Auto show concept cars are often radical design studies that end up being tamed before they are produced (if they are produced at all). But the crop of concepts at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit shows plenty of promise, especially crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) like the Cadillac Provoq and Ford Explorer America, which use alternative fuel sources to improve efficiency and lower emissions. The Detroit auto show was held at the Cobo Center and open to the public January 19 to 27.
Audi R8 V12 TDI
Audi's well on its way to changing the perceptions of diesel engines with its R8 V12 TDI concept. This sports car looks and performs like a Ferrari, but averages 23 miles per gallon, roughly the same as a family sedan equipped with a V6 engine.
We think that the current R8, which has a gasoline V8 engine, is already one of the best high-end sports cars around. This latest version takes advantage of the company’s considerable expertise in using diesel technology to dominate motor sports in recent years — something no industry insider would’ve considered even remotely possible with old diesel engines.
See photos: Concept Cars Debut in Detroit
The engine in the R8 V12 TDI is based on one used in the company's race-wining 2005 R10 race car. It produces 500 hp and an off-the-charts 758 pound-feet of torque. Audi says the R8 V12 TDI can reach speeds in excess of 185 mph and can sprint to 62 miles per hour in 4.2 seconds, slightly faster than the current gasoline-powered R8.
Like all of Audi’s new diesel cars, the R8 V12 TDI concept uses the latest emissions technology to comply with federal and state laws, something the previous-generation diesel engines couldn’t do.
Visual changes to the R8 V12 TDI concept as compared to the existing R8 include trim pieces made of expensive carbon fiber, a new front bumper, a large rear spoiler, and a race-car inspired opening on the roof that channels air to the engine, mounted ahead of the rear wheels.
Cadillac CTS Coupe
It was a busy Detroit show for GM's most luxurious brand. After showing the Cadillac CTS-V sport sedan and fuel cell-equipped Provoq concept, its final unveiling had at least one seasoned observer calling it the best design at the show.
Cadillac's CTS Coupe concept struck the right chord for Mike Jackson, CEO of AutoNation, the largest automotive dealer group in the U.S. "Best design has to be the Cadillac CTS Coupe," said Jackson.
The four-seat CTS Coupe concept shares the wheelbase of its four-door namesake, but is four inches shorter, with substantially flared fenders and a more steeply raked windshield for a sleeker look. Vehicle details are limited, but the rumor mill suggests that diesel power is a possibility.
The CTS Coupe is still officially a concept, but a photo of the concept has already inadvertently made it into a dealer ad for the regular CTS, so chances of it arriving in showrooms are strong.
Cadillac Provoq
If last year’s Detroit show headliner was the Chevrolet Volt, this year belonged to the Cadillac Provoq, a midsize CUV powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and an electric motor.
The all-wheel-drive Provoq concept boasts the most technically advanced of GM’s vaunted E-Flex alternative-fuel systems. While the Volt promised a mostly (if not totally) electric driving experience for the mass market by 2010, the Provoq swaps the Volt’s internal combustion engine for a hydrogen-powered fuel cell so that its only tailpipe emission would be water.
The Provoq can only run about 20 miles on electricity alone, or about half the Volt’s predicted electric-only range. After that, the Provoq depends on a fuel cell to convert pressurized hydrogen into electricity to power the vehicle’s three electric motors for the rest of its 300-mile range. The Provoq can also be plugged into any electrical outlet to recharge the batteries, Cadillac says.
A solar panel in the roof helps power the audio and other electronic systems. Clear panels covering the wheels, flush door handles, and a front grille that only traps air when mechanical components need cooling work together to reduce wind turbulence for incremental gains in fuel efficiency.
Chrysler EcoVoyager
The new Chrysler EcoVoyager may not look like any minivan you are familiar with, but its stretched and flowing design owes a thing or two to people movers of days gone by. Its design falls somewhere between that of the family-mobile popular 10 years ago and a long-forgotten relic from the 1930s called the Stout Scarab. Somehow Chrysler has managed to take two somewhat awkward designs and fuse them into a sleek-looking car.
