Mazda Minagi concept previews small SUV

Mazda has generated two sketches of a compact SUV concept, named the Minagi, that's set to debut at the Geneva auto show in early March.

The sketches were set to be released on Jan. 19 but were published on Tuesday by autonet.at, an Austrian Web site.

The four-door Minagi, which carries more than a hint of the latest Hyundai iX35/Tuscon in its exterior styling, previews an entry-level Mazda SUV recently caught testing in Europe. It is set to carry the name CX-5 when it is unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show in September. It is unclear when it will go on sale.

The CX-5 will join three crossovers and SUVs in Mazda's U.S. lineup - the CX-7, CX-9 and Tribute.

The Minagi - Mazda's latest concept that previews a new crossover. 
Photo credit: MAZDA

Mazda's U.S. sales rose 11 percent to 229,566 last year.
[source:www.autonews.com]

Renault Fluence Z.E.


The 2010 Paris Motor Show sees Renault reveal the definitive version of its electrically powered, three-volume Renault Fluence Z.E. which will go on sale in Europe from mid-2011. Ordering opens
from 30th September. Prices will be between €21,300 and €26,000, depending on the local VAT rate and available tax incentive packages, excluding battery.

Renault Fluence Z.E. will sell in certain countries at prices similar to those of comparably powerful diesel versions of Renault Fluence with the same equiopment level. In France, for example, prices will start from €21,300 (with the €5,000 tax incentive deducted). From launch, Fluence Z.E. will come in a choice of two equipment levels.

Customers will also subscribe to a monthly lease starting from €79 (including VAT) to cover the battery.
Immediately identifiable

As the compact segment's first three-box electric vehicle, it was imperative that Renault Fluence Z.E. should be recognizable at first glance. To distinguish it from the internal combustion engined-version, it comes with a package of specific features and details that unmistakably associate it with Renault's electric vehicle range. The electric version of Fluence stands at a length of 4.75 metres, which is 13 centimetres longer than its internal combustion-engined cousin in order to accommodate the battery behind the rear seats. At the same time, the lines of its flanks have been revised in order to maintain the same overall balance as the original version.
A vast interior space

Renault Fluence Z.E. is conclusive proof that electric vehicles do not have to be small, narrow and uncomfortable city cars with a limited touring ability. The new model is the same width as the internal combustion engined-version of Fluence, and the cabin space it delivers is worthy of that of a saloon car from the next segment up, including best-in-class front and rear elbow room.


Renault Fluence Z.E.'s interior is based on the same layout as the internal combustion-engined version. Only the rev-counter has been replaced by a bespoke instrument which displays data concerning remaining range and battery charge. The decorative trim of the uncluttered dashboard is picked out in a colour that is exclusive to the model, while the centre console includes the displays "forward", "reverse", "neutral" and "parking" which are the different positions for the transmission control lever.

Renault Fluence Z.E. also packs a raft of useful technologies, including a built-in smart navigation system, Bluetooth telephony and automatic dual-zone climate control, plus automatic headlamp and windscreen-wiper activation.
Motor, battery and charging methods

Fluence Z.E. is powered by a synchronous electric motor with rotor coil. Peak power is 70kW at 11,000rpm, while maximum torque is 226Nm. The weight of the motor – excluding peripherals – is 160kg. Acceleration performance is crisp and linear, with maximum torque available very early on.

The capacity of Renault Fluence Z.E.'s lithium-ion battery is 22kWh. The battery itself tips the scales at 250kg and is located behind the rear seats in order to free up a boot volume of 300dm3 (VDA/ISO).
An energy recovery system enables the battery to be charged when the car decelerates.

