VOLVO FH16

OKAY, has little to do with Auto Cars 2011 blog, but I thought id lighten up with all those Geneva Car & Concept presentations coming one after another, with a new truck from Volvo that call itself the most powerful in Europe. Its got a 16litre diesel engine with a 660 hp and….316 kgm or 3.100 NM of torque. Maybe some crazy enthusiast could come up with a contender to the Viper….:)

EUROPE’S MOST POWERFUL PRODUCTION TRUCK
With its 660hp 16-litre D16E engine, the new Volvo FH16 – launched today – is Europe’s most powerful production truck. Now equipped with a newly-developed engine brake (VEB+) - which increases braking power by 15 per cent – and Volvo’s I-Shift, the celebrated automated gearchanging system, the FH16 is now dimensioned to handle gross combination weights of 60-tonnes and more.
"With the new Volvo FH16, we’re extending our lead in the prestige segment. We are combining top performance with intelligent resource utilisation, economy, comfort and safety," says Roar Isaksen, European director of Volvo Trucks.
The Volvo FH16 is more competent than ever and provides the necessary prerequisites for high average speeds even in the most demanding transport operations. Intelligent power utilisation means using energy when the power is really needed. This is the approach that characterises the Volvo FH16 that is now being launched with the higher power outputs of 660hp and 580 hp (3100 Nm and 2800 Nm respectively). Maximum torque sector is available over a wide rev range, with 90 per cent of the torque available within 2 seconds.
Power and torque give strength and driveability. Irrespective of whether we are talking about difficult starts when hauling timber on a muddy forest track, or forging ahead up a mountain pass towing a fully loaded trailer, the immense pulling power makes the driver’s job so much easier.

Hyundai HED-2 Genus Concept

NO OFFICIAL information given yet, but by the looks of it, Hyundai’s HED-2 Genus concept could be the base for the next generation Elantra.

Technorati Tags: Hyundai, HED-2, Genus, Concept, Geneva

Lotus APX Concpet

APX Concept by Lotus Engineering
LOTUS will present an all new concept at the at the 76th International Motorshow at Geneva. Created using Lotus Engineering's revolutionary Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA), and designed by Lotus Design, the APX also features a new 3.0 litre supercharged V6 producing 300hp. The British company noted that the APX concept is not indicating a strategic direction of Lotus Cars; but a brilliant demonstration of VVA, the skills of the team from Lotus Engineering and what is regarded as the future of niche vehicle manufacture.
Technorati Tags: Lotus,, APX,, Concept,, Geneva

Lancia Haizea Concept

IED- “Istituto Europeo di Design of Turin”, a well established car design school, will be presenting a concept car, for the third consecutive year, at the Geneva Motor Show. The Haizea concept is a car designed by its students in Transportation Design. The students, led by Hernan Charalambopoulos, Course Coordinator and Head of IED Automotive, came up with a concept car that highlights the brand's sporting essence
The full scale model (length 4.965 mm, width 1.935 mm, height 1.420mm & wheelbase 2.720 mm) has been developed around a frame devised in such a way as to provide the utmost level of both active and passive safety. The mechanical parts of the rear wheel drive engine are housed in a central-rear position, and together with the addition of two electric motors placed above the front wheels, an excellent compromise in terms of distribution of weight, traction and mass has been reached.
The passenger compartment, designed around a central chassis developed lengthwise and to which the seats and the instrumentation panel are anchored, absorbs energy in case of a head on collision and provides the structure with both an aesthetic and a functional purpose, not just a load bearing one. This particular chassis structure, “dressed” externally in such a way as to highlight the vehicles architectural values, plays on the asymmetrical disposition of the vehicle’s masses in order to induce a strong sense of movement in the viewer. This movement recreates a feeling of speed thus arousing the sensation of an encounter with a wind (Haizea: “wind”, in the Basque language).

