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

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Paris Show: Maserati's 300+ km/h GranTurismo MC Stradale

As we told you in our previous post, the GranTurismo MC Stradale is a racier, sportier version of Maser's big coupe (think the GT3, but from Maserati). According to the Italian sports / luxury carmaker, the MC Stradale didn't budge an inch when it came to comprises in return for performance; it handles better without losing ride quality (that has yet to be tested), it's more powerful without sacrificing fuel economy, and it plants itself harder without adding any drag.

Under the hood is a Ferrari-sourced 4.7-liter V8 that develops 450 horsepower and 510 Nm / 376 lb ft of torque. The GT racer was also put on a diet, shedding 110 kilograms in the process (it now weigh 1,770 kg and keeps its 48/52 weight distribution).

According to the Italians, the MC Stradale is the first normal-production, road-going Maserati to break the 300km/h [186 mph] barrier.

The car routs power through an "electro-actuated" transmission that shifts in a scant 60 milliseconds; launched optimally, the car should hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.6 seconds.

Inside, the car gets a "simplified" dash layout, loses the rear seats, and picks up some racing buckets (as well as an optional roll cage and 4-point harnesses). Also, besides having an "Auto" and "Sport" mode, there's the first-ever "Race" mode found in a road-going Maserati.

Back on the outside, there are a bunch of new little add-ons for performance, weight reduction, and just plain good looks. All-new parts included in the exterior modifications are: a new front splitter, front and rear bumpers, front guard panels, side sills, hood, and exhaust tips.

As long as you don't live in the US, Canada, or Korea, you might be able to spot one on the road after it goes on sale next February.

By Phil Alex

____________________________________________________________________

Burberry Gets a Black Eye by Chavs in the UK.

Some time ago I posted my first Burberry Art Car, but last night I discovered that this was just the tip of the British iceberg. In the UK Chavs is a phenomenon, youths of ill-repute, often football hooligans, who dress in designer brands, and Burberry being the particular brand of choice. According to a BBC article, the Burberry brand became a victim of its own success when Chavs co-opted the brand and now is associated with people who do bad stuff and many even think that Burberry is be worn by the person who mugged them. Fortunately sales of Burberry outside the UK did very well in spite of the "Chav" stigma.

So for your Art Car pleasure I present the most complete line up of Burberry art cars and other Berberry gear associated with the "chav" lifestyle now in full swing in the UK.