Daimler today has unveiled the F-CELL Roadster, the latest in their line of “F-Series” concept vehicles, and it draws its inspiration from a diverse variety of automotive eras.

Controlled with drive-by-wire technology and utilizing a joystick rather than a conventional steering wheel, this whip is powered by a 1.2kW emission-free fuel cell system located at the rear.

It took a year and more than 150 trainees to create, but the entire project involved using “junior employees”, giving the company’s up-and-coming employees a creative way to learn how alternative-fuel systems come together.

Mitsuoka, arguably the most interesting car company in Japan, has released another Japanese homage to a classic British automobile.

Their latest design the Himiko is an amazing mix of the British sports car- Morgan and the Mazda Mx-5. The company has taken the Mazda MX-5, one of the best driving roadsters in the world, and made it look like the British sports cars it so dutifully emulated back then.

The 2 L four cylinder engine and the six-speed automatic transmission generating 170 hp and 190 Nm torque allows three models of the good looking Himiko, like Himiko Standard, Himiko Premium and Himiko Hi Premium.

Mercedes have launched the latest iteration of their Mercedes McLaren SLR called the SLR Roadster 722 S. Not to be confused with the power output of the car, which stands at 650hp (478kW), the “722” labeling came from a race in 1955 in which Stirling Moss competed in a Mercedes Benz 300 SLR. The start time for Stirling Moss was exactly 7.22am.

The Mercedes McLaren SLR Roadster 722 S is based on the SLR Roadster but features numerous performance improvements.

The body of the 722 S, with the exception of two aluminum frames, is completely made of carbon-fiber materials just like the hardtop. It also features the same 650hp (478kW) and 604lb-ft (820Nm) output from a hand-built 5.5L supercharged V8.

The five-speed automatic carries over from the standard SLR lineup but has been specially configured to accommodate the engine’s very high torque, and allows the driver to choose between two sets of shift characteristics. As a result the SLR Roadster 722 S sprints from 0-62mph (0-100km/h) in just 3.7 seconds, and 124mph (200km/h) is reached in 10.6 seconds.

In addition, the 722 S still features a fully retractable folding roof designed to withstand the extreme speeds the car is capable of !

First sales will start in Europe in January, with pricing around the €520,0000/$750,000 mark (about €25,000/$36,000 more than the standard SLR Roadster) and only 150 units will be built in total. North American availability and pricing is yet to be announced.

The Iconic GTR Roadster, that is is being showcased at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Car Show, is one of the most luxurious American cars on the market.

That is where many of the world’s luxury auto manufacturers choose to debut beautiful supercars, including the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport that will also make its first public appearance this Summer.

The GTR has a V-8 engine that generates 800hp and 600 lb-ft of torque. The car can reach speeds of more than 200mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a blazing 2.8 seconds.

“I have wanted to build a car that combines the latest innovative technologies with the most exquisite detailing, design and all out performance since the day I began reading car magazines as a kid,” said Claudio Ballard, the inventor and visionary behind the GTR Roadster. The dash center console has a 8-inch touch screen display utilizing the same bright-view technology found in military strike fighters and bombers for clear visibility regardless of sunlight exposure in support of its onboard GPS navigation and driver information displays.

Entirely designed, engineered and constructed in the US, this supercar is priced $600,000 with production slated to begin in Fall 2008.

A new sports car boasting luxury fitments and high performance has been announced by engineering consultancy IFR Automotive. Known as the Aspid, the two-seater roadster will have a lightweight aluminium-carbon fiber structure and a total mass of 700 kg.

As with most newer roadsters, more than one powerplant is available depending on what you want.
Aspid prototypes feature a 2-litre engine; either naturally aspirated to deliver 270bhp or supercharged to 400bhp.Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a manual 6-speed gearbox and limited-slip differential. Zero-62mph should come in the 2.8 second range while 100mph will take 5.9 seconds. The top speed is restricted to 155mph.

The Aspid meets both FIA safety requirements and European homologation standards, so it can be driven from the road directly onto the race track without the need for any special preparation.

The electronics are highly innovative and include a sophisticated interface between the driver and the car; a mere touch of the interactive screen located in the centre console and the Aspid is instantly reprogrammed with a whole new set-up to suit different road and track conditions.

The IFR Automotive Aspid will make its world debut at the 2008 British International Motor Show *and will be produced in limited series from 2009. With a long list of options, and each one tailored to the precise needs of each individual customer, the anticipated base price is $150,000 with the top versions costing twice as much.

Source Press release / carbodydesign