Peugeot Celebrates 200 Years

Peugeot celebrates two centuries in existence this year. Whilst there may be much for the French firm to review – from the economy to the environment, we take a moment to plunder their image archive and just take a few excerpts from their own retrospective on their design heritage..
“Clearly bearing the imprint of Peugeot genes, this quest for emotion in style finds expression in models that have made their mark such as the 402, the 404, the 504, the 205, the 607, or the 406 Coupé, considered as a benchmark in terms of classic elegance, and more recently the RCZ.
This desire makes emotion an integral part of the motoring experience led to the beginnings of a styling department from the 1930s with Henri Thomas at its head. After the classic good looks of the 201, the new Director of Style gave the 2 series an aerodynamic style, the Sochaux streamlined profile. The 402, presented at the 1935 Paris Motor Show, appealed with its inclined front grille depicting a coat of arms and its streamlined wings.

“The “look” of a Peugeot is fundamental to the personality of the Marque’s models. It was at the initiative of Paul Bouvot, then Stylistic Director, and Gérard Welter, that the shape of the front headlamps of the 504 would evoke the feline look now characteristic of Peugeots.

“This visual signature is an essential feature of the Peugeot style, as is the dynamism that Gérard Welter gave to each of the models designed while he was in charge. This dynamism found echoes in the 205, marketed with the famous slogan “a manufacturer draws its claws”, and in the most prestigious saloons such as the 607 or the 5 by Peugeot concept car, presented at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and the forerunner of a forthcoming production car.

“Veritable image creators that fire the enthusiasm of visitors to motor shows, concept cars offer stylists once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to express themselves technically and aesthetically.
By exploring new technological territory (Oxia), introducing new concepts (20coeur), or revealing the lines of a future model ‘5 by Peugeot’, concept cars are never far removed from a future reality.

“Developed at the initiative of Jean-Pierre Ploué and Gilles Vidal, the BB1 and SR1 convey strong messages for the future. The BB1 opens up new avenues in terms of urban mobility, (2.5 m, four seats, zero emissions), emphasising Peugeot’s unique innovative abilities. The SR1 for its part lifts the veil on the Peugeots of tomorrow, with an emblematic and inspiring body shape, the roadster.

“Peugeot has initiated successful styling collaborations that gave rise in the 1930s to superb 302 roadsters and coupés, highly regarded by discerning car lovers. The Peugeot style also drew inspiration from the Turin based coachbuilder Pininfarina. The arrival of the 403 in 1955 marked the beginning of collaboration with Pininfarina. This collaboration proved particularly prolific and gave rise to several of the Marque’s finest designs: the 504 coupé, 306 cabriolet and 406 coupé.

“Concept cars pave the way for future production models. For example the 20coeur, a stylistic blueprint for the future 206, immediately won admirers at the 1998 Geneva Motor Show and gave rise to the 206 CC. In Geneva in 2010, the ‘5 by Peugeot’ concept car with its pure and elegant lines prefigures the Marque’s ambitions in the segment of prestigious large saloons.

“Peugeot’s ability to propose an integral mobility offer with cars, scooters and bicycles is unique in the world. This strength gives Peugeot a head start.
Peugeot is diversifying its response to the challenge of the environment. As well as continuous improvements to the efficiency of naturally aspirated engines, supporting Peugeot’s leadership in low emission vehicles (50 % of cars sold in Europe emit less than 130 g of CO2/km), the Marque is exploring new avenues for the future.”

Mercedes Benz Unveils Car Of The Future - The F800!

Mercedes-Benz has officially released information on their newest concept vehicle. The F800 Style is a synthesis of green technology and stylish-sporty design, it demonstrates Mercedes-Benz’ ability to harmonize automobile fascination and emotion with the continually increasing demands of environmental compatibility.

Just like its predecessor, the F 700 presented that we saw at the 2007 IAA motor show, the latest research vehicle offers a clear idea of what we can expect in the future from premium automobiles, more precisely the next-gen CLS and S-Class. While the 5.18-meter F 700 provided a preview of the large touring sedan of the distant future, the much shorter F 800 Style (4.75 meters exterior length) points the way toward developments to come in the upper-range sedan segment in the near future.

Press Release:

“The F 800 Style combines the functionality of a groundbreaking upper-class sedan with the highly emotional formal idiom of the new Mercedes-Benz design,” says Mercedes-Benz Head of Design Gorden Wagener. “The long wheelbase and the model’s intelligent interior design ensure a generous amount of space and great freedom of movement for five occupants. The result is a distinctive harmony of form and function, whereby the Mercedes brand value of ‘cultivated sportiness’ can be seen and felt in every detail.”

With a total length of 4.75 meters, the F 800 Style has both a longer wheelbase (2,924 millimeters) and a greater width (1,938 millimeters) than today’s upper-range sedans. All of the components of the vehicle’s extremely efficient and environmentally compatible alternative drive system (either Plug-in Hybrid or fuel cell drive) are installed in a space-saving manner in the engine compartment and in the gaps within the chassis. As a result, the entire interior space is preserved and offers plenty of room for up to five occupants.

