Drag a car-like contraption straight out of Minority Report that climbs down the wall from your apartment, has never seen a drop of gasoline and very probably drives by GPS in front of an audience of petrolheads and the Peugeot lion on its grille will experience a sudden role reversal. Unlike its live ancestors in the heydays of the Roman Empire which fed on Christians and gladiators in stadia, it will soon find itself on the other end of the food chain.

Except consider for a moment the utility of concept cars like this, designed by Roman Mistiuk for Peugeot. One of the main problems with the modern automobile is that the majority of them are purchased and used by people who couldn’t care less about cars. Yet they use up cubic miles of gasoline, take up all the space and create a market for annoying nanny-features.

What if the people who solve crossword puzzles behind the wheel, stuck in rush hour traffic, could have pods like the Peugeot Metromorph? They could focus their attention on 4-Down, Common British butterfly. GPS satellites could guide them to their destinations. And cars would become like horses, freed from the need to serve a vehicles of transport and transforming en masse into vehicles for fun.

Source: Yanko Design

According to UK-based Economist they can. The idea of a pneumatic hybrid system is an old one. That's because it's very simple when you break it down to the core contributors. Firstly, this is not a car that runs strictly on air, but instead utilizes a gasoline or diesel internal combustion engine mated with an electric engine-replacing, compressed air tank.

The electric motor and battery pack within a hybrid vehicle merely act as a boost mechanism when excess power is needed beyond the scope of the internal combustion engine and gains its charge through a processes such as regenerative braking. A regenerative braking system converts the kinetic energy produced while stopping the vehicle into a storeable energy form, rather than allowing it to dissipate as heat, which is the case in conventional braking systems. This energy is then re-routed into the battery packs, which in turn provides power to the electric motor that then supplements the main drive engine.

The difference with a pneumatic hybrid system is that instead of gathering kinetic energy through the brake system, it would instead be gained by utilizing the internal combustion engine. Under braking, the fuel supply would be shut off and the vehicle would slow via engine (compression) braking, but rather than lose the air that would be compressed by the pistons in the cylinders, it would then be collected. In this case the internal combustion engine acts as the air compressor for the system, then stores it in a high compression storage tank for a quick burst of additional energy when deemed necessary.

The disadvantage of this system is that compressed air has an extremely low energy density making it fairly inefficient during long strides of freeway driving, but put this system into an urban environment and now we're talking. The constant stop and go of city traffic would allow the system to quickly build up, store and dispense the compressed air in regular cycles, making the system all but invisible to the driver. The fuel consumption hovers around a 32% gain over a normal internal combustion engine according to Swiss Federal Institute of Technology professor, Lino Guzzella, and offers roughly 80% of the of the fuel savings offered by current gas-electric hybrids, but at a much lower price.

Could this be the system of the future or is it just another gimmicky foray into laboratory science that'll never see the light of day on our public road systems? Tell us what you think in the comments below. [via Economist, graphic via evconvert]

Thankfully we decided to take another peak at the documents because we found two profile views we'd missed previously. The first is of the 2010 Chrysler 300C, of which we've already seen the front 3/4 and the interior; the second is of the 2010 Dodge Charger, which we have not seen yet. We've put together a couple of comparison images for you to see the differences in both models, but we'll explain for those that think they're the same.

The 2010 Chrysler 300C remains fairly similar to the current '09 model, but has a much more pronounced forward rake to the entire vehicle stance. The front end has a much more fluid design with headlights that wrap around the front corners. The top surface of the headlights visually meets the character line on the shoulder of the car and runs towards the rear corners. The biggest and most noticeable change is the rear profile. The rear bumper is now executed without a protrusion and it appears similar to the 2010 Ford Taurus in its forward sweep.

The second in the mix is the 2010 Dodge Charger and it receives a much larger design refresh in its profile design. The most noticeable change is the lack of the rear quarter panel kick-up that previously ran along the car's shoulder line. This kick-up is now much more gradual and appears to start from the front doors and softly runs rearward executing into the deck lid surface. This change has also adjusted the form of the day light opening and it now features a much more generic form. Unlike the 2010 300C, the 2010 Charger's rear appears to have lost its forward sweep and now appears to be more upright likely increasing usable trunk space as a result. The tail lamps no longer wrap around the rear corners. The front design appears to be similar to the current model with the exception of a much smoother bumper surface that no longer protrudes from the front surface. It's likely that the 2010 Charger will receive an all-new front end design, it's hard to tell any details due to the low resolution/size of the image.

We'll keep you up to date when we receive more information regarding Chrysler's 2010 model range, until then keep on wishing, hoping and crossing your fingers that they'll make it until then.

