McLaren Speedtail Hyper-GT

The McLaren Speedtail is a Stunningly Different, 250-MPH Hyper-GT

This article starts - "It’s easy to be cynical, but McLaren’s latest, 1,000-plus horsepower creation is a thing of beauty" - uhh no it's not - this car is truly a $2.62 million dollar pile of an eyesore. But I guess just because you have 3 mil laying around doesn't make you a connoisseur in auto design. This thing is hideous - come on, the rims don't even match? And look at that tail, aerodynamic probably but stretches out to low and far back - not proportional to the car in any way. The whole thing is like a Herman monster of put together styles.

https://www.automobilemag.com/news/the-mclaren-speedtail-is-a-stunningly-different-250-mph-hyper-gt/?wc_mid=4035:14111&wc_rid=4035:630079&_wcsid=7990864461B9C73787D50AAB9F2A35C573EF024C1A903174

Boating deisgn in the news - iconic matine

https://www.boatingmag.com/iconic-marine-group-announces-performance-group-initiative

Volitan Concept boat - Solar and wind power

The Volitan, meaning "flying fish," is a pretty fantastic concept boat with impeccable green credentials, using sails, wind and solar power to get around, storing energy in its batteries. The secret to the Volitan — which can operate in 60-knot winds — is the way its four wings react to weather conditions.

-gizmodo.com
Read more at (Link)

"WITHIN" Human powered boat

WITHIN will be a fully faired self-righting pedal powered boat capable of high speed in good conditions and maintaining way in adverse weather conditions. The boat will be performance optimised for Greg’s continuous power output and weekly provisioning requirements. WITHIN will incorporate modern materials and technology to ensure a lightweight craft without compromise for Greg’s safety and overall performance.

WITHIN-Prototype is a proof of concept boat based on a 2- man kayak hull that will enable rapid development of the technology required to make WITHIN viable. Phase one of WITHIN Prototype has been named WITHIN-24 and will be used early in the development phase of the project to attempt a new 24 hour record for human powered boats.

- pedaltheocean.com
Read more at (Link)

Renault Racoon

The Renault Racoon was first shown in 1992 and was a rather odd, yet bold, design. It was seen in a film used to promote Renaults advances in digital imagery. It was then shown at the 1993 Geneva Motor Show.

Power was from a twin-turbocharged V6 engine and its all-wheel drive system made it a potentially versatile off-road vehicle.

To enter the vehicle, the driver had to open the front of the car. Another unusual feature was its ability to raise or lower to increase or decrease its ground clearance. There was diffusing glass, remote controlled entry, computer control, satellite navigation and cameras. The cameras served as the vehicle's rear view mirrors.

The body and construction of the vehicle was created to make it aquatic-capable, meaning it could travel through water at speeds of up to 5 knots. Two waterjets running off the main engine provided the propulsion.

- conceptcarz.com / Read more at (Link)

Renault Altica

"Altica"... nice name, probably means something like high place, as in "alto" in spanish.

"In the last few months we have seen several 'sports shooting-brake' concepts - a car type that differs to the more orthodox fastback‚ sports coupe in having a longer roof to meet a more vertical rear tailgate." - cardesignnews.com

The Renault Altica concept shown at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show is a car which boldly attempts to bridge the wide gap between estate cars and sport coupes.

Using the contemporary Renault face common to all the recent Renault concepts and many production cars the Altica's front is unremarkable, aside from the addition of 3 mode headlights, daytime driving lights using LED technology, low beam, and high beam.

From the windscreen back the Altica concept becomes more and more interesting. The panoramic windscreen and glass roof not only let as much light into the cockpit as possible, but also provide mounting for the dramatic scissor-style doors. The rear side windows have been broken up into what appears to be a random pattern checkered motif. Renault say this is to let light into the interior in the same way a stained glass window does, However it would be interesting to see how this design idea could be adapted, or explained, for use on a production car.

Another first for the Altica concept is the introduction of a technology Renault calls the 'Synthetic Jet'. This patented system consists of a 2mm wide slit located at the extreme rear of the roof where the Altica and passing airflow separate. Through this slit air is alternately sucked and blown to control the separation of air depending on the Alitca's speed. At 80 mph the Synthetic Jet reduces the Altica's Cd by 15% resulting in improved fuel economy.

Inside the Renault Altica four single seats are provided, and while the seats themselves are fixed, the instrument cluster and pedal assembly is moved electronically to suit the driver. The rear seats can be folded away to provide 1300 litres of storage space.

Powering the Renault Altica concept is a 177 horsepower, 2.0 litre diesel running through a six speed gearbox. This powerplant is capable of taking the Altica to 60 mph in just 7.5 seconds while also emitting minimal CO2 emissions for its class.

- disenoart.com / Read more at (Link)