Cadillac has chosen the backdrop of this week’s classic car festivities in Monterey, California to debut a new concept convertible called the Ciel, which means “sky” in French. The four-seat, four-door drop top was designed to be the ultimate carriage for a drive up the coast, as well as hints at Cadillac’s aspirations to offer flagship luxury products in the future.

The Ciel is powered by a 425-horsepower, twin-turbocharged version of GM’s 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct injection that’s augmented by a hybrid system using lithium-ion batteries. Those massive 22-inch wheels may not look that large because the Ciel itself is a big boat with a wheelbase 12 inches longer than a CTS sedan and overall length cresting 200 inches. Cadillac says the car’s shape is more natural and organic than its current design language, perhaps expressing more Art than Science with smoother lines and softer curves than we’re used to seeing. We particularly like the slightly rising chrome accent line along the rocker panels that stretches the length of the Ciel.

Exterior aside, inside the Ciel is where we want to be. Passengers are absolutely coddled in their individual bucket seats with unique niceties like pull-out blankets to ward off an evening’s chill, aromatherapy controls in the armrests and a drawer containing sun screen, sun glasses and a towel. Of course, technology is ever-present in the cabin with each seat having its own suite of connectivity options and the center dashboard being topped with an inductive charging surface.

Check out Cadillac’s official images as well as our own live shots in the galleries below. Two official videos and Cadillac’s official PR can be found after the jump.

Continue reading Cadillac Ciel Concept designed for decadent drives up the coast

Cadillac Ciel Concept designed for decadent drives up the coast originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Renault Captur appears to be the Nissan Juke of tomorrow, but it’s here on the Geneva Motor Show floor today. It also features a more muscular-yet-curvy body than its Japanese cousin. Renault describes the Captur as a sporty crossover that would be utilized by two people bent on exploring the world.

Those two explorers will likely be happy to know that under the hood sits a 1.6-liter twin-turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which produces 160 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque at just 1,750 rpm. If you failed math (like us), feel free to break out the calculator in order to prove that the Captur is in the 100-horsepower-per-liter club.

The interior of the Renault Captur is pure conceptual craziness. A series of elastic cords take the place of traditional seating fabric. The idea is to provide the same support and comfort found when relaxing in a hammock. It certainly sounds interesting, but in the end, it’s pure auto show zazz.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Noah Joseph / AOL

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Renault Captur Concept is designed to be explored

Geneva 2011: Renault Captur Concept is designed to be explored originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Of all the people longing to drive the Oldsmobile Aerotech back in the 1980s, you’d expect that the cars designer would have taken it for a few spins. Despite having his first sketch for the project turn in to the record-setting aerodynamic research vehicle, Ed Welburn’s closest contact with the Aerotech was during long wind tunnel sessions.

[Source: Detroit Free Press | Image: Karrmann via CC 2.0]

GM’s Ed Welburn finally drives Oldsmobile Aerotech record-breaker he designed originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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