New Car Collection Blog's

In November, we took a spin in the Opel Insignia OPC (which stands, not too imaginatively, for Opel Performance Content), the highest performing model in the extensive and lauded Insignia lineup. We posited that car might point the way toward the revival of a Buick performance subbrand like T-Type. Well, now we know it's likely to be called GS if the Buick Regal GS show car bowing at the 2010 Detroit show is any indication, though it's still not confirmed for production. Most of the content is lifted directly from the OPC, from the aggressive restyled fascias with vertical air inlets in front, dual exhaust outlets and a diffuser in back, as well as unique rocker panels, integrated rear spoiler, and special Olympic White paint. The jet-black interior features Recaro seats with white stitching, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and piano-black trim.

BMW's next chapter in its EfficientDynamics program calls for a new all-electric vehicle to complement its current fleet of leased Mini E electric subcompacts. To accomplish its self-prescribed mission, it enlisted the help of the 1 Series coupe and a revised synchronous electric motor to create a new show car called the Concept ActiveE. It's the epitome of electromobility in the true BMW sense, the automaker claims, and with the Mini E, continues to pave the way towards the ultimate goal of a mass-produced 'Megacity Vehicle'.

Despite the lack of a new name, Audi's latest take on its e-tron EV for the 2010 Detroit show is in fact a unique concept. As with the first e-tron that debuted at last year's Frankfurt show, the Detroit show e-tron concept is based on the R8's aluminum spaceframe, but is more than a foot shorter than its predecessor and nearly 500-pounds lighter. Perhaps most surprisingly, the Detroit car loses its front electric motors, meaning it does not feature Audi's signature quattro all-wheel drive. Instead, two motors mounted on the rear axle combine for an estimated 201 hp and 1955 lb-ft of torque (the latter figure apparently continues Audi's highly suspect practice of providing multiplied torque figures).

The next Mondeo is set to follow the Focus and Fiesta and become Ford’s third world car, sources have revealed to Autocar.

Insiders at the highest level have confirmed that designs for the new Mondeo are now nearing completion and the finished car is expected to hit the showrooms in 2014, when it will replace the European Mondeo and the US market Fusion.

Like the new Focus, previewed at today’s Detroit motor show, it’s also expected to be manufactured in Europe, the US and China.

In a break from tradition though, the new Mondeo is being designed and engineered in the US.

The finished production car though will be sold globally with no design changes to suit local markets, although as with the Focus and Fiesta there will probably be small chassis alterations to suit local driving conditions.

Thanks to: Autocar

Details of the second-generation Porsche Cayenne have been leaked out two months before the upmarket four-wheel drive’s public unveiling at the Geneva motor show.

The information brings to light the all-new-for-2010 Cayenne’s five-strong range of engines, including the first details on the new petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain it will share with the second-generation Volkswagen Touareg, alongside which it has once again been conceived, developed and engineered.

As with its predecessor, the second-generation Cayenne will continued be manufactured at parent company Volkswagen’s factory in Bratislava, Slovakia alongside the new Volkswagen Touareg and existing Audi Q7, with final assembly at Porsche’s Leipzig plant in Germany alongside the Panamera.

Porsche will also continue offering its new four-wheel drive system with the choice of three petrol engines – all updated versions of the units used in the outgoing first-generation model. They include a 296bhp 3.6-litre V6 in the entry level Cayenne, a 395bhp naturally aspirated 4.8-litre V8 in the mid-range Cayenne S and a range-topping 493bhp turbocharged 4.8-litre V8 in the top-of-the-line Cayenne Turbo.

Also planned from the outset of UK sales in May is a successor to the Cayenne Diesel running a lightly modified version of the existing model’s Volkswagen-developed 237bhp 3.0-litre V6.

Thanks to: Autocar

Volkswagen’s New Compact Coupe (NCC) has leaked out ahead of its official launch later today at the Detroit motor show.

Reports claim the Jetta-based coupe is a hybrid, with power coming from a 148bhp, 177lb ft version of VW’s 1.4-litre TSI engine and a 27bhp electric motor. The motor is powered by lithium-ion batteries and the NCC is able to run for short distances on short journeys only.

The reports also claim the NCC’s CO2 emissions are just 98g/km and it can achieve more than 50mpg. Top speed is reportedly 141mph, with 0-62mph taking 8.6secs.

The Tungsten Silver Metallic NCC show car comes equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels and LED lights at the front and rear. The interior is finished in Grigio Quartz and Berry White leather.

The NCC is reportedly 4540mm long, 1780mm wide and 141mm high. According to the reports, the car is tipped to make production within the next two years.

Thanks to: Autocar

Urban lofts are pretty popular, and GMC thinks it has “the automotive equivalent of an urban loft apartment”: the GMC Granite concept, which will debut at the Detroit auto show. Styled with an “industrial look,” the Granite is edgy, beveled, and crisp, with multi-layer LED taillamps out back and headlamps that stretch into the hood. All the brightwork is brushed or satin-finished, as opposed to chrome. However dissimilar it looks to its current GMC brethren, we like it anyway.

