Future Cars, Concept Cars, & Future Vehicle Photos

Tuesday, 12 July 2011

2011 Ford Explorers

Ford unveiled its brand-new 2011 Explorer earlier this year and is hoping the serious redesign will help boost the SUV's sales. One way in which the company hopes to show the vehicle's potential is with three customized Explorers it will show at SEMA.
Funkmaster Flex 2011 Ford Explorer
"It's so new and reinvented, and the styling is standout from the inside out," Craig Patterson, marketing manager for the new Explorer, said. "Explorer is the perfect choice for people to accessorize. Those who want to customize it are starting from a great base that is extremely well received, and that's where the attraction lies."
Ford is certainly pulling out the stops to give people ideas on how to accessorize the new Explorer as no less than three different SUVs will be on Ford's SEMA stand. One of those Explorers, with its 24-inch, three-piece, billet aluminum wheels and blacked-out lower trim, is designed to appeal to the urban crowd. The SUV is done by Ford's partner in crime Funkmaster Flex along with Team Baurtwell. The interior has also been modified with a Katzkin two-tone leather interior and high-end sound system.
CGS Performance Parts 2011 Ford Explorer
The second Explorer to be shown at SEMA is done by Galpin Auto Sports and takes the Explorer's luxury to a new level "that even James Bond would enjoy." It's no surprise that Ford mentions James Bond as that was GAS's inspiration in creating the car. The Explorer is done in a custom silver exterior color with custom lights and 24-inch wheels. Special care was also taken in the interior with a suede and leather headliner and matching seats. An iPad has also been added as rear-seat entertainment.

2011 Ford Explorers

2011 Ford Explorers

2011 Fiat 500 GT

Fiat and Chrysler may be one big happy family now, but the merger is bound to produce some overlap. If all of it is as cool as the 500 GT Concept by Mopar Underground that turned up at the SEMA Show today, we're all for it. Realizing that enthusiastic 500 buyers are likely going to want ways to customize their little cars, Mopar went ahead and came up with some ideas you may see at the dealer in the future.
Though Mopar is known for some serious performance, they restrained themselves a bit on the 500 GT. The 1.4-liter MultiAir engine and five-speed manual transmission are apparently untouched, though Mopar did fix up a custom dual-exit exhaust. And while they did come up a lot of parts of their own, Mopar also borrowed a set of lowering springs from Abarth to give the car a mean stance on its Mopar Underground-designed 18-inch Alcoa forged aluminum wheels.
With the handling handled, attention was turned to appearances. After fitting a new front spoiler, the Mopar guys quietly ditched the stock turn signals and used their mounting holes for brake cooling ducts. Then they pulled out the fenders, fitted a rear spoiler a diffuser and painted the whole thing "Dark Thunderbolt" grey with red accents. Inside, they fitted piano-black trim, a slick-looking shifter and custom Katzkin seats, red for the driver and black for everyone else.

2011 Fiat 500 GT

2011 Dodge RedLine Charger

The 2011 Dodge Charger finally made its grand debut late Tuesday at the 2010 SEMA Show as the Redline Charger by Mopar Underground. Though thinly disguised with Mopar performance and dress-up parts, it's the real, production-spec Charger underneath, and it promises to be a good one.
Some of the biggest news for the new Charger is under its hood. Dodge has confirmed to Motor Trend that the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 will produce 305 horsepower in the Charger and Challenger. Though it and the carryover 370-horsepower 5.7-liter V-8 will only be available with the old five-speed automatic transmission at first, an eight-speed automatic is on the way. Interestingly enough, the Redline Charger is equipped with a prototype flat-bottomed steering wheel with paddle shifters. When pressed about the possibility of getting paddles on the production car, the Dodge folks would only say "wait and see."
Though it may look rather similar to the old Charger in pictures, up close you can tell just how different it is. In fact, Dodge says the only thing really carried over from the old car was the floor pan. The new nose is more aggressive and the Redline Charger show car features a new lower fascia and hood to make it even angrier. Around the sides, the scallops in the doors are a nice throwback to Chargers of old and make the car much more visually interesting. This car features some add-on ducts that fit in the scallops that, like all of the show car's body modifications, may one day end up in the Mopar catalog. Around back, a massive spoiler rides above the new 172-LED taillight fixture that makes the car unmistakable. Big aftermarket wheels are present, per SEMA law.
Dodge CEO Ralph Gillies boasted to the crowd that the new interior "will make Audi jealous," and it's not quite as audacious as it sounds. Inside, the Mopar crew finished the interior in red Katzkin leather and they tell us they have developed a nice relationship with Katzkin that could result in more partnerships in the future. The interior as a whole is vastly improved, both in design and materials quality. All Chargers will get a trick touchscreen in the dash handling HVAC, stereo, nav and more, though more expensive models will get larger screens. The new thick-rimmed three-spoke steering wheel feels good in your hands and has much more user-friendly controls. Behind it, Dodge took their time to craft some handsome watch-like gauges. They topped it all off by putting seat heaters on not only the front seats but both outer rear seats.

