Volvo will showcase its latest plug-in hybrid technology in the new 2012 XC60 Plug-in Hybrid concept car at next week's Detroit auto show.
The Swedes have been developing a range of plug-in hybrid cars, using both petrol and diesel. The hybridised V60 which goes on sale in Europe later in 2012 uses diesel, whereas the new SUV drinks from the green pump.
Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid concept car: the lowdown
The new XC60 show car uses the latest Volvo powertrain technology; the company is turning its back on five- and six-cylinder engines to focus on downsized four-pots, so the XC60 plug-in has a 276bhp petrol turbo.
It's mated to a 69bhp electric motor for a total range of 600 miles. Drivers can pick between three modes:
• Pure All-electric mode, good for a zero-emissions range of around 30 miles
• Hybrid Mix of petrol and electric power, Volvo claims 53g/km of CO2
• Power Unleaded guzzle mode, with a fulsome 345bhp
Volvo claims 0-60mph in 5.8sec – achieved when the 276bhp petrol engine is working in tandem with the e-motor. Drive is sent to the wheels through an eight-speed gearbox. It's badged as a T8 to reflect the fact that it is as powerful as a V8.
Diesel hybrids add considerable cost to production, but won't appeal in markets where unleaded rules. Volvo openly admits the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid is designed to appeal to China and the US.
Will Volvo actually build the XC60 Plug-in?
No date has been set for production yet, but the chief executive of Volvo said the technology would be launched by 2014. The Swedes are adding hybrid packs across the range.
Volvo isn't alone in developing petrol and diesel hybrid technology. After the Japanese pioneered the technology with petrol only, European brands are now moving in with derv know-how. Jaguar Land Rover is working on both kinds of hybrid, as is Peugeot Citroen for its Hybrid4 system.
'The technology in the XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept is as ingenious as it is unique,' said Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation. 'You can make really green progress on the road without compromising on any of the luxury car's renowned properties. No other manufacturer has succeeded in delivering fuel economy and electrical range on this level in a capable, spacious performance car with 350 horsepower on tap.
'This world-class petrol plug-in hybrid technology, featuring a state-of-the-art four-cylinder engine from our upcoming Volvo Environmental Architecture engine family, will reach our American showrooms in a couple of years. However, it is too early to say which model will be the first to feature this solution.'
Thứ Ba, 28 tháng 2, 2012
Ford EcoSport baby SUV concept (2012) first pictures
Ford has shown the new EcoSport concept car – a showcase for a potential new small SUV. Ford calls it 'a new compact SUV.'
It's based on Fiesta running gear, to give you an idea of the baby 4x4's footprint. And the best news? Ford plans to sell a car very like this, as the company continues to expand its model range despite slimming down its architectures.
Ford EcoSport concept: the lowdown
Ford chief executive officer Alan Mulally is to unveil the EcoSport at the 2012 Delhi auto show.
It's being unveiled in India as the Blue Oval plans to launch this – and seven other new models – in the country by the middle of the decade.
At this stage, Ford will only confirm the baby 4x4 is planned for sale in India, Brazil and other Asian markets, although it hints that other markets – including potentially Europe – could be added at a later date.
The Fiesta B-platform is destined to underpin more than two million vehicles a year by 2015.
A baby 4x4 developed for emerging markets
The Ford EcoSport was developed in South America, but is part of the company's One Ford strategy so it has been engineered for sale globally.
The previous EcoSport was launched in South America in 2003 and has sold 700,000 vehicles since.
The chunky styling is wrapped around the Fiesta architecture, meaning that the engines on offer will be familiar to supermini buyers.
Ford's new 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine will be one of the powertrains available.
It's based on Fiesta running gear, to give you an idea of the baby 4x4's footprint. And the best news? Ford plans to sell a car very like this, as the company continues to expand its model range despite slimming down its architectures.
Ford EcoSport concept: the lowdown
Ford chief executive officer Alan Mulally is to unveil the EcoSport at the 2012 Delhi auto show.
It's being unveiled in India as the Blue Oval plans to launch this – and seven other new models – in the country by the middle of the decade.
At this stage, Ford will only confirm the baby 4x4 is planned for sale in India, Brazil and other Asian markets, although it hints that other markets – including potentially Europe – could be added at a later date.
The Fiesta B-platform is destined to underpin more than two million vehicles a year by 2015.
A baby 4x4 developed for emerging markets
The Ford EcoSport was developed in South America, but is part of the company's One Ford strategy so it has been engineered for sale globally.
