Tag Archives: roadster

Audi Skysphere is set to redefine the automotive industry, courtesy of its expandable wheelbase!

Posted on by




As an auto enthusiast who is completely awed by this feature, if the other automotive giants are as surprised as I am, I can honestly state that Audi has taken a giant leap in the technology that will take years for the others to catch up on. With this concept, Audi redefines the automotive industry while establishing itself as a true leader in this space.

Audi has just dropped a level 4 autonomous car concept that goes beyond the realms of what we are used to seeing – even by conceptual design standards. Audi propels into the future of autonomous driving with the Skysphere, an electric convertible that morphs from a luxurious grand tourer to a beastly sports car at the push of a button. This concept is designed by Gael Buzyn and his team to bring an unparalleled driving experience to the streets. The highlight of this concept is its transforming design, featuring an expandable wheelbase that transforms a two-seater convertible into a four-wheeler sportscar, giving you the best of both worlds.





The shape-shifting character of this car is akin to the caterpillar’s morphism to a butterfly. There are actuators behind the front axle that move the car’s front section back and forth to give it 10-inches of shape-shifting advantage. In addition, the steering wheel and pedal shifters retract under the dashboard panel for added luxury while being highlighted by the touchscreen interface panning across the dashboard in the long-wheelbase GT mode. This helps transform the car from a stable GT model to the power-oriented aggressive Sport mode.

1937 Horch Type 853 Sport Cabriolet

Skysphere draws much of its inspiration from the proportions of the legendary classic – 1937 Horch 853 convertible. Audi calls this mind-boggling creation a “reverence without retro.” The Skysphere is a nostalgic nod to the glorious grand touring era but with the infusion of a very modern element. According to Audi, the footprint between the legendary Horch 853 convertible and the Audi Skysphere cars is pretty similar – 5.23 meters in length versus 5.19 and a width of 1.85 versus 2.00 meters, respectively. The concept also gives a nod to the Art-Deco-inspiration with its metallic accents.

The battery pack of the Skysphere is located behind the cabin in a 40:60 front-to-rear weight distribution configuration. The front and rear double-wishbone suspensions help with the overall stability, and the steer-by-wire system comes with a variable-ratio setup for switching between the two modes. According to Audi, the convertible will be capable of going from 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds – courtesy of the rear-mounted 624 horsepower (465 kilowatts) electric motor. In addition, it will have a practically achievable range of 310 mph thanks to the 80-kilowatt-hour battery positioned behind the seats.

I can’t help but draw a parallel between this flamboyant electric car with the transformers (Bumblebee might just become a reality) with all the transformations it is making, both on the exterior and interiors. There is no compromise between the two driving configurations – such is the design refinement of this unparalleled concept car by Audi. Is this going to be the foreseeable future of cars whizzing past you in a couple of decades? I bet it is!

Designer: Audi

 

 

Watch how a father made this realistic wooden replica of the Lamborghini Sian for his child to ride

Posted on by




65 days is a pretty ambitious timeline for building a Lamborghini from scratch, especially if you’re working alone… but if you’re a seasoned woodworking expert like Trương Văn Đạo, things sort of fall into place. Văn Đạo made this miniature working replica of the Sian Roadster for his son, and meticulously documented the entire process on his YouTube channel ND Woodworking Art. The child-sized Lamborghini isn’t just a replica model though… it runs too, as Văn Đạo demonstrated by driving along on a highway too. The car comes outfitted with automatic scissor doors, working LED headlights + taillights, swiveling rear-view mirrors, a rather nifty (yet slightly toyish) dashboard along with a replica wooden steering wheel, and even a key-fob that lets you control aspects of the car! It’s a tight fit for adults but is perfectly sized for young children. No, there are no seatbelts, but it’s safe to say this Lamborghini isn’t crossing any speed limits.

