10 top concept cars at the New York Auto Show

[Holmes]

The Volkswagen E-Bugster is among the concept cars being shown at the 2012 New York Auto Show, which opens to the public today and runs through April 15. The E-Bugster is a two-seater convertible concept that blends Beetle styling with zero-emissions driving. The E-Bugster has an electric motor with 114 horsepower that enables the car to go more than 100 miles between charges. The battery can be recharged via a plug interface located underneath the hood’s VW logo and can accommodate all three types of available chargers. Click on the next slide to see more of the concept cars on display at the auto show.

The Cadillac Ciel concept is a four-seater grand-touring convertible, which Cadillac calls a modern interpretation of luxury. It has a twin turbo-charged version of the 3.6-liter Direct Injection V-6 engine, paired with a hybrid system using lithium-ion battery technology. The doors are French-style, with the rear doors hinged at the rear.

Kia’s GT four-door sports sedan concept is powered by a 3.3-liter V6 engine with 395 horsepower coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The front and rear-hinged back doors of the GT open slightly upward to ensure that getting in and out is easy, and the cabin provides comfortable seating for four, assisted by the concept’s unusually long wheelbase of 112.6 inches and overall length of 184.6 inches.

The Acura NSX Concept uses lightweight materials and a powerful midmounted next-generation VTEC V-6 engine with direct-injection works in concert with a dual clutch transmission with built-in electric motor to create supercar acceleration while offering outstanding efficiency. It also employs several new technologies for Acura, including application of Acura’s new Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive hybrid system.

The new Lincoln MKZ Concept’s profile is dominated by a long, sweeping roofline that allows the design to break away from the traditional sedan three-box shape. A panoramic glass roof that runs from the windshield to the top of the backlight is a fixed-glass expanse extending to the side roof rails of the cabin. The interior has innovative features that include push-button transmission gear selection, an open, tiered center console and liquid crystal instrumentation.

The Chevrolet Code 130R is a four-seat coupe with a simple upright profile that features performance-inspired styling and rear-wheel drive. Code 130R’s 1.4L Ecotec turbocharged DOHC I-4 is tuned to work in tandem with eAssist technology that aids fuel economy by shutting off the engine at stops, recapturing braking energy and smoothing torque during acceleration. The company says this concept takes automotive electrification to the next level and balances turbocharged performance with fuel economy.

Another entry from Chevrolet, the Tru 140S is powered by a 1.4L Ecotec turbocharged DOHC I-4 with start-stop technology. This is a front-wheel-drive “affordable exotic” three-door, four-seat sporty coupe. The manufacturer says the Tru 140S, to be shown in matte white, is designed to look confident, exotic, expensive and fast.

10 top concept cars at the New York Auto Show - Slide Show - MarketWatch

 

[Holmes]

Land Rover’s DC100 (shown) and DC100 Sport concepts are design studies for the iconic Defender, which is due for replacement in 2015. Land Rover’s ambition is to create an all new Defender for a global market that remains absolutely faithful to its original DNA: tough, versatile, durable and capable. Both models include the next generation of Land Rover’s Terrain Response system, optimizing the car for many conditions without driver pre-selection. In addition, a new Terrain-i system creates an intelligent map of the topography in front of the car and displays it as a 3D visualization.

The Lexus LF-LC concept is a sleek Hybrid 2+2 Sport Coupe with a glass roof that enhances driver visibility while adding to the sleek lines of the car. Inside, the driver is enveloped by scooped side panels and a high, curved console that incorporates a remote touch-screen device that allows the driver to comfortably operate controls without shifting position or altering line-of-sight. WSJ.com’s Driver’s Seat blog reported from the Detroit show in January that the car’s styling highlights include a lily-stem motif interior cockpit.

The Toyota NS4 advanced plug-in hybrid is a new midsized concept for potential global market introduction by 2015. NS4 uses an advanced next-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive plug-in system featuring reductions in component size and weight with improved overall fuel economy, better acceleration and longer all-electric range, while maintaining a short charge time. The NS4 also features Human-Machine Interface (HMI) which provides a user interface built around a multitouch screen with the look and feel of a smartphone. The system is even capable of “learning” driver preferences and habits to anticipate driver responses in specific environments and situations, according to Toyota. Smart Money’s Kelli B. Grant reports from New York that a Toyota spokesman said the vehicle may be available for a global debut by 2015. The details, the spokesman said, are “probably deliberately vague.”