A concept car is a car prototype made to showcase a new vehicle’s styling, technology, and overall design before production. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced.
The French automaker Citroen has announced that their video game inspired GT Concept will make its U.K. debut when it attends the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The shapely concept first appeared at the 2008 Paris Auto Show and just last weekend was in Le Mans participating in the parade lap ahead of the 24 hour classic. The replica of the virtual machine from the real driving simulator has been busy making appearances around the world, and on July 3-5, the GT Concept won’t be taking it easy when it takes part in the Sunday Times Super Car Run up the 1.16 mile course in front of thousands of spectators.
Measuring in at almost fifteen feet in length and just over three feet tall, the GTbyCITROEN is set apart from the rest of the road going vehicles on the market by a large wraparound windscreen that flows from the front of the vehicle all the way into the rear airfoil. The body is also enhanced by a series of large air intakes at the front and the side, horizontal headlamps and diamond-effect 21 inch rims. Did we mention that this next generation super car is also a gullwing?
If you’re a true concept car aficionado, then you might have heard the name Lars Mårtensson pop up in a quite a number of conversations you’ve had with your peers. If you don’t know who he is, then allow us to give you a brief introduction. Mårtensson is a Swedish design professional who has made quite a name for himself for designing a number of different manufacturer’s concept cars into something straight out of his own creative imagination.
One of Mårtensson’s creations is the Datsun 240Z concept car, a car he rendered based on the original Datsun 240Z, one of the earliest and most successful Japanese cars to hit American shores back in the 70’s. Mårtensson’s decision to take a stab in creating a 240Z concept came as a response to reports that two Nissan cars, the 350Z and the 370Z, were created in the mold of the original 240Z.
The German automaker Mercedes Benz will unveil a new vehicle next week, dubbed the ESF 2009 Concept the car is based on an S400 Hybrid. This passenger friendly concept is equipped with a number of innovative never before seen safety features, starting with an inflatable brake underneath the vehicle. In the event of an accident, the unit inflates to create excess friction and thus, helps to slow the vehicle down much quicker. The concept will also feature additional items like airbags integrated into both the front and rear seatbelts.
Stay tuned to Top Speed for more details that will follow shortly.
If there was ever a story of a sports car with an uncertain future, the Volkswagen Blue Sport Roadster is it. Ever since the creation of the concept
, there has been speculations as to whether Porsche will make another 914 or what would and Audi version look like. Even Volkswagen has put the eco friendly sports car on the back burner due to the unstable economic climate and deficiency of new car buyers.
Anyhow, until the German automaker makes up their minds, they will continue to tease us with a few more images of the Blue Sport. The alternatively fueled vehicle is powered by a 2.0 Liter Clean Diesel (TDI) engine with common rail injection making 177 HP mounted in the midship position. Volkswagen claims that the roadster will go from 0 to 60 MPH in just 6.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 140 MPH, all while returning a very hybrid-like 55 MPG.
