Personal Luxury Cars | Volkswagen goes soft-roading with new CrossPolo

Smaller cars may be taking over from larger SUVs around the world, but that hardly means that the go-anywhere, rough-and-tumble image of the sport-ute has disappeared from buyers' minds. That's where softroaders come in. Vehicles like the Volkswagen CrossPolo blend off-road styling with a small form factor.

VW gave us a sneak peek at the new CrossPolo back in Geneva, but is only officially revealing the full range now. Based on the new Polo hatchback, the CrossPolo gets a boost in ride height and some tasteful body cladding to give it that backcountry appeal. A new front end – treated in dark gray and blending into the wheel arches, quarter panels and rear bumper – plus 17-inch alloys and roof rails complete the package, which can be ordered by non-U.S. types with six engine options – three gasoline and three diesels – in any of six exterior shades, including two colors unique to the CrossPolo.

Personal Luxury Cars | King Abdullah greenlights Gazal 1 to become first Saudi-made car

The very first car designed and built in Saudi Arabia is officially a reality. King Abdullah unveiled the production Gazal 1 at a special ceremony yesterday and congratulated everyone who participated in the vehicle's development on a job well done. As you may recall, the Gazal 1 was a special project created by the students at King Saud University. Though built off the bones of a Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the KSU kids penned the exterior and reworked the interior to accommodate Saudi Arabia's notoriously brutal climate and demanding terrain.

When we saw the original Gazal 1 design study at this year's Geneva Motor Show, we thought the vehicle looked pretty good, especially considering how little experience the SUV's designers had in bringing a full-scale vehicle to life. From what we can tell, it looks like the production version has stuck fairly close to the big green model we saw back in March. That means the Toyota FJ Cruiser-style roof has made its way into reality along with the very International grille.

It works for us, especially considering the go-anywhere Mercedes-Benz components bolted underneath. No one's said what's under the hood of the Gazal 1, but we're guessing the same 382-horsepower 5.5-liter V8 from the standard G550 is a good bet.

[Source: Arab News]

Personal Luxury Cars | Toyota FT-86 to be called FR-S when it reaches production?

It's been awhile since we've heard anything on the tasty little Toyota FT-86 Concept, but it looks like we may finally have an idea of what the car will be called when it hits showrooms. If the rumors buzzing around the Toyobaru forums are to be believed, the Japanese manufacturer won't resurrect any of its fabled names from the company's past. Instead, it's possible that the sportscar may carry an FR-S badge. Toyota just filed a trademark application for the name, so there's a good chance that this particular internet whisper may have some meat to it.

We haven't completely decided where we stand on the FR-S name, partly because we had become so accustomed to calling the front-engine, rear-wheel drive heathen the FT-86. In the end, though, we don't really care what's on the car's badges so long as it makes it to production as an affordable, strong-performing coupe. Toyota could use something with a pulse in a big way, and a spiritual successor to the AE-86 Corolla would be just the ticket.

[Source: Toyobaru.net]

Audi wants your help designing its future electric vehicles

So you think you've got what it takes to design an electric car? If so, Audi is interested in hearing from you. The company just kicked off an electric car competition that challenges people to try their hand at designing the cars of tomorrow. The competition is open to anyone with an eye for design who also knows a thing or two about electric cars. Audi officially calls the competition "The Production of Electric Automobiles," and concept ideas are currently being accepted. Unfortunately, the site is in German, making entry a wee bit more difficult, but this translated Google page will help English-only speakers out.

There are a few guidelines that must be followed in order to have chance at winning the contest, but it's pretty simple stuff. Of those who do enter before the July 31st deadline, Audi will select eight finalists to attend a workshop to perfect and resubmit their ideas. The company will then choose an overall winner in November. Bernd Griesbach, an Audi spokesperson for the event, hints at what the company expects from entrants:

We are convinced that we will receive many innovative and creative entries because the competition is a unique opportunity for young employees and potential employees. It is important that the concept can be easily implemented and demonstrates clear progress over the state of the art.

