Hot on the heels of the new Citroen C4 comes the new Citroen DS4, the second of the French car company’s 21st century DS models. Designed to take on sleek models like Alfa’s Giulietta and Vauxhall’s forthcoming three-door Astra, it mixes humdrum hatchback underpinnings with a more adventurous styling direction on the outside, and more luxurious materials on the inside.
So is the new Citroen DS4 a posh version of the Citroen C4?
Essentially, yes – think along the lines of how Citroen turned the mundane C3 into the much more exciting DS3. And although the DS4 sticks with five doors (the five-door C3 morphed into the three-door DS3) it does have unique styling. It is still recognisably C4-based, but there’s now a new nose, more curvaceous flanks, and hidden rear door handles. Citroen says the look combines ‘coupé style with 2+2 door practicality’, and because it’s designed to be stylish and attractive there’s a smaller boot too, down from the C4’s 408-litres to 370-litres. Expect lashings of chrome and leather inside.
There are a choice of five engines, two of which are diesel, and available in 108bhp and 158bhp guises. The three petrol engines are all based on the 1.6-litre turbo co-developed with BMW, and beyond the familiar 118bhp and 152bhp variants, there’s the same 197bhp unit that’s found in the Peugeot RCZ.
The new Citroen DS4 will be unveiled at the 2010 Paris motor show, and UK sales will start in 2011.
Thứ Tư, 29 tháng 2, 2012
Toyota Verso-S (2011) first official pictures
Toyota is returning to the mini-MPV sector with the new Verso-S, set to be unveiled at the upcoming 2010 Paris motor show. Think of it as successor to the old Yaris Verso, only now it's a lot better looking, with hints of the iQ city car games around the nose.
The new Toyota Verso-S looks small, is it?
Yes. The new Verso-S is based on the current Yaris, and Toyota claims it will be the shortest car in its class at just under four metres long. But Toyota, of course, is also promising that 'careful attention to detail and a practical, flexible interior design have maximised usable space, comfort and perceived quality.'
Engine details have yet to be announced, but expect the Verso-S to use the 1.0 and 1.33-litre engines from the Yaris. Toyota has yet to decide if the Verso-S will be offered in the UK with a diesel engine, although it has confirmed there are no plans for a hybrid version of the MPV.
The new Verso-S will be officially unveiled on 30 September at the Paris motor show, with UK sales expected to begin in early 2011.
The new Toyota Verso-S looks small, is it?
Yes. The new Verso-S is based on the current Yaris, and Toyota claims it will be the shortest car in its class at just under four metres long. But Toyota, of course, is also promising that 'careful attention to detail and a practical, flexible interior design have maximised usable space, comfort and perceived quality.'
Engine details have yet to be announced, but expect the Verso-S to use the 1.0 and 1.33-litre engines from the Yaris. Toyota has yet to decide if the Verso-S will be offered in the UK with a diesel engine, although it has confirmed there are no plans for a hybrid version of the MPV.
The new Verso-S will be officially unveiled on 30 September at the Paris motor show, with UK sales expected to begin in early 2011.
Mazda Shinari concept car (2010) first official pictures
Mazda's new design direction is embodied in the new Shinari concept car. Modeled to announce to the world the new styling language of future Mazda road cars, the Shinari ushers in a new look to replace the somewhat tortured Nagare mantra that has fizzled into a damp squib on the sides of the latest Mazda 5 midi-MPV.
The Shinari won't be shown at the 2010 Paris motor show (apparently it's being held back for a 2011 Geneva debut), yet this is a landmark concept for Mazda design, under the new leadership of chief design Ikuo Maeda.
He replaced Dutchman Laurens van den Acker 10 months ago as head of Mazda design; Brit Moray Callum held the post before that. Maeda, a life-long Mazda employee, told CAR that he'd been appointed for the long term, 'at least 10 years'. We'd argue that's welcome, as it's hard to shift a company's design look in just the three or four years of his predecessors' appointments.
So what's all this Mazda Shinari about?
It's a new four-door coupé, not dissimilar to a Merc CLS or Audi A7 Sportback, and it looks pretty imposing stretching to 4890mm long. It's a low-slung 1348mm high and 1970mm wide.
It embraces the Kodo design language, which translates as 'soul of motion'. Maeda's new design philosophy is all about dynamic emotion and he promises this look will start to influence production cars 'within two to three years'.
Will they build the Mazda Shinari?
Sadly this is very unlikely. It could however inform future versions of the Mazda 6 and the designers flashed up images of a future 2 supermini with Kodo styling flourishes.
Details to look out for include the newly tweaked grille, with inbuilt light tubes to emphasise the five-pointed radiator. This is plausible for production, Maeda told CAR.
And the twisted, tensioned surfaces are also destined for production cars. 'If there's one thing I want to emphasise, it's the new emotion you'll find on future Mazdas,' said Maeda.
So what's the Mazda Shinari like in the metal?
Rather like an Infiniti Essence, with shades of Maserati Granturismo and even Jag XJ. They've aimed for taut, muscular surfaces and have largely achieved that with tension in the sheetmetal, rippled by plunging and diverging character lines. The Shinari looks way bigger than its 4.8m length suggests.
Maeda-san says the shark nose is achievable and expect the shape and character of the lights front and rear to make it to production cars too (they're one of the design highlights). Problem is, we've seen so many conceptual ideas from Mazda of late - and so little action - that we're a wee bit sceptical. Nothing short of delivering on the promise of this new, more emotional Kodo design language will be enough to appease the memories of endless Nagare concepts and little showroom change.
But having spent the day with Maeda and believing his long-term mandate for change, we're confident reform is coming. He admits today's range is too stilted, too unemotional. This new Kodo mantra might just inject some spark back into Mazda.
The Shinari won't be shown at the 2010 Paris motor show (apparently it's being held back for a 2011 Geneva debut), yet this is a landmark concept for Mazda design, under the new leadership of chief design Ikuo Maeda.
