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Toyota NS4 Hybrid Concept

2012-01-11T05:38:00.000-08:00

Toyota today revealed the NS4 advanced plug-in hybrid concept vehicle at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The NS4 presents a Toyota vision for future mobility with a focus on connectivity and the human interface.
Toyota engineers were challenged to design a new mid-sized concept for potential global market introduction by 2015.
The NS4 concept is a dedicated plug-in hybrid, separate from the Prius family, designed with future mobility requirements in mind.
"In this digital age, cars are becoming another spoke in the wheel of our electronic connectivity," said Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
"NS4 demonstrates Toyota's take on the human connection to the car with technology that considers both emotional and rational relationships, person-to-car and car-to-society.
"The continued success of our conventional hybrid vehicles has laid strong groundwork for market acceptance of future advanced technologies.
"NS4 demonstrates Toyota's ongoing commitment to enhancing the safety, efficiency and convenience of future mobility for people everywhere."
NS4's advanced powertrain targets a next-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive plug-in system that is smaller and lighter with improved fuel economy, better acceleration and longer electric range, while maintaining a short charge time.

The NS4 concept signals a new styling direction for Toyota, aimed at creating an emotional connection with consumers.
Styling lines reflect a new take on aerodynamics with a low vehicle height and cabin-forward tilt.
The distinctive open trapezoid grille is accented by a floating lower spoiler and wing-like daytime running lights wrapping around to a sculpted fender.
Rear lamps wrap around the sides of the vehicle to quarter sections layered into blistered fenders, while the rear lamp wings create a sharp edge and the effect of a rear spoiler.
The A-pillars are ultra thin for improved driver visibility while maintaining roof-crush integrity. The roof-line profile, liftback design and powered swan-wing doors create greater accessibility and efficient functionality.

The NS4 concept has a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) that is built around a multi-touch screen with the look and feel of a smartphone.
Simple and intuitive, it conveys information quickly with minimum distractions and maximum driver awareness. It will also direct air-conditioning, audio, battery-charge and navigation functions.
The HMI system is even capable of "learning" driver preferences and habits to anticipate driver responses in specific environments and situations.

The NS4 introduces a next-generation Pre-Collision System (PCS) with lane departure, rear-end and pedestrian collision-avoidance technologies designed to predict collisions under certain circumstances and help avoid them.
Using millimetre-wave radar, stereo cameras and near-infrared beams, it can help avoid collisions by applying the brakes and manipulating steering.
Adaptive Driving Beam headlights help prevent blinding glare to oncoming drivers and pedestrians at night.
NS4's pop-up bonnet structure automatically raises the rear of the bonnet to increase the space underneath, helping to reduce pedestrian head injuries caused by a collision with the front of the vehicle, within certain speed ranges.
A Blind Spot Monitor detects a vehicle in the adjacent lane and visually alerts the driver with indicators in the upper dash.
NS4 introduces four new glass technologies to improve driver visibility and reduce fuel consumption:
Hydrophobic coating - Fluorine-coated glass causes rain drops to form into semi-spherical shapes for improved visibility.
Anti-fog film - A high-performance resin with anti-fogging characteristics and increased durability.
High ultraviolet (UV) absorbing inner-layer - Removes 99 per cent of harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Anti-solar film with radio-wave transparency - Reduces the internal vehicle temperature and improves electronic device functionality
Inner and outer rear-view mirrors have been replaced with cameras that provide the driver with a wider view than conventional rear-view mirrors.

Toyota

Smart For-Us pick-up concept

2011-12-08T05:14:00.000-08:00

With its exterior dimensions (length/width/height: 3547/1506/1701mm) it could almost go unnoticed on the loading area of a typical pickup, and it also anything but ordinary under the body. Thanks to the state-of-the-art electric drive with a 55 kW magneto-electric motor the zero-emission smart for-us is agile and lively to drive. It will celebrate its world premiere at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (14 - 22 January 2012).

smart CEO Dr. Annette Winkler says "We at smart love pick-ups – if they are small on the outside, large on the inside, very safe and extremely comfortable. With the smart for-us a petrol station is no longer required!”

Like car2go, the globally successful car sharing initiative from smart for more flexibility in city traffic, the smart for-us is a mobility concept. It has plenty of room for two people and space for two smart ebikes behind them. Thanks to the docking station on the cargo area of the smart for-us their batteries are always charged, and smart for-us drivers can also reach destinations that are out of bounds for cars – for example traffic-calmed zones in the city or isolated park trails.

Compared with the series-produced fortwo the smart for-us makes a powerful statement and its appearance plays with the martial image of conventional mega-pickups. Nevertheless, it greets the viewer with a friendly yet assertive face. It features convex and sensuously shaped body surfaces. The large brand emblem is proudly sported on the grille, and the front has a pronounced three-dimensional design with an underride guard finishing off the lower part of the front end.

The longer wheelbase (2480 mm/plus 613 mm) and the track that has been widened by 50 mm on each side also emphasise the robust look of the study. At the same time the extremely short overhangs at the front and rear make it exceedingly compact.

The tailboard at the rear of the smart for-us is electrically driven. When it opens first of all the cargo floor including tailboard retracts by 280 mm, then the tailgate slides down in a parallel position. The cargo on the 900 mm cargo area is then extremely easy to access.

Sleek, taut surfaces in mother-of-pearl white combined with precisely designed technical functional elements in brushed aluminium – the interior is characterised by contrasts. Like in the smart forvision, the whole cockpit boasts aerodynamic styling for interior ventilation. In place of a conventional rear-view mirror the smart for-us features a smartphone accommodated in a holder on top of the instrument panel support. The driver can see what is happening on the road behind with the help of an integrated video camera.

Stylish, uncomplicated, highly functional and easy to individualise – the two seats in the concept car are typically smart. The seat shells, which are open in the middle, are covered with a soft yellow fabric throw giving them a hammock-like seating feel.

The electric drive of the smart for-us is based on the innovative drive concept of the smart fortwo electric drive, which will be launched in the spring of 2012. Thanks to the 55 kW magneto-electric motor the smart for-us is agile and lively to drive. With 130 Newton metres of torque it boasts powerful, lag-free acceleration and it can overtake other vehicles with the greatest of ease. The maximum speed exceeds 120 km/h. The lithium-ion battery has capacity of 17.6 kWh.

Smart

Toyota GT 86

2011-12-06T04:53:00.000-08:00

- Entirely driver-focused sports car, designed to recapture the fundamental joys of motoring
- World's most compact four-seater sports car, delivering very low centre of gravity and excellent power-to-weight ratio
- A return to Toyota's sporting roots, with a front-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive package
- Powertrain combines 197bhp 2.0-litre flat-four boxer engine with torque-enhancing D-4S injection technology
- Design achieves outstanding aerodynamics while recalling Toyota's sports car heritage
- New car to be called the GT 86 in Europe, in tribute to Toyota's GT car heritage
- On sale in the UK in June 2012

The anticipation is over: Toyota's new GT 86 sports car makes its world debut at the Tokyo motor show on November 30. The compact 2+2 model, one of the most keenly awaited new cars of the coming year, will go on sale in the UK in June 2012.

The GT 86 has been conceived as an entirely driver-focused machine, designed to deliver the core qualities of the classic sports car experience. That means precise, instant response to the smallest throttle and steering inputs and the kind of performance that appeals to those for whom driving is a passion, not a necessity.

The GT 86 is built on a new platform, with a highly aerodynamic bodyshell stretched tight over the car's mechanical elements. Rather than fitting a heavy, large capacity powertrain, Toyota has opted instead to go back to its sporting roots, installing a compact, front-mounted, free-revving petrol engine that drives the rear wheels.

This four-cylinder "boxer" unit generates 197bhp at 7,000rpm and maximum torque of 205Nm at 6,600rpm, giving the GT 86 brisk, engaging performance.

The powertrain is matched to the world's most compact four-seat design to create a car that benefits from light weight, low inertia and a low centre of gravity to achieve the best possible power-to-weight ratio. For the driver that means lively, accessible performance and dynamic character with minimal intrusion from electronic systems.

The GT 86 measures 4,240mm long, 1,285mm high and 2,570mm wide, dimensions which make it the most compact four-seater sports car available today.

Both the powertrain and the driving position have been set as low and as far back as possible to achieve the best balance: the car has a near-perfect 53:47 front-to-rear weight distribution. The flat-four engine format and the driver's hip point – the lowest of any current Toyota production model – together give the GT 86 an ultra-low centre of gravity, at just 475mm.

The GT 86 makes the most of a light kerb weight, making it easy for drivers to exploit its nimble handling and cornering poise. The suspension features MacPherson struts at the front and double wishbones at the rear. The car rides on 17-inch wheels and is fitted with ventilated disc brakes fore and aft.

The GT 86's engine is the result of a joint Toyota and Subaru development programme that brings together their technical know-how and mutual passion for sports cars.

Toyota has added its D-4S injection technology to Subaru's new, horizontally opposed, naturally aspirated 1,998cc four-cylinder boxer engine. This system features separate twin injectors for both direct and port injection, and a high 12.5:1 compression ratio, increasing power and torque across a wide range of engine speeds without sacrificing fuel efficiency and environmental performance.

The flat-four engine has equal bore and stroke of 86.0mm and drives through either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The manual offers quick, precise shifts using a tactile, short-throw lever; the automatic transmission can be controlled using paddle shifts mounted on the steering wheel.

Power is distributed to the rear wheels via a limited slip differential to give the best possible grip in all driving conditions. The ABS and switchable vehicle stability control systems have been tuned specifically to deliver dynamic stability at the limit of the car's performance envelope with minimal electronic intervention to help preserve the purity of the driving experience.

The design of the GT 86 successfully works within the technical constraints of achieving the most compact dimensions possible, a low centre of gravity and aerodynamic performance inspired by motorsport technology, while also displaying evocative, sweeping styling that recalls Toyota's sports car heritage.

Toyota's new design language informs the styling, as in the way attention is focused on the lower part of the car with the large lower grille. Elsewhere the "keen" approach can be witnessed in the clear, expressive lines.

The lower grille's "scorpion" look gives the GT 86 a more powerful appearance, with further sporting details including the model-specific 17-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, twin exhausts and the "86" piston logo that denotes the car's special powertrain configuration.

On board, the ergonomics and function of every element the driver interacts with have been scrutinised to make driving the car as natural, instinctive and rewarding as possible. For example, the steering wheel has a 365mm diameter, making it the smallest ever fitted to a Toyota, and it is trimmed in buckskin, developed from exhaustive feedback from test drivers on how to achieve the best steering performance and grip.

The three-meter instrument cluster is arranged around a large tachometer, its design benefiting from close attention to the positioning of the displays, markings and typeface. The result is the best possible visibility and readability. The driver-focus of the cockpit is further reinforced by the carbon-effect trim, all-black roof lining, red stitching on the upholstery, aviation-style rocker switches and lightweight, aluminium pedals.

The GT 86 may be launched as the world's only current sports car to feature a front-mounted, horizontally opposed engine and rear-wheel drive, but it cannot claim to be the first. That honour is held by Toyota's two-cylinder boxer-engined Sports 800, which the company began developing in 1962. Since then, Toyota has established a long history of producing exciting, driver-focused sports cars with a front-engine, rear-wheel drive format that have proved as popular with the public as they have been successful in competition.

The beautiful 2000 GT, a coupe powered by a 2.0-litre straight-six engine, was first displayed at the 1965 Tokyo motor show and helped establish Toyota's global reputation as a sports car manufacturer.

Launched in 1971, the first Celica models featured rear-wheel drive powertrains and were praised by enthusiasts for their agility. All four Supra generations came with straight-six engines and rear-wheel drive, while from 1984 the MR2 won recognition as one of the best handling sports cars in motoring history.

The inspiration for the GT 86, however, is the Corolla GT (or Levin) AE86, a car with an enduring reputation for delivering sheer excitement and capturing the fundamental joy of driving. Its front-engine, rear-wheel drive package, compact dimensions, light weight, impeccable balance and superior power-to-weight ratio made it a must-have choice for rallying and circuit driving throughout its production life, from 1983 to 1987. Here in the UK the GT claimed two British Touring Car Championship titles and a series of top-level rally victories.

The GT 86 is a genuinely lightweight machine that offers the intimacy and involvement of a car that can be driven as though an extension of the driver's body. In this way, it perfectly recaptures the exhilarating spirit of the last of the AE86. And, with numerous customisable parts, its shares its predecessor's aim to be an affordable car that will evolve with its owner.

Toyota

Subaru BRZ

2011-11-30T06:34:00.001-08:00

SUBARU BRZ is a rear-wheel drive sports car featuring the Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine. It was developed as a joint-project between Subaru and Toyota Motor Corporation, to bring to the world a sports car with superior steering response and driving pleasure that everyone can experience. The Subaru Boxer engine in BRZ was positioned even lower than other Subaru models so that BRZ has one of the lowest possible centers of gravity on the market today. This low center of gravity produces astonishing handling character and combined with a light weight chassis BRZ realizes Subaru’s aim for “Pure Handling Delight” the driving experience taken to a new level.

The product concept of BRZ is “Pure Handling Delight". The Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine has inherent qualities of low center of gravity, lightweight, and compactness. These attributes are maximized by placing this engine even lower and closer to the center of the chassis. These factors contributed to BRZ's low center of gravity - one of the lowest possible. BRZ is a fun sports car that any driver can enjoy driving with peace of mind.

“Ultra-low Center of Gravity Package”BRZ has a low-mounted Boxer engine on a specially designed chassis layout that forms an “ultra-low center of gravity package”. With this arrangement, BRZ achieved a low driving position typical of a sports car. It has a low and wide body of a stylish coupe with overall height and width of 1,300 mm and 1,775 mm respectively. Yet, it allows for 2+2 seating and a trunk with ample space. Not only is BRZ a sports car, but it can also be a suitable partner for long tours with its unexpected utility.

Subaru aimed for a sports car design that instinctively conveys its fun-to-drive character. In addition, it was detailed to be instantly recognizable as a Subaru. The“ ultra-low center of gravity package” also allowed a low hood design. This low hood and bulging front fenders raise expectations for BRZ’s driveability. Also, to communicate the Subaru identity, the Subaru six-star ornament, headlights and hexagon lower grille follow the Subaru design motif common across new Subaru models.

The low center of gravity enhances BRZ’s sensuous beauty with its shapely fender flares. The aesthetic beauty is combined with functional beauty that advances aerodynamics through such areas as the C-pillar shape, rear glass inclination and trunk lid layout. As would be expected from a sports car, the front and rear overhangs were shortened to express BRZ’s liveliness. The front fender is accentuated with a distinctive garnish. The projecting rear wheel arches sit by way of contrast to the compact cabin and emphasize the beauty of BRZ’s rear view.

Details were carefully designed to allow a new level of fun-to-drive experience in which the driver and vehicle become one. The steering wheel was made smaller to achieve sports car maneuverability. A tachometer with digitally-displayed speedometer is placed in the center of the gauges so that the driver can instantly see information without diverting attention from the road. Bespoke sports car seats were designed to hold the driver and passenger and feature lowered sitting positions to match the “ultra-low center of gravity package”.

Making full use of the design concept of the new-generation Boxer engine, the newly developed engine made exclusively for BRZ is highly efficient with superior output and environmental friendliness. It realizes an exhilarating high revving nature of a naturally-aspirated sports engine. It has square bore and stroke of 86 × 86 mm. Due to the joint development with Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota’s direct injection and port injection technology “D-4S” was incorporated in BRZ’s power unit. To achieve the “ultra-low center of gravity package”, the engine as a whole has been made more compact by such means as adopting the shorter intake manifold and the shallower oil pan.

The joy of sports car driving was realized through a transmission that focuses on shift feel and response. The 6-speed MT employs a short stroke shift lever. The lever was optimized in rigidity,shift quality and weight application in its pursuit of a superb shift feel. The 6-speed AT has “S mode” for better shifting response and “M mode” for optional shifting. Also, with the paddle shift and downshifting blipping control, this model can respond faithfully to the driver’s inputs.

The lightweight yet highly-rigid body was developed exclusively to maximize the advantages of the “ultra-low center of gravity package”. Low center of gravity and low driving position were achieved by the perimeter type body frame layout. The body has a rigid and durable frame structure that also works in balance with the vehicle’s light weight. The rigidity is optimized for high drive ability and appropriate durability is maintained for collision safety. High tensile steel was used in the body for weight reduction. Effective use of this material in the upper structure of BRZ contributed to its low center of gravity. The front hood employs aluminum for lightness. The structure was fine-tuned for a low styling that also improves pedestrian protection performance.

Excellent maneuverability and stability of the“ ultra-low center of gravity package” offer direct and sharp response to steering and enhance the driver’s connection to the car. The front suspension employs struts for light weight and high rigidity while a double wishbone layout is adopted at the rear for better shock absorption. To gain a low front hood from the “ultra-low center of gravity package”, the front strut mount was lowered while maintaining the stroke. The tires are 215/45R17 (average value) combined with lightweight and highly rigid aluminum wheels. All BRZ models are equipped with electronic stability control to provide both driving pleasure and safety.

Subaru

Audi A1 Samurai Blue

2011-11-30T05:38:00.000-08:00

Audi has unveiled a unique A1 at the Tokyo Motor Show: Glistening in the colors of the Japanese national soccer team, the Audi A1 SAMURAI BLUE shows Audi’s respect for the Japanese national soccer team. Audi plans to sell the SAMURAI BLUE as a one-off model and donate a part of the profit for a charity.

“Blue Samurai” is the nickname for Japan’s national soccer team. Blue and white are the colors of the soccer jerseys for both men and women. The Japanese men are the reigning Asian champions, while the women have been even more successful in the world soccer arena: this year they won the championship title in the World Soccer Cup held in Germany.

Blue and white are also the colors of the Audi A1 SAMURAI BLUE, accentuated by the red of the Japanese flag. The 18-inch wheels with their exclusive polygonal design are likewise painted red. The interior equipment is black, with contrasting stitching in blue and corresponding colorful accents for the air vent nozzles, inlays, center console and floor mats. With its powerful 1.4 TFSI engine and 90 kW (122 hp), the A1 SAMURAI BLUE has strong acceleration and high speed, while the sports suspension with 225 millimeter wide, 18-inch wheels give the car the agility of a top league soccer star.

An Audi A1 Limited Edition is also planned to sell in 2012, with its design based on the SAMURAI BLUE.

Audi

Audi A2 concept

2011-09-05T20:54:00.000-07:00

With the electric-only powertrain of the A2 concept, Audi is offering another peek into the future of electric mobility at the 64th International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. The technical study features a classic, premium-standard space concept that offers plenty of room for four people.

The Audi A2 concept is just 3.80 meters (12.47 ft) long, 1.69 meters (5.54 ft) wide and 1.49 meters (4.89 ft) high; even so, it makes an elegant, powerful and sporty impression on the street. Its clean appearance concentrates on the essentials; all details are subtle but shaped for visual impact. The dark glass roof of the white-painted show car switches to transparency with the push of a button.

With its headlights, Audi is presenting the next phase in LED technology, known as matrix beam. A package of LEDs and microreflectors generate a high-resolution and non-glaring high-beam light. Delicate daytime running light fibers frame the highly efficient LED low-beam light module. Intelligent tail lights adapt their illumination to the visibility conditions. The rear fog light, produced by laser diodes, is seen as a beam of light in fog and projects a red triangle onto the road as a warning.

The dynamic light runs below the edge of the window from the front to the rear of the A2 concept – a band of light that contains a multitude of innovative, dynamic light functions. Integrated approach sensors detect the owner and unlock the doors via gesture control. While driving, the dynamic light functions as a continuous side marker light. If the car’s indicator is activated, light impulses run throughout the entire band of light.

In addition, a red bar of light flows forward from the tail lights when braking and demonstrates the strength of the brakes intuitively for other road users.

The dynamic light is also located in the cockpit area of the show car, structured in two separate arches. Like the entire interior, the dash panel has a light and clean look and intuitive controls.

The driver manages many important features via touch-control areas on the inside of the steering wheel. Two additional control surfaces fold up at the driver’s right when starting the vehicle. An open profile serves as the steering column; a seven-inch display and two secondary displays are located at its end.

The Audi A2 concept has a flat interior floorboard. The center console is attached to the driver’s seat; the rear console extends forward between the two rear seats. The four individual seats add lightness, and there is storage space under the fold-up seat cushions. There is room between the rear seats for a city bicycle with its front wheel removed. The load area has two levels; a frame with functional nets creates the upper level.

The colors and materials in the interior support the impression of lightness and functionality. The large areas from the door top shoulders to the floor bear a new and innovative covering material made of polyurethane with a neoprene surface feel; a ribbed material made from recycled polyester covers the central floor area. The seat shells are made with a plastic blow molding technique. Aluminum elements create highlights the cockpit.

Audi

Fiat 500 Coupe Zagato

2011-03-01T05:27:00.000-08:00

The “500 Coupé Zagato” - the concept created by one of the most famous automotive design names in the world, with the collaboration of the Fiat Group Automobiles' Centro Stile - makes its debut at the 2011 Geneva International Motor Show.

Presented at the Fiat stand, the prototype stands out for its sinuous yet decidedly sporty and contemporary contours, inspired by the namesake predecessor built in the 1950 by the famous Italian bodyworker on the chassis of the 500. Yet while Zagato had then completely revamped the exterior style of the basic model, today the designers emphasised the silhouette of the Fiat 500, already similar to a coupé, giving it an even more aggressive appeal. In addition, the unique shape of the roof features the characteristic “double hump", the true emblem of Zagato, teaming the lowering of the car with retaining excellent interior comfort.

Like many historic custom-built cars, the concept car affords the classic “2+2 seater” formula, retaining the compact dimensions of the basic model: indeed, it is 355 centimetres long, 163 cm wide and 149 cm high, with a 230 centimetre wheelbase. So it is a compact car which "conceals" under the bonnet the revolutionary TwinAir 105 HP engine which maximizes the “fun to drive” of this car, while ensuring, consistently with the downsizing philosophy, excellent performance levels against a considerable reduction in fuel consumption and emission levels. To achieve this objective, the engine features a specific “turbomatching” (engine-turbocharger coupling).

The 105 HP TwinAir engine, which has never been used on any of the Group's models yet, is therefore the ideal engine to be installed in compact sized sporty cars, as demonstrated by the high torque delivered (155 Nm at 2,500 rpm) and the absolute world record in terms of absolute power (105 HP at 5,500 rpm). In addition, at 124 HP/litre, this engine is also one of the world leaders in specific power. All while ensuring reduced fuel consumption and CO₂emissions unrivalled in this category: 95 g/km.

Designed mainly for a young and dynamic male target, the “500 Coupé Zagato” also accommodates the needs of a female target owing to the painstaking pursuit of stylistic solutions resulting from the most interesting trends on colours and materials. For instance, the prototype livery is Pop Yellow, a specific three-layer bodypaint colour tending towards white which emphasises the vehicle contour while giving it a pop image, full of energy and brimming with personality.

The same styling effect can be found in the interiors, specifically the seats, inspired by the traditional sporty "diamond" seats and high-tech fabric teamed with yellow chamois leather and the black natural leather of the surrounds which give it a young, contemporary look. The decidedly sporty appearance can also be found on the steering wheel - also covered in leather with contrasting stitching the same colour as the yellow chamois leather grips - and on the dashboard surround, matching the exterior colour, which was treated in burnished “eco-chrome” to give it a more aggressive appeal. Lastly, another typical feature of coupé vehicles is the lining of the roof panel with dark high-tech fabric embellished by a transparent single-filament yarn that gives it a delicate shine.

In perfect synch with its sporty personality, the “500 Coupé Zagato” features burnished chrome exterior elements, 17” “chrome shadow” wheels with a brand new double spoked shape and synthetic inserts (made of APP-TECH), 205/40 R17 tyres and 4 perforated brake discs.

A car of enormous appeal, this prototype is consistent with Fiat's history and mission: to make cars distinguished by an original style, advanced technology made accessible to all and intelligent solutions that simplify and improve life on-board. An example? Just like the basic model, the “500 Coupé Zagato” also features “my-port”, the practical multimedia port installed on the dashboard allowing the driver to link up to the world via a latest generation smartphone enabled to access the Internet and satellite navigation.

Fiat

Alfa Romeo 4C Concept

2011-03-01T05:11:00.000-08:00

At the 81st Geneva International Motor Show, the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept will make its debut, a compact “supercar” which represents the true essence of a sports car, according to the brand's values: performance, Italian style and technical excellence aimed at maximum driving pleasure in total safety.

The new concept presents the classic formula of the two-seater, rear-wheel drive coupé with its engine at the centre, a length of approximately 4 metres and a wheelbase of less than 2.4 metres: dimensions which serve both to emphasise the compact size of the car and to accentuate its agility. Distinguished by its graceful and clean external lines, the same principles are also applied to the inside, with the Concept's specific on-board design maintaining features and devices which directly reflect the car’s sporting spirit.

