2010 Alfa Romeo Sports Car Bertone Pandion Concept

Bertone returns to the Geneva Motor Show 2010, after a two year absence from the international scene, unveiling a concept car that makes its world premiere here: the Pandion, an aggressive yet beautiful coupé designed as a tribute to Alfa Romeos’ one hundred year anniversary. The Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept: an extreme and controversial sports car in typical Bertone fashion. The size of the concept car (4620 mm in length, 1971 mm wide, 1230 mm high, 2850 mm wheelbase) offers a compact sports car external dimensions with a large sports car interior feeling. Bertone Pandion Design Sketchoffers a compact sports car external dimensions with a large sports car interior feeling, all powered by a 4.7 litre, 450 CV 8-cylinder Alfa Romeo engine.

2010 Alfa Romeo Sports Car Bertone Pandion Concept

The name comes from the animal world, as Pandion Haliaetus is the scientific name for an Osprey: a sea hawk that nests and lives in coastal areas. The designers, led by Mike Robinson, have drawn inspiration from the wings of this predator to invent the spectacular door opening mechanisms, and from the hawks' facial markings to project the traditional Alfa family feeling into the next era of design.

2010 Alfa Romeo Sports Car Bertone Pandion Concept

The designers, led by Mike Robinson, have drawn inspiration from the wings of this predator to invent the spectacular door opening mechanisms, and from the hawks’ facial markings to project the traditional Alfa family feeling into the next era of design. In almost a century of Bertone tradition, it is not the first time that natural wonders have inspired the names of concept cars. Just think of the Corvair Testudo (1963) and, by no coincidence, the Alfa Romeo Canguro (1964), Carabo (1968) and Delfino (1983).

2010 Alfa Romeo Sports Car Bertone Pandion Concept

The Pandion’s taut and muscular body is the result of an original interpretation of the Alfa Romeo badge, where the man-eating snake depicted there represents the attraction of elegance (what we call the ‘Skin’), and the aristocratic cross symbolises the rigour of rational thought, the technological aspect (what we call the ‘Frame’).

2010 Alfa Romeo Sports Car Bertone Pandion Concept

According to this interpretation, the Pandion’s design is, like every Alfa Romeo, a perfect synthesis between ‘Skin and Frame’, an ideal balance resulting from a tension between opposites: technology and sensuality, rationality and instinct, architecture and sculpture, structuralism and organicism, industrial excellence and excellent craftsmanship.

2010 Alfa Romeo Sports Car Bertone Pandion Concept

The design of the Pandion is based on a concept Robinson calls: "Skin & Frame” - a new interpretation of the inherent duality in the 100 year old Alfa Romeo logo. “Skin” refers to the snake in the logo, representing the world renowned Italian excellence in beautiful, seductive forms; and “Frame” refers to the cross in the logo, representing the mechanical excellence in high performance Italian race cars. The combination of the two has now become a dynamic dial searching for an ideal balance resulting from the tension between opposites: technology and sensuality, rational and emotional, architectural layout and sculptural form, structural and organic, industrial excellence and artisan excellence.

2010 Alfa Romeo Sports Car Bertone Pandion Concept

According to this interpretation, the vibrant energy in every Alfa Romeo is represented by Pandions’ spinal structure (or ‘Frame’), which crosses the length of the car from the V-shaped grille in the nose of the car to the V-shaped bumper in the tail of the car, crossing the interior as a visually aesthetic structural element which supports the surrounding shell (or ‘Skin’).

2010 Alfa Romeo Sports Car Bertone Pandion Concept

The Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept has the profile of a true sports car, with no room for compromise. The architectural layout is 'cab rearward', meaning the passenger compartment is positioned towards the rear of the car and the long bonnet pushes the car's visual centre rearward. The body side visually connects the sensuous front end with the razor-edged rear by means of an extremely long flowing side window which stretches from front wheel arch to rear, enhancing the excellent accessibility of this low-bodied sports coupé.

