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Ford B-MAX – 1.0L EcoBoost, B-segment, no B-pillars

March 8, 2012 at 5:12 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Ford, International News

You might have seen the Ford B-MAX on this website before, since it was shown at the 2012 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last month, but the B-segment MPV is making its motor show debut at Geneva.

Based on Ford’s global B-car platform, which of course also underpins the popular Fiesta, the B-MAX is billed as a premium compact multi-activity vehicle (MAV). The MAV is just over four metres in length, only 11 cm longer than the five-door Fiesta and a full 32 cm shorter than the C-MAX MPV.

Ford reckons that it’s perfectly placed to meet the fast-growing demand for downsized cars, suited to congested urban conditions without making any compromise on space or passenger comfort.

One of the main highlights here is the Ford Easy Access Door System. Entry and exit is made easy with hinged front doors and sliding rear doors integrating the central body pillars. Note the lack of traditional B pillars. When both front and rear doors are open, there’s a clear aperture of more than 1.5 metres wide. This is around twice the width offered by competitors with alternative door concepts, Ford says.

Also highlighted is the B-MAX’s class-leading fuel economy and the lowest CO2 emissions for both petrol and diesel engines with ECOnetic Technologies. It groups Electric Power Assisted Steering, Gear Shift Indicator and Ford Eco Mode driver information system. Smart Regenerative Charging, which charges the battery at the most economical point in a journey, also features on selected engines.

The petrol engine line-up is led by the three-cylinder 1.0L EcoBoost, available in 100 PS and 120 PS versions. Equipped with Auto-Start-Stop, the 120 PS unit achieves class-leading CO2 emissions of 114 g/km and fuel consumption of 4.9L per 100 km. Two Duratorq TDCi diesels are available – a 95 PS 1.6L (104 g/km, 4.0L/100 km) and a 75 PS 1.5L delivering 109 g/km and 4.1L/100 km.

The B-MAX is the first European car to offer SYNC, Ford’s voice-activated, in-car connectivity system featuring Emergency Assistance, which is designed to assist occupants in the event of a crash.

Besides that, users can connect to mobile phones and music players by Bluetooth or USB, make hands-free calls and control music and other functions using voice commands. It can also read text messages aloud from phones.

Finally, the B-MAX also the first vehicle in its segment to offer Active City Stop. This pretty much works like Volvo’s City Safety system that helps prevent low speed bum kissing collisions.

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Toyota FT-Bh Concept – the hybrid car of tomorrow

March 8, 2012 at 9:35 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Toyota

Teased last month, the Toyota FT-Bh Concept has been revealed at Geneva, and what a creature it is! Expressing the “Under Priority” design language and “Keen Look” styling of Toyota’s next generation vehicles, the FT-Bh is an ultra-light, sub-800 kg, full hybrid B-segment family car.

At 3,985 mm long, 1,695 mm wide and 1,400 mm high, with a long wheelbase of 2,570 mm, the FT-Bh is close to the size of today’s Prius C, although the shape is closer to the full sized Prius. It’s very aerodynamic at just 0.235 Cd.

The concept is upheld by five key pillars targeting optimum fuel efficiency and minimised emissions: Mass Reduction; Driving Resistance in the form of aerodynamics and tyre rolling resistance; Powertrain Efficiency; Thermal Energy Management and Electricity Saving. The FT-Bh is projected to deliver average fuel consumption of just 2.1 litres per 100 km and CO2 emissions of only 49 g/km – the latter is less than half of what the 1.0L Yaris emits.

The best thing is that it will be affordable. Toyota says that the techniques and thought processes demonstrated here do not involve the use of exotic, expensive materials or complex procedures, but only those already commonplace to the automotive industry.

Made from of high-tensile steel, aluminium and magnesium, the FT-Bh concept targets an overall mass reduction of 25% over the 1,030 kg 1.0L Yaris, bringing total weight down to just 786 kg. Because the hybrid powertrain is marginally heavier than a conventional 1.0 litre engine, the overall mass reduction required of the bodyshell, interior trim, chassis and electronics is actually 340 kg, or 33% of the Yaris’ weight, with no detriment to safety.

