Thursday, October 14, 2010

Spied: 2012 BMW 1-Series Coupe


BMW is set to release a mid-life facelifted version of the 1-Series Coupe and Convertible. Our spy photographer snapped this facelifted version of the 1-Series Coupe undergoing testing near BMW’s headquarters in Munich. Changes to the stylish three-door are minimal, as demonstrated by the small amount of black tape applied to this car.

Tweaks to the taillights, front bumper and headlights are the only alterations to the car’s exterior. However, the baby BMW’s funky looks still look fresh, with just simple nips and tucks required to keep it looking sharp.

On the inside, upgraded trim materials and a new generation of the firm’s iDrive system, which features BMW’s ConnectedDrive in-car internet access, are expected.

Both the Coupe and Cabriolet will receive the fresh look, and will make their debuts at the Detroit Motor Show alongside the final production version of 1-Series M Coupe. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

 

New Car: 2011 Mazda BT-50


Earlier today, Ford showed us the all-new, [semi] global Ranger which Ford developed alongside the Mazda BT-50, which the company just unveiled at the Australian Motor Show in Sydney.

Mazda's latest entrant into the compact pickup truck market is all-new, riding on a brand new chassis and suspension developed with Ford. The new suspension features double A-arms up front with coils on struts. At the rear, engineers equipped the truck with the expected leaf springs.

Although Mazda has yet to divulge what powertrains reside under the hood of the new BT-50, it's likely they'll mirror those of the new global Ranger.

For years, pickup trucks looked virtually the same with a simple, conservative boxy-cab attached to a bed. With its latest pickup though, Mazda wanted to create something expressive people would find desirable and would be proud to own. Mazda certainly succeeded in creating something different from the atypical pickup truck as the BT-50 has a rather athletic look to it.

The front fascia features a familial, five-pointed, angular grille, similar to that seen on the CX-9, only larger and with an added central bar. The grille is flanked by diamond shaped headlights, a shape mirrored in the fog light apertures below. At the tip of the headlights, Mazda designers started a character line that runs along the cab, helping to give the truck that athletic stance. Although the front of the truck features relatively rakish styling, the rear is a standard pickup truck affair.

Inside the new truck, Mazda designers worked to create a space as stylish and sporty as the exterior. As such, the center console was designed to wrap around into the asymmetric instrument panel. Mazda designed the instrument panel to wraparound and envelope the driver, as in a sports car, but left the passenger side open and airy. The center console also features a raised information display, which Mazda says is a first in a compact pickup truck.

As with the new global Ranger, Mazda has no current plans to import the BT-50 to the U.S. and will sell it primarily in Australia and Europe. Give us your opinion though, should Mazda do what Ford won't and import the BT-50 to the U.S.?

Thanks to: Motor Trend


 

New Car: 2012 Ford Ranger


After nearly three decades, the Ford Ranger is set for elimination in the United States, but not before its redesigned global iteration takes the stage front and center.

The pictured specimen is the 2012 Ranger's flagship crew cab, also known as the Double Cab, in XLT trim and painted Aurora Blue. Originally codenamed T6, overall design has moved away from the long-in-the-tooth, conservative look little changed since the 1980s and the truck's designers call its appearance "21st Century Tough." It possesses a different type of styling compared to our present F-Series, a style that was penned specifically for a new generation of truck owners from all walks of life.

"In many areas of the world, the role of Ranger has changed," said Craig Metros, the new Ranger's chief designer. "It still has to be a work vehicle with a durable interior and the ability to carry a heavy payload, but it also serves a dual role with refinement, comfort and more consumer-friendly features topping the list for many buyers."

A fresh chassis frame, suspension and steering system reside beneath the Ford truck's skin. The front suspension employs a double A-arm architecture with coils on struts and the rear utilizes the expected leaf springs. Damper valving and spring rates are individually set up per specific configuration, depending on the truck's curb weight, center of gravity, engine torque, and drive layout. Because this is a truck, cabs come in standard, extended, and crew form, along with the choice of rear- or four-wheel drive. The front brake rotors are reportedly the largest in class, measuring 302 millimeters wide and 32 millimeters thick (11.9 inches by 1.3 inches) and paired with twin-piston calipers.

