The above is supposed to be a preview of the upcoming Impreza Spec-C. It’s been christened the Subaru Impreza WRX STi Takumi Concept and gives us a sneak peek at the styling of the upcoming lightweight version of the Subaru Impreza. You can expect the Spec-C to shave at least 70kg off the stock standard STi via lighter body panels and roof, with other modifications as well such as bigger brakes and revised gear ratios.
The new third generation Toyota Avensis made a public debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show and features a few firsts when you’re talking about Toyota in Europe. The new Avensis is available in two bodystyles - sedan and wagon.
The new Avensis has the same 2700mm wheelbase as the outgoing second generation model, but Toyota claims this is a new platform, or perhaps an enhanced old one which they think deserves the term new. Despite being a D-segment sedan this is significantly shorter than the Camry’s 2776mm wheelbase. But then again apparently this is how the Europeans like their D-segment sedans so it’s quite normal for them.
Despite the same wheelbase, tread has been increased by between 30mm to 45mm and width has gone up by 50mm to 1810mm. The sedan is slightly more aerodynamic than the wagon at 0.28 Cd compared to 0.29 Cd. They are both 1480mm tall. The sedan is 4695mm long while the wagon measures at 4765mm.
The engine range consists from something as small as a 1.6 liter petrol unit all the way up to a 2.2 liter D-4D turbodiesel. All the petrol engine feature Toyota’s new Valvematic technology which incorporates continuously variable valve lift together with VVT-i valve timing control. The 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 Valvematic engines produce 132hp with 160Nm of torque, 147hp with 180Nm of torque and 152hp with 196Nm of torque respectively.
The 1.6 petrol unit only comes with a 6-speed manual but for the 1.8 and 2.0 liter models there is the option for the Multidrive S CVT transmission which succeeds the Super CVT-i transmission. This transmission behaves like a conventional CVT normally but when it senses you are driving hard, it automatically changes to a mode which swaps virtual cogs between 7-speed pre-determined ratios for a more sporty feel.
The oil burners range from a 2.0 liter and two 2.2 liter D-4D engines.These engines feature new piezo injectors and increased common rail pressure at 2,000 bar. The base 2.0 liter diesel produces 126hp and 310Nm of torque between 1800 and 2400rpm. The more sedate of the two 2.2 liter engines is the D-4D 150 which produces 150hp and 340Nm of torque between 2200 and 2800rpm.
The most powerful engine is the 2.2 D-4D 180, featuring 177hp and a massive 400Nm of torque between 2000 to 2800rpm. The D-4D 150 also comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission, a first for a Toyota diesel passenger car.
Look after the jump for a photo gallery of the new Avensis. Click here to read the rest of 3rd Generation Toyota Avensis: Full Details & Photos
The NICE Car Company is working with Italian company Tazzari to sell a new electric car called the Tazzari ZERO in the British market. The car is said to have been designed and developed in Italy and is constantly referred to as “all-Italian” in the press material - Tazzari is obviously hoping to inject some excitement into what is actually something small, easy to maneuver, clean and efficient.
You know how people are with Italian automobiles - they can be the worse trashcans with wheels on the road but you automatically forgive them and love them because they are built with “passion” and somehow exude a certain feel-good aura.
Back to the Tazzari ZERO - it’s essentially a little 2-door 2-seater small car that runs on an electric motor and lithium ion batteries. It looks pretty much like the NICE MyCar with slightly different styling. Thanks to its recyclable aluminium chassis it only weighs 542kg. It can go up to 150km on a full charge and charging up takes 45 minutes. No raw performance numbers for the electric motor but it can go up to 50km/h in 4.5 seconds, up to a 90km/h top speed.
Yes, this is definitely a city car… or a countryside car at best.
Look after the jump for two more shots of the Tazzari ZERO. Click here to read the rest of Tazzari ZERO Electric Car weighs 542kg
A 70 year old man in India named Indraprakash Bhargav claims to have created a little 2+2 jeep (in the style of the recently launched Nissan KIX?) that costs only Rs 30,000 to buy, can go 40km on a liter of petrol and reach a top speed of 50km/h.
Rs30,000 is only about RM2,200 and is a decent price to pay for something that can sit 2 adults and 2 children. He claims the material costs are only about Rs15,000 to Rs20,000 (RM1,100 to RM1,470). He also says he is working on an electric version of the little jeep.
Apparently despite this project and some other automotive innovations that he’s produced in the past, the Indian government or car manufacturers paid little attention to him. He says he is willing to divulge the “secrets” of this cheap jeep for free if an industrialist like Ratan Tata is interested. No harm having a look. Anyone with money interested?
The car you see above is the new plug-in electric car jointly developed by design house Pininfarina and battery company Bolloré. The first production versions of the car will roll off the production line in 2009, built by the Pininfarina-Bolloré joint venture in Turin. While we’ve seen Pininfarina badges on many cars such as the Hyundai Matrix, this is the first time we’re actually going to see a Pininfarina-badged car.
The four-seater four-door B0 (pronounced B-Zero) is powered by Bolloré’s proprietary LMP technology which uses a combination of batteries and supercapacitors. Its batteries will be located in a special compartment located under the car between its axles, helping lower the center of gravity at the same time. The battery is estimated to have a lifespan of 200,000km and a range of 250km per charge.
