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Toyota Prius c Concept unveiled at Detroit 2011 – smallest Prius due for market introduction in 2012

January 11, 2011 at 3:56 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Toyota

Toyota has introduced more members of its Prius family of vehicles at the NAIAS, bringing the number to four. Besides the Prius v, which will enter the market later this summer, there’s also the Prius Plug-In Hybrid, planned for introduction in the first half of 2012, and making up the quartet is the Prius c Concept, which is what the company tags as an inspiration for a future small entry-level hybrid.

It’s looking at the concept as a means of introducing a product that will come into the market sometime next year. While the current Prius has ushered hybrid technology into the mainstream, and the Prius v will provide the additional room and versatility for active families, the company isn’t forgetting those interested in a smaller hybrid at an entry price point, offering superior fuel economy.

Enter the Prius c Concept, with c representing a “city”-centric vehicle, which Toyota is hoping will offer urban appeal by the spade loads to young singles and couples who want an eco-sensitive, high-mileage, fun-to-drive Prius.

No details accompany the release, but the four-door hatch looks cutesy enough, in a kitschy sort of way – the position of the headlamps is rather reminiscent of the array found on the Fiat Multipla, and the rear door handles are integrated into the upper frame of the door in Alfa-esque style. You might find it all rather familiar – a previous version of the design was shown a year ago at Detroit 2010 and it was called the Toyota FT-CH Concept. The design has been refined since and brought closer to production, one supposes.

Inside, the futuristic cabin of the ‘concept based on a concept’ seats four, and mod cons include a touchscreen Start/Stop button, paddle shifters, a centrally-mounted, single-knob rotary-action control stick where a traditional gearshift lever would normally be located. Much of which – again – looks deja vu.

Oh well. In any case, Toyota says that the vehicle will pursue outstanding fuel efficiency in a compact package, while also providing a surprisingly spacious interior, and the market product will include many advanced technology features, including some offered on the current Prius.

The company is planning to introduce the c Concept as an additional Prius family member in the first half of 2012, and in the process bring about the most value-oriented hybrid available in the US, with the highest mileage of any “cordless” hybrid to boot.

Gallery after the jump.
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New Honda Civic Concept revealed at Detroit 2011!

January 11, 2011 at 2:55 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, Honda

Honda unveiled this pair of Civic Concepts at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, which will preview the Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe for the 2012 model year in the US.

Although these cars have the word Concept tagged onto their names, I feel they’re pretty much close to production. Honda hasn’t given it all away though – no interior photos have been unveiled except for one small sketch they showed for a brief moment during the press conference.

The formula actually looks very much the same with this new Civic as compared to the outgoing 8th generation model. I wouldn’t be surprised if much of the underpinnings of this new 9th generation Civic is similar to the 8th gen.

The sedan’s side profile looks more similar to the outgoing model, but the coupe takes on a more aggressive side profile that takes after its older Accord Coupe sibling.

The Civic Sedan’s front end looks similar to the 8th gen but the rear end gets a lot of work done to it – it’s the part of the car that has changed the most and looks the best. The interior hasn’t been revealed yet but will feature the same dual-stacked displays in the current Civic.

In the US, the Civic will be available in various forms – the sporty high revving Si models, the natural gas powered GX, the regular Civics as well as a Civic Hybrid.

The Hybrid model will continue to use Honda’s IMA system but will feature lithium ion batteries along with the latest revision of the system. Eco Assist will not only be limited to the Hybrid but will also be a feature on the regular gasoline-only model. Eco Assist is basically an on-board fuel efficiency display and feedback system designed to educate the driver on how to drive more efficiently.

It looks like Honda hasn’t messed around with the formula of the current Civic much but I hope the updates to the looks come together with improvements under the skin as well – you can never go wrong with more reliability, fuel efficiency, features and safety.

Unfortunately we can’t really tell from these concepts as they only show the exterior aesthetics of the new car.

Look after the jump for a full hi-res gallery of the new Civic.
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Detroit 2011: New Chrysler 300 leaves his grille behind!

January 11, 2011 at 2:35 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Chrysler, International News

Six years after the Chrysler 300 made its debut, the “gangsta style” chrome laden full sized sedan is one of the most recognisable American car shapes around. So it made sense that when coming up with the new 2011 model, Chrysler stuck to the same formula, although it’s sleeker and more current looking now.

The most obvious departure is the previous car’s trademark “Heritage” egg crate grille (still available as an option), replaced by one with seven chrome blades. Flanking this new nose are fancy headlights that incorporate C-shaped LED daytime running lamps.