On the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept technology and materials derived from the 8C Competizione find a home - carbon, aluminium, rear-wheel drive - and technology derived from Alfa Romeo models currently on sale: the 1750 turbo petrol engine with direct injection, the "Alfa TCT" twin dry clutch transmission and the Alfa DNA dynamic control selector.

Quite simply, this vehicle screams Alfa. Its sports car soul creates a unique driving sensation, both on the road and when racing, where its velocity and transverse acceleration become even more demanding.

Born from the experience acquired through the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and 8C Spider models, the new concept car shares its rear-wheel drive with the exclusive supercars as well as its philosophy based on achieving maximum driving pleasure and the proverbial Alfa Romeo road handling. This is an objective which the 8C Competizione and the 8C Spider pursue mainly through their increased power, while the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept follows the route of limited weight, made possible by extensive use of carbon, which also plays a structural role and guarantees exceptional agility with a weight/power ratio which is lower than 4 kg/HP. The chassis supports a body crafted completely from carbon, inside which there is space for the driver and passenger, while the rear frame structure and the crash boxes use aluminium extensively. The final result is a significant reduction in weight, limited to less than 850 kg, as well as the optimisation of the vehicle's centre of gravity, which gives the advantage of increased agility and drivability on the most challenging roads.

The name “4C Concept” is suggestive of the sports driving pleasure which only the spectacular "4 cylinder" 1750 Turbo Petrol engine which offers over 200 HP can bring. Already featured on a number of models in production, for example the Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde, the engine boasts cutting-edge technical solutions such as direct injection, dual continuous variable valve timing, turbocharger and the revolutionary scavenging control system which eliminates turbo lag.

Located centrally in the rear of the vehicle, the engine in the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept ensures performance which matches or exceeds that of a 3 litre engine whilst still delivering the moderate fuel consumption which is typical of a compact, 4 cylinder engine. Coupled with the new automatic “Alfa TCT” twin dry clutch transmission, launched only a few months ago on the MiTo and which will soon be available on the Giulietta, the powerful 1750 Turbo petrol engine allows the 4C Concept to reach a top speed of over 250 km/h and to accelerate from 0 to 100km in under 5 seconds. The vehicle integrates its Alfa DNA technology perfectly, a true philosophy which brings together all of the on-board technology, making it enjoyable and customisable for the driver and further accentuating the "competitive" nature of the Concept compared to other vehicles currently on sale.

The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept has an extremely sophisticated suspension layout (high quadrilateral at the front, MacPherson at the rear) to ensure maximum agility and road handling. This solution, along with the rear-wheel drive and the extraordinary weight/power ratio, ensures Alfa Romeo driving pleasure, enhanced even further by the weight distribution (40% on the front axle and 60% on the rear axle). The Concept takes up the Brand's sporting tradition, taking us back to its origins, when agility and the weight/power ratio were the keys to a successful racing vehicle, and combining these aspects with the Alfa Romeos which take to the road every day.

This car is not simply an exercise in style created for the Motor Show; it will be on sale in 2012 and is set to reinforce Alfa Romeo's global growth.

Alfa Romeo

Jeep Grand Cherokee

2011-02-22T04:52:00.000-08:00

At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the all-new Jeep_® Grand Cherokee will debut a new, optional 3.0-liter turbo diesel engine available for Europe and other diesel markets. The new engine is more powerful, more fuel efficient and produces lower emissions than its predecessor.

Built by VM Motori and developed together with Fiat Powertrain, company of Fiat S.p.a., the new 3.0-liter turbo diesel engine produces maximum power of 177 kW (241 hp DIN) at 4,000 rpm and torque of 550 N•m (406 lb-ft) at 1,800-2,800 rpm. This translates to 10 percent more power and eight percent more torque than the engine it replaces.

Even with its improved performance, fuel economy for the new 3.0-liter turbo diesel engine is 8.3 L/100km on the combined cycle, an improvement of 17 percent over the prior diesel engine. CO₂ emissions (combined cycle) are also reduced by 17 percent, now at 218 g/km.

The new V6 turbodiesel is fitted with new-generation, 1800 bar injectors with new MultiJet II technology, developed and patented by Fiat Powertrain and which made its début in 2009 on the 1.3 Small Diesel Engine equipped on the Punto Evo.

The new 3.0-liter turbo diesel engine features a compressed graphite iron, 60-degree block with aluminum cylinder heads and a two-piece structural aluminum oil pan. Bore is 83 mm (3.27 in) and stroke is 92 mm (3.62 in) for a total displacement of 2987 cm³ (182 in³). Bore spacing is 96 mm (3.78 in).

The engine is compact and lightweight, with overall dimensions of 695 mm (27.36 in) in length, 729 mm (28.7 in) in width and 697.5 mm (27.46 in) in height. Weight of the fully dressed new engine is 230 kg (507 lbs).

The engine block features a crankcase architecture with stiffened construction, including a bedplate that provides a rigid and stiff carrier for the crankshaft. This in turn helps reduce overall noise from the lower reciprocating assembly and contributes to significant improvements in overall noise, vibration and harshness.

Adding to the structural rigidity of the block, the two-piece aluminum oil pan has been designed to provide strength and contribute to the quietness of the engine. The lower pan has been reinforced for off-road use. Crankcase capacity is 7.7 L (2 gal).

Cylinder heads are constructed of aluminum and feature a chain-driven, dual overhead-camshaft design with four valves per cylinder. Intake valves measure 28 mm (1.1 in), and exhaust valves are 24.5 mm (0.96 in) in diameter. Combustion-chamber volume is 24.68 cm³ (1.51 in³).

A forged-steel crankshaft is supported by four main bearing journals fitted with four-bolt main bearing caps incorporated into the bedplate. Externally balanced, the crankshaft measures 442.2 mm (17.41 in), reducing the overall packaging requirements of the engine. Connecting rods, with an overall length of 162.9 mm (6.41 in), are constructed of cast iron.

Lightweight, cast-aluminum pistons are redesigned to provide minimal friction. The compression ratio of the new diesel engine is now 16.5:1, reduced from 18.1:1 on the previous model, contributing to cleaner combustion and providing more power.

All main bearings are a “lead free” design for reduced environmental impact during construction and later recycling of the engine.

The induction system includes swirl control to optimize combustion. Fitted between the intake system and the combustion chamber, the swirl control effectively provides an ideal air/fuel mixture at all levels of engine speed.

Precise fuel delivery is through a 1,800-bar common-rail fuel-injection system.

Thanks to the new MultiJet II technology, which makes use of a special balanced solenoid valve, the new injector is capable of making up to 8 injection per cycle with the possibility of managing the two main injections in a single modular profile (IRS – Injection Rate Shaping) thus guaranteeing a reduction in consumption and polluting emissions of approximately 2% compared to a traditional injector and ensuring a drastic reduction in noise levels.

The new 3.0-liter diesel engine utilizes a single Garrett VGT 2056 turbocharger with variable turbine geometry. Compact and lightweight, the turbocharger provides near-instant response and includes an air-to-air intercooler.

Fuel economy for the Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 3.0-liter turbo diesel engine is rated at 10.3 L/100 km on the urban cycle and 7.2 L/100 km on the extra-urban cycle. For the combined cycle, the fuel economy is rated at 8.3 L/100 km.

The engine is designed to run on EN590 ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel.

For this engine, cast-iron exhaust manifolds are utilized. Additional emissions controls include a close-coupled diesel oxidation catalyst and standard diesel particulate filter. Euro 5 emissions are met through an exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR) system that includes an EGR valve with DC motor and a high-performance EGR cooler with bypass valve.

CO₂ emissions are reduced to 270 g/km for the urban cycle and 188 g/km for the extra-urban cycle. Combined-cycle CO₂ emissions are now 218 g/km.

Jeep Grand Cherokee will be now offered in Europe with Laredo and Limited trim lines in addition to the Overland version. The Laredo and Limited trim lines will be available with the 3.6 V6 Pentastar and the new 3.0 turbodiesel engine while Overland will be available on all the engine line-up.

The 3.0-liter turbo diesel engine for the new-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee will be offered in European markets also as a low-output version, with 140 kW (190 hp DIN) of power at 4,000 rpm and 440 N•m (324 lb-ft) of torque across 1,600-2,800 rpm. The low-output version of the turbo diesel engine will be standard on Laredo models (optional on Limited). ~~Creating a more affordable entry point to the new Jeep Gramd Cherokee lineup.~~ This will allow Grand Cherokee to meet a wider potential market in Europe.

The new diesel engine will be available on the Jeep show-rooms end of the first semester and will join two petrol engines to round out the powertrain lineup.

The all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee features the first application of the all-new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 petrol engine. This V-6 engine with variable valve timing (VVT) delivers 210 kW (286 hp DIN) of power and 347 N•m (256 lb-ft) of torque.

The Grand Cherokee is also available with the legendary 5.7-liter V-8 petrol engine. Also with VVT, this powerful engine delivers 259 kW (352 hp DIN) of power and 520 N•m (384 lb-ft) of torque. The engine’s Multi-displacement System (MDS) helps manage fuel efficiency and can cut fuel delivery to up to four cylinders under certain driving conditions.

Nearly two decades ago, Jeep reinvented the premium sport-utility vehicle (SUV) segment with the introduction of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. More than 4 million sales later, Jeep improves the formula and provides the ideal balance between iconic 4x4 capability and on-road refinement with the all-new Grand Cherokee.

The all-new Grand Cherokee delivers premium on-road performance while maintaining the Jeep brand’s legendary four-wheel-drive, torque-on-demand two-speed transfer case and unsurpassed towing capability. It also offers true American craftsmanship, a sleek new exterior design, a world-class interior cabin, improved fuel economy and a host of safety and technology features.

The all-new Quadra-Lift™ air suspension system is a first for Jeep, providing a total of 105 mm (4.1 in) of lift span. Quadra-Lift features five height settings and operates automatically or may be controlled manually via console controls. In addition, the all-new Selec-Terrain™ traction control system allows the driver to choose from five driving conditions in order to achieve the best driving experience on all terrains. New front and rear independent suspension systems deliver premium on-road handling and comfort.

Celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2011, Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Wrangler, Wrangler Unlimited, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Compass and Patriot. To meet consumer demand around the world, all six Jeep models are sold outside North America – and all are available in right-hand drive versions and with petrol and diesel powertrain options. Chrysler Group LLC sells and services vehicles in approximately 120 countries around the world.

For the year 2010, Jeep sales globally were up 24 percent versus 2009. Jeep was the top-selling brand and currently comprises 50 percent of Chrysler Group’s international sales.

Jeep

Audi A3 concept in Geneva

2011-02-21T05:28:00.000-08:00

Audi will present an attractive technological concept car based on the coming generation of the Audi A3 at the 81st International Geneva Motor Show in early March 2011. The four-seater notchback sedan offers a glimpse of the future expansion of the A3 family.

The sporty yet elegant design of the Audi A3 concept integra Audi will present an attractive technological concept car based on the coming generation of the Audi A3 at the 81st International Geneva Motor Show in early March 2011. The four-seater notchback sedan offers a glimpse of the future expansion of the A3 family.

The sporty yet elegant design of the Audi A3 concept integrates the single-frame grille with its tapered upper corners and headlights with the latest generation of LED technology. The low, flowing roof dome and a coupe-like, low C pillar are among the defining features of the side view.

Audi

MINI returns to Monte Carlo with old and new models.P%

2011-02-02T10:45:00.000-08:00

MINI is back in Monte Carlo and this time it is the iconic version that won the famous rally in the sixties meeting up with the latest MINI WRC that sees the brand back on the world rally stage. Rauno Aaltonen (FI) was driving the 1960s version when he was greeted at the end of the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique in the early hours of the 2nd February by Kris Meeke (GB) and Dani Sordo (ES), the drivers who will revive the brand’s rallying tradition this year.

For Meeke and Sordo this is a stop on what is a busy schedule leading up to the first appearance of the MINI WRC on selected FIA World Rally Championship events in 2011, prior to a full assault on the championship in 2012. However, before that they will be heading from Monaco to Spain to put their brand new test car through its paces. Then on the 13th April comes the official launch of the MINI WRC Team at the plant in Cowley, Oxford (GB) where MINI models are produced.

Aaltonen, who won the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally in a works Mini, covered 4,101 kilometres on the rally that took him and his co-driver, Helmut Artacker, from the start in Marrakech on the 26th January to the principality’s harbour for the finish in the early hours of the 2nd February. His comments on the event were: “It has taken us a long time to get here and it was a good trip. In the old days a Mini in rallying form was rather uncomfortable, but in this Mini we had modern shock absorbers and it was so comfortable that after over 4,000 kilometres I am not tired at all. There was snow in places, but we were not told about this so we did not have the appropriate tyres and so lost over a hundred places. It was really busy on this last leg, we were really fighting hard and it was a great atmosphere.”

Also in Monte Carlo to greet Aaltonen was another famous Mini driver, Paddy Hopkirk from Northern Ireland, who won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964. Remembering that time he said: “It is very interesting to be here and I was delighted to see Rauno looking so well and the car looking so good. It is just great to see it all being revived. When we won it was not just motorsport news, but front page news and I even got a telegram from the Beatles and the Prime Minister and I was given the keys to Belfast. I do admire the talents of these guys. Kris took me around the Prodrive test track in the MINI WRC and it was absolutely fantastic.”

Meeke and Sordo are both keen to start their rally programme. “It is great for Dani and me to be competing for MINI and taking up that legendary spirit . Everything is going extremely well and I think the fundamental DNA of the car is very, very good. At this early stage of the development everyone is really excited as it seems to be hitting all the targets that were set out in the development phase, ” said Meeke.

SoThe MINI WRC is based on the MINI Countryman and is powered by a 1.6-litre turbo engine derived from the MINI production models that has been developed by BMW Motorsport for use in series running to the FIA Series2000 Regulations, which also includes the FIA World Touring Car Championship. The MINI WRC has been developed by Prodrive, one of the most experienced and respected operations in rallying. This UK based company from Banbury has no less than six World Rally Championship titles to its name.

Mini

Fiat Freemont

2011-01-24T07:42:00.000-08:00

The next Geneva motor show will host the debut of the new Fiat Freemont, which will go on sale in the second half of 2011.

The Freemont built on the base of the Dodge Journey, is the first Fiat vehicle to come out of the partnership with the Chrysler Group. It will be produced in the Mexican plant of Toluca, where the 500 is produced for the US market.

The very name conjures up a sense of freedom, the pleasure of life in the open air, of adventure and the possibility of facing any situation that arises in daily life with equanimity.

The Fiat Freemont is in fact a 'factotum vehicle' designed to meet the diverse needs of families and those seeking a spacious, comfortable and versatile vehicle to cater for the frenetic pace of everyday life or weekend leisure time.

The vehicle combines flexibility and practicality with its own distinctive and original style. The dimensions (length of 489 cm, width of 188 cm and height of 172 cm) guarantee outstanding interior roominess, aided by the best wheelbase in its category (289 cm).

The Fiat Freemont guarantees maximum roominess, comfort and versatility due to its 7 standard seats with a genuine third row of roomy seats that is easily accessible because the doors open to 90°. The seats of the third row may be folded down with one simple movement to disappear completely below the floor and create a regular load platform. The seats of the second row are fitted higher than those at the front while the third row is raised in relation to the second allowing all occupants maximum visibility.

The second row can also be fitted with the innovative child booster system: booster seats are used to make sure that children on board are sitting correctly, optimising the seatbelt geometry and guaranteeing greater protection, practicality and comfort.

On-board comfort is also assured by a high driving position, new roomy and ergonomic seats, a host of storage compartments, a generous luggage area with two compartments and a flat load platform for an overall capacity of up to 1461 litres.

The vehicle's very individual design includes muscular, decisive lines that are expressed in a front end with brand new bumpers and grille. The rear end has been redesigned with the adoption of a new bumper and LED tail lights.

The all-new passenger compartment features an up-to-date design and soft touch materials. Features include a wrap-around dashboard with chrome elements, a brand-new instrument panel, a strikingly good-looking central console and an innovative infotainment system with a large colour touchscreen.

To simplify the selection and purchase process, only two outfits will be provided that are aimed at different customer types. The equipment level for both outfits is extremely comprehensive and all the main content items comply with the 'Fiat fair price' strategy.

Both outfits will offer 7 seats, triple-zone automatic climate control system, keyless entry system, cruise control, advanced trip computer, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), fog lights and touchscreen radio with colour screen and controls on the steering wheel. The more metropolitan version will include 17” alloys, touchscreen radio with 8.4” screen, SD card and DVD reader, Bluetooth system, rear parking sensors, fold-down door mirrors, automatic headlight activation, darkened rear windows and roof bars.

The Freemont will have front wheel drive with turbo diesel power units (140 HP or 170 HP 2.0 MultiJet) combined with a manual gearbox. Later, the vehicle will also be available in 4x4 versions with 170 HP 2.0 MultiJet and 276 HP 3.6 petrol V6 engines, both with automatic transmissions. With the exception of the powerful 3.6 litre unit from the Chrysler Group Pentastar family and its automatic transmission, all power units are produced and developed by FPT- Fiat PowerTrain.

The vehicle's dynamic performances have also been improved with the aid of Fiat engineering, which has developed and introduced a special suspension and steering configuration for greater accuracy and directness. Driving comfort is further guaranteed by significant improvements to passenger compartment soundproofing.

Safety is top level with 7 airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Hill-Holder and electronic roll mitigation (ERM) as standard on all vehicles.

Fiat

Seat IBE concept Paris 2010

2010-09-30T05:31:00.000-07:00

SEAT sets a firm course for electro-mobility – with the SEAT IB^E concept car, the Spanish brand is presenting at the 2010 Paris Motor Show its clear vision of a super-compact sports coupé for the urban mobility of the near future. The first version of the SEAT IB^E was already presented in Geneva; since then its design, technology and interior have been further developed. Now on show is its interior, which is incredibly spacious and versatile for this vehicle format, as well as an innovative concept for individualised connectivity and infotainment.

Driving fun and dynamics are at the forefront with the SEAT IB^E, as is clearly evident with just one look at the red paintwork of the concept car. The little sports car is low and wide, with powerful proportions and a concentrated gaze delivered by the razor-sharp lines of its LED headlamps. With its short body length of only 3.83 meters, it is the ideal fit for the urban mobility of the young and young at heart. And the SEAT IB^E combines perfectly its sports car character with innovative technology. The all-electric drive facilitates local zero-emissions driving fun, while the powerful motor with 75 kW (102 hp) and the low weight delivered by intelligent mixed-material construction guarantee refined performance.

Alongside the technical concept, the design of the SEAT IB^E also points to an exciting future. Its athletic styling and clear, precise lines indicate the next evolutionary step in the SEAT design DNA. Style elements with unmistakable character - reduced to the minimum but perfectly executed – demonstrate the strategic quality of SEAT design in the development of future model generations.

“SEAT is working very hard on future electro-mobility,” stresses James Muir, President of SEAT, S.A. “Following the great success of our highly efficient ECOMOTIVE models, hybrids and electric vehicles are further steps in our clear corporate strategy. And the IB^E leaves no room for doubt – the future will find SEAT offering the most innovative, bold and youthful cars in their respective segments, without sacrificing anything in terms of usability.”

Concept

Dynamic driving fun with ecological responsibility

The SEAT IB^E takes a unique approach to combining dynamic design and compact sporting character with incredible usability. It is conceived for the urban conurbations of Europe, like Paris, London, Berlin or Barcelona. Here is where the IB^E will come into its own with zero-emissions driving fun, exceptional manoeuvrability, an impressive amount of space – and, of course, with a cool look courtesy of its clear and extroverted design language.

“Zero-emissions mobility in urban areas is becoming increasingly important,” says Frank Bekemeier, Executive Vice-President for SEAT responsible for Research and Development. “SEAT is developing innovative concepts for these new challenges. The IB^E is a very special combination of compactness, usability and style, which makes it unique.”

Classic sports car proportions

The SEAT IB^E is a super-compact 2+2 sports coupé. At just 3.83 metres short, it undercuts the successful SEAT Ibiza by around 20 centimetres. Yet, at an unusually wide 1.77 metres and only 123 centimetres high, the IB^E possesses the classic proportions of a sports car.

As a 2+2, the SEAT IB^E is perfect for the lifestyle and requirements of the young or young at heart. There is ample space for two, with plenty room in the back for the option of a trip for four. The luggage compartment is sufficient for a shopping trip, while the folding rear seat backs offer additional space for leisure gear, sport equipment or weekend luggage. The rear seat backs can be folded individually to form a flat surface that is level with the floor of the luggage compartment. The IB^E can also be used as a three-seater, with plenty of room for luggage.

Spontaneous dynamics with zero emissions

The SEAT IB^E is an all-electric vehicle that generates zero local emissions and has a package layout optimized for this new technology. The drive motor is located together with the power electronics at the front of the car. Their compact dimensions facilitate the extremely flat and dynamic contour of the bonnet. The lithium-ion battery is positioned in the rear. Thanks to an incredibly compact independent rear suspension layout, the energy storage unit fits beneath the floor of the luggage compartment. With a maximum output of 75 kW (102 hp) and 200 Nm of torque, the power unit delivers exactly the kind of dynamic driving fun promised by the exterior styling.

The city dash from 0 to 50 km/h takes only 3.6 seconds; within 6.6 seconds, the IB^E has reached 80 km/h, and after only 9.7 seconds it arrives at 100 km/h. This impressive performance is a function not only of the powerful off-the-line characteristics of the electric motor, but also the low weight of the SEAT IB^E, which tips the scales at only 1,100 kilograms. Intelligent lightweight engineering is the key, as well as the proven technological efficiency of aluminium and steel in its construction.

The continuous power rating is limited to 50 kW (68 hp), with the top speed pegged at 160 km/h – which is more than enough to cut an impressive figure even on urban motorways. Battery capacity is 18 kWh and set up for a range of around 130 kilometres, which is plenty to cover all the daily mobility requirements of city life.

“Always connected”

SEAT offers a solution of compelling logic for the demands of the mobile generation for connectivity and infotainment. The basis is the owner’s individual smart phone – such as an iPhone. Nowadays, these devices are more than just communications centres for phone and e-mail; they store their owners’ contacts and their music selection, they can navigate, receive traffic updates from the internet... the list goes on. The number of functions available today is virtually inexhaustible.

In the SEAT IB^E, the driver can use a wireless application to connect his smart phone to the IB^Eand conduct an on-line check of the car's systems, including the battery and a trip computer display. An album or a song can be selected from the smart phone and heard on the car's sound system by pressing the “drag to car” option. The dash screen and the steering wheel touch controls simplify operating and navigating the integrated infotainment menus.

Lots of individuality, easy to update

The benefits – the data on a personal smart phone are always up-to-date and complete, and its operation is familiar. All manner of assistance and navigation functions can be used via special apps, and multimedia content stored in the device can be downloaded and accessed. The system delivers the greatest possible individualisation at low cost. Personal smart phones can be updated inexpensively or replaced with a new model. Within the vehicle itself, there are no costs associated with in-car systems that are comparatively complex to update.

Interior design

Generous, precise and high-quality

On opening the door, one is immediately struck by the surprisingly spacious interior of the SEAT IB^E. The room inside the compact sports car has been carefully optimised and is perfectly dimensioned for a dynamic and social lifestyle - as a two or three-seater with a generous luggage compartment, or as a 2+2 with a surprising amount of room, even in the rear. Its power sunroof underscores the bright and airy character of the interior.

“The IB^E shows SEAT’s vision for a car of the future that is as emotional as it is ecologically responsible and affordable,” states SEAT Head of Design Luc Donckerwolke. “The IB^E is a concentrated version of our design DNA. Both exterior and interior are characterised by their focus on key elements, by a clear and precise architecture, by modern technology and by materials that are as high-quality as they are ecological.”

Lightweight, almost floating dasboard

The clear and driver-oriented architecture is dominated by the raised dashboard that almost seems to float. It is supported on an extremely narrow centre console that flows smoothly into the centre tunnel. All interior elements are very minimalist, which benefits the usable space – and also the weight. One example is the sporty, contoured seats; the lightweight plastic buckets make them very slim, while the hi-tech foam padding delivers optimum seating comfort. The comfortable and spacious atmosphere is enhanced by the colour concept that creates an exciting contrast between the base colour “Ceramic White” and “Charcoal Dark” on the dashboard, seat upholstery and door panels.

Purist and minimalist

The large info display facing the driver supplies vehicle information like speed and charge status, and enables access to and operation of functions from the user’s personal device/smart phone. Most of the display’s functionality is accessed via touchpads on the steering wheel spokes. The other operating controls are also reduced to the bare minimum. The display is flanked by the indirect air vents and two control panels. These house the lighting and air conditioning functions and are just as minimal as the drive selection controls located on the centre console. Thanks to the electric drive, the buttons for P, R, N and D are more than enough. Three further buttons are sufficient to operate the electric parking brake, the AutoHold function and the E function that activates the efficient driving mode aid.

