Bertone B99 Concept Envisions Future Jaguar Compact
Bertone B99 presented concept for the upcoming Geneva Motor Show 2011, presented by the Italian design house vision for a more traditional style with small Jaguar.
Official photos were leaked Thursday by Germany’s Auto Bild.
UK Autocar published a long feature on the car, including an interview with Bertone’s chief designer Mike Robinson, with the words, “Jaguars are looking for a new design direction and was quoted a small car – and we think this the right way, with a very light green house and the visual weight on the wheels concentrated. ”
Subaru Boxer Sports Car Architecture world premiere in 2011 Geneva Motor Show
While the Toyota FT-86 II Concept car is on display at the Toyota stand in Geneva, the platform the car is built upon is featured at the Subaru stand. The Subaru BOXER Sports Car Architecture, along with the rear-wheel drive concept vehicle, were jointly designed by both automakers.
While the vehicle’s exterior design is 100% Toyota, the underpinnings are pretty much entirely Subaru, right down to the 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated horizontally-opposed Boxer engine mounted near the front. The fact that the engine sends power to the rear wheels, instead of all four, clearly comes from the Toyota side of the table.
Categories: Auto Show, Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Subaru Tags: 2011 Geneva Motor Show
Wiesmann Roadster Concept
Friends AutoGespot Dutch have published today the first images of the stolen Wiesmann Roadster Concept, a prototype that the small German manufacturer is set to launch in Geneva. Preparations are underway at the Palexpo in view of the inauguration on Tuesday, and someone managed to take some pictures of the cars that are already awaiting the arrival of the international press.
The prototype Wiesmann marks a sharp break with the coupe and the clearly retro-looking spider that until now have characterized the production of the manufacturer: the approach of the Roadster concept can be approached rather than some boats extreme “English ” . Of course, for all the details about this sport, we refer to the press days of the exhibition.
Categories: Concept Cars Tags: Concept, Roadster, Wiesmann
Detroit 2011: Toyota Prius C Concept is higher efficiency in a smaller package
The Toyota Prius V may be the newest production-ready addition to the automaker’s hybrid line, but the family of Prius vehicles will continue to grow in the coming years. Toyota gave us a preview of what to expect by showing the Prius C Concept at the Detroit Auto Show – a car that will come to life in the first half of 2012. Toyota promises that it will be the most fuel-efficient hybrid (that doesn’t need a plug) and will be the most “value-oriented hybrid” in the United States. You’ve been warned, Honda Insight.
It might look like a cartoon frog from certain angles, but what strikes us as odd is that the smaller C Concept keeps the Prius’ five-door design. We were originally tipped to believe this model would be a coupe or hatchback, but even so, we aren’t too put off by this five-door concept. It’s pretty cute, and once its concept-spec lines are toned down for actual production, we’re sure it’ll fit right in with the rest of the Prius clan.
Categories: Auto Show, Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Detroit Motor Show, Hatchback, Hybrids/Alternative, Toyota Tags:
Detroit 2011: Hyundai Curb Concept is a small crossover for the urban scene
Hyundai’s Curb concept moves the automaker’s “Fluidic Sculpture” design language in a more youthful direction. While we’ve seen plenty of urbanized concepts and production vehicles that use the traditional box-like design pioneered by the original Scion xB, Hyundai chose to create something substantially more curvaceous and sleek. “We wanted the Curb to be urban tough without looking like a Brink’s truck,” Hyundai’s designer, Jason Brown, says.
The basis for the Curb’s powertrain is Hyundai’s new 1.6-liter Gamma inline-four, though the addition of a turbocharger means output is boosted to around 175 horsepower. Combined with a dual-clutch transmission, the Curb is efficient enough to achieve around 30 miles per gallon in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. That power runs to the ground through a large set of 22-inch five-spoke wheels wrapped in Michelin tires with a custom saffron-colored tread pattern. Funky, yes, but definitely fitting for an urban concept car.
