: Rinspeed to unveil the UC? electric city car

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Electric

Rinspeed UC? - click above for high-res image gallery

When we get to Geneva next March, eccentric Swiss design house Rinspeed will be showing off a design for a new electric commuter vehicle called the "UC?" The design of the car itself doesn't appear to be particularly novel with styling that looks like a cross between the Smart ForTwo and Fiat 500 (not to mention the Aston Martin Cygnet from earlier today).

However, Rinspeed is proposing an interesting approach to extending the range of the EV. Because the UC? is only 2.5 meters long, it could theoretically take advantage of the same kind of perpendicular parking that many Smart drivers use. With that in mind, Rinspeed is proposing that railroads build special train cars that would allow the UC? to be driven straight on and off for travel between cities where the 75 mile nominal plug range would make travel impractical. Since most European trains are electric, it's even conceivable that drivers could plug in their UC? models during the train trip. Rinspeed hopes to offer up the UC? to outside manufacturers who may want to build it.

Gallery: Rinspeed UC?

[Source: Rinspeed]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Rinspeed to unveil the UC? electric city car

Geneva Preview: Rinspeed to unveil the UC? electric city car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gordon Murray working on EV version of city car?

Chris Shunk — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:26:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Hatchback, UK, Electric

Gordon Murray's T25 city car looks pretty impressive on paper. It boasts higher cargo capacity and more seats (three) than a Smart Fortwo - and it promises to be built for maximum efficiency. According to Autocar, Gordon Murray says the T25 will be motivated by both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged versions of the 660-cc Mitsubishi engine, but Murray is also reportedly working on an electric version of the still unseen city car.

The aim of the T27 would be to make the most efficient electric vehicle on earth, although details of the propulsion system are at this point nonexistent. The alleged EV city car has reportedly been made possible by a £4.5 million ($7.46 million USD) investment from the U.K.'s government-backed Technology Strategy board along with £3 million ($4.975 million) from Gordon Murray design and £1.5 million ($2.48 million) from Zytec Automotive Technology.

If Murray's plans for the T27 are anything like those of the T25, the successful F1 designer won't produce the vehicle himself, instead opting to sell the rights to build the car to third-party assemblers like Apple, Sony or Virgin. The aim of the 16-month T27 project is to build four prototypes and eventually develop a manufacturing facility that utilizes Murray's reportedly brilliant iStream manufacturing process.

[Source: Autocar]

Gordon Murray working on EV version of city car? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Toyota iQ: Small Car, Font Jockey

Chris Shunk — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Videos, Toyota

Click above to view the video after the jump

Anyone who has ever used a computer knows that there are a lot of fonts out there, but we can't think of one that was designed with the use of a cute little hatchback. Letmedesign typographers Pierre & Damien teamed up with Stef Vancampenhoudt to create a whole new font using the new Toyota iQ, and the resulting ABCs are colorful to say the least.

Hit the jump to watch Vancampenhoudt maneuver the iQ inside a parking garage in an effort to recreate the alphabet. The iQ was fitted with red, green yellow and blue lights at the corners while being taped by an overhead camera. Special software was created to track the colored dots and create a one of a kind font, made by the ultra-compact Toyota city car. Check it out, and if you like the font, you can download it here. Thanks for the tip, Tom!

[Source: Vimeo]

Continue reading VIDEO: Toyota iQ: Small Car, Font Jockey

VIDEO: Toyota iQ: Small Car, Font Jockey originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Could the Fiat-Chrysler deal yield a North American Ford Ka?

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Chrysler, Ford, Fiat, Rumormill

The 2009 Ford Ka - Click above for a high-res gallery

It's a long shot, but according to The Detroit Free Press, Chrysler's deal with Fiat could result in Ford offering the cutesy Ka for sale in North America. As you may recall, Ford co-developed the Ka's platform with Fiat (it shares its chassis with the 500), and the Italian automaker builds both cars in Poland. If and when Chrysler and Fiat finish dancing and commit, the Freep reasons that models built on the 500's platform might be built in Chrysler's Toluca, Mexico plant. If so, that could offer Ford the kind of economies-of-scale necessary to sell the thousands of thin-margin Kas to make the venture worthwhile.

If the Ford Fiesta takes off and Ford can keep the Ka's price down - it starts at £7,995 ($12,150 US) in the UK - the case might make itself. Sure, there are a fair number of ifs, mights, and maybes in there, but as a cheap city car for when gas prices doubtlessly skyrocket again, it's certainly worth a thought or two.

