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Volkswagen AG is presenting a car for the urban world of tomorrow at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA): NILS. The single-seat electric vehicle reflects a new, fascinating form of minimalist mobility. The concept car - with its progressive aluminium space frame, wing doors and free-standing wheels - exhibits a high level of dynamic performance, yet travels with zero emissions and silently towards the future. The project is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development. Technically realistic and economically feasible. "NILS is a vehicle that anticipates the future. It looks as though someone has projected it back from the year 2030 to the world of today. This study melds sustainability, design and lifestyle in a new way. A high-tech vehicle from the Volkswagen company with an electric drive, but very realistically conceptualised," says Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, member of the Board of Management and Head of Development for the Volk...

Mercedes-Benz will be presenting its first electric vehicle with Range Extender at the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show in the guise of the Concept B-Class E-CELL PLUS. The combination of electric drive and petrol engine ensures excellent suitability for both everyday use and long journeys. The energy accumulator takes the form of a lithium-ion battery from Deutsche Accumotive, which enables local emission-free driving up to a range of 100 kilometres. Thanks to the additional three-cylinder petrol engine, the Concept B-Class E-CELL PLUS has a total range of up to 600 km. The concept vehicle presented at the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show provides a foretaste of the series which is to go into production in 2014. The Concept B-Class E-CELL PLUS adds an all-purpose battery-powered vehicle with Range Extender to Mercedes-Benz's range of electric vehicles. A new addition to Mercedes-Benz's portfolio of electric cars is the near-series Concept B-Class E-CELL PLUS – a ...

With the A2 concept technology study, Audi is offering a peek at electric driving in the megacities of the future. The purely electric powered A2 concept is a classic space concept: a premium vehicle for metropolitan areas featuring generous amounts of space and composed road manners. The technology study is packed full with attractive, intelligent technologies. An innovative body technology – a further development of Audi's ultra-lightweight construction – limits its weight to just 1,150 kilograms (2,535.32 lb). Audi connect technologies provide an Internet connection; the steering and brakes are purely electric (by-wire) systems. Exterior design The Audi A2 concept demonstrates the complete skill set of the Audi designers in a compact space. It is just 3,804 millimeters (149.76 in) long, 1,693 millimeters (66.65 in) wide and 1,494 millimeters (58.82 in) high; even so, it makes it makes and elegant, powerful and sporty impression on the road. As is typical for Audi, its clean appe...

The Renault Twizy comes two forms: the Twizy 45, a 5 hp version with top speed limited at 45 kph for those who don't yet have their license or have lost their license; and the "regular" model with 17 hp for a top speed of 80 kph.

Opel today formally introduced the RAK e experimental vehicle – an all-new battery-powered electric vehicle that can travel 100 kilometers (61 miles) for one euro ($1.36), weighs a third of a modern small car and can reach 120 km/h (75 mph) in less than 13 seconds. "We want to develop electric vehicles that everyone can afford," said Karl-Friedrich Stracke, Opel CEO, at the world premiere in Frankfurt. "The RAK e experimental vehicle aims to deliver pricing that even younger customers can afford. The RAK e has cool looks and production-potential." Opel's RAK e electric tandem two-seater "is a very serious concept," says General Motors Europe boss Nick Reilly, adding that the company is investigating production feasibility and believes the car could go on sale for around $10,000. The lightweight concept of the RAK e is based on a steel space-frame structure beneath a skin of conventional synthetic material. This allows a high level of safety as well as ...

Rimac Automobili has unveiled the world's first electric supercar - the Concept_One. The Concept_One is a supercar with a new propulsion concept. With a curb weight of 1650 kg, and 1088 HP, the Concept_One can reach 100 km/h from a standstill in 2.8 seconds and continue to accelerate to the limit of 305 km/h. 92kWh of energy in the Battery Modules delivers enough juice"for up to 600 km of range. Rimac Automobili developed a unique powertrain which is divided into four sub-systems, each consisting of one motor, inverter and reduction gearbox. Each of those systems drives one wheel, working completely independent one from the other. It's called All Wheel Torque Vectoring and it allows a new approach to vehicle dynamics. Mate Rimac, the CEO of Rimac Automobili says: "I believe that the electric motor is a much better machine compared to the ICE, in almost all aspects, especially for a sports car." The carbon-fibre body is designed by Adriano Mudri: „Exploring the la...

Mercedes tuner Brabus is bringing a few cars to the Frankfurt motor show, but instead of fire-breathing, gas-drinking supercars, they're electric. The company that brought us the 738-hp Brabus SL600 and the 788-hp Brabus S600 R is turning its considerable tuning powers to low-emission luxury cars--for now. Brabus Zero Emission, the alternative-drive side of the Brabus business, will have two prototypes on display at the Frankfurt show. The first is a version of the European Mercedes E220 diesel called Technology Project Hybrid. It uses two electric motors at the wheel hubs to keep fuel economy up. The second is an all-electric version of the sedan with four wheel-hub motors and 2,360 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. The Technology Project Hybrid from Brabus has a direct-injection, 2.2-liter common-rail diesel engine with two supplemental hub motors from English manufacturer Protean Electric. Those motors produce 67 hp each in normal mode and 107 hp each when the sport button is press...

