Auto Show 2014: September 2012

Saturday, September 29, 2012

McLaren P1 Design: Love It, Hate It, or Somewhere In Between? [Poll, Plus New Videos and Photos]

Sure the new Volkswagen Golf Mk7 and its kin, the Audi A3 and Seat Leon, along with the likes of the Renault Clio, Dacia Logan and Ford Mondeo, just to mention a few of the mainstream debuts at the Paris Motor Show, are the ones that matter in real-life terms, but it's cars like the McLaren P1 that keep us dreaming and…alive.

Although billed as a concept, in reality, the P1 is a pre-production teaser of the road car that will hit McLaren's glitzy showroom floors just before the end of 2013.

Deemed by many as the spiritual successor to the great F1 of the 1990s, McLaren says the P1 was designed with one simple goal: "to be the best driver’s car in the world on road and track".

We will have to wait for the production model to find out whether the McLaren P1 can live up to its promise, but in the meantime, we can ask your opinion about the hypercar's design and if it hits the right notes.

The big news for Fiat at the 2012 Mondial de l'Automobile was the world premiere of three new additions to the Panda range, namely the 4x4, Trekking and Natural Power models.

And they weren't along as the cars were joined at the presentation by Miss Italia 2012, 19-year old Giusy Buscemi from Sicily. In case you wondering why, Fiat happens to be one of the official sponsors of the Miss Italia pageant with the latest generation of the Panda being the official car of the event.

The main attraction at Porsche’s Paris Auto Show stand this year is, of course, the Panamera Sport Turismo concept, but the Stuttgart-based automaker that recently passed into the loving arms of the Volkswagen Group, also had new production models to show in the guise of the four-wheel drive editions of the all-new 911.

Based on the all-new, 991 series, there are coupe and cabriolet versions and in 345HP (350PS) Carrera 4 and 394HP (400PS) Carrera 4S flavors, bringing the total 911 AWD tally to four versions.

Nearly a year after Mitsubishi unveiled the concept car in Japan, the production version of the new Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV (PHEV) has been unwrapped at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

The PHEV will first go on sale in Japan early next year, followed shortly after by Europe, North America, and other regions around the world.

Mitsubishi says the new generation of the Outlander was developed from the beginning to be offered with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

There is no other better place in the world for Chrysler's official tuning arm Mopar to display its goods than the automotive aftermarket bonanza that is the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

At this year's event, which runs from October 30 to November 2, the company plans to bring more than 20 new Moparized Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Fiat and SRT vehicles.

Even before the SRT brand was formed as a separate entity, then Dodge boss Ralph Gilles was already thinking about how to revive the legendary Plymouth Barracuda.

At the 2010 SEMA show, Gilles had told reporters that “there’s a lot of pressure to bring the ‘Cuda back; the customers have been stomping their feet for it.”

Now, Car & Driver reports that the Barracuda will indeed make a comeback. It says Chrysler Group plans to replace the Challenger in 2015 and join the Viper in SRT’s expanding range.

2012 Paris Motor Show: Cherchez La Femme! [Updated]

To explain, "Cherchez la Femme" is a popular French phrase that loosely translates to "look for a woman", and which is often used to suggest that the root of a man's wrongdoing is - you guessed it, a woman.

The root of our personal "wrongdoing" can be traced to an extensive, high-resolution photo gallery of the femme fatales of the 2012 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris, which awaits your curiosity just below the jump…

South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia aren't leaving a lot of breathing space for Europe's troubled mainstream car manufactures, as they are relentlessly assaulting every popular category with new models.

At the 2012 edition of the Paris Motor Show, the Korean partners each introduced a three-door version of their respective C-segment compact hatchbacks.

The two models are the Hyundai i30 3d (the five-door version of which is sold as the Elantra GT in North America) and the Kia Pro_Cee'd, both of which offer a more aggressive design than their five-door counterparts.

The family car that Ford launched in North America as the Fusion made its way over to Europe as the all-new Mondeo, with its world premiere taking place at the 2012 Paris Auto Show.

Whereas the Fusion is offered exclusively as a four-door sedan, the Mondeo will also be available as a five-door liftback and a station wagon that was developed especially for European consumers.

Even though the concept of a small 1.0-liter engine under the bonnet of a D-segment car may sound absurd to some, the new Mondeo comes equipped with the Blue Oval's 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol unit, which is a first for its class. Despite being small in size, it produces a zippy 123bhp, which is more than what you will find in many regular 1.6-liter naturally aspirated units.

“The Mondeo has always been at the forefront of Ford’s European passenger car range, but the all-new model is a watershed moment for large car customers and a new benchmark for features in this competitive sector”, said Ford’s vice president of product development Barb Samardzich.

While the Onyx, and to a lesser extent, the 2008 concepts are the most impressive models at Peugeot's Paris Motor Show stand, the French carmaker also brought along the production version of the 208 GTi that promises to rekindle the ideals of the original 205 GTi.

The new model's arsenal includes a potent 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that sends 197hp (200PS) and a peak torque of 275Nm (203 lb-ft) to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, and a revised chassis with new components and re-tuned suspension settings.

Making their first public appearance in Europe at the Paris Motor Show, are Nissan's 2013 model year 370Z Coupe and Roadster, both of which are scheduled to go on sale this October.