Technorati Tags: Lancia,, geneva,, cocnept,, Haizea, ,, IED

Opel GT Roadster 2007

BASED on the American, Saturn Sky, Opel’s proposition in the popular compact roadster category revives the famous GT name of the 60’s. In Europe, the GT will be offered with a 2.0 Turbo Ecotec engine that produces 260 hp, enabling the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 6,0 sec while the top speed exceeds 230 km/h. In the near future the range will be enriched with more engines from Opel so as to compete with its main rival, the Mazda MX5 aka Miata. According to Opel, the GT will be available in spring 2007.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
A great name doesn’t have to be long. Indeed, for many automobile fans, the Opel GT is the cult sports car of the 1970s. Now the legendary name is making a comeback in the form of a stunning two-seat roadster that could also make automobile history. Opel will present the all-new GT to the international public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show (March 2 to 12, 2006). With exciting, sharply-cut lines, rear-wheel drive, and a potent four-cylinder turbo engine with gasoline direct injection, the new sports car echoes the successful concept of the original GT, which was built between 1968 and 1973.
“The GT is a powerful addition to our range of attractive niche products, and thereby further enhances the appeal of the Opel brand”, says Carl-Peter Forster, President of GM Europe. “The Tigra, the Astra TwinTop, and the new GT mean that we will have three very different models, all of which deliver top-down driving excitement. Moreover, the GT is a perfect example of how GM uses and applies its worldwide resources for the good of the individual brands.”
The new Opel GT is fun to drive thanks to its front engine and rear-wheel drive, which together ensure a balanced weight distribution, and its 260-hp 2.0-liter ECOTEC turbo engine with gasoline direct injection. This accelerates the new GT from zero to 100 km/h in less than six seconds, and enables a maximum speed of over 230 km/h.
Another fun factor is the fabric roof, which folds down to provide open-air enjoyment denied to the owners of the first GT. The roof disappears completely beneath a cover, further underlining the GT’s sporty silhouette with short overhangs and widely spaced 18-inch wheels.
The development of the new Opel GT is an excellent example of transcontinental collaboration within GM. The design was inspired by the VX Lightning concept car, which was conceived by the GM Advanced Design Studio in Birmingham, England in May 2003 for the 100^th anniversary of the Vauxhall brand. The new GT will be built in Wilmington/Delaware, in the USA, where its sister models, the Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky, are also produced. The Opel GT is scheduled to hit the markets in spring 2007.
The original Opel GT owed much to the USA – in several respects. Its breathtaking lines were inspired by a new American design style, the so-called “coke bottle shape”, which also defined the Corvette Stingray. Furthermore, two thirds of all Opel GT cars built have been exported to the United States.

Technorati Tags: Opel, GT, Roadster, 2007, Geneva

Nissan Terranaut SUV Concept

NISSAN AT THE GENEVA MOTOR SHOW 2006

Nissan Europe will present two innovative concept cars at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. The most significant of the two is the world premiere of the Terranaut, a 4x4 vehicle which give us clues for the next X-Trail SUV. The Pivo on the other hand, is a battery-powered city car, which was first seen at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2005 and its making its European premier in Geneva

The Terranaut was conceived to serve as a mobile working environment for scientists, geologists, archaeologists or other adventurers who travel to the most challenging environments on the planet either for their work – or pleasure.
Its cabin is designed to accommodate three people – a driver, a passenger and, in the rear, where a scientist or specialist is well served with a computer console, as well as communication and analysis equipment to support them in their work.
A creation of London-based Nissan Design Europe, the overriding theme behind the concept is one of function. Project leader Felipe Roo Clefas, Assistant Chief Designer, NDE, says: “Terranaut has been designed for observation and communication in all four corners of the world.”
To accommodate the laboratory area within the cabin, the co-pilot’s side of the car has just one door, while the other side has a pair of swing doors and no central B-pillar. By hinging the doors at the front and rear respectively, ingress and egress is made easy.
Nineteen-inch wheels are covered by tyres specially constructed for Terranaut by Goodyear. Puncture proof, they function as conventional road tyres when the vehicle is being driven on metalled roads but, by changing air pressure, transform themselves into chunky off-road tyres.
Inside the vehicle, the spherical science laboratory dominates the entire cabin area behind the two front seats. A single revolving seat with an integrated computer keyboard is situated beneath the glass roof dome and gives the scientist complete 360-degree access to the various workstations found in Terranaut.
Technorati Tags: Nissan, Terranaut, , SUV, Geneva

