Audi Sport Quattro concept

Audi have a new Sport Quattro on display at the forth coming Frankfurt IAA Motorshow. Inspired by the ever popular Sport version of the Ur-Quattro the 2013 concept might take its styling concept from the short wheel base Group B rally car but it benefits from a very modern combination of electric and petrol powerplants that offer a total of 700PS (800Nm of torque) when working together. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine develops 552PS with the electric motor providing a healthy 148PS on its own (driving range on the electric motor alone is claimed as 31 miles). Power is transmitted via an eight-speed automatic gear box with a claimed top speed of 189mph and the the 0-62 dash taking 3.7 seconds.

The Sport Quattro concept is slightly shorter than an Audi A5 Coupe, although it has a longer wheelbase, it is however slightly wider than an A5 Coupe. Many of the car's design details hark back to the original Sport Quattro with modern composite and aluminium panels keeping weight to around 1850kg.

Whilst there are no concrete plans for production just yet it is more than possible that a small production run of Sport Quattros could be ready for customers by 2016. As a range topping halo model the Sport Quattro would certainly find buyers, although the expected price of £150,000 means a production run similar to the original's 224 could be as many as Audi can sell.

2013

1984

Smart ForJoy - IAA Concept

The IAA in Frankfurt is the debut show for Smart's FourJoy concept which, according to Smart themselves, previews its new four seater (ForFour) model that is due to go on sale in late 2014.

The ForJoy offers glimpses of the new ForFour as well as traditional concept car styling. The Smart FourJoy does not have any doors nor does it have roof or tailgate glass but its silhouette and dimensions are expected to be very close to the new incarnation of the ForFour (which was dropped in 2006 because of poor sales). The ForJoy is a design study that focuses on adventure and pleasure (why else would you include two electric powered longboards??) but lurking underneath is an important model for Smart, their return to 'family' motoring. Whilst the FourJoy emphasises the traditional Smart Tridion cell (an exposed metal frame or exo-skeleton to which the body panels attach.) by using polished aluminium, the production model will use less dramatic painted steel. Expect a return to original Smart styling for the rear lights though, these are almost certain to follow the ForJoy's lead and be sculptured within the rear Tridion area.

The production version of the ForFour may well have both the electric drive line from the ForJoy and current ForTwo (55kW motor) as well as a new 900cc three-cylinder direct-injection petrol engine.

The new Smart ForFour will be built alongside the new (3rd generation) Renault Twingo Slovenia, continuing the tradition of the ForFour being a joint venture.

Volkswagen Design Vision GTI

As with every year Volkswagen chose to showcase a new Golf GTI concept at the annual GTI festival on the shores of Lake Wörthersee in Reifnitz, Austria.

Designed by Volkswagen engineers and designers the Design Vision GTI is based on the seventh-generation Golf GTI and is aimed at showing the design and power potential of the iconic hot hatch to the world of motor racing (or exceptionally fast road use). 

The concept car’s most striking features are the C-pillars and side sills which have been extended out as autonomous body elements, allowing for a substantially wider track and larger wheels. Using all the flexibility allowed by the Volkswagen Group’s MQB (Modular Transverse Matrix in English), the Design Vision GTI has a long wheelbase and short front overhangs. It shorter, wider and lower than the production Golf GTI creating a purposeful stance which is ideal for the race track, unique 20-inch wheels and ceramic brake discs further complete the motorsport pedigree.

Mechanically is where the Design Vision GTI becomes truly interesting, powered by a 3.0-litre V6 TSI engine with direct injection and turbocharger, figures of 503 PS and 560 Nm of torque are impressive. This power is channelled via a DSG gearbox to all four wheels; standstill to 62 mph takes a mere 3.9 seconds. 

Styling hasn't been ignored, exterior and interior styling is very much an enhancement of the traditional GTI values with a familiar black, red and white colour scheme, touches of honeycomb, carbon and alcantara adding familiarity to the Design Vision GTI.

Like every Wörthersee special the Design Vision GTI offers a glimpse of what is possible and (sadly) not a view of what is probable, those hoping for a 500 PS 4wd Golf 7 are going to have to make it themselves.....

VW Futura

For the 1989 IAA in Frankfurt Volkswagen gave their IRVW 4 its debut, the concept car was more commonly known to the press and public as the Futura. Designed to show what motoring in the year 2000 would be like it was received with usual mixture of hype, excitement and cynicism.
Now that we're well and truly into the 21st century it's worth looking back to see how good Volkswagen's crystal ball really was.....
A car goes nowhere without an engine and the Futura had the earliest incarnation of a VW direct injection petrol engine, the1700cc engine wouldn't be out of place in any car today - although the meagre 82PS shows how much development has been undertaken in the passing 23 years.
Electronic brake distribution and electronic power steering were also key features of the Futura; once again these are common place in the 2013 motoring world. So far the crystal ball seems to be on top form!
In 1989 a magical Park Assist system set the tongues of the motoring world wagging, after all who would want such a system and it would never work in the real world would it? Most drivers might not need the system (some certainly do!) but it's available on a selection of models and - as yet - no stories of cars running amok have surfaced. The Park Assist system also provided the Futura the benefit of parking sensors too, a feature seen on virtually every model from every manufacturer these days. Yet more successful gazing into the future by the Futura designers...
Colour digital information displays are old hat in 2013 but they were considered items of wonder in 1989, easy to understand when you think Volkswagen's Golf was still only in its mark 2 form... With an integrated Sat Nav and mobile phone system the Futura would certainly not look out of place in a dealership or on the road in 2013.
Not everything on the Futura has made it into production, gull wing doors are still exotic, white dashboards are rare, sound compensating systems haven't become common place and seats that can be transformed into child seats are only just being put into mass production. The high tech CD music system of the Futura would look sadly out of place in a current car; technology has already left the CD floundering in its wake - something the designers of the Futura were unable to foresee.
Clearly not everything on the Futura is now available throughout the Volkswagen range but all the really remarkable features (in the eyes of 1989 motorists) are readily available in 2013.
It is easy to write concept cars off as styling and PR exercises but if you look back at them not all are as worthless as they may first seem.