He replaced Dutchman Laurens van den Acker 10 months ago as head of Mazda design; Brit Moray Callum held the post before that. Maeda, a life-long Mazda employee, told CAR that he'd been appointed for the long term, 'at least 10 years'. We'd argue that's welcome, as it's hard to shift a company's design look in just the three or four years of his predecessors' appointments.
So what's all this Mazda Shinari about?
It's a new four-door coupé, not dissimilar to a Merc CLS or Audi A7 Sportback, and it looks pretty imposing stretching to 4890mm long. It's a low-slung 1348mm high and 1970mm wide.
It embraces the Kodo design language, which translates as 'soul of motion'. Maeda's new design philosophy is all about dynamic emotion and he promises this look will start to influence production cars 'within two to three years'.
Will they build the Mazda Shinari?
Sadly this is very unlikely. It could however inform future versions of the Mazda 6 and the designers flashed up images of a future 2 supermini with Kodo styling flourishes.
Details to look out for include the newly tweaked grille, with inbuilt light tubes to emphasise the five-pointed radiator. This is plausible for production, Maeda told CAR.
And the twisted, tensioned surfaces are also destined for production cars. 'If there's one thing I want to emphasise, it's the new emotion you'll find on future Mazdas,' said Maeda.
So what's the Mazda Shinari like in the metal?
Rather like an Infiniti Essence, with shades of Maserati Granturismo and even Jag XJ. They've aimed for taut, muscular surfaces and have largely achieved that with tension in the sheetmetal, rippled by plunging and diverging character lines. The Shinari looks way bigger than its 4.8m length suggests.
Maeda-san says the shark nose is achievable and expect the shape and character of the lights front and rear to make it to production cars too (they're one of the design highlights). Problem is, we've seen so many conceptual ideas from Mazda of late - and so little action - that we're a wee bit sceptical. Nothing short of delivering on the promise of this new, more emotional Kodo design language will be enough to appease the memories of endless Nagare concepts and little showroom change.
But having spent the day with Maeda and believing his long-term mandate for change, we're confident reform is coming. He admits today's range is too stilted, too unemotional. This new Kodo mantra might just inject some spark back into Mazda.
Hyundai ix20 (2010) first official teaser sketch
Hyundai is the latest car manufacturer to join the mini-MPV party, with the upcoming ix20, and ahead of its preview at the Paris motor show at the end of this month, the Korean company has released this teaser sketch. Designed and developed at Hyundai’s European research and development centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the ix20 is essentially Hyundai’s version of sister firm Kia’s Venga.
Hyundai ix20? MPV or crossover?
Hyundai would have you believe it’s a little bit of both – the ‘ix’ moniker has been chosen to suggest its cross-over like capability. The Korean manufacturer says the ix20 is ‘a vehicle with the ability to simultaneously serve as a functional people-carrier while providing a dynamic, fun-to-drive experience’; the Venga has shown that it’s a capable and competent, if unexciting, small MPV.
The ix20 takes on some of the styling cues from the bigger ix35, and is the latest car to adopt the company’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language. Hopefully the ix20 will remain faithful to the sketch’s chunky styling without being toned down too much by the time it reaches production. Hyundai is keeping details of engines and pricing under wraps for now, however it’s likely to share the same 1.4 diesel and 1.1 and 1.4 petrols as the Venga.
The ix20 will debut on 30 September at the Paris motor show, and UK sales will start in November 2010. Hyundai will also showcase its new i10, with a revised 1.0-litre, sub-100g/km petrol engine, as well as the latest developments in its Blue Drive eco range.
Hyundai ix20? MPV or crossover?
Hyundai would have you believe it’s a little bit of both – the ‘ix’ moniker has been chosen to suggest its cross-over like capability. The Korean manufacturer says the ix20 is ‘a vehicle with the ability to simultaneously serve as a functional people-carrier while providing a dynamic, fun-to-drive experience’; the Venga has shown that it’s a capable and competent, if unexciting, small MPV.
The ix20 takes on some of the styling cues from the bigger ix35, and is the latest car to adopt the company’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language. Hopefully the ix20 will remain faithful to the sketch’s chunky styling without being toned down too much by the time it reaches production. Hyundai is keeping details of engines and pricing under wraps for now, however it’s likely to share the same 1.4 diesel and 1.1 and 1.4 petrols as the Venga.
The ix20 will debut on 30 September at the Paris motor show, and UK sales will start in November 2010. Hyundai will also showcase its new i10, with a revised 1.0-litre, sub-100g/km petrol engine, as well as the latest developments in its Blue Drive eco range.
Chevrolet Cruze hatchback concept (2010) first official pictures
These are the first pictures of the new Chevrolet Cruze hatchback, a concept car that will be unveiled at the 2010 Paris motor show. Think of it as a thinly veiled look at the new five-door version of the Cruze that will go on sale in 2011.
Is there really any demand for a Chevrolet Cruze hatchback?
Apparently so, and we all know the old addage that five doors are more popular than four in Europe. 'The total compact segment in Europe represents around 4.8 million units,' says president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe Wayne Brannon. 'Hatchbacks represent around 65% of that volume.'
As for the hatchback Cruze itself, come production time expect it to lose the LED lights and large alloys, and we do know that the boot capacity will be reduced from the saloon's 450-litres to around 400. Engines will likely be shared with the saloon, which means a petrol 1.6, or 1.8 or 2.0-litre diesels. Prices have yet to be confirmed, but the saloon is priced between £13k and £15k so expect something similar for the hatch when sales start in mid-2011.
>> Click 'Add your comment' below and let us know what you think of the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback concept
Is there really any demand for a Chevrolet Cruze hatchback?
Apparently so, and we all know the old addage that five doors are more popular than four in Europe. 'The total compact segment in Europe represents around 4.8 million units,' says president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe Wayne Brannon. 'Hatchbacks represent around 65% of that volume.'
