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Video: Rinspeed shows off the future of motoring with the UC?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:56:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Technology, Videos, Hatchback, Electric

Rinspeed UC? Concept - Click above to watch the video after the break

The future of automotive transportation, huh? Many so-called futurists have attempted to predict what we'll all be driving five, 10 or even 15 years from now, but there seem to be more questions than answers. Will we even be driving at all? It would seem that Swiss design studio Rinspeed sees us piloting tiny little electrically operated vehicles from point A to point B, alongside teenagers that like to hang out in urban areas riding skateboards and jumping over obstacles. At least that latter part doesn't sound all that different from today, right?

Moving on to more interesting things, namely Rinspeed's awkwardly named and Geneva-bound UC? Concept, we see plenty of in-car communications and entertainment systems that apparently work along with the mobile phone in your pocket. Wait a second, is that a scratch? No worries! Just take out the handy-dandy color-matched BandAid in your pocket and you're good to go!

Need to go farther than the UC?s (ugh, that name!) 65-mile range will allow? Simply pull into your special parking space in the city-to-city electric train, plug your car in for good measure, and you're off with nary a care in the world. All that's left is to tell all your BFFs about your day via the in-car Twitter interface. Isn't technology grand? Click past the break to see for yourself.

Gallery: Rinspeed UC?

[Source: YouTube]

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Video: Rinspeed shows off the future of motoring with the UC? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen releases three concepts... from 2028

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Green, Volkswagen

Click the above image of the Ego for more shots of VW's 2028 concepts

For years, Inquiring minds have been imagining what the world will look like in the not-too-distant future, and, as you're no doubt aware, our brains have a knack for envisioning more than our feeble hands can produce. That appears to be the case with Volkswagen and its look 20 years into the future of the automobile. So, with that in mind, what does VeeDub see as the future of transportation in twenty years? To begin with, customizable cars which can be summoned up in just minutes. Traveling alone? Choose the One, a single-seater, for the smallest footprint possible. Want to have some fun? Choose the aptly named Ego, a sporty two passenger coupe with an instant custom flame job. If you need to haul the whole clan, the future's ~~family truckster~~ VW Room needs no driver, leaving you with plenty of quality time with the kids.

Volkswagen envisions vehicles which communicate with each other, meaning that driver involvement is kept to a minimum, traffic is a thing of the past and accidents are completely avoided. Of course, no vision of the future would be complete without the elimination of fossil fuels, and VW sees to it that biofuels and electricity power the cars of the future. Interestingly, the not-so-futuristic up! concept is used as the starting point for the German automaker's future designs. Head on over to the micro-site for more.

Gallery: Volkswagen 2028

[Source: Volkswagen 2028]

Volkswagen releases three concepts... from 2028 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automotive X-Prize releases rules for 2009 race

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:34:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Trends, Green, Technology

Sister-blog AB Green just posted this story about X-Prize. Remember X-Prize? They were the organization that put up a considerable sum of money to reward the first person to successfully go into outer space with their own spacecraft. After Burt Rutan won that first X-Prize with his SpaceShip 1, the foundation decided to get its head out of the clouds, so to speak. As a follow-up to the space program, you can probably guess what their new contest is all about, considering we're covering it on AB and AB Green. The new Automotive X-Prize is designed "to inspire the development of commercially viable, super efficient vehicles that move beyond the petroleum monoculture." Think green here.

X-Prize released their initial set of rules recently to see what everybody thinks about the plan. Basically it's a race for "production viable vehicles" that get the equivalent of at least 100 mpg and meet some strict emissions requirements. And they really want cars that can actually be produced. No science fiction one-offs here. Split into two classes, two races are planned for sometime in 2009 to evaluate the projects. The first class sounds like the more practical and familiar group, requiring seating for at least four passengers and being driven by at least four wheels. The second category should be the fun one. While they require it seat at least two people, there is no wheel requirement. X-Prize will unveil the first draft publicly at the New York Auto Show, but you can read the draft as a PDF by clicking here.

And we encourage you to click the read link to see AB Green's exclusive interview with Auto X-Prize's Mark Goodstein.

[Source: Automotive X-Prize via AutoblogGreen]

Automotive X-Prize releases rules for 2009 race originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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