It will be possible to charge the battery of Renault Fluence Z.E. in one of three ways:

* Via a household mains supply (10A or 16A, 220V) which will fully charge the battery in between six and eight hours. This method is particularly suited to vehicles which are charged during the workday or at night, since it permits owners to benefit from the off-peak rates available in certain countries.
* At fast charge stations using a 32A 400V supply which enables the battery to be charged in approximately 30 minutes (available in 2012 or 2013, depending on model).
* The QuickDrop battery switch system will enable Renault Fluence Z.E.'s battery to be swapped in approximately three minutes at bespoke battery exchange stations.
(source:renault)

BMW Concept C Scooter

BMW Concept C Scooter
At the EICMA Show BMW has presented the Concept C, a sporty scooter that previews two production models for the big scooter segment. The official images include a set of design sketches.
BMW Concept C ScooterPresented at the EICMA Show in Milan, the BMW Concept C – where C stands for commuter – is a study of a sporty premium scooter that previews the brand's enter in the big scooter segment – after the peculiar C1, the enclosed scooter manufactured by Bertone.
The Concept C will provide the basis for two premium models with internal combustion engines that will be launched in the near future.
Developed for the traffic of modern urban areas, the Concept C has a design characterized by a number of elements from the brand's motorcycle line-up.
These include the so-called "split face" that integrates the LED headlamp and extends from the front silhouette to the front wheel cover and beyond and the twin- tipped front spoiler, inspired by the sporty BMW models, such as the S 1000 RR.
BMW Concept C Scooter
The conventional rear view mirrors have been replaced by two video cameras located in the rear and connected to two LCD monitors in the cockpit.
The side features a sporty silhouette, with aluminum bash plates and the air intake inspired by the BMW GS.
The color scheme is characterized by a combination of aluminum, chromium and satin black, silver and blue paintwork, used for the seat stitching, the tires treads and flanks and some semi-hidden surfaces.
Additional details include the aircraft-inspired fuel tank cover and the short, sporty muffler.
The Concept C is powered by a two-cylinder inline engine coupled with a CVT (continuously variable
Among the technical highlights is the complex monolever mechanism with hollowed-out shaft connected to a suspension strut visible from the outside. In this study, front-wheel control takes the form of an upside down fork.
(Source: BMW)

Toyota Prius V

Toyota has unveiled the Toyota Prius V minivan at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It’s the car that Toyota has been teasing us with over the past few months, and, as earlier reports suggested, it is a minivan version of the current Toyota Prius hatch.

Much of the same technology has been carried over from the regular Toyota Prius, but in this, there’s plenty more room in the back with a large rear cargo/wagon area. This boot space is said to offer as much as 971 litres with the rear seats in the normal upright position.

Other features include the addition of aerodynamic and cosmetic appointments on the exterior such as sharper headlights, extended roofline retaining that traditional triangular side profile shape and a roof spoiler at rear. The car also uses a larger front air intake duct at the bottom of the front bumper bar.

Fuel economy ratings, as per EPA, are 6.3L/100km in the city and 5.6L/100km on the highway adding to a combined average rating of 5.9L/100km. This is thanks to the 1.8-litre four cylinder petrol engine which is supported by an electric-driven motor that runs on batteries.

The car also features four different driving mode settings – Normal, Power, Eco and EV – like the current Toyota Prius hatch.

Toyota has announced the Toyota Prius V will go on sale in the US during the second half of 2011.

(source:www.caradvice.com.au)

Toyota Scion tC

Scion tC
Scion, Toyota's youth brand in the North American market, revealed the redesigned tC coupe at the New York Auto Show. The second generation tC sports a cleaner, more masculine look, heavily influenced by the Calty-designed Fuse concept unveiled at the 2006 New York Auto Show.
Launched in 2004, the tC is Scion's sportiest vehicle, and it will now riding on a new platform. The new car is 41mm wider than the outgoing model but retains the same overall footprint, wheelbase and the wheels-at-each-corner stance. The proportions are better judged though, so that it appears lower and has a slightly more aggressive demeanor. At the front, the grille is narrower and the headlamps sleeker, with 3D covers bulging out from the surrounding surface.