As for the hatchback Cruze itself, come production time expect it to lose the LED lights and large alloys, and we do know that the boot capacity will be reduced from the saloon's 450-litres to around 400. Engines will likely be shared with the saloon, which means a petrol 1.6, or 1.8 or 2.0-litre diesels. Prices have yet to be confirmed, but the saloon is priced between £13k and £15k so expect something similar for the hatch when sales start in mid-2011.
>> Click 'Add your comment' below and let us know what you think of the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback concept
Bentley Continental GT (2011): first photos of the new Conti
Do not retune your computer monitor. This is the new, second-generation Bentley Continental GT unveiled today. It might look like a gently polished version of the familiar Conti silhouette that’s plagued football grounds and London’s swankier west end districts since 2003, but trust us: the new Bentley Continental GT is a properly new model.
For a start, every body panel and piece of glass in the Mk2 Conti is different. Dirk van Braeckel and his design team in Crewe have taken the familiar Continental design and sharpened it. This car is the same but different. There’s even a new 4.0-litre V8 engine added to the line-up, just in case you doubted change was afoot.
Come on! How different is the ‘new’ 2011 Continental?
You’ll spot the new Conti from the front most easily: those Mulsanne-inspired speccy-four-eyes headlamps are distinctive, the inner lamps powered by xenon on low beam and LED on high beam; the outer lenses are day running lights and illuminate entirely by diode. The Bentley grille now sits 40mm lower too.
Park an old and a new Continental alongside each other and you’ll be surprised by the diverging side profiles. Like the transition from Mk1 to Mk2 Audi TT, the glasshouse (or DLO, in designerspeak) is 26mm shallower, making for a more ‘slammed’ appearance on the new Continental GT arriving in early 2011.
The door handles are now on the side character line rather than breaking up the sheetmetal too. And see those door mirrors? They’re the same as on a Mulsanne, they are.
How will the new Bentley Conti GT drive?
Probably very like the last one, which is to say like the Orient Express on speed. The basic engineering architecture is carried over and the car has an identical wheelbase and overall length. However, there are numerous technical upgrades: the track is wider front and rear, new lighter steering knuckles are now hollow and the wheelarches have swollen to accommodate 20in rims as standard, though many will upgrade to newly available 21in wheels.
Drive is now diverted more to the rear with a standard 60:40 split in normal driving, juggled by a Torsen central diff. The ZF six-speed gearbox is claimed to halve shift times using tech pioneered on the Supersports, but ZF’s eight-speeder is coming according to chief engineer Ulrich Eichorn (and we’d point out that enables hybridisation as seen on BMWs and future Jaguar Land Rover products).
Most importantly, the new Conti GT makes greater use of lightweight aluminium throughout. The front wing is now a singleformed aluminium piece; the boot and bonnet are both made from aluminium too. Previously the bootlid and wings were steel – all helping to contribute to a 63kg weight saving.
For a start, every body panel and piece of glass in the Mk2 Conti is different. Dirk van Braeckel and his design team in Crewe have taken the familiar Continental design and sharpened it. This car is the same but different. There’s even a new 4.0-litre V8 engine added to the line-up, just in case you doubted change was afoot.
Come on! How different is the ‘new’ 2011 Continental?
You’ll spot the new Conti from the front most easily: those Mulsanne-inspired speccy-four-eyes headlamps are distinctive, the inner lamps powered by xenon on low beam and LED on high beam; the outer lenses are day running lights and illuminate entirely by diode. The Bentley grille now sits 40mm lower too.
Park an old and a new Continental alongside each other and you’ll be surprised by the diverging side profiles. Like the transition from Mk1 to Mk2 Audi TT, the glasshouse (or DLO, in designerspeak) is 26mm shallower, making for a more ‘slammed’ appearance on the new Continental GT arriving in early 2011.
The door handles are now on the side character line rather than breaking up the sheetmetal too. And see those door mirrors? They’re the same as on a Mulsanne, they are.
How will the new Bentley Conti GT drive?
Probably very like the last one, which is to say like the Orient Express on speed. The basic engineering architecture is carried over and the car has an identical wheelbase and overall length. However, there are numerous technical upgrades: the track is wider front and rear, new lighter steering knuckles are now hollow and the wheelarches have swollen to accommodate 20in rims as standard, though many will upgrade to newly available 21in wheels.
Drive is now diverted more to the rear with a standard 60:40 split in normal driving, juggled by a Torsen central diff. The ZF six-speed gearbox is claimed to halve shift times using tech pioneered on the Supersports, but ZF’s eight-speeder is coming according to chief engineer Ulrich Eichorn (and we’d point out that enables hybridisation as seen on BMWs and future Jaguar Land Rover products).
Most importantly, the new Conti GT makes greater use of lightweight aluminium throughout. The front wing is now a singleformed aluminium piece; the boot and bonnet are both made from aluminium too. Previously the bootlid and wings were steel – all helping to contribute to a 63kg weight saving.
Ariel Atom V8 (2010) first official pictures
This is the really rather mad Ariel Atom V8. That’s right, this tiny little track-biased car has an eight-cylinder engine driving its rear wheels. And it’s a 3.0-litre V8 that produces 500bhp at 10,600rpm, to give the new Ariel Atom V8 a Bugatti-beating 909bhp/tonne.
‘There are things that can be done in low volume production that the big manufacturers can’t, won’t or daren’t do,’ said Ariel boss Simon Saunders. ‘We make a virtue of our size, our skills and the unique qualities that hand built production can bring to our cars. The Atom V8 demonstrates this.’
Okay, let’s try and take the Ariel Atom V8 seriously – tell me about that 500bhpV8 engine.
Apparently supercharged Honda Civic Type R engines with 300bhp just aren’t powerful enough. And the original supercharged 2.4-litre V8 that Ariel planned to use in the Atom V8 wasn’t up to scratch either. So the production Ariel Atom V8 has a US-built 3.0-litre V8. In the marginally more docile ‘road trim’ it produces 475bhp at 10,500rpm, along with 268lb ft at 7750rpm. And in the madder ‘track’ trim there’s a full 500bhp at 10,600rpm, plus 284lb ft at the same 7750rpm.