Kia Carnival MPV 2007

KOREAN car manufacture Kia released its all new Carnival MPV which is based on a shortened version of the American Sedona MPV. The Carnival, which will be sold in Asian and European markets, has a wheelbase of 2.890 mm and a length of 4.810 mm vs 5.130 mm and 3.010 mm respectively for the Sedona. Width and height remain at 1.985 and 1.760 mm. As the American version, the Carnival will be able to seat 7 passengers in three rows. In Korea, the large MPV will be fitted with a 2.9 V6 engine that produces 170 hp and 36,0 kgm of torque. The European debute of Kia’s new model is excepted to take place in the Geneva Show

Technorati Tags: Kia, Carnival, MPV, 2007

Peugeot 307 & Citroen C4 Hybird-Diesel Concepts

FRENCH GROUP PSA Peugeot- Citroën is going to demonstrate two Diesel Hybird concepts based on the C4 & 307 models. Although this technology that combines two of today’s best solutions for reduced gas consumption is not going to be ready for production for another 5 years, it gives European carmakers a new insight for the future as they lead in Diesel engine technology.

Press release : Peugeot Citroën unveil Diesel Hybrid Technology: PSA Peugeot Citroën today unveils two demonstrators featuring a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain, the Peugeot 307 and the Citroën C4 Hybride HDi.
The performance of these cars represents a major breakthrough in further improving fuel economy and reducing CO₂ emissions. They also provide increased driving comfort under all conditions, especially in urban traffic.
Average diesel consumption for these two cars is 3.4 litres /100 km, with 90 grams of CO₂ emitted per kilometre, tank to wheel—a record for compact cars, the most popular segment in Europe. This is some 25% better than a similar vehicle equipped with a petrol hybrid system, or as much as a litre per 100 kilometres in combined urban and motorway driving.
PSA Peugeot Citroën’s Hybrid HDi technology comprises of a 1.6-litre HDi diesel engine, a particulate filter system (DPFS) with the latest generation Stop & Start system, an electric motor, inverter, high-voltage battery pack and dedicated control electronics. The cars are also equipped with an electronically-managed manual gearbox.
The Stop & Start system enables the Hybride HDi vehicules to start and drive using only the HDi diesel engine, even when the high-voltage battery pack is totally flat. Other hybrid vehicles, in contrast, would be totally immobilised in this situation.

The Hybride HDi introduces several innovative features:

• Recovery of kinetic energy during deceleration and braking.

• All-electric mode, or Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV), eliminating noise and emissions for urban driving at up to 50 kilometres an hour.

• Extended ZEV mode, in which electrical power is used by default, depending on the battery charge level.

For main road and motorway driving, the electric motor can provide a 35% power boost for extra acceleration when needed, thereby enhancing driving comfort.
PSA Peugeot Citroën could market its Hybride HDi vehicles as early as 2010. However, their introduction rests on making this technology available at an affordable price. Today, the price gap between a Hybride HDi model and a comparable diesel HDi model is still too wide and would have to be halved to make diesel hybrid vehicles accessible to most consumers.
PSA Peugeot Citroën has asked the French Agency for Industrial Innovation to support the project. Enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing CO₂ emissions to address the issue of greenhouse gases is a critical component of PSA Peugeot Citroën’s product strategy. PSA Peugeot Citroën vehicles rank amongst the best in class worldwide for low fuel consumption and C0₂ emissions.
To sustain this achievement, PSA Peugeot Citroën is leveraging its expertise in high-tech diesel engines, a segment where it is a world leader (more than 8 million cars with the common-rail HDi engine sold), and its pioneering role in electric vehicles. The new Hybride HDi system presented today combines many advantages of the HDi diesel engine with those of an electric motor for urban driving.
Peugeot 307 and Citroën C4 Hybride HDi

• 1.6-litre HDi engine + diesel particulate filter system

• Electronically-managed gearbox

• New-generation Stop & Start system

• Electric motor and inverter

• High-voltage battery pack

• Dedicated control electronics

• All-electric mode for speeds under 50 kilometres an hour

•Driver selection of Extended ZEV mode

Technorati Tags: Peugeot, 307, Citroen, c4, Hybird-Diesel, Geneva

Mitsubishi 2007 Galant Ralliart

Mitsubishi Motors announced that they will debut the 2007 Galant Ralliart at the Chicago Auto Show on February 8, 2006. No specifications announced yet, but as usual, the Ralliart edition will get a more power engine

Technorati Tags: Mitsubishi, Gallant, Ralliart, 2007

Lexus ES 2007

A CAPTURE from a video release and a few spy pictures give us a good glimpse of the all new 2007 Lexus ES model. No specifications released yet, but according to Lexus USA, the world premiere of its all-new ES luxury sedan will be staged at a press conference during the Chicago Auto Show on Wednesday, February 8, 2006. According to the luxury Japanese carmaker, the fifth-generation ES which arrives late this spring, is going to set impressive new standards in design, styling, engineering, safety and performance.