Interested? Give it a try, as there's certainly nothing to lose. If you do well enough, your design might even be implemented in future Audi products and could even land you a spot at the company. How's that for forward momentum? Follow the jump to learn more about the contest. Hat tip to Larzen!

[Source: Audi]

Hexawheel design study picks-up where Mercedes-Benz leaves off

Looking at luxury sedans like the S-Class and drop-tops like SLK, it'd be all to easy to forget that Mercedes-Benz has a rich background in off-roaders. But the Three-Pointed Star is also the maker of such rockcrawlers as the legendary Geländewagen and the Unimog. And that's the expertise that Iranian designer Siyamak Rouhi Dehkordi has tapped into with his Hexawheel concept.

Drawing inspiration from the articulated frames of insects, the Hexawheel employs six driven wheels on an articulated chassis with a flexible drivetrain. Measuring nearly 16 feet long with a foot and a half of ground clearance, the go-anywhere Hexawheel is designed to climb over tall vertical surfaces. The Persian mechanical engineer was also responsible for the F1-inspired Ferrari Zobin concept.

[Source: Car Body Design]

GM cancels plan to sell Chevrolet Orlando in U.S.

Rumor has it that General Motors won't be selling the new seven-passenger Orlando here in the United States come 2011, or ever for that matter. According to Automotive News, GM has said that it will be skipping the people-mover in order to focus its attention on the models Chevrolet currently sells. Margaret Brooks, Chevrolet's product marketing director for small cars and crossovers, said that the company's current portfolio easily takes care of any family's needs.

While buyers in Canada, Europe and Asia will still be able to buy the new Orlando as scheduled, GM has decided to increase production of the Equinox, Traverse and Malibu here in the U.S. to make up for the missing model. The move is still somewhat of a shock, especially considering how hard GM was pushing the Orlando as part of its new product lineup just one year ago.

The decision to drop the Orlando does make sense, though. Despite the fact that the vehicle was based on the much smaller Cruze platform, it would be elbowing its way into an already packed showroom dominated by the likes of the popular Equinox. Those needing a little more space for their brood or luggage can still easily step up to a Traverse.

Meanwhile, Automotive News reports that the Cruze is still scheduled to begin production later this year.


[Source: Automotive News]

Beijing 2010: Honda Li Nisn Everus sedan concept

The Beijing Motor Show is well under way, and Honda is showing off a new concept slated for the Chinese market. Called the Li Nian Everus, the car is the fruit of a partnership between the Japanese automaker and its Chinese partner, Guangqi Honda Automobile. We don't have too many details on the sedan other than the fact that at this point, it's nothing more than a concept.

Judging by the renderings, we're tempted to guess this thing has more than a little Civic DNA swimming around in its blood stream, though it looks like Honda raided the Acura design department for the car's less-than-traditional nose and rear-end.

Speaking of the Civic, it would make some sense if Honda swapped a little sheet metal and called it a day. Honda's compact is sold under the Dongfeng Honda banner, leaving Guangqi Honda Automobile without a comparable model. Our guess is that when the Everus comes to market, it will be slightly more upscale and boast more standard niceties than its sibling.

Beijing 2010: MG Zero Concept

MG has its eyes set on the juicy Chinese small hatch segment, and the company's first crack at the market debuted in the form of Zero Concept at this year's Beijing Motor Show. At shave over 13 feet long, the pint-sized five-door is designed to offer up more style than space. MG says the vehicle was penned by Anthony Williams, the brand's British director of design, and offers drivers a unique interior loaded with your standard concept-tech. The Zero boasts a floating center console, complete with touch screen controls, as well as some kind of communication system on the rear of the vehicle. Yeah, we don't get that part, either.

MG hasn't said much about the vehicle's details, including powerplant options, fuel economy or when we might expect to see a production version crop up. While we aren't exactly smitten with the car's nose, the rest of the design would do well in a segment dominated by the drab. Though concrete information is suspiciously absent at the moment, the company says the Zero should be a clear indication of where the brand is headed in the coming years.

