Geneva Motor Show – Page 6 – Automobiles Review

SUZUKI G70 and Suzuki Swift Range Extender at the 82nd GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

The 82^nd Geneva Motor Show is going to take place in March, where Suzuki Motor Corporation will display the G70 Concept. The concept shows new vision for a compact car, which has to be with minimised weight and elaborated dynamics. To be more precise, the G70 weighs just 730kg and has a drag coefficient at least 10 per cent lower than that of a current Suzuki ‘A’ segment model. As a result of this weight reduction and in combination of the highly efficient petrol engine, the CO₂ emissions are as low as 70g/km.

In addition on display will be the Swift Range Extender, which is Suzuki’s latest development in hybrid vehicle technology. The vehicle was first exhibited at the Geneva Show in 2010. However, now it has gone through further development, as a result of which there is a 100 per cent improvement in battery driving range to 30km. Furthermore the Swift Range Extender utilises a generator and a highly efficient 660cc three cylinder petrol engine to power it. Another thing to be highlighted here is that the Range Extender has a more compact lithium-ion battery which is quicker to charge, weighs less, uses fewer resources and also costs less.

Source: Suzuki

February 1, 2012

Skoda Citigo 5-door World Debut at Geneva

The 2012 Geneva Motor Show will no doubt bring excitement to all rubber-burning, rev counting motoring enthusiasts. But a motor show isn’t a genuine one without some space for practicality and sensibility. That is why Skoda is world premiering the 5-door Citigo sub-compact car there. It’s a boxy little thing that is designed to be simple, neat and easy to live with.

Power, which isn’t much, comes from a 3-cylinder, 1.0 Litre petrol engine and amounts to 44 kW/60 hp or 55 kW/75 hp. (power variations of the same engine).In its most eco-friendly form, the Green tec variant, the new Citigo achieves 4.1 l/100 km or around 69 mpg. CO2 emissions in the new Skoda are just bellow 100g/km. In the world of today, the Citigo makes a lot of sense as it counters fuel prices, congestion and overall vehicle expenses.

If one does think about it, the Citigo doesn’t need power in excess as it hasn’t got a big bulky body and a handful of luxuries to carry around. Skoda say that inside it is as roomy as possible but how roomy can that be? The features listed as “ingenious” include net holders, a photo/document holder and a bag hook on the glove compartment – hardly technical innovations. But while the Citigo lacks luxury flash, it does make up for it by being a proud holder of a 5 star Euro NCAP safety rating. So this is what the Citigo really is – “simply clever” and no more.

At its home market this member of the Skoda family has recently become the Best City Car in the largest Czech automobile poll, the Car of the Year 2012. Now the company is aiming at broadening it’s market outside of the Czech Republic. It is all part of an overall growth plan that will hopefully culminate in 2018 when Skoda annual shipments reach the 1.5 million mark. City cars such as the Citigo are the backbone of every successful company which produces great cars for all kinds of people.

Source: Skoda

January 30, 2012

Vauxhall 18-way adjustable ultimate hot seats

Vauxhall will introduce their most powerful Astra VXR at the Geneva Motor Show with front seats that are substantially lighter thanks to cutting-edge technology. The hot seats have a lower seating position and enhanced side support to cater for increased cornering loads.

The special technology includes an injection moulded sheet in the seat shells, which reduces their weight by 45% compared with a conventional shell. The sheet is filled with a composite material made from polyamide and fibreglass, and its strength and agility means that it only needs to be 2-3 mm deep, and therefore a lot lighter.

Bringing driver and front passenger lower to the Astra VXR’s centre of gravity, the new seats are mounted 17 mm lower than in the Astra GTC, and 40 mm lower than in the Astra Hatch. In addition, the new seats can be adjusted up to 18 ways, depending upon specification:

•   Entire seat backwards and forwards (2)
•   Entire seat upwards and downwards (2)
•   Seat backrest forwards and backwards (2)
•   Seat cushion angle adjustment (2)
•   Seat cushion length adjustment (2)
•   Four-way lumbar support adjustment (4)
•   Adjustable side bolster support in back (2)
•   Adjustable side bolster support in seat cushion (2)

Pneumatically adjustable cushions, found in the seats’ flanks, add further levels of adjustability at the push of a button, and provide ‘tailor-made’ seating comfort and security normally reserved for competition drivers.