They've introduced three concepts (and re-shown the Up!) on display at Volkswagen2028.com, the Room, Ego, and One. But frankly, the cars themselves are less interesting than the concepts behind them. Obviously, you've got the usual PR propaganda of hybrid this and low-emissions that, sprinkled with talk of alternative fuels. Then there's the futuristic seating configurations, four seats facing each other in the Room, and a single-seater pod in the One. Oh, and don't forget that the car will drive itself, which will of course completely eliminate accidents when part of an all-knowing mobiliy network in which all automobiles intelligently interact. Of course, that's assuming either that all sort of different cars will be mandated to interact on the same network, or that all cars will be from the same manufacturer. Don't be scared, VW knows what's good for you. It'll be interesting to see how close, if at all, the future will actually be to VW's vision. Call us old fashioned, but we'd rather just drive our old clunkers than be driven around by some robo-car with a fancy color-changing shell.
[Volkswagen 2028 via CarBodyDesign]

Bajaj Auto and the Renault-Nissan Alliance to build the car code- named ULC with wholesale price range starting from 2500 USD

PARIS/PUNE/TOKYO (May 12, 2008) - Mr. Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj and Mr.
Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Renault and President and CEO of Nissan, today
announced they will form a joint-venture company to develop, produce and market the car
code-named ULC with a wholesale price range starting from 2500 USD . The new joint-venture
company will be 50% owned by Bajaj Auto, 25% by Renault and 25% by Nissan.

Targeting the growing Indian new vehicle market, this ULC will be made at an all-new plant to be
constructed in Chakan (Maharashtra state) in India. Initial planned capacity will be 400,000 units
per year. Sales will start in early 2011 in India, as a primary market, with growth potential in other
emerging markets around the world.

The feasibility has already extended into Joint Product Development and the project is on line to
meet targeted performance & cost.

[Source: Renault]

All of this begs to question — where did the Synergy go? At the time, Ford partnered with GM and Chrysler in a program called "The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicle." The threesome's aim was to deliver an 80 MPG four-passenger car. The program was funded and coordinated through the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), beginning its quest for the next big thing in 1993. During the course of the project, running cars were created by each automaker; the Ford Prodigy, the GM Precept, and the Chrysler ESX-3, all of which had astonishing fuel economy and the safety features necessary to maintain road worthiness

As early as 2000, the automakers began lobbying for the end of the program, after seeing substantial improvements in the areas of low friction material, powertrain hybridization, and fuel cells. In 2001 the program was canceled and the assets were shifted to the "FreedomCAR" program, which while still in existence, has much more nebulous goals and equally unclear time lines.
Considering the 2010 Ford Taurus we may or may not have seen earlier falls into the targeted range of model years for the PNGV program and it probably rests on some level of taxpayer funded research, we wonder if it will indeed safely seat four passengers and return 80 MPG. We're not holding our breath.

It's strange and it's exceptionally Japanese, but we think it deserves some points for character. [Picasa]

Unlike most hybrids, which use a computer to decide whether or not to use electric, gas or dual power, the choice of power is up to the driver. According to the company, C02 levels and fuel consumption are better than both a Smart Fortwo and Porsche 911 Carrera S (depending on power type). The Imperia in hybrid mode also claims a faster than 911 trot to 62 mph of just 4.8 seconds in hybrid mode (just 7.1 seconds in electric only setup). Will you really be able to own one of the 50 cars the company plans to make each year? Maybe. Certain parts of the translated site make us nervous:

The sporty character of the Imperia GP is also conveyed through its deliberately elementary fittings.

Said Phaeton would likely fit somewhere between the Audi A6 and Audi A8, as opposed to a cheaper and cooler alternative to the A8. And a date for said return? Motor Authority says 2010 and we hope they're right. This actually reminds us that, in William Gibson's Spook Country, a lot of people drive the Phaeton because of its stealth luxury:

"The agency has Phaetons," he said. "Good sealth cars. Mistake them for Jettas, at a distance."

Whatever the source, it makes for an interesting bit of speculation about the future of the Mazda6 and Atenza platform. (Thanks to Matthiijs of Mazda-Madness.nl for the tip)

Any guesses as to what this really is? [The Hollywood Extra]

This type of suspension allows extra travel so that the truck can get across obstacles at a much quicker pace. The magazine claims that this truck is probably still as much as two years out, probably just long enough for people to buy their FX4 and then be forced to trade up to the FXXX4, or whatever they're going to call it. [Four Wheeler Mag via PickupTruck.com]

Best Car is guessing that the new Spec V could drop as much as 220 pounds. Horsepower is also expected to increase by as much as 40, bringing the total to a whopping 512hp. This is all just guessing at this point, but we wouldn't be surprised. [Best Car via Japanese Performance Car News]

Details are still lacking, but C&D is reporting that the Flex will debut first and the Lincoln will follow approximately a year later. No word on a name, either, so we'll just start call it some generic alphanumeric name like FLZ. [Car & Driver

The car will likely be a special edition pegged above the DBS in price and performance. Other features include carbon-composite brake discs and whatever goodies needed to keep the Aston on the road. [AutoWeek]

A C30 wagon would provide some serious competition in the young-urban-professional-dog-owning-wine-tasting-small-condo-with-garage demo, which has been flocking to the Audi A3. No word yet on who and what gets the new wagon and whether it'll be a V-series wagon or just a larger C-series. [World Car Fans]

If you look at all the photos from the site you can sort of get the idea that it has a grille, and I'm pretty sure a rear window. It looks like it'll retain the characteristic VW squared-curve C-pillar, but that's the best line you're given. Have fun figuring it out from the video and photos.

