US car design still focussing on gas guzzlers

As author Stephen Newbury observes, “Manufacturers seem to be focusing very little on radical new energy efficient cars that are smaller than those we know today. Instead, the effort seems to be going into designing cars of the same size but incorporating more fuel efficient engines”. There are, however, signs, such as the unveiling of the Korean built 1.6 litre production Chevrolet Aveo and the concept 1.6 litre Dodge Hornet, that suggest that at least some of the dinosaurs are beginning to realise they may have to evolve to smaller sizes if they wish to avoid becoming extinct. The most striking concepts are all Japanese. The egg-like Nissan Pivo is a four wheel drive battery electric vehicle whose cabin can revolve through 360 degrees so the driver never needs to look over his or her shoulder in order to reverse. And the Toyota I-Unit is a single seat car inspired by a leaf. The vehicle operates first in an upright mode, when the driver is seated, and then starts to recline at speed in order to make the wheelbase longer and lower the centre of gravity to enhance stability. Components are made from decomposable and recyclable materials. To drool over, but unlikely to be owned by any of our readers is the 8 litre, 16 cylinder 1001BHP Bugatti Veyron 16.4. With a top speed of 253mph, faster than most F1 cars, the Veyron is officially the fastest production car ever, if any of its eventual 300 owners who can afford the £800,000 price tag can find a place where they dare drive it at that speed. The book costs £25. More information from Merrell Publishers