Beijing 2010: Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break concept is the four-door coupe of wagons

The shooting break (yes, it's 'break,' not 'brake', according to M-B's marketers) design isn't something new – we've seen it before in smaller vehicles like the original BMW Z3 M Coupe. Today, though, Mercedes-Benz takes the shooting break concept one step further with the addition of two rear doors and a healthy dose of next-generation style. It's the CLS Shooting Break Concept, folks. Think of this as the four-door coupe for the wagon segment.

The exterior design is awash with swoopy shapes that mimic both coupe and hatchback/wagon elements. Full LED headlamps and sharp 20-inch wheels round off the whole outside package, and if we're honest, we really like it.

Under the hood lies a direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 capable of producing 306 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque (the exact same output as a Cadillac CTS, for what it's worth). Mercedes-Benz hasn't released estimates, but the automaker says that the concept car "sets new standards among the competition in terms of fuel consumption."

Beijing 2010: Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept, HHR goes future tech

While Chrysler has failed to find a way to update or replace the retro-styled PT Cruiser, we can definitely see this as a forthcoming replacement to the Chevrolet HHR. The Volt MPV5 is slightly larger than HHR, but fills a similar market niche. While Chevrolet hasn't announced a firm production commitment, it wouldn't be surprising to see the MPV5 built in both conventional and ER-EV forms to help jack up GM's light truck CAFE numbers. The roomy interior will likely find a bigger audience than the smaller Volt while still yielding a 32 mile electric range, and if we had to guess, we'd see the Orlando-inspired plug-in EV hit the market by 2013.

Beijing 2010: Ford Start concept

As we were checking out the new Ford Start concept at the Beijing Motor Show, we ran into the head of Ford's advanced studio in California, Freeman Thomas, and the mini car's lead exterior designer, Jeff Nield.

According to Nield, he wanted to create a vehicle that retained elements of Ford's "Kinetic Design" language while at the same time create something more subdued, able to stand apart from the noise surrounding the show. Thus the Start has a cleaner simpler shape that's slightly more serious than past concepts. Nield mentioned the Mini and how it's always had a cute, happy demeanor about it. He wanted to create something different – a thing of beauty injected with very natural, organic elements.

Thomas explained that the designers wanted to experiment with a hybrid construction consisting of a mix of aluminum, high strenght steel and composites. This allowed the creation of a very open, airy cockpit, with thin pillars for good visibility, while also providing occupants a feeling of safety with the high belt line.

One of the more interesting interior details is the monorail front seat tracks that have the thrones on a central pedestal, thus increasing foot room for rear passengers. There are no production plans for any of this right now, but some of the ideas could shine a light on where to go next – and that turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder is definitely finding its way to market.

Beijing 2010: BMW surprises with Concept Gran Coupé

Four-door coupes are nothing new these days, what with vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Volkswagen CC proving that these stylish sedans do, in fact, have a place in the automotive world. What's more, Audi's swoopy A7 is nearing its final stages of development, and higher-end coupe-sedans like the Aston Martin Rapide and Porsche Panamera have indeed caught our attention in recent months. BMW is now jumping on that train, and the automaker has officially debuted its Concept Gran Coupé at this year's Beijing Motor Show.

Strip away the rear doors, and the design of the Gran Coupé is awfully close to what we'll see on the next-generation 6 Series. The sporty, flat design of the concept is really stunning, and BMW points out that the Gran Coupé is actually 100 millimeters (four inches) flatter than both the 5 and 7 Series sedans. Combine that with frameless doors and LED lighting all around and what we have here is a rather stunning design.

BMW is one of the only luxury automakers not currently participating in the four-door coupe niche market, and we won't be surprised if a production version of the Gran Coupé hits the streets within the next couple of years. Even so, we're interested to see how this new design language influences the rest of the automaker's portfolio, even beyond the 6 Series.


[Source: BMW]

Beijing 2010: Chevrolet Volt MPV5 crossover revealed

The rumored extended range electric crossover we saw revealed in General Motors' design patent drawings is now a reality. The Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept will make its debut tomorrow at the Beijing Motor Show, and just as we suspected from seeing Volt design chief Bob Boniface's name on the patent, this five-passenger crossover rides on the same Voltec architecture as the Volt.