Global engine selections are between two diesels and a single gasoline option. The gasser is a 146-horsepower Duratec 2.5-liter inline-four. The smaller diesel is a 2.2-liter straight-four with 148 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, while the larger 3.2-liter inline-five puts out 197 horsepower and 347 pound-feet of torque. Transmissions include a five- and six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic. Payload and towing numbers haven't been divulged yet.

The new Ranger will be assembled in Argentina, South Africa, and Thailand, beginning in the Southeast Asian nation first next summer. Our domestic pickup truck market could indisputably use some fresh metal, but the only way this grown truck would feasibly make it to the United States is if F-Series sales fall off a cliff -- something not likely to happen anytime soon.

Thanks to: Motor Trend


 

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

New Car: 2011 Mahindra Bolero Attitude


Mahindra & Mahindra is somewhat akin to the Jeep or Land Rover of India (even though the latter brand is now Tata-owned and therefore technically Indian anyway), but this latest creation appears as though it's straight out of the Tonka Toys catalogue.

The cartoonish images you see here are of the 2011 "Attitude" version of its enduring Bolero all-terrainer. It's a commemorative edition of sorts, as it comes 10 years after the launch of the original Bolero, which itself was an updated version of the Armada (not to be confused with the gargantuan US/Middle East-focused Nissan of the same name).

Some quick history: Mahindra & Mahindra started out in 1945, initially assembling Willys jeeps for the Indian market, but it's since broadened its portfolio to include a varied range of products.

The Armada was pitched mainly at the army, police and other paramilitary forces, but it went on to find a more mainstream audience and sales grew appreciably from modest early tallies of around 250 vehicles per month.

Mahindra sold 70,554 Boleros in India during the financial year 2009-10, ranking it as the top-selling SUV in the country for the fourth successive year.

The company obviously sees this as reason enough to ditch its unpretentious, utilitarian roots in favour of something that looks like an accessoriser's wet dream.

The Bolero Attitude's accoutrements run from a pick-axe (?) to a hefty bash bar, snorkel, side steps, winch, faux fender vents, roof-mounted lights and even a quad-exhaust system (because the 2.5-litre diesel engine is obviously stifled by a single pipe).

Although far from technically sophisticated, Mahindra's products are at least robust and reasonably off-road capable.

The brand has a low-key presence in Australia, with the barebones Pik-Up one-tonner on offer locally, backed by a three-year/100,000km warranty.

Mahindra has over 40 dealers nationwide and is represented in all states and territories except the ACT, but the marque's sales volumes are hard to glean because Mahindra Automotive Australia does not report registration numbers to VFACTS, the industry's record keeper.
Thanks to: Car Point

 

Hot News: New Baby Ford


FORD’S stunning new baby is taking its first steps: Auto Express has learned that the blue oval is readying a fresh global small car.

The newcomer – which is set to be priced from £8,000 – will seek to regain the charm and sporty drive of the original Ka. The current model was co-developed with Fiat, and shares the 500’s underpinnings. But while its Italian cousin has been a success, Ford’s effort has been less so, as the firm has struggled to give the Ka a stylish look and make it drive as well as the rest of the range. Yet that is all set to change. This time around, the brand will produce a city car which lives up to the original.

Its styling will be based on that of the California-designed Start concept, which debuted earlier this year at the Beijing Motor Show. Under the bonnet, it will be powered by a new 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine with direct injection and stop-start technology. Developing between 80bhp and 125bhp, but returning around 60mpg and with sub-100g/km CO2 emissions, the unit will also be offered in the Fiesta, Focus and C-MAX ranges.

The new Ka will be introduced first in the emerging markets of China, India and South America. But just like the new Focus – which has 80 per cent of its parts in common no matter where it is being sold – and in line with Ford boss Alan Mulally’s OneFord mantra, it will remain broadly similar across the world.

However, equipment levels will be higher on European cars. Key to this will be the MyFord system, which allows the integration of smartphones with the car’s dash. So, as well as controlling the air-con and sat-nav, you can stream music, play videos and take calls – and control of all of these will be by voice or touchscreen. The car will have more personalisation options than ever before, too.