Designer: ND Woodworking Art

Wooden Lamborghini Sian Roadster by ND Woodworking Art

Wooden Lamborghini Sian Roadster by ND Woodworking Art

Just like the original Sian, Văn Đạo’s replica runs on an electric powertrain. The car doesn’t just sit on a random toy car’s chassis too, everything’s made and assembled from scratch, including the steering fork, the rear-wheel drive, and get this, even the wheels, which are made from wood and then covered with rubber treads! The car is almost exclusively made from blocks of wood that have been glued together and sanded down to a fine surface before being layered with polish (the video shows the remarkable 65-day process in a timelapse), and you’ve really got to appreciate how good Văn Đạo is at his craft for being able to pull this off from start to finish.

Wooden Lamborghini Sian Roadster by ND Woodworking Art

Wooden Lamborghini Sian Roadster by ND Woodworking Art

For final touches, Văn Đạo plugs in the headlights and taillights in, and even puts in the Lamborghini logo on the front and a faux license plate on the back. The rear fins of the car come with the Sian branding too! The car’s doors are operated by pistons that are controlled using the key-fob (view them in action at the exact 08:30 mark), and yes, there are adjustable side-view mirrors too! The video currently stands at above 9.5 million views, although it isn’t the first time Văn Đạo’s attempted something so ambitious. In the past, he’s managed to build child-size wooden replicas of the BMW 328 Hommage, the Ferrari Aperta, and the Bugatti Centodieci too! I’d say his kid pretty much lucked out in the dad department!

Wooden Lamborghini Sian Roadster by ND Woodworking Art

Wooden Lamborghini Sian Roadster by ND Woodworking Art

No, that isn’t a Tesla Roadster. It’s Ferrari’s new futuristic hybrid supercar!

Posted on by

Ferrari 296 GTB Supercar with V6 Hybrid Powertrain

After the smashing success of the SF90 Stradale, the 296 GTB is the second hybrid from the Italian automotive company, hinting at a potential move towards the electric market.

The 296 GTB is the company’s first “mainstream” electric model. Unveiled today at a virtual event, the 296 GTB redefines the whole concept of fun behind the wheel, guaranteeing pure emotions not just when pushing the car to its limits, but also in day-to-day driving situations. Its name comes from the fact that the car is equipped with a 2,996cc, six-cylinder engine, while the GTB stands for Gran Turismo Berlinetta, harking to a long line of Ferrari sportscars that stretch back to the mid-1950s.

Ferrari 296 GTB Supercar with V6 Hybrid Powertrain

There’s something incredibly pure about the 296 GTB’s design. At first glance it does look quite inspired by the surfacing of the Tesla Roadster, although there’s nothing wrong with embracing purity over aggressively contoured surfaces and an overdose of air-intakes. Equipped with a short wheelbase and a flowy, monolithic design, the 296 GTB is perhaps the most compact berlinetta to emerge from Ferrari’s Maranello factory. The car comes fitted with Ferrari’s 120° Twin-Turbo V-6 hybrid engine (you can see a picture of it at the bottom of the article), perhaps one of the company’s most interesting pieces of innovation (there’s an entire article exclusively on the engine from Road & Track). The 296 GTB is also the first Ferrari hybrid automobile to not electrify the front axle, helping save weight and maintain the sheer dynamic purity of a rear-wheel drive.

Ferrari 296 GTB Supercar with V6 Hybrid Powertrain

The Ferrari 296 GTB draws a great deal of inspiration from the 1963 Ferrari 250 LM and 1974 Dino 246 GTS, especially the way its air intakes are integrated into the rear fenders and its use of a vertical rear window. Aerodynamically, the car depends primarily upon air management beneath it to develop downforce, resulting in an otherwise pure design uncorrupted by air-intakes. An active spoiler underneath the car and integrated into the rear bumper deploys to create a downforce of up to 360 kg at around 155 mph. The car boasts of a 0-100 of 2.9 seconds, and a top speed of over 205 mph. The rear is markedly different too, and I can’t help but miss Ferrari’s signature circular taillights. While Ferrari hasn’t hinted at a price, multiple European outlets have hinted that it could cost above $300,000. The car’s set to deliver in 2022.