Combine the Atom V8’s 550kg kerbweight with all that power and you get 909bhp/tonne, way more than the 644bhp/tonne achieved by the Bugatti Veyron Super Sports. The 500bhp version will apparently hit 62mph in under 2.3 seconds, and then carry on to crack a terrifying 200mph – the 475bhp version manages ‘just’ 175mph. And the acceleration, whatever speed you’re at, will be ridiculous, thanks in part to the power, but also because the paddleshift-equipped Sadev six-speed sequential gearbox can swap cogs in just 40 milliseconds.
Beyond that Ariel has uprated the ‘regular’ Atom’s inboard suspension with specific dampers and springs, complete with remote reservoirs and adjustment for high speed compression, low speed compression and rebound, plus a four-way spring stiffness adjuster, so you can fine tune the V8 to your track of choice. There’s also carbonfibre bodywork (including adjustable front and rear spoilers), extra structural bracing in the engine compartment, and the chassis is powder coated with a gold finish. And mercifully there’s adjustable traction control, and a launch control to help you achieve that sub-2.3 second 0-62mph time. A data logging system will let you prove your acceleration run times to your mates too, and the LCD screen can display the shift lights and current gear position.
Just 25 Atom V8s will ever be built, and 20 have already been sold, despite the car costing £124,850 plus VAT – call it £150k by the time customer cars arrive in early 2011.
‘There are things that can be done in low volume production that the big manufacturers can’t, won’t or daren’t do,’ said Ariel boss Simon Saunders. ‘We make a virtue of our size, our skills and the unique qualities that hand built production can bring to our cars. The Atom V8 demonstrates this.’
Okay, let’s try and take the Ariel Atom V8 seriously – tell me about that 500bhpV8 engine.
Apparently supercharged Honda Civic Type R engines with 300bhp just aren’t powerful enough. And the original supercharged 2.4-litre V8 that Ariel planned to use in the Atom V8 wasn’t up to scratch either. So the production Ariel Atom V8 has a US-built 3.0-litre V8. In the marginally more docile ‘road trim’ it produces 475bhp at 10,500rpm, along with 268lb ft at 7750rpm. And in the madder ‘track’ trim there’s a full 500bhp at 10,600rpm, plus 284lb ft at the same 7750rpm.
Combine the Atom V8’s 550kg kerbweight with all that power and you get 909bhp/tonne, way more than the 644bhp/tonne achieved by the Bugatti Veyron Super Sports. The 500bhp version will apparently hit 62mph in under 2.3 seconds, and then carry on to crack a terrifying 200mph – the 475bhp version manages ‘just’ 175mph. And the acceleration, whatever speed you’re at, will be ridiculous, thanks in part to the power, but also because the paddleshift-equipped Sadev six-speed sequential gearbox can swap cogs in just 40 milliseconds.
Beyond that Ariel has uprated the ‘regular’ Atom’s inboard suspension with specific dampers and springs, complete with remote reservoirs and adjustment for high speed compression, low speed compression and rebound, plus a four-way spring stiffness adjuster, so you can fine tune the V8 to your track of choice. There’s also carbonfibre bodywork (including adjustable front and rear spoilers), extra structural bracing in the engine compartment, and the chassis is powder coated with a gold finish. And mercifully there’s adjustable traction control, and a launch control to help you achieve that sub-2.3 second 0-62mph time. A data logging system will let you prove your acceleration run times to your mates too, and the LCD screen can display the shift lights and current gear position.
Just 25 Atom V8s will ever be built, and 20 have already been sold, despite the car costing £124,850 plus VAT – call it £150k by the time customer cars arrive in early 2011.
Smart E-Scooter concept (2010) first design sketches
These sketches are our first glimpse at the potential future of Smart. Called the E-Scooter, it's a concept that will be unveiled at the 2010 Paris motor show.
So is Smart abandoning cars like the Fortwo to just build Scooters?
No, not a bit of it – there are, in fact, more cars coming too as well. The recent Daimler alliance with Renault-Nissan will see the next Fortwo twinned with the third-gen Twingo (meaning the French city car goes rear-wheel drive), and the Forfour is set for a comeback as well.
But as well as expanding its range of cars, Smart is also looking at the other end of the market. And because a four-wheeled vehicle can’t get much smaller than the Fortwo, Smart has turned to two wheels.
We’ll see the E-Scooter in the metal at the Paris motor show, but in the meantime we hear the lithium-ion battery will give it a zero-emissions range of 62 miles. Smart is also promising ‘extra-ordinary safety features’ so expect the E-Scooter concept to have an airbag as well.
So is Smart abandoning cars like the Fortwo to just build Scooters?
No, not a bit of it – there are, in fact, more cars coming too as well. The recent Daimler alliance with Renault-Nissan will see the next Fortwo twinned with the third-gen Twingo (meaning the French city car goes rear-wheel drive), and the Forfour is set for a comeback as well.
But as well as expanding its range of cars, Smart is also looking at the other end of the market. And because a four-wheeled vehicle can’t get much smaller than the Fortwo, Smart has turned to two wheels.
We’ll see the E-Scooter in the metal at the Paris motor show, but in the meantime we hear the lithium-ion battery will give it a zero-emissions range of 62 miles. Smart is also promising ‘extra-ordinary safety features’ so expect the E-Scooter concept to have an airbag as well.
Chevrolet Captiva (2011) first official pictures
Chevrolet has facelifted the Captiva SUV and will show the car in public for the first time at the 2010 Paris motor show as one of four world debuts. It's a modest refresh, with a new front end design, cabin upgrades and new engines and transmissions.
The seven-seater SUV has been around since 2006 and is due a mid-life pick-me-up. Noteworthy details include a larger grille, newly recontoured bonnet, prism-style headlamps, fresh side air vents and indicator repeaters built into the door mirrors. Keep things in perspective; from the A-pillars back, it's business as usual – this is very much a new face grafted on the familiar Captiva shape.