UPDATE: FOR OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE, SPECIFICATIONS & PICTURES CLICK HERE

Technorati Tags: Lexus, ES, 2007

Alfa Romeo Brera Spider & 159 SportWagon Official

THESE ARE the first official pictures of Alfa’s all new Brera Spider & 159 SportWagon that leaked in the internet. Scheduled to be unveiled to the public at the Geneva Motor Show in March, both models remain faith to there Italian heritage with there beautifully designed bodies.
World previews:Alfa 159 Sportwagon & Alfa Spider

The Alfa 159 Sportwagon represents a consummate blend of Italian style with the performance and handling of a genuine sportscar, combined with the flexibility of use and versatility of space you would expect from a high class estate. Like the saloon – the total length (4,660 millimetres) is exactly the same – the new model has been given a decidedly sporty look, without that look of ‘added-on volume’ which characterises the typical station wagon. The sleek lines of the long roof give it a coupé feel, as does the roof spoiler and the edgy aerodynamic styling, while the superbly functional interior offers great load volume. All in all Alfa 159 Sportwagon guarantees the performance and dynamic handling of a sportscar with a size of boot in line with that of a high class station wagon, while also offering a versatility which satisfies the tastes and demands of the modern lifestyle.

The Alfa 159 Sportwagon is available in 2 or 3 versions (depending on the country), 12 bodywork colours and 5 interior colourways. It offers three new JTS engines with double continuous variable valve timing (the 260 bhp 3.2 V6 24v, the 185 bhp 2.2 and the 160 bhp 1.9) and three turbodiesel Multijet engines (the 200 bhp 2.4 JTDM 20v, the 150 bhp 1.9 JTDM 16v and the 120 bhp 1.9 JTDM 8v). All of these are fitted with new manual six-speed gearboxes, and some versions also offer automatic gears and robotised Selespeed gear lever, also six speed. Without counting the fact that the range offers all clients, even the most demanding, the opportunity to select from various different options and innovative features.
Also debuting in Geneva is the Alfa Spider. A complex, sophisticated creature which both recalls the glorious Alfa Romeo tradition in this sector (from the Giulietta Spider in the ‘50s to the Duetto and the Nineties model), and rolls out some cutting edge solutions in terms of mechanical specifications and engines.

The new Spider is a generously-sized two-seater – 1,830 millimetres wide, 4,396 long and 1,367 high – characterised by elongated rear lights and four exhaust terminals which accentuate the impression of great temperament. The interior of the Alfa Spider is inviting and gorgeously sophisticated, thanks to the use of sumptuous materials and added value features (as standard, depending on the version): from the automatic dual-zone climate control to the steering wheel mounted radio controls, from VDC to cruise control. Available in two versions, the client can choose his or her Alfa Spider to be fitted with the sparkling 185 bhp 2.2 JTS engine or the powerful 260 bhp 3.2 JTS.

Lastly, both Alfa Romeo models ensure outstanding dynamic performance thanks to high double wishbone suspension at the front and Multilink at the rear. Along with great ride comfort, the Alfa Spider and Alfa 159 Sportwagon boast a sporty configuration and the use of state of the art ‘Q4’ four wheel drive (available on the 260 bhp 3.2 versions). What’s more – like the saloon version which was recently awarded 5 prestigious Euro NCAP stars – the two Alfa Romeo models once more confirm the utmost attention which goes into all aspects regarding safety, as well as offering the most sophisticated electronic vehicle dynamic control devices.