Ford offers exterior graphics and different trim colours with the current Ka, but the newcomer will feature a far more comprehensive set of options, ranging from vinyl wraps to colour-coded interior lighting, to ensure each example is unique.

Expect the new baby to go on sale in 2014. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

 

Hot News: 2015 Lotus Elite Convertible


THE Lotus story is opening up before our very eyes! Hot on the heels of its stunning six-car debut at the Paris Motor Show last week, the Norfolk-based firm has released these first official images of its new Ferrari California rival – the Elite – with its roof down.

Set to go on sale in 2014, the car will be fitted with a folding hood as standard to take the fight to the California, as well as Mercedes’ SLS AMG Roadster and Aston Martin’s DB9 Volante.

Although little is known about the Elite’s roof mechanism – the car is a long way from reaching prototype stage – it will be made of a combination of metal and glass. This will allow lots of light to enter the cabin when the hood is in place, but keep overall weight down. Fully electric, it will tuck into a space behind the rear passenger seats. Power for the front-engined rear-drive 2+2 will come from a 5.0-litre V8, available in ‘standard’ 542bhp form, and as a 612bhp ‘R’ version.

Lotus claims the Elite will do 0-60mph in around 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 195mph. It will also get a seven-speed twin-clutch semi-auto box and F1-style KERS hybrid drive.

Lotus says the convertible will be priced at around £115,000. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

 

Hot News: Bentley's Rapide Rival?


LOOK what is hatching out at Bentley! The Crewe-based firm is working on an entry-level four-door coupé along the lines of Aston Martin’s Rapide, Auto Express can reveal. And our exclusive images show how the swoopy four-seater is likely to look.

Speaking exclusively to us at the Paris Motor Show, Bentley boss Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen confirmed that the firm wants to introduce a “third-generation model”. And the all-new car is expected to sit below the Continental and Mulsanne.

It will be pitched at the Rapide, Maserati Quattroporte and Porsche Panamera, and will also offer customers a more upmarket alternative to the Mercedes CLS and forthcoming four-door BMW 6-Series. While the Rapide is priced at £140,000, the Bentley could cost from around £85,000.

However, it will not come at the expense of the Continental-based Flying Spur saloon – still an important, and popular, model for the brand. So to differentiate itself, the newcomer will feature a dramatically sloping roofline that flows into the hatch. Up front the baby Bentley’s ‘face’ will take cues from the latest Continental GT.

Although it will be smaller inside than the Flying Spur and Mulsanne, it will be by no means cramped, with plenty of leg and headroom for a pair of adults in two individual rear seats. Throughout the cabin, expect Bentley’s usual peerless quality with generous use of metal, soft-touch leather and wood veneers.

Underneath will be a chassis borrowed from Audi’s A7 Sportback – the same platform that will form the basis of the all-new A6 due next year. Its 20 per cent aluminium construction has kept weight to a minimum, so the Bentley should weigh about 1,700kg – significantly less than the 2,350kg Continental GT.

Power will come from a new, more efficient 4.0-litre turbo V8, co-developed with Audi. This will drive all four wheels through an eight-speed auto. The engine will appear in the Continental GT next year and is anticipated to produce around 450bhp. According to Ulrich Eichorn, Bentley’s head of engineering: “The V8 is our hedge against fuel price spikes, carbon dioxide-related legislation and supercar market uncertainty.”

Bentley’s current range begins at £135,760 for the Continental GT Coupé, rising to £220,000 for the Mulsanne, which makes the cars particularly susceptible to fluctuations in the economy. It’s hoped this new baby will sell in big numbers, maintaining the company’s stability through future rocky financial times. And a large player in that plan is the Chinese market – where Bentley opened eight dealers last month.

With coupé and convertible versions of the Mulsanne in the pipeline, plus GTC and Flying Spur variants due of the Continental line-up, this newcomer would take Bentley’s range to seven models. That’s an all-time high for the company and proof that the marque is feeling more confident than ever. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

 

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

New Car: 2012 Chrysler 200


We reported on the Chrysler 200 teaser Web site yesterday, but since then our eyes have been treated to a slew of new photos.

