Autoblog

Michelin demonstrates how low rolling resistance tires work

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Videos

Tires get overlooked in the headlines about fuel economy and CAFE standards, which is a little odd. After all, a car's tires are the only contact it has with the road, so more efficient rubber means more efficient use of fuel, and even tiny gains spread over the huge number of road-going vehicles can translate into remarkable overall gains.

Michelin has made a spot that demonstrates the difference its Energy Saver A/S tire can make by staging a downhill drag race. There's a twist, though, and it makes the point beautifully. You can check it out in the video below.

Continue reading Michelin demonstrates how low rolling resistance tires work

Michelin demonstrates how low rolling resistance tires work originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Sep 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai Veloster getting summer tire option

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Hyundai

During an event in Park City, Utah today, Hyundai Motor America President and CEO John Krafcik confirmed to Autoblog that the funky Veloster hatchback will be getting a new summer tire option. "We could do better in terms of tires [and] we had always planned to have a summer option," Krafcik told us.

The higher-performance rubber - Michelin Pilot Super Sport 215/40ZR18 tires - offers substantial performance increases compared to the current car's Kumho Solus KH25 all-seasons. In skid pad lateral acceleration, Krafcik told us that the Michelins are good for 0.94 gs compared to 0.82 with the Kumhos. What's more, stopping distance from 60 miles per hour is now reduced to 121 feet (compared to 135) and wet braking from 60 mph happens in 136 feet (compared to 158).

Both the naturally aspirated and turbocharged Veloster models will be available with these grippier rollers (providing you spec the base car with the already optional 18-inch wheels). Hyundai will offer the Michelins as a $1,200 standalone option beginning this fall.

Hyundai Veloster getting summer tire option originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today's scarce automotive supply? Tires

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Plants/Manufacturing

Combine rising raw materials costs, reduced production capacity and manufacturing bottlenecks, and the result for the world of tires is this: not enough hoops to satisfy automaker demand. According to Automotive News, even before The Great Recession hit, a Bridgestone tire executive said that plant closures alone killed 71 million units of capacity in the U.S. New factories and factory expansions are on the way, but they won't run at full power until 2013.

Current production is also slowed down by having to construct low-volume tires and niche sizes, with more specialty cars and more sizes on the market. On top of that, the prices of materials like steel, carbon black and rubber that go into tires have risen an average of 52% in each of the last two years, sending tire prices "up very sharply."

Although it's predicted that "the shortage won't be resolved any time soon," from the looks of it car manufacturers are in control of the situation - as well they must be, since they can't sell cars without tires. OEMs haven't discussed what its done to the bottom line - or how much of the cost is passed on to buyers - but if you see spec sheets begin to list more tire makes as original equipment, maybe this is why.

Today's scarce automotive supply? Tires originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Michelin uses truly disturbing puppets to talk about importance of tire pressure

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Safety, Videos

Michelin uses puppets to explain tire pressure - Click above to watch the video after the jump

We're all about supporting PSAs that spread the good word about proper automobile maintenance, but this is just creepy. Michelin UK has tapped the Puppet Broadcasting Company to create a video that addresses many of the important know-hows of tire pressure, including how often you should check your rubber and the negative effects of having tires that are too low.

These are important facts that every driver should know, but when it comes to this video, we just can't get past the puppets. They're just... creepy. See what we mean by watching the video after the jump.

[Source: YouTube via Michelin]

Continue reading Video: Michelin uses truly disturbing puppets to talk about importance of tire pressure

Video: Michelin uses truly disturbing puppets to talk about importance of tire pressure originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michelin picks up the slack with World Rally Championship contract

Noah Joseph — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

You can't win 'em all, but you can win some. So while Pirelli may have beaten Michelin to the punch for the F1 tire supply contract, hesitation to find itself spread too thin led to its subsequently dropping out of the World Rally Championship. Well it looks like Pirelli's gain and subsequent loss will be Michelin's gain as well, as the French rubber company has announced it will be picking up (at least some of) Pirelli's slack on the rally scene.

Rather than continue with an exclusive contract (as F1 has), the WRC is slated to switch to a multi-supplier framework, opening up the series to numerous tire manufacturers to participate. And Michelin, it seems, will be the first, aligning itself with the FIA's mandate to reduce the amount of rubber burnt in each stage and thereby reduce its environmental impact.