The new 2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR will come with extremely powerful engine with 280PS and 400Nm. It will also feature LSD on front wheels and Brembo brake system.

Vauxhall 18-way adjustable ultimate hot seats

Source: Vauxhall

January 25, 2012

Cambiano Concept by Pininfarina – Beauty Has a Name

While the Detroit NAIAS is running its course, there seems to be a lot of hubbub around the 2012 Geneva Motor Show which is due to start in March this year. Here we have a teaser of Pininfarina‘s future concept, the “luxury environmentally friendly sport sedan”. It will be revealed at their show stand in Geneva and undoubtedly, it will be gorgeous.

Named after Pininfarina‘s home town, the Cambiano is said to have been consciously constructed with a selection of efficient materials and powered by a an eco-friendly power plant.

Pininfarina is a design company which has given the automotive industry some of the finest aesthetically charged profiles out there. The Ferrari 458 Italia, the Enzo, Alfa Romeo GTV, Jaguar XJ6, Alfa Romeo Spider and many, many more – all love children of the Pininfarina company. And this year the small town of Cambiano has two anniversaries to celebrate: 30 years with the Styling Centre (called, back in1982, the “Pininfarina Studi e Ricerche/Pininfarina Study and Research”) and 10 years of development with the Engineering Center which serves to prove that finely crafted technology and design go hand-in-hand. We personally hope to see many more anniversaries to come for Pininfarina as they bring beauty to the eye with every single project.

Pininfirina Cambiano Concept — Pininfarina Cambiano Concept

Source: Pininfarina

January 12, 2012

Kia Cee’d Fresh in Spring 2012

The hugely popular Kia Cee’d will make an appearance at the Geneva Motor Show 2012 with a whole new feel – a sporty, five-door hatchback with attention to detail in every aspect.

New stylish features garnish the exterior such as chrome lining around the windows and edgy curves on the bonnet. Striking new headlights now incorporate daytime LED’s. Inside the story is pretty much the same – ergonomic design feature, higher quality materials and driver oriented controls. No news about the oily bits still but we have high hopes for that

Kia Cee’d has always been the prime C-segment choice of customers with its unparalleled 7-year warranty, affordability and reliability. It is also still used as Top Gear’s “reasonably priced car” which has the novel task to take celebrities around the Top Gear test track.

Sales are expected to start around the second quarter of 2012, after the premier at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.

Source: Kia

January 11, 2012

Infiniti Hint Their Latest Product

Infiniti intends to pursue the ultimate driving experience delivered from electricity. They have already proven themselves apt in that field with the Infiniti M hybrid but now they are looking towards the Geneva Motor Show 2012. There they will reveal a yet to be named sports concept that will “minimize the traditional compromise between thrilling performance and sustainable mobility”.

Information is scarce really. All we have is Infiniti’s promise that we are talking about an efficient, sharp, low-emission vehicle with an even greater urban mobility. Infiniti say also that, despite an overall truthfulness to the company’s image and spirit, a new mid-ship design will provide better weight distribution. In other words most of the mechanical bits will be placed somewhere where it is least damaging to the performance of the car.

For more information supposedly, we will have to wait for the Geneva Motor Show which kicks off on the 8th of March this year.

Source: Infiniti

January 11, 2012

2012 Rinspeed “Dock+Go” mobility concept

The motto of the concept is simple: “Take 3!” and it is all about taking three axels instead of two. However this modification is based on the thinking “but only if you need them”! This third axle with two wheels is the main feature of the brand new modular mobility system from Swiss automotive visionary Frank M. Rinderknecht. Under the name “Dock+Go” the Swiss will present the vehicle from 8^th till 18^th of March at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. What is so special about this concept lies in the aim of docking “backpacks on wheels.” Moreover these single-axle “packs” can be used in different ways depending on what the driver has to do during the day. In addition they also have an insightful resolution for the so commonly met operating range problem of electric vehicles. The highlight is that neither unneeded space nor superfluous weight is carried along if it is not necessary.

As a basis “Dock+Go.” could be used any electric car: for example you can have the two-seated smart. Furthermore there is a great range of “packs” thank to which you can turn the electric-powered mini car into a dream car of any pizza delivery driver (additionally completed with an integrated heated box). As it goes for the craftsmen – there is a very special thing prepared: a toolbox pack with well-organized spaces for every tool! Eventually after the day has gone and all the work is done everything could e docked to the rear of the mini-mobile.

