Nissan e-NV200 Concept

We first featured Nissan’s ambitious plan to make a black cab for the UK earlier this year, including details of a zero-emissions electric version.

Now, a year before trials of that get underway in London, we’ve been behind the wheel of the electric van it’ll be based on.

The standard Nissan cab is due in 2013, but the EV version, the e-NV200, is more interesting. The drive train is based on the Leaf, with an 80kW (108bhp) electric motor generating 280Nm of torque.

Lithium-ion batteries are stored under the floor, which allows for a traditional taxi layout: cabs will have a forward-facing three-seat bench and two rear-facing flip-down chairs. Access is excellent, thanks to the two sliding side doors – safer for pedestrians and cyclists when opened from inside – and the blue-tinted Nissan bonnet badge hides the charging socket.

Behind the wheel, the e-NV200 is similar to the Leaf. On the road there’s an audible whine which gets louder as speed increases, but acceleration is smooth and brisk. Cabbies will also be thrilled to know the taxi will have the necessary 25ft turning circle when it arrives in London.

A 100-mile range seems limited, but Nissan expects cabbies to plug in overnight, quick-charge over lunch (it’s 80 per cent charged in 30 minutes) then return to work. Whether that works in practice will be a key factor in its success.

Key specs

Price: £30,000 (est)

Engine: 80kW electric motor

Power: 108bhp

Transmission: Single-speed automatic, front-wheel drive

0-62mph: 13.0 seconds (est)

Top speed: 90mph (est)

Range: 100 miles (est)

Equipment: Air-con, sat-nav

On sale: 2014

Honda Uni Cub!

THIS IS NOT A VACUM CLEANER!

Are you tired of walking around the office? Honda thinks it has the answer. The new UNI-CUB follows on from the U3-X mobility concept shown in 2009, and features revolutionary technology from Honda’s world famous humanoid robot Asimo. 

UNI-CUB

Riders simply shift their weight to alter its speed or direction and thanks to the new wheel system, the UNI-CUB can even move diagonally or sideways to make it easier to manoeuvre around obstacles. 


U3-X

Honda says the UNI-CUB “promotes harmony between the riders and others”, as the high seating position allows them to maintain eye-level contact with other pedestrians. The hands-free controls also allow more freedom compared to the earlier U3-X, where riders held the seat to balance.

ASIMO

The device follows on from Honda’s continuing development of next-generation motability devices. It will continue testing at Japan’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation from June 2012 through to March 2013. Staff will be performing demonstrations and annual pass holders will be offered test rides.

Citroen DS9

These are the first pictures of the new Citroen DS9 – a flagship luxury car concept that has been spotted completely undisguised ahead of its debut at the Beijing Motor Show next month.

Spied on a photoshoot at the Place de la Concorde in Paris, the DS9 is charged with spearheading a new DS range specifically for China.

It follows on from the DS3 supermini and DS4 and DS5 crossovers, which have been designed for Europe. The DS9 is a large, luxurious Mercedes S-Class-sized four-door coupe.

It’s inspired by the C6-based Metropolis concept car, which was unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2010.

Inside, expect a spacious seating arrangement – wealthy Chinese often have chauffeurs and place great importance on the amount of rear legroom.

There is no word on how the DS9 will be powered, but the Metropolis concept used a 2.0-litre petrol V6 mated to an electric motor, delivering 460bhp and CO2 emissions of 70g/km.

We can expect the DS9 to offer a similar low-emission, four-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain.

The car will be built as part of Citroen’s joint venture with the Changan Automotive Group in Guangdong Province, and sold exclusively in China. There are no plans to bring it to the UK.

Mini ClubVAN?

MINI looks set to expand into the burgeoning commercial vehicle market with a new cargo hauler, following the reveal of its latest concept car.

Called the Clubvan, MINI’s new concept for the upcoming 2012 Geneva Motor Show is what you get when you take an ordinary Clubman, black out the rear windows and remove the rear seats.

MINI describes it as a compact lifestyle van for business or leisure, and you can certainly imagine small scale delivery services such as florists or pizza businesses using the cute vehicles as a promotional tool.

In total there are two seats, five doors, and a practical load area that reaches from the split rear doors right up to the partition grille behind the two seats. The totally level floor makes full use of the interior’s depth, and that allows the concept to offer more storage space than the Clubman on which it’s based.

MINI will be using the Clubvan’s Geneva appearance to gauge public interest in the vehicle, and if the production green light is given then we wouldn’t be surprised if an all-electric version is launched further down the track to lure small businesses looking to curb ever-increasing gas bills.

