Thunder Power
The 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show is currently underway. It is now the meeting place for the who’s who of the global automobile industry and it here that car manufacturers like to pull out all stops to get attention. Well, we spotted some pretty interesting car concepts at this year’s show till now. Here’s a look at the four that made our list.
Thunder Power
Enter the wormhole or so says the face on the Thunder EV Concept sedan. This white piece of metal is Taiwan’s answer to the Tesla Model S. It has been styled by Italian design house, Zagato. Though we are not impressed by this vent-like design, if the design house was aiming for alien-like appearance then we got to hand it to them. The company is planning to put it on sale in Europe by the end of 2017.
Fast Facts:
Specs: This Thunder Power Sedan is a rear-wheel-drive four-door that comes with either a 308- or 429-horsepower setup.
Range: On a full charge, the Thunder Power is said to have a range of just over 400 miles. If you give it a quick 30-minute charge it can have a range of around 186 miles.
Limouzine Smart MadeForSix
This was not on the stands but was seen on the sidelines. German tuner Limouzine is responsible for the MadeforSix. It is based on the previous Smart ForTwo. Though it is usually seen in its Lilliputian avatar, this modified one looks more like a sausage dog on wheels. It boasts of a wheelbase that has been stretched by nearly 110 inches and a newly added second rear axle. The whole taffy-pulled look of the car is complemented by a set of black multi-spoke alloy wheels, tinted windows, a roof-mounted spoiler, and a registration number which begins with the letters ‘LOLZ’(someone there definitely has a good sense of humour).
Fast Facts:
Cabin talk: A single gullwing door on the passenger side gives the occupants access to the cockpit, which is fully decked-out with a pair of leather-upholstered bench seats, TVs, LED ambient lighting, a champagne bar, several cup holders and a high-end sound system.
Powered by: Power comes from a rear-mounted engine that generates about 120 horsepower.
Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA
Aptly described as from the future, this self-driving silver-wrapped concept is one of the best examples of automotive technology. The study switches automatically from design mode to aerodynamic mode when the vehicle reaches a speed of 80 km/h, whereby numerous aerodynamics measures alter the shape of the vehicle. The vehicle interprets classic sports car proportions in a modern vein: the long bonnet flows aerodynamically into the compact, set-back greenhouse, whose roof slopes down elegantly towards the rear, ending in an airflow break-away edge.
Fast Facts:
Cabin talk: The steering wheel incorporates touch-based operating functions, offering great functionality in the most compact dimensions as a study in perfect ergonomics: OFN (Optical Finger Navigation) buttons, enable the driver to scroll through the instrument cluster menus. The interior combines stylish sportiness with modern luxury. It continues the design line of the S-Class and S-Class Coupé while providing an idea of what the interior of a business saloon might look like in the near future.
Powered by: The concept car is powered by a petrol/electric plug-in hybrid drive with a total output of 205 kW (279 hp). This provides it with a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited). CO2 emissions and electric range depend on the mode in which the vehicle is tested: in aerodynamic mode the “Concept IAA” manages an all-electric range of 66 kilometres and emits 28 g CO2 per km. In design mode the range stands at 62 km and CO2 emissions at 31 g per km.
Peugeot Fractal
The Urban Electric Coupe from Peugeot gets a removable roof to make it look like an open-top. The concept highlights the use of exterior lighting, suicide doors, an open interior with a copper trim and a high-end audio system. Exterior sound has been added in order to alert pedestrians of the Fractal’s presence, a requirement of all electric vehicles from 2019 onwards.
Fast Facts:
Cabin talk: This is where 3D Printing meets automotive technology. According to Peugeot, 80 per cent of the materials used in the interior trim has come from the relatively new technology. A 7.7inch AMOLED screen is situated within the centre console, and a holographic head-up display sits on the windscreen in front of the driver, with touchpads on the steering wheel to control the Fractal functions.
Powered by : The Fractal gets a 201bhp electric motor with a 280-mile range under its hood.