2010 Alfa Romeo Sports Car Bertone Pandion Concept

Since sports cars are traditionally difficult to get in and out of, this important ergonomic activity has been facilitated with an extra wide door opening to make up for the low roofline. This new graphic formula not only adds a striking new visual division between the upper and lower parts of the body, but it also offers an incredible panorama window for passengers inside. The strong diagonal dark-light division in the rear of the side view accentuates the powerful rear wheel drive layout and draws special attention to the hidden door opening mechanism.

2010 BF-performance Lamborghini Gallardo GT600 Sports Car

In the Swiss city Zug, perfection has a different meaning than in the Italian town Sant’Agata Bolognese. While Lamborghini is satisfied with the Gallardo LP560-4, the Swiss have higher demands – at least the engineers at BF-performance.

2010 BF-performance Lamborghini Gallardo GT600

For them, the Gallardo is too innocent and neither dynamic nor individual enough. Therefore, they turn both the Coupé and also the Spyder into the GT600 which has a stronger performance, more self-confidence and looks more aggressive.

2010 BF-performance Lamborghini Gallardo GT600

Swiss tuning firm BF-performance, based in the wonderfully named city of Zug, have developed a comprehensive modification package for the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. And in the process they've also renamed it the GT600.

2010 BF-performance Lamborghini Gallardo GT600

Not content with just making some pretty bits to stick onto the Gallardo LP560-4, the engineers at BF-performance also developed a number of performance enhancements and modification options for the drivetrain. Most significant is the option for a RWD only configuration - just like on the Gallardo LP550-2 Balboni edition. In total the other modifications have also rendered a weight reduction of 43 kgs (95 lbs) which further improves performance.

2010 BF-performance Lamborghini Gallardo GT600

The new body panels, marked out by the fact they're finished in clearcoated carbon fiber, are all situated around the bottom of the car. The BF-perfomance GT600 gets a new front bumper - which is similar in style to the original car's, wider race-inspired sideskirts, and a rather obvious fixed rear spoiler. The rear wing, which provides a significant improvement in downforce over the rear axle, is actually quite fetching and it suits the lines of the car very well indeed.

2010 BF-performance Lamborghini Gallardo GT600

The wing doors render a significant amount of individuality, but are strictly limited to Lamborghini models with twelve-cylinder engines. Due to the refinement by BF-performance, also the GT600 with a V10 engine can be equipped with doors which are so typical for Lamborghini.

2010 BF-performance Lamborghini Gallardo GT600

And of course the engineers also focused on the engine performance. BF-performance has confirmed the performance of the new automobile in an impressive race. On the Sachsenring round course, the GT600 even managed to beat the stronger Lamborghini Murciélago LP640-4 SV by an impressive lead of 0.6 seconds.

2010 BF-performance Lamborghini Gallardo GT600

The interior also follows this dynamic maxim. Apart from the sports bucket seats, BF-performance also offers five-point belts, a roll-over cage and a carbon-ceramic braking system with which the GT600 meets the highest racing standards. BF-performance visually adjusts the interior to the increased dynamics. The manufactory uses carbon on the steering wheel, door handles, ventilation grids and even at the switch casings. The customer can even opt for carbon in his favourite colour.

BF-performance offers the entire car with all components either as the sporty Coupé GT600 or also as the Roadster GT600 Spyder.

2010 BF-performance Lamborghini Gallardo GT600

The entire automobile confirms the perfection and passion for detail applied by BF-performance. The Lamborghini specialist has already gained experience with the predecessor model and now brings its art of engineering into perfection with the GT 600. Also Lamborghini’s design development confirms the talents of BF-performance, as the Swiss specialist is always one step ahead of the Italian manufacturer.

Peugeot Sport Cars Epine Concept Cars Inspired by Formula One and Motorcycles

Peugeot Sport Cars Epine Concept Cars derived from a project to create a hybrid eco-friendly vehicle. The Peugeot Epine Concept design study was developed to have a sportscar-like performance while creating a new way to get in touch with nature. Inspired by Formula One cars and motorcycles, Epine features a whale skeleton, as a tribute to Mother Nature.