Note, the Clubvan is just one additional model MINI is considering. As we reported just last week, three new all-new MINIs are due by the end of the decade, potentially including, in addition to this van variant, a station wagon and sedan.

C-1, Rolling Smart Phone

Introducing the C-1, the world's first gyroscopically stabilized rolling smart phone. This vehicle combines the efficiency and freedom of a motorcycle with the safety and convenience of a car. Offering the alternated to alternatives on an exciting and safe platform, the C-1 transforms your daily commute into something to look forward to.

Your C-1 Transportation Device

Creators are keeping very quiet about many of the details of our upcoming transportation device, but they will be releasing new images, videos and specifications shortly, so stay tuned.

As they are hard at work developing this concept for production, please be patient for the future. Expect to see the C-1 in our custom show-rooms by the end of 2014.

Rekindle the Excitement

Utilizing Scandinavian Design concepts, the exterior of the C-1 is both approachable and simple, enveloping the human in subtle curves, softened volumes and lots of glass.

The overall design foundation is based on its waist-line which wraps around the vehicle's circumference, and is grounded by the swooping rocker panel: hi-lighting its unique gyroscopic components.

Discs of light glow from the wheel hubs, illustrating the electric hub motors. With design key words: "subtle", "simple", and "human", the C-1 is as happy to be seen as it is to be touched.

Human Centered Design

The C-1 was designed with you in mind. Lit Motors' human-centered approach to design made sure that the experience of sitting in such a unique transportation device is both comfortable and spacious. Through numerous mock-ups and user studies, we were able to determine how much space people want and need.

There is even enough room in this device for a friend to ride in the back for short city excursions.

Due to its numerous layers of connectivity, you can think of the C-1 as a rolling smart phone. The device will employ H2V, H2C, V2I, and V2V connectivity. For example traffic, construction, and adverse weather conditions will be transmitted to the vehicle, thus informing both you and the C-1 about the situation and advising different routes.

How the C-1 Works

Utilizing electronically controlled gyroscopes located under the floor (putting out over 1,300 lb/ft of torque), the vehicle balances at a stop and stays upright in the event of a collision. In-wheel electric motors (40 kw) provide the power and regeneration, while hub steering keeps you pointed in the right direction. With a top speed of over 120 MPH and battery packs providing 200 miles per charge, the C-1 is perfect for commuters and city dwellers alike.

Kia Track'ster

These are the latest pictures of the new Kia Track'ster – a hot hatch concept car that was the star of Kia's Chicago Motor Show stand.

The new three-door coupe points towards a dramatic addition to the Soul range, packing dramatic looks and a 247bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that drives all four wheels. Kia says the car is designed for use on the road and on racing tracks, hence its name.

The Track'ster features a distinctive white and orange paint scheme and a dramatic bodykit which makes the car around 13cm wider than the standard Soul. It includes Kia’s signature grille with an air intake trimmed in lightweight carbon fibre, sleek headlights with LEDs and a large lower grille flanked by immense LED driving lights.

The roof, complete with spoiler, is accentuated in contrasting orange. Carbon fibre side skirts are also coloured orange and incorporate rear-brake cooling ducts. 

Inside, the Track'ster carries on the aggressive styling theme with deeply bolstered orange suede-covered racing seats, mixed with grey leather for the rest of the cabin. Grey suede is used for the sport steering wheel and door panels, while the dashboard has large red turbine-style dials. A touchscreen controls the sat-nav, stereo and air-con systems. 

In the back, the rear seats have been replaced by a tray and space for a spare tyre. The idea was to make the tools and equipment necessary to keep the car performing in top condition easily accessible.

Kia says there are panels for stowing race helmets, suits and gloves. There is also a rear strut brace which incorporates a quick-release handle to allow for fast wheel changes.

Other highlights include 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 245/40 section Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tyres at the front and enormous 285/35 tyres at the rear.

Kia says the Track'ster has a 2.5cm longer wheelbase than the regular Soul – which helps to make it look even more sporty. Large 14-inch Brembo vented and cross-drilled disc brakes with six-piston calipers do the stopping at the front, while the rear discs measure 13.6-inches and have four-piston calipers.

The Track'ster has the show to match its go. Under the bonnet is a 247bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line-four cylinder which drives all four wheels through an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system and a six-speed manual gearbox with a short-throw shift. 

The concept also gets sports suspension. There are no official figures, but expect the Track'ster to do 0-60mph in under six seconds with a top speed of 145mph. 

Kia says that it has no intention to put the Track'ster into production, but insiders have hinted that with the drop-top Soul'ster likely to join the new Soul range, a three-door hot hatch won't be far behind.