On show here is a slew of next gen aerodynamic techniques. Air curtain intakes to the frontal extremities, air-stream alloys, airflow-disrupting door mirrors replaced by cameras, handle-less electric latch doors, a pagoda roof with a dropped rear section, and a sharply cut rear end section incorporating an air outlet slit and an underfloor spoiler all contribute to the slippery shape.

Elsewhere, the full hybrid drive system is almost 90 kg lighter than the Prius’ HSD system. The petrol engine is 38 kg lighter than that of the Prius, while the lithium-ion battery pack weighs almost half that of the Prius’ Ni-Mh battery.

The lightweight, two-cylinder, 1.0 litre Atkinson cycle engine has combustion efficiency maximised via a long stroke, high 13:1 compression ratio, next gen D4 injection system with a high fuel-injection pressure, a larger Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system with cooling and a high tumble port design.

Ultra-low friction measures have been applied to the axis receivers, timing belt and electric water pump, while thermal energy management involves the use of a low heat capacity, reduced cold friction and the careful control of heat flow to regulate engine oil/water temperatures.

The detailed info and target figures hint at a serious ongoing study by Toyota, rather than a design concept with no certain future. It will be toned down, for sure, but expect many of the features here to surface in the next generation of Toyota hybrids.

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Morgan Plus E – old school goes electric in Geneva

March 7, 2012 at 11:57 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Morgan

Morgan Motor Company has debuted an electric sportscar concept – with a five-speed manual gearbox – in Geneva. The Plus E, as it’s called, has been designed together with British tech specialists Zytek and Radshape, and it’ll be used to gauge market reaction to see if there’s sufficient demand to put the electric roadster into production.

The EV is based on a tailored version of Morgan’s lightweight aluminium platform chassis and clothed in the revised ‘traditional’ body from the new BMW V8-powered Plus 8, which is also a Geneva debutant.

Power comes courtesy of a new derivative of Zytek’s 94 hp and 300Nm electric engine, already proven with US vehicle manufacturers. Mounted in the transmission tunnel, the Zytek unit drives the rear wheels through a conventional five-speed manual gearbox.

Here, the clutch is retained, but because the motor provides torque from zero speed, the driver can choose to leave it engaged when coming to rest and pulling away, driving the car like a conventional automatic.

The boffins at Zytek say that a multi-speed transmission allows the motor to spend more time operating in its sweet spot, where it uses energy more efficiently, particularly at high road speeds. It also allows the use of lower gearing for rapid acceleration, making the car more engaging for keen drivers.

The programme will deliver two engineering concept vehicles. The first, with the five-speed manual box and Li-ion batteries, will be used for preliminary engineering assessment, while the second will be closer to potential production specification, utilising alternative battery technologies and possibly a sequential gearbox.

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Kia cee’d – second-generation debuts in Geneva

March 7, 2012 at 8:15 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Kia

Kia’s second-generation cee’d has made its debut in Geneva, and the car arrives in five-door hatchback and SW body styles. Designed, engineered and manufactured in Europe, exclusively for the European market, the car has been deemed as a more sophisticated, more efficient and a more refined offering than its predecessor.

It’s both longer (by 50 mm, to 4.31 metres) and lower (by 10 mm) than its predecessor, and despite being based on a completely new platform, the new cee’d continues on with a 2,650 mm wheelbase, one of the longest in the C-segment.

The track has also been widened on the new car, by 17 mm at the front and 32 mm at the rear, and the availability of 17- and 18-inch diameter alloy wheels means that the new car offers a minimal gap between tyres and bodywork.

Engine-wise, the new cee’d will be available with a wide variety of mills, offering power outputs from 90 to 135 ps. For Europe, the primary offerings are two Gamma petrol engines (a 1.4 MPI and a 1.6 GDI, with 100 PS and 135 PS respectively) and two diesels, these being a 90 hp 1.4 WGT and a 1.6 VGT diesel offered in two states of tune (110 and 128 PS). Certain European markets will also get a 130 PS 1.6 MPI petrol unit.

