1966 Chevrolet Corvette on 2040-cars

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Artist imagines eerie world where cars have no wheels

The wheel ranks right up there with the telescope and four-slice toaster in the pantheon of inventions that have moved humankind forward. But what if a circle in three dimensions had never occurred to anyone, and we all had just moved on without it? Perhaps we'd be driving around in Lucas Motors Landspeeders with anti-gravity engines. Or maybe we'd have the same cars we do today, just without wheels.
That's the thought experiment that seems to have led French photographer Renaud Marion to create his six-image series called Air Drive. The shots depict cars throughout many eras of motoring that look normal except for one thing: they have no wheels. The models used include a Jaguar XK120, Cadillac DeVille (shown above), Chevrolet El Camino and Camaro, and Mercedes-Benz SL and 300 roadsters.
Perhaps one day when our future becomes our past, you'll be able to walk the street and see with your own eyes the rust and patina of age on our nation's fleet of floating cars. Until then, Monsieur Marion's photographs will have to do.

Chevy EN-V 2.0 coming to Tianjin Eco-City in China

Chevrolet is bringing its EN-V 2.0 to the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City in China to show off the "Electric Networked-Vehicle" and demonstrate sustainable urban mobility. The small, two-seat EV concept is an updated version of the original EN-V, a vision of getting around in a future world where space is at a premium and clean air is a priority. So what better place to showcase the evolved EN-V than at the Tianjin Eco-City? The Eco-City is being developed as a planned urban space with eco-consciousness built in. The joint venture between China and Singapore offers an alternative to country living and smog-filled cities. Tianjin Eco-City, slated to be completed by 2020, will be able to offer 350,000 inhabitants clean air and water, renewable energy, green transportation and living spaces and, if all goes as planned, jobs for 50 percent of the residents. Currently, only about three square kilometers of the planned 30 square kilometers have been built, with only about 6,000 permanent residents, but there's still time. The EN-V 2.0, as the "Networked" part of its name suggests, not only features mobile internet, but can communicate with other cars around it. Along with GPS and built-in sensors, this connection between vehicles allows the car to drive autonomously (at least in theory - again, there's still time). This is ideal in an urban environment where congestion can be a major issue. The EN-V 2.0 improves upon the original concept with climate control, storage space and all-weather capability, which also make life more bearable and daily commuting possible. We first saw renderings of the updated vehicle in 2012. The Chevrolet EN-V 2.0 will be used in the Eco-City's National Animation Industry Park and Eco-Business Park of the course of the two-week demonstration. Read on below for more in the press release from GM. GM to Demonstrate Chevrolet EN-V 2.0 in Tianjin Eco-City SHANGHAI – General Motors today announced that it will begin demonstrating the Chevrolet EN-V 2.0 (Electric Networked-Vehicle) in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City this week, signaling the company's learning and progress in sustainable urban mobility. The demonstration will help GM further understand consumers' usage of low-speed transportation tools for their daily commute. During the two-week demonstration period, the EN-V 2.0s will be used in the National Animation Industry Park and Eco-Business Park inside the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City.

Weekly Recap: Lamborghini to build SUV

Finally, Lamborghini will build a sport utility vehicle. The Italian supercar maker confirmed this week that it will launch a luxury SUV in 2018. It will be built at Lamborghini's soon-to-expand factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese in Italy, and will double the company's current sales volume. Lamborghini did not announce a name for the vehicle or other details, but noted a concept version, the Urus, was displayed at the Beijing motor show in 2012. It will be sold around the world, but it's expected to be a critical offering in the United States, China, and the Middle East. The automaker projects the SUV will sell about 3,000 units per year, and it will be the third product in Lamborghini's portfolio. It currently sells the Huracan and Aventador supercars. "The introduction of a third model line endorses the stable and sustainable growth of the company and signifies for us the beginning of a new era," Lamborghini chief executive Stephan Winkelmann said in a statement. The project is also a boon for Italy, which will get 500 new jobs in the Emilia Romagna region as Lamborghini's factory will nearly double in size. Ian Fletcher, principal analyst for IHS Automotive, said the SUV will position Lamborghini for future growth. "It could well also bring new customers to the brand [who] may find the dramatic styling of Lamborghini products appealing, but find its typical sports cars restrictive," he said. "If it is a success, the SUV could be a catalyst to Lamborghini broadening its portfolio further." OTHER NEWS & NOTES GM invests in Chevy Camaro factory General Motors is investing $175 million to upgrade its factory in Lansing, MI, to build the 2016 Chevy Camaro. The investment will pay for new tooling and equipment. The improvements include three new paint systems and two new robotic framers. GM will add a second shift at the factory to build the Camaro, resulting in 500 jobs. The automaker had dropped the plant to one shift last year amid slow sales for its products, the Cadillac ATS and CTS. GM is spending $5.4 billion over the next three years to upgrade its US facilities. Last week, GM announced plans to spend $439 million to build a new paint shop for the Chevy Corvette. While the Camaro and Corvette plant improvements are intriguing to enthusiasts, GM also confirmed this week that it is investing $1.2 billion in its Fort Wayne (IN) factory that builds trucks.