The CityCAT is a vehicle developed by Motor Development International (MDI). The Indian automaker claims that the CityCAT will run on air with 0 (that’s zero) emissions.

MDI manufactured a whopping eleven CityCATs for evaluation purposes. The next step, they say, is to produce a line of cars that are actually comfortable and drivable. Their website boasts a range of models in one stage of production or another (mostly another – meaning they’re still in the concept stage).  The models vary from three to six seats, not counting their ambitious Multi Flow Air public transportation vehicle aimed at the mass transit market segment.  While the actual production so far is underwhelming, the conceptual models put them well ahead of the competition in terms of releasing an affordable, drivable car that is not dependent on oil.

While the concept is exciting and the models are enough to make any good environmentalist drool, there are some signs that all may not be right in MDI land.  First off all, each model is now being designed in two varieties – a pure compressed air version and a “dual fuel” version, which would make it a low, but not zero, emission vehicle.  This concession is a troubling sign that the compressed air technology is not as promising as it once seemed.  Perhaps more concerning is the target release date for the US being pushed back from late 2009 to early 2010 to “who knows when”.

I hope this technology is for real.  Even though the Flow Air models that MDI has posted on their website are small and silly looking, the cars could catch on if the technology is real and the price points are where they claim – a fully loaded but tiny open top model for about $7500 US, the more robust City Flow Air model (complete with six seats and a roof)  for just under $18,000.

1. The various automakers have been trying their darndest for the last twenty years to develop electric cars but just recently has technology developed to the point to make them technologically and economically feasible.  This is possible, except that there isn’t anything going into these electric models that hasn’t been built into fleeting prototypes a dozen times over the last decade or so.

2. There just wasn’t demand for these cars until gas hit $4 a gallon, and only then did it become worthwhile for the automakers to start the development process.  This is possible, but only if every one of my economics professors lied to me in college.  Why wouldn’t the car makers be developing an alternative electric vehicle before now?  What was the limiting factor that made them all believe that the demand for electric vehicles wasn’t legitimate until now?  And what about those Japanese companies that were planning a hundred years into the future?  They didn’t see the electric car on the horizon either?

3. They aren’t really coming in 2010 or 2011 or anytime soon after that.  It wouldn’t be the first time that automakers dangled a carrot in front of us and then pulled it away.  Could it be that the up and coming electric cars aren’t really up or coming?  Possible, but it seems unlikely when you consider how many different manufacturer’s are claiming to have an electric model in their near future.

4. Big Money was changing hands between Big Oil and Big Auto.  Somebody had to be gaining something from somebody in order to keep these cars out of sight.

Only time will tell, but my money is on #4.

The Leaf takes the same no-nonsense approach and applies it to the concept of electric cars. Allegedly able to run 100 miles between charges, the Leaf could be a viable ‘second’ or ‘city’ car and could be the catalyst that opens the market up to finally, FINALLY, getting away from dependence on oil (for how long have we been saying that?)

If you’ve never seen the movie Who Killed the Electric Car?, I recommend that you add it to your Netflix list (or if you’re some kind of 20th century throwback barbarian, you can go to your local video store).  I love a good Big Government – Big Oil conspiracy theory as much as the next guy, and WKtEC offers them up in spades.  As far as documentaries go, this is really a good one.

The gist of the film is that the technology was in place years ago, but the will was not there.  Recently, thanks to $4.00 a gallon gas, the will was there, but no auto manufacturer was ready to capitalize on it.  Now, gas is back down to a better – but – still – outrageous $2.50.

There are questions that must be answered.  Will consumers be willing to shell out what is sure to be a hefty premium to purchase an electric vehicle?  Will the first generation electric cars deliver on their promised 100 mile range?  Will there be enough demand at the initial prices and offerings to stimulate competition in the marketplace (which will, in turn, improve the products offered and lower the prices).  Only time will tell, but I get the feeling that after decades of delays and failed promises, the future is finally just around the corner.

Do you have pictures of gorgeous sports cars all over your walls or decorating your office area? Then listen up, because you’ll love this.

Rinspeed, auto designer of some of the most beautiful concept cars in existence, has recently announced a new line of art up for grabs. The canvas style prints will come in all shapes and sizes and feature some of the most unique concept designs offered by the manufacturer.

The prints will be available in five different collections, originating from five different concept cars: the iChange, the sQuba, the eXasis, the zaZen and the Bedouin concept designs. Additional art will be offered to fans of E2 Fiat concept cars and their new models, which fall under a unique “Futurism” concept.

All prints will include art paper stretched onto canvas, fully protected by plexiglass, and each art piece will be available in different sizes. As always, to commemorate the release, Rinspeed is offering limited and collector’s edition versions with a special water-mark symbol on the back, which will allow art dealers to verify the authenticity of the prints.

Rinspeed is very well known for unique concept designs, such as the revolutionary iChange, which is a space module shaped auto that has no doors included in the body structure (it slightly resembles the exterior of a Maserati). Other unique concept designs include the Senso convertible type vehicle, the Splash water/land vehicle, the Presto electric vehicle and the Rone single manned sports auto.

To peruse some of the unique concept models look here.

Tesla is fairly new in the automotive industry, as the Roadster is actually the first car they ever released. However, they do have another on the way. The Tesla Model S Hatchback is a completely revamped hatchback sedan, designed to be devoid of the same body design and materials as the Roadster. This car not only has more of a family friendly approach with specs and design but with the $49,900 base price as well. The base model will include a smaller size Lithium battery pack that rates about 160 miles per charge, but larger battery packs are available as upgrades that increase mileage to 230 or 300 miles. The Model S tops out at 130 MPH and can accelerate from 0-60 in 4.8 seconds (sport model) or 0-60 in 5.6 seconds (standard model). The downside is that Tesla will not begin widescale production on the Model S until sometime in 2011.