Scion tC
The most noticeable difference however is in profile. Here, the A-pillars have been painted matte black to accentuate the 'helmet look' of the roofline and DLO. A subtle shoulderline runs below the glasshouse before kicking up and disappearing into the C-pillar, following the angle of the rear window line. It is then picked up aft of the C-pillar adding definition to the rear haunch. In the lower half of the doors there is a scalloped section to detract from the expanse of the side surface. There are no surprises, but it is clean and well-executed.
Inside there is an added level of 'premium' with a driver-oriented IP and a quality feel to the dash upper. Looking like painted wood, the grainy material adds a technical feel to what would normally be quite subdued. A new flat bottom three-spoke steering wheel, more robust bolsters for the front seats and a V-shape theme for the gauge cluster and center console further reinforce the sportier intentions of this car.
Powered by a new 2.5-liter engine mated to either a six-speed manual or a six speed sequential-shift automatic, we imagine the tC will continue to be good tuner's canvas, as expressed by the 'Bloodshot red' Five Axis-tuned model also on show.

Audi A7 Sportback

Audi A7 Sportback

Audi's latest example of micro-nicheing made its motor show debut here in Paris. Outside, it's striking how low this car appears to sit (although, at 1420mm high it's taller than the A5 Sportback by 29 mm), an impression aided by the graceful arc of the beltline front to rear and its low-set intersection with the trailing edge of the trunk. One is drawn to the superb surface transition from fender to C-pillar, the helical detailing within the tail lamps and surface intersections radiused so tightly that they could almost be lead-filled and hand-finished. The stance of the vehicle is without reproach, appearing muscular and exceedingly elegant.
From the front we again had to play a game of guess-the-Audi, but the designers have shown as much restraint as is possible with their aggressive house DRG style. There are, of course, wonderfully intricate headlamp cans which, when specified with LEDs give a vision of a future where cars start to lose their human or animal facial characteristics, gaining something far more bionic instead.
Audi A7 Sportback
Inside we find Audi at its predictable best with two surprising caveats. Firstly, while we welcome a return to the discretion of a fully retractable, integrated navigation screen, the chrome appliqué that crosses the IP and screen housing draws unnecessary attention to a surprisingly large gap. Secondly, in the press material Audi constantly references this car against the A8, but in execution and design the A7 is far more A6.
It's fair to say that the A7 represents Audi at their current best and, unlike the quattro concept, the A7 only pays the subtlest of compliments to the first 100 coupé. The CDN team and many we spoke to felt the car remarkably Italianate for a brand, traditionally at least, so German. With Mercedes appearing increasingly Baroque and BMW returning to their southern European roots, maybe there's room for Audi to return to the modern G-factor that made it so beguiling in the first place.

Honda Fit Shuttle


A bonanza of allegedly official brochure photos showing a new, station-wagon-like variant of the Japanese domestic market [JDM] Fit have leaked onto the internet. Named the Fit Shuttle, the car appears to be based on the recently refreshed Fit (Honda uses the Jazz nameplate in Europe, Australia and other international markets) featuring a longer body with taller roofline and a redesigned rear end.

As you can see in the brochure shots, the Fit Shuttle will be offered in two flavors, a Hybrid version powered by the same IMA system with a 1.3 liter i-VTEC engine featured on the five-door hatchback model, and a more powerful variant with a regular 1.5-liter gasoline unit. 

According to the Japanese media, the Fit Shuttle will be introduced in its home market within the next few weeks with sales to start around March. We'll follow the story and keep you posted on any updates.
Kudos to J.F. for the tip!
[source : http://carscoop.blogspot.com]

_____________________________GALLERY__________________________


Porsche 911 Speedster



The Porsche 911 Speedster is a open two-seater that will be produced in a limited series of 356 units. It features a 408 hp engine, rear-wheel drive, a lowered windscreen and a soft top with a 'double bubble' hardcover.