Exterior design

Powerful and feisty

The exterior design of the SEAT IB^E also delivers an exciting glimpse into the ongoing development of the SEAT design language. The powerful proportions, the purist forms, the precise lines and the exact surfaces convey the characteristic SEAT identity with their consistent and unique design language. “The IB^E is a gene pool for our next generation of vehicles,” says SEAT Head of Design Luc Donckerwolke. “Many of its elements describe our design language going forward. And it demonstrates how well driving pleasure and ecology come together at SEAT. Driving will be lots of fun in the electric age, too – at least it will in a SEAT.”

The IB^E cuts an impressive figure from the very first glance, with its powerful stature and its classic sports car proportions. The two-door package also looks very sporty, with its extremely low bonnet and long roofline. Yet it interprets these styling elements in a unique way, in a compact format and optimised for urban mobility. Together with the 19-inch wheels, the short front overhang and the muscular rear with virtually no overhang add to the highly charged and compact look.

Sharp and precise details

For its appearance at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the SEAT Technical Centre has further developed the IB^E and brought even greater sharpness and precision to a host of details. This applies primarily to the front end with its LED headlamps that are as sophisticated in their design as they are distinctive. They add even greater emphasis to the characteristic V shape that gives it its signature look.

The entire front end takes a powerful V form that then carries on through the bonnet. Emphasis has been added to the air vents in the lower front section, where sharply formed triangles echo the styling of the LED lights – which are also found on the wing mirrors and in the rear lights. The SEAT logo is located at the front on a trapezoidal functional surface. The alternative drive enables an extremely high degree of consistency in the design – because the electric motor and its power electronics require less packaging space, it was possible to stretch the bonnet a lot flatter across the front end than would have been possible with a conventional engine.

Broad shoulders, large wheels

The side profile of the IB^E emphasises its powerful stature – the long roofline, with the dark-tinted glass roof providing a clear contrast to the rich red of the paintwork. The broad shoulders, the narrow glass surfaces, the powerfully formed flanks and the large diameter wheels with their aerodynamically optimised, double-spoke design all underscore the dynamic appearance. Yet the 175 format tyres are very reasonably sized – and thanks to their low rolling resistance, they contribute to the high efficiency of the electric concept car.

The highly distinctive shoulder line over the rear wheel arches and at the back further reinforces the look of precision. With its tight radii, this line represents a considerable challenge for the toolmakers, and provides further evidence of SEAT’s excellent manufacturing skills. The dainty door handles can be operated with a single fingertip. The socket for the charging cable can be found on the right side. The rear end echoes the characteristic forms of the front and reinterprets them. The split rear light clusters, featuring LED light guide technology, once again display the “arrow” thematic in their triangular casing.

The entire vehicle is completely devoid of ornamentation – good design needs no adorning. Every single line has its function in structuring the volumes and surfaces of the car; every muscle emerging from the form emphasises the sporty design. The reduction of forms, their consistent implementation and the precision in every detail are fixed elements of the SEAT design philosophy – and will be even more evident in future.

Competence

Successful ECOMOTIVE range

SEAT is a vehicle manufacturer with a particularly high degree of expertise in environmentally friendly technologies. Recent years have seen fuel consumption systematically reduced across the individual model ranges, with SEAT ECOMOTIVE emerging to enjoy enormous success on the market as a brand for exceptionally fuel-efficient vehicles. The pinnacle is the Ibiza ECOMOTIVE-E which, in its latest iteration, consumes only 3.4 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres and emits only 89 grams of CO₂ per kilometre despite its powerful 55 kW (75 hp) output. SEAT continues to expand the ECOMOTIVE offering; the Leon, Altea and Altea XL ranges have also been enhanced with these exceptionally low-consumption TDI variants. The new Alhambra ECOMOTIVE-E, too, sets an absolute best in the full-size MPV segment with a fuel consumption of only 5.5 litres.

Hybrid and electric drive as the next steps

The Technical Centre is targeting the all-electric vehicle, with the SEAT IB^E concept car serving as a taster. At the same time, the IB^E marks the start of a targeted project for the promotion and development of electric mobility in Spain.

Seat

BMW Z4 GT3

2010-03-24T05:11:00.000-07:00

Munich, 22nd March 2010. The BMW Z4 GT3, which was officially launched and completed its first test drives at the start of March, is already enjoying great popularity among BMW Motorsport customers. The first cars have been delivered to private BMW teams, who will prepare them for use in various national and international championships.
“The feedback on the BMW Z4 GT3 is extremely positive,” says BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. “This sports car rounds off our product range, and offers drivers and teams the opportunity to compete in championships in accordance with the GT3 regulations – such as the FIA GT3 European Championship, the International GT Open or the ADAC GT Masters – as well as at 24-hour endurance races.” In addition, the BMW M3 GT2, the BMW 320si WTCC, which complies with Super2000 regulations, and the close-to-production BMW M3 GT4 are also available to customer teams from all over the world at BMW Motorsport Distribution.
The production model of the BMW Z4 is already impressive: with its elongated bonnet, flared wheel arches, long wheel base and narrow projections, the car boasts an unmistakable appearance. The two-seater provided BMW Motorsport engineers with a good basis for developing a close-to-production GT3 racing car.
The largest difference between production and racing car can be found under the bonnet: while the production version of the BMW Z4 is driven by a six-cylinder engine, the GT3 car is powered by a 4.0-litre eight-cylinder engine similar to the unit used in the BMW M3 GT2. This powerful heart produces over 480 bhp. Its excellent performance characteristics and good torque curve make the base engine from the production version of the BMW M3 predestined for use in motorsport.
The fitting of the V8 engine had a considerable influence on the development of the BMW Z4 GT3. Initially, design-space examinations were performed using CATIA V5 design software, in order to place the engine in the ideal position and meet racing specifications. The engineers then added all the other components.
When it comes to electronics, the private teams can look forward to innovative BMW solutions, which have already been tried and tested on the BMW M3 GT2: the modern ECU408 takes over the engine management, while the Power400 electronic control unit is responsible for controlling all the actuators. The power is transmitted through a six-speed, sequential gearbox with “Quick Shift” function.
Rims with central locking and safety clip are also included in delivery. In addition, the BMW Z4 GT3 also offers driver assistance systems such as racing ABS and traction control, which have been adopted from other cars in the customer racing range, and then further developed and modified for use in the GT3 car.
The front axle of the BMW Z4 GT3 is a completely new design, based on a series concept. It is equipped with a tubular stabiliser bar with adjustable blades. The rear axle is designed as a longitudinal link axle, as with the series version of the BMW Z4. The steel body of the car comes from the BMW Plant in Regensburg. A safety cell made of extremely rigid, precision steel tubing is then welded into the body. The engine block of the V8 engine is produced in the BMW foundry in Landshut. The BMW Plant in Dingolfing contributes the rear axle differential and drive shaft, among other things.
During the development, BMW Motorsport engineers worked hand in hand in other areas with their colleagues from series production. This allowed them to access calculations from the field of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) when designing the car’s aerodynamics. Furthermore, tests were also carried out in the wind tunnel and on the BMW Group’s test benches.
Front and rear wings, bonnet, roof, fender and many other components are made of carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP). Using this lightweight, torsion-resistant material contributed significantly to reducing the weight of the BMW Z4 GT3 to 1,200 kilograms.
As with all cars in the BMW customer racing range, the emphasis was also put on cost-efficiency when developing the BMW Z4 GT3. As a result, the car offers a very good cost/performance ratio and gives private teams the opportunity to participate in affordable motorsport at the highest level.
The BMW Z4 GT3 is available as a racing car at a cost of 298,000 Euros (plus VAT). Interested teams can find further information at: Z4GT3@bmw-motorsport.com.

BMW

At the Geneva Motor Show..

2010-03-03T04:56:00.000-08:00

SEAT also presented the definitive version of the new Ibiza ST, the compact estate styling of the company's best-selling model. According to Muir, “The Ibiza is SEAT's most popular model and an example of successful leadership in its segment. With the new family-sized ST version in the showrooms before the summer, we expect to boost sales of this model as well as increase the production volume at the Martorell factory.“

The Ibiza ST differs from the SC and five-door versions in its overall body length, at 4.23 metres, and in its boot volume, now with 430 litres of capacity. Furthermore, the Spanish brand's new model is being equipped with a whole new engine line-up, featuring the 105 hp 1.2 TSI petrol and the complete range of TDI common rail engines, including the new 75 hp 1.2 TDI CR variant.

Seat

Seat IBE concept

2010-03-02T04:21:00.000-08:00

The SEAT IBE is 3.78 metres long – making it more than 25 centimetres shorter than an Ibiza - but its unusual breadth of 1.80 metres and overall height of only 122 centimetres lend it classic sports car proportions. Another classically sporty feature of the two-door layout is its extremely low bonnet and its long roof line. The short front overhang and muscular rear end with almost no overhang work together with the 19-inch wheels to underscore the car’s powerful and compact look.

The front end is characterised by full-LED headlamps that are as sophisticated in their design as they are distinctive. They bear the characteristic V typical of SEAT’s so-called “arrow design”. The entire front end takes a powerful V form that then carries on through the bonnet. The two air intakes in the lower bumper section are ample for the relatively low cooling requirements of the electric drive. The SEAT logo is located on a trapezoidal functional surface. The alternative drive enables an extremely high degree of consistency in the design – because the compact electric motor and its power electronics require less packaging space, it was possible to stretch the V-shaped bonnet a lot flatter across the front end than would have been possible with an internal combustion engine.

The side profile of the IBE emphasises its powerful stature – its broad shoulders, its sculpted flanks with a distinctive cut-in behind the front wheel, and the large wheels featuring an aerodynamically optimised five-spoke design all serve to underscore the dynamic look. The tires, on the other hand, with their 175 format, are far from extreme – with their low rolling resistance, they contribute to the high efficiency of the electric concept car. The roofline stretches rearwards, with the side glass surfaces kept low.

The rear end picks up the characteristic form of the front and reinterprets it. The rear light clusters featuring LED light guide technology once again display the “arrow” thematic with a hint of a diffuser beneath the rear bumper area reflecting the visual of the front air intakes. The entire vehicle is completely free from ornamentation – good design needs no decor. Every single line has its function in structuring the volumes and surfaces of the car; every muscle emerging from the form emphasises the sporty design. The reduction of forms, their consistent application and the precision in every detail are fixed elements of the SEAT design philosophy – and will be even more evident in future.

With its manageable dimensions, its agility and dynamics, the SEAT IBE is the perfect fit for city streets. Tightly cut as a 2+2-seater, it is conceived for youthful lifestyles. It has plenty of space for a couple, while also offering capacity for four. The long roofline ensures good interior headroom, while still retaining space for luggage or leisure equipment.

The SEAT IBE is an all-electric vehicle that generates zero local emissions. The drive motor is located together with the power electronics beneath the extremely flat bonnet, with the lithium-ion battery positioned in the car’s very short rear. With a maximum output of 75 kW (102 hp) and 200 Nm of torque, the power unit delivers exactly the kind of dynamic driving fun suggested by the exterior styling. The city dash from 0 to 50 km/h takes only 3.4 seconds; within 6.3 seconds, the IBE has reached 80 km/h, and after only 9.4 seconds it arrives at 100 km/h. This impressive performance is a function not only of the powerful off-the-line characteristics of the electric motor, but also the low weight of the SEAT IBE, which tips the scales at only 1,000 kilograms.

The continuous power rating it limited to 50 kW (68 hp), with the top speed pegged at 160 km/h – which is more than enough to cut an impressive figure even on urban motorways. Battery capacity is 18 kWh, which is plenty to cover all the daily mobility requirements of city life. It goes without saying that the SEAT IBE is equipped with the latest safety and communication systems and, in particular, is prepared for car-to-x communication. Within the information network of the future, the SEAT IBE exchanges data concerning status or safety alerts directly with other vehicles or the traffic infrastructure.

SEAT is a vehicle manufacturer with a particularly high degree of expertise in environmentally friendly technologies. Recent years have seen fuel consumption systematically reduced across the individual model ranges, with SEAT ECOMOTIVE emerging to enjoying enormous success on the market as a brand for exceptionally high-efficiency vehicles. The pinnacle is the Ibiza ECOMOTIVE, which, despite its powerful 59 kW (80 hp) output consumes only 3.7 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres and emits only 98 grams of CO₂ per kilometre. SEAT continues to expand the ECOMOTIVE range, with the Leon, Altea, Altea XL and Alhambra also set to receive exceptionally low-consumption TDI variants.

The next step in the SEAT strategy is the Leon Twin Drive ECOMOTIVE. Its drive is derived from a combination of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Yet it is far more than a conventional hybrid; it is a plug-in vehicle. Its lithium-ion battery can be charged at a regular electrical socket and has a range fully-charged of around 50 kilometres. For longer trips, the internal combustion engine takes over. The first series production version of the Leon Twin Drive ECOMOTIVE is planned for 2014.The development target is the all-electric vehicle, with the SEAT IBE concept car serving as a taster. At the same time, the IBE marks the start of a targeted project for the promotion and development of electric mobility in Spain. The Cenit VERDE initiative brings together the capabilities of 16 leading technology companies and 16 leading universities and research establishments.

With its expertise in research, development and production, SEAT has taken over the industrial leadership of this project. Support by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation (CDTI), the company will explore, develop and establish the fundamental requirements for electric mobility. The objective is to explore technologies for the production of electric vehicles in Spain and for the establishment of the associated infrastructure.

Seat

Mercedes-Benz’ F 800

2010-03-01T04:46:00.001-08:00

A synthesis of green technology and stylish-sporty design, the F 800 Style impressively demonstrates Mercedes-Benz’ ability to harmonize automobile fascination and emotion with the continually increasing demands of environmental compatibility. Like its predecessor, the F 700 presented at the 2007 IAA motor show, the latest research vehicle from the brand with the star offers a clear idea of what we can expect in the future from premium automobiles “made by Mercedes-Benz.” Whereas the 5.18-meter F 700 provided a preview of the large touring sedan of the future, the much shorter F 800 Style (4.75 meters exterior length) points the way toward developments to come in the upper-range sedan segment.

“The F 800 Style combines the functionality of a groundbreaking upper-class sedan with the highly emotional formal idiom of the new Mercedes-Benz design,” says Mercedes-Benz Head of Design Gorden Wagener. “The long wheelbase and the model’s intelligent interior design ensure a generous amount of space and great freedom of movement for five occupants. The result is a distinctive harmony of form and function, whereby the Mercedes brand value of ‘cultivated sportiness’ can be seen and felt in every detail.”

With a total length of 4.75 meters, the F 800 Style has both a longer wheelbase (2,924 millimeters) and a greater width (1,938 millimeters) than today’s upper-range sedans. All of the components of the vehicle’s extremely efficient and environmentally compatible alternative drive system (either Plug-in Hybrid or fuel cell drive) are installed in a space-saving manner in the engine compartment and in the gaps within the chassis. As a result, the entire interior space is preserved and offers plenty of room for up to five occupants.

The exterior appearance of the F 800 Style is marked by its long wheelbase, short body overhangs, and a sensually flowing, coupe-like roof line. The dynamic side view and the vehicle’s balanced proportions lend it a sporty yet sensual look that conveys a feeling of style and superior performance. “The F 800 blends seamlessly into our design scheme,” says Wagener. “It’s immediately recognizable as a Mercedes, even though it embodies our reinterpretation and further development of the brand’s typical design idiom.”

Another important design feature in the F 800 Style is its organically stretched body surface elements. These flow into convex transition zones and are delineated by precisely curved lines. This creates characteristic lines which visually subdivide the vehicle body and generate emotional tension. The powerful front contoured line on the sidewall extends across the flank and then fades off as it moves downward. This line lends the F 800 Style — with its grey metallic ALU-BEAM color tone — a highly dynamic appearance, without making it seem aggressive.The sensually curved roof line underscores the exceptional aerodynamic quality of the coupe, which has a height of 1.43 meters.

The F 800 Style’s front end features a variation of the radiator grille with the centrally placed brand star that can be found in the new E-Class coupe as well as in other models. This grille extends prominently toward the front in the F 800 Style, while the bionically curving lamellae softly flow around the tube holding the Mercedes-Benz brand star. Other noticeable design features include the drop-shaped and thus aerodynamically designed exterior mirrors, whose housings, like those in the Concept BlueZERO model, are partially transparent and backlit.

A “shining” example of technological and design innovation at Mercedes-Benz is offered in the truest sense of the word by the powerful LED headlights in the F 800 Style. The combination of fiber optics and state-of-the-art LED technology lends the vehicle a striking appearance. Along with the wide radiator grille and the generously curved air intake openings, the LED headlights emphasize the dynamic nature of the research vehicle. The headlights are divided into individual segments for daytime running lights, turn signal indicators, and primary headlights.

The F 800 Style’s taillights are also equipped with state-of-the-art LED units that enable an exciting interplay of indirect illumination and direct beams, which further enhances the stylish appearance of the vehicle’s rear section at night. The result is an attractive, unmistakable, and memorable visual effect.

The F 800 Style’s translucent roof is divided into several segments. With flowing lines that dissolve and let more and more light through, the roof incorporates the wave styling elements of the air outlets. The F 800 Style’s 20-inch alloy wheels are equipped with plastic inserts whose bionically arranged air intake openings are shaped like filigree turbine blades.

Natural wood surfaces and a harmonious color gradient from light to dark make for an elegant and cozy interior in the F 800 Style. This interior was created at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy, and its modern sense of lightness is immediately noticed by occupants. Functional elements such as the driver area and the door armrests seem to float in space like sculptures, while light-colored wood surfaces underscore the model’s elegant ambience. Side panels covered with alcantara form a visual contrast to the wood. The panels are light beige in the area of the A-pillar and grow darker in a smooth color gradient as they extend to the back, ending in a dark grey tone in the rear of the vehicle. Additional design details are provided by attractive engraved patterns in the rear door panels.

The innovative lightweight-construction seats in the F 800 Style consist of a magnesium shell and a carbon fiber laminate seatback across which a fine yet resistant netting is stretched. The seat shell is veneered with real wood. For the wood inlaying process, Mercedes-Benz engineers employed an innovative technology designed especially for the veneering of three-dimensional surfaces. The new 3D surface coating procedure developed by Mercedes-Benz was also used to install the wood finishing in the center console, on the doors, and in the driver area. These wood finishing pieces are molded as 3D laminated components and are augmented by an aluminum layer, a feature that significantly improves crash safety.

The single-section organically curved cockpit offers plenty of legroom for front-seat passengers. In a setup similar to the one used in the F 700 research vehicle from 2007, all important information for the driver is presented on the large and clearly arranged display unit in the instrument cluster. A key new feature of this improved display is that it focuses for the first time on data associated with electric vehicle operation. The unit thus puts important relevant information such as the battery charge state and remaining vehicle range at the center of attention.

The integrated display unit, which elegantly protrudes from the curved console, provides for a feeling of exceptional interior spaciousness. Outstanding ergonomic quality is guaranteed by the new HMI with cam touchpad integrated into the center console. The unit also boasts several technical innovations, including its ability to visually depict the current functions within the cam touchpad’s menu structure on the display above the center console.

The rear doors of the F 800 Style ideally embody the harmony of form and function that typifies the vehicle.

Whereas the front doors are attached to the A-pillar in a conventional manner and open toward the front, the rear doors slide backward when opened. The innovative swivel arm construction of the rear doors allowed designers to forgo the use of visible door rails, giving the F 800 Style the appearance of being cast in one piece when its doors are closed. “We integrated the door technology into the vehicle in such a manner that it blends seamlessly into the overall design flow, thus perfectly harmonizing ergonomics and design,” says Wagener.
The F 800 Style is both a technology package and a showcar. The latest Mercedes-Benz research vehicle was created through close international cooperation between the technical research and advanced engineering departments and the advanced design studios in Sindelfingen and Como, Italy. Form and function are equally important in the F 800 Style. For example, all of the air intake openings and outlets have an important technical function in addition to the bold design statement they make,and the organic, nature-based wave shape for the protective grille is a typical design feature that is present throughout the vehicle.

In combination with the very powerful Plug-in Hybrid drive system, the F 800 Style is a very dynamic expression of the concept of “fascination and responsibility.” Its drive unit consists of a V6 gasoline engine with an output of approximately 220 kW (300 hp) with next-generation direct injection and a hybrid module with an output of about 80 kW (109 hp) so that it delivers a total power of around 300 kW (409 hp). The lithium-ion battery with a storage capacity of >10 kWh can be recharged either at a charging station or a household power socket. Thanks to its powerful and high-torque hybrid module, in the city the F 800 Style can run exclusively on electricity and therefore without generating any local emissions. Because it also has a high torque right from the moment it starts, the vehicle has the same driving performance as a car with a V6 gasoline engine even when operating in electric mode. The F 800 Style with the Plug-in Hybrid can run purely on electricity for up to 30 kilometers. The F 800 Style research vehicle therefore marks a further important step in the creation of a market-ready Plug-in Hybrid. Mercedes-Benz will begin series production of the
S 500 Plug-in Hybrid with the introduction of the next-generation S-Class.

Due to its efficient drive system and a CO₂ bonus for the battery-electric driving mode, the vehicle has a certified fuel consumption of only 2.9 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers. This corresponds to extremely low CO₂ emissions of only 68 grams per kilometer. However, thanks to its outstanding efficiency, the F 800 Style equipped with a Plug-in Hybrid nevertheless has a driving performance comparable to a sports car (0-100 km/h in 4.8 s, top speed of 250 km/h). When in electric mode, the F 800 Style has a top speed of 120 km/h, and can thus also meet the needs associated with long-distance driving.

As is the case with the Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID introduced in the summer of 2009 and the Vision S 500 Plug-in Hybrid, the especially powerful electric module (approx. 80 kW) of the F 800 Style is completely integrated into the housing of the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed transmission. The lithium-ion battery in the new research vehicle is located underneath the rear seat, where it takes up little space, creates a low center of gravity, and ensures maximum safety in the event of a crash.

The electric drive components in the F 800 Style with the Plug-in Hybrid once again demonstrate the versatility of Mercedes-Benz’ extensively scalable modular hybrid system. The hybrid system can be expanded in various ways, depending on performance needs and the area of application. On this basis, it is possible to combine hybrid modules and batteries of different performance ratings with fuel-efficient, high-torque gasoline and diesel engines. Examples range from the current mild hybrids all the way to Plug-in Hybrids that enable exclusively electric driving over long distances. In developing the F 800 Style with Plug-in Hybrid, the Mercedes engineers particularly focused on improving the possibilities of driving exclusively with electricity in urban traffic. Thanks to high power reserves, the F 800 Style in e-mode easily masters all kinds of city traffic while producing no local emissions. With the new hybrid module, the top speed of the F 800 Style with Plug-in Hybrid has been increased to 120 km/h in electric mode compared to the Vision S 500 Plug-in Hybrid. At the same time, it emits only 68 grams of CO₂ per kilometer, compared to the latter vehicle’s 74 grams per kilometer.

The F 800 Style also offers clean driving pleasure in the variant equipped with an electric drive based on fuel cell technology. The vehicle’s electric motor develops around 100 kW (136 hp) as well as a strong torque of approximately 290 Nm. The fuel cell generates the traction current by chemically reacting hydrogen with oxygen onboard the vehicle, producing water vapor in the process as the only emission.

The components of the fuel cell drive are taken from the range of e-drive modules, which Mercedes-Benz developed for a variety of different electric vehicles. These components, which are already being installed in the limited edition B-Class F-CELL, can be flexibly used and are suited for a variety of different drive configurations. The F 800 Style is an example of this, as it uses rear-wheel drive, in contrast to the B-Class F-CELL. The same components are also installed in commercial vehicles, with developments here being spearheaded by the new Citaro fuel cell bus, which is equipped with two of the F-CELL systems used in passenger cars.

The new Mercedes-Benz research vehicle has the fuel cell located in the front, while the compact electric motor is installed near the rear axle. The lithium-ion battery is located behind the rear seats and is protected as well as possible against the effects of accidents, as are the four hydrogen tanks. Two of the tanks are located in the transmission tunnel between the passengers, while the other two are underneath the rear seat.

Mercedes

Lotus hybrid power for the PROTON Concept

2010-02-24T08:58:00.000-08:00

Lotus Engineering, the world-renowned automotive consultancy division of Lotus Cars Limited today announces its latest series hybrid vehicle technology application in the PROTON Concept, which will be unveiled at the 80th International Geneva Motor Show. The complete hybrid drivetrain in the PROTON Concept city car has been developed by Lotus Engineering and it includes the Lotus Range Extender engine, designed specifically for series hybrid vehicles.

The PROTON Concept, a plug-in series hybrid city car, has been styled by Italdesign and will be unveiled on the Italdesign stand at the Geneva Motor Show. Lotus Engineering has designed and integrated the complete drivetrain, including the electrical drive system with single-speed transmission, which delivers low emissions, optimised performance and acceptable electric-only operating range for ity use. For longer journeys, when the battery charge level falls, the 3 cylinder, 1.2 litre Lotus Range Extender engine is used to replenish the charge in the battery and provide electrical power for the drive motors. The battery can also be recharged via an AC mains domestic outlet to achieve initial electric-only operation.