The new Chevrolet concept integrates design elements from the Volt, including the headlight, taillamps and grille, with a five-door hatch body style very similar to the larger Orlando and a length about four inches longer than the current HHR.

Propulsion comes from the same 150 horsepower engine and 16 kilowatt-hour battery used in the Volt. However, its larger frontal area and increased drag mean that this one only has a 32-mile electric range as opposed to the Volt's 40 miles. The Crossover has full seating for five and 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the seats. The dashboard appears to be lifted directly from the Volt, including the dual LCD displays. We wouldn't be at all surprised to see this as the second Voltec product in the GM North American lineup. If built, this would likely be classed as a light truck and do wonders for GM's CAFE numbers on that side of the business.


[Source: General Motors]

Ugur Sahin dreams up Aston Martin Gauntlet concept

Some of you might remember Ugur Sahin. He's a designer, specializing in grand touring cars that make our mouths water. Starting with already beautiful designs, he somehow manages to make shapely Chevrolet Corvettes and Ferraris look even better. From the Corvette Z03 to the Ferrari Dino and Ferrari-599-based USD GT-S Passionata, he's created some of the most exotic and graceful shapes we've ever had the pleasure to lay eyes on.

The latest automaker to earn Sahin's attention is Aston Martin. His latest design, the Gauntlet, blends some of our favorite design cues into a wholly unique package that's simultaneously sensual and brutal. Study the images and you might see a bit of One-77 in the mix, along with a dash of DB AR1, or perhaps you are carried back to the old DB3S, a car that Ugur mentions specifically as inspiration for the Gauntlet.

There's also some Maserati GranTurismo mixed with a little Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione as well, but we're definitely not complaining. It's a terrific design that has us wishing that Aston is looking at Sahin's designs for the next DBS and V12 Vantage. For those who still lament the loss of the Vanquish, with its broad shoulders and studly swagger, this might be the car for you. It's definitely earned a spot in our dream car garage.

Geneva 2010: Toyota-based Aston Martin Cygnet

Remember the day when Aston Martins were two-seat sportscars? Yeah, neither can we because a lot's happened since then. The Rapide four-door. The Lagonda crossover concept. And this, the Cygnet.

News first broke that Aston was working on a city car based on the Toyota iQ back in June, with initial details and photos released half a year later. Now the Cygnet has made its official auto show debut here in Geneva, modestly nestled in between the company's Vantages and DB9s.

The idea is to provide existing Aston owners with an urban tender in which to zip around congested city centers like London. Say what you will of the idea, but the fit and finish on the Cygnet look suitably Aston. Just shrunken down and chopped up. With it, Aston Martin just might end up redefining what an Aston Martin is. But a sportscar, good sir, it most certainly is not

Geneva 2010: Mercedes-Benz F 800 Style concept

While most automakers have scaled back their auto show vehicle press introductions due to budgetary cutbacks or newfound modesty, Mercedes-Benz hasn't forgotten the value of theater. As part of its press conference today showing off several models, the Three Pointed Star kept it flashy with dancers who tubed and bungied in from the ceiling, not to mention the lights blaring debut of the SLS AMG F1 safety car with Messrs. Rosberg and Schumacher inside. Peeling back the frosting, the real focus of Benz's show is this car, the F 800 Style concept.

Said to preview the next CLS, the F 800 Style is a plug-in hybrid with a 272-horsepower gasoline-fed V6 engine. Together with the electric motor, the combination is said to be good for over 400 horsepower and incorporate an electric-only range of 18 miles. Benz also says that the F 800 Style could incorporate a fuel cell powertrain.

The five-passenger sedan looks quite tidy in person, with a shorter tapered trunk than the current CLS, and indeed, the entire concept appears smaller than the aforementioned, with a bluffer face that is said to presage the new face of Mercedes. When viewed in profile, the front looks almost Maserati GranTurismo.