Seen from the side, the 300 retains the distinctive proportions of its predecessor “with added design refinement for a more tailored appearance”, Chrysler says. The windshield has been raked back by three inches, while thinner pillars improve outward visibility by 15%.

Like before, there aren’t many elements in the rear design, which now features an integrated deck-lid lip spoiler with the new Chrysler wing emblem sitting below. The lamps are LEDs, with a chrome splitter in the middle. There are big pipes, one on each side.

Two engines are available – a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine with 292 hp/353 Nm and a 363 hp 5.7-litre HEMI V8 with Fuel Saver Technology. FST allows the V8 to run on four cylinders on light loads, saving up to 20% fuel in the process. When it’s not in fuel saver mode, the HEMI is capable of hauling the 300 from 0-60 mph (0-92 km/h) in less than 6 seconds.

There’s an AWD model that features a segment-exclusive active transfer case and front-axle disconnect system to improve economy by up to 5%, meaning it’s on demand and is rear-driven by default.

Like the Buick Verano we showed you earlier, the new 300 is claimed to be a silent master. The material and structural design improvements include two premium-composite underbody panels that provide more than eight feet of acoustic insulation, dual-pane acoustic windshield and front-door side glass, body-cavity silencing foam, under-flush rolled-framed doors with triple seals and acoustic wheel-well liners.

The all new cabin gets Nappa leather seats and real wood trim, but all eyes will first look to the prominent centre stack, which houses Uconnect Touch 8.4. One can access integrated Garmin navigation, SIRIUS Travel Link with real-time fuel prices, movie listings, sports updates and weather via the 8.4-inch touchscreen display. Not all will like the cabin’s Sapphire Blue ambient interior lighting though.

Gallery after the jump.
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Chevrolet Volt named as the North American Car of The Year – Ford Explorer takes the truck title

January 11, 2011 at 1:52 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News

At the NAIAS, the Chevrolet Volt and Ford Explorer have been named as the 2011 North American Car and Truck of the Year respectively by a panel of 49 US and Canadian auto journalists.

The series plug-in hybrid Volt took the gong ahead of the Nissan Leaf EV and the Hyundai Sonata, with other semi-finalists being the Audi A8, Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2, Buick Regal, Volkswagen Jetta, Kia Optima, Nissan Juke, Chevrolet Cruze, Volvo S60, Infiniti M37/56 and the Jaguar XJ.

Meanwhile, over in the truck category, the Explorer nudged ahead of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Durango SUVs, with other nominees including the Lincoln MKX, Mercedes-Benz R-Class, Kia Sorento and Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Infiniti QX56, Honda Odyssey, Ford Edge, Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne and Toyota Sienna. The award follows on Ford’s win last year with the Transit Connect.

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New Honda Civic to be unveiled tonight at Detroit!

January 11, 2011 at 1:39 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda


Click to enlarge

It’s going to be a long night for us – only a few more hours to go until the next generation Honda Civic is unveiled at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.

The model that will be unveiled at Detroit will be based on the sketch you see above, which was first teased in December last year.


8th Generation Civic – Malaysia

What we’re not sure of right now is whether the Detroit car will be the car that we’ll get here in Malaysia. After all, the US Civic and the Asian Civic have looked a little difference for the past few generations now, even though they share the same platform and a very similiar interior design. In addition, the US Civic has a Coupe body.

The Euro Civic is a completely different animal altogether – a smaller vehicle sitting on a different platform. Things are different with the larger Accord though – the US and the Asian Accord are the same car, while the Japanese Accord and Euro Accord are the same.


8th Generation Civic – US look

Automakers these days often have to pick between offering a ‘global model’ in the interest of better economies of scale, or offering customised solutions tailored to the tastes of each region. Some manufacturers who have had two different models serving different regions such as the Cobalt and the Optra for GM and the Euro Focus and USDM Focus for Ford have switched to a single model – Cruze and Global Focus, while other cars like the Passat and the Mazda 6 have now ‘split’ into one car for the world and larger version for North America – the US market Mazda 6 has a longer wheelbase.

With the 9th generation Honda Civic, will there be a single Honda Civic for the world or multiple Civics like what is currently offered? If there will be multiple Civics, will the ‘distribution’ of each variant be the same? I’ve heard news in the past that the JDM Civic will switch from the current large model into a smaller car to be more competitive in its homeland, like how Toyota has the smaller Corolla in Japan compared to our larger Corolla Altis. I hope a larger Civic continues to be offered – who can argue with more metal for your money in a country that doesn’t tax you based on your dimensions?