All engines will be offered with a choice of manual or automatic six-speed transmissions. Depending on version, the 1.6 GDI will also be available with Kia’s all-new six-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which is developed by Kia’s in-house transmission development team in partnership with a German-based engineering firm.

The car will be available with a number of fuel-saving technologies, organised under the company’s EcoDynamics sub-brand, to optimise efficiency and lower emissions. These technologies, available on both diesel and petrol models with manual transmission, include ISG (Start/Stop), low-rolling resistance tyres and an alternator management system (AMS).

The standard steering system employs electric power-assistance, but on certain models an all-new Flex Steer system is available, offering improved driving dynamics. This one introduces three operating modes – comfort, normal and sport – allowing the driver to vary the level of steering assistance and the weight of feedback, in order to best suit the current driving conditions and the driver’s personal preferences.

Inside the cabin, higher quality materials are featured, as is a broader range of high-tech equipment – new standard gear includes tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel adjustment, iPod/Aux and USB support, a six-speaker audio system and a multi-mode trip computer.

Other kit includes a full length (1,045 mm long) powered panoramic glass sunroof, LED daytime running lights, fixed cornering lamps (illuminated depending on steering angle) and a new Parallel Park Assist System (PPAS), which features front, side and rear sensors and automatic steering control by an on-board computer to safely perform parallel parking, with the driver remaining in control of the accelerator and brake.

The cee’d is set to be manufactured exclusively at Kia’s Zilina facility in Slovakia, and is set to go on sale across Europe from the second quarter of 2012. As for the wagon version, details on that one will only emerge closer to its European on-sale date later in the year.

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Lotus Exige S Roadster – soft top for hardcore Lotus

March 7, 2012 at 3:47 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Lotus

Here’s something new that Lotus brought to Geneva, the Exige S Roadster. The name explains everything, really, a roadster version of the refreshed Exige S that made its debut at Frankfurt last year. The Exige S is hardcore, and the Roadster is described as “more raw than a Japanese tasting menu”. Hmmm…

It’s the first time an Exige has been offered with a factory-fitted soft top. Why soft-top? Because it’s lightweight and easy to put up and take down. Target weight is under 1,100 kg, making this one of the lightest six-cylinder roadsters on the market by some margin.

The Exige S is powered by a supercharged 3.5 V6 engine with 345 hp and 400 Nm. Reaching 100 km/h from standstill takes just four seconds, while 0-160 km/h is done in 8.5 seconds. Top speed is 233 km/h. Combined fuel economy is 10 litres per 100 km.

The Roadster comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, but will also be available with Lotus’ Serial Precision Shift (SPS), a paddle-operated automated manual transmission. The SPS gearbox is lighter and more compact than a normal torque-converter automatic.

The car comes with two different suspension settings – standard setting for an “active driving experience suited to public roads” and an optional setting as part of the Race Pack for max performance, developed for track use. Launch control can be activated when the car is in Race mode. Inside, the car can be specified with a “comfort enhanced plush interior” or a stripped down style more typical of Lotus.

The Exige S Roadster has been developed for Europe and Asia, and will not be available in North America.

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Volkswagen Amarok Canyon – for the kayaking crowd

March 7, 2012 at 12:26 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Volkswagen


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Volkswagen has presented another take on its Amarok pick-up, with the Canyon concept paddling in at the Geneva show. While specially configured for the extreme sport of freestyle kayaking, it’s really a means to illustrate the versatility of pick-up configurations that can be created with the truck.

All aspects of the Amarok Canyon concept being shown in Geneva are designed to meet the requirements of the sport, from the pick-up’s running gear to details of the cargo box. The concept vehicle is significantly taller and wider than the production Amarok – it’s 40 mm higher courtesy of a body lift kit, and when the tyres are included, the concept is a full 85 mm taller than the production model.

