Bentley announces its most potent and radically styled convertible ever – the 202mph (325km/h) Supersports ‘Ice Speed Record’ convertible. This new model, limited to just 100 cars worldwide, is a celebration of the Company’s world ice speed record set two weeks ago byFinland’s four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen in a Bentley Continental Supersports convertible.

Driving the all-wheel drive, biofuel-powered 6-litre, 12-cylinder Continental Supersports convertible on the perilous frozen Baltic Sea, off the coast of Finland,  Kankkunen achieved a speed of 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h) eclipsing his own ice speed record of 199.83 mph (321.6 km/h) set in 2007 in the Continental GT.

Both the new Supersports ‘Ice Speed Record’ convertible and Juha’s record-breaking Supersports will be on display on the Bentley stand at the Geneva Show from 1st March.

Wolfgang Duerheimer, Bentley’s new Chairman and Chief Executive, said:

“Juha Kankkunen’s drive was a remarkable achievement and worthy of a very special car. The Continental Supersports ‘Ice Speed Record’ is a true driver’s car that captures that unique Bentley spirit. It offers extreme performance, agility and an extrovert personality, while retaining the refinement, handcrafted luxury and comfort our customers expect.”

Bentley’s most powerful 6 litre W12 engine with FlexFuel technology

The 6-litre, twin turbo-charged W12 engine, produces 640 PS (631 bhp / 471 kW) – the most powerful Bentley ever – and 800Nm (590lb ft) of torque. Paired with a Quickshift six-speed automatic transmission, it launches the convertible ‘Ice Speed Record’ model from 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.0s) and reaches 100mph from a standing start in only 9.5 seconds (0-160 km/h in 9.4s).

The additional engine power of the new convertible is the result of fine tuning of the engine to optimise the benefits of the new free-breathing air intake ducts, intercooler system and the exhaust system.

And true to the Bentley tradition of delivering instantly available and exhilarating performance in real world driving conditions, the ‘Ice Speed Record’ convertible will sprint from 50-75mph (80-120 km/h) in just 2.5 seconds.

In common with its Continental stable mates, the new Supersports model runs on both petrol (gasoline) or E85 bio-ethanol or any combination of the two. Pioneered in the Supersports coupe, this FlexFuel technology offers a reduction of up to 70 per cent in CO2 emissions on a well-to-wheel basis, a measure of a fuel’s net contribution to the atmosphere, not just tailpipe emissions. The on-board fuel supply system monitors the content of the fuel tank and ensures that power and torque remain constant regardless of the ratio of petrol to biofuel.

The all-wheel drive system provides outstanding traction in all weather conditions. The drive is transferred between the front and rear axles automatically via a Torsen centre differential. The standard 40 front/60 rear torque split provides optimum traction and modulation of line and attitude by ’throttle steering’ for more enthusiastic drivers.

The new exhaust system with reduced back pressure benefits gas flow while delivering a sporty baritone note under hard acceleration. On light throttle cruising, the new Supersports model remains impressively refined.

Large diameter (420 mm front, 356 mm rear), carbon ceramic brake discs, with eight-piston calipers at the front provide fade-resistant stopping power. This lightweight system also reduces unsprung and rotating mass, benefiting steering response and handling. As with all Supersports models the ‘Ice Speed Record’ is fitted as standard with Pirelli 275/35ZR20 ultra high performance tyres.

Dramatically extrovert styling

Just 100 examples of this dramatically styled new model will be built at Bentley’s Crewe factory. The Supersports ‘Ice Speed Record’ is distinguished by its vibrant and muscular styling cues that reinforce the uncompromising performance credentials of this extreme Bentley convertible.

Bentley’s designers have selected three ‘stand-out’ exterior paint colours for the new convertible: Beluga, Quartzite and, fittingly, Arctica White. These colours are complemented by a Dark Grey Metallic soft top with Bentley’s refined three-ply composite construction.

The unique appearance of the soft top is created in the outer layer by a ‘grey’ acrylic fibre with a semi-transparent ‘metallic look’ in a twill weave construction.  The car’s potent performance is further accentuated by 20” inch, 10-spoke Supersports wheels with a dark tint finish.