Peugeot Sport Cars Epine Concept Cars Inspired by Formula One and Motorcycles

The concept car was created by Daniel Schumpert. Peugeot Epine was basically a project that was supposed to turn into an environmentally friendly hybrid vehicle, but eventually it turned into a “consumer’s racing car”.

This Peugeot Sport Cars Epine Concept Cars Inspired by Formula One and Motorcycles ride relies on the Epine system, with an innovative seating arrangement and the drive-by-wire technology, as far as steering is concerned. The energy source of the vehicle is placed at the back, while the storage area is at the front of the car. The major technical feature of this car is the Epine system that allows a complete seating arrangement by adopting the drive-by-wire technology to run the steering system.

The rear-engined sportscar is minimalistic with an exposed frame, Peugeot Sport Cars Epine Hybrid Concept Cars uses the Michelin Tweel concept airless wheels, with a positive impact on the suspension system.

Peugeot Sport Cars Epine Concept Cars Inspired by Formula One and Motorcycles

Turns out that the wheel spokes are able to compress and decompress, thanks to the materials they’re made out of, allowing a wide variety of car motions. This futuristic Peugeot measures 4,260 mm (length), 1,882mm (width) and 1153mm (height).

2010 Pininfarina Alfa Romeo Sports Car Spider Concept

Pininfarina, an Italian car design studio, has released to the public the teaser image of their new Alfa Romeo concept. Pininfarina turns 80 years-old this year. As part of celebrating this important milestone the company will unveil this two-seater spider concept pictured here at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March. It will be presented as a tribute to its long relationship with Alfa Romeo. The unveiling coincides with Alfa's 100th anniversary so it is doubly fitting. The design has been managed by Lowie Vermeersch, head of Pininfarina’s style centre, and the rear reflects the old Alfa Romeo Duetto model, with its cuttlefish-bone inspiration.

2010 Pininfarina Alfa Romeo Spider Concept

A revival of the Alfa Duetto is an exciting proposition, and the prototype will be the same two-seater Spider vehicle. It will have a longitudinal engine placed in the front and rear-wheel drive. No production plan has been established as yet, so we can’t say if this could be an eventual replacement to the current Alfa Spider.

2010 Pininfarina Alfa Romeo Spider Concept

Apart from the obvious not much else is said or revealed about the car. But from this solitary sketch it can be noted that the current 8C Spider has some serious styling competition. The long sloping bonnet, two-door configuration and short rear overhangs are the main signs of a classic roadster. Whether this traditionalist approach will be kept intact with a soft folding roof remains to be seen.

2010 Pininfarina Alfa Romeo Spider Concept

Perhaps the Pininfarina/Alfa Romeo relationship is about to receive a new life. Hopefully the concept is as good, or even better than this sketch suggests.

2010 Lotus Sports Cars Elite Concept Cars

British sports car company unveil at the Paris Motor Show the sun starts to rise for the dawn of Lotus' new era - the Elite will redefine "modern classic". So here it is, the Lotus Sports Cars Elite, the first taste of what's to come from Lotus in the future. This is not only beautifully elegant, in accordance with the burden of Lotus’ appraises, that car with the center consisting of several by the identical cutting-edge technological innovation Lotus has submitted a bid. Retractile hard top version of the cunning and consumption with optional cross with KERS technology is a special case with Lotus cutting technology to provide perfect performance.

The 2010 Lotus Sports Cars Elite Concept Car is labeled as a “production intent prototype and is scheduled to go on sale in 2014 with a pricetag around £115,000 (approximately $180,000). Set for release in spring 2014, this is an innovative, exciting GT that will set a new benchmark in design, performance and emissions. And it s not all about sleek lines and stunning bodywork with this particular 2+2, what hides beneath this shark like exterior perfectly does the aesthetics justice. A front-mid positioned 5.0l V8 engine delivering up to 620 PS meaning drivers can expect to go from 0-100 km/h in approximately 3.5 to 3.7 seconds.