The real news behind the EcoVoyager is that well-deserved "Eco" prefix. It draws power from a hydrogen fuel cell, and the car's wheels are driven by an electric motor that’s powered by a lithium-ion battery to provide about 40 miles of range before the fuel cell is tapped. The motor puts out around 260 horsepower, enough to push the EcoVoyager from 0 to 60 mph in less than eight seconds. The interior feels roomier than outward appearances might suggest — especially in the back — thanks to the front wheels being pushed forward farther than normal.
Dodge ZEO
The Dodge ZEO is a muscle car with a twist — ZEO stands for "zero emissions operation." The four-passenger sport wagon is powered completely by electricity, running on a lithium-ion battery that can provide a 250-mile range between recharges. And not only does the ZEO attempt to challenge expectations in terms of what an electric car should look like, it also suggests that electricity can yield plenty of performance. Dodge says that its single electric motor can propel the ZEO to 60 mph in less than six seconds.
The ZEO's exterior design is highlighted by massive wheel arches. The windshield extends from the base of the hood and back over the rear passengers. Long and narrow side windows trail back just as far as the scissor doors. Inside, a slim center console slopes down from the windshield to give the cockpit a futuristic feel.
Ford Explorer America
Ford's new take on its popular midsize Explorer SUV is built more like a car than a truck, with a light but rigid “unibody” structure, where exterior body panels are part of the vehicle’s load-bearing structure. By dispensing with the tough “ladder frame” of previous Explorers, built to withstand heavy towing, hauling, and off-road driving, Ford is closing one chapter and opening another. This ailing automaker, known for building tough and burly trucks, is “softening” one of its best-selling models to better meet the needs of the average motorist, who rarely drives off-road or tows heavy loads.
A six-speed automatic transmission, electric power steering, and a choice of two turbocharged engines that Ford calls EcoBoost will enhance fuel efficiency.
The remarkably small but powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine produces 275 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The 3.5-liter six-cylinder boasts an estimated 340 hp and replaces a larger V8 as the top engine.
Ford says that new Explorer will be 20 to 30 percent more fuel efficient than the current Explorer V6, depending on the engine. It is set to go on sale in 2010.
Ford Verve
The Ford Verve Sedan Concept gives an idea of what the company’s smallest car will look like. It’s stylish and far from the mundane small cars that have preceded it.
“When you come late to the party, you better be best dressed,” said George Pipas, Ford North American sales analyst. Small cars, defined as “compact” and “subcompact” classes delineated by the Environmental Protection Agency, make up the largest automotive segment in the U.S., he said, and along with crossover utility vehicles, are to see the most growth in North American over the next few years.
Flamboyant interior and exterior colors, cell-phone inspired controls, and a unique rear-end design give this four-door a sleek profile and are likely motifs for the production version.
A Verve hatchback concept debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show. Ford said that both sedan and hatchback versions of the Verve will go on sale in Asia and Europe later this year. So far, only the sedan is confirmed to make it to North America by 2010.
Hummer HX
Hummer already has youngest buyers out of all the GM brands, but they are aiming for a still more youthful demographic with the HX, a rugged concept that looks like it's straight out of a truck racing video game.
"The HX concept is a chance to look at our vision of what a more fun, capable, youth-oriented design might look like," said Hummer spokesperson Nick Richards. And the design isn't just youth-oriented, it's youth-created. The HX was designed by three recent graduates from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. (Get more details about the designers and the HX here.)
Intended as direct competition for the Jeep Wrangler, the HX is meant for hardcore off-roading. Parts of the HX's body, like the exaggerated fender flares, can be removed for better maneuvering in tight spots.
The Hummer HX concept promotes fuel efficiency with its smaller size (compared to other Hummers, anyway) and E85 capability, meaning that its V6 engine can also run on fuel made of 85 percent ethanol. GM CEO Rick Wagoner's goal is to run Hummer's entire lineup on biofuel by 2010.
Jeep Renegade
Jeep had green-conscious customers in mind when it came up with the Renegade concept. Guaranteed to please die-hard Jeep fans, this sporty Wrangler-of-the-future (it still has the Wrangler's open-air cockpit and cut-out doors) is like a dune buggy equipped with one of the most advanced hybrid powertrains around.
The Renegade boasts fuel economy of more than 110 mpg thanks to a lithium-ion battery pack and Bluetec diesel engine, the latter borrowed from Mercedes. The combo permits a 400-mile range, with a 40-mile range on electricity alone.