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Detroit 2011: Ford unveils Vertrek Concept SUV

January 11, 2011 at 1:03 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, Ford, International News

Ford has debuted its new Vertrek Concept SUV at the NAIAS – the four-seater design shows the direction the company is looking to take as it works to move forward from the Escape and Kuga and offer a stylish, compact SUV it can place into the global market.

It’s a slightly bigger offering than the two existing vehicles – the Vertrek is longer, wider and has a longer wheelbase than the Escape and Kuga. Design-wise, the kinetic design shape contains elements such as a rather imposing lower trapezoidal grille, a panoramic roof that runs centrally from front to rear glass surfaces, slim headlamps and taillamps as well as a muscular-looking hood and rising beltline (with a rear kickup) that lends the shape more agression.

Inside, premium materials dominate, as does a swooping centre console and prominent centre stack that flows down a central bridge through the vehicle, and the seats, finished in tanned, velour leather feature neon red-orange highlights.

The concept in Detroit features a 1.6 litre Ford EcoBoost turbocharged direct injection engine, and previews Ford’s Auto Start-Stop system as well. For the US market, potential engine choices are the abovementioned pot – available in 180 hp and 150 hp form, the latter for the European market – as well as a 2.0 litre EcoBoost and a 2.5 litre four-cylinder block, all paired with a six-speed transmission, while outside the American market a 2.0 Duratorq TDCi turbodiesel is a candidate to join the 1.6 litre EcoBoost unit.

Aimed at city dwellers, not just in the American and European market but also those in China, the Vertrek plays it big on cargo-carrying ability consumers are looking for, but without forsaking levels of craftsmanship and quality often lost in compact SUVs.

Inside the sleek, modern shell is a generous cargo volume more than rivalling that of the Escape, at 828 litres for the boot area and 1,879 litres from the first row back, and against the European Kuga, it offers 20% more space at the rear and 15% more space from behind the first row on.

There’s plenty of tech on call with this one – a wide suite of customer-focused Ford technologies including SYNC, active park assist, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with cross-traffic alert and Intelligent Access with push-button start are featured in the Vertrek concept.

Gallery after the jump.
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Detroit 2011: Hybrid Porsche 918 RSR racer is a stunner

January 10, 2011 at 11:11 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Porsche

Not exactly a production 918 Spyder, but this Detroit show car is widely believed to be close to the real thing. The Porsche 918 RSR is described as a race car that combines the “technology fitted in the 911 GT3 R hybrid and the design of the 918 Spyder” from last year’s Geneva show.

The RSR’s V8 is a development of the direct injection unit from the RS Spyder race car, now offering 563 hp at 10,300 rpm. There are two electric motors that offer torque vectoring on the front axle, and each contributes 75 kW for a total of 150 kW. All in, the 918 RSR’s pilot has 767 hp at his disposal. A six-speed constant-mesh gearbox with longitudinally mounted shafts and straight-toothed spur gears is operated via steering wheel shift paddles.

Additional power generated during braking is stored in an optimised flywheel accumulator, located at where a passenger seat normally is, and rotating at up to 36,000 rpm. At the push of a button, the pilot is able to call up the energy stored in the charged accumulator and use it during acceleration or overtaking manoeuvres. This “power boost” is available for around eight seconds.

Already used in the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, this system’s additional power can also be used as a consumption aid, whether to delay pit stops or reduce the fuel tank volume, and weight. The GT3 R Hybrid did brilliantly to lead for more than eight hours in its Le Mans debut last year, and we won’t be surprised to see Porsche campaign this 918 RSR, this year perhaps?

Other interesting points are doors which open obliquely upwards, the air intake in the roof between the wing doors, quick-action locks on the front and rear CFRP lids, two roof-mounted aerials for pit radio and telemetry, RS Spyder-like small, lateral front flics and air splitters beneath the front lip. Porsche calls this an “experimental racing laboratory”.

Why No. 22? The number pays homage to the 1971 Porsche 917 short-tail coupé piloted by Dr. Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep. Their Le Mans winning distance record of 5335.313 km at an average speed of 222.304 km/h was unbeaten for 39 years until 2010. That Martini liveried experimental racer was groundbreaking for its magnesium space frame.

Gallery after the jump.
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Chevrolet Sonic hatchback and sedan launched at Detroit!