All of the new images seem to focus on the exterior of the 200, which attempts to pull away from its Sebring predecessor. The grille is bigger and the projector-style headlights give the front a new angle, while the rear features a sleeker look with slimmer taillights and a fresh rear fascia. Even the Chrysler badging has taken a new direction.

Sitting beneath the pictured hood is the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, the upgrade for the base 2.4-liter inline-four. An old-school four-speed automatic transmission will be offered at the lower end of the lineup, but a six-speed auto will otherwise be standard gear-changing fare.

Thanks to: Motor Trend


 

Spied Up Date: 2012 Audi A6


Based as it is on the same architecture as the 2012 A6, the recently unveiled Audi A7 luxo-hatch previewed how the next A6 will drive. Now, we also know how Audi’s next midliner will look, thanks to spy photographers who caught this right-hand-drive prototype running wild with hardly any camouflage.

The photos more or less confirm what we stated—and illustrated quite accurately, we gotta say—back in our April story on the upcoming A6: that it will elegantly split the difference between the two-year-old A4 and the all-new 2011 A8 flagship. Notable styling features include its more laid-back stance, the upswept lower-body contour, taillights that extend onto the trunk (like those of the rest of the Audi line), and LED running lights with a checkmark graphic that is somewhat softer than the menacing diodes of the new A8. We’d like to see a sportier edge to the mainstream sedan’s appearance, but it appears that Audi will reserve the styling flourishes for the S6 and RS6 models, which will follow in subsequent model years.

We expect the next-gen A6’s engine lineup to include VW’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, with the majority of cars powered by a supercharged V-6 in one of two strengths, as seen in the Q7. Although we’re not sure if we’ll actually get the RS6 in the U.S., the legendary twin-turbo V-10 powering the current car will give way to a twin-turbo V-8 pumping out something near the 10’s 580 hp. We also stand behind our dour prediction that we won’t see the Avant wagon version of the next A6—at least for a while. If Audi’s recent models are any indication, we are optimistic that the 2012 A6 will not only look good, but drive well, too. We should find out for ourselves within a year.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

 

Monday, October 11, 2010

New Car: 2011 Honda Civic


The Honda Civic has been given a range of subtle cosmetic styling changes for 2011. The facelifted Civic’s most noticeable change is the addition of the Type R’s front grille to the rest of the range.

New alloy wheel designs are now fitted as standard, including new 16-inch wheels for entry-level 1.4 Type S models. That model also gets colour-coded side skirts as standard.

Other exterior changes include new colour options, while there have also been some changes inside. SE and ES models get a half Alcantara interior; Si models get a half leather/half Alcantara interior with heated front seats.

Production of the revised Civic range gets underway at the firm’s Swindon plant next month; this month marks the end of Type R production in the UK after its high-revving 2.0-litre VTEC engine fell foul of European emission regulations.

Honda is expected to launch an all-new Civic in 2012, which is tipped to be lighter and more economical than the car it replaces, in line with Honda’s new strategy.

Prices for the 2011 Civic range are unchanged, starting from £13,995 for the Type S.

Thanks to: Autocar

 

Hot News: Lexus SC Replacement to be Called LC?


Lexus is said to be hard at work on a new model tentatively called the LC600h, slated to be the replacement for the recently discontinued SC 430. The LC will reportedly employ a shortened version of the next-generation LS platform as well as an updated version of the 5.0-liter V-8 hybrid system from the LS600h L, and all-wheel drive.

Like the outgoing SC, we hear the LC is also being developed as a convertible with a retractable metal roof. Expected to outperform its European competitors, the LC600h will reportedly generate some 500 horsepower and sprint from 0 to 60 mph less than five seconds. According to a Lexus insider, the company sees the new LC as the car that most captures the essence of what Lexus is all about -- performance, luxury, and the environment -- more than any Lexus model to date. It's an upscale configuration that should elevate the car to a status rivaling the Mercedes SL-Class. That's something the SC, with its unloved style and powertrain, was never able to accomplish.

Currently being developed in the shadows of the next LS, our contact tells us not to expect the LC before its four-door LS brother hits showrooms in 2014. "If we don't get anymore nasty surprises on the economic front, then any time after 2015 might be the right time for the LC."
Thanks to: Motor Trend

 

Sneak Peek: 2012 Chrysler 200


The 2011 Chrysler 200 is taking form and the Sebring replacement has received the benefit of a teaser site dedicated to its image.

