The BMW Concept Z4 has debuted at the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in full view. Although the details of the specifications are not yet available, but what is presented in these images is enough to make us know the language of the new Z4 design.
BMW Concept Z4 Roadster debut at 2017 Pebble Beach Concours D’elegance California. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2NCt8Ls)
The interesting part is, the Concept Z4 is built based on a platform that is all new, the result of collaboration with Toyota. Despite having a larger body shape than its predecessor, the Concept Z4 has a slightly lighter weight, one of them thanks to the use of a convertible hardtop made of simple fabric.
Seeing by its appearance, the the Concept Z4 roadster looks compact and proportional, thanks to adopting a classic roadster design, such as a long wheelbase, a low long body design with a sleek rear shape.
This concept car has a huge air intake combined with a typical BMW kidney grill, while with aggressive lights and a beautiful LED DRL accompanied by an air vent on the side of the bonnet that seems to continue to the side fender.
At the stern there is a silver accent that continues the line from the headrest. Rear lights and dual exhausts also give the impression of being sporty, without waffle prints and not excessive. Then, the wheel arches were designed like muscular thighs, the impression was reinforced by the thin L-shaped taillights, and the sleek and short deck lid.
According to Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design, "The BMW Concept Z4 shows the new BMW design language in all details and from every perspective." Exterior finishing is enhanced by 'Energetic Orange' color, which according to BMW contrasts with the light and shadow on its surface, including the installation of two-tone rims, 20 inches, double-spoked.
Shift to the interior of the the Concept Z4 which has a unique design, thanks to the hexagonal pattern and different color motifs between the driver's seat which is black and the passenger seat is orange.
Unfortunately, there’s no official word yet on which engines we can expect to power the production Z4, but a test mule was spotted with a spec sheet taped to the dashboard. It suggested that the rear-drive Z4 will offer the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder of its predecessor. Bet on a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six being the optional engine. That same set of spy shots showed a six-speed manual transmission. But who's know? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BMW | CARANDDRIVER | MOTOR1]
Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow concept has made its debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2018 in Monterey, California, after some time ago appeared its teaser images in the form of a sculpture called Mercedes-Benz Aesthetics Progressive Luxury Concept.
Mercedes-Benz Vision EQ Silver Arrow on the Concept Lawn at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2018. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2LBmx1V)
The concept of the German electric car is a tribite to the 1938 Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen, which broke the speed record with a 5.5-liter twin-supercharged V12 engine with 725 horsepower in its hey day, with Rudi Caracciola behind the wheel, set a speed record of 268 miles per hour on a public road that wouldn't be beaten until 2017.
Although with pure electric power, these EQ Silver Arrow is designed as a high-performance car, with the power produced reaching up to 738 horsepower. The power source comes from an 80 kWh lithium ion battery that allows a range of about 250 miles (400 km).
Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer at DaimlerAG, stands proudly in front of the EQ Silver Arrow Concept at Monterey Car Week.(Picture from: http://bit.ly/2PbAPZg)
"Silver Arrows shows the historical value of Mercedes-Benz as a pioneer in terms of speed more than 80 years ago," said Daimler Design boss Gorden Wagener, as quoted by Autoguide.
The exterior of the EQ Silver Arrow is all swoopy and futuristic in its Alubeam silver paint, the interior makes use of a variety of rich, traditional materials such as leather, brushed aluminum and solid walnut and features a curved, panoramic screen that serves as an instrument display.
Wagener further said, its slim body design is also called providing acceleration and pleasure driving, as well as creating progressive luxury, providing insight into the future of Mercedes-Benz design.
There are several aspects that showcase the advanced technology embedded in EQ Silver, which features two large driver display screens, which can display road conditions on the screen.
The aerodynamic version of the 1938 Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen race car. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2PbAPZg)
Other features include sound-generation devices that can replicate the sound of other cars, including Mercedes F1 and AMG V8 cars. As in other models, the Silver Arrow EQ has Comfort, Sport and Sport+drive modes or settings. It indicates that the drive mode is also available on the future electric vehicles.