In addition, the F 800 also shows a future derivation of Benz's COMAND all-in-one interior control system that includes a touchpad console. Unlike the production touchpad application in the new Audi A8, the F800 also employs a camera that "...records video images of the user's hand as it works the pad. The live image of the hand is presented in transparent form on the central display above the center console." Uh-huh.

The F 800 also features an evolution of the company's Distronic Plus system that is optimized for use in traffic jams as well as a 360-degree implementation of its Pre-Safe system that monitors for rear impacts. If it senses an impending rearward crash, the system applies the brakes to prevent the car from being pushed forward into other vehicles or pedestrians, though the driver can take control of the vehicle and override the system by hitting the accelerator should that be the safer option.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Geneva 2010: Citroen Survolt Concept

Of all the automakers in the world – and by the world, we mean the world outside the United States – Citroen's design arguably runs the gamut more than any other's. On the one hand, you've got cheap, compact and quirky hatchbacks like the comically named Revolte concept revealed in Frankfurt half a year back. On the other, you've got the GTbyCitroen, an extreme exotic supercar concept, now slated for limited production. In between lies a gorge as big as, well, France itself. But the chevron-emblazoned automaker has bridged the divide this year in Geneva with an intriguing concept called the Survolt.

Not digging the Revolte/GT comparo? Think Bugatti Veyron meets Chevy Volt, circa "Hackers". Beneath the compact sportscar shape, splattered with more neon graphics than "Tron", lies an all-electric powertrain

SURVOLT: GLAMOROUS, FREE-SPIRITED AND HIGHLY-CHARGED!

Survolt is the continuation of CITROËN'S exploration of distinctive and original electric vehicles, initiated with the Revolte concept car revealed at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show. Survolt turns received notions on their heads through its radically new vision in a consummate blend of high-fashion glamour and extravagance with motor-racing punch.

The desire to overcome one's limits, take things further, dare and create is written in CITROËN'S DNA. Breaking with convention, shaking up the rules, shifting borders and surprising continuously is the passionate quest and leitmotiv of a brand that over its 90-year history has never ceased to develop innovative objects ahead of their time. Survolt is one of these. It takes the genetic material of Revolte and adds an extroverted sports dimension to the mix.

Like a luxury accessory that transcends an outfit, Survolt is CITROËN'S answer to an automotive universe that all too often seems morose. Survolt casts aside protocol and transgresses existing codes to initiate a new kind of stylish, sporty and elegant supermini. Bucking current trends and pointing to the future of sleek coupés, it unites elegance, glamour and sporting passion, sublimating this last quality with its electric drivetrain.

Innovative and sensual

With its compact dimensions – 3.85 m long, 1.87 m wide and 1.20 m high – Survolt reappropriates sports car styling cues to form an all-new and revolutionary concept.

At the front, the distinctive vehicle badge reigns elegantly above the large oval-shaped grille, its centre home to the striking double chevron. The car's "look" – charming and profound at the same time – attracts and holds the viewer's gaze with a promise of transgressions suddenly made possible. Its slim, horizontal head lamps, inspired by high-performance sports coupés, exert a magnetic appeal, while an LED light signature adds a contemporary, high-tech touch.

Survolt was made to gobble up the miles and glide over roads. Low-slung and sleek, it features strong contrasts between the voluptuous bonnet and generous, sculpted flanks, highlighted by emphatic wheel arches that promise performance and thrills.

Survolt's air-slicing, flowing design is heavy on excitement and sensuality. It conveys agility, precision and vitality, barely containing a powerful, well-defined musculature under refined and luxurious wraps. The rear features the elegant light signature of Revolte together with a spoiler in an essential reference to motor sport.

Survolt is innovative and powerful but also knows how to turn on the charm, revealing its finest assets to catwalk in motor sports arenas. It features two-tone paint, hues of fuchsia and charcoal grey, and plays with materials and volumes. The curves shift from satin-smooth to shiny, breaking definitively with the classic masculine codes of the sports world. Survolt continues the work begun with Revolte by once again blending two universes with contrasting appearances. Survolt eschews decorum to create its own styling language.