January 10, 2011 at 7:17 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet/Daewoo, General Motors, International News

General Motors has released details and images of the new Aveo that will be unwrapped later at Detroit, just that it’s not called the Aveo, but Sonic. Like the car it replaces, the B-segment Sonic is available in two body styles – five-door hatchback and four-door sedan. Both variants deliver “class-leading rear-seat roominess and cargo space” according to GM. In the US, the subcompact Sonic takes on the Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit.

In America, the Sonic will come with relatively powerful engines for its size. The Ecotec 1.4L turbo (138 hp/200 Nm from 1,850 to 4,900 rpm) and the 135 hp/167 Nm Ecotec 1.8L are also found in big brother Cruze. Three transmissions are available: a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic with the 1.8L and a six-speed manual for the sporty 1.4 turbo.

These modern powerplants come with features such as low-mass hollow-frame cast iron block, DOHC with VVT, chain-driven cams, roller-finger camshaft followers, piston-cooling oil jets and integrated oil cooler, variable-flow oil pump and electronically controlled thermostat. The 1.4′s turbocharger is integrated within the exhaust manifold for reduced weight and greater packaging flexibility.

GM talks about “fun to drive” in the release, mentioning that Corvette engineers tuned the Sonic’s ride and handling. The hardware is par for the class – front MacPherson struts, rear torsion beam, EPS steering, front disc brakes and rear drums are expected.

The body structure is claimed to be among the stiffest in the segment. Sonic’s unique “flat top frame” cradle, for example, assures optimal stiffness in the front chassis portion, while he rear axle is straight without contour for packaging restraints and reduced noise, vibration and harshness. Wheels are as big as 17 inches for the turbo model.

The funky cabin’s highlight is the motorcycle inspired instrument panel, which combines analog with digital displays. The centre stack is typical modern GM; it and the steering wheel will be familiar to Cruze owners. Front “bucket seats” are standard and heated front seats are available along with remote start and sunroof. Connectivity includes OnStar, XM Satellite Radio, USB/Bluetooth and MyChevrolet mobile application. On the safety front, 10 standard air bags, ABS, EBD, brake assist and OnStar with Automatic Crash Response are included.

Production of the Sonic begins later this year in Michigan. GM says that Chevy is the only company building a small car in the US and Sonic will help restore about 1,000 jobs in the metropolitan Detroit area. This could be a big selling point for a US economy that’s still facing issues with unemployment.

Gallery after the jump.
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Ford Fiesta gets five-star safety rating in China NCAP

January 10, 2011 at 7:14 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, China, Ford

Not that it matters an iota to Ford Fiesta fans and owners, but here’s more proof that the car is – besides being fun to drive – one safe bag of tricks. The car has obtained a maximum five-star safety rating from the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC), which recently released its C-NCAP (China New Car Assessment Program) ratings.

The Fiesta 1.5 litre MT scored 12.32, 15.38 and 14.77 in the frontal 100% overlap rigid barrier, side impact and 40% offset impact respectively in the CNCAP crash test, and received an additional three points for having other safety features such as six airbags, in this case driver and co-driver seat airbags, new side-chest airbags and inflatable air curtains for front and rear seat occupants.

While this should make the car an even more convincing proposition for Chinese consumers, the car already doesn’t have a problem winning lots of new friends – introduced in China in 2009, over 75,000 new Fiestas were sold there last year, a 59% increase compared to the year before.

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Honda Fit Shuttle leaked – Jazz wagon is the new Airwave!

January 10, 2011 at 4:18 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda, International News, Spyshots

Some of you might know the Honda Airwave, a wagon version of the Jazz and City brought in by grey importers. That compact station wagon (as it was called by Honda) was launched to the Japanese market in 2005 and was based on the previous generation Jazz, so with the B-segment hatchback being replaced, a “new Airwave” was expected.

Well, here it is, with a new name. These leaked brochures show an elongated version of the Jazz, which is called Fit in its home market. The Fit Shuttle won’t be mistaken as a spin off from any other model, as it retains much of the Jazz’s distinctive looks, both front and rear. The forward leaning “fin” (the C-pillars) from the Airwave have become full length items, and is the most glaring design cue on the flanks.

The brochures show two variants – a 1.5 i-VTEC powered Type 15X and a Hybrid model. The latter’s drivetrain combines a 1.3L engine with Honda’s battery powered IMA system, which should be identical to that in the Jazz Hybrid and Insight. Those flat wheelcaps look as if they’re chosen for aerodynamics, not aesthetics.

The dashboard is similar to the Jazz. No mention on whether the boot space with all five seats in place beats the Airwave’s 473 litres. Images after the jump.
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