Michelin's return to the World Rally Championship will start with next season, and marks the first time the French tire manufacturer has participated in the top-flight rally series since 2005. Rather than participating under its BFGoodrich brand as it does in the rival Intercontinental Rally Challenge, Michelin's renewed WRC program will be fielded under its own name. Official announcement in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Michelin]

Continue reading Michelin picks up the slack with World Rally Championship contract

Michelin picks up the slack with World Rally Championship contract originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michelin Primacy MXM4 uses sunflower oil to make the world better

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

The oldest and fiercest tire war is not the one waged for any motorsport victory, but the one that is still trying to win your hearts and wallets. In fact, the latter begets the former. And in a new and changing - and supposedly more caring - world, tire makers are turning to increasingly novel ways to make their tires better and get your attention. Michelin is the latest to catch our eyes with its Primacy MXM4 rubber that uses sunflower oil to help "the tire to maintain its edge in wet and snowy weather and stop up to 19 feet shorter than its competitor."

Called a Luxury Performance Touring All-Season tire, the MXM4 employs Michelin's proprietary Helio Compound+. Get it, "helio?" The sunflower oil helps maintain the rubber's elasticity at low temperatures, which will give you better grip and handling on both wet and wintry roads, as well as shorter braking distances. It also stabilizes the tread block's rigidity, increases mileage and lowers CO2 emissions. It officially goes on sale July 1. In the meantime, we figure Michelin is raiding the bathroom cupboard looking for the next advance in hoops...

[Source: Michelin]

Michelin Primacy MXM4 uses sunflower oil to make the world better originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Follow-Up: Michelin, Avon, Pirelli bid for F1 tire contract

Noah Joseph — Tue, 04 May 2010 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

With Bridgestone's hegemony on supplying tires to Formula One set to end this year, rubber companies are lining up en masse to grasp at the opportunity to take its place. We recently reported on Michelin's ambitions, but the French tire company isn't the only option being considered. According to Sam Michael, technical director for the Williams team, the options have been narrowed down to Michelin or Cooper Avon. Pirelli, however, has also announced its interest in returning to the championship.

All three of the candidates have participated in the series at one point or another: Michelin from 1977-1984 and again from 2001-2006, Avon from 1954-58 and again in '81-82, and Pirelli in the '50s and '80s. However Michelin, the largest of the three, could prove the most problematic, given the conditions it's demanding and the notorious debacle at Indy in 2005 that led to the demise of the United States Grand Prix.

No further word at this point on the purported candidacy of Korean rubber companies Hankook or Kumho, but with the Formula One Teams Association set to deliberate and decide on the matter shortly, we'll be finding out soon enough.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP/Getty]

Follow-Up: Michelin, Avon, Pirelli bid for F1 tire contract originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 May 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michelin considers returning to F1... with some conditions

Noah Joseph — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:19:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

A tire war could be sparked in Formula One within a couple of seasons if Michelin gets what it wants. The French tire manufacturer ceased its participation in the sport after F1 moved to a single-supplier formula, selecting Bridgestone as its partner. But with Bridgestone set to leave at the end of next season, team bosses reportedly met with Bernie Ecclestone in Malaysia on Friday to discuss potential replacements.

Among the offers reportedly entertained, Michelin could be back in - but with some very serious conditions. For starters, it wants not only free trackside advertising - a hit which Bernie Ecclestone would reportedly pass on to the teams - but it would also expect each team to pay for its tires, to the tune of some 2-5 million euros... per team, per season.

In addition to the compensation issue, Michelin would reportedly want the sport to switch from its current 13-inch wheels to much larger 18-inchers (presumably with lower-profile sidewalls) so that the F1 initiative could be better integrated with Michelin's sportscar racing program.

A large-scale tire war could ensue if Michelin gets what it's asking for, with Korean rubber companies Hankook or Kumho potentially joining the battle for a slice of the pie, and Bridgestone reconsidering its position.

[Source: ESPN F1 (1/2)]

Michelin considers returning to F1... with some conditions originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Never blow up your battery with Michelin Smart Jumper Cables

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Virtually every driver will, at some point, get that sinking feeling that comes when your car doesn't start. Digging out a set of jumper cables to boost a battery is a rite of passage. Jump-starting a car can be a slightly tricky process, though. The positive and negative terminals of the booster and "boostee" need to be connected properly or the battery can be blown up. Which is, you know, sub-optimal. Over the past decade, a number of devices have come out to help ease the battery-jumping process, including portable booster batteries and even jumper cables that plug into a 12V outlet inside the car. Those plug-in cables will never be connected with reverse polarity, but they might not be able to carry enough current to actually crank your engine.