Dr Robert Hentschel, Director of Lotus Engineering said: “The hybrid drivetrain of the PROTON Concept is another example of Lotus Engineering’s expertise in electrical and electronic systems and efficient performance engines. The high efficiency Lotus Range Extender engine, which we unveiled to great acclaim at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show last year is perfectly suited for the advanced series hybrid we have created for the PROTON Concept city car. It is an exciting example of the diverse range of highly efficient total propulsion systems that Lotus Engineering continues to develop for its partners and clients.”

PROTON Holdings Berhad Group Managing Director, Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohd Tahir said, “Our collaboration with Lotus and Italdesign on progressive technology and design will further propel our competitiveness in the world market. Through this association, we strive to acquire and jointly develop new knowledge, skills and technologies that will ultimately benefit our customers.”

Lotus

BMW 5 Series Sedan

2010-02-19T05:03:00.000-08:00

Introducing the sixth generation of the BMW 5 Series Sedan, BMW is setting a new benchmark for driving pleasure, aesthetic design and efficiency in the upper midrange segment. In its design the new sedan presented to the world public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show is characterised by harmoniously balanced proportions, stylishly elegant lines, and powerful, expressive looks.

The new BMW 5 Series Sedan comes with the longest wheelbase in its segment, a truly generous, sophisticated and modern interior, a driver-oriented cockpit and numerous innovative driver assistance systems guaranteeing a fascinating experience on the road, even on the longest journeys.

The new BMW 5 Series Sedan is entering the market with a choice of one eight-cylinder and three six-cylinder gasoline engines as well as two six-cylinder diesels. The power range extends all the way from 150 kW/204 hp to 300 kW/407 hp.

These larger engines are supplemented by a four-cylinder turbodiesel with an aluminium crankcase and common rail direct fuel injection. Output in this case is 135 kW/184 hp, giving the BMW 520d fitted as standard with Auto Start Stop a new level of unparalleled efficiency in its segment.

As an alternative to the six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard, all engine variants may be combined with eight-speed automatic transmission standard on the new BMW 550i.

The new BMW 5 Series Sedan offers an unprecedented symbiosis of the superior sportiness so characteristic of this model with an even higher level of all-round comfort. As an option, the outstanding suspension technology featured as standard on the new BMW 5 Series Sedan may be combined with Adaptive Drive and Integral Active Steering, to mention yet another unique combination. And optional Dynamic Drive Control, finally, allows individual set-up of the suspension according to the driver’s wishes.

The driver assistance systems available for the first time in the context of BMW ConnectedDrive include the Parking Assistant, Surround View, a proximity warning system with initiation of the brakes in conjunction with Active Cruise Control incorporating Stop & Go, and a Speed Limit Device.
In addition, the BMW 5 Series Sedan is available with further options such as Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Info, a Head-Up Display, BMW Night Vision able to detect even individual persons, and a back-up camera.

BMW

Volvo S60

2010-02-17T00:16:00.000-08:00

The all-new S60 is sportier and more dynamic than any previous Volvo. But it is still an unmistakeable representative of Scandinavian design at its best. "The S60 has been sculpted to move you. Every single line in its design is there to transport you both physically and emotionally.

Its profile radiates so much coupe feeling that the rear doors come as something of a pleasant surprise when you examine the car close-up," says Volvo Cars' Design Director Peter Horbury. Virtually all the lines were penned to carve out the dynamic profile. The C-pillar of the all-new S60 stretches sensually all the way to the tail lamps - and the slim coupe-like roof line is accompanied by a new contour on the shoulders on either side of the lower body, creating a gentle yet powerful double wave from the headlamps at the front to the tail lamps at the rear. The dip in the middle of the double wave visually pushes the car down. This enhances the stance and makes the car look sleeker and lower. The sculpted bonnet and the short overhangs front and rear also emphasise the sports car feel.

The all-new S60 is exceptional also from the keen driver's perspective. It is without a doubt the most dynamic car model Volvo has ever presented."This project has been about pure passion for the task of driving Volvo's chassis development expertise to its very pinnacle. We've crossed into territory where we've never been before," says Stefan Sällqvist, who is in charge of developing the chassis of the all-new S60. The sedan can be specified with a choice of two chassis. On the European market the newly developed dynamic chassis is standard, while most markets in North America and Asia will have the comfort chassis as standard with the sport variant available as an option.The difference between the two chassis alternatives is to be found in the dampers and the front and rear subframes. Here the comfort variant has a somewhat softer setting to give a smoother ride on poorer road surfaces.

During the development process, the chassis team carved out a holistic solution featuring changes and refinements for virtually every single detail that influences a car's driving properties. This includes improved steering, stiffer springs and bushes as well as more damping than in any previous Volvo.The software in the AWD (All Wheel Drive) system has been modified to allow the four-wheel drive variants (four-wheel drive is standard in the T6 and optional with the D5) of the all-new Volvo S60 to exploit the sporty new chassis to the limit. All variants of the new S60 can be specified with the advanced, self-adjusting FOUR-C active chassis. The FOUR-C active chassis has been modified and refined for better control and more comfortable feel compared to previous Volvos.

The interior of the all-new S60 takes Volvo Cars to a new dimension in terms of exclusive quality. In addition, Volvo Cars' designers have added in excitement, contrast and playfulness to the rational simplicity of Scandinavian design tradition."The interior has a more extrovert attitude than before, but without losing any of its practical Scandinavian roots. The all-new S60 brings us up to a whole new level when it comes to the integral experience of colour, form, material and technology," says Peter Horbury.Scandinavian design is often described with rational adjectives such as functionality, simplicity and clarity. When creating the all-new S60, the design team also added in a modern touch, details that generate excitement, contrast and playfulness. The interior of the all-new S60 is lavish in terms of its driver-oriented details, but it is still a five-seater car offering comfortable space for all its occupants. The sculpted outer rear seats give the passenger in the middle welcome side support. Knee space in the rear seat has increased by 30 mm compared with the previous-generation S60. The rear seat splits 40/60 and the boot opening has been made 107 mm wider than in the previous-generation S60.

The sporty interior of the all-new S60 is also the most advanced high-tech environment ever offered to a Volvo driver. "The interior of the all-new S60 is all about innovative design in two areas: form and technology. The design is characterised by sporty freshness down to the smallest detail. The technological aspect includes all those smart solutions that contribute to a driving experience unlike that of any other Volvo - from collision avoidance safety and comfort systems to infotainment and audio excellence of absolute world class," says Tomas Ahlborg, Project Director for the all-new S60.

Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake is a groundbreaking technological solution. It can detect pedestrians who walk into the road in front of the car, warn the driver - and automatically apply full braking power if the driver does not respond in time."We are truly proud of our success in making our technology so reliable that we can offer a complete system that can avoid a collision with a pedestrian by detecting, alerting and applying full braking. It's a world first, to the best of our knowledge. With this technology we have increased the braking force in our automatic braking system from fifty percent to full stopping power," says Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Cars.

In an emergency situation the driver first receives an audible warning combined with a flashing light in the windscreen's head-up display. At the same time, the car's brakes are pre-charged. If the driver does not react to the warning and an accident is imminent, full braking power is automatically applied.Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake can avoid a collision with a pedestrian at speeds of up to 35 km/h if the driver does not react in time. At higher speeds, the focus is on slowing down the car as much as possible prior to the impact. A lower speed of impact means that the risk of serious injury is significantly reduced. For instance, if speed is cut from 50 km/h to 25 km/h, Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake is expected to reduce the fatality risk by as much as 20 percent and in some cases by up to 85 percent.The all-new Volvo S60 also features City Safety as standard. With City Safety, the car automatically brakes if the driver fails to react in time when the vehicle in front slows down or stops - or if he or she is driving too fast towards a stationary object. The system can lessen or even entirely avoid low-speed rear-end impacts at speeds up to 30 kilometres an hour.

During its first year of production, the all-new Volvo S60 will be available with a variety of diesel and petrol engines spanning the range from an economical 115 horsepower DRIVe version to an eager high-performance turbocharged version producing 304 horsepower. The T6 petrol engine has a displacement of 3.0 litres and has been improved still further, primarily thanks to lower internal friction. It now pumps out 304 hp and no less than 440 Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes 6.5 seconds and top speed is 250 km/h.At the same time, Volvo Cars' engine specialists have succeeded in cutting fuel consumption by about 10 percent to 10.2 l/100 km (EU Combined, preliminary figure).The engine's power is delivered to the wheels via Volvo's second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission. New valves and lower friction mean faster gearchanges than before. AWD (All-Wheel Drive) is standard on the T6.

The new four-cylinder 2.0 GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) engine has a displacement of two litres and produces a generous 203 hp, with 300 Nm of torque available from 1750 rpm. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes 7.7 seconds with the manual gearbox and 8.2 seconds with the automatic. The top speed figures are 235 km/h (manual) and 230 km/h (automatic).The Volvo S60 2.0T with manual gearbox uses just 7.9 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (EU Combined, preliminary figure).New Volvo-developed turbocharging technology, direct injection and twin variable camshafts give a unique combination of low fuel consumption, low emissions and high performance across a wide rev range - all in a particularly compact format. The turbocharger is the market's smallest in relation to the engine's maximum power output. Another new feature is that the exhaust manifold and turbocharger are made of sheet steel rather than a heavier casting. A manifold made of sheet steel is admittedly nothing particularly new but thus far it has only been used in combination with a cast turbo housing. The new fully integrated turbo system of sheet steel is a world innovation and has been patented by Volvo.Later during the first year of production, the all-new S60 will also become available as a 2.0 GTDi variant (T5) producing 240 hp and torque of 320 Nm. Furthermore, there will be a 1.6-litre GTDi engine available in two versions: 180 hp (T4) and 150 hp (T3) with torque of 240 Nm.All the GTDi engines will be available in combination with Volvo's automatic six-speed Powershift transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox.

The engine range also includes two five-cylinder turbodiesels. The D5 high-performance engine with twin turbos produces 205 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes 7.8 seconds (manual and automatic). Top speed is 235 km/h (manual) and 230 km/h (automatic).In the most recent D5 version, which was introduced in spring 2009, the performance and driveability requirements have been met by fitting two turbochargers of different sizes, one taking over from the other and providing added power across a broader rev range. Fuel consumption is 5.9 l/100 km (EU Combined, preliminary figure) with the manual gearbox, putting this engine in the running for best in class.In addition there is the newly developed two-litre D3 producing 163 hp and 400 Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes 9.2 seconds (manual and automatic). Top speed is 220 km/h (manual) and 215 km/h (automatic).The new five-cylinder D3 is in principle the same engine as the present 2.4D, but cylinder capacity has been reduced with a shorter stroke to optimise fuel consumption. With a manual gearbox, fuel consumption (EU Combined, preliminary figure) is now down to 5.2 l/100 km.Both turbodiesels are available with six-speed automatic transmissions or a six-speed manual gearbox. The D5 can also be specified with all-wheel drive.

During the course of the first year of production, a DRIVe version of the all-new S60 will also be introduced, featuring a 1.6-litre diesel engine. Fuel consumption is 4.3 l/100 km (EU Combined, preliminary figure), corresponding to CO2 emissions below 115 g/km. The engine produces 115 hp and 270 Nm of torque, and will only be available with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Volvo

Nissan Juke

2010-02-16T00:46:00.000-08:00

Designed to bring a breath of fresh air to the B-segment, where customers are uninspired by the lack of originality on offer, Juke is a distinctive combination of SUV toughness and sporting style in a compact package. It will be the third member of Nissan's crossover family, reinforcing the company's position as a pioneer of this increasingly popular configuration of vehicle.
The top of the range Juke will come with a new turbocharged direct injection petrol engine, developing 140kW (190PS) and 240 Nm.

The 1.6 direct injection turbo engine is available with Nissan's ALL-MODE 4x4-i system, updated to include torque-vectoring technology. As well splitting torque front to rear - up to a maximum of 50:50 - it can now be split from side-to-side across the rear axle too, enhancing agility and reducing understeer when cornering.The inclusion of this innovation is a first in the small car segment - a technology that has, until now, only been found on top-of-the-range, premium vehicles.The other engine options are Nissan's 1.6-litre 16-valve unit, now with a unique dual-injection system, developing 86kW (117 PS) and 157Nm of torque, as well as the 1.5-litre dCI common rail engine producing 81kW (110PS) and 240 Nm of torque.As well as being sold in Europe (from the autumn), Juke will also be sold in Japan and North America.

Nissan

Audi A1

2010-02-10T04:13:00.000-08:00

The Audi brand stands for automotive passion. With its agile chassis and powerful engines, the A1 is the sportiest car in its class, and this is readily apparent at first glance. The design is unique and modern. Styling cues placing the A1 in the Audi family include the side line with the distinctive roof arch, the coupe-like C-pillars, the large wheel wells and, of course, the front end with the typical single-frame grille. The hood and rear hatch encompass the body; the tail lights are three-dimensionally molded and present an unmistakable design, day or night.

The interior of the A1 is spacious and airy. The instrument panel is suggestive of an airplane wing; its four round air nozzles are reminiscent of the turbines of a jet.

The clear ergonomics and the uncompromisingly high fit and finish typify the Audi brand’s high standards. Many lovingly designed details in the interior document the premium character of the Audi A1.

In addition to the Attraction and Ambition trim lines, Audi also offers a media style package focused on infotainment and the interior design. The innovative materials and modern colors underscore the character of the A1. Whether colored air nozzles, LED interior lights or seat covers in expressive colors –

customization is an important catchword. The equipment program offers countless opportunities for matching the A1 to the driver’s own personal style.

There are even a variety of paint finishes from which to choose for the roof arch. Customers can order many of these features after the initial sale to follow a trend or a whim. The available infotainment and multimedia systems available come directly from the luxury class. The top of the line is MMI navigation plus, a media center that sets new standards in the compact segment. From the monitor that rises up out

of the instrument panel to the control unit that follows the MMI logic, it is oriented on the systems found in Audi models in the higher segments. Based on the concert radio, the connectivity package offers the option of retrofitting an Audi map-based navigation system – a novelty in the automotive sector. The 465 watt Bose surround sound system is just one example of the complementary modules available.

The sporty, agile chassis of the A1 places it at the head of its class. Whether in the city, on an interurban road or on the highway – the A1 is great fun to drive anywhere thanks to its sporty setup, the optimized weight distribution and the very direct steering. The standard ESP stabilization system with electronic axle differential lock makes the handling of the A1 even more sporty and precise, while driving safety is increased even further. The new A1 also sets new efficiency standards. Audi is sending the new model line into the fray with four four-cylinder engines, with the two TDI and two TFSI gasoline engines producing between 63 kW (86 hp) and 90 kW (122 hp). All of the engines follow the downsizing principle – they substitute turbo charging for displacement and draw their fuel through direct injection units.

All versions of the A1 impress with good fuel economy, with standard cycle values between 3.8 and 5.4 liters per 100 kilometers. The 1.6 TDI with 66 kW (90 hp) and manual transmission emits only 99 g of CO2per kilometer. All of the engines are equipped with a recuperation system that allows them to recover energy during braking, and are coupled with an automatic start-stop system. A new temperature management system with switched water pump contributes to the low fuel consumption of the 1.2 TFSI.

At Audi, efficiency is always high-tech. The A1 is available with the seven-speed S tronic transmission. The dual-clutch transmission changes gears extremely quickly, comfortably and without detectable interruptions in pulling power. It offers both automatic and manual modes, with paddles on the steering wheel available as an option. It provides for tremendously fun driving and also further reduces

fuel consumption – typical Audi. The A1 is sporty, powerful and attractive. As a newcomer in the compact

segment, it appeals to a modern customer group – a young, urban, lifestyle oriented public. A1 customers – many of whom are expected to be women – are interested in design, music, fashion and sports. The entry-level model will be priced at around 16,000 euros.

Audi

Chevrolet in Geneva

2010-02-08T04:10:00.000-08:00

At the 80th international motor show in Geneva, Chevrolet will give a glimpse of what customers will see in European Chevrolet show rooms in the next few years.

"After Cruze in 2009 and Spark in 2010, our centenary year 2011 will usher in five more exciting Chevrolets for Europe," said Chevrolet Europe president and managing director Wayne Brannon.

In 2011, Chevrolet will launch an all-new family van, based on the Orlando show car, and the legendary Chevrolet Camaro, both as coupé and convertible.

The star on the Chevrolet stand in exhibition hall 2 will be the Aveo RS show car, celebrating its European premiere after its world debut at the North American International Auto Show last month. The show car features a dynamic hot hatch look and provides a preview of the next-generation Aveo. Longer, wider and more spacious than the current production Aveo, the Aveo RS comes with upscale-looking design cues both inside and out, and presents the many personalization options potentially available on the next-generation car.

The Aveo RS show car is powered by a beefy 138-horsepower (103 kW) 1.4L Ecotec turbocharged engine. A six-speed manual transmission is designed to ensure the car will provide a spirited driving experience.

"The Aveo RS clearly demonstrates that we are ready to make a big step forward in the small-car segment. Coming to Europe in 2011, the new Aveo will be completely in tune with the striking new Cruze and Spark, our all-new compact and mini entries," said Brannon.

Chevrolet

Geneva International Motor Show - Subaru

2010-02-05T03:58:00.000-08:00

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced that it will exhibit the “SUBARU HYBRID TOURER CONCEPT” as an European premiere and unveil the “Subaru Impreza XV” as a world premiere, which will be marketed this summer in Europe, at the 80th Geneva International Motor Show slated for March in Geneva, Switzerland (Press day: March 2 and 3; Open to the public from March 4 through 14). It will also showcase the “Subaru Plug-in STELLA”, a production electric vehicle launched in Japan last year, “BOXER DIESEL” models, and highlight Subaru’s unique Horizontally-Opposed Boxer Engine technologies. With these exhibits and throughout the booth design, FHI will showcase Subaru’s efforts to integrate enjoyable and reliable driving with environmentally friendly solutions. The press conference by President Ikuo Mori is scheduled at the Subaru booth on March 2, 2010 at 15.45h
Employing the Subaru’s core technology of “Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD)” and “Horizontally-Opposed Boxer Engine”, the “SUBARU HYBRID TOURER CONCEPT” reflects Subaru’s vision of the future grand touring car. Presented with an eye-catching sculpted exterior design, the concept offers an ideal combination of Subaru’s authentic driving performance, all-round safety features and environmental friendliness provided by its unique hybrid system.
Length x Width x Height: 4,630 x 1,890 x 1,420mm
Power Unit: 2.0-litre Horizontally-Opposed direct fuel-injection
turbo gasoline engine plus two motors
The “Subaru Impreza XV”, developed on the basis of the iconic Impreza 5-door model, offers a new crossover styling. Exclusively designed front grille and wheel arch, and specially equipped roof rails and a roof spoiler accentuate the uniqueness of this special Impreza version. The available 2.0-litre Horizontally-opposed petrol engine and the turbo BOXER DIESEL engine comply with European EURO 5 regulations for enhanced environmental friendliness.

Subaru

Carlsson C25

2010-02-04T02:50:00.000-08:00

The performance data of the six litre V12 Bi-Turbo is impressive. The high-performance aggregate with a motor management optimisation patented by Carlsson renders 753 hp (554 kW) and allows fast acceleration as well as smooth travels at lower speeds. Also responsible for the perfect performance evolvement is the elaborately developed stainless steel exhaust system with ends in four edgy pipes at the back. The power catapults the C25 with a torque of 1320 Newton metres at 3750 r.p.m. which is electronically limited to 1,150 Newton metres from 0 to 100 km/h in only 3.7 seconds and achieves a maximum speed of 352 km/h.
The C25 emphasises this exquisite status with its self-reliant and unique design. The elongated vehicle front with the tapered lobe between the powerful shoulders craves ahead and the generously dimensioned air inlets in the typical Carlsson trapezoid form supply the engine with the necessary ventilation. The ultra-light and forged wheels 1/10 UL in the dimensions 9,5x20 and 12x20 inches have been especially designed for the C25 and are equipped with high performance tyres measuring 265/30 at the front and 325/25 at the rear live axle. One wheel just weighs 11.2 kilograms and therefore is 40 percent lighter than custom light alloy wheels. Ventilation ducts in front and behind the wheel houses provide the Carlsson brake system with 405 millimetres large slotted race brake discs at the front and 380 millimetre race brake discs at the rear axle with cool air. With this, Carlsson achieves the perfect symbiosis between design and function. The elongated flat rear screen and the restrained tearing edge on the boot lit as well as the generously dimensioned double diffuser render the required downthrust and therefore the C25 does not need any extensible spoilers. In order to emphasise the uniqueness of the C25, Carlsson has also developed a new rear- and front lights design.
The newly designed interior resembles the exterior as far as shape, colour and functionality are concerned. The characteristic trapezoid elements at the front and back are also found on the steering wheel. On the seats and the centre console the edged shape is used as well. The instruments clearly turn towards the driver, indicate the performance capability of the C25 and increase the ergonomics. The generous use of real carbon, tanned buffalo leather and ultra-suede in special colours provides an evenly exclusive and user-friendly ambience. For driveability reasons, Carlsson deliberately refrains from race seats, race straps, rollover devices and extreme lowering.With the C25, Carlsson confirms its reputation as being one of the most exclusive automobile manufacturers in the world. High technical competence, many years experience in automobile construction, an advanced sense for design and elegance and German art of engineering make the Carlsson C25 unique all over the world.

Carlsson

SEAT Ibiza ST

2010-02-04T02:29:00.000-08:00

With a World Premiere at the Geneva Motorshow, SEAT is pushing forward with its product offensive – the Ibiza ST is the third model to join the successful Spanish line-up. The compact estate car is the perfect vehicle for a youthful and sporty lifestyle, bringing together the brand’s most powerful characteristics – it is emotional and well-designed, it is dynamic and efficient, it is easy to use and financially attainable. SEAT will deliver the Ibiza ST in six modern engine variants and with a broad palette of equipment and technologies. Market launch is planned for early summer.
The stylists at SEAT Design have taken the highly functional concept of the Ibiza ST and clad it in the Spanish brand’s unique design language. Despite the estate layout and generous load capacity, it retains the youthful, sporty character of the Ibiza range. The roofline stretches rearwards, the rear overhang is integrated perfectly into the overall design and the tight span of its flanks lends tautness to its proportions. The front end bears the hallmark SEAT “arrow design”; with the rear end receiving a new look courtesy of the split rear light clusters.
With a length of 4.23 metres, the Ibiza ST is no less than 18 centimetres longer than the Ibiza. This creates ample load capacity to satisfy all the requirements of a sporty and mobile lifestyle. The base capacity of 430 litres is already comparatively generous, and can be increased in stages by folding the split rear seat. Engineers paid particularly close attention to the optimal width and low height of the load opening. Overall, the bodyshell is finished to the high levels of precision and stiffness characteristic of all SEAT models.
The interior of the Ibiza ST is impressively spacious, with an accomplished and high quality character. The designers and engineers paid close attention to the tiniest detail; every single element is functional, practical to use and meticulously crafted, as evidenced by the high material quality and tight tolerances. The cockpit feels taut. Circular air vents, a short gear stick – the emotional character expressed by the design of the Ibiza ST is clearly evident in the interior, too.

Seat

Nissan Juke

2010-02-03T05:17:00.000-08:00

One month before its global media unveil on February 10th, Nissan today confirms the name of its forthcoming small Crossover. The Nissan Juke will go on sale from October, following its global public premiere at Geneva Motor Show in March.
The Nissan Juke will inject some much-needed dynamism into the small car segment, offering European car-buyers an alternative to the traditional, uninspiring small hatchback. As the fourth Crossover in Nissan’s European range, “Juke” reinforces the brand’s pioneering Crossover leadership in Europe.
The car was inspired by the Qazana concept car that received such a warm reception at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, and will fit into the Nissan range between the Note compact family car and the Qashqai crossover.
Nissan’s customer research identified a large proportion of European small and compact car buyers whose needs are not met by what they perceive to be uninspiring and unoriginal options available to them where copycat hatchbacks dominate.
The Nissan Juke has been designed and developed to give customers an alternative to the traditional small hatchback in Europe. We know that there are a lot of customers that are looking for a car which combines striking design, agile handling and driving pleasure, user friendly technology but not at the expense of practicality and convenience. These unique attributes will allow Juke to occupy a unique corner of the European market,” said Simon Thomas, Nissan’s European Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing.