Meanwhile, the wheel housings have been widened by 35 mm on each side to make room for the big AT tyres the Canyon wears, in this case 275/65 rubbers on 18-inch Durban type wheels painted in High Gloss Adamantium Dark. Even the exterior colour goes the exotic route – the vehicle is finished in a three-layer Baladi Orange shade.

Elsewhere, the concept gets auxiliary headlights mounted on its roof, as well as smoked rear lights and colour-contrasting underbody protection. The 4MOTION-equipped vehicle features a 177 hp 2.0 litre TDI mill, offering 400 Nm from 1,500 to 2,250 rpm.


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To aid ingress and egress in light of the raised ride height, two electrically-deployed tread plates make getting in and out of the vehicle an easy job. The tread plates, designed to be visually unobtrusive, retract when the vehicle is moving to maintain the high level of off-road capability.

The two carbon fibre kayaks are securely mounted to the cargo floor: at the rear, the floor is designed with two formed cut-outs with soft padding, while the kayak bows are mounted on a styling bar – again, in High Gloss Adamantium Dark – with straps for firmly securing the boats. The paddles are firmly latched in place on the inside surface of the easy-to-operate tailgate.

All other gear – white water helmets, flotation devices and rafting shoes – are also stowed securely, the helmets in nets on the front wall of the cargo bed and the rest of the gear in smaller boxes that can be locked with watertight lids.

Inside, the leather seats feature a two-tone styling, with the seating surfaces in a shade called Sterling, and the head restraints and side supports offset in what’s called Adamant.

The orange-red finish outside finds its way into the cabin as well – the safety belts and the air outlets wear the shade, as do the decorative seams for the seats, the three-spoke steering wheel and gear shift lever trim. Completing the kit on the concept is a three auxiliary instrument array, which displays the climbing and tilt angles of the Amarok when tackling tough terrain.

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SsangYong XIV-2 Concept – the ‘convertible’ crossover

March 7, 2012 at 11:28 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Ssangyong

More on SsangYong’s XIV-2 concept, another Geneva debutant. The ‘convertible’ crossover utility vehicle essentially previews what will shape up as a strategic global model when the form eventually goes into production. Or at least, that’s how the Korean automaker envisions it.

The 4.16 metre-long B-segment offering blends SUV and coupe lines, as well as its trump card – a fabric roof with a one-touch automatic operating system, so occupants can enjoy open air driving enjoyment at a pinch.

Inside, the concept features cabin controls that are integrated into a single central system and managed using a centre console mounted screen, and smart/mobile devices use an Auto User Interface to provide passengers with a moving communication space.

There are four independent bucket seats housed in a comfortable and luxurious environment, and materials and finishes include aluminium and carbon fibre, with red colour highlights on the dials thrown in for good measure.

The vehicle will feature two engine variants, both 1.6 litre four-cylinder power units in petrol and diesel guise. The petrol has 125 PS and 158 Nm for numbers, while output for the diesel mill is 130 PS and 300 Nm. A choice of six-speed auto and manual transmissions abound for both versions, and there’s Idle Stop and Go (ISG) in there too.

Ssangyong says the XIV-2 will be introduced in various body styles, including five-door and three-door coupé as well as an extended body version. In any case, it has all come a long way from the likes of the Musso!

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Renault ZOE electric car launched – 210 km NEDC range

March 7, 2012 at 11:05 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Renault

Renault has officially launched the ZOE electric car at Geneva. To go on sale later this year, the ZOE was designed as a pure-electric car from the ground up, and to be affordable, to Europeans at least.

In line with Renault’s “electric mobility for all” theme, the ZOE is priced close to that of a diesel-engined city car in markets where tax incentives are available. As discussed in our i-MiEV test drive report, government incentives are vital to make expensive EVs more reachable by the masses.

In France, the ZOE starts from €15,700 (after tax incentive of €5,000) and in the UK, where a subsidy of £4,333 is available, tax-paid prices start from £13,650.

