Concept Car : Nissan Land Glider

A unique two-seater Nissan Land Glider Concept power comes from two electric motors in the rear powered by lithium-ion batteries mounted beneath the floor. The Nissan Land Glider Concept features a non-contact charging system that can be charged whilst shopping at a supermarket or stopping at a motorway service station. This system enables vehicles to be charged wirelessly at locations where the infrastructure exists.

Described as a ‘personal city commuter,’ the Nissan Land Glider Concept features steering-by-wire and a lean capability when cornering – like a motorcycle – that enables the vehicle and its tires to lean by up to 17 degrees. To ensure maximum safety whilst driving, engineers have fitted a car-robotics style crash avoidance system in which sensors mounted in the body detect other vehicles in the same way as fish swim in schools without colliding.

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Concept Car : BMW 3-series 2012 / 2013

         The next-generation BMW 3 Series will again be offered in number of body styles, including a wagon, coupe, and cabriolet, which will keep the heavy and complex retractable hardtop. BMW will also offer a five-door hatchback dubbed the “Gran Turismo” which is based off of the concept of the 5-series GT but will be more car-like and less imposing on the road.

       BMW’s diesel-engine lineup will largely carry over in Europe, but there are imminent changes for its current range of rewarding but thirsty gasoline engines. Variable valve timing, single- and twin-turbocharging, direct fuel injection, and stop/start systems are in the works for a new generation of modular, four-cylinder engines producing 140 to 230 hp. A 2.0-liter version with close to 300 hp is possible, but we are optimistic BMW will keep at least one of its 3.0-liter inline-sixes in the portfolio.

The 3-series will be equipped with a wide array of features such as lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and speed-limit recognition. BMW’s night-vision system is technically possible but unlikely to be offered in the 3. However, you will be able to tinker with the engine and chassis setup by means of a “driving dynamics” button.The styling of the next 3 will be a rather conservative evolution of the current model, with a protruding kidney grill similar to that of the 7-series and the 5-series GT. The interior will look decidedly richer and will lose the center hump that houses the current model’s optional navigation system.

Look for the next 3-series at the 2012 Geneva auto show. It should arrive at U.S. dealers later in 2012 for the 2013 model year.

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Concept Car : X-Hawk flying car 2010

The flying car is the equivalent of transportation's carrot on a stick. It's a concept that always seems to be 3-5 years down the road. According to an Isreali inventor named Rafi Yoeli, the flying car will actually be here by 2010 in the form of his X-Hawk. The X-Hawk uses a ducted fan design that allows it to have the same manueverability of a helicopter without exposed blades that prevent choppers from hovering near buildings and the like. Yoeli's own company, Urban Aeronautics, is developing the X-Hawk first as a workhorse vehicle that could be used by firefighters, rescue teams, and the military to aid in the recovery of people stranded in hard to reach places.

Like a helicopter, the X-Hawk can take off and land vertically, it will be able to fly up to 155 mph, reach an altitude of 12,000 ft and remain in the air for two hours. The size of the X-Hawks rotors, which are powere by four internal combustion engines, will be much smaller than a helicopters, which will make the vehicle quieter but also guzzle 50% more fuel. The X-Hawk only exists as a full-scale mockup right now, but Yoeli expects an unmanned Mule version to fly in 2009. A larger version capable of carrying ten people is also planned. The estimated price for an X-Hawk will make a Veyron owner blush: between $1.5 and $3.5 million, and Yoeli admits those estimates might be low.

At this point, we're prepared to pony up whatever cash is necessary to make the most famous example of automotive vaporware a reality. Check out more details on the X-Hawk after the jump.

Concept Car : Mercedes F-CELL Roadster

Mercedes F-CELL Roadster is a fuel-cell-drive concept built by a team of 150 trainees of Daimler AG at the Sindelfingen Mercedes-Benz plant which took a year to be completed. Powered by a 1.2 kW fuel cell system located at the rear, Mercedes F-CELL Roadster will reach its top speed at 25 km/h and has a range of 350 km.

Mercedes F-CELL Roadster design is inspired by the Benz Patent Motor Car from 1886, which features a unique fiberglass front section, large spoked wheels, and also carbon-fiber bucket seats with hand-stitched leather covers. While on the front section, the design is inspired by the F1 race cars.