Nissan

VW Beetle

2010-02-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

No matter the time of year, nor the weather outside, the New Beetle convertible stays stylish while keeping the inside comfortable and dry with a three-layer cloth top that features a heated glass rear window. When placed in the up (closed) position, the top helps keep road noise down to a minimum in the cabin. The top is power-assisted for quick and easy lowering, and tucks away directly behind the rear seat for a vintage look. The soft-top also includes a semiautomatic
power roof and a wind blocker. As an added convenience in the convertible, a driver-accessible, extra window switch makes lowering and raising all four side windows simultaneously a simple task.
The seating positions in both the sedan and convertible models are covered in V-Tex, with a choice of black, cream or white colors to best complement the New Beetle’s exterior and the personality of its owner (select color combinations unavailable). Heated front seats are standard on all models, along with a leather parking brake handle and shift knob, a telescoping, three-spoke padded steering wheel, the Easy Entry System with the front seats for improved rear passenger entry, and one-touch up and down automatic windows, with pinch protection, for
both the driver and passenger sides.
The New Beetle models are ready for long rides as well, with a standard 6-speaker premium AM/FM radio with slot-in CD player, MP3 CD support, and an auxiliary jack for connecting portable media players, including iPods®. As an added bonus, Sirius® Satellite Radio is also available as standard, and comes with a complimentary six month subscription.
Engine and Transmission The 2010 New Beetle and New Beetle convertible are powered by a 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder gasoline engine that is chock full of German-tuned advancements. The 2.5L produces 150 horsepower available at 5,000 rpm, and 170 lbs.-ft. of torque come on strong yet smooth at 3,750 rpm. The engine features an aluminum alloy cross flow head, four valves per cylinder, double overhead camshafts, and maintenance-free hydraulic lifters to ensure consistent yet undoubtedly efficient performance whenever called upon.
Power is delivered to the front wheels with either an easy-to-shift five-speed manual transmission with self-adjusting hydraulic clutch, or an optional six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic® that can change gears on its own, or allow the driver to select each gear using the gear selector. The 2010 New Beetle convertible is only available with the six-speed automatic gearbox, and achieves an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in city conditions, and 29 mpg on the highway. The New Beetle equipped with the automatic transmission also reaches the same results. With the manual transmission in place, the New Beetle is capable of 20
mpg in the city, and 28 mpg on the highway.
Keeping the New Beetle on track and comfortable through turns and on the straights is an independent front suspension setup that includes McPherson struts and a front stabilizer bar, working in tandem with a torsion beam rear axle and a separate rear stabilizer bar. The power-assisted rack and pinion steering system with a 15.6:1 ratio ensures accuracy and responsiveness at all speeds, and four-wheel disc brakes easily bring the New Beetle and New Beetle
convertible to a halt.
All throughout the chassis are a variety of the latest Volkswagen aids and controls that provide New Beetle drivers and passengers with the comfort and peace of mind every time to take on most any driving condition with confidence. All models are standard equipped with the latest three-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) for superior stopping control, and the advanced Volkswagen Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) that adds Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR),
traction control, and brake assist functions. A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) also comes standard.
The New Beetle convertible is available in Black, Candy White, Gecko Green, Salsa Red, Harvest Moon, Sunflower Yellow and Tossau Blue. The hardtop’s color range also features both Platinum Gray and Reflex Silver. Sixteen-inch alloy “Mali”-designed wheels are standard on all 2010 New Beetle models, with the convertible offering an optional17-inch alloy “Versus”-designed wheels as an equally stylish option.
Like all Volkswagens, the New Beetle and New Beetle convertible includes the Prevent and Preserve Safety System. As standard equipment, the New Beetle and New Beetle convertible includes, but is not limited to, dual front airbags; dual front head/thorax airbags; emergency locking retractors in all seating positions; front safety belts with pretensioners and load limiters; and three-point safety belts in all four seating positions with emergency locking retractors.
The New Beetle convertible also features an Active Rollover Support™ system, which “pops up” two spring-loaded aluminum posts in 0.25 seconds from behind the rear seat headrests to help protect rear passengers in the event of a rollover situation.
Both the New Beetle and New Beetle convertible, like all 2010 Volkswagens, include Volkswagen’s Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) as standard equipment. This comes ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) mandate that by 2010, all vehicles produced will need to include some form of Electronic Stability Control (ESC). According to NHTSA, having ESC in a vehicle results in 35 percent fewer single-vehicle crashes and 30 percent fewer single-vehicle fatalities in passenger cars. Volkswagen’s ESP compares the driver’s intended course with the vehicle’s actual direction. If a discrepancy is detected, ESP automatically brakes individual front or rear wheels and/or reduces engine power as needed to help maintain directional control.

Mazda5

2010-01-25T02:50:00.000-08:00

A highlight at this year’s Geneva Motor Show in March will be the world premiere of the all-new Mazda5, which is especially good at meeting the needs of European families with active lifestyles.
“Our main goal with the all-new Mazda5,” says Hideki Matsuoka, Mazda5 Programme Manager, “was to develop a new C-MAV that combines the superior environmental performance these times demand with a new expression in stylish design.”
The all-new model further evolves Mazda5’s acclaimed functionality – with double-sliding rear doors and 7-seat Karakuri flexibility – and dresses it in a suit of clothes that is as eye-catching as it is unique to the segment. This design, which also uses elements of Mazda’s “Nagare Flow” design language, is highly functional and contributes to fuel efficiency by having a particularly low drag coefficient, and optimal lift and air-swirl characteristics.
The all-new Mazda5 is fitted with a newly-developed 2.0-litre petrol engine equipped with i-stop, and a six-speed manual transmission with gear ratios specific to this version. This new direct-injection petrol offers linear and smooth performance characteristics and is fun to drive. It is also one of the most frugal and clean C-MAVs on the market, achieving approximately 15 percent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the 2.0-litre petrol it replaces. The gasoline line-up features a 1.8-litre engine with a six-speed manual transmission as well.

Mazda

Mitsubishi ASX

2010-01-25T02:27:00.000-08:00

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will premiere its ASX all-new compact crossover from Tuesday March 2, 2010 to Sunday March 14, 2010 at the 80th Geneva International Motor Show held at the Geneva Palexpo in Switzerland.The ASX is the European-spec version of the Japanese RVR, which is slated to go on sale in Japan from February 2010. MMC's new compact crossover will seat 5 and will be sequentially introduced in European countries from late spring 2010, aimed at expanding MMC's passenger car footprint in the region, following in the footsteps of the larger and recently redesigned Outlander mid-size crossover.Amongst other available powertrains, the European-spec version will be fitted with an all-new Euro 5-compliant 1.8L turbocharged direct-injection diesel engine jointly developed by MMC and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and will feature "Automatic Stop & Go" technology. Together with a 6-speed manual transmission, this combination will provide high environmental efficiency.

Mitsubishi

Toyota FT-EV

2010-01-18T04:40:00.000-08:00

The FT-CH (Future Toyota-Compact Hybrid), with a gasoline-electric hybrid system, pursues outstanding environmental performance while remaining fun to drive. On the outside, its triangular silhouette represents the latest in aerodynamics theory-based airflow management, and, on the inside, refinement testifies to the importance placed on personal space.
Also at NAIAS, TMC is exhibiting the urban concept electric vehicle “FT-EV” (Future Toyota-Electric Vehicle) II, the “Prius Plug-in Hybrid”, the “Camry Hybrid” and the “Highlander Hybrid”, among numerous other vehicles.

Toyota

Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept

2009-09-30T04:08:00.000-07:00

Subaru has condensed its DNA, developed over many years around the Subaru’s core technology of “Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD)” and “Horizontally-Opposed Boxer Engine”, into the integration of a luxurious and high-quality cabin atmosphere and an eye-catching sculpted body. The concept car features Subaru’s latest evolutions in handling agility, riding comfort and superior safety performance. It proposes Subaru’s vision of a future grand touring car that excels in environmental friendliness thanks to Subaru’s unique hybrid system.
Subaru imagined wings with a feeling of freedom and confidence for driving far and wide in any environment. A luxurious and comfortable cabin, and advanced driving performance are contained within a sculpted aerodynamic form. The design features a combination of bright, open glass areas with a solid, reliable body.
The original point of the ideal grand touring car is its interior design, featuring four independent and comfortably positioned seats. Passengers are enclosed within an atmosphere that provides a surpassing feeling of openness and stress-free reassurance, through the further pursuit of a human-centered philosophy, the essence of Subaru car design, and the incorporation of functions that are friendly to passengers.
The top of the dashboard is movable up and down to provide an optimal driving environment for the driver according to driving conditions. A flat floor in the rear seat was achieved even with the implementation of AWD, for improved use and movement inside the cabin. Specialized shielding is incorporated in the windshield to reduce eyestrain on the driver. New leather covering developed with superior breathability and a ventilation function is used in the seats for improved comfort and texture.
In addition to refinements to Subaru’s core technology such as Symmetrical AWD and Horizontally-Opposed Boxer Engine, further enhancements were made for improved environmental friendliness, driving performance and high safety performance by offering a next-generation power unit system and advanced safety technologies.
2.0-liter Horizontally-Opposed direct fuel-injection turbo gasoline engine
The Horizontally-Opposed turbo gasoline engine, with a reputation for powerful acceleration, is combined with a direct fuel-injection system for improvements in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, and improved torque and response in practical range. This evolution in Subaru turbo technology excels in both environmental friendliness and engine performance.
Lineartronic, Subaru’s new generation automatic transmission, achieves further improvements in both fuel efficiency and driving performance by reinforcing parts for use with the high-power output of a turbo engine.
To further enhance the appeal of the Symmetrical AWD system, this unique hybrid two-motor system features a power/drive motor in the front and a drive motor in the rear.
At start-up and extremely low speeds when fuel efficiency is low, such as when driving the car into a garage, the rear motor is used primarily to allow driving without utilizing the power of the engine.
During normal driving, the front engine is primarily used. The direct fuel-injection turbo gasoline mated with the Symmetrical AWD offers a whole new, Subaru driving experience.
During acceleration, the rear motor assists the driving power of the engine to achieve advanced driving performance.
Further, when accelerating uphill, the front motor, which is normally used as a power generator, assists to drive the front axle for improved performance.
The implementation of a non-idling function that stops the engine when the car comes to a halt reduces unnecessary fuel consumption.
The use of a high-performance lithium battery is based on experience and know-how achieved with the Subaru Plug-in STELLA electric vehicle, launched this summer. This includes the use of a precise energy management system and regenerative brake controls, for improvements in excellent fuel efficiency.
Length x Width x Height: 4,630 x 1,890 x 1,420mm
Engine type: 2.0-liter Horizontally-Opposed direct fuel-injection turbo
gasoline engine
Max output of Motor: 10kW (Front) / 20kW (Rear)
Transmission type: Lineartronic
Drive train: Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with 2 motors assist
Battery type: Lithium-ion battery
Subaru has integrated its unique driving assist system, EyeSight, with vehicle-to-vehicle and road-to-vehicle communication technology. EyeSight includes an assist collision prevention support system that uses its unique stereo camera technology to recognize a wide range of driving environments. This next-generation driver assistance system provides improved safety and peace-of-mind for passengers, and represents a major evolution in collision detection performance.
The advanced environment recognition performance of EyeSight, using a stereo camera and a specialized 3D image processing engine, excels at pre-collision safety through the recognition of both pedestrians and cyclists as well.
Wide-ranging driving conditions that cannot be covered by a stereo camera alone are acquired through vehicle-to-vehicle and road-to-vehicle communication technology, which is then synchronized with EyeSight for a further evolution in preventative safety. Specifically, this system continuously detects vehicles that move into and out of blind spots, and advises the driver on appropriate driving maneuvers.

Subaru

Mazda MX-5 Superlight

2009-09-21T23:35:00.000-07:00

“I’ve dreamed of building a Mazda MX-5 with this kind of radical form for a long time,” says Peter Birtwhistle, Mazda Motor Europe’s Chief Designer, referring to the project. “Now that weight reduction has become a dominant factor in automotive development, the time is ripe for it. We show how lightweight a car today can be.”
His design team reduced the MX-5 down to its core attributes to create a pure roadster. Development of the production model MX-5 focussed on the bond between driver and co-pilot to the roadster, the car’s driving dynamics and its open-top experience. The goal of the MX-5 Superlight version concept was to strengthen these bonds even further. By doing this without a windshield, the retractable top and its frame, designers achieved an important step in this direction. As the concept MX-5 Superlight version, the allweather production roadster has mutated into a driving machine that lets sports car enthusiasts enjoy the natural surroundings unfiltered and tangible. Not only does the wind blow unimpeded during driving, pilot and co-pilot can also experience the sounds, smells and temperature changes of their immediate surroundings. And finally, the show car’s intense bond between the driver and the technology of the vehicle gives it a unique closeness that can only be found in stronger form in the cockpit of a race car.
Mazda designers created special roll-over bars, not only because they are very sporty-looking, but also to contribute to aerodynamic efficiency. These also make it clear that roll-over protection is important in this concept. And they prevent wind turbulence around the heads of the passengers, from whom the law would require the wearing of helmets while driving.
By removing equipment not vital to driving, and by replacing vital things with components that support the unique concept of the vehicle, designers sharpened the character of the MX-5.
Because there is no windshield, for instance, there is obviously no need for wipers. The roadster show car’s completely open design makes the need for outer door handles, side windows and their openers unnecessary. A single, filigree aluminium, wide-angle mirror gives a good view of the road behind. It’s placed inside an extension of the bonnet. Front and rear lights are the same as those of the production model with additional LED lamps at the front, and brake lights at the back of each roll-over bar, which contribute to the roadster’s sporty look.
The lack of a windshield required an extension of the original aluminium bonnet into the cabin. The attached sheet here is made of lightweight carbon fibre and provides a hood for the dashboard frame.
This also changed the proportions of the body’s design, making the front of the car longer and the passengers seem like they are sitting further back towards the rear-drive axle, all of which is enhanced by the massive roll-over bars and their aerodynamic cladding. The MX-5 Superlight version translates the dramatic proportions of historical race cars into a very modern form.
The purity in design of the exterior also characterizes the interior design, which does not have aesthetics as ultimate goal, but was conceived to contribute to reducing vehicle weight. Driver and passenger of the MX-5 Superlight version are greeted by racing bucket seats made of ultra-lightweight carbon fibre. They are slide adjustable and upholstered with the same saddle coloured leather as the armrests, the steering wheel, and the lightweight aluminium shift lever and hand brake. Colour-coordinated four-point seatbelts hold the driver and passenger firmly in their seats.
The bonnet extension into the passenger cell provides a canopy for the dashboard, which makes the dashboard look smaller than the production MX-5. Made of lightweight plastic reinforced with fibreglass, it contains the same instruments as the production MX-5. These are held in place by a dashboard frame made of lightweight carbon fibre. Like a purebred race car, the MX-5 Superlight version has an ignition button in the centre of the dashboard, along with two emergency kill buttons for immediate fuel and electricity cut-off.
Supplying air and climate control to the open passenger compartment is only possible in limited form, so the show car has no air conditioning and no fans. Air-flow is increased when the roadster accelerates, and only small air vents are needed. The interior is made without any trim. Sound insulation mats and rugs do not meet the requirements of a purist roadster like this and are not used at all.
Also made of ultra-lightweight carbon fibre is the “floating-design” centre console with iPod® adaptor and the triangular reinforcements in the trimless doors. Driver and passenger can rest their arms here while driving.
The Mazda MX-5 Superlight version show car is fully-drivable, but there are no plans to produce it in the near future. Under the bonnet is the cultivated and frugal MZR 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine paired to the production roadster’s five-speed manual transmission. It develops 93 kW/126 PS of maximum power at 6,500 rpm. For an appealing engine sound, there’s a Mazdaspeed cold-air intake made of polished and powder-coated aluminium and a Mazdaspeed exhaust system, both of them specific to the MX-5 Superlight version. These systems deliver more intake air-flow, and less exhaust-gas back pressure.
The engine sound is designed to suggest an engine with much higher displacement than the concept actually has. During charge cycles, a high-resonance bubbling sound in the muffler delivers the exciting sporty sound you expect from a very powerful engine.
The show car is designed to provide improved driving dynamics as well, and uses a four-piston, fixedcalliper brake system with perforated discs that, because of their size required an increase in track of 50 mm. A specially tuned chassis with a Bilstein® B16 coil-over suspension and Eibach® stabilisers give the body of the MX-5 Superlight version a ground clearance that is 30 mm lower than the production MX-5. Its sporty hydraulic power-assisted rack and pinion steering system is the same as that of the regular roadster. Its linear steering, coupled to a precise-shifting five-speed manual transmission with short shift travel, have contributed to the character of the world’s most successful roadster for years.
Also from the production model are the roadster’s 205/45 R17 original-equipment tyres and alloy wheels from the 2.0-litre version, which are some of the lightest on the market today at less than 8 kg.

There was not enough time for small-scale modelling. The designers put their ideas to paper, decided which were best, then modelled these directly onto a full-scale clay model. The cockpit was created together with the interior door braces. All components were then digitalized. This data was sent to an external studio for prototype build, where the parts of fibreglass-reinforced plastic and carbon fibre were made and later fitted. This method was also used to create the centre console with gear shift lever and hand brake.
Parallel to this, a production MX-5 Roadster with an MZR 1.8-litre powertrain was stripped
of all components that would later be replaced.
Under the leadership of Mazda’s design team and chassis engineers, a drivable “blank” of the MX-5 Superlight version was created that weighed well under 1,000 kg, while respecting the original roadster’s ideal 50/50 weight distribution. Mazda test drivers then drove the roadster around a closed track with experts from Bilstein® and Eibach®, in order to ascertain the feasibility of the project.
The results amazed even the most experienced engineers: with hardly any re-working, the “light” MX-5 version was an easy-to-control, safe-driving roadster that displayed agility, great driving dynamics and acoustical appeal.
Final assembly began with painting the body in white colour, and simply polishing the original MX-5 aluminium bonnet. Then the racing seats, steering wheel, gear shift lever and hand brake were upholstered in leather and installed in the show car. This was followed by the installation of all previously-built carbon fibre components. And at the end, Mazda designers installed the centre console, the dashboard and instruments, seatbelts and roll-over bars.

Mazda

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

2009-09-18T04:59:00.000-07:00

The new super sports car from Mercedes-Benz and AMG dazzles with its unparalleled technology package: an aluminium space-frame bodyshell with gullwing doors; an AMG 6.3-litre, front-mid V8 engine with 420 kW/571 hp peak output, 650 Nm of torque, and dry sump lubrication; seven-speed dual-clutch transmission in a transaxle configuration; and sports suspension with aluminium double-wishbones. It’s a unique combination that guarantees supreme driving dynamics. The car’s ideal weight distribution between the front and rear axles (47 to 53 percent respectively), its low centre of gravity and DIN kerb weight of 1,620 kilograms emphasize the outstanding sports car concept. The Gullwing model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 317 km/h (electronically limited). The fuel consumption of 13.2 litres per 100 kilometres (combined) is best-in-class (all values provisional). The purist design of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG dazzles with its passionate sportiness and reinterprets the breathtaking design of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. The stylistic highlight is without a doubt the gullwing doors, which impart the SLS AMG with incomparable charisma. The long bonnet, the low greenhouse positioned far back, and the short rear with the extendable rear spoiler symbolise dynamics, as do the long wheelbase, the wide track, and the large wheels. It is not just the gullwing doors that awaken reminiscences of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. The wide radiator grille with the large Mercedes star, the wing-like cross fin on the bonnet and the vehicle flanks are also reminiscent of the legendary sports car.
Aviation engineering provided the inspiration to the Mercedes-Benz designers for the interior. The characteristic styling feature is the dashboard, whose powerful and dramatic wing-shape makes for an impression of width. The four prominent dashboard air vents with their adjustable, cruciform nozzles are reminiscent of a jet’s engines. The elongated centre console made of solid matt metal also takes up the plane cockpit theme. Among other things, the centre console incorporates the AMG DRIVE UNIT, which enables SLS owners to customise their vehicle set-up. The AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission is operated by means of the E-SELECT lever, which resembles a jet’s thrust control. Despite the low seating position typical of a sports car, the wide opening gullwing doors ensure easy entry and exit. The gullwing doors require less room to open than do conventional coupe doors and can be completely opened in standard sized garages.
The SLS is taking a new approach in its body concept. For the first time ever, Mercedes-Benz and AMG are presenting an automobile, whose chassis and body are made of aluminium. This leads to significant weight savings compared to the traditional steel construction, as shown by the car’s DIN kerb weight of only 1,620 kilograms. The newly developed aluminium space-frame bodyshell combines intelligent, lightweight design with high strength - and thus benefits the excellent handling dynamics. The aluminium space frame is 45 per cent aluminium profiles, 31 per cent aluminium panelling, 20 per cent cast aluminium and four per cent steel. The use of ultra high-tensile, hot-rolled steel in the A-pillars provides a further increase in occupant safety. The shell weighs 241 kilograms - an absolute peak value in the super sports car segment. The highest possible degree of passive safety is guaranteed for the occupants by the vehicle's standard equipment, which includes three-point seatbelts, seat-belt tensioners, belt force limiters, and eight airbags.
The heart of the SLS is a powerful eight-cylinder engine with dry sump lubrication. The AMG 6.3-litre V8 produces 420 kW/571 hp at 6,800 rpm and develops a maximum torque of 650 Nm at 4,750 rpm. The SLS accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 317 km/h (all figures are preliminary). The SLS AMG consumes 13.2 litres per 100 kilometres (combined, preliminary figure). Efficiency-enhancement measures include not only the LDS cylinder bore linings but also a need-based fuel delivery and the recovery of braking energy.
The AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine delivers its power to the rear axle via a dual-clutch transmission permanently connected to the engine housing via a torque tube. A carbon shaft rotates at engine speed inside the torque tube. Power transfer is via the new AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT seven-speed sports transmission. This dual-clutch transmission boasts fast gear changes with no interruption of tractive force and offers four driving modes. The mechanical differential lock guarantees optimum traction.
All four wheels are guided on dual A-arms with track rod. The A-arms, the steering knuckles and hub carriers at the front and rear axles are made of aluminium. The Gullwing model comes with a 3-stage ESP® as standard. The AMG high-performance brake system with composite brake discs on the front axle ensures short braking distances. Even better braking performance is offered by the optional ceramic-composite brake system. Weight-optimised AMG light alloy wheels in accordance with the new, innovative flow-forming principle, 9.5 x 19 inches at the front, and 11.0 x 20 inch at the rear, are fitted with 265/35 R 19 tyres up front and 295/30 R 20 tyres at the rear.
The reinterpretation of the Gullwing model will celebrate its market launch in spring 2010. The price will be 177,310 euros (incl. 19% VAT).

Mercedes

Re-discover the Spirit of Tradition with Opel

2009-04-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

110 years after the first Opel car was built, the brand is showcasing its origins in a wide array of activities. The company’s long and rich tradition, filled with innovations, is spotlighted in the current advertising campaign. Opel’s aesthetic roots are also highlighted, even beyond automobile design: the new fashionable clothing line “Opel Brand Collection” carries logos from throughout the company’s history and displays Opel Youngtimers on t-shirts. And in the company’s headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Opel is currently showing historical advertising graphics from the 1930s by the Berlin artist Bernd Reuters.
The Art Deco character of his illustrations and car brochures greatly influenced the style of pre-war advertising. With just a few strong, expressive lines and colour patches, Reuters’ clear graphic language creates an atmosphere that captivates the observer. The graphic artist also spent time contemplating the artistic styling of automobiles.
It’s no coincidence that Bernd Reuters’ work is again being exhibited as sculpturally artistic design is a defining characteristic of new Opel models. Mark Adams, Vice President GM Europe Design and responsible for the Opel Insignia design, emphasizes the connection between “sculptural artistry and German precision” as a distinctive element of new Opel models. The emotional and creative energy that results from a successful symbiosis of design and art has made an impression on car buyers: to date over 90,000 Insignias have been ordered.
The long and varied history of Opel automotive design is omnipresent at the Rüsselsheim plant. Around 300 classic cars are in the “Opel Classic” garage, where visitors can get a closer look at this collection of historical Opel models. For many of these visitors, seeing the Opel classic cars is a trip down memory lane. Models like the Rekord P1 with its distinctive panorama windshield, the legendary Opel GT and the Opel Calibra are design icons that had an impact on the quotidian culture of their times.
“A car brand can only win over customers and their brand loyalty – for over 110 years – when it cultivates strong emotional ties,” says Mark Adams. “Advertising artists like Bernd Reuters realized over 70 years ago how expressive a clear, flowing design can be. Opel cars from the 1930s like the Moonlight Roadster, the Admiral or the 1938 Kadett convertible offered him the perfect original for his images. Future Opel models such as the next Astra generation, which picks up the Insignia design, are set to develop the exact same emotional impact that made the brand so successful in the past.”