Like the W125 Rekordwagen, the EQ Silver Arrow is meant to seat only one, and at less than 36 inches off the ground and just over 17 feet long, that single occupant will have quite a view from the central driving position. Because this is a concept we're talking about, another notable feature is the sheer size of the wheels. The fronts are 24 inches in diameter, while the rears are 26 inches.
The EQ Silver Arrow represents an interesting take on the future by a company that always seems to have one eye firmly fixed on its long and celebrated past. To our eyes, this vehicle teases a more elegant and exciting future than that which is promised by the AMG Project One, and we hope it's a road that Mercedes-Benz explores more fully.. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOGUIDE | CNET]
As a follow-up to the cooperation between the Indonesian and Turkish governments that agreed on a collaboration in May 2015 to jointly develop the 'Modern Medium Weight Tank', with costs (reportedly) of US $30 million. The development phase of the program takes up to 37 months, with the first prototypes produced in Turkey, and the second in Indonesia.
The Indonesian's Harimau Hitam tank in the parade commemorating the 72nd anniversary of Indonesian National Armed Forces on October 5, 2017 in Cilegon, Banten. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2N6fsLt)
This tank was developed by PT. Pindad (Persero) in collaboration with a Turkish defense system company called FNSS Savunma Sistemleri for the Indonesian Army (TNI-AD).
The result is a new Modern Medium Weight Tank (MMWT) with the name Kaplan MT (Turkey) and Harimau Hitam or Black Tiger (Indonesia) which was introduced for the first time at Indo Defense 2016 and later its first prototype was shown at IDEF 2017.
Harimau Hitam or Kaplan MT was shown at IDEF 2017 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2MGDuO0)
This tank uses the Cockerill 3105 modular turret system developed by the Belgian company CMI Defense which can be manned by 3 crew members (consisting of Commander, Gunner and Driver). The turret system features the main armament system of a Cockerill XC-8HP 105mm cannon, which is capable of firing various projectiles with an automatic loader system and second armament is 7.62mm co-axial machine gun.
These medium tank is also equipped with a battlefield management system and a laser warning system that provides tactical awareness to the tank's commander. To engage in a stationary and moving target using the probability of a high round shot, a computerized control system. The commander and gunner are both equipped with stabilized sights combining a laser rangefinder. Beside that the tank commander is also equipped with a panoramic observation system to enable hunting and destroying targets.
Harimau Hitam or Kaplan MT while on maneuvering action. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2wzGBfK)
These medium tank able to move, due it uses a high-performance diesel engine, combined with an electronically controlled automatic transmission system. So that makes the tank which has a weight of 35 tons has a maximum speed of about 70 kph, and cruising range up to 450 km with a power to weight ratio of 20 hp/ton. The hull baseline made of welded steel with an appliqued armor package can be installed for a higher level of protection, mine protection is also installed. Beside that, these tank able to operate in a high temperature environment due to there's a cooling system installed into it.
Harimau Hitam or Kaplan MT currently being on test in several areas in Indonesia. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2N2yjqN)
The tank's interior is carefully engineered taking into account the crew's ergonomics and different tactical and battlefield conditions, including drivers, gunners and loading and unloading ammunition. The special type of driver seat allows the operator to have a very adequate field of view, and to access all cabin equipment. As the standard equipment in this tank includes an AC system, camera for situational awareness and an additional power unit that allows all subsystems to be run if the main diesel engine turns off or does not function properly.
Of course, these medium tanks role is not to fight the main battle tanks that have heavier weapons and better protection system but to engage more lighter threats in the field such as reconnaissance missions, infantry fighting vehicles, troops transportation and combat supporting vehicles.