Another boring facelift... what else is new?
Well, this is the way the industry works. Four years in, and a cosmetic enhancement is de rigueur. To stay competitive, such facelifts are crucial, if only so the adverts can scream 'new' when we all know otherwise. And besides, we've always rather liked the attractively styled and priced Captiva.
There is plenty new under the bonnet. Three new GM engines are available with manual or six-speed auto transmissions. Choose from a 2.4-litre petrol or a 2.2-litre diesel in two states of tune, mustering 161bhp or 182bhp; the petrol output falls squarely between the two diesels, at 169bhp. The Captiva comes with front- or four-wheel drive.
It's a Chevy. Loads of kit, presumably?
You bet. The Captiva is bursting with TLAs (that's three-letter acronyms to you and me). ESC, TCS, BAS – you name it, the electronic handling aids are all present and correct. Hills start assist, electric handbrakes, USB ports, Bluetooth, touch-screen nav, parking cameras... Plenty of boys toys are available.
The interior of the Captiva is also upgraded, with new seat fabrics, ice-blue back lighting and a more wraparound fascia to delineate between passenger and driver zones. Apparently. We'll know for sure once we see the car at the Paris motor show on 30 September 2010.
UK sales of the new 2011 facelifted Chevrolet Captiva start in spring 2011.
The seven-seater SUV has been around since 2006 and is due a mid-life pick-me-up. Noteworthy details include a larger grille, newly recontoured bonnet, prism-style headlamps, fresh side air vents and indicator repeaters built into the door mirrors. Keep things in perspective; from the A-pillars back, it's business as usual – this is very much a new face grafted on the familiar Captiva shape.
Another boring facelift... what else is new?
Well, this is the way the industry works. Four years in, and a cosmetic enhancement is de rigueur. To stay competitive, such facelifts are crucial, if only so the adverts can scream 'new' when we all know otherwise. And besides, we've always rather liked the attractively styled and priced Captiva.
There is plenty new under the bonnet. Three new GM engines are available with manual or six-speed auto transmissions. Choose from a 2.4-litre petrol or a 2.2-litre diesel in two states of tune, mustering 161bhp or 182bhp; the petrol output falls squarely between the two diesels, at 169bhp. The Captiva comes with front- or four-wheel drive.
It's a Chevy. Loads of kit, presumably?
You bet. The Captiva is bursting with TLAs (that's three-letter acronyms to you and me). ESC, TCS, BAS – you name it, the electronic handling aids are all present and correct. Hills start assist, electric handbrakes, USB ports, Bluetooth, touch-screen nav, parking cameras... Plenty of boys toys are available.
The interior of the Captiva is also upgraded, with new seat fabrics, ice-blue back lighting and a more wraparound fascia to delineate between passenger and driver zones. Apparently. We'll know for sure once we see the car at the Paris motor show on 30 September 2010.
UK sales of the new 2011 facelifted Chevrolet Captiva start in spring 2011.
Hyundai ix20 and facelifted i10 (2010) first photos
After the design sketches, now it's the real McCoy: the new Hyundai ix20 mini-MPV.
No surprises for guessing it's the Hyundai equivalent of the Kia Venga. Engineered and designed in Europe, the ix20 is the second car games– after the bigger ix35 crossover – to adopt the family's new 'fluidic sculpture' design look.
The ix20 will be on UK sale from November 2010. No word yet on the powertrains on offer, but we'd expect similar 1.1 and 1.4 petrols and 1.4 diesel as the similarly engineered Venga.
Anything else at Paris 2010?
You bet. Don't fall off your chair, but there's also a facelifted i10 city car on the Hyundai stand at the Paris motor show.
It'll have a visual pep-me-up and a new 1.0-litre petrol engine with CO2 emissions nudging just under the 100g/km barrier, at 99g/km. The facelifted i10 lands in 2011.
>> Stay tuned throughout September for all our Paris previews. And come back on Thursday 30 September for our live coverage direct from Paris
No surprises for guessing it's the Hyundai equivalent of the Kia Venga. Engineered and designed in Europe, the ix20 is the second car games– after the bigger ix35 crossover – to adopt the family's new 'fluidic sculpture' design look.
The ix20 will be on UK sale from November 2010. No word yet on the powertrains on offer, but we'd expect similar 1.1 and 1.4 petrols and 1.4 diesel as the similarly engineered Venga.
Anything else at Paris 2010?
You bet. Don't fall off your chair, but there's also a facelifted i10 city car on the Hyundai stand at the Paris motor show.
It'll have a visual pep-me-up and a new 1.0-litre petrol engine with CO2 emissions nudging just under the 100g/km barrier, at 99g/km. The facelifted i10 lands in 2011.
>> Stay tuned throughout September for all our Paris previews. And come back on Thursday 30 September for our live coverage direct from Paris
Thứ Ba, 28 tháng 2, 2012
Lexus LF-LC hybrid sports coupe unveiled at 2012 Detroit show
09 January 2012 20:00
After a series of leaks and early teasers, the wraps have finally come off the new Lexus LF-LC hybrid sports car concept here in Detroit.
It's a glamorous 2+2, showing how Toyota's Calty design studio in California imagines a new sports car for the brand. However, all the indications at the 2012 NAIAS show are that it's more an ideas car - and a hint of future styling trends - more than a model bound for a Lexus showroom near you.
Lexus LF-LC concept car: the lowdown
Lexus remains a curio brand: admired for its technical prowess, hybrid know-how and peerless customer service, but still lacking the magic sparkle in design and dynamics that make the German hegemony an attractive choice for many buyers.
The new LF-LC is an attempt to inject more character into its product line-up. Hence the choice of a 2+2 sports coupe with a never-ending bonnet for this concept car.