Gallery: 2009 Ford Ka

[Source: The Detroit Free Press]

Rumormill: Could the Fiat-Chrysler deal yield a North American Ford Ka? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 May 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: If this is it, the Mazda1 looks nothing like Kiyora concept

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:26:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Spy Photos, Budget, Europe, Green, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Mazda

UPDATE: This is not a prototype for the Mazda1, it is a Chinese-market Haima subcompact based on the Mazda2. Thanks to everyone who sent in the correction

When we were told that the Mazda Kiyora concept unveiled at last year's Paris Motor Show would influence Mazda's coming city car, it looks like we overestimated the word "influence." At least, that's the case if the little Mazda caught in Evo's spy shots is actually the Mazda1.

Evo makes a compelling case for the car actually being the Mazda1 - not merely a revised Mazda2. Save for the ascending shoulder line (now moved to shoulder height, way above the rocker panels as on the Kiyora) the prototype has almost nothing in common with the design of the swoopy Paris beastlet. At the very least, we hope this car comes with the concept car's tech, but we won't know for certain until the car's expected launch at September's Frankfurt Auto Show.

[Source: Evo]

Spy Shots: If this is it, the Mazda1 looks nothing like Kiyora concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gordon Murray's city car prototype is "weeks away"

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:57:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Green, Hatchback

The T25, Gordon Murray's take on revolutionizing urban transport - and perhaps driving itself - the same way he did with supercars with his McLaren F1, is almost ready for center stage. Now that the design and engineering has been completed, T25 prototypes are expected on the roads in a few weeks for the next phase of testing.

The T25 is shorter, narrower, and lighter than even the smart fortwo, yet rumors say that it can carry more weight. Once the platform is proven, Murray plans for it to support a range of vehicle types, from a city car to a pickup truck. And Murray has applied his new thinking to the car's manufacturing as well: his iStream build process eschews large, stamped parts, focusing on "simple base mechanicals" that promote model flexibility and small factory sizes.

[Source: Autocar]

Gordon Murray's city car prototype is "weeks away" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Fiat plans Smart, Toyota iQ competitor

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Fiat

Fiat is rumored to be working on an all-new brand to launch small, inexpensive cars into the Western Europe, with two of the three proposed models being based on vehicles from emerging markets. The third is much more interesting. The new supermini, which could revive the Topolino moniker, is expected to get a new twin cylinder engine that could offer as much as 65 mpg when mated to a dual-clutch gearbox. Naturally, Fiat is targeting the smart fortwo, Toyota iQ and the upcoming up! minicar from Volkswagen, but the automaker is said to be working on a pricing model that more closely matches Renault's low-cost Logan subsidiary. In other words, Europeans may get an efficient, stylish Italian city car that's priced to compete with upper-end motorcycles as basic transportation. Electric versions are also a distinct possibility. Unfortunately, as is often the case, Americans are likely to miss out on this one.

[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Fiat plans Smart, Toyota iQ competitor originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gordon Murray's T25 city car caught at anniversary celebration

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Spy Photos, Budget, Green

Click above for more teaser shots of the T.25 concept

Gordon Murray may be best known for his radical supercars, especially the timeless McLaren F1, but his automotive passions span far enough to include vehicles that could be described as the F1's polar opposite. Evidence of such is the T.25 program, a novel city car concept that Murray and his design crew plan to sell to established automotive companies. Gordon Murray Design Limited, the company formed by the man for his day-to-day design aspirations, has just celebrated its first anniversary and some intriguing pictures were snapped at the party, most of all a covered-up T.25 sitting in between some classic city cars of the past and present. Looking extremely short, even when compared to the original Mini, and almost comically tall, the wheels appear to be pushed as far to the corners as possible. Click here to read a transcript from Murray's speech at the event where he compares driving cars that get 20 miles per gallon with smoking. Thanks for the tip, Andre!

Gallery: Gordon Murray T.25 teasers

[Source: Gordon Murray Design]

Gordon Murray's T25 city car caught at anniversary celebration originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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KTM preparing low-cost, clean city cars and SUV

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Green, India

As suspected, the KTM X-Bow is just the beginning of the bike-cum-automaker's assault on the four-wheeled world. According to CAR, KTM is in the process of creating a "slew" budget oriented vehicles, including a city car and "the world's first frugal and eco-friendly off-roader."

The SUV, codenamed the New Haflinger, will split the difference between KTM's world-renowned bikes and a traditional utility vehicle, with a small footprint, an open- or closed-top body and the ability to handle the rigors of the Paris-Dakar rally (which it plans to compete in with four wheels) while still holding its own on the road.

Three separate city vehicles are also part of the product onslaught, which is being co-developed with Bajaj Auto, India's third largest automaker. One will be a four-seat, four-wheel runabout, while a scooter and three-wheeled modern take on the tuk-tuk is under development. KTM's aim is to produce a wide variety of bodystyles and drivetrains, and its plans to include gasoline- and diesel-powered models, along with an EV in the future.

[Source: CAR]

KTM preparing low-cost, clean city cars and SUV originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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