Going along with the car’s environmentally friendly theme, the Renegade’s interior features soy-based foam seats, urethane paneling, an aluminum/silicone steering wheel, and a resin-free chassis. The instrument panel doesn’t use conventional wiring; its wireless electronics are stored in sealed units so the interior can be hosed down. And while the car has no top, it comes with a number of “lids” that can accommodate outdoor equipment such as mountain bikes or kayaks.
Land Rover LRX
The Land Rover LRX is smaller and lighter than any previous Land Rover, and if it reaches production, it may be one of the cleanest, most efficient vehicles in its class due to its turbodiesel hybrid powertrain.
Land Rover is classifying it as a "cross-coupe," and unlike some other SUVs marketed as coupes (we're looking at you, BMW X6), the LRX only has one door per side.
Other new enviro-friendly design features include an eco-mode that offers lower emissions during urban driving and interior trim made from 100 percent recycled material. The LRX interior also offers design touches like floating LCD graphics that look three-dimensional, background lighting that changes color to reflect drivetrain modes, and Apple iPhone docking capability.
Lexus LF-A Roadster
The Lexus LF-A Roadster concept is a convertible version of the LF-A Coupe concept that has been making the rounds of the auto shows over the past few years. This open-topped two-seater uses the same 10-cylinder, 500-horsepower engine as the coupe, reportedly capable of pushing the hardtop to speeds of 200 mph on the track.
The Roadster's design stays true to the latest Lexus design language, called "L-Finesse." The LF-A Roadster's front end is more aerodynamic than the coupe's, and it maintains the aggressive, low-to-the-ground stance — the highest points of the coupe and roadster stand a mere 48 inches above the ground.
The Roadster's aerodynamics are further aided by a rear wing that adjusts itself depending on the vehicle's speed. The car's backside is adorned with wrap-around taillights and grilles that serve as a styling cue and a way for the LF-A to vent heat from its rear-mounted radiators.
Lincoln MKT
The crossover SUV craze continues with the Lincoln MKT concept, a large four-seater that highlights Lincoln’s new design motif and shows off a six-cylinder turbocharged engine that promises the power of a V8 with the fuel economy of a V6.
The Lincoln MKT unveiled in Detroit puts out a whopping 415 hp, with a claimed fuel economy improvement of 20 percent over larger, conventionally powered V8s, as well as significantly more horsepower and torque than other V8s now on the market. This savings comes courtesy of Ford’s EcoBoost turbo and direct injection technology, as well as other aerodynamic and powertrain enhancements. This new V6 can run on premium gasoline or E85 ethanol-based fuel.
The MKT’s eco-friendly theme is reinforced by recycled plastic body panels, a roof that is transparent to maximize natural interior light, and carpeting made from hand-knotted banana silk fibers.
Lincoln says the MKT provides a glimpse of how the brand can combine the practicality of a full-size SUV with the appointments and performance of a modern luxury car. “We envisioned this concept as a modern grand tourer, really a Learjet of the road,” said Peter Horbury, Lincoln's executive director of design for the Americas.
Mercedes-Benz Vision GLK Freeside
This concept vehicle gives a clear picture of what the German automaker’s new SUV, it’s smallest to date, will look like. The production version that goes on sale in the fall will be called the GLK-Class and will compete with other compact SUVs like the Acura MDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Land Rover LR3.
The GLK Freeside has a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine making 170 hp. It's emissions system injects urea into the exhaust stream to neutralize nitrogen oxides, which are responsible for the black soot emitted by diesels of old. This injection process, called "AdBlue," would make this diesel engine clean enough to be sold across North America, and would even pass upcoming stricter European regulations set to take effect in 2015.
The GLK’s angular styling is certainly bold, and it's possible that some of its more radical aesthetic touches, like the multifaceted panels and huge fenders, will be toned down. On the whole, though, it seems a natural progression of the design language first introduced on the larger G-Class SUV.
Mazda Furai
The Mazda Furai looks like a race car, which makes sense since it was inspired by the company's American Le Mans Series racers. It is a continuation of Mazda’s recent "flow" design theme also seen on the Mazda Taiki concept.