Opel

Audi Q3 SUV

2009-04-22T04:09:00.000-07:00

A production site for the Audi Q3 was chosen today: the SEAT site in Martorell, Spain. Manufacture will begin in 2011 with an annual production capacity of up to 80,000 units. The total investment will amount to around €300 million.
“Following in-depth consideration of all relevant factors and an extensive international comparison of various sites, we selected Martorell,” explained Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management at AUDI AG. This decision enables Audi to continue its strategy of growth and internationalization.
Mr. Stadler added: “We are counting on this Spanish site’s fficiency, the excellent quality of the Production department, and its highly trained staff. We will use the Group’s synergies to sharpen our competitive edge and help protect around 1,200 jobs. The decision furthermore safeguards workplaces at other Audi locations.”
Audi Board Member for Production Frank Dreves: “Starting in 2011, the Audi Q3 will
be produced to Audi quality standards at the Martorell factory. This gives us additional
flexibility regarding future decisions about products. We will begin preparing at once.”
Having agreed that the Q3 will be manufactured in Spain, a decision about production in the USA has been postponed. Mr. Stadler: “We will systematically explore our options in the context of the current market crisis. Audi is in a good position. There is currently no urgent need to select additional sites.”
A small, sporty SUV, the Audi Q3 will join the family consisting of the Audi Q5 (produced in Ingolstadt, Germany) and the Audi Q7 (produced in Bratislava, Slovakia). Yet another compact vehicle in a new model range is thus set to join the A1 in 2011. The Q3 will further expand the Q family. A coupé-like five-door SUV with seat positions, wheel size, and ground clearance characteristic of a typical SUV, the Audi Q3 will stand out thanks to a supremely sporty driving
experience. The Q3 will blend a compact car’s design and driving dynamics with an SUV’s spaciousness and versatility. True to Audi tradition, innovative technical solutions will blaze new trails in efficiency, driving pleasure, and comfort. The market launch of the Q3 is scheduled for 2011.
The production facility in Martorell is yet another cornerstone in AUDI AG’s portfolio of sites. Audi produces its vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Hungary, Belgium, Slovakia, India, and China.

Audi

BMW 7 Series

2009-04-21T06:31:00.000-07:00

The new BMW 7 Series already sets the benchmark in luxury performance motoring – and now BMW is moving up the standard of maximum exclusivity and supremacy in this supreme class to an even higher level, following a completely new definition: The new BMW 760i and the new BMW 760Li are taking over the top position within BMW’s model portfolio, representing the highest level of motoring refinement in their segment.
The heart and foundation of this exceptional new standard comes from the twelve-cylinder power unit featured in both top models in the BMW 7 Series. Developed as a completely new engine from the ground up, the V12 is a masterpiece of modern engine technology. Superior power of 400 kW/544 hp comes at an engine speed of 5,250 rpm, with maximum torque of 750 Newton-metres (553 lb-ft) from just 1,500 rpm.
Combined with the likewise brand-new eight-speed automatic transmission, this twelve-cylinder offers not only unparalleled motoring refinement, but also supreme driving dynamics through its ability to convert seemingly unlimited power reserves spontaneously and with precise control at all times into supreme driving dynamics.
Once again, BMW’s twelve-cylinder power unit is the epitome of refined performance, grand touring comfort, and stylish exclusivity. The new BMW 760i as well as the new BMW 760Li with its wheelbase extended by 14 centimetres or 5.5" for particular comfort – if not to say, luxury – at the rear, provide the clear answer to the question as to what one may expect of a genuine luxury performance saloon, with fascinating new features underscoring BMW’s claim to leadership in the luxury segment.
The drivetrain with all its technical features is a masterpiece of supremacy in every respect. This applies both to the 6.0-litre all-aluminium power unit with TwinPower Turbo Technology, High Precision Injection with fuel injected directly into the combustion chambers, and to BMW’s infinite double-VANOS camshaft adjustment as well as the eight-speed automatic transmission featured for the first time in a BMW.
Benefiting from all these technologies, the new BMW 760i and the BMW 760Li offer a new standard of motoring refinement, dynamic performance and all-round efficiency in a vehicle with this kind of power and output. Acceleration to 100 km/h comes in just 4.6*) seconds, average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is 12.9*) litres/100 kilometres on the new BMW 760i.
In determining the cars’ fuel consumption, BMW’s engineers have already taken the stricter EU5 emission standard into account, meaning that with the cars’ performance improving significantly fuel consumption is down by approximately 5.1 per cent versus the former model.
Boasting superior suspension technology, innovative driver assistance systems and luxurious comfort, as well as a combination of elegance and sporting performance borne out clearly by the car’s design, the BMW 7 Series offers all the qualities required to enjoy a truly incomparable driving experience with a new twelve-cylinder power unit of a standard never seen before.
Both the new BMW 760i and the new BMW 760 Li come as standard with Dynamic Damping Control including Dynamic Driving Control operated at the touch of a button on the centre console, speed-related Servotronic steering assistance, and BMW’s Dynamic Drive anti-roll stability system.
In addition to these outstanding technologies, the BMW 760Li features air suspension including self-levelling on the rear axle. And as an option both models are available with Integral Active Steering offering speed-related adjustment of the steering angle on the rear wheels. With this enhanced steering function both front and rear, particularly the cars’ grand touring comfort on the rear seats reaches an even higher level, above all when changing lanes at high speeds.
The supreme grand touring comfort offered by the new top-of-the-range models in the BMW 7 Series is further underlined by comfort seats, BMW’s navigation system Professional, automatic air conditioning with four-zone control, cruise control complete with an automatic brake function, Park Distance Control, and Automatic Soft Close on the doors all featured as standard.
The innovative driver assistance systems available as an option include Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Active Cruise Control with Stop-&-Go function, BMW Night Vision with detection of individual persons, the BMW Head-Up Display, a back-up camera and the Side View system. And to supplement the bi-xenon headlights as a further option, BMW offers the High-Beam Assistant and Adaptive Headlights including Bending Lights, variable light distribution and adaptive headlight range control, setting new standards for safe driving at night. The outstanding looks of the BMW 760i and BMW 760Li benefit from the harmonious combination of elegance, sportiness and natural presence so characteristic of the new BMW 7 Series in its design. Offering 14 centimetres or 5.5" longer wheelbase, the extended version allows particularly comfortable access to the rear seats. And thanks to the unique design of the roofline and C-pillar contours, the side view of the car, despite the extra headroom for the rear-seat passengers, maintains the same overall impression as on the “regular” saloon with its “normal” wheelbase. Both body versions, incidentally, come with the longest wheelbase in their respective segments.
Visual reference to the V12 power unit on the outside of the BMW 760i and the BMW 760Li is similarly stylish and discreet. The kidney grille for the radiator boasts an extra-wide chrome frame in slightly concave design as well as bars extending powerfully to the front. From the side, 19-inch light-alloy wheels available exclusively on these models as well as the V12 model designation on the chrome-plated gills with their integrated side direction indicators at the transition point between the front side panel and the driver’s and, respectively, front passenger’s door likewise serve to identify these very special models.
An additional chrome bar between the unique dual tailpipes on the exhaust system provides a special sign of distinction at the rear of both models. The exhaust tailpipes integrated in the rear air dam at the right and left, in turn, are made up of two adjacent, rectangular pipe units embellished with chrome trim and cut at a slight angle, flush to their surrounds.
Inside the BMW 760i and the BMW 760Li the luxurious ambience is supplemented by various design features tailored specifically to these two models and matched in perfect harmony, again expressing the exclusive character of the V12 models. Stainless-steel door entry trim with an illuminated V12 cover, the instrument panel finished in nappa leather and surrounded by elegant seams, the roof lining and sun visors in alcantara as well as top-quality wood trim in exclusive burr walnut with individual inlays help to give the BMW 760i and the BMW 760Li a further stylish sign of distinction versus the other models in the BMW 7 Series.
The twelve-cylinder power unit in a BMW 7 Series Luxury Performance Saloon guarantees a driving and travel experience quite unique in every respect. No other engine offers such an outstanding combination of power and refinement, no other power unit provides the same supreme standard of prestige.
Now these features come out even more clearly, with BMW’s new V12 offering significantly more power and torque compared with their predecessors, optimising engine response and the ongoing surge of power, and further refining the engine’s acoustics. The progress achieved in this way is clearly recognisable right from the start.
These features also stand out clearly from the BMW 750i which, with its modern V8 featuring TwinPower Turbo Technology and High Precision Injection, as such already offers the power and performance of a conventional twelve-cylinder.
Hence, the new V12 maintains the outstanding position of BMW’s twelve-cylinder models also in the new generation of the BMW 7 Series, giving the driver of a BMW 760i and, respectively, a BMW 760Li all the assurance of absolute supremacy in the luxury class. Yet a further point is that the new engines combine the outstanding qualities of a V12 with up-to-date efficiency, offering a level of fuel economy and emission management even better than eight-cylinder models in the same segment as the BMW 7 Series.
By tradition, the twelve-cylinder enjoys a special status worldwide unmatched by other engines of different design and configuration. The twelve-cylinder represents the highest level of competence in engine technology and justifies its outstanding position through qualities only this drive concept is able to offer.
The unique status of the twelve-cylinder as an incomparably powerful and, at the same time, refined power unit is based on a construction and design principle which offers perfect conditions for supreme power and performance achieved without the slightest effort. Benefiting from an angle of 60° between the two rows of cylinders, the V12, in its supreme elimination of vibrations, comes closer to the highest standard conceivable in physics than any other engine.
All components and design features on the all-aluminium engine block are built and constructed for supreme stiffness on minimum weight. Using a closed-deck structure combined with bolts holding the cylinder head down on the floor plate of the crankcase, the engine, to mention just one example, ensures maximum stability on the cylinder liners. Double bolts on the main bearings with an additional connection to the side panels through threaded support bushes and bolts reduce the influence of lateral forces from the crankdrive on the crankcase.
Further components of the engine block serving in typical BMW twelve-cylinder style to reduce vibrations to an absolute minimum are iron-coated aluminium pistons, forged connecting rods assembled through the cracking process, as well as the crankshaft also forged for absolute perfection. This also makes the sound of the engine when idling a very special experience where the driver first has to look at the rev counter to see whether the engine is running at all.
The new V12 power unit comes with 5,972 cc maintaining exactly the same cylinder volume as on the former engine. Displacing 497.7 cubic centimetres per cylinder, the engine therefore offers exactly the right size and dimensions acknowledged by engine specialists as absolutely ideal. Bore of 89 mm/3.50" and stroke of 80 mm/3.15" provides a ratio between these two parameters of 0.9, while the compression ratio is a remarkably high 10.0: 1 quite unusual on a turbocharged power unit.
BMW’s new twelve-cylinder comes with a number of special technical features serving to capitalize on the potential it offers through its design principle and basic structure. In particular, this includes the first-ever use on a twelve-cylinder of TwinPower Turbo Technology and High Precision Injection with gasoline injected directly into the combustion chambers.
Featuring this combination of superior technologies already to be admired on BMW’s six- and eight-cylinders, responding sensitively and directly even to small movements of the gas pedal, maintaining a consistent torque curve and offering a level of fuel economy and emission management quite unusual for an engine of this calibre, the new twelve-cylinder again stands out from the competition in every respect.
Thanks to the small cylinder angle of just 60°, the two exhaust gas turbochargers developed specifically for the new V12 fit in compact arrangement on the outside of the two rows of cylinders, each supplying six cylinders with compressed air.
The turbochargers stand out in particular through their unusually good compressor and turbine efficiency – and through their particular position they provide ideal conditions for keeping the pipes between the exhaust manifold and the turbochargers short and straight for ideal flow conditions. Central supply of turbocharger air into the air collector, in turn, helps to optimise both the engine’s acoustics and charge cycle. The exhaust gas manifolds identical on each row of cylinders come in each case with two three-in-one connections geared to the engine’s firing sequence. In combination with the catalytic converters optimized for minimum counter-pressure, this special configuration of the exhaust gas manifolds sets the foundation for outstanding spontaneity in following the gas pedal as well as supreme power and torque coming from the twelve-cylinder.
Peak torque now increased to 750 Newton-metres or 553 lb-ft comes at just 1,500 rpm and is maintained consistently all the way to 5,000 rpm. Compared with the former engine, this means an increase in torque by 25 per cent now developed at an engine speed approximately 2,300 rpm lower.
Engine power is also built up more quickly than on the previous engine, as is borne out by the much steeper power curve leading up to maximum output of 400 kW/544 hp at just 5,250 rpm.
Intelligent solution for even more power and supremacy.
The introduction of TwinPower Turbo Technology raises the twelve-cylinder to a level of output and torque a naturally-aspirated power unit would achieve only with much larger displacement. The increase in engine size and weight inevitable in such a case, together with negative effects on the centre of gravity, fuel consumption and the agility of the car, are all avoided most efficiently and intelligently through turbocharger technology.
A further point is that TwinPower Turbo Technology gives the new V12 its unparalleled power and performance characteristics borne out in particular by the superior development of full power and torque right from the start just above idling speed and then maintained over a wide load range.
To ensure sensitive and precise dosage of power at all times, the compressed turbocharger air is cooled by a technically very demanding and elaborate indirect intercooler. This serves to minimise the overall volume of air required and shorten any delay times, again enabling the engine to respond ideally to the driver’s foot on the gas pedal. An additional coolant pump feeds the separate coolant circuit required for this purpose with its air/coolant heat exchanger positioned directly on the intake unit.
The catalytic converters on the new twelve-cylinder come with the most advanced and sophisticated exhaust gas sensors and quickly reach their optimum operating temperature thanks to their special position close to the engine. Efficient treatment of exhaust gases ensures full maintenance of all international emission standards, the BMW 760i and the BMW 760Li fulfilling the EU5 emission standard in Europe and the ULEV II standard in the USA.
To reduce counter-pressure the exhaust system comes on the underfloor with largely straight pipes and manifolds increased in size to the largest possible diameter. Exhaust flaps around the silencer masterminded by the electronic control unit as a function of engine maps provide exactly the right engine sound precisely geared to current driving conditions. When idling, therefore, the V12 remains absolutely silent, not emitting any noise at all. The same applies to cruising conditions, with only very discreet sound from the engine being emitted to the outside. So it is only at higher engine speeds that the driver receives appropriate acoustic feedback on the development of power, with the engine providing its muscular V12 sound when accelerating fast and under full power. Again, this special sound effect under such dynamic conditions authentically reflects both the capacity of the engine and the intensity of power coming from within the engine compartment, characterizing the dynamic qualities of BMW’s twelve-cylinder.
Optimized combustion and maximum efficiency ensured by High Precision Injection.
BMW High Precision Injection is a second-generation direct injection technology serving to optimize the combustion process and use the energy contained in the fuel with maximum efficiency. Piezo-injectors positioned in the middle of the cylinder head allow particularly precise dosage of the fuel injected into the combustion chambers.
In combination with TwinPower Turbo Technology, High Precision Injection is featured in all gasoline engines in the BMW 7 Series. And now, in the new V12 power unit, this technology ensures particularly efficient and clean combustion as the starting point for a level of fuel economy and emission management quite unparalleled in this class of performance.
Opening up to the outside, the piezo-injectors are positioned in the cylinder head between the valves and, as a result, directly next to the spark plugs. They are supplied with fuel through stainless-steel pipes, fuel then being injected into the combustion chambers in finely atomized form at a pressure of up to 200 bar. This system pressure is generated by single-plunge fuel pumps on each row of cylinders and is maintained reliably at all times by short pipes and fuel travel.
The fuel injected in this process spreads out in conical form, thus burning in a particularly smooth and clean process. This, in turn, has a positive effect on engine emissions and sound, the cooling effect of the fuel/air mixture provided by direct fuel injection helping in addition to achieve a higher compression ratio than on a turbocharged engine with manifold injection. The bottom line, therefore, is an even higher degree of engine efficiency generating more power on less fuel.
In their configuration and structure, the cylinder heads largely follow the particular position of the injectors and spark plugs as well as the combustion process provided by High Precision Injection. Short combustion phases optimized for maximum efficiency build up a high level of pressure and temperature requiring optimized cylinder head geometry and an effective flow of coolant. The cylinder head components cast in a gravity process stand out in particular through their very high level of stiffness, while the cylinder head covers are made of aluminium and come with rubber profile seals.
Double-VANOS and volume flow-controlled oil pump for maximum efficiency.
Again in typical BMW style, the new twelve-cylinder comes with double-VANOS for infinite adjustment of camshaft control timing. This ensures part load running conditions with a high level of residual gas and reduced throttle loss for maximum fuel efficiency.
A further advantage of double-VANOS is its support in giving the engine a particularly direct response. Joined in a thermal process, the camshafts come with forged cams, additional triple cams on the intake side serving to drive the high-pressure fuel pumps. The valves on the exhaust side, in turn, are filled with sodium for optimum cooling and come with chrome-plated shafts.
The supply of oil to the new twelve-cylinder has also been optimized, the volume flow-controlled oil pump operating on individual demand with maximum efficiency: The six-chamber pendulum-slide pump delivers only as much oil as the engine requires at any given point in time under specific driving conditions.
An oil level sensor is integrated in the oil sump made of pressure-cast aluminium. And instead of a manual oil dipstick, an oil level indicator in the instrument cluster also operating while driving informs the driver of the oil level whenever required.
The new twelve-cylinder models in the BMW 7 Series again feature a wide range of technologies for minimum fuel consumption and emissions based on BMW’s strategy of EfficientDynamics. These include Brake Energy Regeneration, electric coolant pumps operating on demand, and the volume flow-controlled oil pump further optimising the balance of load performance and fuel consumption.
With an increase in engine output versus the former models by 22 and an increase in maximum torque by 25 per cent, the average fuel consumption determined in the EU test cycle has been reduced to 12.9*) litres/100 kilometres. The emission rating of the BMW 760i is 299*) grams per kilometre.
The engine coolant system on the new twelve-cylinder excels through consistent integration of all pipes in the crankcase, optimized cross-sections and the surface structure ensuring a maximum heat exchanger function helping to warm up the engine far more quickly than before on the former power unit.
The arrangement of the coolant inlet immediately next to the main inlet duct for supplying oil serves in addition to connect the two media in thermal terms, again helping to warm up engine oil and maintain the ideal temperature at all times.
The flow of coolant is separated on the two rows of cylinders, in each case running diagonally from the rear outside to the front inside. And last but not least, the arrangement of the outlets again helps to consistently spread out and maintain the temperature level over a wide range of engine speed.
BMW’s outstanding competence in twelve-cylinder technology: A long tradition of supreme performance.
This is the fourth time that a twelve-cylinder power unit marks the top end of the engine portfolio featured in the BMW 7 Series. And indeed, every new generation has further reinforced BMW’s position as the leading manufacturer of luxury performance saloons. A BMW 7 Series with a twelve-cylinder power unit stands for exclusivity, supremacy and, not least, genuine innovation, the top-of-the-range engines providing the highest standard also on account of the maximum demands they are expected to meet right from the start in the development process.
BMW’s outstanding competence in the development and production of twelve-cylinder power units is based on a long tradition extending all the way back to the year 1925 when the Company for the first time hit the headlines by building an aircraft engine with twelve cylinders. Back then BMW’s V12 developed maximum output of 750 hp, with two BMW twelve-cylinders powering the Dornier Wal seaplane just five years later in its record flight across the Atlantic.
In the second half of the 20th century BMW became the pioneer in introducing the twelve-cylinder in the most outstanding luxury cars. The BMW 750i launched in 1987, for example, was the first German twelve-cylinder saloon after the war. In the years to follow a long story of success in motorsport likewise contributed to the exceptional reputation of BMW’s twelve-cylinders. The BMW V12 LMR, for example, dominated the racing scene right from the start in its very first race in 1999, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and in the same season clinched overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The unique qualities of the new V12 power unit with TwinPower Turbo Technology and High Precision Injection are combined in the new BMW 760i and the new BMW 760Li with an equally innovative concept for the transmission of power: the newly developed eight-speed automatic transmission making its world debut in a BMW production car. Ideally tailored to the power and performance characteristics of the twelve-cylinder power unit, the eight-speed automatic transmission combines supreme gearshift comfort, sportiness and efficiency at a level never achieved before.
The new eight-speed automatic transmission excels through the innovative configuration of gears and gearsets allowing the use of additional gears and a larger range of gear increments than on the former six-speed automatic transmission, without any negative effects on the size of the transmission, its weight, and the inner efficiency of the system.
The eight forward gears and the reverse gear all incorporate four simple gearsets and five gearshift elements. The innovative arrangement of these components seen for the first time on an eight-speed automatic transmission ensures that only two clutches are open in each gear at any given point in time, significantly reducing frictional losses under all driving conditions to an absolute minimum.
Over and above the wider range of gear increments and the high degree of internal efficiency, this is a further factor contributing to the outstanding overall efficiency of the new transmission system. So again, the intelligent concept of this new eight-speed automatic transmission harmonizes perfectly with the BMW EfficientDynamics development strategy.
Introduction of the first eight-speed automatic transmission in the BMW 760i and the BMW 760Li marks the starting point to a generation change in the area of power transmission systems. The six-speed automatic transmissions currently featured in all BMW model series already set the standard in terms of shift comfort, reaction time, gearshift speed, and efficiency and, through their compact design and configuration as well as their universal use in various vehicle segments and power classes, already offer unparalleled all-round qualities. The first and foremost objective in developing the new generation of automatic transmissions, therefore, was to retain all the design features of the six-speed automatic transmission and add new potentials in terms of motoring comfort, performance and efficiency.
To achieve significant progress over BMW’s proven six-speed automatic transmissions; BMW’s engineers’ right from the start initiated an in-depth development process providing the basis for the new transmission. The initial consideration was that particularly the improvement of efficiency as desired was only possible with a transmission system offering an even larger number of gears and a wider range of gear increments versus a six-speed automatic transmission. A further objective was to keep the number of additional components to a minimum in order to optimize the inner efficiency of the system.
Apart from BMW itself, a number of specialized partners in development such as ZF Friedrichshafen AG participated in the search for an optimum concept fulfilling all these requirements. Working together closely, the complete team developed analytical methods serving to establish and balance the pros and cons of all theoretically conceivable variants of a planetary gear system. To begin with, both the number of gears was open as was the structure of the new transmission system with its underlying concept. The fundamental objectives, therefore, were to achieve the highest conceivable standard of efficiency and to keep the new transmission compact and light.
Studies jointly conducted by engineers and scientists eventually led to a solution offering the best balance of internal efficiency and overall running qualities: the new eight-speed automatic transmission with two additional gears and a gear increment range increased from six to seven gear units, with the number of gearsets being increased by only one to a total of four and the number of clutches remaining unchanged.
Thanks to the larger range of gear increments now offered by the new transmission, the driver is able to use the highest gear at significantly reduced engine speed far more often than before. In the BMW 760i and the BMW 760Li, this not only optimizes the car’s economy also at higher speeds, but also enhances the smoothness and refinement of the twelve-cylinder.
With the number of gears being increased to eight, the individual steps between gears are smaller than before, despite the overall range of gear increments. Clearly, this benefits the sporting character of the transmission and, as a result, the dynamic nature of the car again in typical BMW style.
While accelerating the harmonious balance of gear ratios provides a very smooth and consistent increase in road speed, a feature corresponding ideally with the ongoing surge of power from the new V12 and again confirming the unparalleled supremacy of the BMW 760i and the BMW 760Li.
A further advantage of the small gear increments is the enhancement of gearshift comfort in BMW’s most outstanding Luxury Performance Saloon, with only a slight change in engine speed when shifting from one gear to another.
The reaction and gearshift times even shorter than with the former six-speed automatic transmission benefit both motoring comfort and driving dynamics, with only one clutch having to be disengaged when shifting up or down either one or two gears. At the same time direct gear detection enables the driver to shift up or down by more than two gears, again with extremely short reaction and gearshift times. And last but not least, the downshift from eighth to second gear particularly important for spontaneous acceleration also takes place as a direct gear change requiring the system to open only one clutch.
This particular configuration is of great significance for supreme driving pleasure in the BMW 760i and the BMW 760Li, enabling the driver to use the higher gears for perfect efficiency and motoring refinement particularly often while enjoying the car’s maximum performance spontaneously at all times.
With the number of transmission components being increased only slightly over the former six-speed automatic transmission, the new eight-speed automatic offers an unusually high level of internal efficiency. So-called gear-mesh efficiency, for example, is more than 98 per cent in each gear. And being configured as a direct gear, sixth gear reduces frictional losses to zero.
The low weight of the new transmission virtually identical to that of the former six-speed automatic likewise benefits the overall efficiency of the car, with the integration of an additional gearset being compensated by the optimization of weight in other areas.
In all the minimum converter slip, the high degree of internal efficiency, low frictional losses with only two clutches open at a time, the longer transmission ratios on the higher gears and the transmission management giving preference to low engine speeds at all times offer a reduction of fuel consumption versus the former six-speed automatic by approximately 6 per cent.
As a result of these improvements and highlights in technology, the new eight-speed automatic transmission is not only the optimum system currently available, but also a future-oriented solution for the transmission of power in a premium car.
The new transmission may be combined with all kinds of engines and levels of performance, and may be integrated not only in cars with rear-wheel drive, but also in all-wheel-drive models. At the same time the eight-speed automatic transmission may be combined with hybrid drive, making it part of BMW’s Active Hybrid technology combining an eight-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor. This innovative drive concept will be reaching production standard in the first hybrid model in the BMW 7 Series in the course of 2009.
Twelve cylinders and eight speeds – this combination re-defines the most supreme standard of exclusivity and refinement in the luxury class. The drive technology featured in the new BMW 760i and the new BMW 760Li makes a significant contribution to the significant innovation of power technology ensured by the BMW brand, the unique power and performance characteristics of the new V12 power unit and the innovative concept of eight-speed automatic transmission joining forces to provide a truly fascinating driving experience.
Superior power is thus converted into equally superior driving dynamics with an exceptionally high standard of motoring refinement. Offering supreme smoothness and full availability of enormous power reserves at all times, the twelve-cylinder simply begs the driver and passengers to enjoy a most comfortable driving experience wherever they go, experiencing sporting performance of the highest calibre as an unparalleled asset in luxury performance motoring.
The eight-speed automatic transmission perfectly supplements both the supremacy and the dynamic character of the power unit. At the same time the exceptional efficiency of both top models in the BMW 7 Series results not just from the V12 power unit, but also from the transmission. Innovations developed in the context of BMW EfficientDynamics allow this luxury saloon to combine acceleration to 100 km/h in 4.6*) seconds with average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 12.9*) litres/100 kilometres.
The outstanding position of the new BMW 760i and the new BMW 760Li is further underlined by suspension technology specially developed for this Luxury Saloon, combining innovative driver assistance systems partly exclusive to BMW with a wide range of comfort amenities all featured as standard. More than ever before, therefore, both models meet the demands and requirements of the most discerning motorist seeking individual mobility of the highest calibre as part of his or her lifestyle dedicated to absolute perfection.

