MINI Norris, Approved by Chuck, Designed by Milos

MINI Norris - With all the far-fetched videos we have posted in our Chuck Norris Approved section, it was just a matter of time before one of you, our readers, sent in a Chuck Norris Approved vehicle.
From the creator of the mirthful Zastava ZUGO with its groundbreaking hand warmers comes the one and only Mini Norris, the only car in the world that passed all crash tests with a single roundhouse kick.
Designed by Milos Paripovic, a graduate of the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria, the MINI Norris not only looks the part, but the part actually looks like it.
Below you will find a short description of the car by its designer followed by a few more pictures and a video.
On a side note, if you happen to notice a huge improvement in your screen's resolution and CPU's speed, no need to alarm yourself as these are common side effects after viewing anything related to Chuck Norris.
Design Credits go to Milos Paripovic whom we thank for the story!

Mininorris is an electric urban vehicle.
Answer to the question: “How would the strongest car in the world look like?” 

Cars have human-like characteristics. They have symmetry, headlights for eyes, grill for the mouth, bumpers for the chin. This gives them facial expression, ranging from sad to angry or aggressive.
What would happen if we exaggerated those facial features, but still keep them stylized and abstract? How would we project most desirable characteristics like “safe” and “strong” onto the exterior design? Whose face do we choose?

VIDEO: Mininorris - Strongest car in the world

China Auto Show: Honda Concept S to Form the Base for a New Production Minivan

Joining the Concept C sedan at Honda's 2012 Beijing Motor Show booth is the Concept S minivan. According to the Japanese carmaker, the 'S' in the design study's name stands for "Stylish," "Smart" and "Surprise".
Honda tells us that the Concept S is motivated by an unspecified hybrid powertrain and that it features a spacious cabin without providing any information on the number of passengers that it can accommodate.
"This concept model realizes both the "fun of driving" and excellent environmental performance at the same time," said Honda in a statement.
The company added that the Concept S previews a production model that is scheduled for introduction in the Chinese market through its Dongfeng Honda Automobile joint venture next year, followed by a global release shortly after.

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New Study Finds that Gen Y Consumers want Hybrids with Tablets and Smartphone-Like Functions

Echo boomers, Generation Y, Generation Next: whatever you call them, people who were born in the beginning of the 1980’s are now an important demographic group for any company. And their preferences may change the type of cars we will drive in the future.

According to the annual survey conducted by the Deloitte consulting company, Generation Y consumers, who the company describes as those aged from 19 to 31, want their new cars to be hybrids laden with high-tech features.
"This could be the generation that leads us away from traditional gasoline-powered vehicles", comments Deloitte automotive consultant Craig Giffi who oversaw the study.
According to Deloitte, 59 percent of Generation Y consumers questioned replied that they prefer "an electrified vehicle" to any other type of car or truck, with their definition of "electrified”"being mostly a gasoline-electric hybrid.
In comparison, only 37 percent said that they preferred gasoline-only powered models, while 2 percent would rather have an all-electric model.
It seems that car manufacturers are already aware of this, as many of their latest models seem to target this group. At the Detroit Motor Show, for example, Toyota introduced the compact Prius C hybrid.
With a highway driving fuel economy of 53 mpg and a starting price of less than $US19,000, the Prius C, which will be available from this spring, is the cheapest and most frugal non-plug-in hybrid in the market.
Toyota isn’t alone in widening its hybrid range. Ford’s new Fusion mid-size sedan will also be available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.
Honda has shown a hybrid concept of the next Accord that will go on sale this fall, while BMW is readying a hybrid variant of the new 3-Series and GM is offering "mild-hybrid" versions of the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick LaCrosse and Regal.
"The cost of ownership is much more important to Gen Y consumers than their parents, and the big variable there is fuel efficiency", comments Ford’s U.S. sales analyst Erich J. Merkle.
Almost three quarters or 73 percent of those questioned said that they preferred touch-screen controls in their cars. They want their vehicles to be available with smartphone applications and, just like their cellphones and tablets, they want to be able to download new content and applications.
Merkle explains that Gen Y consumers find high-tech gadgets equally valuable as cars: "To many young folks, cellphones are just as important as the cars they drive. When it comes to cars, they want something that will work with the technology they carry around in their pockets every day."


Story References: Detroit News

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2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Presentation at the Geneva Motor Show

Geneva Motor Show - Two generations and close to a million sales after the introduction of the first Outlander in 2001, Mitsubishi today presented the all-new third iteration of its crossover model at the 82nd Geneva International Motor Show.
The shape and styling of the new Outlander won’t come as a surprise to anyone that has been following the news as it was previewed by the Concept PX-MiEV at last December's Tokyo Motor Show.
In fact, there are very little differences between the two cars, mainly the softer front end and certain production bits such as the exterior mirrors. Mitsubishi itself describe the new Outlander's exterior as "solid, safe and simple".
The interior has the same understated / bland styling as the exterior with Mitsubishi promising high-grade materials with padded surfaces and soft-touch plastics. Like the second gen Outlander, the new model will continue to carry five or seven people.
At 4,655mm long, 1,800mm wide and 1,680mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,670mm, the new Outlander is identical in size to the current car in all dimensions.
The European market model will be made available with a choice of two different engines, a 2.0-liter MIVEC petrol producing 150ps (148bhp) and a peak torque of 195Nm (144 lb-ft) and a 2.2-liter Clean Diesel rated at 150ps (148bhp) and 380Nm (280 lb-ft), both of which will be offered in front- or all-wheel drive
The petrol engine can be linked to either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a CVT, while the diesel unit is offered with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. Start-stop comes fitted as standard on all models expect the diesel variant with the automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is optional.
The range will be further expanded in early 2013 with a new plug-in hybrid powertrain that links a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine to a pair of electric motors, one on each axle.
The combination will offer three different driving modes:

• Pure (Twin Motor 4WD EV)
• Series (Twin Motor 4WD EV supported by ICE generator).
• Parallel (Twin Motor 4WD EV supplemented by ICE at higher speed - Electric motors assist in powerful acceleration without any gearshift).

Mitsubishi says that the Plug-in Hybrid EV system will allow for a driving range and CO2 emissions similar to those announced for the concept model at over 800km (500 miles) and under 50g/km respectively.
Sales of the new Outlander will begin in Russia this summer, with Europe to follow a couple of months later ahead of the crossover's Japanese, Oceania, Chinese and North American debuts.
Published by: carscoop

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