The Furai (pronounced "foo-rye," and Japanese for "sound of the wind") was designed to run on ethanol fuel, providing a cleaner alternative than the vast majority of race or road cars. The goal of the Furai, according to Franz von Holzhausen, Mazda North America’s design director, was to blur the boundary between race cars and road-going supercars.
The concept starts with the underpinnings of Mazda’s American Le Mans vehicle, and uses the same 450-hp engine. The body has a closed cockpit with room for two passengers, as opposed to the one seat in the Le Mans car. A partnership with BP fuels is helping both companies test ethanol in extreme performance applications. The matte black and orange paint scheme is meant to recall Mazda’s 1991 win in the Le Mans Series.
Mazda says that it has no production plans for the Furai, even though the show car is a fully functioning vehicle that has been tested on racetracks. The company says it is strictly a design study, and that elements of its design will appear in future "flow"-inspired Mazda models.
Mitsubishi Concept-RA
Many think that the current Mitsubishi Eclipse does a lackluster job of upholding the performance legacy established by the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive, highly moddable Eclipses of decades past. But the Concept-RA that Mitsubishi unwrapped in Detroit may send enthusiasts' hearts a-fluttering yet, even if it doesn't end up replacing the Eclipse in the brand's model line.
The big news about the Concept-RA is that it's a diesel; a 2.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder makes 204 hp, which doesn't seem like that much until you consider that 310 pound-feet of torque is available, which should make it fun to drive around town. Although no fuel economy figures have been released, the Concept-RA is a "clean diesel," which means it can run on ultra-low-sulfur fuel and its bumper isn't going to turn black from soot.
The Concept-RA will emphasize high-performance driving dynamics thanks to a low curb weight and Super All Wheel Control; the latter is like combining all-wheel drive with advanced traction control and then putting the whole system on steroids. (Read more about this concept here.)
Nissan Forum
The Forum shows that Nissan still believes in minivans, even as other manufacturers (Ford and GM, for example) abandon them. In looking at this concept vehicle, it’s clear that Nissan is not dialing back on style, even if this segment is better known for its practicality, comfort, and spaciousness.
The Forum's exterior features a hidden track for the sliding doors and no support pillar in the middle of the vehicle, which allows for expansive side windows and easy access to the rear through wide-opening doors.
Created by Nissan’s design studio in La Jolla, Calif., the concept has some overtly sporty styling cues, including low-profile 20-inch tires and twin exhaust outlets. But the seven-seat interior is a different story entirely: A console-mounted microwave, “Kids Cam” monitors, a “Time Out” button that mutes second- and third-row audio/entertainment features, and revolving second-row seats are all clues to the Forum’s people-moving priorities.
Saab 9-4X BioPower
GM’s Swedish brand got its fist SUV only a few years ago. Now it will get a next-generation CUV, which the 9-4X BioPower concept previews.
The 9-4X keeps up Saab's tradition of using small turbo-charged engines to get big power. This time it’s a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine boosted to 300 hp. The “BioPower” part of its name refers to the engine being capable of running on E85, which consists of 85 percent ethanol and 15 gasoline and produces less carbon dioxide emissions, but with a 20 to 25 percent reduction in mileage compared to gasoline.
The four-seater 9-4X concept includes Saab’s advanced all-wheel-drive system, called XWD, as well as a panoramic sunroof and aircraft-inspired interior details.
Toyota A-BAT
Toyota's compact hybrid pickup truck concept is based on a car platform and, like the Ford Explorer America, shows how profoundly fuel-economy concerns are rocking the industry as even pickup trucks, formerly a bastion of bravado and beastly engines, are no longer immune to this trend.
The A-BAT is designed for people who commute from farm country to urban centers, and therefore need hauling abilities, but also want a comfortable ride and nimble handling for city driving, Toyota says. The A-BAT offers a four-foot cargo bed that expands by folding down the rear seats and the back of the cab, a feature already in use on the Chevrolet Avalanche.
Fuel economy was a top concern for this concept vehicle, so the A-BAT features Toyota’s third-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive. Solar panels mounted on top of the dashboard help charge the hybrid system’s battery pack.
If produced, the A-BAT would slot below the larger Tacoma pickup in Toyota’s lineup.
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