Contemporary luxury craftsmanship and advanced technology

The dramatic character of the four-seat Supersports ‘Ice Speed Record’ continues in the cockpit in which traditional Bentley craftsmanship and fine detailing are given an even more extrovert interpretation.

Traditional leather hides sit alongside a range of contemporary materials for a distinctly sporting style. This includes diamond-quilted Alcantara to doors, quarter panels and seat facings, and ‘soft-grip’ leather on the steering wheel and gear lever.

Unique to the ‘Ice Speed Record’ model, the high-gloss carbon fibre on the dashboard, centre console and roof panel, features a unique red weave. The theme continues with Pillar Box red piping to seats and doors, and Pillar Box Red contrast stitching to seats, door casings, steering wheel and gearshift paddles.

The front seats and floor mats also feature embroidered ‘Supersports’ legends while the signature Breitling dashboard clock also has a red accent.

The Supersports ‘Ice Speed Record’, despite its ice racing pedigree, is clearly no ‘stripped out’ racer. Its highly specified interior has the highly-advanced touchscreen infotainment system from the new Continental GT that provides rich map imagery and a 30GB on-board hard drive.

An 8-inch screen displays the car’s audio system, telephone, ride and comfort settings as well as the very latest navigation system, which uses both an in-car hard-disc drive and a DVD player to access route data. It also utilises dynamic navigation to avoid heavy traffic spots, locates destinations using geo-tagged photos from an SD memory card and is Google Maps-compatible for most markets.

The infotainment system, with 7-digit postcode entry, combines touchscreen controls and classic Bentley knurled rotary switches to offer instant usability. It is complemented by a new driver information panel (DIP) located in the main instrument cluster. The new wide-screen DIP employs TFT technology and enhanced graphics provide the driver with clear and easily accessible information about a wide range of car systems.

Mazda Motor Corporation will showcased the world premiere of its new MINAGI compact crossover SUV concept car during the press days of the 2011 Geneva motor show, which is being held from March 1-13, 2011. The Mazda MINAGI concept fully embraces Mazda’s new SKYACTIV technologies and its new design theme, KODO – Soul of Motion. The exciting MINAGI concept is the forerunner to the launch of Mazda’s upcoming next-generation products and symbolises the evolution of the Mazda brand as it begins a new era.

The Mazda MINAGI is a compact crossover SUV concept that combines Mazda’s SKYACTIV technologies — which represent the harmony between driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance — with emotional KODO design that communicates pent-up energy bursting with vitality as the vehicle nimbly navigates a sprawling urban cityscape. Fully introducing SKYACTIV technologies throughout, MINAGI is equipped with a SKYACTIV engine and SKYACTIV transmission fitted to a SKYACTIV-Body and chassis that merge comprehensive weight reduction with the assurance of ample safety features.

BMW recently announced how pleased they were with their latest design award – the ‘iF Award for Outstanding Product Design’. iF, or ‘International Forum Design’ issue a range of awards for a all kinds of industrial and product design. Based in Hannover, the organisation has a range of international judges, but, especially with the shortlist in the automotive section, the feel is distinctly Germanic. Nevertheless, the new 5-Series was given the award based on what the judges felt was an excellently designed transportation product.

Whilst we would not disagree that the new BMW 5-Series is a tidy and refined car, it seems slightly obese and lazy in its lines. It appears absent of the clarity or definition it’s immediate predecessor sported so successfully and feels a little lacking in identity.

This award is part of a long line of iF awards for BMW. In 2010 the award went to the BMW F 800 R motorcycle, while in 2009 the BMW Group bagged eight awards. 2008 saw the BMW 3 Series Convertible and the BMW G 650 Xcountry motorcycle impress the judges, and in 2007 the BMW 3 Series Coupé received the iF Gold Award as one of the 50 best competition entrants. The new 5-series has also picked up the 2011 Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany.

What BMW says:

“2011 sees a brace of 5 Series models – the new BMW 5 Series Sedan and the new BMW 5 Series Touring – presented with the coveted iF award for outstanding product design. With this internationally acclaimed prize, the International Forum Design once again pays tribute to the characterful aesthetics of BMW Group Design. Following the 2011 Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany and the 2010 red dot award, the iF label marks a further chapter in the success story of the new BMW 5 Series range.