That’s about all we know about the car at this point of time. No performance stats about the electric motor have been released but the target is a limited top speed of 130km/h and a 0 to 60km/h time of 6.3 seconds.
Look after the jump for more shots of the B0 Concept. Click here to read the rest of Pininfarina B0 Electric Car Concept
SEAT calls it a “Spanish surprise” in its Paris 2008 press release but I’ll leave it up to you to judge whether a rehashed B7 Audi A4 is surprising in any way.
I first drove the B7 A4 back in 2006 and found it to be a very nice place to be in, especially in the 2.0 TFSI guise that I had my hands on.
The Exeo updates the A4’s interior with circular air conditioning vents instead of square ones as well as a more modern instrument panel featuring classy dark LCD panels with white fonts. The B7’s interior is still very much “in” and carries a more classy and contemporary look as compared to the B8’s more sporty jetfighter-cockpit feel.
Under the hood of the Paris show car was the 2.0 liter TFSI engine putting out 200 PS and 280Nm of torque, mounted longitudinally in the engine bay but driving the front wheels.
Look after the jump for more shots of the SEAT Exeo. Click here to read the rest of SEAT Exeo: Official Photos and Details
Proton’s Thai distributor Phranakorn Auto Sales will be launching a CNG-equipped Proton Persona in Thailand tomorrow. The Persona CNG will be able to run on both petrol and compressed natural gas, a fuel which is also available in Malaysia and though limited in availability. CNG is very popular with taxis because of its cheaper price.
Following this announcement you can probably expect Proton to offer a similiarly equipped NGV Persona in Malaysia soon. Factoring the cost of the equipment needed to allow the car to run on natural gas into the hire purchase loan will take alot of financial burden off the carbuyer who is seeking to benefit from the lower price of natural gas.
The problem is refuelling your car with CNG in Malaysia is currently only limited to selected Petronas stations which are mainly concentrated around the Klang Valley. This is an inconvenience.
No prices for the Thai market Proton Persona CNG have been released yet, but as a comparison the Neo is sold for 499,000 Thai baht while the GEN2 goes for 549,000 Thai baht. The cheapest Proton model is the Savvy which goes for 399,000 Thai baht and comprises of half of all Proton cars sold in Thailand.
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Hot on the heels of the Lexus IS250C is the Infiniti G37 Convertible which will make its European debut in the summer of 2009. The car will only make its first public appearance at the 2008 LA Auto Show this November but a teaser photo of the side profile has been previously revealed, and now a second teaser image is out showing a rear three quarter view. Look after the jump for the first teaser image. Click here to read the rest of Second teaser image of Infiniti G37 Convertible
Renault’s Z.E. Concept is your standard run of the mill concept electric vehicle that’s based on a production model with jazzed up styling so that it looks worthy to be called a concept. Instead of a petrol or diesel engine, the Renault Kangoo be bop that is the base for this concept is instead powered by a 94 horsepower electric motor with a peak torque of 226Nm, backed by lithium ion batteries. The press release does not state how this is charged so we can only assume it is a plug-in EV. All of this is pretty heavy though - the concept clocks in at 1,520kg unladen.
Perhaps more important than the run of the mill motor itself is how Renault plans to stretch the miles with a limited battery source.To help conserve battery power for the electric motor use, Renault has employed a few techniques to reduce power consumption by auxiliaries such as the lighting, heating and climate control.
Firstly, the Z.E. Concept’s bodywork functions like a Thermos flask. The body comprises of two insulating panels with a sandwich of air. This limits variations in temperature between the exterior and the interior. The internal temperature regulation system is powered by a solar panel on the roof.
As for heating, Renault plays on the psychological effect of generally feeling warmth if the face and hands are warm. So the heater system channels warmth to these key zones through means such as a heated steering wheel.
Aerodynamics have been improved by using low-energy cameras to replace wing mirrors and a special alloy wheel design that is low on drag. The headlamps use LEDs to reduce power consumption. Click here to read the rest of Renault Z.E. Concept based on new Kangoo be-bop
You may not recognise the car you see above as a Ssangyong. Granted its still in concept form but at the same time it’s still a far cry from the odd things you see coming out of their design studio. Trucks like the Actyon are actually very decent but sadly do not enjoy much sales in Malaysia because of its unorthodox looks.
This will all change from now on, and hopefully it will entice more people to try out the Chinese-owned Korean marque with German hearts. The concept above was styled by Giugaro ItalDesign, and is meant to showcase Ssangyong’s future design language. Giugaro is working on the designs of future Ssangyongs, including a total of 20 new models built on 5 new platforms over the period of 5 years beginning 2009.
The C200 is also the first monocoque Ssangyong, and the first front wheel drive car from the company, although an all-wheel driven version of the production car is also planned. Powering it is a 175 PS inline-4 petrol engine mated to a 6-speed auto.
The new model line-up will still consist primarily of the SUVs and trucks that Ssangyong has traditionally built, but more passenger cars other than the Chairman is in the works. Some of the new Ssangyongs will be based on Rover platforms, which parent company SAIC also owns.
Look after the jump for more angles of the C200 Concept. Click here to read the rest of Ssangyong C200 Concept previews new Ssangyong design language