Enter the Michelin Smart Jumper Cable. Instead of the usual color-coded clamps for your battery's positive and negative terminals, the cables are all Michelin blue. Halfway down the cable is a box of electronic smarts. Just put one clamp on the positive terminal of the battery and the other on any piece of bare metal and the electronics will detect whether you've made a complete circuit and illuminate an LED on the central box. When the second battery is connected, the electronics automatically determine the polarity and switch it as needed. A set of these smart jumper cables runs about $30 to $40.

[Source: Daily Giz Wiz, Michelin]

Continue reading Never blow up your battery with Michelin Smart Jumper Cables

Never blow up your battery with Michelin Smart Jumper Cables originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michelin sweeps Consumer Reports' largest ever tire test

Chris Shunk — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

No one can dispute the importance of tires on dry, wet or snowy pavement, but some buyers tend to pick their rubber based on price alone. For the more quality-minded customer, Consumer Reports conducts an annual tire test and this year's battle of the road rubber was the biggest ever with 69 models duking it out for supremacy. CR's tire engineers rated models based on several categories, including dry and wet braking, handling, hydroplaning resistance, snow traction, ice braking, ride comfort, noise, rolling resistance, and tread life. CR also claims that the new ratings, available in the November edition of the magazine, gives consumers the ability to compare individual performance characteristics like grip and tread life within a specific category.

The biggest winner this year was the Michelin Man, with the puffy white tire boss scoring top scores in all four categories. The Michelin HydroEdge was the top model among S- and T-rated all-season tires, the Michelin Primacy MXV4 scored top marks for H-rated tires and Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S won in the V-rated all-season radial category. The Michelin X-Ice XI 2 topped CR's ratings for winter tires for passenger cars.

While Michelin won big, the top-notch radials were also among the highest priced in many categories. Other stand-out performers costing less include the Hankook Optimo H727, Nokian WR G2, and Dunlop Signature in the all season H and V speed rating category. The General Altimax Arctic took second place for winter tires.

The November edition of Consumer Reports hits newsstands today, and the information is available to subscribers on ConsumerReports.org. Hit the jump to review CR's info-intensive press release.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Continue reading Michelin sweeps Consumer Reports' largest ever tire test

Michelin sweeps Consumer Reports' largest ever tire test originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Advantage, Michelin: Tennis shoes wear car rubber

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Lifestyle

Click above for a gallery of the Babolat Propulse 2 with Michelin rubber

Michelin, the tire company, has a division called Michelin Lifestyle Limited that focuses solely on extending the company's "Better Mobility Concept" to other arenas, the latest one being center court. The brand of Bibendum has developed the outsole rubber for a range of Babolat's new tennis shoes, the Propulse and Team.

With a tennis player's movements centered around "acceleration, braking, grip and relaunch" on a variety of different surfaces, the Michelin R&D lab probably had a good idea of what kind of rubber was needed. Michelin mated rubber technology from its auto racing programs with a revised version of its Optimized Cell System that uses seamless circlular micro-cells inspired by rally racing tires. The result is said to be exceptional grip and durability. And if it's good enough for Sebastien Loeb, there's a good chance it's good enough for the U. S. Open...

Gallery: Babolat Propulse with Michelin rubber

[Source: Babolat]

Advantage, Michelin: Tennis shoes wear car rubber originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michelin partners with Chinese firm to create Active Wheel system

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Technology

Click above for more shots of the Michelin Active Wheel and the Ventire Volage

Before Michelin began wrapping halos of rubber around the wheels of our cars, the hoops were made completely from wood -- horse and buggy style. That's what we call a serious innovation, and the French tire maker has got plenty of ideas to keep it at the forefront of rolling technology. The latest bit of high-tech kit revolving out of Michelin's design department is known as the Active Wheel system. Two motors, one to propel the car and another for the integrated suspension system, sit inside the hub and allow the entire drivetrain to fit neatly enclosed at each corner.

