Audi Presents High-Tech Auto Union Type C e-tron Toy Car Study with All-Electric Drive

At this year’s International Toy Fair in Nuremberg (February 3-8), Audi will showcase a selection of model cars and other products, including the Auto Union Type C e-tron, a concept study with a fully-electric drive based on the firm's limited edition pedal car, which is sold through is quattro GmbH subsidiary.

The one-of-a-kind Auto Union Type C e-tron boasts a hand-finished body made of aluminum and carbon-look material. Measuring 2.32 meters (91.34 inches) in length and 97 centimeters (38.2 inches) in width, the 1:2 scale model is suitable for children as well as adults up to 1.8 meters (5’11”) tall.

The high-tech toy car is powered by an electric motor delivering 1.5HP (1.12kW) and up to 60 Nm (44.25 lb-ft) of torque, fed by a lithium-ion battery. Power is sent to the rear wheels and the study is also equipped with a reverse gear.

The top speed is a very respectable 30 km/h (18.64 mph) and, depending on the driving style, the electrified Type C can travel as far as 25 kilometers (15.53 miles). Charging takes about two hours at most, using any standard 230-volt household socket.

Audi did not say if it has any plans to introduce a production model of the study in the future.

VIDEO: Honda CR-Z TS-1X Concept Car Walk-Around

Revealed at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon, the Honda CR-Z TS-1X hybrid concept car is an impressive lil' beast with its stealthy matte-black paintjob and extensive aerodynamics package. The automaker’s initial press release was short on details, but, luckily, a walk-around clip (or shall we say talk-around?) has surfaced on Youtube, detailing some of the innovations developed by Honda.

While nothing has changed under the bonnet, the TS-1X is said to offer improved fuel efficiency and better handling car thanks to the aerodynamic enhancements which generate more downforce and reduce drag. Other improvements include a strengthened body, sport suspension and new 4-pot caliper brakes.

BMW Z5: A New Design Study for a Mid-Engined Supercar

Feast your eyes on the BMW Z5, a conceptual study for a mid-engined supercar created by a pair of young Turkish designers named İsmet Çevik and Fatih Tezel. There's no description attached to the pictures, but if we counted the number of cylinders correctly, the designers built the concept with a V8 engine in mind. If you have any thoughts about the styling, you can leave them in the comments section below.

Citroen's Real Life Playstation GT Concept Car Hits London Streets

The GT by Citroen, a concept supercar that bridges the gap between reality and fantasy as it was initially created for the virtual world of Sony's Gran Turismo 5 racing game, took to the streets of central London on Tuesday, June 23. In its first appearance in Britain, the 5-meter long GT prototype recreated part of the 'street circuit' featured in the Gran Turismo driving game sweeping through the Piccadilly circus, Regent Street, the Trafalgar Square and down the Mall past Buckingham Palace.

The curvaceous GT that could eventually enter a limited run production after the positive feedback from the public at last year's Paris motorshow, will be making its UK show debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (3-5 July) and will climb the famous 1.16-mile Goodwood Hill as part of the Sunday Times Supercar Run.

Rolls Royce Ghost / 200EX Online Configurator

The public debut for Rolls Royce's new, smaller-sized and lower-priced luxury sedan isn't due until the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, but nevertheless, the BMW Group-owned British firm has created an online configurator for the Ghost's preview model, the 200EX concept study. Judging by the most recent spy shots, there aren't any visible differences (at lease none of any importance) between the Ghost and the 200EX, so what you see here, is what you'll be able to get in a few months time.

If you feel like fooling around with the 200EX configurator that allows you to change the exterior and interior colors of the Rolls, click the link below and then choose 'Design' and after that, 'Visualizer'

Mitsubishi Lifts the Wraps on New Global Small Concept before Geneva Salon Debut

It all started with a teaser sketch in early December '10, but today, Mitsubishi released the first real life photo of its Concept Global Small vehicle. The design study previews an upcoming subcompact model that is planned for production in March of 2012 at the Japanese firm's new third factory in Thailand, which will have an initial capacity for around 150,000 units per year.