2011 Dodge RedLine Charger

2011 Dodge Durango

The name's remained the same, but Dodge's all-new 2011 Dodge Durango has been completely re-imagined from the unibody up, with more standard equipment, an overhauled appearance, updated powertrains, and new underpinnings. The Dodge Boys are hoping the myriad changes will better enable the new Durango to take on the stiff competition in the full-size crossover SUV segment.
The new Durango, which shares numerous elements with the redesigned 2011 Grand Cherokee, looks more refined and luxurious, with a steeply raked windshield and shapelier exterior presence. It's a definite departure from the tough-looking Dodge truck-themed Durangos of the past. The introduction of the new Durango also marks the first widespread appearance of the new Dodge crosshair brand logo, as the Ram's head logo is now affixed to the fledgling Ram brand.
2011 Dodge Durango Front Grill
Dodge is touting the Durango's greatly improved interior, although we've yet to see much of it. The automaker claims the gray, hard plastic look of Durangos past has been jettisoned, with upgraded materials and updated interior surfaces throughout. "Thoughtful touches will make owners and their crews want to jump in, hunker down and thoroughly enjoy even the longest drive," according to Dodge PR-speak. Of course, we'll be the judge of that once we actually step into the cockpit, but if the Grand Cherokee's cabin is any indication, we expect good things. Seating configurations are limited to no less than 22 possible arrangements, taking a page from the Grand Caravan's versatility playbook.
Sitting atop the same architecture as the 2011 Grand Cherokee, the Durango's platform has been stretched to accommodate a longer wheelbase and a third row of seating. Unlike the Jeep's five-passenger arrangement, the Durango offers room for seven. (The previous model had the option for either seven or eight passengers.) The previous two Durangos were based upon a truck-derived body-on-frame structure, but the new generation is based on a unibody underpinning that shares roots with the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class. Dodge assures us though that the vehicle has been stiffened so that it "delivers premium driving performance combined with SUV capability and crossover versatility." Apparently you can have your off-road cake and eat it comfortably on-road, too...

2011 Dodge Durango

2011 Dodge Charger

Mopar fans, your refreshed family chariot has arrived. The 2011 Dodge Charger -- the muscle car coupe turned four-door family sedan with an attitude -- has been finally revealed by Dodge after months of speculation.
Beneath the Charger's expansive hood, the main news is the arrival of the corporate 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 for the base SE and mid-level Rallye trims -- ditching the underpowered and unloved 2.7- and 3.5-liter six-cylinders in the process. Final power specifications haven't been disclosed, but the new V-6 is rated at 290 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in other Chrysler applications. The 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 returns to the R/T model with FuelSaver Technology, the trade name for the Hemi's cylinder-deactivation feature.
So far there has been no mention by Dodge of transmission options for the updated Charger, but we're assuming the ancient four-speed automatic will be ditched, leaving the five-speed auto as the only option until Chrysler can get its future plans in place. The automaker's rumored eight-speed auto and dual-clutch transmissions cannot get here fast enough.
Another missing piece of the puzzle is the SRT model, which was also left off the press release. But given Dodge's performance-based focus, we're betting something is right around the corner.
The R/T model, depicted here, is adorned with five-spoke 19-inch wheels and a new stance. The Charger R/T can be had with an active all-wheel drive system that is capable of depriving the front drive shafts of engine torque as necessary, depending on road conditions. The result is a setup that can also bump overall fuel economy by up to five percent, conditions permitting.