Ferrari 296 GTB Supercar with V6 Hybrid Powertrain

Ferrari 296 GTB Supercar with V6 Hybrid Powertrain

Ferrari 296 GTB Supercar with V6 Hybrid Powertrain

Ferrari 296 GTB Supercar with V6 Hybrid Powertrain

Ferrari 296 GTB Supercar with V6 Hybrid Powertrain

Tesla hasn’t produced any new cars in over 2 years… but it can’t stop announcing them.

Posted on by

[This is an Editorial. The views, opinions, and positions expressed in this article are my own.]

Tesla’s most popular car to date, the Model 3, was announced in 2016. Its most recent production unit, the Model Y, was announced in March of 2019, more than 2 years ago. Ever since that moment up until now, Tesla’s debuted the Roadster 2nd Gen, the Tesla Semi, the Cybertruck, the Cyberquad, and finally today, an updated Roadster 2nd Gen (SpaceX Package). It hasn’t committed to a delivery date for any of them.

Imagine you ordered the iPhone 12 in 2020, and Apple said it would deliver the smartphone to you in 2021. You wait for a year and instead of receiving an iPhone 12, you receive news that Apple, instead of working on producing and delivering the iPhone 12, spent all that time designing an iPhone 12S. Apple now has two conceptual products in its catalog, and you, the consumer, have nothing in your hand. That’s the short story of the Tesla Roadster. If you’re one of the thousands of people who have been waiting for the 2nd Gen Roadster since 2019, you probably feel pretty annoyed that Tesla already announced a better version without even delivering on its previous version. You can’t even buy the Roadster 1st Gen since the company promptly discontinued it. In short, the Roadster is basically a myth at this point… quite like the Cybertruck.

Along with its Roadster 2nd Gen update, Tesla also sent a shoutout mail to the millions of people who ordered a Cybertruck saying… well, saying that the company hadn’t even begun producing it yet. The pickup truck, which was scheduled for delivery in 2021 will start production at the end of 2021. In short, that $100 pre-order you gave to the car company was just one massive paid newsletter program. You’re not going to receive cars by a long stretch in time… you’re just going to receive updates.

All this sort of proves one point that many people have been making for a while now. Let’s first start by acknowledging that producing cars is HARD. It’s an absolute herculean task taking a sketch or a concept render all the way to production – it requires a tonne of money, man-power, infrastructure, a robust supply chain, international cooperation, extensive testing, and a marketing team on steroids. That being said, it’s safe to opine that Tesla isn’t selling cars anymore – it’s selling hype, and more than an entrepreneur, Elon is a hypeman. There’s no doubt that Tesla is at the very forefront of innovation, but it’s difficult to digest that the company’s worth shot up from $75 billion in 2019, to $559 billion today when it hasn’t produced a single new car in the interim.

Full disclosure, I own Tesla stock. I saw its meteoric rise last year and fall this year. I’d love to drag Elon through the mud for being the market manipulator dudebro he is. Ever since his $420 tweet up until now, where he somehow has the power to make cryptocurrency values rise or fall just by tweeting about them, Musk is nothing but a self-proclaimed hustler but this isn’t about him, it’s about the effect he has on Tesla’s ability to hold its ground as a car manufacturer instead of becoming a hype manufacturer.

For the sake of context, let’s just look at what Tesla announced this weekend. The company’s NY account announced that the Roadster prototype was being showcased at the Petersen Automotive Museum, to which Elon promptly announced that the production model would look even better than the prototype, and a special SpaceX package (courtesy a collaboration between two of Elon’s companies) would see the Roadster getting a major acceleration upgrade of 0-60 in 1.1 seconds, thanks to the presence of cold air rocket thrusters built right into the automobile. Sounds fancy, right? Well, it also sounds imaginary because the Roadster IS imaginary. Those specs mean nothing if the product doesn’t exist. It’s a lot like Musk’s fancy underground tunnel network, which was supposed to help cars avoid traffic by blitzing through sub-surface tunnels at nearly the speed of sound. A demo video released by The Boring Company showed pretty much that, except the cars were moving at a paltry 40mph. Musk also was responsible for major fanfare around Neuralink, his revolutionary brain-augmenting hardware company. Their first major demo had nothing except for a few pigs demonstrating how the Neuralink chip could read brainwaves. Impressive, sure. Is it what Elon promised? Not by a far shot.