We just hope some of its classy details and sporting allure make it into production; too often we've seen Lexus tempt us with lush design concepts, only for the resulting production cars defaulting to the wrong side of sensible/dowdy (delete according to your preference).
Just check out that new Lexus grille!
Yes, that shark-nosed front end is by the far the most dramatic element of the Lexus LF-LC. It's a new take on the Lexus spindle grille and the designers talk up the 'engaging interplay of lines, shadows and corners'.
The mesh within the aluminium surround is designed to give the nose a three-dimensional quality.
There's plentiful playful use of glass in this car. Check out also the L-shaped - for Lexus, geddit? - day-running lights and a massive glass roof . On second thoughts, isn't that front lamp treatment a bit like the Nike swoosh?
Inside the cabin there's a BMW-esque concentration on the driver. Most functions are controlled by a pair of massive 12.3-inch touchscreens. If you're a Blackberry user, or just prefer buttons, you might not like this: a third touchscreen pops up from the dash for more complex instructions and further touchpads are set in each door to use windows, mirrors and seat adjustments. Perhaps they should also provide a finger-cleansing station.
Lexus top brass on the LF-LC
Karl Schlicht, general manager of product planning for Lexus in North America, said: 'We are in the middle of the biggest change in Lexus’s history, inspired by a new generation of distinctive design.
'The new GS embodies this with its sculpted spindle grille as our symbol of change. And now, the next chapter of Lexus evolves with this coupe design concept. With its striking looks, this concept hybrid 2+2 hints at the design cues that are coming in a wave of new Lexus models over the next two years.'
The Lexus LF-LC is front-engined and rear-wheel drive, and powered by a Lexus hybrid system. Kinda like a Ferrari 599 from Japan.
After a series of leaks and early teasers, the wraps have finally come off the new Lexus LF-LC hybrid sports car concept here in Detroit.
It's a glamorous 2+2, showing how Toyota's Calty design studio in California imagines a new sports car for the brand. However, all the indications at the 2012 NAIAS show are that it's more an ideas car - and a hint of future styling trends - more than a model bound for a Lexus showroom near you.
Lexus LF-LC concept car: the lowdown
Lexus remains a curio brand: admired for its technical prowess, hybrid know-how and peerless customer service, but still lacking the magic sparkle in design and dynamics that make the German hegemony an attractive choice for many buyers.
The new LF-LC is an attempt to inject more character into its product line-up. Hence the choice of a 2+2 sports coupe with a never-ending bonnet for this concept car.
We just hope some of its classy details and sporting allure make it into production; too often we've seen Lexus tempt us with lush design concepts, only for the resulting production cars defaulting to the wrong side of sensible/dowdy (delete according to your preference).
Just check out that new Lexus grille!
Yes, that shark-nosed front end is by the far the most dramatic element of the Lexus LF-LC. It's a new take on the Lexus spindle grille and the designers talk up the 'engaging interplay of lines, shadows and corners'.
The mesh within the aluminium surround is designed to give the nose a three-dimensional quality.
There's plentiful playful use of glass in this car. Check out also the L-shaped - for Lexus, geddit? - day-running lights and a massive glass roof . On second thoughts, isn't that front lamp treatment a bit like the Nike swoosh?
Inside the cabin there's a BMW-esque concentration on the driver. Most functions are controlled by a pair of massive 12.3-inch touchscreens. If you're a Blackberry user, or just prefer buttons, you might not like this: a third touchscreen pops up from the dash for more complex instructions and further touchpads are set in each door to use windows, mirrors and seat adjustments. Perhaps they should also provide a finger-cleansing station.
Lexus top brass on the LF-LC
Karl Schlicht, general manager of product planning for Lexus in North America, said: 'We are in the middle of the biggest change in Lexus’s history, inspired by a new generation of distinctive design.
'The new GS embodies this with its sculpted spindle grille as our symbol of change. And now, the next chapter of Lexus evolves with this coupe design concept. With its striking looks, this concept hybrid 2+2 hints at the design cues that are coming in a wave of new Lexus models over the next two years.'
The Lexus LF-LC is front-engined and rear-wheel drive, and powered by a Lexus hybrid system. Kinda like a Ferrari 599 from Japan.
Honda NSX concept unveiled at 2012 Detroit auto show
One of the biggest draws of the 2012 Detroit auto show is the new Honda NSX concept car. Developed in tandem by Honda's design studios in California and Japan, the new NSX is a svelte-looking supercar with an exciting purpose: it heralds Honda's new supercar.
After years of will-they, won't-they delays, concepts and U-turns, this time Honda is adamant - it really is replacing the original NSX. Even better news, the chief exec confirmed it would be here within three years.
The new NSX has big boots to fill: the 1980s original had a major impact on the supercar arena, bringing ease of use and less fearful road manners to the upper echelons of the sports car market. You could well argue that today's Audi R8 and Ferrari 458 Italia wouldn't be so biddable if the NSX hadn't existed.
New Honda NSX: the engineering story
The new NSX, 2012-style, will focus just as much on high-tech as the original. That name stood for New Sports Experimental and Honda is equipping its newcomer with a hybrid powertrain.
There's a slew of hybrid supercars coming in the next three years: McLaren, Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini, to name but four, are all preparing part-electrified sports cars. You can now add Honda to that list.
The new NSX sports Honda's first mid-engined application of its Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system, as previously seen in the more workaday Honda Prelude and Japanese-market Inspire.
That means the NSX will be four-wheel drive, although the exact workings of the petrol and electric motors on the production car remain to be seen. Honda will be forced to use one of its petrol engines from elsewhere in its global car range, which points to a 3.0 or 3.5-litre petrol engine equipped with direct injection to provide the motive power.
It is likely that the NSX will use the latest lithium-ion batteries; although the entire European hyrbid road car range sticks with nickel metal hydride batteries, Honda has just bought into a Japanese specialist in lithium ion technology.
So when can we buy the new Honda NSX?