The midsize 200 is scheduled for the Chrysler lineup sometime next year. Generating buzz now is important, and the teaser shots show potential in the wake of the first set of 200 photos. Up front, we see the headlights get tube-light accents but the changes don't appear to stray too far from original expectations following the 2009 Detroit auto show's 200C EV concept. An image of the interior is limited to a close crop of the leather stitching, although Chrysler says the 200 has a new instrument panel, soft-touch materials, and better seats over the Sebring. Power comes from either a 2.4-liter inline-four or the optional 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

 

First Sketch: 2012 Nissan Versa


Development for the next-generation Nissan Versa is evidently underway, judging by this teaser sketch released today by the Japanese automaker. With swoopier styling and an arched roof, the next-gen Versa may help retain interest in the subcompact car. Nisan has also confirmed that the new Versa will be sold in North America.

The current Nissan Versa hit U.S. showrooms in 2006, with the sedan variant following in 2007. The 2011 model carries a $10,740 base price. Both cars are currently powered by a choice of a 1.6- or 1.8-liter engines worth 107 and 122 horsepower, respectively. Nissan has sold 76,736 Versas through September 2010, an increase of 20.4 percent year-over-year and significantly larger volume than Honda's Fit (40,936) and Toyota's Yaris (31,793).
Thanks to: Motor Trend


 

Sneak Peek: 2012 Toyota Prius MPV


Toyota brass took to the glitz and glamor of Sin City looking to rally U.S. dealers and gave its stateside family an advanced peek of the new Camry, FT-86, Prius, and Scion iQ.


There were no substantial photo or information leaks from the Las Vegas dealer conference, but Automotive News reports the mood among attendees was generally "upbeat," despite a rough year focused on high-profile recalls. More than 1000 dealers flocked to the Mandalay Bay casino and hotel where Toyota chieftain Akio Toyoda assured his masses that new product is on the way and on schedule for release over the next 18 months.

While dealers were the only ones to catch the latest glimpse of the upcoming Camry, FT-86, and Scion iQ, Toyota teased the upcoming Prius minivan yesterday through Facebook. Dubbed Alpha, it's hidden behind the current Prius in the teaser and sports longer overhangs and a higher rear roofline for added interior volume. The hybrid minivan will be the Prius lineup's first expansion effort ahead of the plug-in variant and a smaller and larger model due in 2013. According to AN, the larger Prius is designated the Prius-V and the even more compact version is called the Prius-C.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

 

Friday, October 8, 2010

Sneak Peek: 2012 Mercedes SLK


A mere week after the Paris Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz is already beginning to tease us for the next European auto show -- Geneva, in March. The German marque released the first teaser image in what is likely to be a long series of teasers of its upcoming 2012 SLK roadster.

Not much can be garnered from the teaser image apart from the fact that -- surprise! -- the SLK is set to keep its two-piece folding hardtop configuration. The roofline is very similar to the car's now, but the top itself is rather different. Instead of the standard metal roof, the teaser shows the SLK with a transparent glass roof.

Dubbed Magic Sky Control by Mercedes, the glass isn't just standard glass, but incorporates electromagnetic particles to adjust transparency. The system works using an electrical current to align the particles, causing varying degrees of transparency. If the system is switched off, the particles orient themselves randomly, blocking most light. When an electrical current is applied, the particles align themselves, allowing the glass to become transparent.

Magic Sky Control is a neat trick we've seen before on the likes of Ferrari's 575 SuperAmerica. However, we have to wonder what the point of it is on a convertible where you can drop the top completely in seconds. Mercedes gives us an answer though, saying that it's to give you the feeling of being outdoors when it's too cold to put the top down. Isn't that what AirScarf is for?

In any case, Mercedes has also given preliminary information on powertrains. Three gasoline engines will be available and one turbo-diesel. The turbo-diesel will likely be relegated to Europe and we'll likely only get two powertrain options -- a standard V-6 and the outrageous AMG version.

Stay tuned as the long wait for Mercedes' new roadster begins.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

 

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