The previous EcoSport was launched in South America in 2003 and has sold 700,000 vehicles since.
The chunky styling is wrapped around the Fiesta architecture, meaning that the engines on offer will be familiar to supermini buyers.
Ford's new 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine will be one of the powertrains available.
Peugeot 107 facelift (2012) first official pictures
Peugeot has shown its newly facelifted 107 city car at the Brussels motor show. It's the first major change to the Franco-Japanese city triplets.
The 107 was jointly developed with Toyota and Citroen and it remains a big seller in the fast-rising city car sector. Peugeot sells around 16,000 in a typical year, making it the third best-selling models in its range.
What's new on the facelifted 2012 Peugeot 107?
The outside of the 107 has been given a modest reskin, bringing it in line with Peugeot's new aesthetic.
So the slightly waisted, tight-fitting look is present and correct, with a sculpted-out area of the bonnet adorned by the combative lion badge.
The grille and bumper graphics are lightly retouched too, while the nose now sports LED day-running lights.
When can I buy the revised 2012 Peugeot 107?
February 2012, priced from £7995. Sounds like it's been facelifted just in time to tackle the new VW Up.
The three-cylinder petrol engine has been tweaked to nudge emisisons under 100g/km by a single digit of CO2. Economy correspondingly climbs to 66mpg.
The 998cc triple has 68bhp and 70lb ft of torque. Stir the five-speed gearbox fast enough and you might just pass 62mph in 14.2sec and top out at 100mph.
What else is new?
A little bit of extra tech is on board now, with Bluetooth connectivity and USB plugs for music access.
The Peugeot 107 is available as a three-door or five-door; the latter hogs 60% of UK sales.
The 107 was jointly developed with Toyota and Citroen and it remains a big seller in the fast-rising city car sector. Peugeot sells around 16,000 in a typical year, making it the third best-selling models in its range.
What's new on the facelifted 2012 Peugeot 107?
The outside of the 107 has been given a modest reskin, bringing it in line with Peugeot's new aesthetic.
So the slightly waisted, tight-fitting look is present and correct, with a sculpted-out area of the bonnet adorned by the combative lion badge.
The grille and bumper graphics are lightly retouched too, while the nose now sports LED day-running lights.
When can I buy the revised 2012 Peugeot 107?
February 2012, priced from £7995. Sounds like it's been facelifted just in time to tackle the new VW Up.
The three-cylinder petrol engine has been tweaked to nudge emisisons under 100g/km by a single digit of CO2. Economy correspondingly climbs to 66mpg.
The 998cc triple has 68bhp and 70lb ft of torque. Stir the five-speed gearbox fast enough and you might just pass 62mph in 14.2sec and top out at 100mph.
What else is new?
A little bit of extra tech is on board now, with Bluetooth connectivity and USB plugs for music access.
The Peugeot 107 is available as a three-door or five-door; the latter hogs 60% of UK sales.
Dacia Lodgy MPV (2012) first official pictures
This is the Dacia Lodgy, a new MPV from the Renault’s Romanian budget brand. It will be offered in both five- and seven-seat guise, and at 4.5 metres in length it’s nearly as long as Renault’s own Grand Scenic.
Haven’t we seen the Dacia Lodgy before?
We have, but only as a 350bhp ice racer drive by Alain Prost; this is the production car, which will be powered by a much more sedate set of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines (in 1.6 and 1.5-litre guises respectively). It’s front-wheel drive too, unlike the four-wheel drive race car.
The Lodgy will be revealed at the 2012 Geneva motor show in March, and Renault promises plenty of room across all three rows of seats and an ‘exceptionally large boot’. Less impressive is the name, taken from the word ‘lodge’ and apparently referring to the Lodge’s ability to ‘comfortably accommodate a family and its luggage’.
Not inspired by the looks of the Lodgy? Renault Group design chief Laurens van den Acker told CAR the next generation of Dacias will be more appealing: ‘There’s no reason why cheap cars should look cheap. That’s why the new Dacias are robust, spacious, sensible. And very cool.’
When can I buy a Dacia Lodgy in the UK?
You might never be able to – Renault has yet to decide whether to build the Lodgy in right-hand drive form for the UK. And any eager customers will have to wait until the start of 2013 to buy a right-hand drive Duster mini-SUV or the all-new Sandero supermini.