That’s for the car. The cost of leasing the battery starts from €79/month (price for a 36-month contract and a distance travelled of 12,500 km/year), inclusive of comprehensive breakdown assistance, which covers flat batteries.

Apparently, more than 60 patents have been filed for ZOE’s design. Renault has developed the ‘Range OptimiZEr’ that combines three major innovations (new-generation regenerative braking, a heat pump and Michelin Energy E-V tyres).

This combo gives the ZOE a range of 210 km, the highest among production mass market EVs. In real world conditions such as in suburban use, owners will generally achieve around 100 km in cold weather and 150 km in temperate conditions.

The heat pump provides good thermal comfort without affecting the vehicle’s range. It operates in the same way as reverse-cycle air-conditioning, and consumes very little electricity – approximately 2 kW of cooling or 3 kW of heat with just 1 kW of electricity. The cabin temperature is not affected by the heat from the motor.

The Michelin Energy E-V tyre is making its world premiere, too. Developed through a four-year research and innovation program conducted jointly by Renault and Michelin, the tyre’s rubber compound, tread design and sidewalls have been engineered to withstand ZOE’s high torque and address the specific demands of EVs. Available in 15- and 16-inch versions, this tyre is fitted to all ZOE models.

The ZOE comes with Renault’s patented Caméléon charger, compatible with all power levels up to 43 kW. Charging batteries at a charging station can take between 30 minutes and nine hours. For example, ZOE can be charged in an hour at 22 kW. This intermediate power level extends battery life and puts less pressure on the power grid than the fast-charging of batteries at 43 kW.

The ZOE’s synchronous electric motor with rotor coil has a power output of 65 kW and maximum torque of 220 Nm. The car is fitted with ‘Z.E. Voice’, an alarm that warns pedestrians that the ZOE is approaching. ‘Z.E. Voice’ can be heard from 1 to 30 km/h and the driver can choose between three sounds. It can be switched off.

Like all EVs, cute little ZOE emits no CO2, NOx, CO or fine particles. Not the kind of Renault hatchback we’re used to here, but just as impressive!

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Suzuki Ertiga MPV to be introduced in Indonesia

March 7, 2012 at 10:07 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Suzuki

Suzuki says it plans to introduce the Ertiga compact MPV in Indonesia in the near future, with the aim of taking its annual sales volume to 100,000 units. Last year, the Japanese automaker sold 91,000 vehicles in the country.

The Ertiga, which debuted at the Delhi Auto Expo in January in its Maruti Suzuki form, will thus be sold in both Indian and Indonesian markets, with vehicles for the latter market being produced in Indonesia, quite likely from CKD kits prepared in India.

The 4.2 metre-long seven-seater will be offered in two engine variant guises, a 1.4 litre gasoline and a 1.3 litre diesel, with pricing to be announced at a later point, presumably at launch. Suzuki is aiming to make its large seating capacity, coupled with its compact size and frugally-sized engine, the main selling points for the vehicle.

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Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel – limited run of 200 units

March 7, 2012 at 9:25 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Infiniti, International News


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Infiniti didn’t just have the EMERG-E Concept as its newsmaker in Geneva – the company also confirmed that the FX Sebastian Vettel version, shown in concept form in Frankfurt last year, is to enter a strictly limited production run of 200 units.

The production version, which is to be sold across Europe and Middle East regions, will have the 420 PS output of the concept, making it the most powerful Infiniti yet to be sold by the European business unit. It’s also set to be the most expensive, though the eventual pricing has yet to be announced.

The donor vehicle is Infiniti’s current flagship, the V8 FX50S Premium, and changes to the base SUV include increased power, lower weight, longer gearing, increased downforce and a lowered, stiffer suspension.

The result of a collaboration between Red Bull Racing’s world F1 champion and global brand ambassador, Sebastian Vettel, and Infiniti’s chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura, the special edition is set to have its first deliveries begin from early 2013.

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