And here is the great news for all “high-speed” admirers. When you want to accelerate the kilometers per hour more than just 120, there have been provided an “energy pack” with a combustion engine or range extender, packed with batteries or powered by a fuel cell. Thank to it, there is an added range for reaching more distant destinations. Additionally manufacturers have shared a simple but clever trick: the docked third axle drives the rotating second axle and thus recharges the on-board battery of the city car; hence thus the first Vario-Hybrid is born! If you wonder how you can charge the batteries you can do it at home using the energy pack. The last one is recharged with solar power from the roof, thus making living and driving without any CO2 emissions a reality. A perfect car for any environmentalist isn’t it

Source: Rinspeed

December 8, 2011

Dacia Lodgy Glace

Dacia has introduced Lodgy Glace – the sports variant of the new family road car which will be launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012. Two Lodgy Glace will will take to on the grid for every race as the first will be driven by Alain Prost and the second by Nicolas Prost and Evens Stievenart.

The Lodgy Glace has been designed specifically for this unique racing series, which is renowned as one of the most challenging in motorsport. The technical regulations of the Trophée Andros are extremely strict, and impose restrictions on all aspects of the vehicle – chassis dimensions, gearbox, tyres, including the materials employed. Everything is done to limit the use of complex and costly technical solutions: instead, this series is all about finding simple, ingenious solutions, a measure which fits perfectly with the Dacia brand. The series also brings the car‘s reliability to the fore, combined with driver skill.

Custom-prepared by the teams at Tork Engineering – design, production, assembly and Sodemo – engine.

The Lodgy Glace is fully checked by Renault Sport Technologies (RST). Throughout the project, RST has contributed its technical and sporting expertise from the world of motorsport: it acts like a conductor, perfectly coordinating the different technical partners and disciplines – design, engineering, the Dacia brand and the drivers.
Check out the full specs, below!

Dacia Lodgy Glace Specs:

CHASSIS
Type: tubular steel
Suspension: double wishbones; adjustable Öhlins integrated springs/damper units

ENGINE
Type: VQ 30 developed from the Renault-Nissan Alliance 24-valve V6
Position: mid-rear
Cubic capacity (cc): 2,987
Bore x stroke (mm): 93 x 73.3
Maximum power: 355hp @ 7,500rpm
Maximum torque: 360Nm @ 5,500 rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: four-wheel drive
Gearbox: SADEV 6-speed sequential
Differentials: limited slip front and rear

BRAKES
Front: 300mm Ø steel discs
Rear: 265mm Ø steel discs
Calipers: Beringer 4 pot

WHEELS
Rims: 5.5’’ x 16’’ magnesium
Tyres: Continental Ice Racing Contact 3

DIMENSIONS/WEIGHT
Length: 4,001mm
Width: 1,900mm
Front/rear track: 1,690mm
Wheelbase: 2,500mm
Weight: 950kg
Fuel tank: 25 litres

STEERING
Type: 4 wheel steering
Hydraulic power steering
Cam-adjustable rear steering

Source: Dacia

November 14, 2011

2011 STARTECH Jaguar XJ

During the now running 81st edition of Geneva Motor Show, STARTECH has premiered its staggering sport program for the premium Jaguar XJ series, which showcases sleek yet sporty body components, unique 21-inch forged alloys and custom-styled interior ambience. (more…)

March 9, 2011

Geneva 2011: BMW 650i Convertible

BMW are exhibiting 6-Series Convertible at the Geneva Motor Show. The open-top was planned to be shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show, but for reasons unknown the drop-top never made it to the show.

650i has a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine with 413PS (304 kW) and 600 Nm (442 lb-ft) of torque. (more…)

March 3, 2011

Mazda MINAGI Concept

At the now running Geneva Motor Show, Mazda has publicly revealed for first time its brand-new Mazda MINAGI concept, offering the crowd a glimpse of its new KODO design language and new SKYACTIV technologies. (more…)

March 3, 2011

SsangYong SUT 1 concept

At the display of Geneva Motor Show 2011, SsangYong Motor has publicly premiered its latest addition, the SsangYong SUT 1 concept. (more…)

March 3, 2011

Tag: Geneva Motor Show