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There's probably a few clunkers in DaVinci's sketchbook, too. Looking more gnarled than Van Gogh's Potato Eaters hand studies, Ivan Volkov's Porsche Traveller concept picks up design ideas from the Matchbox Fandango, though it doesn't look like the spare wheel on the Traveller incorporates Rolamatic action. Rather than heap massive derision on Volkov's renderings, it would be interesting to get a deeper explanation of the design goals and features incorporated in this car. The SUV/CUV appears to have a pickup-like division between the front and rear body sections, and one thing's for sure, it's got absolutely no chance of seeing production without much further refinement. We'll grant that the Cayenne isn't the most classically handsome conveyance to roll out of Zuffenhausen, but Volkov's Traveller is exponentially more polarizing.


[Source: Concept Salad via Carscoop]

MINI has revealed the face of its next generation car on the many concepts that have made appearances in Frankfurt, Detroit and NYC. Here for the first time we see a barely disguised out for testing on the track that shows similar large, round headlamps that can be seen on the Traveller Concept. The new front end doesn't slope as quickly as the current car's in order to fit a larger engine beneath the hood as well as comply with European pedestrian protection laws. We'll see the new MINI first hand in September at the Paris Motor Show.

Meanwhile, MINI is already testing a long-wheelbase version of its bread and butter car with an extra pair of smaller rear doors. This car is the production version of the MINI Traveller Concept and will likely go on sale late next year.

[Source: WorldCarFans]