Allow us to feel a little bit jealous of the guys at the Swedish M5Board. Even if they only got the 2008 BMW M3 for a mere 24 hours, they managed to fill the tank five times driving around the clock. Gustav, who wrote the article, also snapped some picturesque images of the E92 M3 in the gorgeous city of Stockholm. I visited the Swedish capital for a business trip in 2006 and it was love at first sight. The city has an unbelievable atmosphere that’s so calm and relaxed compared to other capitals that it’s almost like living a dream. Check out Gustav’s pictures at M5Board and you might see what I mean. Link: M5Board

Source: carscoop.blogspot.com

As this year’s L.A. Auto Show creeps up the entrants for the fourth annual Design Challenge have been revealed with eight mainstream carmakers vying for the title. The competition is an opportunity for designers to present their vision for the future of motoring without being limited by engineering or financial constraints, which explains why the cars look so bizarre. The winning design will be announced at next month’s show but until then click ahead to see all the entrants for this year’s challenge as well as a short description on each.

Audi Virtuea Quattro
For the year 2057 Audi has envisaged its latest model to be environmentally friendly hydrogen-powered single-seater. Its most interesting trait has got to be its holographic exterior, which allows for an infinite range of possible designs to be displayed.

GM OnStar ANT
Imagine a car that could tell how bad traffic was 3km away and then act to help optimize it. That car is GM’s ANT. Powered by three omni-directional ‘nanorb’ wheel systems, it can move in any direction and have its body panels reconfigured for optimal spatial use.

Mazda MotoNari RX
Named after a legendary Japanese warrior, this car is designed to make you feel like you’re going into battle thanks to a special driving suit you’ll need to don just to start it. Using millions of microscopic actuators, the suit makes the driver literally ‘feel the road’ with electronic stimulation to the muscles.

Honda Power Four
The ultimate carpool solution, this is really four cars in one. Up to four people can travel together in total on a journey, however once near the end the car is able to split into four individual vehicles taking each occupant to their individually desired destination.

Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow
Never again will a dent ruin your day thanks to Mercedes-Benz’s SilverFlow concept. With complete magnetic assembling, the car’s exterior can be reshaped at the click of a button on the key fob. Parking won’t be a problem either as it can easily transform into a pool of liquid metal saving time and space.

Nissan OneOne
The Nissan OneOne combines a car and pet into one uber-complicated piece of machinery that will do everything from fetching your morning paper to helping you avoid speed cameras.

Toyota Biomobile MECHA
Running on pollution drawn from the air, Toyota’s Biomobile MECHA sees transportation travelling vertically as well as horizontally. Nano-laser wheels allow it to move in all directions and sophisticated nano-technology advancements will allow it to expand and contract its body to suit the user’s immediate needs, whether it be for a city car or a even place to spend the night.

Volkswagen SlipStream
The VW SlipStream is a solar powered vehicle that stands upright in the city to reduce congestion and sleeps on the freeway to reduce drag coefficient, which should also allow it to reach speeds in excess of 250mph.

Source: www.motorauthority.com

Unique LA Concept Ahead of smart's US Launch

An interesting new concept hits Los Angeles from today, somewhat ahead of next month's LA Show. This smart new idea won't however be on a show stand near you anytime soon - but it could be right up your street. 'Bolstering' the smart's January launch into the American market will be a 'smart house' - an exclusive studio building on Abbot Kinney Boulevard - showcasing the funky smart brand to the equally-hip residents of Venice Beach, California.

The temporary new showroom, to be open until the end of January when the smart hits the market, will be showcasing the new fortwo to customers, journalists and VIPs as a car that is more than just economical, compact and safe.

"The smart house will present the world and lifestyle of a typical smart driver", says Anders Sundt Jensen, responsible for brand management at smart. "[The house] convey the intrinsic values of this unique city car, showing visitors that bigger is not always better.”

The smart house aims for the brand to build on its growing reputation for 'the arts and the pulse of the age', being associated with innovation, unconventional ways of thinking and collaboration with artists, musicians and fashion designers since its inception in 1998.

Visitors to the four-month-long space will meet four smart fortwos with test drives and sales consultation available, as well as the ability to order their new car on the spot. Prospective buyers will join over 30,000 American consumers already having made the 'smart decision'.

Press Release

Venice Beach/Los Angeles, CA. An exclusive studio building on Abbot Kinney Boulevard will be transformed into the “smart house” for four months starting October 11, 2007, serving as the springboard for the US market launch of the smart car. smart has begun preparations in the heart of the hip Venice Beach district, setting up a temporary showroom to demonstrate to customers, journalists and VIPs that the smart fortwo is much more than just an economical, compact, and safe automobile.

“The smart house will present the world and lifestyle of a typical smart driver and convey the intrinsic values of this unique city car, showing visitors that bigger is not always better,” says Anders Sundt Jensen, responsible for brand management at smart. “We are putting forward a very personalized brand image, from the interior design to the presentation of the favorite leisure activities of smart drivers and their attitudes to topics like the environment,” continues Jensen.

As well as portraying the vibe of the smart generation, the smart house will also provide product information. Prospective buyers can receive consultation, configure their own smart and take a test drive. Four smart fortwos will be on display inside the house. In the lively Venice Beach district, it will soon become clear that the smart fortwo loves cities and cities love smart – few other cars in the US are getting as much attention as the smart fortwo is right now.

Trendsetters can reserve their very own smart fortwo on the spot. And they are in good company; over 30,000 Americans have already reserved a fortwo on the company’s website. There will be a great deal of hustle and bustle in the smart house too. Events relating to the areas of environment and climate protection, music, fashion, fine arts and zeitgeist will fill the smart house from top to bottom, making it a platform for the brand’s lifestyle. The special events will include an unplugged concert by Piers Faccini, and Californian artist Joel Tauber will exhibit his works on the topic of environment and sustainability.

This project will see smart build on its growing affinity for the arts and the pulse of the age. Since 1998, smart has worked in close collaboration with musicians, fashion designers and artists. Since its inception, smart has been inseparably linked with innovation, the development of new ideas and unconventional ways of thinking. It is these principles that smart is looking to export to the US before the official sales launch in January 2008. The smart house on Abbot Kinney Boulevard 1319, Venice Beach, Los Angeles California is open from 11 October 2007 to 25 January 2008; Tuesdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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Source: www.worldcarfans.com