Maserati Quattroporte 2030: A 1970s Concept...from the Future

The Maserati Quattroporte 2030 Concept is Yaroslav Chumachenko's vision of where Maserati's large sedan could be design-wise should we end up in the world of Minority Report and Tom Cruise is knocking at your door for that crime you're about to commit.

Chumachenko, a 25-year old Ukrainian designer, drew inspiration from dinosaur skeletons, zeppelins, and the Maserati Birdcage to create a car that is futuristic and unique: its modular platform would allow engineers to replace the car's various systems as they evolve and the panels would be uniquely customizable for each customer (in theory).

Its curvaceous exterior body panels use "Stereolithography additive manufacturing technology", the benefits of which are a quick formation process and the ability to adapt to any customer's request, while the four doors - larger front units and smaller rears - can actually fuse magnetically to become two larger doors (or, conversely, simply open as smaller front doors and leave the rear doors in position).

Beneath its body panels, the Quattroporte 2030 has a backbone consisting of the engine and transmission (its "vertebrae"), around which is a rib cage that functions as structural reinforcement and protective bracing.

This is definitely a concept that would most definitely be welcome on the show circuit, hearkening back to the long overhang-wearing pods of the 70's. Something like this would be much more entertaining to view than these "concepts" companies release purely as a means of gauging public reaction to a production car.

By Phil Alex

Images: Yaroslav Chumachenko , Via: CBD

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Sydney Show Subaru Forester S-Edition Study Hints at Sportier Production Model

At the 2010 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, Subaru unveiled the Forester S-Edition, a concept study that points to a new Forester variant for 2011. Built on the existing turbocharged Forester XT, the S-Edition produces an additional 32 hp and 20 lb ft (24 kw and 27 Nm) over the Australian market XT's 227 hp and 236 lb ft (169 kw and 320 Nm) lifting the 2.5-liter boxer engine's output to 259-horsepower.

A flappy-paddle 5sp automatic gearbox, revised sports suspension and Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) all-wheel drive round out the mechanical package, whilst new styling and comfort features including STI sourced 17-inch alloys, Alcantara interior trim and drilled alloy pedals help further differentiate the S-Edition from the XT.

Subaru Australia's Managing Director is quite pleased with the Forester S-Edition concept: "We're delighted and honoured that Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) have chosen Sydney for the worldwide unveil of this Forester concept. It points towards an exciting development in our Forester range early next year." he said.

At the time of writing, the Forester is Australia's best selling compact sports utility vehicle, with its major rival - Toyota's RAV4 - trailing close behind. Carscoop will have more information on the possible production model variant of the S-Edition study as we get it.

By Tristan Hankins

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Disney's Magic Highway USA is a Future that Never was

Ah, highway motoring in the 21st century: the epitome of fast, safe and comfortable transportation for the masses. Where there are rarely more than half a dozen cars on the road and the family relaxes with a board game while their car automatically whisks them to work or to the shops.

The 21st century: where traffic accidents are dealt with by airborne units that are police, fire and ambulance all rolled into one and road works cause only minimal delays thanks to prefabricated components and enormous road laying machines.

And what would 21st century motoring be without our cantilevered sky ways, non-stop freight ways and undersea transcontinental highways, all of which are as commonplace today as trains were seventy years ago?

Don't worry; I haven't gone off my rocker. This is the 21st century motoring gospel according to "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color", a television program produced from 1954 to 1990 and hosted by Old Man Disney himself up until 1967. This particular segment is called, "Magic-Highway USA" and aired in 1958.

If you hadn't already guessed, this segment is looking at the future of personal motoring. Let's start with the things they got right:

Automated traffic announcements are becoming more and more prevalent. Satellite navigation and rear view cameras, once the realm of pure fantasy, are standard or optional on almost all cars these days. And there are BMWs that can read speed limits off of signs.

Bus rapid transit - increasingly common in major cities - emulates Disney's proposed freight ways, while undersea tunnels such as the one underneath Tokyo Bay have been around for decades. And the modern RV / motorhome has all the comforts of home.

Of course, there are some things the filmmakers got tragically wrong:

The tubular, air conditioned highways and the "sun powered electro suspension car" are two things we are likely to never see. It is here we move away from plausibility and into Ford Nucleon territory. Speaking of which, whatever happened to the atomic car?

By Tristan Hankins

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IDECORE's Alfa Romeo Monza V8 Concept [with Video]

This is IDECORE's (an acronym for "ideas, concepts, relationships") Alfa Romeo Monza V8,a new digital concept in honor of the Italian firm's centennial celebration. IDECORE, which bills itself as "independent designers and modelers", sees this model as an Executive Sport 2+2 with a next-gen Multiair V8 driving the rear wheels.

The car would measure 4.8 meters long, similar to BMW's current 6-Series. From the looks of it, this could also provide Alfa with a regular-production flagship coupe in place of its beautiful and very limited halo car, the 8C Competizione.

While Alfa has been reinventing itself lately with attractive small cars targeting younger buyers, a slick full-size coupe could very well be in the pipeline, especially since Alfa is rumored to be using Chrysler's large RWD platform for its long-delayed 169 sedan.

Since Alfa Romeo hopes to one day make a return to the US market as a BMW competitor, a car like this is something that can't be ruled out. Vent and rave in the comments below.

By Phil Alex

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Mercedes-Benz Shows C63 AMG (Not-Much-of-a) Concept 358 in Sydney

After a two year absence from the Australian International Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz is returning to this year's edition of the event that takes place in Sydney from October 15th to 24th with a [supposedly] special C63 AMG. Called the Concept 358, the show car was co designed by Mercedes-Benz Australia and built by AMG.

The Stuttgart-based marque claims it's the only C63 AMG in the world to be painted in designo Pearl Orange paint from the AMG factory in Affalterbach. Bright orange paintwork aside, the Concept 358 features an AMG Performance Package Plus which lifts the 6.2-liter V8 engine's output from 336 kW (457-hp) to 358 kW (480-hp).

Other parts included in the Performance Package Plus are unique 19-inch multi spoke alloy wheels in black, KEYLESS-GO and extended designo leather appointments in the cabin.

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Holden EFIJY Concept to Headline First Motorclassica Concours d’Elegance in Melbourne, Australia

Five years old and still able to turn heads, Holden's EFIJY concept will take pride of place at the first international Motorclassica Concours d'Elegance and Classic Motorshow in Melbourne, Australia later this month.

The stunning [driveable] concept car, which was first shown at the 2005 Sydney Motor Show and features a 489 kw (656 hp) supercharged 6.0-liter V8, Chevrolet Corvette underbody, a 'Soprano Purple' paint job and fan-cooled LED headlamps.

EFIJY's creator Richard Ferlazzo took his inspiration from the 1953 FJ Holden and hot rods of the 1930s. He is now the Chief Designer at Holden.

"We're certainly honored to have EFIJY displayed in its home city among some of the world's most stunning cars." he said.

The slick looking concept vehicle has picked up a raft of awards including South East Automotive Media Organization's 2007 North American Concept Car of the Year and Hot Rod magazine's Hot Rod of the Year. The latter described it as, "probably the most beautiful concept car ever".

The Motorclassica event will take place in the Royal Exhibition Buildings at Melbourne's Carlton Gardens from the 22nd to the 24th of October.

By Tristan Hankins

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