The name 'Speedster' was first used by Porsche on the classic 356 model of 1953, and became synonymous with low-slung, open-top, two-seater Porsche sports cars for free-spirited driving enthusiasts.

To celebrate this icon, at the 2010 Paris Motor Show Porsche is introducing the new 911 Speedster, that will be produced in a limited run of just 356 units.

This special model will go on sale in January 2011, with prices starting from about $200k.

Designed by the Porsche Exclusive department in Stuttgart, the two-seater 911 Speedster is significantly different from the standard 911 models: it features a 60mm lowered and raked windscreen and a sleek tail with the characteristic 'double-bubble' hardcover for the manual soft top.



The body adopts the 44 millimetre wider rear stance of the Carrera 4 body, even if the 911 Speedster has a rear-wheel drive transmission.

The 911 Speedster is painted in 'Pure Blue' tone, developed exclusively for the Speedster, which provides a strong contrast with the tinted front lights, black headlight surrounds, black windscreen border and other black decorative designs.



Among the exclusive details of the car are hand-finished interior in black smooth-finish leather and numerous exterior colour painted parts, including decorative designs with black and white patterns reminiscent of a chequered flag on the centre sections of the sports seats, and leather side bolsters in the exterior colour.
It also features a bespoke front spoiler, specific side-skirts and a distinct rear apron.

The 911 Speedster is powered by the 3.8-litre flat six unit, that has been tuned to deliver 408 hp (300 kW), 23 hp more than in the 911 Carrera S.

The engine is mated to a seven-speed PDK gearbox which is equipped with a limited slip differential. Electronic controls include Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB).

(Source: Porsche)

Honda Jazz Start "Recall" in 2011

Honda Australia is recalling more than 27,000 first-generation Honda Jazz models over an issue with the vehicles’ low beam headlights.

In total, 27,156 vehicles sold between 2002 and 2005 have been recalled in Australia.

Globally, around 1.35 million Jazz models (also known as the Fit in some oversea markets) have been recalled for the low beam wiring defect.

The official recall notice published on the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) website says the defect may stop the low beam lights from switching on:

“There is insufficient margin set for the length of an electric wire connected to the headlight switch. As a result, the terminal joint portion moves, contact resistance increases, the terminal generates heat, and the coupler melts,” the notice reads.


Honda Australia says owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by mail and are advised to contact authorised Honda Dealerships for inspection and rectification if required.

More than 734,000 vehicles have been recalled in Japan for the headlight issue, as well as around 380,000 in Europe and more than 143,000 in the US.

(source: http://www.caradvice.com.au)

KIA Sportage



Kia has released the first images of the next-generation Sportage SUV model, which will debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and will showcase a completely new design with a more modern and dynamic formal language. It will go on sale later this year.

Set to debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show , the new Kia Sportage will combine a dynamic look - with a "dramatic shift in design direction" - with the key features of an SUV: a commanding driving position, heightened sense of security and raised ground clearance.



Kia Sportage Kia SportageLonger, lower and wider than the previous generation model, the new Sportage will go on sale later this year, with a wide range of diesel and gasoline engines.

Audi e-tron Spyder Concept : design process


Audi has released an official design story of its e-tron Spyder Concept, presented at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The material also includes photos from the design and prototype construction process.

The Audi e-tron Spyder Concept was developed from the fist sketches to the final prototype in just five months.


Below we report the official press release from Audi. Apart the self-promotional intent, the document is an interesting reading about the work done by Audi designers, engineers and modelers.

Audi e tron Spyder Concept Clay Model Audi e tron Spyder Concept Clay Model

You can also check the gallery of photos taken during the design process.

From the official Press Release:

The creation of the Audi e-tron Spyder

It is a functional, rectangular building with a gray facade – a hall like thousands of others in the industrial parks dotting our cities. The only sign of any significant activity is a lone Bavarian flag fluttering on a wooden balcony that seems a bit out of place. This seeming wasteland is in reality a place where the future of the automobile is quite literally being made.