The vehicles on display were the Firebird I, II, and III. All three vehicles were created by GM as early as the 1950′s by GM’s Allison Aircraft Division in Indianapolis. GM Vice President Charles McCuen (active in 1949) was interested in producing a turbine powered automobile for ground and roadway travel. After much work and research GM finally unveiled the Firebird I in 1954.

Since then both the Firebird II (1956) and Firebird III (1959) models have been revealed as vehicle prototypes to the public.

During their time the vehicles were used to test out the turbine power concept but eventually helped give birth to the automatic climate control system, ultrasonic keyless entry, antilock brakes, and automatic headlamps. The Firebird III also introduced a “Unicontrol” joystick which was used to drive the vehicle instead of a steering wheel.

In October, when the vehicles were introduced, GM Restoration Specialist Mike Erdodi gave a small demonstration on the turbine engines. Unfortunately when he started the vehicles they were running on backup 10 horsepower piston engines; the turbine engines, as it turns out, are just too costly to run.

All three vehicles were transported to the museum by way of a truck, which means none of the cars traveled. So much for turbine ground travel, especially if it costs an arm and a leg just to start.

The 2e features a complete aerodynamic design, which Aptera claims will be more efficient both on energy use and speed. The California built car will come in both complete electric and hybrid versions. Aptera states that the hybrid version will get up to 300 miles per gallon of gas, and both versions will have a top speed of 85 mph and go from 0-60 mph in under 10 seconds. A full recharge of the all electric version is slated to only take about a four hour charge while plugged into a standard electric socket (with a fully drained battery).

The body design of the 2e looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. The birth father (co-founder) of the auto, Steve Fambro, “dreamed of cruising past the masses in a vehicle that was safe enough to protect his new family, yet efficient enough to keep money in his pocket instead of feeding a gas pump”. So Fambro sought to “design a vehicle that follows nature and glides through the wind instead of pushing it.” As you can see in the photo, the car seems like it would do just that.

The Aptera 2e is technically considered a motorcycle because it includes three wheels total; two in the front and one in the rear. But the developers see it as a regular automobile much like the standard four wheel vehicles all over the roads. Aptera also claims that with all the efficient specifications, the 2e is the most efficient production vehicle in the entire world.

The Aptera originally had a set release date for sometime in 2008, but as we grow closer to the end of the year it looks more like the auto will be released sometime in early 2009. As if all this efficient talk wasn’t enough, the Type-1 is slated to cost less than $30,000.

The original Camaro models were born nearly 40 years ago and have now been revived to add some competition to Ford’s retro Mustang models. If that wasn’t enough competition, in light of the old Nixon-era big three (contending auto companies including Chevy, Ford, and Dodge), Dodge also just released a new retro Challenger model.

The brand new Camaros will be sold in two separate coupe models- the V6 and the V8. The V8 has been tacked as the “Camaro SS” and will be the top end model for the series. The V6 edition will be marketed as “LS” or “LT trim” models and will include higher end options, such as bright HID headlamps with integrated halo rings, a rear spoiler, specific tail-lamps, and fully custom 20-inch wheels.

An early concept version of the new Camaro appeared in 2007-2008, in the Transformers movie, specifically the character known as Bumblebee. The car is first shown as an older Camaro model and then is later coaxed into transforming into a newer Camaro by another character. The actual car featured in Transformers was not a real Camaro because the real models weren’t anywhere close to finished when the movie began filming. Many will be surprised to know that car was built from the ground up using many parts from a new GTO; a lot of the body parts were even made out of fake plastic and were designed to look like real metal, such as the door handles and the Plexiglas windows on the car.

The brand new Camaros are set for an official release in spring of 2009, with a special convertible model set to retail around nine months later. With the recent drop in gas prices there is a chance the new Camaros will sell well, but then again with the sinking economy the release could go both ways. In a similar comparison, the retro Mustang that was released by Ford sold increasingly well, but Ford has reported that sales are now beginning to cool off.

What does the 2009 GT-R have to do with the Bugatti Veyron? The unique performance specifications and sleek design have rightfully earned the car, by several automotive journalists, the name of “Baby Veyron”. While much cheaper and still very sexy looking, the car offers average consumers the chance to own a fantasy-like automotive. The $80,000 price tag still will make many cringe but is certainly not even close to the $1.5 million dollar cost of the Bugatti.

Nissan also has quoted a plan to release a lighter and more powerful version of the GT-R, which will be referred to as the GT-R V Spec or simply the Spec V. The higher performance model is still not scheduled to release until late 2010.

The GT-R boasts a 3.8L VR38DETT twin-turbo V6 engine, a 480 horsepower engine maxing out at 6400 rpm. The top speed attainable is clocked at 193 mph. The car is designed with a multi-functional, 6-speed dual clutch automated manual transmission. Even if you don’t fully understand the specs listed above, it’s obvious the car is very powerful.

Power is not the only thing this model has going for it. The design is very attractive, both inside and out. It also comes complete with a fully loaded leather interior, HDD navigation and music box system, and some of the coolest looking gauges you’ll ever see mounted on an automotive dashboard.

The sQuba, Rinspeed’s newest concept cars, has all of these features. First, it is a sleek looking convertible that seats two. Second, when you drive into the water, the vehicle floats. Finally, if you allow a little water to enter the vehicle, it submerses and “swims” through the water. Quite a lot to offer from one little car, and no tuning car needed.

However, there are more cool features to this vehicle. It is a zero-emission vehicle, being powered solely by batteries. Also, when “swimming” underwater, the car stays in its convertible form and the passenger uses underwater breathing apparatus.

To learn more about the sQuba, you can either attend the Geneva Motor Show (from March 6 – 12) or read about it at Rinspeed’s Website.