Mitsubishi has not yet confirmed the markets for launch or detailed specifications on the production version of the new entry-level model. However, the company did note that the Global Small concept car will feature a fuel efficient 1.0-liter / 1.2-liter engine equipped with a regenerative braking system and start-stop technology, as well as a new-generation CVT and low rolling resistance tires.

We'll have more details on Mitsubishi's new sub-compact model after its debut at the Geneva motorshow, which opens in the beginning of March.

Mazda Minagi Compact SUV Concept Officially Revealed

While it has been reported by several sources as a “leak”, we eventually found the official release and photos of the new Mazda Minagi Concept. Planned teaser or not, it’s certain that the design study will make its world debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March, providing us a preview of the firm's upcoming compact SUV model, rumored to carry the CX-5 moniker.

The Minagi Concept will also showcase Mazda's next-generation of fuel-efficient powertrain and chassis technologies, branded under the [new] SKYACTIV name.

The Japanese firm didn’t reveal any details on the concept's specifications, simply stating that the Minagi "is equipped with a SKYACTIV engine and SKYACTIV transmission fitted to a SKYACTIV-Body and chassis that merge comprehensive weight reduction with the assurance of ample safety features."

Aside from the Minagi, the Japanese automaker’s stand will also feature separate technology exhibits as well as the Mazda Shinari sports saloon study.

Main Exhibits at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show

Reference exhibits

Mazda MINAGI (world premiere)

Mazda SHINARI (European premiere)

Technology exhibits

New Mazda SKYACTIV-G direct injection gasoline engine

New Mazda SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine

New Mazda SKYACTIV-Drive automatic transmission

New Mazda SKYACTIV-MT manual transmission

Vehicles currently on sale

Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5, Mazda6, Mazda MX-5, Mazda CX-7, Mazda BT-50

Honda to Debut CR-Z TS-1X Concept at this week's Tokyo Auto Salon

With the conclusion of the press days of the 2011 Detroit Motor Show, the automotive world is now shifting its focus on the Tokyo Auto Salon 2011, which will be held from Friday, January 14, to Sunday, January 16, at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.

At this year's event, Honda will be presenting several vehicles including the TS-1X concept study based on the CR-Z hybrid. The prototype model is the work of Honda Access Corporation, the Japanese carmaker's in-house aftermarket division.

Honda has not revealed any information on the concept model, but from the single photo it did release, we can see that the TS-1X is finished in a matt black paintjob and is fitted with a full body kit comprising of front and rear bumpers, beefy side skirts and a large rear wing that appears to extend on the CR-Z's sides.

Other Honda products to be displayed at Honda's stand include a variety of customized vehicles such as the Sports Modulo NSX, Freed Spike caravan car, the Acty Truck and the Enepo generator special coloring editions, plus several racing models like the HSV-010 GT, which won both the driver and team titles for the Super GT Series GT500-class races.

Our man Phil has already landed in Japan and will be covering the show live so stay tuned on Carscoop for more news on the Tokyo Auto Salon.

Anything but Ordinary: Jeremy Westerlund’s Rolls-Royce Apparition

In my opinion, über-luxury sedans are a little bit staid. Yes, from an engineering standpoint they are all very impressive and the technology incorporated into them is often state-of-the-art. You have to admit, though, that very few of us would drool over a Maybach the way you’d drool over a Lamborghini. Even the unshakable Rolls-Royce Phantom, the last word in personal luxury, is a little...well, dull.

So when a student designer like Jeremy Westerlund comes along with a design as interesting and unique as the Rolls Royce Apparition, all you can do is stare. Here is a personal limousine that, if it were built, would be 23 feet long. A car that features yacht-like styling and mahogany inserts on the wheels.

Clever design features abound, like the spare wheel secreted into the bodywork at the front like 1930s Rollers, an open cockpit for the driver and the twin rear windows that mirror the shape of the headlights. It’s like something out of a science fiction film, and a heck of a lot more interesting than some of the so-called concept cars Rolls-Royce has show in the past five years.

Though don’t take my word for it. Voice your own opinion in the comments section below. Is Westerlund’s Apparition a styling triumph or a design disaster?

Source: Jeremy Westerlund via Autoblog