Things are much livelier inside the hall. Two designers and four modelers are working on a large block of brown industrial plasticine. The result of their handiwork is pioneering for the design of one of Germany's most successful carmakers. This is where the Audi e-tron Spyder, the latest show car from AUDI AG, is being created.

The faces are drawn with tension at this decisive moment. The modelers and designers are going through the data on screen together one more time. There is no time for lengthy consideration and discussions. Then the decisive click on the "Confirm" button.

The mill mounted on two giant arms goes into motion. Fed with the vehicle data, the mill begins carving the designers' design out of the clay. For the next 18 hours, one layer after another is cut away until the first side of the car stretched over a frame of steel, wood and rigid foam stands on the floor of the hall in three dimensions and in full size.

The mill receives a new load of data for the second half of the model. The designers work on two different vehicle sides in this early form-finding phase, which allows alternatives to be compared directly and makes decisions easier.

Frank Lamberty, a designer at Audi, uses dark adhesive tapes to check the contours of the model carved by the mill. He carefully works until arriving at the perfect line. Again and again he steps back to view his work from a distance and compares it with the cross-section of familiar production models. A show car should also bear the Audi signature.

When describing the form-finding of the Audi e-tron Spyder, Lamberty says, "We were constantly bouncing between two worlds like a ping-pong ball. On the one side was the elegant shape of speedboats. On the other was the radical world of naked bikes (motorcycles without full or partial fairings) or roadsters from the 1960s and 1970s. The Audi e-tron Spyder is the result of this inspiring convergence process and unites these two worlds."

Three months before the start of the show, Lamberty and his team are working time-intensively on the clay model in the hall. That they are concentrating on the design of a show car is already a success in itself. To design a show car is the dream of many automobile designers and thus a coveted job.

"The beauty of a show car is that the initial ideas are often implemented almost unchanged. We are largely free of technical constraints," says Wolfram Luchner, a designer at Audi who played a major role in the creation of the exterior of the Audi e-tron Spyder.

A multi-staged internal competition decided who got to design the car. 17 designers entered the competition.
"The ideas developed were bold and free of constraints. Some of them were even radical. The broad scope of the designs shows the great potential of our designers," says Stefan Sielaff, Head of Audi Design.

He initially chose four teams, who then had two weeks to flesh out their "directions," or initial designs. In the next step, two designers built their designs as 3D data models. For the final choice between the last two designs, the teams projected their computer data on the big screens in the design studio. What just a few weeks ago were the initial strokes on paper was now displayed on the walls as a three-dimensionally tangible show car.

A lot is at stake with the final decision. After all, the chosen design will be catching the eye of thousands of international visitors at the show in Paris.

A second portrayal method viewed under daylight helps to properly evaluate the colors and shapes. The designers build full-size silhouettes of their proposals and position these on a race track. The winning proposal is then chosen in daylight at a distance of approximately 100 meters – a radical and simultaneously emotion- packed design. An open sports car with a distinctive, prominently arched windshield that, like the visor of a helmet, describes speed in its purest form.

Cut off from the outside world, designers and technicians are now working together inside the hall, which is secured by an alarm system.

Technical Development in Ingolstadt had initially developed the undercarriage of the Audi e-tron Spyder separately. The two teams are now working together on site on the clay model.

They measure, discuss and talk about even slightly misaligned contours. Just a few centimeters can mean that the required hardware will no longer fit in the show car. The engineers define the most important structural design data during the first design phase.

The exterior of the Audi e-tron Spyder has roughly 10 so-called hard points – specifications that the designer is not allowed to alter. Everything else is up for negotiation. And because design does not always follow the rules of technical feasibility, these negotiations are not always easy.

"The design freedom is what makes a show car so appealing," says Luchner. "I always have the original design in my head. My objective is to implement this design with as few changes as possible."