The tank can also be used to support infantry in the direct close fire situation, with a 105 mm cannon used to fight pillboxes and other battlefield obstacles. With its lighter and lower profile, allows it to be used in areas that are not accessible by traditional MBT, which currently weighs more than 70 tons. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA]
Aero Artistry - Back in the early 1950s, Alfa Romeo wasn’t just interested in building stylish sports cars—they wanted to understand the science behind how cars moved through the air. So, in 1953, they turned to Bertone, a legendary design firm led at the time by Giuseppe "Nuccio" Bertone. With design genius Franco Scaglione behind the pencil, this partnership set out to create a trio of experimental cars that would push the boundaries of automotive aerodynamics.
The Three Original Alfa Romeo BAT concept cars. (Picture from: Wikipedia, retouched by EKA with a Batman figurine)
These machines were dubbed BAT, short for Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica, and their mission was clear—reduce drag and explore extreme shapes that sliced through the air like nothing before. The history of the concept cars began when Alfa Romeo contacted Giuseppe "Nuccio" Bertone from the design house Bertone to design three concept vehicles to examine the drag effect on the vehicle. The
concept cars were then named BAT for "Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica,"and the three initial concept car models were designed by Franco
Scaglione.
The
innovation behind these concept cars lies in both their design and technology—earning well-deserved praise and admiration. And no, they have nothing to do with the fictional superhero Batman or his Batmobile. Each of the three original cars made their debut at the Turin Auto Show in 1953, 1954, and 1955, respectively. What follows is a look at four classic BAT concept cars from Alfa Romeo and Bertone—each one a bold vision of the future wrapped in a truly unique shape.
1. Alfa Romeo BAT 5
The first of the series, BAT 5, rolled into the public eye at the 1953 Turin Auto Show, looking more like a spacecraft than a car. Every curve of the vehicle was sculpted with wind flow in mind. From its exaggerated fins to its sharply angled windows and almost seamless roofline, the BAT 5 was created to minimize resistance and avoid turbulent air pockets.
Front three quarter of 1953 Alfa Romeo BAT 5.(Picture from: ConceptCarz)
It wasn’t just a visual stunner—the technical results were impressive too. Bertone
designed the car to be exceptionally lightweight—around 1,100 kg (2,400
lbs)—featuring side windows angled at 45 degrees relative to the body
and a large windshield that seamlessly blends into an almost flat roof.
Rear three quarter of 1953 Alfa Romeo BAT 5. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)
At the rear, a long back window is split by a slender central pillar, while two fins rise upward and tilt slightly inward. This attention to aerodynamics resulted in a remarkably low drag coefficient of 0.23 and a top speed around 200 km/h (120 mph)
with a modest 100 hp engine proved that beauty and brains could indeed
go hand-in-hand.
2. Alfa Romeo BAT 7
A year later, BAT 7 took things even further. This model built upon the aerodynamic lessons of its predecessor and turned up the drama. Massive curved tailfins dominated the rear, clearly inspired by aircraft design. Its nose dipped lower, with a more aggressive profile and retractable headlights nestled beside it.
Front three quarter of 1954 Alfa Romeo BAT 7. (Picture from: Pinterest)
The result? An even sleeker silhouette that boasted a drag coefficient of just 0.19—still a marvel by today’s standards. Despite its radical appearance, the car wasn’t about style for style’s sake. Every detail had a function, aimed at taming airflow and reducing resistance to the absolute minimum.
Rear three quarter of 1954 Alfa Romeo BAT 7. (Picture from: Pinterest)
3. Alfa Romeo BAT 9
Then came BAT 9 in 1955, a more refined and almost production-ready looking concept. While it retained echoes of the earlier BAT designs, it dialed back the theatrical elements. The enormous fins were traded for subtler, cleaner lines that hinted more clearly at Alfa Romeo’s road cars.