Technorati Tags: Alfaromeo, brera, spider, 159 Sportwagon, official

BRABUS - Mercedes R-Class

GERMAN tuning company Brabus presented its new range based on the controversial styled Mercedes R-Class. Highlights of the product lineup are the BRABUS 6.1 S with 445 hp for the R 500, with an aerodynamic-enhancement program, light-alloy wheels up to 22 inches in diameter with custom-calibrated suspensions, and individual interior options.

BRABUS Tuning for the new Mercedes R-Class

R 320 CDI – 272 hp Equipped with BRABUS PowerXtra D6 (III) tuning rated power output of the R 320 CDI increases from standard 224 hp to 272 hp at 3,800 rpm. At the same time peak torque grows from 510 Nm to 590 Nm. With the tuned common-rail turbodiesel engine the R 320 CDI sprints from 0 - 100 km/h in 8.2 sec. The new top speed is 227 km/h.

R 500 – 445 hp The eight-cylinder R 500 can be elevated to new performance levels in four BRABUS tuning stages. The most powerful of them is labeled BRABUS 6.1 S. In addition to the displacement increase of the V8 engine to 6.1 liters the three-valve cylinder heads are optimized for improved mixture flow and fitted with special camshafts. The conversion further includes a stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with metal catalysts. The result after the conversion: 445 hp at 6,000 rpm and an enormous peak torque of 635 Nm at 4,500 rpm. In BRABUS 6.1 S specification the Grand Sports Tourer delivers excellent performance: Just 5.9 sec for 0 - 100 km/h with a top speed of 265 km/h.

For a more sporty emphasis of the characteristic R-Class lines the BRABUS designers developed an aerodynamic-enhancement kit with front spoiler, precise-fit auxiliary headlight inserts for the front bumper and a rear apron with cutouts for the two dual chrome tailpipes of the BRABUS sport exhaust.

Just as important for a customized appearance are BRABUS Monoblock A, S and VI light-alloy wheels, which come in various designs with diameters ranging from 18 to 22 inches. The largest version for the new R-Class features BRABUS wheels in size 10Jx22 shod with Yokohama or Pirelli high-performance tires in size 265/35 ZR 22 in front and in size 295/30 ZR 22 on the rear axle.

The BRABUS suspension engineers developed sporty yet comfortable suspensions perfectly matched to the new tire/wheel combinations. BRABUS also offers high-performance brake systems for the new R-Class. The most powerful system, Version III, consists of 380-millimeter perforated discs and 12-piston aluminium calipers on the front axle. The rear axle features 6-piston calipers on 355-millimeter discs.

Luxury and individuality in the interior is another BRABUS specialty. The options range from stainless-steel sill plates with illuminated BRABUS logo to ergonomically shaped sport steering wheels to an exclusive BRABUS fully leather interior crafted from a combination of especially soft yet durable BRABUS Mastik and Alcantara leathers.

The BRABUS multimedia package is also available for the new model series. It includes DVD player, game console and LCD screens integrated into the back of the headrests. Upon customer request BRABUS can convert the new R-Class into a fully functional office on wheels with powered tables and a state-of-the-art computer system

MITSUBISHI Concept-EZ MIEV Concept & Colt CZC

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will give the MITSUBISHI Concept-EZ¹ MIEV² compact mono-box concept vehicle and the Colt CZC coupe-cabriolet their world premieres at the 76^th Geneva International Motor Show.

Concept-EZ MIEV showcases MMC's MIEV concept for next-generation electric vehicles that employs in-wheel motors and a high-energy-density lithium-ion battery as core technologies. The concept car uses a 20kW outer rotor-type in-wheel motor on each wheel to generate a maximum 80kW (110PS) of power. Maximizing the space freed up by the MIEV design, which does away with a central powertrain thus resulting in a low flat floor layout, Concept-EZ MIEV realizes roomy interior space with an interior height that matches that of a large mono-box model despite its relatively low overall height of 1,750 mm.

Colt CZC inherits the basic concept and styling of the Colt coupe-cabriolet concept model displayed by Mitsubishi Motors at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. Providing space to stow away the retractable hard top in a 2+2 layout, this coupe-cabriolet model joins the European Colt series, including the 5-door Colt hatchback and 3-door Colt CZ3 and Colt CZT hatchbacks, as the third body variation. Derived from the European Colt series built at the company's NedCar facility in the Netherlands, Colt CZC is to go into production at Pininfarina in Italy in March this year.