Audi, having unvelied details of the A2 EV and 1+1 urban EV concept , will also be unveiling the next version of the R8 E-tron in Frankfurt this week. This latest “technology demonstrator” is expected to be quite close to the production model. With a peak output of 230 kW (313 hp) and with up to 4500 Nm (3319.03 lb-ft) torque at the wheels available from a standstill, the R8 e-tron delivers breathtaking driving performance. It catapults from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 4.8 seconds. Full details will be revealed later tomorrow night when the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show kicks off. Stay tuned for more details.

Audi have introduced Audi Wireless Charging (AWC), contactless induction charging, at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The infrastructure side, comprising a coil and an inverter (AC/AC converter), is placed on a normal parking spot and connected to the power grid. The 3.6 kW primary coil set into the plate generates a high-frequency alternating field. The charging process begins automatically when the EV drives onto the plate. The alternating magnetic field of the infrastructure side induces an alternating current across the air gap in the secondary coil, which is integrated into the vehicle. This current is rectified and fed into the vehicle’s electrical system, where it charges the battery or powers consumers such as the heater. The alternating field is only generated if the vehicle is standing over the plate and thus poses no danger to people or animals. Charging stops automatically when the battery is fully charged. The driver can interrupt charging at any time. The efficiency of AWC is co...

Japanese chemical industry giant Toray has teamed up with light-weight car designed extraordinaire Gordon Murray to create the T-Wave AR1, a concept EV two-seater to demonstrate the extreme weight savings possible with Toray’s carbon fiber composites. The concept T-Wave AR1 announce September 9th in Japan can get up to 147 KM/H and has a range of 185KM. Although it is a concept car, the existing design could be homologated for road use. The use of carbon fiber for the frame as well as more typical parts, such as exterior body panels and seats, keeps the weight down to a feather-weight 846KG. Apparently the design can be adapted to become a four-seater, which would only add 129KG. To put this in perspective, the Tesla Roadster, another 2-seat EV, tips the scales at 2690 pounds, which is 1,220KG – a massive 44% more than the T-Wave AR1. The car body is said to be 2/3 of the weight of its steel counterpart, which shows that the majority of the weight savings are in replacing the heavy ste...

Croatian company, Rimac Automobile, will be unveiling an all-new 800kW electric supercar concept called the Rimac One Concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Rimac has released a video to build anticipation. Although the body and design of the Rimac One Concept is concealed under a cover, we know that the Rimac will use four separate liquid cooled permanent magnet electric motors each with it's own reduction gearbox and inverter. Overall output is said to be 800kW, or 1088 hp with 3800 Nm of instant torque. Other claimed figures include a 0-100km/h time of just 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 305km/h. Rimac says it all weighs 1650kg and has a 92kWh battery giving a range of 600km on a single charge. If these details are accurate, it would make the Rimac one of the fastest electric cars ever made. We look forward to providing full details of the car upon its unveiling. The show starts on September 13. Rimac

Vauxhall/Opel is to reveal a striking concept with ‘production potential' at this month's Frankfurt show that could revolutionise urban transport, especially for younger drivers and those on a very tight budget. A battery-powered electric vehicle, the low, rakish concept will be highly affordable, have a 60-mile range and be capable of 75mph, making even the odd motorway trip feasible. Yet despite its aesthetic appeal, the concept will be practical, affording two seats in a tandem layout, and its light weight - around a third of a small modern car's - would allow it to be agile and fun to drive. Inspired by the Ampera, the concept has the potential to create a new class of light-weight, zero-emissions electric vehicles in the UK and Europe. More details will be revealed at the Vauxhall/Opel press conference at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 13.

With the electric-only powertrain of the A2 concept, Audi is offering another peek into the future of electric mobility at the 64th International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. The technical study features a classic, premium-standard space concept that offers plenty of room for four people. The lithium-ion battery mounted in the sandwich floor stores 31 kWh of energy, 24 kWh of which are usable. The electric motor is transversely mounted in the front of the vehicle. It delivers 85 kW (116 hp) of peak power (60 kW continuous) and 270 N·m (199 lb-ft) of torque (160 N·m (118 lb-ft continuous) to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission. The Audi technology study has a range of 200 km (124 miles) in the European driving cycle. It takes roughly 1.5 hours to fully recharge the battery with 400 volt three-phase current and approximately four hours with 230 volt household current. The show car weighs less than 1,150 kilograms (2,535 lbs). This is due primarily to its body, which featur...