“Since it was inaugurated in 1953, the iF Product Design Award has been a trademark distinction bestowed on exceptional design. As an internationally recognised “seal of approval”, the iF label honours outstanding design achievements and as such provides a platform for companies to submit their products for a professional assessment of their design quality by an international panel of experts. The 2011 award attracted a total of 2,756 products submitted by 1,121 participants from 43 countries, all vying for the prestigious prize. In the Transportation Design category, the BMW 5 Series Sedan and BMW 5 Series Touring managed to sway the judges. This means that both models have qualified for the contest to win the iF Gold Award, which selects the 50 “best of the best”.

“The design of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan translates the car’s attributes into an authentic formal language. The sheer presence and elegance of its design express the Sedan’s premium quality and outstanding ride comfort, while its sporty driving characteristics are reflected in dynamic bodywork lines and the overall evocation of a distinctly athletic car. The superlative aesthetics of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan are further borne out by its perfectly harmonious proportions and meticulously finished details.

“The characteristic design features of the new BMW 5 Series Touring are its highly individual proportions and surface design – an individuality that creates a dynamic and powerful ambience. The long bonnet, short overhangs, longest wheelbase in its segment, elongated lines in side view and dynamically sloping roofline lend the new BMW 5 Series Touring an elegance that is unmatched among its rivals.”

The Alfa Romeo Pandion, first shown at Geneva this year, has had it’s Hollywood debut courtesy of a new video by director Isaac J. Rosenthal.

The ad was shot in the El Mirage drylake, a positively World-famous car photography venue, and on location in LA. The Mohave desert location proved particularly harsh for the concept car, which was far from fully production ready.

“By the time we got the car it had about 5 miles on the clock. That day it was reading about 40 celcius..” said Rosenthal.

The video puts the viewer very much in the midst of the action and leads us into Alfa Romeo’s vision of the future. It’s awesome to see a concept get this kind of treatment and glamourous promotion in 2010.

This is the seventh year for the contest, and this year designers were asked to envision the “1,000 lb. car” and tasked to imagine an efficient four-passenger vehicle that maintained comfort, safety, driving performance and style while not exceeding the weight requirement.

“The Cadillac Aera concept was designed to continue the forward-thinking imagination of Cadillac’s ‘art and science’ philosophy,” explains Jussi Timonen, lead designer for the project. “It’s designed as a small city urban vehicle, but we approached this 2+2 touring coupe very much from the brand’s luxury perspective. Every detail of the Aera was conceived to minimize the vehicle’s environmental impact without sacrificing the style, comfort and attention to detail that are hallmarks of the Cadillac brand.”

The Aera is powered by compressed air via a highly efficient Pneumatic Drive System that has a 10,000-psi composite air storage tank with capacity for a 1,000-mile range. Flexible, pressurized air cells in the exterior skin, similar to material developed for the NASA Mars Rover airbags, enhance passive safety and interior comfort. The flexible polymer skin optimizes aerodynamics and functions as an ultra-lightweight alternative to conventional body panels and glass.

Aera’s body utilizes a 3D lattice, mono-formed frame that was designed to be similar to configurations found consistently in nature. The structure is formed from unique, alloy-utilizing, semi-solid freeform manufacturing, creating a naturally strong, extremely lightweight frame. All major body parts, including interior components, are essentially “grown” into a single part lattice structure.

The interior is crafted with an ultra-light recyclable polymer that allows for HVAC channels, fully adjustable seating, storage and comfort features all in one mono-form structure. Generous storage space accommodates luggage for two people.

Additional technologies include an all-in-one wheel system that combines rotary actuator propulsion, steering and suspension functions. A drive-by-wire system decreases the mass of electrical components, while vehicle-to-vehicle communication promotes active safety.

The concept was conceived in GM’s North Hollywood Advanced Design Studio by Frank Saucedo, director; Phil Tanioka, vehicle designer; Brent Wickham, concept strategist; Shawn Moghadam, layout designer, and Timonen, the project manager. Earlier this week, GM commemorated 10 years of advanced design at the L.A. area studio.