Two feet shorter than the freshly added GMC Terrain, a production Granite would be the most compact GMC ever, and would be closer in concept to the Scion xB than to anything currently in the lineup. For further reference, the wheelbase is about as long as that of a Chevy Cobalt, but the overall length of 161.3 inches is about the same as a Honda Fit’s. At 70.3 inches wide, the Granite is about 3.5 inches wider than the Fit.

Lots of space has been carved out of those modest dimensions to accommodate, say, stuff with which you might want to furnish an urban loft. Long items such as a floor lamp, folding table, or even a prone supermodel can be brought inside, due to front and rear passenger-side seats that fold forward and rotate inboard. The four doors open French-style and there are no B-pillars, creating a large opening to load gear and passed-out people.

The full-length center console has a bunch of power ports to plug in computers, iPods, and other electronic gobbledygook. And, as is expected of a show car, technology-laden interfaces replace the familiar. Controls for the climate control, navigation, and audio systems, for example, are located on an organic-LED screen.

Power for the Granite concept comes from a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder; a similar, 138-hp unit is debuting in the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze. The engine is mated here to a six-speed automatic gearbox, which is controlled by a rotating electronic gear selector—like that used by Jaguar—instead of a conventional lever.

GMC, of course, has not announced an intention to produce the Granite, but we think it’s pretty probable given every automaker’s need to meet upcoming emissions and fuel-economy mandates. And as it’s likely to be based on the Cruze, such a GMC shouldn’t cost a tremendous amount of money to develop. We say bring it on.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

The current U.S. Ford Focus is a disappointment to those who know how good the car was when it went on sale in 1999, as well as anyone who has driven the second-generation European-market Focus. While the rest of the world got a sharper, better handling, and more luxurious Focus for 2005, we merely got a heavy refresh of a car that was, in effect, already six years old. (It originally went on sale in Europe in 1998.) We then got an ugly refresh of that refresh for 2008.

Ford has now got its product development crews on the same page, so the next-generation Focus debuting at the Detroit auto show will be the same the world over. In the U.S., the car will be offered in early 2011 as a 2012 model in two variations: a sharp five-door hatchback and a good looking, if more conventional, four-door sedan. Compared with the current U.S. Focus, at 58.1 inches high, the new one is 0.5 inch lower. The overall length has gone up from 175.0 inches to 178.0, and the wheelbase grows from 102.9 inches to 104.2.

Both body styles initially will be powered here by a new, 2.0-liter direct-injected four-cylinder that makes 155 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque, up from the current car’s 143 hp and 136 lb-ft. The engine will feature variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust cams and will be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox that was co-developed with Getrag. Around the rest of the world, there will be a broader range of gas and diesel engines, including turbocharged and direct-injected EcoBoost four-bangers. Expect EcoBoost engines to make it into U.S. cars, too, including one with over 225 horsepower in a sporty version, perhaps wearing an ST or SVT badge. A 1.6-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four likely will be included as a more mass-market choice, as well, offering a more efficient and more powerful alternative to the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Peugeot is putting on a brave new face! The French firm has taken the wraps off a stunning new concept called the SR1, ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. And it previews an entire new design language for the brand.

But this is far from purely a design exercise. Under the skin is a powerful hybrid powertrain capable of producing 313bhp but emitting just 119g/km of CO2. And to mark such an important crossroads, the SR1 is also being used to introduce a revised version of the iconic Lion badge.

Peugeot has been heaped with praise for its decision to put the gorgeous RCZ coupe on sale this Spring, and it’s clearly taken the public’s upbeat reaction to the RCZ’s styling on board. Taking the form of a three-seater Grand Tourer, the SR1 exhibits classic proportions. With its expansive bonnet, flowing wings and short overhangs there’s echoes of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Jaguar XK in its shape.

Gone is the gaping grille so often associated with modern Peugeots, replaced instead by a narrower opening, flanked by swept back headlights. Elsewhere, the carbon-fibre ‘skin’ has been sculpted to create a modern, three-dimensional look to the bodywork.

Beneath the surface, it’s just as hi-tech. The SR1 uses the same HYbrid4 architecture as the 3008 hybrid, due to go on sale in 2011. A 218bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged engine powers the front wheels, while a 95bhp electric motor spins the rears. Working in tandem the total power output is a healthy 313bhp but combined fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are a paltry 57.7mpg and 119g/km respectively. There’s an electric only mode too, turning the car into a zero emissions vehicle for brief stints.

In order to deliver finesse along with all that power, Peugeot’s has chosen to build the car on a rigid and lightweight platform and fit an innovative four-wheel steer system. By varying its sensitivity as a function of speed, the all-wheel steering system offers better manoeuvrability at low speeds and greater control when the pace quickens.

