New Volkswagen Beetle to be more modern

Looks like Volkswagen is ready to take the Beetle in a whole new direction, because a few new illustrations of the revamped VW Beetle have surfaced and they are decidedly less retro-themed than the current "New Beetle." Instead, these images -- found in German magazine Auto Motor und Sport -- depict a fairly modern looking vehicle, set to arrive in stores as a 2010 model. Instead of a big bulbous roofline and bubbly features throughout, the next-gen Beetle "will also become sportier, with the aim of competing more directly with BMW's MINI."

Like the current New Beetle, we also fully expect this next offering to come in both a standard coupe and droptop cabriolet. My personal impression is that this new car has certain elements that make me think of Peugeot and Citroen. Is it just me?

BMW rumored to plan iPhone integration

Munich (Germany) - According to media reports, BMW will be the first car maker to include integration with the forthcoming iPhone. The connectivity with Apple's flagship cell phone is reported to be available in later versions of the high-end 7-Series sedans.

The communication features between the phone and the car will be based on Bluetooth wireless technology and is reported to include more than just standard functionality like hands-free talking.

Having BMW as the maker of the first iPhone car would make sense, as it has been working with Apple for in-car technology for years. BMW was the first to include factory-installed iPod connectivity and Apple is helping with the new in-dash i-Drive system that comes with high-end BMW vehicles.

The market of iPod accessories is now a strong focus for in-car tech companies, but cell phone connectivity has not yet seen a high level of consumer interest.

Silence PT2 rocks three wheels, all electric powertrain

Getting word of a new electric car hitting the pavement is (thankfully) becoming quite common these days, but crafting a vehicle that's made it a few steps beyond the easel is certainly noteworthy. Silence, Inc., a mash-up of Canada's EBW and T-Rex, has set out to "design and build high-performance electric vehicles," and the company's first attempt looks to be a winner.
The three-wheeled PT2 certainly has a flair for the dramatic, as its metallic paint, vivid interior, and overall dashing good looks make it a sight for sore eyes in the fully electric vehicle department, and as if that weren't good enough, this bad boy can reportedly cruise 125 to 250 miles on a single charge, hitting speeds "around 125-miles per hour" along the way. Silence states that its PT2 will be "available for ordering" sometime this Spring, but folks with enough interest (and the spare loot to back it up) can hit them up right now to get on the short list, and for those already glancing away to save yourself the pain from viewing the pricetag, remain focused -- this hotrod will only run you around $50,000CDN, or just over 42 large here in the US. Be sure to head on over to AutoblogGreen for a sweet high-resolution gallery.

Hybrid Sports Car Concept

Honda's new hybrid sports car concept may foreshadow a second generation Insight


Toyota isn't the only company looking to bring hybrid technology to small sports cars. Toyota unveiled its first hybrid sports car concept, the Volta, in 2004 and just recently showcased its FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept at the Detroit Auto Show.

Archrival Honda wants back into the game and will unveil its Small Hybrid Sports Concept at the Geneva Auto Show. Not much is known about the hybrid other than the fact that it was designed by Honda R&D Europe in Offenbach, Germany. And from the image on the right, the new car is miles ahead of the tadpole-esque Honda Insight.

AUTOCAR.co.uk believes that the concept will foreshadow the production version of the second generation Insight which is to be introduced in 2008. The car is expected to be similar in size to the current generation Civic and will be priced under the Toyota Prius.

The first generation Honda Insight was the first gasoline-electric hybrid automobile to be sold in the United States. The tiny 2-seater weighed just 1,850 pounds, was powered by a 73HP 3-cylinder engine and achieved EPA mileage ratings of 60/66 MPG city/highway.

Also on tap for the Geneva Auto Show is a fully functioning FCX Concept. The concept will feature Honda's FC Stack which DailyTech profiled in September. Honda estimates that the FCX Concept will offer a driving range of 354 miles and a top speed of 100 MPH.

Toyota and Honda, however, aren't the only companies looking to bring hybrid and fuel cell technologies to the masses. GM is developing a "plug-in" gasoline-electric hybrid for production in 2009 while Ford is working on a flexible "HySeries Drive" platform to provide gasoline, diesel and fuel cell hybrid electric powertrain options.

Top 10 Design Contest Vehicles from Peugeot

The Peugeot Design Contest from last year is near its end. Ten designs have been selected as the finalists, some fancy, most futuristic, and definitely all are very creative.

What's interesting is that Peugeot actually plans to build one of these top 10 designs later this year, and that winner will be selected at the end of this month. Have a look at the designs here, and more angles of the renderings are on Peugeot's official design challenge website.

Which one of these concepts would you choose to win?