“This year’s design challenge was extremely difficult to judge because of the quality of all of the entries, but I believe that the executions that won exemplified everything that we were trying to achieve with this competition,” said Stewart Reed, chair, Transportation Design, Art Center College of Design. “The concepts that won were really spot on for their brands, which was one of many reasons for the victory.”

General Motors Director of Design Frank Saucedo and his team celebrate winning the 2010 Design Challenge as part of the Los Angeles International Auto Show Thursday, November 18, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (General Motors News Photo)

The Design Challenge is part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designers’ conference and has evolved into an integral element of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Design Los Angeles connects those working in the design industry with well-known automotive design industry leaders. Los Angeles is home to the world’s largest concentration of manufacturer design studios, representing automakers from North America, Europe and Asia. It is also the home of Art Center College of Design, one of the world’s foremost transportation design institutions where many of today’s leading automotive designers began their careers.

General Motors Designer Jussi Timonen is congratulated as his team is announced as the winner of the 2010 Design Challenge at the Los Angeles International Auto Show

The first and largest global automotive OEM design function, General Motors has a network of 10 Design Centers in eight countries around the world. More than 1,500 men and women are responsible for the design development of every GM concept and production car and truck globally. The Design Centers are located in the United States, Germany, England, Korea, China, Australia, Brazil and India, and GM Design employees represent more than 99 percent of all countries across the globe. GM Design is led by Ed Welburn, Vice President, Global Design. Welburn is only the sixth Design leader in GM history, and the first to lead all of the company’s Global Design Centers.

General Motors Director of Design Frank Saucedo (third from left), and his team celebrate winning the 2010 Design Challenge

“As the inventor of the motor car, we wanted to illustrate the vision of the perfect vehicle of the future, which is created and functions in complete symbiosis with nature. The Mercedes-Benz BIOME is a natural technology hybrid, and forms part of our earth’s ecosystem. It grows and thrives like the leaves on a tree,” according to Hubert Lee, Head of the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad. This year the competition had called for the creation of a vision of a safe and comfortable 2+2 compact car featuring good handling and a first-class design, and weighing only 1,000 lbs (around 454 kg/kerb weight).

Mercedes-Benz symbiosis – a partnership with nature

The Mercedes-Benz BIOME symbiosis vehicle is made from an ultralight material called BioFibre and tips the scales at just 875.5 lbs (around 394 kg). This material is significantly lighter than metal or plastic, yet more robust than steel. BioFibre is grown from proprietary DNA in the Mercedes-Benz nursery, where it collects energy from the sun and stores it in a liquid chemical bond called BioNectar4534.As part of this process, the vehicle is created from two seeds: The interior of theBIOME grows from the DNA in the Mercedes star on the front of the vehicle, while the exterior grows from the star on the rear. To accommodate specific customer requirements, the Mercedes star is genetically engineered in each case, and the vehicle “grows” when the genetic code is combined with the seed capsule. The wheels are grown from four separate seeds.

The Mercedes-Benz BIOME is powered by BioNectar4534, which is stored in the BioFibre material of the chassis, interior, and wheels. In addition, Mercedes-Benz has developed a technology to equip trees with special receptors which can collect the excess solar energy and turn it into BioNectar4534. This creates a direct link with nature’s energy sources and acts as an incentive to cover mobility energy requirements through more trees and at the same time maintain natural resources. Like plants, the Mercedes-Benz symbiosis vehicle also produces oxygen, thereby contributing to improving air quality. At the end of its service life, the Mercedes-Benz BIOME can be fully composted or used as building material. Thanks to the exclusive use of green technologies, the BIOME vehicle thus blends seamlessly into the ecosystem.

“The Fiat 500 has always been the right car at the right time,” says Laura Soave, manager of the Fiat brand in North America. “With the new Fiat 500, a truly exclusive car in one of the most rapidly growing segments in North America is being introduced. It offers prestigious Italian design, value and efficiency, all smartly calibrated for our market.

“The Fiat 500 satisfies the new generations of Americans who want a captivating, customised, ecologically sustainable and technologically advanced vehicle that reflects their image. Like its historic predecessor, the new Fiat 500 redefines the concept of transportation and gives a new sense to expression and individual opportunities.

