Archive for 2006 Paris Motor Show

Been a long time since I’ve posted videos here. Following the standard car video concept of “hot chick checks out car driving by in deserted volcanic or forest area” (which Proton also used for the Satria Neo TVC), this is Toyota’s video showing off the Toyota Auris Space Concept. The Toyota Auris Concept gives us a preview on Toyota’s next generation European hatchback, which will replace the current Toyota Corolla hatch. More details on the Toyota Auris here. Check out the video after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Toyota Auris Concept Video

What’s this then, a mini Chrysler PT Cruiser? Daihatsu introduced the 2007 Daihatsu Materia at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, a little boxy mini-MPV-like wagon vehicle which is also known as the Daihatsu Coo or the Toyota bB in other parts of the world. The bB Concept was introduced as a preview to the successor to the Scion xB, a popular wagon sold in the US under Toyota’s Scion arm. While it might look terribly boxy and Gundam-ish to us, the Scion xB has proven to be quite popular in the US.

While the first generation Scion xB used Toyota’s 2NZ-FE 1.3 liter and 1NZ-FE 1.5 liter, power for this successor comes from either a 1.3 liter K3-VE engine, or a 1.5 liter 3SZ-VE, the same Daihatsu-based engines being offered in our local Toyota Avanza. This shows Toyota is moving towards using Daihatsu engines for it’s low displacement models across the board, whether the model is Daihatsu or Toyota originated.

Some models of the Daihatsu Coo in Japan has four wheel drive options, but it’s not clear to me right now whether the European Daihatsu Materia will have 4WD or not. Daihatsu expects to build about 1,000 units per month.

Click here to read the rest of 2007 Daihatsu Materia

Yet another Kia display at the 2006 Paris Motor Show was the new 2007 Kia Magentis, with an entirely new platform different from the previous model. The new Kia Magentis based on the same platform as the Sonata NF, except for some differences like different suspension systems – the Sonata NF uses double wishbones while the Magentis uses McPherson struts and multi-link at the rear.

This particular model shown is a turbodiesel model, which can be identified by the CRDi badge on the boot – a 2.0 liter CRDi with a Variable Geometry Turbocharger, similiar to the one found in the Porsche 911 Turbo. Of course, VGT has been around in turbodiesels for quite some time already. Performance stats are 138hp at 4,000rpm and 305Nm of torque between 1,800rpm to 2,500rpm. The turbodiesel is also equipped with a Diesel Particulate Filter for better emissions. If you prefer petrol, the UK market has a 2.0 I4 CVVT and 2.7 liter V6, but in other markets there is also a 2.4 liter I4 CVVT.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show: 2007 Kia Magentis

Here are some photos of the new 2007 Honda CR-V in the flesh, on display at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, snapped by Ben Corley. Not many photos in this set, there are only three, so sorry for that! For more details on the 2007 Honda CR-V, check out my previous post here. Two more photos after the jump, for a total of 3 with enlarged versions available.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show: 2007 Honda CR-V

Here are some live shots of Kia’s sporty 3-door hatch, the Kia pro_cee’d, based on it’s new range of cee’d European cars. More photos after the jump, with enlarged versions thanks to contributor Ben Corley. For more details on the Kia pro_cee’d, refer here.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show: Kia pro_cee’d

This is the SEAT’s entry into the FIA World Touring Car Championship, based on the SEAT Leon. The SEAT Leon WTCC was on display at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, letting us check out what inspired the recently announced 240 horsepower SEAT Leon Cupra.

The SEAT Leon WTCC was introduced in 2005, and unlike it’s 2.0 TFSI road-going Leon Cupra brother, it is powered by a 2.0 liter normally aspirated engine (a high revving unit, likely) as per WTCC rules. Power goes to the front wheels via a 6-speed DSG gearbox.

More photos with enlarged versions available after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show: SEAT Leon WTCC

Among concept vehicles like the Avenger at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, Dodge also displayed it’s production models, like this 2007 Dodge Caliber crossover. The car is a 4-door hatch similiar to the likes of the Toyota Matrix – somewhat like a crossover between a sporty hatchback and a station wagon?! It was introduced this year to replace the Dodge Neon, and was based on the DCX/Mitsubishi GS platform which also spawned the likes of the new Mitsubishi Outlander and the next generation Lancer.

Engine options are a 1.8 liter, 2.0 liter and a 2.4 liter, and you can mix these with choices of a 5-speed manual or a CVT automatic – either front wheel drive or all wheel drive traction is available. There is also a Dodge Caliber SRT-4, featuring a turbocharged 2.4 liter engine making 300 horsepower mated to a 6-speed manual. In the European market, the Dodge Caliber is also available with a 138hp, 310Nm 2.0 liter turbodiesel sourced from Volkswagen AG.

One more photo after the jump, thanks to Ben Corley, and as usual enlarged versions are also available.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show: 2007 Dodge Caliber

The Peugeot 207 RCup Concept was first shown at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show in March, but Peugeot has it on display again at the Paris Motor Show. The Peugeot 207 RCup Concept Car was a teaser for Peugeot’s WRC entry – the Peugeot 207 Super 2000.

