Art Center Car Classic celebrates on automotive design

 

 

Anyone from the Art Center will tell you that the Car Classic is not a concours event, but rather a display of automotive art. As a result, the selection of cars is fairly eclectic and the vehicles are strewn about the campus lawn in a rather unorganized fashion. While the layout may not be as photogenic, it makes it easy to wander through the sea of cars and simply enjoy each and every one.

Each Car Classic does have a theme, though, and for 2011 the event celebrated Southern California's influence on automotive design. In addition to the Art Center producing some of the world's most famous automotive designers, more than twenty advanced automotive design studios call the area home, several of which brought recent concept cars to display. There were also special displays for California hot rods and California beach culture as well as cars designed by Peter Brock. The Petersen Automotive Museum and Mullin Museum also brought out cars from their impressive collections. You can see a sample of the cars in attendance in the high-res gallery above. 

Flagship hybrid models

Flagship hybrid models
But that's not the only news from Cadillac. The company has also made it clear that buyers can expect to be able to snap up a range of hybrid vehicles from the luxury automaker. While that includes efforts like the upcoming Volt-based ELR, the brand intends to flex its tech muscles with multiple hybrid technologies in the near future. The Detroit Bureau hypothesizes that Cadillac may dabble in incredibly efficient vehicles as well as high-performance hybrids similar to what Porsche is currently producing.

2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

We're all anxiously waiting to see what Hyundai has up its sleeves for the updated Genesis Coupe, and it looks like we may have a better idea of what's coming down the line. Gencoupe.com forum member shcboyzone managed to lay hands on a few grainy photos of what's appears to be the 2013 Genesis Coupe. Is this the real deal? Hard telling. If it is, the sports car will rock styling that's very similar to what we've seen from the Hyundai Accent and Veloster. With a more upright fascia, hexagonal grille and sculpted lights, the similarities are unmistakable.

It looks like the vehicle will also feature unique hood louvers, though it's unclear from the photos whether or not the pieces are actually functional. Around back, Hyundai has graced the coupe with a set of LED tail lamps as well. While this design seems to dovetail fairly closely with the heavily camouflaged mules we've seen in testing, we won't know for sure whether or not this is the real deal until we get closer to the vehicle's unveil at the next Detroit Auto Show. Head over to the Gencoupe.com forums for a closer look at the car.

  Source

Lotus Exige Matte Black Final Edition

Another day in Monterey, another debut from Lotus. Yesterday evening, the British sports car maker unveiled the stunning Evora GTE Road Car Concept, and earlier today pulled the wraps off the Exige Matte Black Final Edition, a special model reserved exclusively for the North American market.

This isn't the first time that Lotus has introduced a market-specific Exige with a sinister paint scheme. Back in 2009, the company released the Exige Stealth for Japanese buyers and Exige Scura for European customers. While those cars had track-ready features like launch control and variable-slip traction control, the U.S. version is mostly an appearance package with the addition of black Alcantara seats and a slightly upgraded motor on top of the matte finish. Lotus collectors might be interested in the exclusiveness of the car, though, with just 25 slated for production.

You can view our live photos of the Lotus Exige Matte Black Final Edition in the high-res gallery above.

Lotus Exige Matte Black Final Edition

Russia approves tunnel

The Russian government has given the go-ahead on an ambitious new tunnel project that could connect Siberia with Alaska via an underground rail line. If completed, the $65 billion project will be the longest underwater tunnel in the world, besting the Chunnel between England and France by twice the distance. The planned course would stretch over 65 miles and would snake beneath the Big and Little Diomede Islands. According to Inhabitat, the project will be funded by a private and public partnership. So why build it?

Aside from being a civil engineering marvel, the tunnel would also provide an efficient way to move 100 million tons of freight per year. In addition, the tunnel could provide an easy transmission route for electricity developed by tidal energy stations and wind plants in Russia to Alaska and Canada. In addition, the rail system would complete a high-speed network that could stretch from London to New York City. Unfortunately, the project doesn't seem to be geared toward passenger travel. At least, not for now. Thanks for the tip, Chad!

News Source: Inhabitat