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Camouflaged 2016 Chevy Volt shots released by GM

The styling of the next-generation Chevrolet Volt is one of the automotive world’s best-kept secrets. Keeping customers and media eager to see the successor to the groundbreaking original at bay until the new Volt debuts at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January is tricky business.

First, it is engineers, not designers, who are charged with creating camouflage that balances styling secrecy with the need to validate the Volt and its systems in public.

“If it were up to me it would be a shoebox driving down the road,” said Lionel Perkins, GM camouflage engineer. “The design team wants us to cover more of the vehicle and the engineering team needs to have enough of the vehicle’s weight and aero exposed so that the tests in the development process are consistent with the product that will come to market.”

The engineers responsible for the “cool” designs covering the car might deserve style points but their efforts are intended strictly to hide the metal beneath.

The camouflage package on the next-generation Volt was started six months in advance of early development. Every vehicle is different and tricks are constantly updated to keep spy photographers and the curious guessing.

“Each car is unique. We are like a dress maker, and the car is our model,” said Perkins. “No two models are the same. We need to make the right dress that fits the body we are dealing with.”

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Mitsubishi to reveal Outlander PHEV Concept-S in Paris

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will present the world debut of the Outlander PHEV Concept-S at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. The Outlander PHEV Concept-S is a concept model based on the Outlander PHEV 4WD SUV plug-in hybrid vehicle.

The Outlander PHEV Concept-S is a concept model presenting a special design package for the production Outlander PHEV. The exterior and interior design are created under "Sporty and Sophisticated" design theme. The design expresses driving pleasure by delivering powerful and agile driving performance as well as quiet, advanced and high quality driving performance provided by its Twin Motor 4WD and Plug-in Hybrid EV System.

(1) Exterior
Meant to symbolize the functionality and reassuring safety inherent to Mitsubishi Motors' SUVs, the front end design shields the Three-Diamond mark with bold chromed accent moldings on either side - a three dimensional effect - in a further suggestion of motion. Wraparound headlamps contribute themselves to a sense of dynamism sweeping gently up and outwards. This "protective theme" continues at the rear where similar symbolic chrome accents – topped by elongated combination lamps - run from tailgate to wings meant to express dynamic and innovative styling as if bracing the vehicle for better safety. The body color uses a brilliant "Platinum White" with glass flake finish.

(2) Interior
Contrary to the sparkling exterior design, the "Black & Burgundy" color scheme interior design offers a refined quality passenger compartment. In particular, Concept-S' interior design makes use of painstakingly executed detailing to express precision, quality, craftsmanship and sophistication such as:

  • Black woodgrain trim with silver accent
  • The center console designed inspired by Japanese traditional black lacquered boxes
  • Soft fine leather, hand-stitched by craftsmen selected for the seat upholstery

    Furthermore, the seat upholstery forms a three-dimensional surface with horizontally-ribbed cushioning providing superior fit, while the use of trimming lines is formed so as to gently follow the body contours holding occupants snugly in place.

    Silver accents of the trimming lines, curving around the seat, further enhance the perceived quality of the interior.

    (3) Main Specifications
    Overall length (mm)
    4,760
    Overall Width (mm)
    1,840
    Overall height (mm)
    1,700
    Wheelbase (mm)
    2,670
    Occupants
    5
    Powertrain
    Plug-in Hybrid EV System
    (2 permanent magnet synchronous motors, Lithimun-ion battery (12kWh),
    2.0-liter 4-cyl. DOHC MIVEC gasoline engine)
    Drivetrain
    Twin Motor 4WD
     
    2. Mitsubishi Motors Lineup at 2014 Paris Motor Show
    Model
    No. on display
    Remarks
    Press day
    Public day
    Outlander PHEV Concept-S
    1
    1
    Concept car.
    MITSUBISHI Concept XR-PHEV
    -
    1
    Concept car.
    Outlander PHEV
    2
     
    Production model.
    Outlander PHEV
    1
    1
    Rally car. Successful finisher in FIA Asia Cross Country Rally 2014.
    i-MiEV
    1
    1
     
    Outlander
    -
    1
     
    ASX
    -
    1
    RVR or Outlander Sport in some countries.
    Space Star
    -
    1
    Mirage in some countries.
    Pajero
    -
    1
    Montero or Shogun in some countries.
    L200
    -
    1
    Triton in some countries.
    Total
    5
    11
     


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    Next-Gen Battery Capacity Expected to Increase 1,000x by 2023

    A recent report from Navigant Research analyzes the global market for next-generation advanced batteries, with a focus on the current leading battery chemistry, lithium ion, and the energy storage device types that might eventually replace it.

    While lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries offer many advantages over traditional battery technologies, research and development of new battery chemistries that, in many ways, surpass Li-ion is advancing rapidly and is expected to have a major impact on the battery industry in the coming years. These new chemistries are anticipated to enable even more applications for batteries, thus increasing the overall size of the battery market. Click to tweet: According to a recent report from Navigant Research, the total worldwide capacity of advanced batteries is expected to grow from 30.4 megawatt-hours (MWh) in 2014 to more than 28,000 MWh in 2023.

    “The limitations to Li-ion, including input costs, safety issues, and materials scarcity, could leave it vulnerable to new chemistries that solve some or all of those problems,” says Sam Jaffe, principal research analyst with Navigant Research. “Although most of the chemistries explored in this report are only at laboratory-scale production levels today, they could reshape the market for advanced batteries in the next 10 years.”

    Important emerging battery chemistries include ultracapacitors, lithium sulfur, magnesium ion, solid electrolyte, next-generation flow, and metal-air. Their advent is occurring in the context of an enormous increase in the world’s appetite for advanced energy storage devices, according to the report: Navigant Research expects that overall battery demand is expected to increase from approximately 66.2 GWh in 2014 to greater than 225.3 GWh in 2023.