Mercedes F-CELL Roadster is equipped with a drive-by-wire joystick instead of a steering wheel.

In a hitherto unique project bridging various fields of profession, the trainees of Daimler AG at the Sindelfingen Mercedes-Benz plant have built a Roadster with fuel cell drive. For about a year, more than 150 trainees and dual education system students worked on the overall concept, development, assembly, and completion of the Mercedes F-CELL Roadster. This project involved junior employees from the fields of automotive mechatronics, model-building, electronics, coating technology, manufacturing mechanics, product design, and interior appointments. The prime objective of the project was to integrate the topic of alternative drive systems into training with hands-on experience.

“This project impressively demonstrates that the topic of sustainable mobility has become an integral part of our vocational training,” said Human Resources Board member and Labor Relations Manager Günther Fleig. “I am delighted to see how much initiative and creativity the young people have put into this project.”

Mercedes F-CELL Roadster uniquely combines state-of-the-art technologies with the history of vehicle construction. As an allusion to the Benz Patent Motor Car from 1886, the vehicle is fitted with large spoked wheels. Moreover, the Mercedes F-CELL Roadster incorporates stylistic elements from diverse eras of automotive history, such as the carbon-fiber bucket seats with hand-stitched leather covers and the distinctively styled fiberglass front section, based on the component from the Formula One racing bolides.

Mercedes F-CELL Roadster is controlled with drive-by-wire technology, and a joystick takes the place of a conventional steering wheel. The vehicle is powered by the emission-free fuel cell system located at the rear. With a power rating of 1.2 kW the Mercedes F-CELL Roadster reaches a top speed of 25 km/h and has an operating range of up to 350 km.

Concept Car :Chevy Volt 2010

Genius in theory. In reality? We might know by 2010.

For decades, American automakers, Washington politicos, oil companies and consumers alike have been caught up in the lure of cheap gasoline. It’s led to fuel inefficient vehicles, lax legislation, and even more lax energy innovation. But in the end, the root of all these behaviors comes back to the American consumer. The American consumer has always wanted and purchased gasoline-powered products, so that’s what the market delivers. But like repeatedly putting one’s hand on a burning stove, at what point do American consumers conclude the financial pain at the pump has gotten too great? And when do their automobile choices start changing the behavior of automakers, politicians and oil companies? The Hybrid craze is the first step in this new direction. Although Hybrids get a lot of well-deserved grief from some industry experts, there is one undeniable merit to them - Hybrid popularity is producing more alternatively-powered choices for American consumers.

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Concept Car : Alfa Romeo Spix

What you're looking at could be the 2056 Alfa Brera with the optional hover package. Called the Alfa Romeo Spix flying concept car, it was designed by a 2-D/3-D artist from Belgium (we think) who posted pics of his creation along with an absolutely stunning video on CGfolks.com. Can you believe he does this for fun? (Actually, it appears he's begun a small design firm, but we can't confirm that due to the language barrier.) Known as Creatix on the CGFolks forum, the artist explains his attempt to fuse an impression of power and robustness in a design that reflects what Alfa Romeos might look like in 50 years.

via Born Rich

Concept Car : Peugeot Three Wheeled Hybrid

Ecofriend has an interesting post about the three-wheeled vehicle above that is called a Peugeot plus. Econfriend says the car runs on an electric motor and aims to have almost no carbon footprint.

it's a hybrid, between a scooter and a car. This combination allows using a smaller electric engine, saving energy. This saving generates less pollution and a major autonomy of the batteries. Besides the small size gives more agility into the traffic and makes easier to find parking.

Concept Car : Chevy Orlando 2010

This is the 2010 Chevy Orlando which is a prototype vehicle that will be displayed at the Paris Motor Show next week. Gizmodo says that blue lights give the Orlando a Tron-like feel.
It's pretty similar to the 2010 Chevy Cruze, but as you can see, it's got some pretty dramatic blue lighting on its exterior. I'm not quite sure if its completely ridiculous or totally awesome; it probably falls somewhere between the two. I mean, Tron lights are awesome, but Tron lights on a glorified minivan?

The blue lights are cool but are they real or is it just a trick of the lighting. There are many more pics here on Jalopnik.