Renault dealers will dedicate a section of their showrooms to the two Dacia models. The Duster will cost less than £10k, and the Sandero will cost less than £7000, but Dacia’s sales strategy is not to offer any discounts – the price you see is the price you pay.
>> Click 'Add your comment' below and let us know what you think of the new Dacia Lodgy
Haven’t we seen the Dacia Lodgy before?
We have, but only as a 350bhp ice racer drive by Alain Prost; this is the production car, which will be powered by a much more sedate set of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines (in 1.6 and 1.5-litre guises respectively). It’s front-wheel drive too, unlike the four-wheel drive race car.
The Lodgy will be revealed at the 2012 Geneva motor show in March, and Renault promises plenty of room across all three rows of seats and an ‘exceptionally large boot’. Less impressive is the name, taken from the word ‘lodge’ and apparently referring to the Lodge’s ability to ‘comfortably accommodate a family and its luggage’.
Not inspired by the looks of the Lodgy? Renault Group design chief Laurens van den Acker told CAR the next generation of Dacias will be more appealing: ‘There’s no reason why cheap cars should look cheap. That’s why the new Dacias are robust, spacious, sensible. And very cool.’
When can I buy a Dacia Lodgy in the UK?
You might never be able to – Renault has yet to decide whether to build the Lodgy in right-hand drive form for the UK. And any eager customers will have to wait until the start of 2013 to buy a right-hand drive Duster mini-SUV or the all-new Sandero supermini.
Renault dealers will dedicate a section of their showrooms to the two Dacia models. The Duster will cost less than £10k, and the Sandero will cost less than £7000, but Dacia’s sales strategy is not to offer any discounts – the price you see is the price you pay.
>> Click 'Add your comment' below and let us know what you think of the new Dacia Lodgy
Cadillac ATS (2012) compact exec unveiled at Detroit show
Cadillac took the wraps off the new compact Caddy, the ATS, at an event on the eve of the 2012 Detroit auto show.
The new Cadillac ATS is essentially a BMW 3-series rival meeting all the design and engineering criteria of the larger Cadillacs.
Cadillac ATS: what's new
The ATS is like a baby CTS - the Art and Science design credo has been upheld, with sharp creases and pressed body surfacing to give it the Cady look. It's 4643mm long.
Cadillac says it was developed at the Nurburgring, like the V-performance models, and the multi-link rear/MacPherson front strut suspension is available with magnerheological damping for driver selected response.
The ATS is rear-wheel drive as standard, although US buyers can pick four-wheel drive too. The base car - with a sole driven axle - weighs less than 1542kg, according to GM. The bonnet is aluminium and there are numerous other weight-saving details throughout the ATS.
So when can I buy a Cadillac ATS?
The sales figures published this week suggest we'll never see the ATS in the UK; Cadillac failed to sell a single car in Britain in 2011, despite being theoretically on sale here.
A pair of four-cylinder 2.0-litre or 2.5 engines and a 3.6 V6 will be offered in the US.
The ATS is notable for its debut of Cue, or Cadillac User Experience. It's a multimedia syncing device which can pair data from up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled devices, USBs, SD cards or MP3 players - replacing around 20 buttons with four touch points and voice command.
The Cadillac ATS will be built at the Lansing plant in Michigan.
The new Cadillac ATS is essentially a BMW 3-series rival meeting all the design and engineering criteria of the larger Cadillacs.
Cadillac ATS: what's new
The ATS is like a baby CTS - the Art and Science design credo has been upheld, with sharp creases and pressed body surfacing to give it the Cady look. It's 4643mm long.
Cadillac says it was developed at the Nurburgring, like the V-performance models, and the multi-link rear/MacPherson front strut suspension is available with magnerheological damping for driver selected response.
The ATS is rear-wheel drive as standard, although US buyers can pick four-wheel drive too. The base car - with a sole driven axle - weighs less than 1542kg, according to GM. The bonnet is aluminium and there are numerous other weight-saving details throughout the ATS.
So when can I buy a Cadillac ATS?
The sales figures published this week suggest we'll never see the ATS in the UK; Cadillac failed to sell a single car in Britain in 2011, despite being theoretically on sale here.
A pair of four-cylinder 2.0-litre or 2.5 engines and a 3.6 V6 will be offered in the US.
The ATS is notable for its debut of Cue, or Cadillac User Experience. It's a multimedia syncing device which can pair data from up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled devices, USBs, SD cards or MP3 players - replacing around 20 buttons with four touch points and voice command.
The Cadillac ATS will be built at the Lansing plant in Michigan.
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