Front three quarter of 1955 Alfa Romeo BAT 9. (Picture from: Rex Grey on Flickr)
BAT 9 was perhaps the bridge between fantasy and reality—a study in how to channel dramatic design into something that might actually make it to a showroom floor. Still, it held on to its futuristic edge with signature touches and meticulous detailing.
Left side view of 1955 Alfa Romeo BAT 9. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)
4. Alfa Romeo BAT 11
Fast forward more than five decades, and the BAT name wasn’t forgotten. In 2008, Alfa Romeo and Bertone reunited to unveil BAT 11, a modern homage to the classics. This time, the base was the striking Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, and while the design language paid tribute to the originals, the result was bolder and wilder than ever.
Right side view of 2008 Alfa Romeo BAT 11. (Picture from: Pinterest)
With swooping surfaces, flared panels, and deep-cut lines, BAT 11 embraced the theatrical spirit of the past but added a 21st-century edge. Though never intended for production, it reminded the world just how far ahead of their time the original BAT cars truly were.
Rear three quarter of 2008 Alfa Romeo BAT 11. (Picture from: Pinterest)
Today, the first three BATs have been fully restored and are cherished as masterpieces of design. They make rare appearances at prestigious events like the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where they continue to steal the spotlight. Collectors consider them priceless, with valuations soaring well past the million-dollar mark per car. Yet their true value isn’t just in their rarity or their stunning visuals—it lies in what they represent: the fearless pursuit of innovation through design.
Looking back, the BAT Series wasn’t just a showcase of automotive beauty—it was a celebration of imagination and experimentation. Decades later, these cars still look like they’ve landed from the future. And maybe, just maybe, that’s what makes them timeless. WOW!! *** [EKA [01092018] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA | STEEMIT | CONCEPTCARZ | ]
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When Bugatti was experiencing a crisis in the mid-1990s, a group of former employees founded B Engineering. At that time Bugatti was building EB110, a supercar that rumoured could embarrass the speed of most of the supercars that exist today. And there were only 139 units of EB110 built between 1991-1995.
This unit is a monster that can be said to be more advanced than the Bugatti Chiron class supercars that exist today. The EB110 supercar uses a packs of 3.5-liter quad-turbo V12 engine capable of generating the power up to 550 horsepower.
The power generated by the engine above is then sent to all four wheels through a six-speed manual transmission system. As a result, the car can reach speeds of 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds on the way to a top speed of 216 mph.
And now the EB110 had been reborn, though not from the original manufacturer. Yes, an American automotive company based in Las Vegas named Casil Motors has announced in January 2018 about the limited presence an EB110-based supercar with a sleepy-eyed styling plus an updated drivetrain called SP-110 Edonis.
Rear side view of All-new SP-110 Edonis Fenice. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ohjrqO)
This manufacturer's history is rather complicated. In the late 1980s, Bugatti was bought by Romano Artioli. Then in 1991, the company began producing the EB110. But the supercar was not enough to prevent Bugatti from be bankruptcy in 1995. And a German automotive giant, Volkswagen finally bought these French automotive manufacturer in 1998.
Then Artioli and a group of former Bugatti's engineers lead by Nicola Materazzi finally founded a company named B Engineering based at Modena, Italia. They bought the remaining EB110 components and revealed the Edonis based on EB110 car on January 1, 2000.
For the Edonis car, they discarded AWD system and increased the power generated by the engine, but no detailed about other changes. Unfortunately the car never made it to the production stage. The company continues to this day to provide servicing for EB110 owners.
Then recently Casil Motors took over the work of those B-Engineering engineers to complete what they have been started before, after they bought the rights to the Edonis last year. The result is the car that you are seeing today and named SP-110 Edonis.
Front three quarter view of All-new SP-110 Edonis Rinascita. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ohjrqO)
Under its aluminum body, we will find the carbon fiber monocoque of EB110. The engine is a 3.8 liter version of EB110's V12. The engine is capable to burst power up to 720 horsepower while the EB110's quad-turbo was removed and changed with two large displacement turbos.
