Hybrid Car Buick Envision

This hybrid car design is entitled as The Buick Envision. It was designed by Shanghai GM together with the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC). The exterior of this Buick Envision is characterized by global language with aesthetical touch of Chinese identity. This futuristic hybrid SUV variant was showcased at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. The design reminds us about the Buick’s tradition by combining sharp angel, dynamic line and curved shape on its exterior.

Official Press Release:

The Buick Envision was developed by Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC).

According to Shi Hong, Director of Buick Marketing at Shanghai GM, “it introduces the development direction for Buick’s future SUV products for the market.”

According to Ed Welburn, GM Vice President of Global Design, “The Envision has inherited Buick design DNA and taken the Buick global design language to a new height. It makes a significant statement for Buick styling and technology, and will influence upcoming models from the brand.”

Exterior Design

The design carries forward Buick’s tradition blending it with dynamic lines, sharp angles and curved shapes.

Its dynamic coupe-like body and multifunctional space offer a hint of Buick SUVs to come for the Chinese market.

The Envision features a two-layer traditional Buick waterfall grille, which regulates air intake to meet the demand of the power system and achieve optimized aerodynamic performance.

The front-end design also incorporates Buick’s tri-colored shield insignia, reinforcing the Envision’s refined and forceful sense of styling.

Headlamps and fog lights are inspired by traditional Chinese patterns. Daytime LED lamps house five “Chinese pillar-like” LED bulbs.

Sharp lines start from above the headlamps, spreading out and submerging into the body of the vehicle.

They reappear at the rear, running powerfully through the taillamps and showcasing the traditional Buick double sweep spear. Wheel arches above powerful-looking 22-inch tires offer a strong contrast.

The one-piece roof is shaped like an arching bridge. It allows the continuous flowing side lines to form a graceful curve above the windows before being integrated in the back end. The Buick’s rearview mirror and side window trims are lined up across from the A-pillar and C-pillar.

The large, single scissor-style doors are equipped with sensors and allow for an easy access to the front and rear seats.

At the rear, multiple ridge lines form layers like a modern sculpture. Slim, sharp porcelain-like taillamps are integrated with gleaming LED lights. The design is applied to the rear fog lights and exhaust as well. The ice-peak silver body color reflects the athletic pose of the car.

The 22-inch doubled-layered aluminum alloy wheels and are combined with silicon sports tires with an asymmetrical unidirectional tread that reduces resistance, noise and energy consumption.

Interior Design

The people-oriented interior features Buick’s signature 360-degree all-around integrated design and asymmetric central console.

The front cabin has the appearance of a floating sculpture while the spiral gauges offer a futuristic feeling.

The color of the car door is inspired by the “yin and yang” concept.

Together with the two-toned galaxy-blue and sand-beach white Italian leather and maple and metallic materials with a velvety texture, it offers a visual effect of peace and elegance.

The shared armrest runs from the front to the back, with a storage function and crafted hidden air-conditioning vents. The flat floor feels like the deck of a yacht and contributes to the spaciousness and comfort of the interior.

In addition to Buick’s classic ice-blue lighting, the interior also features optional orange “casual” lighting and red “sportive” lighting, giving off a soft radiance that matches the mood of the surroundings.

Technology

The Bluetooth DUN Intelligent Internet system allows users to connect to the Web with their cell phones. Using cloud servers, the system enables virtual community interaction and the sharing of information with other vehicles. Information can be displayed on the OLED touch-screen interface on the Flex-touch central console or on the windshield.

Traditional rearview mirrors have been replaced by three micro-cameras to catch and relay images of the road to the dashboard.

When the car is moving, speed, fuel consumption and navigation details are projected onto the windshield in 3-D so that the driver does not have to take his or her eyes off the road. The OLED touch screen is aided by an auxiliary speech function. Users can easily toggle between real-time information, the in-car navigation system and the entertainment system. The system can be adjusted to the height of the driver.

With micro-cameras and transmitting sensors, the Envision addresses blind spots. The area blocked by the A-pillar can be projected above the A-pillar, enhancing safety while lowering drag coefficient.

Technical Features

The Envision is equipped with GM’s PHEV plug-in hybrid system, that combines a 2.0-liter SIDI direct injection turbocharged engine with a pair of electric motor generators and a dual automatic/manual eight-speed transmission.

A high-performance lithium battery and a solar energy roof with optical equipment serve as an alternative energy source independent from the engine.

The Envision’s compact, lightweight chassis is composed of carbon fiber, magnesium and aluminum. Mounted on an MRC electromagnetic suspension with the energy-recycle function, it offers a fast magnetic ride control system.

Damping can be actively regulated according to road conditions to optimize handling. With the Envision’s intelligent all-wheel-drive system, the torque output of each wheel can be adjusted at any time depending on the road conditions.

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Luxgen Neora The New Electric Sedan

Here is new car variant called as Luxgen Neora. This new sedan variant was showcased at 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. This futuristic car model will become an electric sedan concept from Taiwan manufacturer. The exterior design adopts the last update trend, where the exterior is characterized by sculpted volume which creates sharp line. The flowing character combined well with bold character as well as unusual arrow – formed headlamp. The headlamp of this Luxgen Neora is equipped by LED technology.