The technicians, on the other hand, sometimes have to reign in the creativity of the designers. Although largely made from parts that only exist for this vehicle, the show car must still meet all of the technical requirements. It must be safe and drive in such a way that it can also be used by journalists for filming and photo shoots.

While four modelers apply the finishing touches to the door handles with knives, scrapers and planes, the designers and engineers have turned their attention to a wheel. Delicate struts of aluminum and carbon are reminiscent of a turbine; the delicacy of the material more of a fine piece of jewelry.

Designers and technicians agree that here they together have succeeded in turning what initially seemed to be an impossible idea into reality. This could not have been done in a production model. Whereas the wheels of previous show cars comprised four to five pieces, the wheels of the Audi e-tron Spyder are made up of 66 individual parts.

"The designers were the driving force," says Uwe Haller, who is responsible at Audi for coordinating the construction of concept vehicles. "It became clear to us pretty quickly that this wheel could not be manufactured out of one part, as is usually the case.

*"The design for the wheels was so well received, however, that we did whatever was necessary to turn the proposal into reality. *

"The result is a perfect fit for the Audi e-tron Spyder: sharp contours and visually precise lines combining carbon and aluminum."

Six weeks before the show, the two halves of the model have been combined to yield a painted whole. The modelers' work has paid off. At first glance the modeled clay looks no different than a functional automobile. Even the headlights and door handles have been carved out down to the last detail.

Everything has to be just right, because the model serves as the basis for what is known as the design freeze. This is the first major milestone for the designers, a sort of advance premiere of the show car, with the excitement to match at the presentation. The Audi Board of Management makes the final form-finding decision, and the starting gun finally sounds: Construction of the final show car can begin.

The outer skin of the show car is made of carbon fiber. Because the material can still be modified considerably more easily than steel or aluminum even at a late point in the process, it is ideal for the Audi e-tron Spyder, which must be created in a short period of time. The employees first mill the individual body parts as negative molds from a block of rigid foam. They then apply the carbon fiber fabric, let it harden, trim it, grind it and prime it. Everyone working here is aware of the importance of precision. They are making a one-of-a-kind vehicle.
And not just the final show car is one-of-a-kind. Because there is only one of every component of this vehicle, replacing components in Paris is out of the question. The time pressure is enormous. The date of the show in Paris is steadily approaching. The show car is still just a collection of individual parts waiting to be assembled. It is hard to believe that the Audi e-tron Spyder will soon make its big appearance.

As many as ten employees at the same time work on the showpiece during the final weeks and at least as many again are involved in the background work. They are all experts for their respective components and know precisely what they have to do. In the end they join the pieces together with a precision down to the millimeter. The body is then crowned in silver in the paint shop.

The Audi e-tron Spyder shines at the Paris Motor Show, as do the employees. They have done it. The idea of a hybrid- powered roadster has become a reality. It is on display in Paris: compact, elegant and open to the heavens.

(Source: Audi)

Special Parking Area for Ferrari

Ferrari put the nails in the Arabian peninsula with a giant parking lot that was so grand.

Maybe when compared to the football field, soccer field lots who lost the race circuit even compared to this crazy parking in Abu Dhabi, Dubai.

With a land area of 2,152,782 square feet, ample parking even this sophisticated contrived so good. From a distance would seem a big Ferrari logo and controlled by the color red as the color of his car, then its shape is also traced from chart Ferrari F1 car.

The location of the special car park Ferrari is built on Yas island, about 50 minutes drive from Abu Dhabi airport. Hmm .. quite controversial is also yes!








Nissan iV Concept

Nissan iV Concept
Created by Nissan Design America for the 2010 LA Design Challenge, the Nissan iV Concept is a super-lightweight sports tourer with an electric powertrain conceived as an evolution of the LEAF model for the year 2035.
Nissan iV Concept

Nissan iV is a high-performance EV inspired by nature's beauty. This super-lightweight sports tourer features "organic synthetics" a revolutionary manufacturing technique in which automotive parts are cultivated like agriculture in a 100% sustainable, carbon-neutral process.