About the car's performance, as reported by Autoblog, the company claimed that the car can reach 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, 100 mph in 8.2 seconds, and has a top speed of more than 220 mph. The engine power is channeled to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission system.
Rear three quarter view of All-new SP-110 Edonis Rinascita. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ohjrqO)
Casil Motors offers a variety of choices, ranging from Materazzi's original Fenice design (pictured in red) or the "aggressive and modernised" new Rinascita bodystyle (pictured in white). The Rinascita adds front louvres, a rear diffuser and additional carbonfibre components, which are said to give "increased performance and handling".
And only 15 units of SP-110 Edonis will be built. Casil Motors requires a deposit of US. $2,500 (around £1,750) from the potential customer who ordered these car. With those initial payment, do not expect this car to be cheap. As quoted of Autocar, the SP-110 Edonis was sold at a price ranging from £600,000 or around US. $772,365. In Indonesian currency today worth approx Rp.11.3 billion. WoW!*** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CASIL MOTORS | AUTOCAR]
Homo erectus first appeared two million years ago and went extinct around 50,000 to 100,000 years ago and was the first early hominid to become a true global explorer. They are known to migrate from Africa to Eurasia, then spread to Georgia, Sri Lanka, China and Indonesia.
However, according to a recent study published in the PLOS One journal on July 27, 2018, the Homo erectus species turned out to be quite lazy and reluctant to adapt to environmental changes compared to other hominids - such as Neanderthals.
As quoted from IFLScience! on Friday, August 10, 2018, which reported that archaeologists from the Australian National University analyzed thousands of newly discovered artifacts and excavated from excavation sites in the Arabian Peninsula in modern Saffaqah region, Saudi Arabia in 2014 to find out the reason of these species extinction. Their findings indicate that the Homo erectus species in the area actually tried as little as possible to make tools and find supplies. Though these ancient humans lived in areas that had easy access to rocks and water.
This is Dr. Ceri Shipton on site at Saffaqah in central Saudi Arabia. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2Mjx5Ik)
"They don't seem to inspire themselves. I don't get proof that they are true explorers, they don't have the same curiosity as we are now," Dr. Ceri Shipton as told to Sky News.
He also added that this was evidence of how the species made stone tools they found lying around their homes. The problem is, the stones are of low quality. Most stone tools are made from stones that are worse than tools in the next civilization. In fact, there are areas of better quality rock even though it requires a trip far enough from their settlements.
"When we saw the rock there were no signs of any activity, there were no artifacts and there were no rock excavations. They knew it was there, but because they had enough resources for them, so why bother -repot? " Shipton continued.
This is in contrast to the makers of stone tools in later periods, including early Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. They climbed the mountain to find good quality rocks and transport them in long distances.
"Sediment samples show the environment around them is changing, but they are doing the same thing with their equipment," said Dr. Shipton. Unlike the more advanced species, Homo erectus tends to use a single "generic" tool for almost all jobs.
However, Homo erectus's ability to make tools is far more advanced than early humans in other parts of the world. They can already make a hand ax. Homo erectus-type ancient humans are strong and skilled. They developed in this region for some time. But, once the river bed dries up and there is sedimentation in the river, Homo erectus actually dies because they lack initiative. "They have never been very far from sources of clean water," said Dr. Shipton. "We also found that their technology for making stone tools is very conservative. They use the same strategies to make tools in the face of a changing environment. So, they are not only lazy but also very conservative," he said as quoted by Science Daily on August 10, 2018.
Shipton said further that the extinction of Homo erectus was caused by not having the ability to plan for the future. "They only plan for the next few hours, or maybe for the next day. While Homo sapiens and Neanderthals plan further ahead, like a seasonal migration plan," he concluded. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | IFLSCIENCE! | SCIENCE DAILY]
The interesting part is, the Concept Z4 is built based on a platform that is all new, the result of collaboration with Toyota. 