BMW

BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M

2009-04-13T05:57:00.000-07:00

The BMW X5 M and the BMW X6 M for the fi rst time carry over the highperformance haracter of those very special cars from BMW M GmbH into the segment of BMW X models. Indeed, the combination of BMW’s M philosophy with this innovative concept paves the way for a truly exclusive driving experience, both models setting new standards in their class in terms of dynamic performance borne out by supreme acceleration, lateral dynamics, steering behaviour, short stopping distances and effi ciency, that is all the criteria so crucial to motorsport.
The superior driving qualities of the BMW X5 M and the BMW X6 M are clearly visualised by specifi c BMW M design: The BMW X5 M offers the convincing look of power and exclusivity, the BMW X6 M, through its design, refl ects outstanding dynamism and athletic performance. Common design elements at the front of each model bear clear reference to the dynamic driving potential shared by both cars, while within the interior a truly luxurious ambience forms a perfect symbiosis with the cockpit design so typical of a BMW M Model. The fundamental message in creating the interior design in each case is to refl ect the truly outstanding dynamism of both models in superior style.
Both the BMW X5 M and the BMW X6 M come with a new V8 highperformance power unit boasting performance features precisely tailored to the character of each model. Displacing 4,395 cubic centimetres, the engine delivers maximum output of 408 kW/555 hp from 5,750–6,000 rpm. The new M TwinPower Turbo engine is indeed the world’s fi rst power unit with a common exhaust emission manifold joining both rows of cylinders as well as Twin Scroll Twin Turbo Technology. The turbocharger and the catalytic converters are positioned in the V-section between the two rows of cylinders ensuring the spontaneous and direct response so typical of BMW M as well as a linear surge of power for a consistent fl ow of torque at all times.
As a result, peak torque of 680 Newton-metres or 501 lb-ft is maintained consistently all the way from 1,500–5,650 rpm.
Over and above their superior driving dynamics, both models offer by far the highest level of efficiency in their respective segments. In addition to the power unit optimised for efficiency by means of High Precision Injection, proven and newly developed BMW Effi cientDynamics technologies serve to ensure this superiority in practice. These cutting-edge technologies comprise Brake Energy Regeneration as well as on-demand control of the electrical fuel pump, the detachable a/c compressor and the volume flow-controlled supply of hydraulic fluid to the anti-roll system introduced for the first time on the new BMW 7 Series. And last but not least, both models naturally comply with the EU5 and, respectively, the LEV II emission standards.
The M Sports Automatic transmission with six gears, optimised gearshift dynamics and outstanding gearshift comfort confirms the sporting orientation of both models. The innovative torque reduction concept is achieved by briefl y cancelling out fuel injection and ignition for extremely short gearshift times. The driver himself shifts gears either via an electronic gear selector lever or, if he prefers, through aluminium shift paddles on the steering wheel again specific to BMW M. At the same time he can spontaneously intervene into the gearshift process whenever he wishes by operating one of the paddles also in the D Mode. The Launch Control function for maximum acceleration, in turn, may also be activated in the M Mode, while in the Power Mode, fi nally, the driver may vary the engine and transmission control, using either the Sport or the Effi ciency driving programs.
Performance and fuel consumption of the BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M:
Acceleration 0–100 km/h: 4.7 seconds Top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph) (275 km/h (171 mph) with optional M Driver’s Package) Average fuel consumption in the EU cycle: 13.9 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 20.3 mpg imp), CO2 emissions in the EU cycle: 325 g/km.
The BMW X5 M and the BMW X6 M are the fi rst all-wheel-drive models built by BMW M GmbH, combining BMW xDrive and Dynamic Performance Control with all the specifi c requirements and qualities of a high-performance vehicle in typical M style. The characteristic highlight of both models is their outstanding driving dynamics combined with supreme driving stability and excellent traction. Driving pleasure is further enhanced by a level of agility unparalleled in this segment and the unusually neutral steering behaviour.
Intelligent all-wheel drive ensures variable distribution of drive power front- to-rear. Dynamic performance control, in turn, varies the distribution of power between the two rear wheels and allows particularly dynamic acceleration when leaving a bend. BMW xDrive, Dynamic Performance Control, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Servotronic and Adaptive Drive are all coordinated by Integrated Chassis Management (ICM) as the central control unit. The result is an unusually high standard of driving dynamics and motoring safety in terms of agility, traction and driving stability.
The Servotronic steering developed specifi cally for the BMW X5 M and the BMW X6 M provides individual steering assistance related to the speed of the car and varied by two control maps. Substantial steering support at low speeds, for example, allows comfortable parking manoeuvres, while exact feedback through higher control forces at higher speeds ensures a superior style of motoring and greater steering precision when travelling fast. Apart from the standard configuration of the Servotronic steering, the driver is also able to call up the Sports Mode by means of the EDC or M Drive button, activating an uncompromisingly sporting control map for particularly dynamic requirements.
The suspension with its double-track control arm front axle and the integral IV rear axle comes with elastokinematics again boasting all the features of BMW M. Both the BMW X5 M and the BMW X6 M come as standard with air suspension and self-levelling on the rear axle as well as Adaptive Drive with electronically adjustable dampers (EDC) and active anti-roll control. The newly developed three-way support mounts give both the suspension and dampers a particularly sensitive response, and pressing either the EDC or the M Drive button the driver is able to choose either the Normal or Sports damper setting as well as the Servotronic control map. The special confi guration of EDC and anti-roll control tailored again to BMW M ensures a linear build-up of lateral forces in fast and dynamic bends. And the high-performance brake system in lightweight technology, to mention yet another example, offers superior stopping power with virtually no fading and optimum control of the brakes.
The M Dynamic Mode (MDM) activated by the DSC button raises the control thresholds for intervention by the brakes and the reduction of engine power and provides that typical steering behaviour so characteristic of BMW M by shifting drive power to the rear in the xDrive setting and interacting appropriately with Dynamic Performance Control. MDM therefore allows maximum speeds in bends plus unrestricted safety when driving to the extreme. In the process the car remains absolutely neutral in following the steering, allowing the driver to take even fast bends in a controlled drift under maximum load in the bend apex.
Both the BMW X5 M and the BMW X6 M come with a special body structure designed and built for maximum occupant safety. The occupants are protected among other things by three-point inertia-reel seat belts on all seats, six airbags – frontal, side and head airbags – as well as crash-activated headrests at the front. Bi-xenon dual headlights including a daytime driving light function, adaptive brake lights and 20-inch light-alloy rims with differentsized runfl at tyres front and rear all come as standard.
Innovative driver assistance systems raise the superior driving experience in the BMW X5 M and the BMW X6 M to an even higher level of perfection.
These systems include, as an option, BMW’s Head-Up Display again tailored to BMW M, Adaptive Headlights, and a High-Beam Assistant. And to supplement Park Distance Control featured as standard, there is also an optional back-up camera complete with a Top View function.
The driver-oriented interior of the BMW X5 M and the BMW X6 M comes with M seats, an M leather steering wheel and an M footrest, as well as the M-specific cockpit including an instrument cluster with a variable pre-warning field in the rev counter, specific vehicle function displays, and white illumination of the display units.
The BMW X5 M and the BMW X6 M both feature the latest generation of BMW iDrive control serving to mastermind the navigation, infotainment, air conditioning and communication functions as well as the M Drive menu. The latter – the M Drive menu – comprises the various EDC settings including Servotronic, DSC, the Power Mode, and the optional Head-Up Display
enabling the user to save his favourite confi guration then retrieved by the M Drive button on the steering wheel.
High-quality materials and upholstery from the wide range of BMW Individual, numerous comfort functions and innovative entertainment options all underline the exclusive, M-specifi c character of both models. Standard features include electric seat adjustment complete with a memory function and seat heating at the front, two-zone automatic air conditioning, the BMW Individual instrument panel with leather padding, Merino leather covering additional
surfaces and trim features, M entry trim, the M footrest, interior trim bars in brushed Aluminium Shadow, as well as automatic operation of the tailgate on the BMW X6 M. Optional features include the Professional navigation system, the BMW Individual High End audio system, four-zone automatic air conditioning, the M-specifi c Head-Up Display, Merino leather all round, active seat ventilation as well as a panorama glass roof (BMW X5 M) or, respectively,
an electrically operated glass roof (BMW X6 M). And last but not least, the BMW X5 M is available with a towbar including an electrically swivelling ball head, while the BMW X6 M comes as an option with a towbar incorporating a removable ball head. Maximum trailer load in each case is a signifi cant three tonnes.

BMW

Lotus reveals flex-fuel engine concept

2009-03-30T04:10:00.000-07:00

Lotus Engineering, the world-renowned automotive consultancy division of Lotus Cars Limited, unveils its latest research into engine efficiency at the 79th International Geneva Motor Show. The Omnivore engine concept has the potential to significantly increase fuel efficiency for sustainable alcohol based fuels, which increases the prospect of a greater amount of vehicle miles
travelled using renewable fuels. On display will be the single cylinder research engine monoblock that demonstrates the novel architecture designed for high thermal efficiency when fuelled on any alcohol based fuel or gasoline.
The Omnivore concept features an innovative variable compression ratio system and uses a two-stroke operating cycle with direct fuel injection. It is ideally suited to flex-fuel operation with a higher degree of optimisation than is possible with existing four stroke engines.
The engine concept features a monoblock construction that blends the cylinder head and block together eliminating the need for a cylinder head gasket, improving durability and reducing weight. In this case, the application of a monoblock is facilitated by the absence of the requirement for poppet valves. A novel charge trapping valve in the exhaust port allows asymmetric timing of exhaust flow and continuous variation of the exhaust opening point.
The variable compression ratio is achieved by the use of a puck at the top of the combustion chamber. This simple, yet effective system moves up and down affecting the change in geometric compression depending on the load demands on the engine.
Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc said: “We are delighted to unveil this major milestone in the development of an engine configuration for a new breed of more efficient multi-fuel engines. The automotive sector is focusing on its environmental obligations to improve
efficiency, minimise reliance on fossil fuels and reduce harmful emissions and Lotus continues to be an industry leader through our work on all aspects of future fuels. Sustainable alcohol based fuels have the potential to reduce the overall CO2 footprint of internal combustion engines towards zero and for this reason, need to be embraced as future fuels for road transport.”
In this collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast and Orbital Corporation Limited Australia, with sponsorship from DEFRA/DECC and DOE NI through the Renewables Materials LINK programme, Lotus Engineering is currently in the final stages of commissioning the Omnivore single-cylinder research engine. It uses the Orbital FlexDI™ fuel injection system which produces fine in-cylinder fuel preparation irrespective of fuel type, and together with air premixing allows efficient two-stroke combustion and low-temperature starting, whilst offering singular opportunity for advanced HCCI control.
The Omnivore programme is another development of Lotus’ research into understanding the complex combustion processes involved in running an engine on mixtures of alcohol based fuels and gasoline, which included the Lotus Exige 270E Tri-fuel, unveiled at the International Geneva Motor Show in 2008. This research is vitally important for a successful transition from today’s
fuels to the more efficient sustainable fuels of the future.
Geraint Castleton-White, Head of Powertrain at Lotus Engineering said, “The absence of poppet valves in two-stroke engines makes the incorporation of a variable compression ratio system relatively straightforward. Our research into these systems on four-stroke engines has led us to the conclusion that while thermodynamically it is a desirable technology to incorporate, practically it is very difficult, particularly taking into consideration production feasibility. This
two-stroke engine could solve these practical difficulties and simultaneously permits a much larger range of compression ratio adjustment, with the potential to perform at a much higher efficiency when running on renewable fuels.”
About Group Lotus plc: The main operating subsidiary of Group Lotus plc is Lotus Cars Ltd, which has two operating divisions - Lotus Engineering and Lotus Cars. Lotus Engineering
is an internationally recognised automotive engineering consultancy based in Norfolk, UK. Global facilities include those in Michigan (USA), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), China and offices in Germany and Japan, with rapid expansion in new territories such as South East Asia and the Gulf States.
Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world's OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, offering a full engineering service from initial concept and project design through development and integration of the complete vehicle to meet all worldwide markets and customers to full production. This includes third party 'niche vehicle'
engineering and manufacture worldwide.
Lotus Cars builds world class, prestige, high performance sports cars for sale in 37 countries. These include the iconic Lotus Elise, the Exige and Europa. Lotus is a global high-tech company, expanding rapidly and committed to driving forward technology for both Lotus Cars and its Engineering clients, spearheading research into such areas as hybrids, electric vehicles and
renewable fuels.
About Renewable Materials LINK: LINK supports collaborative research between industry and the science and engineering research base. Under the Renewable Materials programme, the
government co-finances private-sector led innovative, pre-commercial R&D investment in furthering the non-food uses of renewable materials to support sustainable development. This research was sponsored by DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food &Rural Affairs, DECC (Department of Energy & Climate Change and DOE NI)

Lotus

Audi TT RS

2009-02-24T05:42:00.000-08:00

Audi is once again producing a five-cylinder powerhouse: the Audi TT RS will be unveiled to the world at the Geneva Auto Show. Its turbocharged 2.5-liter engine produces well above 300 bhp. It also delivers explosive acceleration, driving delight, and unrivalled sound.
A legend is reborn. After all, powerful five-cylinder gasoline engines have a long legacy at Audi. And the turbocharged direct-fuel-injection engine in the TT RS is the new torchbearer of this dynamic tradition. It enables the TT RS to perform extraordinary feats. For example, it needs nowhere near five seconds to reach 100 km/h (62.14 mph); overtaking is child’s play; and 250 km/h (155.34 mph) is the limited top speed only on paper.
The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, a sophisticated chassis, and stupendous brakes keep a tight rein on the power. All in all, the compact TT RS – with its lightweight and largely aluminum body constructed as per the Audi Space Frame principle – is a driving machine to be reckoned with.

Audi

BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo

2009-02-14T06:10:00.000-08:00

With the future still offering suffi cient room for an exciting new driving experience, BMW has once again defi ned a brand-new vehicle segment: The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo is the series-based adaptation of the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS) in the upper midrange segment, offering an impressive outlook on the extension of the BMW 5 Series by a new, additional concept.
With its stylish appearance and comfortable driving experience, the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo transfers the characteristics of a classic Gran Turismo to a very special four-door vehicle with four seats. These features so typical of a Gran Turismo are then enriched by the highest standard of intelligent, versatile functionality.
The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo combines elegance, space, comfort and variability. In a combination never seen before on any other car, the characteristic features of a prestigious sedan, a modern and versatile Sports Activity Vehicle, and a classic Gran Turismo are all united in this unique Concept Car.
Besides the typical BMW proportions, the coupe-like roofl ine accentuates the elegant yet sporty character of the car and the sheer length of the car’s body. In addition, the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo has four frameless doors and elegant aluminium highlights.
The luxurious interior is surprisingly generous considering the coupι-like silhouette of the car, creating a spontaneous feeling of well-being for driver and passengers. This impression is further enhanced by a comfortable entry to the car, the slightly elevated seating position, and the panorama roof providing a particularly pleasant travel experience.
The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo is highly versatile: a flexible interior comprising the rear seats, the partition wall wall, and the luggage compartment allows the adjustment of the interior individually to personal requirements – from a separate luggage compartment, like in a sedan, all the way to a loading capacity of 1,650 litres or almost 58 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. This fl exibility is rounded off by a two-piece tailgate with separate openings for additional convenience.
The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo addresses a demanding and modern target group – discerning individuals who attach great importance to genuine style, luxurious comfort and fl exibility in use. This gives BMW the opportunity to win over customers who today drive either a sedan, an SUV or an wageon model in the respective competitive segments.
The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo extends the BMW’s model range by an intelligent, new and indeed unparalleled vehicle concept for modern mobility at highest standard. Through its unique combination of elegance, space, comfort and variability, the car creates a powerful
impression of relaxed presence. Indeed, these new characteristics enrich Sheer Driving Pleasure to an even higher standard and appeal to additional target groups. And last but not least the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo authentically visualises premium quality and a new standard of sporting performance borne out by the car’s dynamism and effi ciency.
The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo offers a spacious and luxurious ambience with inspiring and modern interior design. As the world’s only combination of variable spaciousness and uncompromising premium quality, this new concept car also stands out through the most
sophisticated materials and excellent quality of fi nish. Supreme harmony in interior design, refl ected by the trim surfaces extending from the front to the rear doors, creates a modern symbiosis of the two seats at the front and the seats at the rear. The panorama glass roof, in turn, further intensifies the light and generous ambience inside the car, while the stylish cockpit
emphasises the sheer width of the vehicle through its horizontal lines, black panel technology and a fully integrated 10.2-inch Control Display.
Supreme seating comfort, ample headroom and elbow room in the front provide the standard of a luxury performance automobile, the slightly elevated seating position ensures an optimum overview and makes access to the car particularly comfortable. Tilted slightly to the front, the instrument panel, fi nally, optimises the degree of control comfort on the driver’s seat.
Convenient and ergonomically optimised access as well as signifi cant freedom of movement characterise the generous atmosphere on the rear seats. Extending all the way to the rear, the centre console in the concept car emphasises the length of the interior. Outstanding variability, in turn, is ensured by single seats at the rear infi nitely adjustable fore-and-aft, their backrests folding forwards individually and under electric power at the touch of a button and the adjustable backrest angle ensuring further comfort and style.
With the rear seats in their regular position, the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo offers the passengers at the rear the same legroom as in the BMW 7 Series and virtually the same headroom as in the BMW X5. In this confi guration, luggage compartment capacity is 430 litres or 15.1 cubic feet. The partition wall behind the rear seats separates the passenger and luggage compartments from one another in terms of both acoustics and climate conditions, like in a sedan. If necessary, the rear seats move fore-and-aft by up to 100 millimetres or more than 3.9" – so that with the seats moved as far forward as possible, the occupants still enjoy the same legroom as in the BMW 5 Series Sedan, with luggage capacity increasing to 570 litres or almost 20 cubic feet. Then, once folding down the rear seat backrests and the partition wall, the luggage compartment further increases in size to its maximum capacity of 1,650 litres or nearly 58 cubic feet. The fi rm cover on the luggage compartment may be stowed away in the fl oor of the compartment, again in the interest of extra convenience.
The two-piece tailgate allows unique variability in loading the luggage compartment: Opening the small, sedan-like tailgate beneath the rear window enables the driver and passengers, in combination with the closed partition wall, to load the luggage compartment without creating any
drafts into the passenger compartment or changing the temperature the passengers wish to enjoy. To conveniently load bulky objects, in turn, all the driver has to do is open up the large tailgate similar in its confi guration to that of a Sports Activity Vehicle.
The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo combines the modern, up-todate interpretation of a Gran Turismo with four doors and all the prestige of a Sedan and the variability of a Sports Activity Vehicle. The proportions so typical of a BMW are borne out in particular by the long engine compartmentlid, the long wheelbase, the coupι-like roofl ine, and the greenhouse
moved far to the rear.
The dynamic character of the car’s front-end design is accentuated by the large BMW kidney grille positioned low down and standing upright at the front, as well as the large air intake. Tilted to an angle, extending far round to the side and highlighted by a striking surround, the dual round headlights give the front end of the car a particularly modern look. The corona rings of
the daytime driving lights, fi nally, come for the fi rst time in LED technology.
From the side, the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo clearly visualises its innovative character, the striking waistline and the coupι-like roofline accentuate the elegant look of the car and the sheer length of the body. Following the example of a sporting coupι, the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo comes with four doors and frameless windows. The aluminium surrounds on the side windows are milled out of one solid unit and holding the elegantly designed exterior mirrors as yet another important design feature. Yet a further striking element on the side is the exciting re-interpretation of the famous “Hofmeister kink” so typical of BMW at the rear end of the window graphics.
Horizontal lines at the rear emphasise the width and sporting character of the car, further accentuated by the waistline extending from the side into the rear panel, a three-dimensional chrome bar and the flared wheel arches. The outer roofl ines merge into the air spoiler and encompass the rear end in its sporting fastback design. And as yet another feature typical of BMW, the L-shaped rear light clusters come with horizontal rows of lights extending far round into the side of the car.

