Thomas Motors Car Designs

[accent]

I'll reboot my company since Automation has changed a lot since I last posted anything and I wanted to change the name from Tuukka Motors to Thomas Motors since I'd like the name to be more international. I'll keep the old ones here though, because I think they were good and people seemed to like them (thanks!).

Here are the old ones:

Here is the 20 year evolution of TM Potatismos, a cheap hatchback. I'll show 3 milestones but of course the car would've had some smaller facelifts along the way.

First the Mk 1 made in 1979, manufactured in Romania, cheap and slow with a 1.2L very low tech engine, but it gets you from point A to point B:

TM_Potatismos-1.jpg (138.28 KiB) Viewed 7468 times

Then the 1989 model, manufacturing moved to Finland and Germany, single point fuel injected 1.4L engine became an option:

TM_Potatismos-2.jpg (139.08 KiB) Viewed 7468 times

The 1999 model had a 1.6L 89 HP engine. This was the last model, production ended in 2001. In 1999 Tuukka Motors also entered the World Rally Championship with a version of Potatismos called Potatismos RC, with a 2.0L turbocharged engine producing 300 HP.

TM_Potatismos-3.jpg (219.58 KiB) Viewed 7468 times

[ryandude2448]

I like the "signature designs" carried over from each design. The split grille and the rear side vent things... nicely done.

[accent]

Americo is a sub brand of Tuukka Motors for US markets (Yanks can't pronounce silly European names ). This ridiculousness is Americo Velociraptor. 4.4L Twin turbo V8 accelerates it from 0 to 100 KPH in 3.8 seconds.

Americo_Velociraptor-1.jpg (166 KiB) Viewed 7447 times

[accent]

TM's Sports car sub-brand Kaveri Motorsport produced this entry level sports coupé, called the KM 100, from 1985 to 1994. Cheap (for a sports car) front wheel drive coupé with styling influenced by Mazda RX 7. This Targa model has a 2.2 l naturally aspirated DOHC 4-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower.

1990_KM_100_Targa.jpg (139.93 KiB) Viewed 7384 times

[Daffyflyer]

I like em! That last one is rather Lancia 037 like too

[Molotov]

The KM 100 looks great!

[sansa93]

I love the T tops on the km-100! I think you also did a good job at making each generation of Potatismos look like it belongs in that era.

[Automaton]

TM's Sports car sub-brand Kaveri Motorsport produced this entry level sports coupé, called the KM 100, from 1985 to 1994. Cheap (for a sports car) front wheel drive coupé with styling influenced by Mazda RX 7. This Targa model has a 2.2 l naturally aspirated DOHC 4-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower.

1990_KM_100_Targa.jpg

I love the sun roof! Also, liked very much the side black line on your early models. I like to use silver ones myself,inspired by my love to my old 1968 KarmannGhia (which unfortunately I had to sell years ago)

[jaykiem85]

Very cool designs, I like the carried over features and the attention to detail. Nicely done

[NyanCatx3]

Your KM 100 looks at the first picture a lil' bit like a Skyline R32 Type M

[accent]

I'll reboot my company since Automation has changed a lot since I last posted anything and I wanted to change the name from Tuukka Motors to Thomas Motors since I'd like the name to be more international and I didn't really like having my real name showing up every time I want to use the full name of the company instead of just TM. I'll keep the old ones here though, because I think they were good and people seemed to like them (thanks!).

So, let's start with the new ones! Amerigo is an American car company that was bought by TM and remains the manufacturer of TM's vehicles intended for the American market. It is named after Amerigo Vespucci, the explorer who America is named after. Their flagship model is the Empire, which is a personal luxury car competing with cars like Cadillac Eldorado.

Here is a timeline of different Empire models from the 1940's to this day.

amerigo_empire_timeline.jpg (893.58 KiB) Viewed 5964 times

[accent]

In the late 1980's TM realized they needed a hot hatch. Thus the TM Slider was born. Sports car manufacturer Raggari Automobile was commissioned to design the engine for the top trim level which became known as RP for Raggari Performance edition.

The 1988 model had a 1.6 L DOHC I4 producing 120 horsepower. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h happened in 7.9 seconds and the top speed was 201 km/h.
Car critics praised the handling as appropriately sporty and nimble for a hot hatch but still comfortable and safe for everyday use. The styling was criticized as bland and the fuel economy wasn't very good but the car was cheaper than most competing models. The low price and good performance made the car fairly popular despite criticism of the looks and economy. Later it was considered somewhat of a cult classic and many Slider RP owner's clubs popped up around the globe.

1988_TM_Slider.jpg (327.14 KiB) Viewed 5929 times

1995 came the Mk II Slider with the RP trim level having a 2.0L DOHC I4 that produced 166 horsepower. The 0-100 km/h time was a bit quicker at 7.1 seconds and top speed climbed to 218 km/h. The handling was less sporty and the car was more expensive than the previous generation, so it failed as a hot hatch, but the lower trim levels were considered good hatchbacks with a tame, easy handling, stylish and smart interior and good safety features.

1995_TM_Slider.jpg (313.99 KiB) Viewed 5929 times

Mk III Slider was introduced in 2004. The RP engine was still a 2.0L DOHC I4 but this time with a turbo charger, giving the top trim level the designation RPT. 226 horsepowers accelerated the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and the top speed was 250 km/h. The car was equipped with an advanced (and expensive) MultiLink suspension but the handling was still considered poor compared to the earlier models. After one year of production the RPT trim level was discontinued and TM hasn't introduced new hot hatches since. The standard TM Slider continues to be a somewhat successfull hatchback though, largely due to a high level of passenger safety and comfort.

2004_TM_Slider.jpg (337.22 KiB) Viewed 5929 times

[accent]

Here's an ad featuring a concept car called TM Lady.

TM_ad_01.jpg (271.45 KiB) Viewed 5919 times

And here are the logos of Thomas Motors and Raggari Automobile. Raggari might sound Italian, but it's actually a Finnish slang word meaning something like a young troublemaker, a ruffian or hooligan or something like that.

logos.jpg (131.17 KiB) Viewed 5919 times

One more car for tonight: 2014 TM Feels is a luxury sedan with a 300 hp six cylinder engine. It is partly based on a concept car TM made in the nineties for a science fiction film. In the film the concept car played the part of a 2020's limousine used by the movie's villain.

2014_TM_Feels.jpg (288.31 KiB) Viewed 5910 times

[Noporian]

i love the feels!

[accent]

TM's getting into electric cars. Let's pretend that the heavy, high revving, high torque 6 cylinder engine in this is an electric motor and lots of batteries.

tm_digital_zero.jpg (300.68 KiB) Viewed 5882 times