That's the $64 million question here in Detroit. This is no longer a pie-in-the-sky concept. Honda has confirmed the NSX is now a live project, as the company tries to claw back its reputation for cutting-edge engineering and exciting sports cars after the death - in Europe at least - of the S2000, Type R models and standalone sports cars.
Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda who led the development of Honda’s first NSX supercar, said: 'Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency. In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities.'
In a surprise move, he also announced the new NSX would be developed and built in a new facility in Ohio, US.
He also told a packed Acura stand to expect to see NSXs racing. 'We will develop race and road specs for this car. You will see this car globally within three years.'
However, a UK official hinted that we might even see Euoprean models earlier than that.
Acura NSX becomes a Honda NSX
The NSX being rolled out at the 2012 North American International Auto Show is badged as an Acura, Honda's upmarket US wing.
Expect to see the NSX appear also at the 2012 Geneva motor show in March, where it will wear Europe and rest-of-the-world-spec Honda badging.
After years of will-they, won't-they delays, concepts and U-turns, this time Honda is adamant - it really is replacing the original NSX. Even better news, the chief exec confirmed it would be here within three years.
The new NSX has big boots to fill: the 1980s original had a major impact on the supercar arena, bringing ease of use and less fearful road manners to the upper echelons of the sports car market. You could well argue that today's Audi R8 and Ferrari 458 Italia wouldn't be so biddable if the NSX hadn't existed.
New Honda NSX: the engineering story
The new NSX, 2012-style, will focus just as much on high-tech as the original. That name stood for New Sports Experimental and Honda is equipping its newcomer with a hybrid powertrain.
There's a slew of hybrid supercars coming in the next three years: McLaren, Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini, to name but four, are all preparing part-electrified sports cars. You can now add Honda to that list.
The new NSX sports Honda's first mid-engined application of its Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system, as previously seen in the more workaday Honda Prelude and Japanese-market Inspire.
That means the NSX will be four-wheel drive, although the exact workings of the petrol and electric motors on the production car remain to be seen. Honda will be forced to use one of its petrol engines from elsewhere in its global car range, which points to a 3.0 or 3.5-litre petrol engine equipped with direct injection to provide the motive power.
It is likely that the NSX will use the latest lithium-ion batteries; although the entire European hyrbid road car range sticks with nickel metal hydride batteries, Honda has just bought into a Japanese specialist in lithium ion technology.
So when can we buy the new Honda NSX?
That's the $64 million question here in Detroit. This is no longer a pie-in-the-sky concept. Honda has confirmed the NSX is now a live project, as the company tries to claw back its reputation for cutting-edge engineering and exciting sports cars after the death - in Europe at least - of the S2000, Type R models and standalone sports cars.
Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda who led the development of Honda’s first NSX supercar, said: 'Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency. In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities.'
In a surprise move, he also announced the new NSX would be developed and built in a new facility in Ohio, US.
He also told a packed Acura stand to expect to see NSXs racing. 'We will develop race and road specs for this car. You will see this car globally within three years.'
However, a UK official hinted that we might even see Euoprean models earlier than that.
Acura NSX becomes a Honda NSX
The NSX being rolled out at the 2012 North American International Auto Show is badged as an Acura, Honda's upmarket US wing.
Expect to see the NSX appear also at the 2012 Geneva motor show in March, where it will wear Europe and rest-of-the-world-spec Honda badging.
Toyota Yaris Hybrid (2012) first official pictures
This is the new Toyota Yaris Hybrid, and although it’s been unveiled on the same day as the world’s motoring media descends upon Detroit for the 2012 North American International Auto Show, it's not there. Instead, the new Toyota Yaris Hybrid won’t actually appear until the Geneva show in early March 2012.
Presumably the Toyota Yaris Hybrid is even cleaner and greener than the pious Prius?
It is, but the Yaris Hybrid has yet to be through the full homologation cycle just yet, as Toyota attempts to drop those fuel economy and emissions figures as low as possible. Still, Toyota promises us that the Yaris Hybrid will deliver ‘segment-leading CO2 emissions’ and its current target is a paltry 80g/km. Honda’s Jazz emits 104g/km, while the cleanest versions of the Auris Hybrid and Prius manage 89g/km CO2.
Rather than using the same 1.8-litre petrol engine found in the Auris Hybrid and the Prius, the Yaris Hybrid is powered by a new 1.5-litre petrol engine. Mated to a more compact electric motor, inverter and battery pack, Toyota claims the Hybrid Synergy Drive system is 20% lighter than that used in the Auris – peak output from the powertrain is 99bhp. And with the fuel tank and battery located under the rear seat, boot space is identical to the conventional petrol and diesel Yarises. A CVT transmission is standard, and a more aerodynamically efficient bodykit rounds off the list of tweaks.
UK sales commence this summer, and prices are expected to start at less than £16,000.
>> Click 'Add your comment' below and let us know what you think of the new Tyota Yaris Hybrid
Presumably the Toyota Yaris Hybrid is even cleaner and greener than the pious Prius?
It is, but the Yaris Hybrid has yet to be through the full homologation cycle just yet, as Toyota attempts to drop those fuel economy and emissions figures as low as possible. Still, Toyota promises us that the Yaris Hybrid will deliver ‘segment-leading CO2 emissions’ and its current target is a paltry 80g/km. Honda’s Jazz emits 104g/km, while the cleanest versions of the Auris Hybrid and Prius manage 89g/km CO2.
Rather than using the same 1.8-litre petrol engine found in the Auris Hybrid and the Prius, the Yaris Hybrid is powered by a new 1.5-litre petrol engine. Mated to a more compact electric motor, inverter and battery pack, Toyota claims the Hybrid Synergy Drive system is 20% lighter than that used in the Auris – peak output from the powertrain is 99bhp. And with the fuel tank and battery located under the rear seat, boot space is identical to the conventional petrol and diesel Yarises. A CVT transmission is standard, and a more aerodynamically efficient bodykit rounds off the list of tweaks.
UK sales commence this summer, and prices are expected to start at less than £16,000.