This innovative design would potentially allow for an amazingly diverse set of platforms that could be engineered to accept the same set of shoes. Depending on the size of the actual Active Wheels used, the technology could be applied to virtually any type of car. With so much going on in just the rolling-stock, it should come as no surprise that Michelin is looking for partners to help offload some of the rest of the car's design and has just signed an agreement with CITIC Guoan Mengguli Corp. in China. Important bits like the lithium-ion battery development will be carried out in China where test-mules equipped with lithium-powered Active Wheels are already running around city streets.

Gallery: Venturi Volage

[Sources: Michelin, Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Continue reading Michelin partners with Chinese firm to create Active Wheel system

Michelin partners with Chinese firm to create Active Wheel system originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Michelin Challenge Design winners

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:57:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show

Click image for high res gallery of the competitors.

Michelin hosts its annual Michelin Challenge Design (design challenge?) to help young designers and their hot designs get some recognition. The emphasis is on innovative thinking, both on the technical and style side. While the challenge doesn't have any direct link to tires, per se, Michelin uses the forum to help push the boundaries throughout the automotive field and get people thinking outside the box. The NAIAS contest focuses on making "smaller vehicles safer particularly in urban environments." One can make the argument that producing smaller, more efficient cars has a direct impact on tire design and tread wear, but we hardly care about Michelin's motivation here and just enjoy looking at futuristic concepts. This year's entries ranged from the practically plausible to way-out-there wild as you'll see in our gallery below.

The full press release and the winners in each of the two categories Michelin recognized are posted after the jump.

[Source: Michelin]

Gallery: 2008 Detroit: Michelin Challenge Design

Continue reading Detroit 2008: Michelin Challenge Design winners

Detroit 2008: Michelin Challenge Design winners originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2007: Michelin Supercar Display

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: SEMA Show, Tuners, Supercars, Audi, Chevrolet, Porsche

Click image for a high-res gallery of Michelin booth pics by Drew Phillips

At last year's SEMA show, one of our favorite booths by far was the one from Michelin, which brought together the world's fastest supercars for one massive display of speed. We eagerly anticipated what they had in store for us this year, and we headed straight for it. It would have been virtually impossible for Michelin to top itself, but they sure made a stab at it. While last year focused on production cars, the display this year was broadened to feature tuner cars as well as race cars. Taking the unique approach of having a production model, tuner version and race car from three prominent manufacturers, Michelin showed us that they build a tire for all sectors of the automotive kingdom. While we were particularly fond of the Audi R8 by APR, there was also a Champion Motorsport F77 Turbo and out back a Lingenfelter Corvette sporting 1,100 HP. Race cars included the R10 from Audi, an RS Spyder from Porsche, and a Corvette C6.R as well. While a production R8 and GT3 RS represented the stock crowd for the German marques, the Corvette slot was left suspiciously vacant, perhaps giving us a preview of what shoes the ZR1 might be donning for its debut. Nice follow-up, Michelin.

Gallery: 2007 Michelin SEMA Supercar Display

SEMA 2007: Michelin Supercar Display originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michelin creates Energy Saver gas-conserving tire

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Green, Technology, Hatchback, PSA

Michelin has created a new tire as part of the development of the Peugeot 308. The Energy Saver uses a specially-developed rubber composite, and Michelin claims the tire reduces rolling resistance by 20% in both 15- and 16-inch sizes. Tire testing was carried out by TÜV SÜD Automotive, which measured the Michelin's performance to that of the top six competitor tires. The Energy Saver is also said to have the same durability as Michelin's other tires.

The tire will come standard on two 308 models, the 90 HDI and the 110 HDI 308s, both high mileage diesels, and Peugeot will be the exclusive maker to use it until February 2008. In addition to the gas savings because of its lower rolling resistance, the tire is also said to lower a car's CO2 emissions by 4g per kilometer. We'll find out soon enough if the claims have real-world merit -- and real world savings -- but we welcome all such efforts where the rubber meets the road.

[Source: Michelin]

Michelin creates Energy Saver gas-conserving tire originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michelin claims new tire comfortable, sporting, economical

Chris Tutor — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Maintenance

Michelin says there are two touring-tire-buying camps. One drives BMWs and Audis and goes shopping for performance touring tires. The other group drives Camrys and Accords and is somewhat surprised to learn they'll be shopping for more expensive performance tires. The tire company hopes to capture a big slice of the second group with its new Primacy MXV4

Michelin says this new tire not only provides the performance enthusiasts demand, but also gives casual drivers the comfort they want along with a 60,000 mile warranty.