The Peugeot 207 RCup has wider front and rear tracks, and larger wheel arches, giving it a much stronger look than the original Peugeot 207. Ground clearance is 10cm, and it’s wheel arches are filled up by big 18″ wheels wrapped with 235/40/R18 tyres. Under the hood of the Peugeot 207 RCup is the same engine that will be powering the Super 2000 rally contender, a 2.0 liter normally aspirated engine tuned to produce 280hp at a sky high 8,500rpm!

More photos with clickable enlarged versions after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show Gallery: Peugeot 207 RCup

Subaru Europe President Hiroyuki Ikeda announced at the 2006 Paris Motor Show that the upcoming horizontally opposed 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine by Subaru is almost complete, with development at final stages now.

Subaru’s gasoline boxer won the top spot for the 2.5 liter category in this year’s International Engine of the Year Awards, and the new turbodiesel boxer will be the first oil burning boxer in the world.

The new turbodiesel boxer engine by Subaru is expected to be unveiled at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show.

Here are some shots of the Peugeot 908RC at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, again courtesy of Ben Corley. Peugeot calls the Peugeot 908RC a stylish four-door four-seater limousine which combined power, comfort, and green performance. The Peugeot 908RC is powered by a 5.5 liter V12 HDi DPFS turbodiesel engine mounted in the rear behind the passengers.

The 5.5 liter V12 HDi DPFS turbodiesel engine mounted transversely in the rear was designed by Peugeot to take part in the Le Mans Race Series in 2007, with it’s racing 908 car. The engine makes over 700bhp and produces a very nice 1200Nm of torque. Because of the engine’s 100 degrees V angle, it has a pretty low center of gravity. This engine is mated to a 6-speed electronicaly controlled sequential shift gearbox, specially designed to handle the massive 1200Nm being put through it.

More photos after the jump. Click photos for enlarged version.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show Gallery: Peugeot 908RC

Volvo exhibited the Volvo C30 SportsCoupe at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. The Volvo C30 will be available in 5 trim levels – the S, SE, SE Sport and SE Lux. This set of photos show the Volvo C30 in SE Sport trim level, which includes 18 inch alloy wheels and a full bodykit with the body painted in a two tone finish.

More photos after the jump, courtesy of Volvo Media. Click here for more details and specifications related to the Volvo C30 SportsCoupe.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show Gallery: Volvo C30 SE Sport

This little oddball spotted at the 2006 Paris Motor Show is the Tang Hua Xiao Ya, looking quite sesat in the middle of all the other displays. It’s booth doesn’t even have any banners of any form, only a little oriental-style umbrella next to it, and a small dalmation toy in the car.

The little Tang Hua Xiao Ya is actually an electric car made in China, and features a 7 hour charge time, a 45 km/h top speed in normal mode which can be boosted to 64km/h in performance mode. It’s cheap though, at around US$5,000.

This must be what the old woman who lives in a shoe drives – a yellow shoe-mobile. One more photo after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show Gallery: Shoemobile

Here are more photos of the Audi R8, straight from the 2006 Paris Motor Show, thanks to paultan.org correspondent Ben Corley. As with the previous post with details of the 2007 Audi R8, click each photo for an enlarged version. For all the photos, check out the full post after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show Gallery: Audi R8

Toyota has revaled the new flagship Toyota Yaris model called the Toyota Yaris TS at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. The new Toyota Yaris TS is powered by Toyota’s new flagship Dual VVT-i 1.8 liter engine which makes 130bhp at 6,000rpm and max torque of 173Nm at 4,400rpm, compared to the Yaris 1.5 liter’s 109hp at 6,000rpm and 142Nm of torque at 4,200rpm. With the new Dual VVT-i engine, Valve timing is adjusted on both intake and exhaust valves. This engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The little hatch goes from 0-100km/h in 9.3 seconds.

Other enhancements to the Toyota Yaris TS over the base model include suspension improvements – the front suspension has been reinforced, gains a thicker anti-roll bar and a linking rod has been introduced between the rear suspension members. The ride is also lowered by 8mm.

Other than ride height, further external differences include a new black mesh grille with a TS badge, darkened headlamps, a deeper bumper with integrated foglights, a new rear bumper with integrated exhaust tailpipes and fog lights, as well as new LED rear lamp clusters. Look from the side and you will see nice 17 inch alloy wheels that fill up the wheel arches as well as deep side skirts. There is also a roof spoiler for the rear.

Both three-door and five-door versions of the Toyota Yaris TS will be on sale from February 2007. More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2007 Toyota Yaris TS 1.8 Dual VVT-i

After a few artist’s impressions mostly from Japanese auto magazines, Toyota has revealed to the world the Toyota Auris space concept, which will be the base design for the future Toyota Auris hatchback, the replacement for the Toyota Corolla hatchback in the European market.

“The Auris space concept is tall and spacious. The high waistline, short overhangs and forward balance of the cabin architecture ensure it retains a sense of dynamism and agility, a quality we call perfect imbalance,” says Wahei Hirai, Toyota Global Design Managing Officer, explaining the rationale behind Toyota’s latest interpretation of it’s Vibrant Clarity design philosophy.

The Toyota Auris space concept is equipped with a panoramic glass roof, which helps increase the overall feel of interior space and lighting. The Latin word for gold is Aurum, which is similiar to the Auris name, hence the new Toyota Auris space concept is painted in gold.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Toyota Auris Space Concept