>> Click 'Add your comment' below and let us know what you think of the new Tyota Yaris Hybrid
Smart For-Us concept unveiled at 2012 Detroit show
Smart made a splash with its world debut at the 2012 Detroit auto show: its For-Us concept car provides a vision of the Smart as an American icon, a pick-up.
The diminutive truck - just 3547mm long - is longer than a Fortwo, and is supposed to be based on the running gear of the next-gen Smart Forfour, aka the new Renault Twingo.
So if the For-Us doesn't look so much like a Smart any more, from the front at least, that's why. A new front-engined architecture is said to underpin this baby pick-up.
Smart For-Us: the lowdown
Calling it front-engined is a bit of a misnomer; the For-Us is electric, and the 55kW electric motor is claimed to provide decent acceleration.
Smart quotes a top speed of around 75mph; battery capacity is put at 17.6kWh. It's the same running gear you'll find in the Smart Fortwo ED coming in spring 2012.
This remains a two-seater, the loadbay where you'd find a petrol engine in the regular Fortwo given over to a flatbed.
This Smart concept car packs a pair of electric scooters in to the loadbay; they dock to the car, allowing the two-wheelers to be charged up and ready to use when you reach the part of the city that even a Smart can't reach.
After a long, long period of very little new-model activity, Smart is finally about to start a product offensive. While no pick-up truck is in train quite yet, the cooperation with Renault will soon produce a new Forfour and the Fortwo is in line for further development too.
If downsizing is as rife as it appears, it's a good time to offer more small cars gameshttp://www.carsgames.biz/.
The diminutive truck - just 3547mm long - is longer than a Fortwo, and is supposed to be based on the running gear of the next-gen Smart Forfour, aka the new Renault Twingo.
So if the For-Us doesn't look so much like a Smart any more, from the front at least, that's why. A new front-engined architecture is said to underpin this baby pick-up.
Smart For-Us: the lowdown
Calling it front-engined is a bit of a misnomer; the For-Us is electric, and the 55kW electric motor is claimed to provide decent acceleration.
Smart quotes a top speed of around 75mph; battery capacity is put at 17.6kWh. It's the same running gear you'll find in the Smart Fortwo ED coming in spring 2012.
This remains a two-seater, the loadbay where you'd find a petrol engine in the regular Fortwo given over to a flatbed.
This Smart concept car packs a pair of electric scooters in to the loadbay; they dock to the car, allowing the two-wheelers to be charged up and ready to use when you reach the part of the city that even a Smart can't reach.
After a long, long period of very little new-model activity, Smart is finally about to start a product offensive. While no pick-up truck is in train quite yet, the cooperation with Renault will soon produce a new Forfour and the Fortwo is in line for further development too.
If downsizing is as rife as it appears, it's a good time to offer more small cars gameshttp://www.carsgames.biz/.
Vauxhall Mokka (2012) first official pictures
This is the Vauxhall Mokka, a B-segment SUV that will be revealed at the 2012 Geneva motor show this March.
So the Vauxhall Mokka isn’t a move into the hotly contested hot drinks market?
Err, no. Instead it’s a Vauxhall (and Opel) version of the Buick Encore 4x4 that’s just been revealed at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. And before you scoff, the same architecture is destined for the next-gen Corsa too – it’s not just a British version of some antiquated Yank tank.
At 4.28 metres long, the Mokka is bigger than Nissan’s Juke but shorter than the Qashqai, and will take on everything from the aforementioned Nissans, to Mini’s Countryman and the Skoda Yeti.
There is a choice of three engines: a 113bhp 1.6-litre petrol; a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol with 138bhp and 148lb ft; and a 128bhp/221lb ft 1.7-litre diesel. All are fitted with a stop/start system, the latter two can be mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, and while four-wheel drive is an option, all models come with hill descent control as standard.
What else?
A new bonnet, a revised grille and different bumpers differentiate the Mokka from its America sibling, but it doesn’t have the same stylish good looks as Vauxhall and Opel’s most recent European-focused offerings.
But it does boast swivelling headlights, a rear view camera, and Vauxhall’s new front camera system that enables the Mokka to be optioned with lane departure warning, forward collision alert and traffic sign recognition. Fold the seats and there’s up to 1372 litres of load space, and there’s also the latest version of Flex-Fix, a bicycle carrier that slides out of the rear bumper.
UK sales begin towards the end of 2012, and prices should start around £16k.
>> Click 'Add your comment' below and let us know what you think of the Vauxhall Mokka
So the Vauxhall Mokka isn’t a move into the hotly contested hot drinks market?
Err, no. Instead it’s a Vauxhall (and Opel) version of the Buick Encore 4x4 that’s just been revealed at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. And before you scoff, the same architecture is destined for the next-gen Corsa too – it’s not just a British version of some antiquated Yank tank.
At 4.28 metres long, the Mokka is bigger than Nissan’s Juke but shorter than the Qashqai, and will take on everything from the aforementioned Nissans, to Mini’s Countryman and the Skoda Yeti.
There is a choice of three engines: a 113bhp 1.6-litre petrol; a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol with 138bhp and 148lb ft; and a 128bhp/221lb ft 1.7-litre diesel. All are fitted with a stop/start system, the latter two can be mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, and while four-wheel drive is an option, all models come with hill descent control as standard.
What else?
A new bonnet, a revised grille and different bumpers differentiate the Mokka from its America sibling, but it doesn’t have the same stylish good looks as Vauxhall and Opel’s most recent European-focused offerings.
But it does boast swivelling headlights, a rear view camera, and Vauxhall’s new front camera system that enables the Mokka to be optioned with lane departure warning, forward collision alert and traffic sign recognition. Fold the seats and there’s up to 1372 litres of load space, and there’s also the latest version of Flex-Fix, a bicycle carrier that slides out of the rear bumper.
UK sales begin towards the end of 2012, and prices should start around £16k.
>> Click 'Add your comment' below and let us know what you think of the Vauxhall Mokka
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