The irony of me being the editor of a design website that primarily covers conceptual content isn’t lost on me. However, those concepts don’t trade on the stock market. After a certain point, what’s the difference between Tesla and some designer with a Behance profile – they both announce concepts, except one of them’s a $559 billion-dollar company. What’s the point of innovation if it won’t exist for another half-decade (a conservative guess, no less)… we’re also assuming that Tesla will actually deliver on these promises – so if it doesn’t, how is Tesla any different than Theranos or Magic Leap??

You see, the reason I used Apple as an example earlier on is that barring the AirPower, Apple’s always been absolutely 100% certain of its capabilities. It announces products it intends on delivering in the near future. Apple is great at innovating WHILE managing its expectations… and if Tesla wants to be treated as a disruptor and a company modeled on the fast-paced Silicon Valley modus operandi, it better deliver too. Not on ideas, not on random flip-flops between fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies, but on expectations. Sure, I understand that car-companies often announce models that take a year or two to produce. However, Tesla isn’t most car companies, and the Roadster still doesn’t have a definite set-in-stone delivery date even 2 years post its announcement. Heck, the Cybertruck was announced 20 months ago and it still won’t begin production for another 6 months at the least. There’s no doubt in my mind that electric cars are the future… but let’s face it, every tweet Elon sends needs to end with “Terms and Conditions Apply”.


Designer Charlie Nghiem imagines what the Tesla Roadster SpaceX Package could look like

This low-slung Volkswagen Beetle roadster is an army-green, street drag racing beast!

Posted on by

Volkswagen’s very existence rested on the decision by the Nazis, as Adolf Hitler wanted a simple car to be mass-produced in Germany. And then was born the Volkswagen Beetle, one of the most iconic cars in the history of automotive engineering. The Beetle has not its charm even a single ounce ever since its inception, and for a good reason too. Even though the heritage model was discontinued in 2019, it still weighs its worth in gold for the lucky owners who have one. Take, for example, the modified Volkswagen Beetle Deluxe converted into a piping hot matte black roadster.

Another one joins the elite bandwagon in the form of this military green VB Beetle that looks so Nazi-inspired. The ultra-fat wheels, low road height with a ground clearance only enough to go over a dozen paper sheets, give this Beetle a pure drag racer-like feel. Those twinkling headlights are so inviting and the broad but cute nose getting the military color treatment adds a whole lot of meat to the already eye-candy character of the Beetle. Don’t be mistaken by those adorable looks, the ride has a lot of power under the hood and the aggressive stance in the form of rear diffusers and the slightly redone spoiler.

But most of the attitude is attributed to its bulky wheels with matte black rims to match the style. I keep mentioning them again and again – they are just too eye-catchy. This VW Beetle is crafted to glaze on the high-speed freeways or professional race alleys. Who won’t want to own it after all!

Designer: rob3rtdesign

 

This Volkswagen beetle wrapped in matte black is worthy of being Batman’s next ride!

Posted on by

Imagine vigilante Batman driving this hot roadster in Gotham City, with those worthy weapon upgrades to take on the bad blood brewing on the streets. A minimalist look that’s fit for the 21st century, and yes, being open roof does help in getting out of the vehicle if need be. Now that we’ve let loose our imagination, let’s get back to reality for a while. This 1961 Volkswagen Beetle deluxe converted into a roadster with a matte black treatment is the work of Danni Koldal, who’s virtually facelifted the vintage four-wheeler into a hotrod that’s not overdone, still maintains its masculine appeal.

The front windshield has been trimmed down to the bare minimum, giving the ride a mean attitude that matches its personality. The black is contrasted by the silver-white trims on the doors, hood and alloy wheels. There’s a superman logo near the top of the hood and “Superman” etched on the back, so Danni indeed wanted it to be a Batmobile for the modern crime-fighting superhero (though I’m sure Batman will change that or make it a common DC-crime fighting mobile). Those fat wheels also go with the upper body of the Volkswagen that Danni has managed to turn into hot property – we want to own it right away. Interiors carry forward the sleek appeal which shouts out loud for a midnight drive on the freeway. We are already daydreaming, aren’t we?