Every detail is engineered toward renewable, lightweight strength and maximum efficiency.

Featuring an interwoven organic frame, the chassis material is synthetically grown and formed into an aerodynamic shape.

Nissan iV ConceptDerived from fast-growing ivy and re-enforced with spider silk composite, the biopolymer frame is flexible and ultra-light, yet extremely robust.

The panoramic cabin seats four adults and is constructed from an innovative photovoltaic material that weighs 99% less than traditional glass.

Nissan iV ConceptWhile the canopy collects solar energy, it also provides protective safety and open-air views of the outdoors.

Underneath it all, a slim bio-battery provides stability and a near limit-less range made possible by regenerative super-capacitor technology that recoups 60% of kinetic energy spent.

Nissan's patented concentric hub-less in-wheel motors not only propel iV, they do triple-duty by functioning as the vehicle's steering as well as its suspension system, via magnetic levitation and propulsion.

Nissan iV ConceptConcentric magnetic rings amplify rotation with each outer ring to boost high-speed performance and provide independent wheel control for ultimate handling and maneuverability.

Inspired by schools of fish and their fluid movement, Nissan's pro-active Safety Shield™ renders collisions a thing of the past and reduces weight by eliminating the need for heavy structures (bumpers, beams, airbags, etc.).

Nissan iV Concept

Design Team
* Alfonso Albaisa
* Yoshihisa Akiyama
* John Cupit
* Robert Bauer
* Randy Rodriguez
* Ryan Campbell
* Ken Lee
* Hirohisa Ono
* Hiren Patel
* Steve Moneypenny
* James Cronin
* Matt Wilson
* Ann Ngo

(Source: LA Auto Show)

Hyundai Tucson CUV

Designed and engineered by Hyundai's European Studio in Frankfurt, the 2010 Tucson CUV (Compact Utility Crossover) combines a sporty and sculpted exterior design with practical features and an efficient 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine.
Hyundai Tucson Exterior


Conceived in a global collaboration among Hyundai's U.S., Korean and European advanced product groups, with design execution led by the Frankfurt studio, the new Hyundai Tucson is an urban cruiser tough and compact for life in the city, yet sleek and agile for out-of-town travel.
The Tucson compact crossover combines dynamic, sculpted, performance-oriented styling with everyday utility .
With an overall length of 173.2 inches, a width of 71.7 inches and a height of 66.3 inches (with roof rails), Hyundai Tucson has a great stance and road presence.
The Tucson is powered by the Theta II 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and Variable Induction System (VIS). It delivers 176 hp, 168 lb-ft of torqueup to 31 mpg on the highway. For the 2011 model year, Hyundai will introduce a high-mileage Blue model.
The Tucson arrives at showrooms this month, with prices ranging between $19k and $24k.

Exterior Design

Hyundai Tucson Exterior


The main attributes of Hyundai's Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy are the athleticism and sophistication that Hyundai Tucson demonstrates through its flowing lines, full surfaces and muscular presence, as well the new Hyundai family hexagonal chrome front grille.
The design team fused a light and sporty upper body with belt lines flowing off both the front and rear wheel arches, to a tough, planted lower body so that it is assertive in the way it sits on the road.
The profile of Hyundai Tucson features a sports car-like theme with a double-zigzag treatment for the wheel arches that wrap around the available Euroflange 18-inch alloy wheels.
Hyundai Tucson Interior


The concave sills have a wedge-shaped profile that extends rearward and wraps around into the rear bumper, a first of its kind design in a vehicle of this type. The profile is further enhanced by modern silver roof rails.