Jaguar have released details of a compact, rear-wheel drive, two-seater, hybrid ahead of a full launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show on Tuesday September 13. Powered by an supercharged 3.0-litre V6 producing 380 PS (280 kW) and 332 lb ft (450 Nm) of torque with a 70 kW and 235 Nm 'Push to Pass' electric Hybrid system. Top speed of 186 mph, 0-62 mph in 4.4 seconds and 50-75 mph acceleration in 2.1 seconds with CO2 emissions of 165 g/km Under the clamshell bonnet is a next-generation supercharged V6 petrol engine producing 380 PS (280kW) and 332 lb ft (450 Nm) of torque. Already boasting a power output of 126 PS-per-litre, the performance of the C-X16 is further supplemented by a Formula 1-inspired hybrid boost system with a steering-wheel mounted button for on-demand acceleration. Integrated into the eight-speed gearbox is a motor generator which draws power from a 1.6kWh battery pack mounted behind the seats for ideal 50:50 weight distribution. Charged through a brake energy rege...

Daimler and BASF have developed a new concept vehicle that combines both companies' ideas for holistic electric mobility. The resulting vehicle is the smart forvision, which has been developed with a special emphasis on energy efficiency, temperature management and lightweight design. The smart forvision will have its world premiere at the 64th International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Both Daimler and BASF are engaged in wide-ranging research and development work aimed at getting electric cars on the road and ensuring that electric mobility becomes part of everyday life as soon as possible. Daimler is embracing the age of electric mobility: it is the first car manufacturer to have released four electric production models, and its smart fortwo electric drive is a pioneer among battery-driven vehicles. BASF, the world's largest supplier of chemical products to the automotive industry, develops sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions for the energy-efficient mobility of tomo...

The tiny, single-seat Volkswagen Nils concept will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month. It is supposed to offer sports car-like performance with zero emissions and silent propulsion. Volkswagen says the Nils concept is designed just like a Formula 1 racer. Much like Audi’s Urban Concepts, the single seat is mounted in the center of the car, the engine resides just aft of the driver, and the 17-inch wheels — wrapped in low rolling resistance tires — are placed outboard of the body. Entrance into the cabin is provided by polycarbonate gullwing doors, one placed on each side of the car.The body has few sharp angles and two small rear fins to help with aerodynamics. Never mind the F1 inspiration: the look is more akin to a narrow egg placed on wheels. The Nils is powered by a 15 kW electric motor – with a 25 kW over boost-like function – that draws juice from a 5.3-kWh lithium-ion battery. VW says that allows for a range of about 40 miles, and can be charged ...

The French car manufacturer Peugeot will officially present an MPV Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, under the HX1 name and as a 2020 model year. According to the automaker, the HX1 will be a diesel-electric plug-in hybrid and will come with the most advanced version of Peugeot’s all-wheel drive, while it will take its power from a 2.2 liter HDi unit, delivering 204 BHP and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels, while the 95 BHP electric motor, fed by a lithium-ion battery pack will drive the rear wheels. The new Peugeot Concept has an amazing fuel economy, burning only 88.2 mpg and emitting just 83g/km, while the 5008 model, with the 1.6 HDi 112 BHP unit, has a combined fuel consumption of 55.4 mpg and 134g/km of CO2 emissions. French designers haven’t been too inspired while creating this concept and the grille has been seen on the SR1 and HR1 show models, but what catches the eye best are the doors, which open in a scissor styl...

Audi has only teased us so far with sketches of its new city car duo, the Urban Concept and its open-top sister, the Urban Spider Concept. Now it's lifted the lid and issued these first photos of its 2011 Frankfurt motor show debutants. They're tiny electric runabouts, with two seats and an electric powertrain. Kind of gives us an idea of what a sub-Audi A1 city car could be in future. Tellingly, though, parent company Volkswagen is set to show a single-seat electric project at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show, as we reported this week. Stretching to 3200mm long, 1700mm wide and just 1200mm tall. These cars are a showcase for Audi's lightweight knowhow, and they make use of carbonfibre reinforced plastic for a sub-500kg kerbweight, although the exact mass has not yet been disclosed. A pair of electric motors is driven by lithium ion batteries and Audi claims a 40-mile range for their city car pair. The Audi Urban Concepts will be revealed in full at the 2011 Frankfurt motor s...

Volkswagen is poised to unveil a single-seat, ultra-frugal, zero-emission electric car. The German carmaker also plans to offer a “full-service package” for customers of its electric cars by selling them power from renewable sources, Jürgen Leohold, head of research, told the Financial Times. VW’s one-seat concept or experimental car will showcase the carmaker’s ambition to build vehicles that generate no carbon dioxide, even on a “well-to-wheel” calculation that takes into account the carbon dioxide generated by power plants. “It’s a new kind of mobility – a new vehicle concept,” Mr Leohold said. “Also, it’s physics. If you limit a car to one person, you can make it smaller, less weight, you need less energy to transport the person, and then obviously … it can be better on CO2 and fuel efficiency”. Mr Leohold said that the single-seater concept car, to be unveiled within weeks, was designed for limited purposes, such as commuting, and that most drivers would want a larger vehicle for ...