The inclusion of materials such as chrome and aluminium inevitably recall the spheres of luxury goods and motor sport. Survolt is a perfect combination between high fashion and car racing, a unique alliance with the same philosophy and the same cues as Revolte, namely performance, cutting-edge technology and excellence.

Elegantly sporty

Survolt's cockpit is designed like a floating cell, a glass setting held between chrome-finished roll bars like some magnificent piece of jewellery. The leitmotiv with Survolt is to transgress the conventions of the luxury world and combine them elegantly with those of the sporting world.

The cabin was imagined as a cross between two worlds that by their essence are opposed. This union begets an organic universe, both flowing and technical, from which the driver's station springs forth. The interior as a whole was designed to bring the two occupants comfort and refinement, triggering singular pleasure and an outstanding experience.

The car's generous glazed area brings light and a sensation of space, light years from that offered by today's sports cars.

Transcendent power and excitement

Ahead of its time, Survolt captivates with its innovative, environment-friendly technology. Like Revolte, Survolt is powered by electricity, thus combining sports performance with environmental respect and sustainable development. Still particularly rare in the racing world, this technological solution also embodies a previously unthinkable alliance. But CITROËN dares and creates, transgressing conventions to better sublimate them. With irreproachable ecological credentials, the drivetrain blends driving pleasure, thrills, performance and vitality, and all in extreme comfort, since the car is silent in operation.

CITROËN is proposing a new automotive vision with Survolt, in a move that is entirely consistent with its 90-year history as an innovative brand focused on creativity and technology.

Chicago 2010: DeltaWing Indycar concept

As we speak, the IZOD IndyCar series is looking over a number of proposals for the next generation of open-wheel racecars. One of those, the design from Dallara, has already been shown. Today at the Chicago Auto Show, DeltaWing pulled the covers off its design proposal, and the machine looks completely different from anything we've yet seen circling the Brickyard.

At first glance, a couple of interesting features jump out, not the least of which are the giant vertical rear wing and super-skinny front track. The cars also seem much longer than current Indycars, though we'd need to see the two machines next to one another to come to any real conclusions on the matter.

In any case, DeltaWing has a pretty radical design on its hands. Plus, Chip Ganassi Racing's Ben Bowlby, who formerly led design at Lola, is behind the effort

Chicago 2010: Honda Odyssey Concept

Honda just unveiled a concept version of its next-generation Oddity Odyssey minivan at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, and it was one of those rare instances where the media was actually seeing it for the first time, as God intended unveilings to be. Although billed as a concept, the 2011 Honda Odyssey Concept looks almost production ready... other than its door handles, lights and a few other details.

While the current third-generation van is the best selling minivan in America two years running, Honda decided not to play it safe with the redesign. The all-new fourth-generation Odyssey is a big departure for Honda. It's lower and wider, taking an almost Mercedes R-Class stance. Although they claim it's only one inch lower and 1.4 inches wider, it looked like a lot more than that. The 2011 Odyssey also features a "lightning bolt" lower greenhouse border that reminded us of the Nissan Quest a bit. Honda says it helps with rearward visibility.

The production version of this 2011 Honda Odyssey should be in dealerships this fall, and will likely look a lot like this concept. While no specifics were mentioned, it is said to have a V6 that will deliver slightly better fuel economy. The interior was completely blocked off so we aren't sure what they have in store for us inside, but Honda reps promised something big. One thing Honda did share was the fact that this Odyssey is all-American. From inspiration to target market, styling to assembly, this is truly a product of the U.S. of A.

Detroit 2010: Volvo C30 EV Concept

As expected, Volvo brought along an all-electric C30 hatchback concept to the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. While this isn't a production vehicle at this point, Volvo says the car is a fully drivable prototype with a complete interior, full instrumentation, and enhanced battery packaging.

We made our way down to Volvo's area here at Cobo in Detroit to check the battery-electric C30 out for ourselves, and honestly we came away impressed. As Volvo says, the C30 EV is a complete package with little evidence that it's not a production model.