2010 Lotus Sports Cars Elite Concept Cars

First up, the Elite will offer a retractable hardtop roof, adding significant weight to the automobile. It may weigh in at 3,600 pounds.  This is a far step from Lotus’ usual super-light vehicles mentality. The Elite has a 2+2 seating configuration and is directly aimed at the competing with the Ferrari 612.

"Make no mistake, there's a definite market requirement for the Elite - it's the ultimate sports car feel with comfort and space. There will always be those who believe that Lotus should stick to small sports cars but we didn't take the decision to design something like the Elite lightly, it's based on months of careful research and planning. It's worth noting this sector has been very successful for us in the past and now the Elite raises the benchmark higher still." As for the new, awesome design of the car, the designer Donato Coco has designed what can only be described as a truly stunning car. It is completely different from all Lotus models of the past and really indicates that Lotus is ready to move from the ‘affordable’ sports car market deep into supercar territory.

2010 Lotus Sports Cars Elite Concept Cars 

With the likes of Porsche, Aston Martin and Ferrari in its crosshairs, it’s not surprising that the new Lotus Elite sports car is significantly heavier and more powerful than the company’s current offerings. In fact, with an expected kerb weight of 3,637 pounds, the Elite is very different to Lotus’ usual assortment of light weight track cars but its designers are confident it will still have the ultimate sports car feel--just with a little more comfort and space. The design, specification and performance figures for all Production Intent Prototypes will be confirmed following official testing and will be available from Lotus Cars.

SAAB Spyker 9+ Tribute - SAAB Supercar

Paying his tribute to the SAAB Spyker Automobiles, Swedish designer Eduard Gray has come up with a vehicle concept called the “SAAB Spyker 9+ Tribute” that is not only pleasant to watch but to drive as well. Combining the elements of a mid-engined SAAB with the Spyker platform, the new supercar featuring low down aerodynamics will possibly generate power from an Audi-sourced V8 engine. Touting a big windshield that extends to complete the roof, the Saab Spyker 9+ Tribute allows a wider view to the commuters. His long, lean two-door Saab Spyker 9+ concept car imagines an evolution of Saab's Aero-X enhanced by some of Spyker's exoticism.

SAAB Spyker 9+ Tribute

The ink is barely dry on Dutch supercar marque Spyker’s deal to buy Saab, but speculation as to what sort of alluring automotive offspring might arise from the union has already begun. Eduard Gray, an industrial designer educated at Coventry University in the UK and now based in Trollhättan, Sweden, has come up with a concrete vision.

SAAB Spyker 9+ Tribute

The union of Saab and Spyker presents a unique opportunity to create a design that takes the best of each brand and distills their qualities into a single product," he said. Gray, who is Dutch and English, points out that a truly unique car can be assembled with the low-slung mid-engine Spyker supercar chassis and the design language at Saab. Spyker lends us its supercar chassis with a mid-mounted engine and low down aerodynamics while Saab contributes with the style, character and engineering making for a design that is as pleasant to look at as it is to drive.

SAAB Spyker 9+ Tribute

Indeed, his six drawings of the Saab Spyker 9+ Tribute shows elements of both companies. Gray calls the work "a quick expression of my optimism for the future of the brand."

SAAB Spyker 9+ Tribute

The distinctly Scandinavian design features a Spyker chassis with a mid-mounted engine and low down aerodynamics, including a system to reduce friction in straight line driving whilst increasing traction in cornering and braking. An enormous panoramic glass roof gives it something of a targa feel as well. Envisioned as a 2+2 model in the storied GT tradition, engine-wise it’s speculated to house a V6 bi-turbo capable of producing over 600 hp, perhaps powered purely by ethanol – we’re talking about the future after all.

Chevron Racing Cars GR8 Cosworth - Chevron Sports Cars

Chevron Racing Cars is exhibiting the new Chevron GR8 in prototype chassis form at Autosport International. The new mid-engined competition coupe with Cosworth YD 2.0 litre power is being built for the one-make Chevron GR8 Challenge Series. UK-based specialist race car construction company Chevron have revealed the production specifications and images of their latest vehicle, the GR8. The GR8, which is the company's first all-new coupe for forty years, uses some of the design cues from Chevron's previous B8 coupe model. Although for the new car the bodywork has been made considerably sharper and more contemporary.