At first glance the roof might look like an integral part of the SR1’s structure, but it is in fact a removable panel. The difference here is the use of a specialist preformed plastic, normally found in the world of sailing, which helps to create the illusion of a metal hood.

Removing the roof exposes a beautifully detailed three-seat cabin, with the third passenger nestled in the middle at the rear. Hi-tech materials such as black nickel and satin-finished chrome are used throughout and blended with more traditional finishes like wood and leather.

As with any concept there are a number of unique features that help to separate the SR1 from production models. Both the instantaneous fuel consumption and remaining range are displayed on two crystal tubes emerging from the dash behind the steering wheel, while a wristwatch, designed by Bell&Ross, slots into a purpose built housing next to the LCD screen in the centre console.

An that's not all, as part of Peugeot's makeover it has also announced that the odd-ball BB1 electric concept will definitely spawn a production model in the next few years. With so many new products on the way and the SR1 concept showing the way in terms of style, the future looks very bright indeed for the French manufacturer. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Nissan has named the latest addition to its line up of quirky crossovers, as well as releasing the gloomy teaser shot you see here. Inspired by the Qazana concept shown in Geneva last year, and following in the footsteps of the hugely successful Qashqai, the 'Juke' is designed to offer customers a funky alternative to the traditional small hatchback.

From this dimly-lit photo it's clear that the concept car's swollen wheels arches have been carried over, along with the narrow, elongated headlights and oversize fog lights underneath. It appears the 370Z-inspired rear boomerang lights will also make production, while the windscreen and roofline have taken on a more angular profile.

Slotting in between the Note and Qashqai, the Juke will expand Nissan's broad range even further. And when it goes on sale in October, it should provide a welcome boost for the UK car industry too - it will be built alongside the Qashqai and Qashqai+2 at Nissan's Sunderland plant.

Full details on the newcomer will be realeaed at the global media unveiling on February 10th, but it's public debut won't be until the Geneva Motor Show in March. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

Japanese buyers of Subaru vehicles are no strangers to special edition Impreza WRX models. Previous versions have varied on equipment, featuring everything from automatic gearboxes to performance-enhancing drivetrain and suspension goodies, but one thing they've had in common is that they aren't available in the U.S. The same holds true with Subaru's newest special edition 'Rex, the R205.

The new Chevrolet Aveo RS concept debuting at the Detroit auto show reveals that GM has something smart and small in the works ready to meet Ford’s much-ballyhooed new Fiesta subcompact.

Larger than the current Aveo and donning what Chevy calls a “European hot-hatch look,” the five-door “Borocay Blue” RS show car is intended to appeal to the youth market—or any market, really. It previews the production version of the next Aveo due as a 2011 or 2012 model. Raise the concept’s chin a tad, tone down the chrome-rimmed outer air inlets, and replace those aluminum-wrapped exposed headlights (circumscribed as they are in blue) with similar halogen units, and you’re staring into the face of the 2011 Aveo. De-flare the RS concept’s fenders and replace the 19-inch wheels with more feasible rollers and you get a good idea of what the rest of the car will look like—we’ve seen the production-ready base model, so we should know. There’s a sedan, too, although it’s more homely than the hatch. Of course, if Chevy ends up putting out an actual Aveo RS model with body mods like those seen here, we’re fine with that.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Underneath this disguised 3-series are the mechanicals of the forthcoming 3-series GT. BMW hopes the new model will broaden the appeal of the 3-series in the same way that a hatchback variant has widened the scope of the 5-series.

However, the new car won’t just be a smaller version of the Five GT. This time BMW is aiming to produce a fastback 3-series rather than the business express limo that is the Five GT. The 3-series GT will be more of a rival to Audi’s A5 Sportback, which is halfway between a fastback A4 and a four-door A5.

Not only would a GT variant help to make the 3-series more profitable, but it would also go some way to insuring BMW against a drop in SUV sales by offering a more socially acceptable alternative to vehicles such as the X3.

The car in our scoop pictures is testing the GT’s mechanical make-up. It’s clothed in a current 3-series saloon bodyshell and the top half of the mule, from the doorline up, is from that car. But from the waistline down the body has been altered to accommodate the new car’s chassis.

The extended rear passenger door, which has extra disguise around the rear of the window, points to a longer wheelbase than the current 3-series to give more room inside. Further disguise around the rear window indicates that BMW’s engineers are experimenting with a new boot opening, too.

The test car also has wider front and rear tracks than the regular 3-series, which fits with the idea of a wider, longer version of the saloon. The extended wheel arches look capable of accommodating bigger wheels, too.

At the moment it’s unclear if the 3-series GT will be launched before the new saloon, although the presence of this test mule suggests that, like the 5-series, the fastback will be launched before the saloon; that could be in 2012.

Thanks to: Autocar

We're less than a week away from the opening days of the Detroit auto show, and GM has released two new images that could foreshadow a concept we'll see at Cobo Hall. Stashed on GM's "The Lab" blog and dubbed the GMC "Urban Utility Concept" is the crossover-like vehicle shown here.