There’s a lot we would love to know about how this custom job was achieved, and this design leaves us craving for more. Perhaps, that’s what Danni intended – leaving everyone who comes across this roadster, bamboozled to bits!

Designer: Danni Koldal

This Volkswagen beetle wrapped in matte black is worthy of being Batman’s next ride!

Posted on by

Imagine vigilante Batman driving this hot roadster in Gotham City, with those worthy weapon upgrades to take on the bad blood brewing on the streets. A minimalist look that’s fit for the 21st century, and yes, being open roof does help in getting out of the vehicle if need be. Now that we’ve let loose our imagination, let’s get back to reality for a while. This 1961 Volkswagen Beetle deluxe converted into a roadster with a matte black treatment is the work of Danni Koldal, who’s virtually facelifted the vintage four-wheeler into a hotrod that’s not overdone, still maintains its masculine appeal.

The front windshield has been trimmed down to the bare minimum, giving the ride a mean attitude that matches its personality. The black is contrasted by the silver-white trims on the doors, hood and alloy wheels. There’s a superman logo near the top of the hood and “Superman” etched on the back, so Danni indeed wanted it to be a Batmobile for the modern crime-fighting superhero (though I’m sure Batman will change that or make it a common DC-crime fighting mobile). Those fat wheels also go with the upper body of the Volkswagen that Danni has managed to turn into hot property – we want to own it right away. Interiors carry forward the sleek appeal which shouts out loud for a midnight drive on the freeway. We are already daydreaming, aren’t we?

There’s a lot we would love to know about how this custom job was achieved, and this design leaves us craving for more. Perhaps, that’s what Danni intended – leaving everyone who comes across this roadster, bamboozled to bits!

Designer: Danni Koldal

Aston Martin’s V12 roofless speedster is a sleek siren calling out to all thrill seekers!

Posted on by

Post cancellation of the Geneva International Motor Show 2020, the Aston Martin V12 showed its gorgeous face at the company’s headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire in March. The lightweight two-seater speedster is designed by the “Q by Aston Martin” bespoke division, who took the car from the blueprint stage to reality in just 12 months. Now the car inspired by the CC100 Speedster Concept and 1959 Le Mans-winning DBR1 from the marque’s grand past will be parked in the dealerships as early as the first quarter of next year. The car will only be made in 88 limited edition units with each one costing a mind-bending $950,000 – so it’s going to be a rare affair to spot one the roads!

The front of the Aston Martin V12 stamps the authority of road presence in every aspect, right from its headlights and the intimidating grille to the nostrils on the hood and well creased sporty design language flowing to the sides which features 21-inch forged center-locking wheels. The rear compliments those aesthetics very well with the spoiler that protrudes out of the taillights, demanding special attention. The car sports broadened shoulders and stylish twin humps and spine separating the driver and the co-rider. The Skyfall Silver livery designed in collaboration with Boeing is inspired by fighter jets and is aptly contrasted with the satin black on the exhaust tips, vent grilles, and vanes. To keep the total weight down without compromising the aesthetics, the design team has infused satin chrome structural carbon fiber and aluminum inserts.

The heart of this machine is the 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V-12 that churns out 710 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque. This sublime power translates to an impressive 0-62 mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of electronically limited 186 mph – if that doesn’t give you’re the adrenaline rush of driving on the open roads, we are afraid nothing will! Matt Becker, Aston Martin’s chief engineer, said, “For raw, driving thrills the V12 Speedster is unparalleled, the fully open element of the car adding a new dimension to the experience.” He believes that “driving doesn’t get any purer than this” thanks to the engaging driving experience with the power of twin-turbo 5.2-liter V12 at your command.

Designer: Aston Martin

Lamborghini Sian Roadster drops the top, adds custom 3D printed vents

Posted on by
Last year Lamborghini debuted the 819HP Sian hybrid, its supercar with a supercapacitor, and now it’s back after deleting one pesky detail. This Sian Roadster is no convertible — there is no roof at all, so owners can always hear the V12 engine it pa...