BMW

Audi - Auto Union type C

2009-02-10T04:11:00.000-08:00

When Lord March invites guests to his country estate in East Sussex from 3 to 5 July, Audi Tradition will bring along just about every car built by Audi that has played a significant role on the world’s racetracks during the past 100 years. This is the first occasion on which even the company’s ‘family silver’ will be brought out from the Audi museum mobile: the Auto Union Type C Streamline, a unique, authentic replica of the car in which Bernd Rosemeyer attempted to break the world speed record in 1937, reaching over 400 km/h on an ordinary road. Also on static display at Goodwood will be the first-ever Audi competition car, the Audi Type C Alpine Cup winner dating from 1919. Vehicles in action on the circuit will be Auto Union Type C (1936) and Type D (1938) Silver Arrows, the legendary Audi Pikes Peak (1987) and IMSA GTO (1989) cars, the R8 and R10 sports cars that were victorious in Le Mans and various STC and GTM championship contenders.
In 2009, Audi Tradition will also be entering classic European historic-car rallies such as the Mille Miglia (13 to 17 May), the Silvretta Classic (2 to 5 July), the Ennstal Classic (15 to 18 July) and the Gran Premio Nuvolari (18 to 20 September). A very special highlight awaits visitors to the historic Grand Prix in Berne, which takes place from 21 to 23 August. For the first time after more than 70 years, an Auto Union Type C racing car will be seen on the former Swiss racing circuit. Audi Tradition is principal sponsor of the Danube Classic in Ingolstadt (18 to 20 June), the Heidelberg Historic (9 to 11 July), the Audi Eastoric in Hungary (27 to 30 August) and the Eifel Classic Rally held at the Nόrburg Ring (1 to 3 October). And of course the AUDI AG department responsible for historical matters will also be attending the world’s largest classic-car fair, the Techno Classica in Essen (2 to 5 April), which this year features the Audi brand as its main topic.
‘100 years of Audi’ – the brand’s centenary has naturally influenced the special exhibitions organised at the Audi museum mobile in Ingolstadt. There will be three of these, starting on 12 March with the earliest Audi vehicles still in existence. Visitors will be able to see no fewer than twelve of these Audi models dating from the company’s early years, including the only surviving Type A – the very first Audi model – built in 1910 and loaned to Audi Tradition by the National Technical Museum in Prague. From the end of July to the end of November 2009, there will be a ‘family meeting’ of legendary rally cars from the memorable Group B period in the 1980s. This stationary display will be the first encounter between the world-champion Audi quattro vehicles and their rivals since that time.
Last but not least, a special exhibition entitled ‘Family Silver – the Era of the Silver Arrow Grand Prix Cars’ will be staged from the end of November 2009 to the end of February 2010. It celebrates yet another highlight: the 75th anniversary of the Silver Arrows. As a result, these priceless racing cars will not only be on display at Audi Tradition events but will also be given a show of their own at the Audi museum mobile. Six Auto Union Silver Arrows will be seen together – more than at any time since the 1930s. They will be accompanied by their former ‘brothers and sisters’ from that great era when supercharged cars raced against one another. Audi Tradition is looking forward to welcoming historic racing cars entered by its then rivals, Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo.
In 2009 the Audi company, established by August Horch on 16 July 1909, will celebrate its hundredth anniversary. The four rings of the Audi badge symbolise the brands Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer, which were combined under the umbrella of Auto Union in 1932. Auto Union and NSU, which merged in 1969, made many significant contributions towards the development of the car. AUDI AG was formed from Audi NSU Auto Union AG in 1985. Together with the two traditional companies Auto Union GmbH and NSU GmbH, Audi Tradition nurtures and presents the deep and diverse history of Audi. The Audi museum mobile at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt is open daily from Monday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The August Horch Museum in Zwickau is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mercedes

Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro

2009-02-07T05:52:00.000-08:00

A zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) sprint of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 316 km/h (196.35 mph) exemplify the breathtaking dynamics of the R8 5.2 FSI quattro. And this car serves these up as exhilarating power experiences – with a ferocious response to the gas pedal, outstanding revving ability, and a thrilling crescendo of technological music.
The V10 engine is firmly rooted in Audi’s great motorsport tradition. It revs all the way up to 8,700 rpm – almost as high as a racing engine. At 6,500 rpm the naturally aspirated 5.2-liter engine delivers a full 530 Nm (390.91 lb-ft) of torque, at 8,000 rpm it achieves its maximum power output of 386 kW (525 hp).
The specific power output is 100.9 hp per liter of displacement, while its powerto-weight ratio is just 3.1 kilogram (6.83 lb) per hp.
The 5.2-liter engine uses direct injection according to the FSI principle developed by Audi. It achieves a compression ratio of 12.5:1, which contributes substantially to the high power output and the moderate fuel consumption. The R8 5.2 FSI quattro – in the version with the sequential R tronic transmission – gets by on an average of 13.7 liters per 100 km (17.17 US mpg). Dry sump lubrication is another technology derived from motorsport that ensures oil feed in any position – even at the maximum transverse acceleration of 1.2 g that this high-performance car from Audi reaches.
Audi delivers the R8 5.2 FSI quattro with manual six-speed transmission, or optionally with R tronic, which enables the driver to change gears in an instant via rocker switches on the steering wheel. The “Launch Control” function is integrated with both types of transmission – a program that catapults the car forward from a standing start. The quattro permanent all-wheel drive distributes the engine’s torque to all four wheels, with a strong bias towards the rear wheels.
The R8 5.2 FSI quattro features an axle load distribution of 44 to 56 percent – ideal for a mid-engine sports car. All four wheels are guided by dual aluminum wishbones. The suspension is tuned for a highly dynamic ride, yet preserves an appreciable degree of comfort thanks to Audi magnetic ride. This standard technology continually adapts the function of the shock absorbers to the requirements of the driver and the road.
Exclusive 19-inch wheels of 10-spoke Y design are standard equipment. The front wheels are equipped with size 235/35 tires, the rear with size 295/30 tires. The brakes likewise deliver out-and-out performance. Optionally available from Audi are carbon-fiber ceramic brake disks, which are extremely lightweight and durable.
Setting the standard in lightweight design: The ASF body The R8 5.2 FSI quattro with six-speed manual gearshift tips the scales at a modest 1,620 kilograms – mainly thanks to its lightweight body. Built of aluminum in the Audi Space Frame design, it weighs a mere 210 kilograms
(463 lb). The ASF design is extremely rigid, which ensures dynamic, precise and secure handling as well as occupant safety. The interior of this high-performance sports car from Audi provides astonishing roominess. Behind the seats and under the front hood is room for 190 liters (6.71 cubic ft) of luggage. The car is luxuriously equipped – heated seat covers of Fine Nappa leather, the navigation system plus, the Bang & Olufsen sound system and automatic air conditioning are standard equipment. Carefully arranged interior details underscore the leading position of this top-of-the-line model.
The exterior of the R8 5.2 FSI quattro also differs distinctly from that of its V8 counterpart – with especially notable changes at the front, at the sideblades which provide the engine with intake air, and at the tail end. A very distinctive highlight of the R8 V10 are the all-LED headlights as standard equipment. Audi is the world’s first automaker to use LEDs for the high beam, low beam, daytime running lights and turn signals.
Just like the eight-cylinder model, the ten-cylinder version is hand-built at quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm. The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro will be rolled out in Germany in the second quarter of 2009. Its base price is EUR 142,400.

Audi

Mazda3

2009-02-06T04:25:00.000-08:00

The first-generation Mazda3 has won a total of 90 automobile awards around the globe since launched in 2003. All-new Mazda3 to be launched in Europe in spring 2009. Characteristics blend: sporty driving and dynamic design, together with top class environmental and safety performance.
Design theme: “Remaining faithful to an inherited identity while evolving the design to make it more expressive.” Powerful emotional design with a richer expression and more dynamic stance.
Two distinct body styles – hatchback and sedan. A new purposeful face that integrates the front grille’s lower section into the 5-point grille to further distinguish the unique character of the Mazda brand. Aerodynamics improved with drag coefficient (Cd) of only 0.28 (sedan) and 0.30 (hatchback), among the best in the segment. All design elements focus on and flow into the centre to express power and dynamism. Subtly curving lines along the sides and a wedge-shaped character line extending from the prominent front fenders communicate dynamism that makes the model appear to be about to run and reflect a design theme shared with the Mazda2 and Mazda6. The bold curve and low centre of gravity of the protruding rear shoulders on the 5-door hatchback inherit the distinctive ‘Mazda3 look’ established by the previous model. Sedan has the refined flowing lines of a coupe silhouette. Functional beauty embodied in the design of the airflow management system. Minimal gaps between body panels signify solid quality. Sedan and hatchback are longer (SDN: 4,580 mm, +90 mm / 5HB: 4,460, +45 mm, and for the Sports high grade versions 4,490 mm, +55 mm) and taller at 1,470 mm, +5 mm.
6 to 11% noise reduction vs. previous generation, thanks to aerodynamic work, increased suspension rigidity, optimal positioning of vibration dampening material, increased body and panel rigidity. Sporty and sophisticated interior design that combines a sense of roominess with a dashboard turned to the driver for a one-with-the-car feel. Use of soft grained surface material on the upper section of the dashboard combines with minimal parting lines to achieve a vastly improved look of interior quality. Practical central console with sliding armrest. Gear shift lever placed closer to driver for easier shifting. State of the art ergonomics and HMI with “zone layout” for less distraction from the road. New multi-information display (MID). New interactive lighting control and illumination entry system. New sport seats with optional 3 memory function plus 2 integrated in the keyless entry and start system transmitter. 10-speaker Bose® premium surround sound system, with Audiopilot2® noise compensation and Centerpoint® surround system. Hands-free system for Bluetooth-equipped cell phones and mobile audio players.
New MZR-CD 2.2-litre turbo diesel with high and standard power versions both meeting Euro stage V emission standards. Mazda unique technology diesel particulate filter (DPF) offering reduced regeneration times . High power version: 136 kW/185 PS at 3,500 rpm and 400 Nm of maximum torque at just 1,800-3,000 rpm and combined fuel consumption of 5.6 l/100 km (CO2: 149 g/km) . Standard power version: 110 kW/150 PS at 3,500 rpm and 360 Nm of maximum torque at 1,800-2,600 rpm and combined fuel consumption of 5.4 l/100 km (CO2: 144 g/km) .
MZ-CD 1.6-litre turbo diesel with diesel particulate filter (DPF) produces 80 kW/109 PS at 4,000 rpm and 240 Nm of maximum torque at just 1,750 rpm, and uses 0.3 litres less than the previous generation with a combined fuel consumption of 4.5 l/100 km (CO2: 119 g/km).
MZR 2.0-litre petrol produces 110kW/150 PS at 6,500 rpm and maximum torque of 187 Nm at 4,000 rpm, with five-speed A/T transmission and manual-shift mode, it has a combined fuel consumption of 7.7 l/100 km (CO2: 183 g/km)
MZR 1.6-litre petrol produces 77 kW/105 PS at 6,000 rpm and maximum torque of 145 Nm at 4,000 rpm, and uses 0.6 litres less than the previous generation with a combined fuel consumption of 6.3 l/100 km (CO2: 149 g/km)
New catalyst that uses single nanotechnology for 2.0-litre petrol engine.
Despite larger dimensions and more equipment, all-new Mazda3 weights up to 15 kg less.
Major evolution of the C-platform for more balance between the sports/comfort ratio.
17% increase in use of high and ultra-high strength steels vs. outgoing model .
Double-digit increases in ﬂexural and torsional criteria for improved handling and safety. Newly evolved MacPherson strut front suspension. Newly evolved multilink rear suspension.
Electro-hydraulic power assist steering introduced to all versions for a light, but stable steering feel and reduced fuel consumption. ABS, EBD, brake assist, traction control system (TCS) DSC, front, side, and curtain airbags are standard in all markets. High-intensity Bi-xenon headlamps, pivoting adaptive front lighting system, emergency stop signal (ESS), rear vehicle monitoring (RVM), tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and parking sensor system (optional) .

Mazda

Volkswagen Concept BlueSport

2009-02-05T04:12:00.000-08:00

Behind the two sport seats of the 3.99 meter long Concept BlueSport (axle load distribution: 45:55) is an exclusively charged TDI or TSI engine that delivers dynamics – these are high-tech engines thatconsume little but put out a lot. In the case of the Concept BlueSport version now being presented in the USA it is a 132 kW / 180 PS strong Clean Diesel (TDI) with common rail injection and downstream NOx storage catalytic converter. At a low 1,750 rpm – i.e. right from the engine speed ‘cellar’ – the 2.0 liter turbo engine develops its maximum torque of 350 Newton-meters. That matchesthe power response of an approx. 300 PS strong six-cylinder gasoline engine! A 6-speed dual clutch transmission – the most economical and agile transmission system in the world – transfers this power to the rear wheels. It is shifted either automatically or via shift paddles on the steering wheel. In just 6.2 seconds the sports car is moving at a speed of 60 mph (0-100 km/h: 6,6 seconds); its top speed is 140 mph (226 km/h).

These are the key parameters of a new and at the same time classic European sports car philosophy. The Concept BlueSport is evolving into a car that is a lot of fun to drive and at the same time makes anunmistakable statement in terms of sustainability. The fact is: if the Concept BlueSport were to go into production it could herald in a renaissance of the compact roadster. Another fact: this car handlesjust as well in the urban environment of metropolises as it does on very curvy country roads and long expressway routes.

Volkswagen defined just two objectives in the car’s development: maximum driving fun and minimal fuel consumption. And so a midengine sports car was implemented that makes no compromises, thataims at low weight and maximum agility right from the start. Although it is best in its class when it comes to body rigidity, the Concept BlueSport weighs in at less than 1,200 athletic kilograms. The results: performance that is more than impressive for every lifesituation, in addition to the cited fuel economy and emissions advantages. Low weight was attained by consistent application of lightweight construction methods (among other things, the soft top – at 27 kilograms – is the lightest in its class, and the hoods are made of aluminum), and by a body layout with crisp and compact dimensions.

Despite all of the sports car fascination included on board, it still offers a respectable level of everyday utility. In the cargo area under the front hood, for example, the Concept BlueSport can stow 112 liters of luggage; its counterpart in the rear can handle an additional 70 liters of cargo volume. Altogether that makes 182 liters – enough for working documents or an extended weekend trip for two. Also extended, by the way, are the distances between any two fuel fillups.

With a fuel tank volume of 50 liters and the noted fuel economy of42 mpg (consumption of 4.3 liters per 100 kilometers), the theoretical range is greater than 710 miles (1,150 kilometers).

Making a positive impact on the car’s range, fuel economy and emissions are two technologies that could become more and more commonplace in the future and are part of the so-called Eco mode onthe Concept BlueSport: an automatic start-stop system and braking energy regeneration. The place where automatic start-stop shines is in city traffic. When the Concept BlueSport stops at a red trafficlight, for example, it automatically shuts off its engine. As soon as the light turns green again, just tapping on the gas pedal is enough to start the engine lightning fast. Its entire operation is absolutely intuitive and saves up to 0.2 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers in the city. Furthermore, primarily when the Concept BlueSport is braked, energy is generated by the alternator (regeneration), which relieves the engine and further improves fuel economy.

The Concept BlueSport – painted in Flex Silver painted and sporting an orange colored fabric roof – was designed by the team led by Klaus Bischoff (Director of Design for the Volkswagen Brand) andThomas Ingenlath (Director of the Design Center in Potsdam). “The design of the Concept BlueSport,” says Klaus Bischoff, “represents a perfect synthesis of technology and aesthetics. Its form is very clear and is reduced to essentials; the car body itself has a lean and linear structure.” Thomas Ingenlath adds: “Emanating powerfully from this car body are the circular wheel housings, flared out in three dimensions as in a sculture. The radial surfaces, edges and blending of forms emphasize the wheels and thereby the agility of the BlueSport concept car. The lateral air intakes are identifying features of the mid-engine layout, their volume-reducing design offers visualization of the car’s sporty low weight.”

The proportions of the Concept BlueSport give it an exceptionally powerful and impressive appearance. Besides its low height of 1.26 meters, the car’s image is shaped by the fact that the wheelbase (2.43 meters) appears large compared to the car’s overall length of about four meters, and the sumptuous track widths that are large relative to the car’s width (1.75 meters). In front, the sports car exhibits a track of 1.49 meters; in the rear it is 1.52 meters.

In the sum total of its dimensions, it is clear, first of all, that the powerfully styled body of the Concept BlueSport is significantly shorter and flatter than that of the Scirocco already launched in Europe, yet it is longer and a lot wider than the current Polo, for example. And with precisely these proportions, the roadster makes an especially powerful impression on its custom designed 19 inch alloy spoke wheels.

At its front, the Concept BlueSport is characterized by a new Volkswagen design language introduced for the first time on the Scirocco and the new Golf. It is based on a ‘design DNA’ that will leave its mark on all new Volkswagens. This design DNA was developed by Walter de Silva (Director of Design for the Volkswagen Group), Flavio Manzoni (Director of Creative Design for Volkswagen AG) and Klaus Bischoff. On the one hand, it preserves historical elements, but on the other it represents a reinterpretation of Volkswagen design. Familiar from the Golf and Scirocco are the dominant dual cross beams that are formed by the narrow radiator grille and the painted bumper. In the lower area, large air inlets in black extend across the entire vehicle width, and integrated in them – under translucent, dark-tinted plastic covers – are the LED flashers.

Meanwhile, the car’s interpretation of individual features shows just how broad the range of vehicles is, in which these style elements can be implemented. Take the headlights and taillights, for example: Although the Concept BlueSport with its bi-xenon headlights and LED taillights is obviously a Volkswagen of contemporary times, it is still extremely independent. The roadster look is evident in details such as the daytime running lights designed as a narrow, C-shaped light strip (in the main headlamp housing) or – in the style of highperformance sports cars – the distinct outward flare of the fenders whose forms are charged with energy.

Thomas Ingenlath, lead project designer for the BlueSport concept car, sums it up this way: “The concept car looks into the viewer’s eyes with a powerful, masterful look; everything is clear and precise. Standing here is an agile athlete who has no need to display an aggressive attitude.”We have taken a systematic approach to everything here, emphasizes Flavio Manzoni: “Unique, simple, universal – that is the authentic spirit of Volkswagen: clear design features in a complex world – this

is the philosophy currently guiding Volkswagen design. These are cars like the Up! and Space Up! concept cars or the Scirocco and Golf, which reflect the concept of aesthetic clarity without compromise. And we are now carrying this forward with the Concept BlueSport.”

The rear end is distinctive at first glance. Lines emanating from the contour of the rear fender here frame a shoulder section that would be hard to imagine any greater dynamism or clarity. In the center,there is a large strip painted in car color, and in the upper section a narrow black line that separates the bumper from the engine or trunk hood. Prominent on this line, which also joins the taillights, is theVW logo. The shapes of the taillights themselves were intentionally designed to be similar to those of the headlights. Inside, the lights both have a C-shaped LED component that radiates far and extremely brightly into the night with each brake actuation. The third brake light was integrated in the rear trunk lid, above the VW logo.

In the lower section, a horizontal surface in black is the defining visual element; the tailpipes are located at its outer edges – right next to the contour of the fender lines. The end of the bumper –together with the lateral fender and wheel housing panels – forms a virtual surface painted in car color. At its center the bumper exhibits an area that is aerodynamically designed as a diffuser.

On its sides, once again it is the circular-shape of the wheel housings and outer fender edges – typical of Volkswagen – that are part of the clear, precise, powerful and highly aesthetic line-work. In addition,the extremely short overhangs define the car’s side profile styling. Moreover, the ten-spoke alloy wheels with tires in the sizes 235/35 ZR19 (front) and 245/35 ZR19 (rear) – that completely fill out thelarge wheel housings – create a look that would otherwise only be offered in the realm of super sports cars.

The interior of a sports car should fit as though it were tailor-made. Everything must be ideally set up to reach, operate, control, and must exhibit a high level of aesthetics. This is precisely what Volkswagen has done with the Concept BlueSport. Klaus Bischoff: “The interior shows finesse in details and conveys a high level of technological fascination. The special flair of the interior expressesitself in the architectonic purity of its components.” Climb in: Immediately eye-catching is the touchscreen – an intuitively operated human-machine interface in the style of its counterpart in the Volkswagen Up! concept car. It is located right at the imaginary transmission tunnel. All information and entertainment functions are controlled from the touchscreen. Right in front of it – on the level where a gearshift lever would be – there is now a multifunctional steering wheel that is used to intuitively operate the dual clutch transmission.

Above the touchscreen are the three large control dials for the dualzone automatic climate control system. They are located on a cockpit section traversed by vertical slats. These slats simultaneously serve as both air vents and style features. When the control dials of the automatic climate control system are turned to the left, in the “colder” direction, the control unit’s display becomes increasingly more blue; when higher temperatures are set the display turns “reddish”.

Visually similar to the climate controls is the light switch located to the left of the steering wheel. In terms of color, the orange of the convertible top is repeated in the basic illumination of the cockpit switches. The designers also redesigned the large round instruments and the multifunctional steering wheel. It is equipped with keys for controlling the audio system, telephone, on-board computer and dual clutch transmission (DSG).

Perfectly adapted to the interior are the lightweight, leatherupholstered sport seats with their one-piece seatbacks. Behind the integrated head restraints with embossed VW logo is the Concept BlueSport’s roll bar. Directly behind this is the opened convertible top; the soft top is actuated manually here. Thanks to a classic Zfold and low top weight, this can be done in a matter of seconds – sometimes less is more.

Mercedes Concept BlueZERO

2009-02-02T05:39:00.000-08:00

The three BlueZERO variants are based on the unique sandwich-floor architecture which Mercedes-Benz introduced some ten years ago, initially for the A-Class and then for the B-Class, one of the aims being to integrate alternative drive systems. Advantages of the modified construction include the positive effect of the major drive components on the centre of gravity, their space-saving design and the fact that they are extremely well protected within the vehicle underbody. The five-seater BlueZERO concept cars also set standards in terms of lightweight design, interior layout and body form.

"The flexible BlueZERO concept allows electromobility for every requirement and highlights the fact that Mercedes-Benz is the world's only car manufacturer to already have in place all the key technologies for electric cars offering full everyday practicality", says Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

The BlueZERO principle: flexible design, compact exterior, generously sized interior

All three BlueZERO variants share the same key technical components, while the design and vehicle dimensions are identical. Measuring just 4.22 metres in length, the BlueZERO models combine compact exterior dimensions with a generously proportioned and variable interior and luggage compartment. Five fully-fledged seats, a payload of around 450 kilograms and a luggage compartment capacity of over 500 litres make for outstanding everyday practicality. Thanks to their sandwich construction with a raised sitting position, the cars also offer an exceptionally high level of crash safety for the passengers and the technology, not to mention excellent all-round visibility.

Compared to electric cars based on conventional vehicle platforms and originally only designed for use in combination with internal combustion engines, Concept BlueZERO offers the following conclusive advantages:

Interior space is retained in full. As the energy accumulators/generators are integrated into the spacious sandwich floor, no compromises are necessary when it comes to passenger space, luggage capacity or variability.
The powertrain technology built into the sandwich floor ensures a low centre of gravity and, consequently, extremely reliable and agile handling.
Crash safety is of the extremely high standard associated with Mercedes thanks to the sandwich concept and the housing of major powertrain components between the axles.

As a result, the BlueZERO models are very different to conventionally constructed electric cars, which have the heavy and voluminous storage battery housed in the boot or in the rear-seat area, for example.

Modular design ensures flexibility and efficiency

"Our modular system allows different drive configurations for every customer requirement", says Dr Thomas Weber, the member of the Daimler AG Board of Management responsible for corporate research and development at Mercedes-Benz Cars. "The modified sandwich-floor platform provides the perfect basis for a wide model range with electric drive systems. We are also developing a new, additional platform for future compact models with power units based on optimised internal combustion engines. The intelligent networking of both architectures enables us to develop our product portfolio extremely flexibly and efficiently. From 2009, we will be producing the first Mercedes fuel-cell cars on a small scale. Small-scale production of Mercedes-Benz cars with battery-electric drive alone will then commence in 2010. This means we are extremely well equipped for the future."

All three BlueZERO models feature front-wheel drive, which is typical for this class of car. The Mercedes engineers have put together a modular system comprising several flexibly combinable drive components. These include state-of-the-art liquid-cooled lithium-ion batteries with a storage capacity of up to 35 kWh and the compact electric motor with a maximum output of 100 kW (continuous output 70 kW), which develops a peak torque of 320 Nm. All three variants accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 11 seconds. Their top speed is electronically limited to 150 km/h in the interests of optimal range and energy efficiency.

Electric drive systems with a range of 100, 200 and well over 400 kilometres

With a charging capacity of 15 kW, the powerful lithium-ion batteries in the BlueZERO E-CELL and the BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS can store enough energy for a range of 50 kilometres within 30 minutes. In terms of purely electrical drive, one or two hours of charging time is needed for a range of 100 and 200 kilometres respectively. The charging times are doubled if the charging capacity is 7 kW, as would be the case in a normal household. Both of these BlueZERO vehicles incorporate an electronic control unit that supports intelligent charging stations and billing systems.

At the rear, the BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS has the same 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine as the smart fortwo as an additional range extender. This compact three-cylinder powerplant has an output of 50 kW at a constant 3500 rpm. If required, it can recharge the 17.5-kWh lithium-ion battery by means of a similarly rated alternator. A range of up to 600 kilometres is possible on a single tank. The purely electrical, locally emission-free range is up to 100 kilometres. The BlueZERO F-CELL with fuel-cell drive achieves a range of well over 400 kilometres with zero emissions (as per NEDC).

BlueZERO design: both elegant and functional

Leading-edge technology is uniformly and attractively packaged in all three BlueZERO variants. The unique and distinctive Mercedes design idiom displayed by the body highlights the progressive nature of Concept BlueZERO straight away.

The powerfully elegant front end is dominated by the radiator grille with its centrally located star. The excellent aerodynamics of the BlueZERO are partly due to the closed front apron, whose design means that cooling air intakes are not required. The 20-inch wheels have also been aerodynamically optimised, while low-friction tyres reduce rolling resistance.

The striking character lines along the flanks lend the BlueZERO an extremely dynamic side line and accentuate its bionic structure inspired by nature. This characteristic feature of the Mercedes-Benz bionic car was adapted and modified for the BlueZERO models. These elements lend the body its dramatic power.

New-quality light production

The compact rear end of the Concept BlueZERO is characterised by tail lights in the shape of a curved "L". In addition, the Mercedes designers have achieved a new-quality light production: transparent lenses produce a red light curtain which tapers smoothly towards the sides, creating a lightly diffused effect. This effect is repeated, albeit in white this time, by the front headlamps. What's more, the front lights feature new lens technology and a plexiglass edge to produce "C" shaped daytime driving lights with the help of state-of-the-art LED technology.

Intelligent technology made visible

Translucent surfaces make the normally concealed technology visible. The light-grey tailgate is made completely from lightweight but highly robust Lexan that allows a view of the aluminium structure that makes up the rigidifying frame, for example. At the same time this transparent tailgate provides a view of the vehicle interior, making the advantages of the sandwich-floor platform obvious at a glance: for maximum customer benefit, the luggage compartment and passenger area remain fully usable, since there are no technical components that need to be accommodated here.

"It was very important for us to ensure that the guiding Mercedes-Benz principle of 'Fascination and Responsibility' was clearly reflected in the design of the Concept BlueZERO", says Mercedes-Benz design chief Gorden Wagener. "This is yet another clear statement that environmental awareness and driving pleasure will continue to go together in our vehicles in the future. We want people to realise at first sight that the Concept BlueZERO is definitively not a lesser option."

The Mercedes-Benz designers have emphasised this aspiration by introducing paint finishes in three new ALU-BEAM colours. Each of the three variants makes its individual mark: the BlueZERO E-CELL is painted in a fresh ALU-BEAM Yellow, while the BlueZERO F-CELL has ALU-BEAM Green paintwork. Confidence-oozing ALU-BEAM Orange was chosen for the BlueZERO E-CELL PLUS.

Mercedes