Archive for Automotive Videos

The C30 hatchback has been updated to feature Volvo’s new front-end look, as per the convertible C70 recently. Most of the changes are aesthetic and also include new colour choices for the exterior and interior – total configurations thanks to the various options results in 2,561,328 possible combinations.

Other than the looks, the other most significant change to me is the new ’sports chassis’ option which basically means stiffer bushes, a 10% lower steering ratio, and suspension parts (these include new monotube stiffer dampers, stiffer springs and stiffer roll stabilizers) that are stiffer by 30%.

The star engines of the range are the T5 and D5 models. The petrol T5 puts out 230 horses and 320Nm of torque from its 2.5 liter inline-5 while the D5’s 2.4 liter turbodiesel makes 180hp and 400Nm of torque, yet consumes only 6.2 liters per 100km.

Look after the jump for photos and videos of the C30.

Click here to read the rest of Volvo C30 hatchback receives facelift

No, this isn’t a video about Schumi trashing the new Ferrari through the bends but more of Schumacher waxing lyrical (er, sort of) about the new Ferrari 458 Italia in this third video in a series which features Ferrari and related (Pininfarina?) executives giving their scripted opinions about the new car. Nothing being said is particularly interesting but watch it just for the sights and sounds of the 458 Italia on the track.

Other Ferrari 458 Italia Videos:
VIDEO: Ferrari 458 Italia Styling Elements
New video on the new Ferrari 458 Italia

Click here to read the rest of Schumacher on the new Ferrari 458 Italia

Is Frankfurt 2009 the motorshow of the alternative energy sports car? We already have BMW’s Vision EfficientDynamics concept with its diesel-electric all-wheel drive system and Mercedes-Benz’s electric SLS AMG, but now Audi looks like they’re set to bring in an electric version of the R8 to the tables, rumoured to be called the Audi R8 ePerformance Concept. I think after watching the total of four teaser video that Audi’s just released (find it after the jump), you’ll find that this is most likely true.

Click here to read the rest of 4 teaser videos for Audi’s new electric R8?

I guess she overestimated how far the EV mode would take her…

Two new video clips on BMW’s new Vision EfficientDynamics Frankfurt showcar have been released by the boys at Munich, making it a total of three videos now if you include the first one. One is 3 minute long video while the second one is a short 3D teaser of just under a minute long. I’ve also added the first video in case you missed it, so head on after the jump where you will find all three videos. You can also check out my previous post on the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept car to read more on BMW’s new turbodiesel-hybrid sports car concept.

Click here to read the rest of Two more videos of the BMW Vision ED Concept

It’s hard to tell what real world performance and experiences will be like for now but one thing’s for sure (though you can read my first impression story when I got to drive the car in Korea), the new Kia Forte Koup is a stunner when it comes to its looks.

If you just can’t get enough of the Koup, check out this fresh new CGI-heavy video from Kia promoting its new Kia Forte Koup after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of VIDEO: Kia Koup Promotional Footage

Does the car above look familiar to you? If you were online on this blog sometime last night you would have read about the new Renault Fluence. Yes, the Renault-Samsung SM3 was launched before the Fluence and the two cars are essentially one and the same.

Looking at the details released regarding the SM3 we discover more about the two cars. The platform that underpins the cars is the Megane’s Renault-Nissan C-platform, which is one segment higher than the stretched B-platforms that underpin the Latio and the Sylphy here in Malaysia.

It makes me wonder, considering the SM3 was originally a rebadge of our Sentra, will this model end up being a replacement for Nissan’s C-segment contender here in Malaysia once the Sylphy reaches its End-Of-Life? For awhile there was also a rumour that the Penske Automotive Group’s soon to be newly acquired Saturn brand would be selling this car in the US as a new model and that the Penske team were in Korea in July to do evaluations.

If you read the Fluence story you’ll also know that this car is set to be turned into an electric vehicle in 2011 and will be offered in certain countries like Israel in collaboration with Project Better Place. Basically, Project Better Place hopes to turn electricity into an easily accessible power source on the go via charging stations and automated battery-swap stations.

Look after the jump for more pix of the SM3, but what’ll interest you more is a video demonstration of Project Better Place’s battery swap station. It’s really pretty cool.

Click here to read the rest of Renault-Samsung SM3: Korean-rebadged Fluence

Here’s some beauty footage of the MINI Coupe Concept’s exterior and interior that BMW typically produces for publications to slice up and use in their videos. You don’t really get to see the car in much action, but in typically quirky MINI style there’s bound to be a promo video of it later depicting the Coupe Concept actually driven by people that are as fun (and overdressed) as their car looks.

Click here to read the rest of VIDEO: MINI Coupe Concept Beauty Shots

The future is one where engines have not just been downsized but completely eliminated, or at least that’s the prophecy that the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics makes. The Frankfurt-bound concept has been teaser in this new video from BMW. It’s a bumper-view of the concept car racing down some green B-roads and guess what – no engine noise. It’s definitely a really powerful electric car of sorts, not sure if it will be powered by plug-in chargeable batteries or hydrogen fuel cell. But the sight of the bizarre tail lamps above makes the question of how this new concept will look like an equally big questions as what it’s powered by. Watch the video after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept teaser

Saab’s Head of Brand Design says these are exciting times for Saab and that’s quite true actually, as Saab now has a new car and a new owner as well.

GM and Koenigsegg’s deal has been confirmed and 100% of Saab stock will be transferred to Koenigsegg by the end of the year, subject to terms and conditions including funding commitments and transitional assistance for Saab by GM from being a GM brand into a new independent marque.

The new Saab 9-5 looks considerably less like its predecessors and it reminds me a little of a large Skoda Fabia with a butt, for some reason. It’s got design cues inspired by the Saab Aero X concept car. The interior is typically Saab with jetfighter cockpit inspiration and the backlighting is all done in an old school green. I think one of the last manufacturers around to use green backlighting was Ford with the pre-facelift Focus, Ranger and etc. Know of any else? But Saab’s green has a much more premium look to it – more jetfighter instrumentation than pasar malam digital clock.

The engine options can take either one of 3 fuels – petrol, diesel and E85 bioethanol. At launch time, the 9-5 will have a 160hp inline-4 turbodiesel, a 220hp 2.0 liter turbocharged petrol engine, and a 2.8 liter V6 turbo with XWD all-wheel drive making 300 horses and 400Nm of torque to help get all those horses down onto the tar. The BioPower E85 engine will be available after the launch – a 2.0 liter unit. Another petrol engine will also be added, an entry level 180hp 1.6 liter petrol.

Loads of buzzwords are packed into the marketing brochure – head-up information display (HUD); adaptive headlights (Bi-Xenon Smart Beam); adaptive cruise control; Saab DriveSense adaptive chassis with real-time damping control; keyless entry and starting; dual-zone climate control; dynamic parking assistance, and Saab XWD with eLSD. The car’s entertainment system uses a hard drive for map data and has reserved 10GB of dedicated music storage.

Look after the jump for a video and photos of the new 9-5.

Click here to read the rest of New 2010 Saab 9-5 unveiled: Photos and Video

I’m sure there are some of you that wonder why the new Ferrari 458 Italia looks the way it does, especially those that don’t really like it. According to Ferrari, every design feature on the 458 Italia is driven by aerodynamics, and the video after the jump explains each grille’s function as well as how the deformable winglets at the grille area work. Watch the video after the jump. There’s also one previous video, in case you missed that.

Click here to read the rest of VIDEO: Ferrari 458 Italia’s Styling Elements