MBN: THE MONTE BUBBLES NETWORK: La Auto Show

Los Angeles Auto Show Announces General Motor’s Hummer 02

As the Design Challenge Winner

Winning Design Announced During Third Design Los Angeles Conference

– General Motor’s Hummer 02 design sketch was announced as the winner of the Los Angeles Auto Show’s 2007 Design Challenge today. The third Design Challenge asked studios to form their vision of the future by creating a vehicle that is environmentally aware of its global footprint. From a field of eight automaker design studios, GM’s Hummer 02 was chosen for its thought provoking, diverse, holistic concept design.

Powered by a fuel cell, the Hummer 02 is envisioned to “breathe” through a revolutionary phototropic body shell that produces pure oxygen throughout the lifespan of the vehicle. Algae-filled body panels transform harmful CO2 into pure oxygen that is subsequently released back into the environment.

“Our goal was to develop a concept that will replace the carbon footprint of automobiles. Our Finnish designer came up with an idea based around a photosynthesis cell and the whole team worked together to develop the concept,” said Frank Saucedo, head designer General Motors Advanced Design. “This is a great competition for our young designers and we look forward to participating each year.”

Entries were judged by multi-discipline design professionals who selected the winner for its originality of creative concept, contribution to the environment, degree of safety and reflection of a unique, spirited California “green” lifestyle.

“We were overwhelmed by the depth of imagination and creative thinking these top design studios created for this year’s challenge,” said Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles and partner in The Design Academy. “Hummer 02 was chosen because of the wide-range of known technologies included, but with an imaginative twist, such as the tread “light” tire technology. GM’s vehicle has an approachable view of the future,” said Pelly .

The purpose of the Design Challenge is to pit the manufacturers’ Los Angeles-based design studios against one another. This year, studios were challenged to imagine a time when all vehicles have “green” technology allowing drives to enjoy the Southern California environment without harming it. Designers enjoy participating in the challenge because it is a strong venue to showcase their talents and further explore new ideas in automotive design. In the past, participating studios have received impressive amounts of worldwide exposure among peers and media.

The Design Challenge is a part of Design Los Angeles, which began at the 2005 LA Auto Show and has become an important part of the show. Design Los Angeles is a one day symposium where workshops, speakers and other opportunities are provided to designers in the automotive industry.

Being that Los Angeles is home to a majority of the design studios representing automakers in North America, Europe and Asia , as well as the Art Center College of Design, one of the world’s leading transportation design centers, Design Los Angeles has become an integral component in designers’ ongoing development.

The world’s automobile companies will be stepping forward with a number of production and concept vehicle world debuts to help usher in “A New Beginning” for the Los Angeles Auto Show. The theme conveys the increased national and international stature due to the show’s earlier dates. The new dates give the show its own time period on the the international auto show calendar, thereby resolving a 25-year-old conflict with the auto show in Detroit .

STUNNING CALLAWAY C16 MAKES WORLD DEBUT

AT 2007 GREATER LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW

Callaway

First Look at Callaway Cars’ Newest Statement of “Powerfully Engineered Automobiles”

(November 30, 2006) – Callaway Cars today unveiled its Callaway C16 – the 16th in an impressive lineup of exclusive, built-to-order Callaway automobiles. Based on the current Chevrolet Corvette platform, the C16 takes performance and style to the next level, with 616 supercharged bhp and 582 lb-ft of torque. The new sports car incorporates Callaway’s race-proven technologies, superlative craftsmanship and arresting style.

“The C16 says exactly what we want to say about the capabilities at Callaway Cars: It’s gorgeous, it has class-leading performance—and it’s a true daily driver based on one of the best sports car platforms ever made.” says company founder Reeves Callaway.

The C16 was drawn and modeled by designer Paul Deutschman, who has a twenty-year portfolio of Callaway designs. “He is the architect of the Callaway look—from the 254 mph Sledgehammer and our C4-based Le Mans race cars to the C7, the C12 and now the C16,” says Callaway. The car’s handcrafted bodywork replaces every panel of the standard body to achieve its integrated look. The C16 also attains a new level of manufacturing efficiency. “In making this car we went from CAD design straight to tooling, bypassing a full-sized model—a first for us,” says Callaway. “It’s tools like PTC’s Pro/ENGINEER software, our technology partner, that make such efficient car design possible.”

callway

The Callaway supercharged 6.0-liter LS2 V8 produces an impressive 616 bhp at 6,200 rpm and develops 582 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. The Callaway C16 does 0 to 60 in 3.3-seconds, and a quarter mile in 10.9 seconds. Top speed of the manual transmission coupe is 206 mph. Equally impressive is its fuel efficiency rating of 18 city/28 highway. It is emission compliant worldwide.

Yokohama “AdvanSport” 295/30ZR19 (front) and 345/25ZR20 (rear) tires complete the package. “The secret to this level of road-holding starts with the tire,” says Callaway. “As a specialist manufacturer, we are honored to have Yokohama be our exclusive tire partner, which gives us access to technology that results in our extraordinary performance numbers.”

The car’s excellent handling and ride feel are courtesy of the newly developed Callaway/Eibach Multi-Pro coil-over suspension. This advanced spring/damper system features ride height, corner weight, and pitch angle adjustability. The aluminum-bodied dampers feature 10-click-position compression and rebound adjustability and have remote mounted reservoirs, allowing the driver to control a range of ride stiffness settings for track or road.

Inside, the C16 cockpit is completely retooled in German leather and Alcantara. Also fitted are Recaro Pole Position seats with a choice of harnessing styles. Door sill panels, steering wheel and passenger dash area also carry signature Callaway badging. Each automobile is serialized and identified by its build plaque. C16s are built to order. Clients choose body color and interior appointments to individual taste.

The C16’s Callaway exhaust system is manufactured from stainless steel and features Callaway’s signature Double-D exhaust tip design. As demonstrated by the car’s horsepower throughput, the exhaust system is the least restrictive and is generally known as the best-sounding solution for C5- and C6-generation Corvettes.

To bring the Callaway C16 from 200+ mph to rest, Callaway 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers grip 355mm diameter rotors. Super-lightweight Callaway Dymag wheels, the lightest road wheel in the industry, are fitted in sizes 19-inch x 10 front and 20-inch x 12 rear. The Dymag wheel features a remarkable hybrid of forged magnesium centers surrounded by carbon fiber rims - another example of Callaway bringing their race experience to their road cars. Dymag has been supplying advanced road wheels to Callaway since 1986.

There are three transmission options on the Callaway C16: two 6-speed manual transmissions (one incorporating the Z51 Performance Package’s shorter ratios in the first four gears), or a 6-speed automatic with paddle shift. The Callaway C16 delivers the feeling of a fully integrated driver’s car, maintaining the company’s legendary hallmark of easy-to-drive, super high-performance road cars.

Callaway C16 automobiles are built by Callaway facilities in California , Connecticut , and Germany . The Callaway C16 is available exclusively through Callaway Cars’ authorized dealer network in North America, Callaway Competition in Leingarten , Germany , and CorvetteTotal, Bonstetten , Switzerland .

Pricing for a well equipped C16 coupe is $119,865 USD.

All Callaway C16 components are available individually, for both new and currently owned Corvettes, through Callaway authorized retailers and installers.

Callaway is an internationally recognized brand known for its unique ability to consistently transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. From component and system engineering through complete vehicle design and development, Callaway specializes in uncovering performance potential. For additional information on Callaway Cars, its automobiles and dealer locations, call 860-434-9002 or visit www.callawaycars.com

LA AUTO SHOW