Reinterpretation of the typical Mercedes-Benz design idiom

The exterior appearance of the F 800 Style is marked by its long wheelbase, short body overhangs, and a sensually flowing, coupe-like roof line. The dynamic side view and the vehicle’s balanced proportions lend it a sporty yet sensual look that conveys a feeling of style and superior performance. “The F 800 blends seamlessly into our design scheme,” says Wagener. “It’s immediately recognizable as a Mercedes, even though it embodies our reinterpretation and further development of the brand’s typical design idiom.”
Another important design feature in the F 800 Style is its organically stretched body surface elements. These flow into convex transition zones and are delineated by precisely curved lines. This creates characteristic lines which visually subdivide the vehicle body and generate emotional tension. The powerful front contoured line on the sidewall extends across the flank and then fades off as it moves downward. This line lends the F 800 Style - with its grey metallic ALU-BEAM color tone - a highly dynamic appearance, without making it seem aggressive. The sensually curved roof line underscores the exceptional aerodynamic quality of the coupe, which has a height of 1.43 meters.

The Mercedes-Benz brand star is smoothly framed

The F 800 Style’s front end features a variation of the radiator grille with the centrally placed brand star that can be found in the new E-Class coupe as well as in other models. This grille extends prominently toward the front in the F 800 Style, while the bionically curving lamellae softly flow around the tube holding the Mercedes-Benz brand star. Other noticeable design features include the drop-shaped and thus aerodynamically designed exterior mirrors, whose housings, like those in the Concept BlueZERO model, are partially transparent and backlit.

LED headlights give the F 800 Style an expressive “face”

A “shining” example of technological and design innovation at Mercedes-Benz is offered in the truest sense of the word by the powerful LED headlights in the F 800 Style. The combination of fiber optics and state-of-the-art LED technology lends the vehicle a striking appearance. Along with the wide radiator grille and the generously curved air intake openings, the LED headlights emphasize the dynamic nature of the research vehicle. The headlights are divided into individual segments for daytime running lights, turn signal indicators, and primary headlights.

The F 800 Style’s taillights are also equipped with state-of-the-art LED units that enable an exciting interplay of indirect illumination and direct beams, which further enhances the stylish appearance of the vehicle’s rear section at night. The result is an attractive, unmistakable, and memorable visual effect.

Translucent roof makes for a bright interior

The F 800 Style’s translucent roof is divided into several segments. With flowing lines that dissolve and let more and more light through, the roof incorporates the wave styling elements of the air outlets. The F 800 Style’s 20-inch alloy wheels are equipped with plastic inserts whose bionically arranged air intake openings are shaped like filigree turbine blades.

Wood and a pleasant color gradient create a cozy interior

Natural wood surfaces and a harmonious color gradient from light to dark make for an elegant and cozy interior in the F 800 Style. This interior was created at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy, and its modern sense of lightness is immediately noticed by occupants. Functional elements such as the driver area and the door armrests seem to float in space like sculptures, while light-colored wood surfaces underscore the model’s elegant ambience. Side panels covered with alcantara form a visual contrast to the wood. The panels are light beige in the area of the A-pillar and grow darker in a smooth color gradient as they extend to the back, ending in a dark grey tone in the rear of the vehicle. Additional design details are provided by attractive engraved patterns in the rear door panels.

Innovative real wood veneering process for seats, door armrests, and the driver area

The innovative lightweight-construction seats in the F 800 Style consist of a magnesium shell and a carbon fiber laminate seatback across which a fine yet resistant netting is stretched. The seat shell is veneered with real wood. For the wood inlaying process, Mercedes-Benz engineers employed an innovative technology designed especially for the veneering of three-dimensional surfaces. The new 3D surface coating procedure developed by Mercedes-Benz was also used to install the wood finishing in the center console, on the doors, and in the driver area. These wood finishing pieces are molded as 3D laminated components and are augmented by an aluminum layer, a feature that significantly improves crash safety.

The single-section organically curved cockpit offers plenty of legroom for front-seat passengers. In a setup similar to the one used in the F 700 research vehicle from 2007, all important information for the driver is presented on the large and clearly arranged display unit in the instrument cluster. A key new feature of this improved display is that it focuses for the first time on data associated with electric vehicle operation. The unit thus puts important relevant information such as the battery charge state and remaining vehicle range at the center of attention.

The integrated display unit, which elegantly protrudes from the curved console, provides for a feeling of exceptional interior spaciousness. Outstanding ergonomic quality is guaranteed by the new HMI with cam touchpad integrated into the center console. The unit also boasts several technical innovations, including its ability to visually depict the current functions within the cam touchpad’s menu structure on the display above the center console.