“At a time when America is returning to simplicity with renewed attention focused on the environment, our new car identifies with the current minimalist bent and offers an advanced and eco-sustainable technology enveloped by an aura of top quality, precision and style.”

Produced in Mexico and with a starting price of $15,500 (£9,750), this alluring segment A four seater ensures a driving experience and sensations that are unparalleled owing to its ideal size for the city, thrilling driving dynamics, brand-new 1.4 litre MultiAir engine, innovative Blue&Me hands-free communication system and seven airbags supplied as standard (two in front, two window-bags, two side bags and one for protecting the knees), not to mention the reactive head restraints that activate in case of shunting accidents. This package is further perfected with high quality characteristics calibrated for the U.S. market, including a brand-new six-speed automatic transmission.

Comprehensive adaptation for the North American market

Comprehensively adapted for the roads of North America, the Fiat 500 boasts contemporary design, excellent finish, and ideal proportions for moving about town. Specifically, some of the major adaptations for the USA are:

• body structure redesigned to increase crash resistance;
• suspension modified for the USA market to simultaneously maintain the Fiat 500′s agility and ensure that its passenger compartment is comfortable and quiet during long journeys;
• more than 20 specific modifications/additions to the body components to reduce noise, vibrations and harshness (NVH);
• new anti-lock braking system (ABS) with front brake callipers redesigned for optimum performance;
• fuel tank increased to 10.5 gallons;
• heating and cooling system redesigned for climate extremes;
• driver and front passenger seats redesigned with a new armrest and new cushions to improve comfort over long distances;
• new front seats fitted with the Easy Entry system;
• new steering wheel controls and steering effort calibration optimised to increase directional stability at highway speeds;
• new high quality BOSE® Energy Efficient Series audio system with six speakers and subwoofer.

An innovative power unit with a view to sustainable mobility

Adapted to the needs of American customers, the Fiat 500 is equipped with a new four cylinder in- line 1.4-litre engine boasting innovative MultiAir technology developed and patented by FPT − Fiat Powertrain Technologies − that assures excellent performance in terms of power, fuel consumption, quality and precision.

MultiAir technology reduces fuel consumption and increases power efficiency, both by 10%, and at the same time guarantees 10% less CO₂ emissions compared to similar engines that do not have this system. This technology won the Best of What’s New in 2010 prize awarded by Popular Science magazine. This honour acknowledges advanced products and technologies that represent a significant leap forward in their
categories. The engine is perfectly calibrated to the Fiat 500, supplying 101 HP (75 kW) at 6500 rpm and torque of 133 Nm at 4000 rpm.

The 1.4 MultiAir can be combined with a choice of two sturdy, reliable and sophisticated transmissions for the North American market. They have been designed exclusively to offer greater efficiency and more enjoyable driving. In particular, a new six-speed automatic transmission ensures fluid gear shifts and considerable savings in fuel costs. For a more exciting driving style, the Auto Stick function allows the gears to be shifted manually. When selecting the Sport mode by pressing a button on the instrument panel, the transmission gear shift programme and steering response are automatically re-calibrated to achieve even sportier driving dynamics.

The second gearbox – a five-speed manual − is fitted with new transmission ratios for the American market, offering lower fuel consumption and increased acceleration. This transmission offers, as standard equipment, a new self-adjusting hydraulic clutch that makes it possible to always exert the same force on the pedal for the entire useful life of the clutch, thus guaranteeing virtually maintenance-free operation. When the Sport mode is selected with the manual gearbox, the throttle and steering response is re-calibrated to achieve sportier driving dynamics.

Volvo believe they can bring you this very vehicle. During Los Angeles Auto Show a scale model of this car – Volvo Air Motion – will be on display, participating in the Design Challenge Competition.

Tipping the scales at under 1,000lbs, the Volvo Air Motion Concept is designed like a clam shell and sculpted from ultra light carbon fibre. Minimising weight and complexity, while maximising driving enjoyment, is the philosophy behind this vehicle. Thousands fewer components are employed than in a traditional car thanks to the powerful yet simple compressed air motors that replace a heavy internal combustion engine. The motors cool down under load rather than heat up, thus removing the need for heavy cooling systems. An integrated approach to designing the chassis, interior and suspension also contribute significantly.