Categories: Auto Show, Concept Cars, Crossovers/CUVs, Detroit Auto Show, Hyundai Tags: Detroit Auto Show
Detroit 2011: Honda Civic Coupe and Sedan Concepts are visions of a compact future
Honda dusted off concept versions of the ninth generation Civic Coupe and Sedan at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show today, and the automaker says that along with mildly updated exteriors, both vehicles will wear improved interiors compared to the current-generation Civic. Judging from the history of Honda concepts, there’s a good chance that the production versions of both the four and two-door Civics will be very similar to the vehicles you see above. That means that the Civic Coupe will wear styling influenced heavily by the current Accord Coupe.
Meanwhile, four-door buyers can expect an exterior design very similar to the 2011 Civic. Though the sedan’s front-fascia wears a little bit more menace than the current design, the carried-over grille and headlights are more than a little familiar. Out back, new tail lamps and a re-sculpted trunk deck dominate the view.
Categories: Auto Show, Concept Cars, coupe, Detroit Auto Show, Detroit Motor Show, Honda, Sedans/Saloons Tags: Detroit Auto Show
Detroit 2011: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is not an Aveo
General Motors seems intent on banishing all memories of the unloved Aveo – so much so that it’s gone and renamed its entry-level fighter in the States. While we’re still not 100-percent in love with the name (we can’t get visions of spiky-haired hedgehogs out of our heads…), all three flavors of the Sonic do appear to be vastly improved over the machine they replace, though one of them, the Z Spec, is still in the concept stage.
More than anything else, they look vastly better both inside and out, but until we get a stint behind the wheel we’ll hold off final judgment. According to Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet marketing, “The all-new Chevrolet Sonic blends the practicality of a small car with the passion for driving that Chevrolet vehicles like the Corvette are known for.” That won’t be the only time you’ll ever hear someone mention the Sonic in the same sentence as the Corvette. In fact, Chevy tells us that Corvette engineers are responsible for the ride and handling of the sub-compact.
Categories: Chevrolet, Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Detroit Motor Show, Hatchback, Sedans/Saloons Tags: Detroit Auto Show
Detroit 2011: Mini Paceman Concept gets all the girls
Mini’s model line is expanding at an exponential rate, and according to BMW’s smallest division, the Paceman Concept will form the basis of its eighth production vehicle. Even if that’s the case, nothing resembling the Paceman is going to beat either the Mini Coupe or Roadster to market, which are expected to hit dealers in late 2011 and 2012, respectively.
What we have in the Paceman is basically a Countryman that’s been relieved of its two rear doors and granted a gradually sloping roofline. Yes, that will indeed limit the machine’s versatility, but it also adds a sporty vibe to the somewhat high-riding crossover.
Categories: Concept Cars, coupe, Crossovers/CUVs, Detroit Auto Show, Detroit Motor Show, Mini Tags: Detroit Auto Show
Detroit 2011: Kia KV7 Concept is a van with a plan
Kia certainly knows a thing or two about embracing the box design. After all, the styling of the Soul is certainly a perfect interpretation of the good things boxy shapes can create. With that in mind, Kia has set to reinvent the van with its new KV7 Concept here at the Detroit Auto Show. But we aren’t talking minivan – this is pure, boxy conversion van hotness.
Inside, there are clever features like swivel chairs for all occupants (including the driver), and the rear quarters are set up in a sort of lounge fashion. There are nifty gadgets like a floating table-top computer and full wireless internet capability. Wrap that in a sleek, boxy package that boasts a 285-turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the end result is a van that means serious business. As much as we’d love to see this concept come to fruition, we’ll chalk this one up as just another example of what happens when you let automotive designers run wild.
Categories: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Detroit Motor Show, Kia Tags: Detroit Auto Show
Pics Aplenty: GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept is ready to play dirty
Cars are cool, but we certainly love ourselves some big, bad, hardcore pickups – you know, like the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. General Motors’ conceptual answer to Ford’s desert-blasting pickup is this, the Sierra All Terrain HD concept, which we’ll be seeing for the first time at the Detroit Auto Show next week.
GMC’s brutish pickup relies on The General’s 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8 for power – 397 horsepower and 765 pound-feet of torque, to be exact – and higher ground clearance, a wider stance and serious suspension upgrades make the All Terrain concept capable of storming through, well, all types of terrain.
Categories: Auto Show, Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Detroit Motor Show, GM Tags: Detroit Auto Show