Interior

Inside, the five-seat Hyundai Tucson offers a commanding view of the road and evokes an adventurous ambience that is also laid-back and relaxing.
For example, Hyundai's first panoramic sunroof brings the outside "inside" for all passengers.
Hyundai Tucson Interior


An X-shaped visual theme is repeated across numerous areas of the cabin while metal paint accents provide flashes of visual brilliance.
Shapely seats feature center panels trimmed in breathable fabric with cushion side bolsters, plus additional lateral support for occupants' shoulders.
On the insert of the cloth seats, there is a hexagonal pattern stitched into the fabric matching the new front grille design.
The high-tech cockpit comes standard with Hyundai's signature blue lighting, power windows, power door locks, fold-away mirrors and remote keyless entry with alarm and panic button.
Bluetooth hands-free phone system with voice recognition and steering wheel audio and cruise controls are also available.
Another premium feature in the Hyundai Tucson Limited is a CleanAir Ionizer that automatically cleans the air when the heater or air conditioner is running.
Other available features include leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, power driver seat with lumbar support, automatic headlights, side repeater exterior mirrors, front wiper de-icer and dual front automatic temperature control.
Hyundai Tucson Exterior


The trip computer provides distance to empty, average fuel consumption, average vehicle speed, elapsed time and instant fuel economy.
The "Eco Indicator" on automatic transmission models nestled between the speedometer and tachometer displays a green LED light in accordance with fuel-efficient driving behavior.
Fuel savings in the range of 15 to 17 percent are attainable with the automatic Eco Indicator.
Manual transmission models have a shift indicator to inform drivers of the optimal time to upshift and downshift. Fuel savings in the range 7 to 9 percent are attainable with the manual Eco Gear Shift Indicator.
Further gains in fuel efficiency have been realized by the Motor-Driven Power Steering system which delivers excellent responsiveness and accurate handling.

source : www.carbodydesign.com

Yaris GT-S Club Racer


This racing-version Yaris was created by SportsCar magazine, starting from a 2006 Yaris five-door liftback.
The name is an homage to the popular GT-S grade Celica's of the 1980's and 90's.

The Yaris GT-S Club Racer has 400 kg of weight savings, and an exterior with a Molly Designs inspired graphics that pays homage to Dan Gurney's All American Racers-built IMSA GTP Toyota Eagle Racers of the 1990's.

Additional exterior features include a Seibon carbon fiber hood and hatchback, AeroCatch hood pins, Racing Lifestyle fender flares, I/O Port Racing Supplies tow hooks, and Lexan side and rear windows

Underneath the hood is a Toyota 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with VVT-i.

The Yaris GT-S Club Racer won its very first race, topping the competition at Willow Springs Raceway in Southern California.

Ferrari 599 SA Aperta

Ferrari 599 SA Aperta pic

At the 2010 Paris Motor Show Ferrari will unveil the 599 SA Aperta, a special series model that will be produced in just 80 units. Designed by Pininfarina, it features a low-slung windscreen, a soft top and aerodynamic fins that integrate the roll-bars.

Ferrari 599 SA Aperta

Based on the 599 Fiorano, the Ferrari 599 SA Aperta (Italian word for "open") is a special series model that will be built in 80 units, in celebration of Pininfarina's 80th anniversary. All the cars have already been sold.

The SA nomenclature pays homage to both Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina.

The Ferrari 599 SA Aperta is a true roadster, as it has just a light soft top designed to be used only with particularly bad weather.

The profile arches back from the A-post to two aerodynamic fins that integrate the roll-bars which mimic the outline of the seats.

Ferrari 599 SA Aperta

The low-slung windscreen and the reduced ground clearance contribute to the aerodynamic sleekness.
The structure has been redesigned to deliver a standard of stiffness comparable to that of a closed berlinetta - achieved with a negligible weight difference.

The SA Aperta is powered by a frount mounted V12 capable of 670 hp.

The sporty interior can be customized with virtually endless combinations of materials, trim and colours, so that every SA Aperta model will be absolutely unique.
 

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