16 TOPCAR.CO.ZA|January 2016INSIDER.
Incoming
Nissan saysweshouldn’t assume
the IDS previewsMk2 Leafstyling,
but who are theykidding?This
all-carbonelectric concept is
a statementofthe company’s
thinkingabout autonomousdriving
tech, which it remains committed
tointroducingby 2020. The
‘Intelligent Drive’featuresinclude
full ‘piloted driving’capability– in
which the steering wheel
retractsinto the dash– andthe optiontopark it via iPad.
Somewhatalarmingly, it’s
proposedthe autonomous
mode will mimic the owner’s
driving style,rather than proceed
in the mostlogical and orderly
fashion, but sensorsandLEDs
aroundthe car aimtosignal
reassurancetocyclistsand
pedestrians.Skinnytyres and
aerooptimisation maximise
driving range.It’s noOX 99 -11 but this isa prettybold
statementfromYamaha. Followingon
from 20 13’s Motivcitycarconcept,
the Japanesemotorbike maker has
onceagain teamed upwith Gordon
Murray toshowa four-wheeler
basedon the erstwhile F1design
maestro’s ‘iStream’ manufacturing
process.This time it’s a low-slung
sports car and the bones oftheproject are built fromcarbonfibre- afirst for iStream –in aneffortto
convincethe world that the wonder
weave canbecost-effectiveaswell
assuperlight. There’s atantalising
suggestion the SportsRidecould be
powered bya Yamaha bike enginefor
high-rev thrills, but atthis stage it’s
all justwishful thinking. Production
not confirmed.
TheQX 30 is a sister cartothe recently
launched Q30 hatchback. It’s built upon
the same MercedesA Class-derived
platform with amixof Renault-Nissan
and Mercpowerplants on the engine
list. Theground clearanceis greater,
naturally, andmanyvariantswill be
offered with four-wheeldrive.It’s a higher-riding,butched-upkind
ofBeetle. VWsaysit’s inspiredby
’70sdune buggies, although with
itstea-trayrearspoiler, wider
track andwheelarchextensionswe
wonderif the design team might have
pinned a911 Turbo pictureortwo to
their 1970s moodboardaswell.Mazdahas chuckedout aloadofbulkfrom thealready-flyweight convertible
bysomeprettyextreme changes,wrought with the help ofthe tuning
fraternity. It’s about asbasic asa moderncar canbe, with the stripped-back
vintage design providing abeautiful facadetocomplement thevehicle’s
already good handling ability. Thelow-slung MX-5Speedster features
carbonfibre doors andseats, small 16in rimsandeven drops the windscreen
andhoodaltogether, weighing in ata feathery 94 3kg.It’s still powered bythe
regular 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine–meaning118kWand 20 0Nm,but Mazda
has not issued any acceleration figures yet.It’s a vastfour-door saloon with
coupe-ishstyling anda hydrogen
fuel-cellpowertrain. Visually, it
gives usa good ideawhatthe next
LSflagshipis going tolook like;
technically itmight bea bit more
far-fetched –thoughToyotahas just
put the hydrogen-powered Mirai on
sale in theUK,soit has the capability.
Keydesign featuresincludea grille
big enoughfor barbecuing small
animals, muscularhaunches andtail
lightsthat look like giantboomerangs
havinganorgy. Thespacious four-
seater interior includes gesture
control, which should bea given since
the BMW 7Seriesalready offers
it. In-wheel motorsatthe frontand
conventionally motor-drivenrears
create torquevectoring 4wd.Nissan IDS Concept
Yamaha Spor ts Ride Concept
Infiniti QX30 VW BeetleDune
Mazda MX-5Speester
Lexus LF-LC Flagship Concept
Thecarsthatrevvedusupthis month