The new Forester debuts in a month for the Japanese market, but will be coming to the Detroit Auto Show for an American debut not long after. If they ever turn this thing around we'll have a fairly decent preview of the front as well. [World Car Fans]

300 Miles Per Gallon! Aptera Motors Unveils Ultra Efficient All-Electric and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles for Under $30K 300 Miles Per Gallon! Aptera Motors Unveils Ultra Efficient All-Electric and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles for Under $30KCARLSBAD, Calif.CA-APTERA

Today, Aptera officially unveiled two vehicles that could change the Future of automotive design. Aptera's Typ-1 is a radically different vehicle designed to marry advanced aerodynamics with light-weight composite technology creating an incredibly powerful, yet extremely safe vehicle that is a joy to drive — even for the most performance-minded individuals. The Aptera Typ-1 will be available in all-electric and hybrid models for less than $30,000, the electric version slated for delivery in 2008 with the hybrid model to follow.

The all-electric model has a range of 120 miles. The plug-in series hybrid has achieved more than 300 miles per gallon with a range of more than 600 miles. Both versions are loaded with safety features.

?Unveiling the Aptera Typ-1 represents a pivotal point in automotive history as we mark the transition from research and development to manufacturing the most energy efficient vehicle with a price tag to fit almost any budget,? said Co-Founder & CEO, Steve Fambro.

Through extensive fluid dynamics modeling and materials engineering, the Aptera team has created the most efficient, lowest-drag shape that can surround two occupants side-by-side, and has made safety a priority in the design. Additionally, the car features three wheels, making it eligible for most carpool lanes, even with only one person in the vehicle.

The car has "two plus one" seating offering ample room for driver and passenger while an infant seat (for newborns to age three) can be located in the middle behind them. Storage room is also generous with enough space to fit 15 bags of groceries, two full-size golf club bags or even a couple of seven foot surf boards with the infant seat removed.

The Aptera Typ-1 is loaded with safety features. They include a front crumple zone, a front end that re-directs crash energy in a frontal impact, steel and composite side and rollover protection as well as driver and passenger side airbags.

The Aptera Typ-1 is available in two models:

All Electric - This model is powered exclusively with batteries and will get someone around town for approximately 120 miles depending on driving conditions. At night, simply plug the Aptera into any standard 110-volt outlet, and in just a few hours, the vehicle will be fully charged and ready for another 120 miles.

Plug-In Hybrid - The Aptera hybrid is powered by an electric drive train but is also assisted by a fuel-efficient gasoline-powered generator, which stretches the range considerably. In typical driving, the hybrid Aptera may achieve over 300 miles per gallon, a range far beyond any other passenger vehicle available today.

The Aptera Typ-1 also offers features that typically are not found on any vehicle, much less a hybrid or all-electric model. Solar cells embedded under the roof operate an always-on climate control system, ensuring the interior never gets too hot or too cold. The dashboard display and infotainment system is controlled by an in-vehicle computer, which also controls the ?Eyes Forward? vision system. By replacing the side mirrors with embedded cameras that display a 180-degree rear view in the front of the instrument panel, Eyes Forward gives the driver complete situational awareness without taking their eyes off of the road.

Other standard features include:

* Driver and passenger side airbags
* Energy absorbing and impact deflecting passenger safety cell
* Advanced drive computer with GPS navigation, CD/MP3/DVD player, XM satellite radio
* Large rear view camera and complete vehicle diagnostic system
* LED interior and exterior lighting for maximum energy efficiency
* An RFID (Radio Frequency ID) ? an automatic identification method so a driver never has to pull out their keys to enter or start their Aptera
* USB port for powering a laptop or charging an MP3 player and other mobile devices

Fully refundable reservation deposits of $500 are now being accepted from California residents on the Aptera website (http://www.aptera.com). The company will initially deliver vehicles in Southern California, then in northern California and to other regions nationwide.

Initial response has been tremendous; validating our belief that future-minded consumers want a vehicle that is sleek, safe, eco-conscious and affordable. Through word-of-mouth alone, we?ve already received more than 400 pre-sale deposits,? added Fambro.

Aptera is backed by Idealab and Esenjay Investments with initial financing allocated to building the Typ-1 all-electric and plug-in hybrid prototypes. Aptera is currently raising additional capital to begin manufacturing.

About Aptera

Aptera, Greek for ?Wingless Flight,? delivers on its name with a radically different vehicle designed to marry advanced aerodynamics with light-weight composite technology to create an incredibly powerful, yet extremely safe vehicle that is a joy to drive. The Aptera Typ-1 will be available in all-electric and hybrid models for less than $30,000. The all-electric model has a range of about 120 miles. The plug-in series hybrid has achieved more than 300 miles per gallon with a range of more than 600 miles. Both versions are loaded with safety features. Aptera is backed by Idealab and Esenjay Petroleum and is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. www.aptera.com