To show off the MXV4, Michelin invited Autoblog to Barber Motorsports in Birmingham, Ala. to see for ourselves how it performed.

Continued after the jump.

Also, check out the gallery of photos from the event.

Gallery: Michelin Primacy MXV4

Continue reading Michelin claims new tire comfortable, sporting, economical

Michelin claims new tire comfortable, sporting, economical originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Jun 2007 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michelin lands $1.7b Pentagon contract

Noah Joseph — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 08:04:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Earnings/Financials

The French military may not be fighting in Iraq, but their tires are: Michelin just landed an exclusive $1.7 billion contract with the US Department of Defense to supply the American military behemoth with tires. For the next ten years (at least), every vehicle in the US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps deployed around the world will be shod in Michelin rubber.

This isn't the first Pentagon contract Michelin has won, either. The French tire company previously won a contract worth $700 million to supply the tires for all US warplanes. In order to meet the enormous supply demands of the US military, Michelin has invested a reported $16 million. For the sake of our brave boys and girls serving overseas, let's hope the French tires don't throw up their arms and surrender at the first time of trouble. (No whitewalls, please.)

[Source: F1i.com]

Michelin lands $1.7b Pentagon contract originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo developing C30 series hybrid concept

Dan Roth — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Volvo

Volvo has long tried to be good environmental stewards. Even before its revolutionary Lambda-Sond system in the late 1970s, the Gothenburg-based automaker had been making efforts to tread lightly. Now comes word that Volvo has developed a hybrid version of the C30 hatchback. The drive system is reportedly a series hybrid, with the batteries being charged on the go by a diesel powerplant. There's plug-in charging capabilities, as well. The batteries alone can provide motive power for about 45 miles before the generator awakes. The electrified C30 will be part of the Michelin Challenge Bibendum, where engineers will presumably be trying to break stuff so that any production version has well-vetted hardware. No details are available about whether the hybrid hardware was developed in-house by Volvo or bequeathed by parent Ford, which developed a similar series hybrid drivetrain with a hydrogen fuel-cell generator for the Airstream Concept that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show this year.

[Source: Autobild - in German]

Volvo developing C30 series hybrid concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jan 2007 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hydrogen 500: The world's first hydrogen race coming in 2009

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 19:04:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Green

AutoblogGreen just ran a story we wanted to make sure all of our readers were aware of, so we're running it here, too. It looks like the days of hybrids being seen by some people as pure exercises in extended fuel economy are numbered. Maybe someday soon people will start to associate fuel-cell hybrids with high performance and even, dare we say it, racing.

It seems that hybrids will be hitting the track soon. A new racing series run by the recently founded Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation was announced on Wednesday. The series hopes to stage its first races by 2009. As you may have guessed, the cars in this series will be electric hybrids powered by hydrogen.

Autoextremist founder/publisher Peter M. DeLorenzo is the President and CEO of the new organization. And this isn't some rinky-dink egghead endeavor, either. Executives from Bridgestone-Firestone and Michelin, Indy Car's own Tony George, and Scott Atherton, President and CEO of the American Le Mans Series are behind this new series. It looks like a pretty powerful group. At the center of the series will be the Hydrogen 500. Click over to AB Green for the rest of the story and additional links. We'll certainly keep you posted as more info becomes available.

[Source: AB Green]

Hydrogen 500: The world's first hydrogen race coming in 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jan 2007 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheeled Spaceship - Volvo BeeVan concept

Dan Roth — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Etc., Work

They're going to have to change the name of this thing to NCC-1701, because piloting it will definitely make you feel like you're boldly going where no one's gone before. As part of the Michelin Design Challenge competition, Volvo has revised the design of the the traditional big-rig tractor. Serious thought was given to improving driver safety and some semi-radical changes to convention were made. The driver is front and center in the cab, just like F1 cars. The central seating position gives an expansive 180 degree field of vision; Volvo calls it the Full View Driver Position. There are blind spot cameras, as well as sensors to detect other vehicles, lane tracking, and driver alertness. The doors open by sliding, rather than flapping out into traffic, and a set of steps comes out from hiding, allowing ease of ingress. The seat motors back and rotates toward the opened door, making the driver feel like a transportation deity.

More after the jump.

[Source: dexigner.com]

Continue reading Wheeled Spaceship - Volvo BeeVan concept

Wheeled Spaceship - Volvo BeeVan concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jan 2007 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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