An all – electric power train that produce 180 kW is ready to generate this Luxgen Neora. The front – wheel – drive system is also added as innovative features on this car. This electric sedan variant has 1,600 kg weight and can make sprint from 0-100 km / h just in 6.5 seconds. The top speed of this Neora is 250 km / h. The interior is designed with hi-tech cabin features which contains a PDLC (Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals) electric glass sunroof, advanced infotainment media and large LED screen.

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Audi A3 E-tron Concept Car

The new Audi A3 e-tron was unveiled at the at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. This hybrid car concept can accommodate up to 4 passengers. Compared to its predecessor Audi A3, this hybrid sedan variant features some elements which are produced from carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), includes for example front & rear spoiler, side view mirror, rear diffuser and grille frame, whereas the aluminum is used for conceiving other components such as engine hood, doors and tailgate. The total weight of this Audi A3 e-tron variant is influenced by lightweight material usage.

Official press release:

Exterior Design

The Audi A3 e-tron concept measures 4.44 meters (14.57 ft) long and 1.84 meters (6.04 ft) wide, but just 1.39 meters (4.56 ft) high.

The design features the typical Audi language with the signature single- frame grille that gives the front en a sculptured look.

Its frame is made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), and the transversely mounted, three-dimensional aluminum louvers create a visual effect that emphasizes the car’s width.

The headlights merge with the beveled upper corners of the single-frame, forming a transition that marks the starting point of the prominently accentuated lines of the engine hood.

The headlights represent a new stage of evolution in LED technology: they become broader as they extend outward, and a line underneath makes them seem to float on air.

Above the front spoiler is a full-length air intake, also made of CFRP, framed by a metal clasp. The spoiler features a splitter that increases the downforce on the front wheels.

When viewed from the side, the A3 e-tron concept shows muscular surfaces and a low roof dome with fluid lines flowing into a flat, coupe-like C-pillar and the shoulder area transitioning into the tailgate.

Characteristic of Audi design, the greenhouse accounts for one-third of the height, while the sheet metal makes up the remaining two-thirds.

Powerfully flared fenders hint at the power of the engine. Two prominently elaborated lines accentuate the flank: the undercut tornado line beneath the window edge and the dynamic line above the sills.

The exterior mirrors, made of aluminum and CFRP, are perched atop the window-channel strips. The door handles with their brushed-aluminum clasps are recessed flush with the door. When the driver touches them, they power-extend.

The interplay between surfaces and lines also defines the tail end of the A3 e-tron concept.

The broad, flat tail lights are sculptured and culminate in a point on the inside, and the tailgate bears an elegant spoiler edge.

The rear apron includes a diffuser insert of CFRP and metal, which in turn surrounds the two large tailpipes for the exhaust system.

Ultra-modern components, design methods and joining techniques keep the body weight low. One example of this are the custom tailored blanks (panels of various thicknesses) in the floor area.

The doors, engine hood and tailgate are made of aluminum.

Interior

The interior of the showcar is generously proportioned thanks to the long wheelbase of 2.63 meters (8.63 ft) – which gives the two rear passengers on a large knee room.

The impression of lightness and airiness is underlined by the horizontal lines. The instrument panel draws the driver in – typical of Audi and has a large trim strip is made of solid aluminum that includes control functions.

The high-quality sound system in the doors and on the rear shelf has aluminum trim panels. When the audio system is turned on, they extend a few millimeters, thus orchestrating a visual accompaniment to the system’s excellent sound.

On the center console, four large, round air vents echoing a jet’s design catch the eye. The air flow is adjusted by pulling and pushing on the center axis of the vents. The control knobs for the automatic air conditioning system are located in the lower section of the center console on a boldly protruding, dedicated control panel. Visually, they are reminiscent of airplane turbines.

Behind the compact, flat-bottomed, three-spoke multifunction steering wheel is an innovative display concept that renders the individual driving states of the hybrid drive clear-cut and tangible.

The tachometer on the instrument cluster has been replaced by a “power meter,” with a needle that indicates the total system output on a scale of 0 to 100 percent.

A second scale is divided into colored segments. At a glance, the green and orange segments clearly indicate where the A3 e-tron concept is drawing its power – from the electric motor, the combustion engine, or a combination of both. An additional instrument displays the charge level of the battery.

In between the two large round dials is the large, eight-inch display for the driver information system. This display and the large monitor of the MMI system show the operating states and power flows in the hybrid system in elegant graphics with a three-dimensional effect.

The MMI monitor also displays differentiated consumption and recuperation statistics in easily understandable bar graphs.

The control panel for the MMI multimedia system is located on the center tunnel console. The interface on its large rotary pushbutton features another novelty – the “MMI touch” touchpad. This new solution, which makes the already exemplary operation even more intuitive, will soon be introduced in series production at Audi. The ultra-thin MMI monitor power-extends upwards out of the instrument panel, another feature taken from the full-size car class.

The infotainment system offers an UMTS access to the Internet, a WLAN hotspot, and holders for iPads installed on the back of the front seat backrests. The luggage compartment has a volume of 410 liters (14.48 cubic ft) and a low loading lip.

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