Chevron Racing Cars GR8 Cosworth

Organised by the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC), the Series will make its racing debut at Silverstone on 8/9 May 2010. Two Series rounds are to be staged at each of seven BARC race meetings. An additional round is a possibility if racing is resumed at Donington Park.

Chevron Racing Cars GR8 Cosworth

The final decision by Cheshire-based Chevron to exhibit at Autosport International was not taken until last week as the finishing touches were being put to the prototype chassis. The body is being shown in the form of design renderings generated from the CAD files produced for machining the body tooling model. Commencement of testing, initially without bodywork, is imminent.

Chevron Racing Cars GR8 Cosworth

The GR8 concept rendering, which Chevron confirms is fairly close to the final design, reveals a discernable relationship to its illustrious predecessor, the Chevron B8, an enduring favourite with historic sporstcar competitors. Fabrication of the GR8 prototype is in progress and development testing is scheduled to commence in January.

Chevron Racing Cars GR8 Cosworth

The design of the new car has a deliberate affinity with the classic Chevron B8 racing coupe, some 70 of which were built following its introduction in 1968. Priced £3,380 new, Chevron B8s - which typically make up a significant percentage of grids in international championship historic sports and GT racing - now change hands for £300,000.

Chevron Racing Cars GR8 Cosworth

The body is the work of international automotive design consultant Lester Allen, an ex-GM studio chief designer and former senior Royal College of Art vehicle design course tutor. Most of Lester Allen's work in recent years has been behind the scenes for Asian manufacturers. Previous British car designs for which he has been responsible include the Bentley Continental R and Aston Martin Virage, both for the one-time Heffernan Greenley consultancy.

Chevron Racing Cars GR8 Cosworth

Provision has been made in the bodywork design for window lifts and other refinements suited to customers who may wish to have a road-going car conforming to Low Volume Type Approval legislation.The Cosworth 2.0L YD in-line 4-cylinder power unit develops 255-260 bhp at 8200 rpm. Peak torque is 190 ft-lbs at 7500 rpm. Engines for the Chevron GR8 are being built alongside Cosworth's F1 production line.

Chevron Racing Cars GR8 Cosworth

The Chevron installation features a PiRQ4 engine control unit incorporating technologies derived from ECUs used by winners of the FIA GT and World Rally Championship titles. The Cosworth electronics package includes a Pi Omega LCD panel display, providing crystal-clear readouts for the driver and seamless integration with the engine control unit data.

Chevron Racing Cars GR8 Cosworth

The Chevron GR8 is constructed around a centre section comprising a semi-monocoque aluminium sills and platform structure integrated with an MSA compliant roll cage in 50 mm diameter steel tube. Forward of the front bulkhead, a 50 mm and 25 mm box section steel spaceframe incorporates a removable nose box. The rear spaceframe is also in 50 mm and 25 mm box section steel. The sills make more effective use of material than might be the case with a tubular structure and are seen as a better solution to side impact protection. The braking system uses AP callipers, with 330 mm diameter by 28 mm wide discs at the front and 304 mm diameter by 28 mm discs at the rear. Steering is rack and pinion. All aeroquip is by Goodridge.

Chevron Racing Cars GR8 Cosworth

Two Chevron GR8 Challenge Series rounds will be run at each of the BARC meetings where the Series is in the programme and races will feature rolling starts. Entries are open to either one or two drivers. With a team of two, the idea is for each to contest one round. Accepting entries for two drivers creates obvious opportunities for sharing costs. As part of the support provided to participants, Chevron plans to have a pool car on hand as a spare should a competitor's own Chevron GR8 be unable to start a race for whatever reason.

Chevron Racing Cars GR8 Cosworth

The Chevron GR8 model name has aroused a certain amount of internet chatter. Chevron Racing's Helen Bashford-Malkie comments: "In the wake of the announcement late last year that the Chevron GR8 project was under way, I guess the name was up for discussion amongst blogging community for the reason that few hard details had been released about the car.