To compress the air needed for the centrally mounted air tank, Air Replenishment Sites are used. Powered by air turbines floating 1,000ft in the air they harness the power of the wind and convert it to electricity to provide the compression.

Aimed at the driving enthusiast, by a company synonymous with safety and environmental care, the Volvo Air Motion demonstrates the beauty and purity of Scandinavian design and delivers a guilt free, raw driving experience.

A 1/4 scale model will be displayed in the display area of the concourse that connects the South and West Halls at LA Auto Show. It will be on display during all press and public days. Press days Nov. 17-18 Public Days Nov. 19-28. Volvo Air Motion has been developed at Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center (VMCC) that opened in 1986. VMCC is situated in Camarillo, California. VMCC Air Motion Team: Chris Benjamin, Dean Bakker, Steve Goodrich, Bjorn Wessman, Doug Frasher, Dean Shaw and Geza Loczi.

The LA Auto Show Design Challenge

Each year for the past seven years, a topical theme is chosen and the major Southern California automotive design studios are invited to compete in the Design Challenge. For the first time studios from Germany and Japan will join the competition adding an international dimension to the contest. The highly anticipated challenge allows studios to flex their creativity and explore new ideas in automotive design.

The theme this year addresses society’s shift toward minimizing consumption of the earth’s resources. The objective is to envision an efficient, light-weight, four passenger vehicle (not to exceed 1,000 lbs.), that is both comfortable and safe, while delivering satisfactory driving performance without sacrificing the styling consumers demand.

Hydra Design Labs , Southern California’s newest Automotive Design Studio is comprised of Jon Hull, Mike Desmond, Gary Ragle, and Chris Schuttera. Together they have worked on over 25 concept vehicles and over 20 production cars.

Hydra Design Labs’ focus is to provide all design services needed to take the clients project from ‘ideation to fabrication.’ In addition to their experience designing automotive exteriors and interiors, motorcycles, and products, Hydra also offers full CAD services, reverse engineering including laser scanning, prototyping, and manufacturing.

Jon Hull, President and one of the designers of Hydra Design Labs is very optimistic about the new studio saying “We’ve put together a unique studio in terms of talent, an all-star team of designers where each member is strong enough to run a studio by themselves.” According to Hull, this opens up new possibilities in terms of running projects. “Each designer could run an entire project, or collaborating together they could provide a devastating amount of talent.”

Hydra Design Labs takes its name from Lernaean Hydra the mythical creature, and like its namesake is also a multi-headed beast. The designers were hand picked to form a new kind of design studio, each designer has worked on both production programs and concept cars, designing both exteriors and interiors. Individually each designer can stand alone, running an entire project from ideation to manufacturing. But bring the designers together and the full force of the studio can be felt by having all the designers collaborate on one project.

Hydra’s design team has an arsenal of skills ready to attack any project. Their designers cover many different aspects of vehicle design including concept and production cars, custom cars, eco-friendly vehicles, motorcycles, and movie concepts.

Mike Desmond, the former Design Director at West Coast Choppers, not only brings his experience as a professional automotive designer, but his motorcycle design skills as well.

Gary Ragle has worked as a car designer in California, Japan, and Detroit. Gary has designed numerous concept and production vehicles and his ability to distill design to its essence while always bringing something new and fresh to the table is a great strength he brings to the team.

Chris Schuttera has worked for several automotive design houses, and has also designed airplane interiors. Chris’ knowledge of interior design and ability to rapidly develop themes for even the most complex design challenge is unparalleled in the industry.

The design team was put together by Jon Hull who has had over 14 years experience as a professional automotive designer. He has worked on both exteriors and interiors for concept cars and production vehicles and is also a CAD specialist with a background in plastics engineering. “I feel very excited to be leading such a powerful team,” says Hull, “and can’t wait to show the design community what we are capable of.”

Cov graduate (1999) Mark Fetherston talks about the design of the SLS, having built up to it over 11 years at Mercedes. Inspirations include fighter aircraft, sharks & cats.