2011 Dodge Charger

2011 Dodge Challenger STR8 392 Inaugural Edition

As usual, Chrysler's accessory design teams are hard at work crafting a number of vehicles for the 2010 Specialty Equipment Market Association show, but it appears the automaker has at least one production vehicle lined up for the event as well. Dodge announced today that the 2011 Challenger SRT8 392 Inaugural Edition will make its first public appearance at the SEMA show in early November.
As previously reported, all 2011 Challenger SRT8 models receive a little more power. The 6.1-liter Hemi V-8 was bored out to 6.4-liters, and, according to Dodge brand CEO Ralph Gilles, tuned to deliver more low-end torque than peak horsepower. Dodge rates the new engine at 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. For those keeping score, that's roughly 45 horsepower and 50 pound-feet more than what the current 6.1-liter engine cranks out.
Other changes for 2011 SRT8 cars include revived damper valving, new suspension geometry, quicker steering ratios, and an SRT-tuned hydraulic steering pump, which reportedly delivers better feel and response when compared to the last design. Exterior revisions are limited largely to new door handles, a new front splitter design, and a conspicuous lack of the brand's former ram's head logo.
2011 Dodge Challenger Srt8 392 Inaugural Edition 2
To celebrate the new refinements, Dodge's crafted the 392 Inaugural Edition. Buyers will have their choice of two exterior paint schemes -- Deep Water Blue with white stripes, or Bright White with Viper Blue stripes -- capped off with unique 20-inch SRT wheels, quad exhaust tips, and unique 392 emblems. Inside, Inaugural cars receive unique white leather seat skins, complete with blue stitching and insert stripes, along with embroidered logos on the front headrests.
We've yet to see finalized pricing for the new Challenger SRT8 392 Inaugural Edition, but Dodge has capped production at 1492 cars. Expect Inaugural cars to command a slight price premium over standard Challenger SRT8 392 models once both arrive at dealers nationwide in the fourth quarter of 2010.

2011 Dodge Challenger STR8 392 Inaugural Edition

2011 Dodge Avenger

The base Avenger will once again start with Chrysler's 2.4-liter World Engine -- an inline-four currently rated at 173 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque -- that has been recalibrated and matched with a six-speed automatic (2010 models use a four-speed). The top engine for the R/T trim is -- you guessed it -- a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 with 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, also mechanically linked to a six-speed auto. We expect fuel economy to improve slightly for the respective four- and six-cylinder engines for the new model year.
2011 Dodge Avenger Gauges
Performance changes spread to the ride as well. Engineers took the opportunity to give the suspension an overhaul, adding new components and revising the overall geometry. The front and rear track grows an inch to 62.8 inches, while ride height drops 0.47 inch in the front and 0.24 inch out back. The standard tire width expands from 215 millimeters to 225 millimeters, giving the Avenger more rubber (and more usable power) to put to the ground. Dodge says 26 of the 30 different suspension bushings have been redesigned. The sum alterations supposedly decrease body roll and shake, and deliver enhanced steering feel and dynamic response.
The Avenger's overall shape is mostly the same from the front, side, and especially the back. As expected, Dodge's corporate split crosshair grille is prominently displayed up front. The lower front fascia gets flared out a bit for a more aggressive look. Thankfully the Avenger ditches the chunky design elements propagated on the current model.
Itching to put the refreshed Avenger through its paces? We are. The improved Dodge is set to arrive at Dodge dealers later this year
Dodge's midsize Avenger doesn't get the same amount of recognition as its larger Charger brother, and in some respects has become a forgotten car in the Dodge stable. But the Mopar boys are hoping to change that with an updated 2011 Dodge Avenger.
Following in the footsteps of the its recently revealed Chrysler 200 sibling, the 2011 Avenger is a stopgap to freshen things up until an all-new, Fiat-based model arrives in a few years' time.
You'll notice the drab black, gray, and silver Avenger interior of old has left the building. As you step into the cockpit you're greeted by the colorful gauge cluster and updated steering wheel. Dodge ordered new cloth and leather material for the seats, which are now appointed with more cushioning and retuned base springs. Soft-touch armrests envelop the innards, and 45 new or upgraded sound-dampening treatments have been installed to help quiet the ride.
Continuing the parade of interior changes, the three-spoke steering wheel is fitted with more buttons to control the sound system, cruise control, and more. The vents have been redesigned for aesthetic and functional purposes, and two-tone color schemes may be ordered if desired. Further features include ambient lighting, voice command, a USB port, navigation, Bluetooth, and a hard drive with Gracenote music identification.

2011 Dodge Avenger

2011 Dodge Avenger

2011 Dodge Avenger