"The inclusion of '8' pays homage to the B8, the project's inspiration. 'GR' stands for Grand Touring/Racing, but as GTR is used for a Nissan model, we omitted 'T'. We elected for 'GR' because it's got a bit of 'grrrr' combativeness about it. If some people choose to interpret 'GR8' as texting for great well, okay. The fact that it is also being used in the name of the racing Series was also a consideration."

2010 Mazda Sport Cars Coupe Shinari Concept Car

Mazda launched the 2010 Shinari sports cars coupe at the Paris Motor Show in early October, a four door concept car that shows the new design. This design as well as to replace the Nagare design. Mazda Shinari Concept represents the profound connection of driver and machine and the beginning of Mazda's latest design theme 'KODO-Soul in Motion'. Shinari exhibits a functional aesthetic that will continue to evolve as Mazda continues to define its next generation of vehicles.

2010 Mazda Sport Cars Coupe Shinari Concept Car

The development of the Shinari Concept was actually a collaboration between three of Mazda’s design centers in Japan, Germany and the United States. Mazda also said it is working to improve the quality level of its interiors for future vehicles. With 2010 Mazda Sport Cars Coupe Shinari Concept Car as the first step, Ikuo Maeda, general manager of Mazda's design division, aims to create original Mazda designs that will be recognized around the world. He summarizes his resolve in the following words:

"My goal is to create designs that people can point to proudly and say, 'This is a Mazda design'. There is no need for Mazda to build cars for people who are only concerned with 'style' and 'trends'. Whether working on sports cars or compact cars, I have always worked to create designs that evoke an emotional response in people and I hope to keep doing the same as I remain fully committed to develop designs for people who love and admire cars. It is my personal belief that the only way to create designs that fundamentally connect with people and to create designs they love, is if the people creating them are absolutely passionate about cars and are willing to make that passion a firm policy for design expression.

The Mazda Shinari is a pure design concept model of a four-door, four-seater sport cars coupe which perfectly expresses the 'KODO - Soul of Motion' design theme in a graceful and carefree form. All of Mazda Shinari Concept's body surfaces appear as if constantly undergoing transformation. There is no static shape to be found, as if the car is in perpetual motion. For instance the subtle control of the angle of the upper surface of the side sill, from the front to the rear, results in a form that suggests a flash of speed along the body of the car. Aerodynamic performance was a major priority for Mazda Shinari Concept, and the centre of the lower sections - on both the front and rear bumpers - are designed to optimize the flow of air along the underbody of the car.

2010 Mazda Sport Cars Coupe Shinari Concept Car 

The principle of 'dedicated driving ergonomics' is further reflected in the car's next generation Human Machine Interface (HMI). The availability of smaller electronic components has allowed Mazda Shinari Concept's designers to create a floating HMI three-dimensional display; a design element that represents the very latest HMI technology . The system offers three distinct modes: 'Business, Pleasure and Sport'.

Yasushi Nakamuta, the chief designer who led the design of the third generation Mazda MX-5, was the first to begin the ideation of the Mazda Shinari Concept: "The challenge for us was to create an innovative new expression for energetic and powerful movement; something that we had never attempted before. We began by developing the design around the image of a predator, as it strikes at its prey, or the stabbing movement in kendo, Japanese fencing, to express the instant where accumulated force is released.

Ikuo Maeda say, "Further, I consider it vitally important to have an awareness of Japanese originality in designing cars for Mazda. This is not merely about incorporating traditional Japanese elements into car design. I believe in reflecting the Japanese spirit in car designs as part of a subconscious practice. So, while I consider where this may lead in the future, my plan is to create cars that will be instantly recognizable as a Mazda, even when viewed at a distance. My ultimate goal is to create a brand presence that car lovers around the world recognize as representing both Mazda originality and Japanese originality. Future Mazda's will move people physically and emotionally - this is 'KODO - Soul of Motion'."

2010 Mazda Sport Cars Coupe Shinari Concept Car