Rear pivot-and-slide doors blend into the elegant design lines

The rear doors of the F 800 Style ideally embody the harmony of form and function that typifies the vehicle. Whereas the front doors are attached to the A-pillar in a conventional manner and open toward the front, the rear doors slide backward when opened. The innovative swivel arm construction of the rear doors allowed designers to forgo the use of visible door rails, giving the F 800 Style the appearance of being cast in one piece when its doors are closed. “We integrated the door technology into the vehicle in such a manner that it blends seamlessly into the overall design flow, thus perfectly harmonizing ergonomics and design,” says Wagener.

Form and function are equally important

The F 800 Style is both a technology package and a showcar. The latest Mercedes-Benz research vehicle was created through close international cooperation between the technical research and advanced engineering departments and the advanced design studios in Sindelfingen and Como, Italy. Form and function are equally important in the F 800 Style. For example, all of the air intake openings and outlets have an important technical function in addition to the bold design statement they make, and the organic, nature-based wave shape for the protective grille is a typical design feature that is present throughout the vehicle.

BMW Vision Concept

One of the most highly acclaimed BMW concepts will debut next Wednesday during the press days. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics is the latest implementation of the EfficientDynamics philosophy. The hybrid powertrain provides a top speed limited electronically to 155 mph, with acceleration to 62mph (100 km/h) in 4.8 seconds.

The chassis and suspension of BMW Vision EfficientDynamics are made completely of aluminum; the roof and the outer skin on the doors are made almost completely of a special polycarbonate glass automatically darkening as a function of the light shining on the car. Measuring 181.1″ in length, 74.8″ in width and 48.8″ in height, this unique concept car offers ample space for up to four passengers and their luggage. Thanks to the consistent lightweight construction strategy applied on the car, curb weight is 3,076 lb.




In the design of the interior, BMW uses an innovative layering technology.

As always, we’ll return with more information.


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Volvo S60 Video Introduction

Volvo Car unveiled the S60 Concept at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show on January 11. Volvo Cars’ CEO, Stephen Odell held a press conference about the business and the future of the company. The company has the potential to reestablish its credentials in the premium sedan segment. The video also shows interviews with Design Chief Steve Mattin, interior designer Lars Falk and more.

The new SLR Stirling Moss

Mercedes-Benz and McLaren are adding the crowning glory to the model family of their highly successful SLR super sports car with a new, uncompromisingly spectacular car. There is neither a roof nor a windscreen to separate the driver and passenger from the outside world; they enjoy unadulterated high-speed excitement with all the attributes of a speedster. The new SLR Stirling Moss is also characterised by the most sophisticated technology and a breathtaking design which reinterprets the SLR legend. With 478 kW/650 hp the SLR Stirling Moss accelerates its V8 supercharged engine from standstill to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds, and has a top speed of 350 km/h – no other series-production car is at the same time so open and so fast.

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suzuki r3 concept

Designed by Maruti Suzuki India's R&D Department, the Concept R3 is a compact Multi Purpose Vehicle created for the Indian local market. It features a B-pillarless design and can transport six people in three rows.






Maruti Suzuki launched its multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) called Maruti R3 at the 10th Auto Expo in New Delhi on 05th January, 2010. This latest launch Maruti Concept rIII or R3 is a next generation compact Multi purpose vehicle that is designed by a team of Indian young automobile engineers.

The R3 Concept is a compact MPV that can seat six people in three rows and has been designed as an example of a vehicle that could cater for India’s rapidly changing car market and where consumer lifestyles are quickly evolving.

R3 combines compact dimensions and stylish profiling with four wide opening doors without a central B pillar, allowing easy access for all occupants.

"The concept R3 (or rIII) is built on the theme of 'togetherness' and is targeted to users who need to move together in a big family."

As the Indian automobile production subsidiary of Suzuki, Maruti Suzuki has had a major presence in the local market since 1983 and currently holds around a 55 per cent market share of the passenger car market.

DC Design Imperator and Ying Yang Design Concepts at New Delhi Auto Expo

DC Designs Imperator and Ying Yang - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you're not already familiar with DC Designs, let's refresh your memory. Founded by Dilip Chhabria, the Indian designer has been responsible for such autotrocities as the Amrierod and Cayenne Coupe, along with tuned versions of the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Tata Nano. Pleased with what he's done for other people's vehicles, Chhabria has turned his efforts towards developing two new vehicles, both of which debuted this week at the Auto Expo in New Delhi.



Without any hard details on what's underneath each concept, there's not much to say aside from analyzing the exterior designs. Despite its name, the Ying Yang struck us as a stylish amalgamation of the en vogue box aesthetic and a traditional minivan, while the Imperator is far too similar to the Lexus 2054 shown in the movie adaption of Philip K. Dick's Minority Report -- right down to the plummeting windows and red hue. Decidedly less swoopy than its silver screen inspiration, the four-seat Imperator (anyone remember the Isdera supercar by the same name?) is festooned with all the show car baubles you'd expect, including 24-inch wheels and gullwing doors, the latter of which are held up by massive hydraulic tubes that seemingly prove that opening the concept's doors was an afterthought.




You can check out both concepts in the gallery below thanks to Indianautosblog.com.