Already shown in North America, the faintly updated 370Z features a number of small improvements highlighted by the re-sculptured front bumper incorporating vertical LED daytime running lights ahead of the front wheel arches and a different lower grille.

Renault acquired Dacia in September 1999, and at the time, the Romanian brand, which was founded in 1966, has an outdated model lineup.

This changed in 2004 with the introduction of the Logan, which became one of the best-selling cars in Eastern Europe and Russia, and the Sandero hatchback that followed in 2008.

Dacia decided to revamp its core line-up at the same time and picked the 2012 Paris Auto Show for the debut of the new Logan, Sandero and Sandero Stepway.

All three models share the same newly-styled front end and new dark-carbon or two-tone (according to model and trim) dashboard that sports chrome accents on the air-vents, steering-wheel logo and gear lever and, according to Dacia, better fit and finish.

That Mitsubishi is having a hard time getting its act together in major markets outside of Japan including Europe and North America, is no secret.

At the Paris Motor Show, the Japanese automaker is showing its…new weapon to reverse slumping sales and gain a more solid foothold in the popular supermini segment with the brand-new Mirage.

Mitsubishi says the slogan it came up for the car is "Less is more", and by that, it means the Mirage is smaller (3,710 mm long) but at the same time, lighter (from 845 kg or 1,863 lbs), more fuel efficient (4.0 lt/100km or 70.6 mpg UK) and lower priced (not yet announced) than its rivals, which in theory, include the VW Polo and Fiat Punto.

The car hiding behind that face with a human-like expression and eyebrow accents is Smart's newest concept model, which made its world premiere at the 2012 Paris Salon.

Smart tells us that it named the concept study Forstars as a reference to the glass dome above the passengers that "gives a clear view of the starry sky". The oddities continue with a video projector located in the front bonnet scoop that allows users to turn any wall into their own private drive-in theater.

The spotlight at Lamborghini's Paris Motor Show stand may be on the cosmetically refreshed Gallardo LP560-4, but it isn't the only Raging Bull model to receive an update for the new model year.

Joining the Gallardo is the 2013 version of Lamborghini's flagship Aventador LP700-4, which was upgraded on several levels, despite the fact that it has only been on the market for less than a year.

In fact, the changes on the Aventador are far more substantial than on the Gallardo beginning with the adoption of newly developed start-stop and cylinder deactivation systems for the V12 engine.

The start-stop system used on the Aventador is unique and comes fitted with high-performance capacitors known as "supercaps", which allow for a much faster start up than a conventional unit at 180 milliseconds or 0.18 seconds.

You have to give credit where credit is due: when McLaren managing director Anthony Sheriff visited the 2008 Paris Auto Show, he knew that McLaren staff had many ideas but they were all on paper.

Fast forward to today and McLaren has already released two production models, the MP4-12C and its open-top Spyder version, and will have delivered 1,500 cars by the end of 2012.

On the sidelines of the ongoing 2012 Paris Auto Show, partners Daimler, owner of the Mercedes-Benz and Smart brands, and the Renault-Nissan Alliance, confirmed plans to collaborate on two more powertrain projects, including a petrol engine and an automatic transmission.

The first project is a jointly developed 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine family. The direct-injection petrol unit is said to deliver significant improvement in fuel economy as well as low emissions.

The two automakers will jointly manufacture the new engines that will debut in Daimler, Renault and Nissan vehicles in 2016.

Name the first French supercar that comes to mind – did anything pop up without looking at Wikipedia? We thought so.

France's automakers may be quite able at creating successful compact models, but success in premium segments has so far, eluded them - and a supercar is definitely out of the question.

This hasn't stopped their designers from sharpening their pencils on extravagant concepts that grace auto shows all over the world. With the latest event taking place in Paris, something exciting was definitely on the menu.

Aside from selling cars, BMW also wants a piece of the aftermarket industry's pie, and for this reason, it is constantly adding new goods to its newly formed M Performance sub-brand.

The 2012 Paris Motor Show sees the very first presentation of numerous products from this program designed specifically for the new 3-Series that are demonstrated on a 335i sedan.

Having renewed its entire range in the past two years with the launch of the 458 coupe and Spyder, the FF, the F12Berlinetta and the revised California Coupe-Cabriolet, one would think that Ferrari would just sit and wait for its customers to form an orderly queue and the cash to start flowing in.

However, since the 400th and final Enzo rolled out of Maranello in 2004, the prancing horse lacks a true flagship that will continue the tradition that started with the 288 GTO and continued with the F40, F50 and the Enzo models.

Seat is welcoming visitors at the 2012 Paris Motor Show with its all-new Leon compact hatchback, as well as the company’s redesigned logo.

Speaking about the introduction of the logo and the Leon during the company's press conference in Paris, Seat President James Muir also confirmed the addition of two more body styles to the compact model's range.

“The new Leon will be the first SEAT to wear the new logo. And, the new Leon will be a key pillar in our future success – especially when the Leon family expands to include a striking three-door version and a versatile, stylish wagon," said Muir.

The third generation of the Leon is the third vehicle in the Volkswagen Group family to adopt the firm's flexible and lightweight MQB after the VW Golf Mk7 and the new Audi A3 hatchbacks, all of which compete in the C-segment.

Touted as the most powerful car ever to be developed by Mercedes-Benz's AMG sub-division, the new SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive made its world premiere in final production specification at this week's Paris Auto Show.

The all-electric version of Mercedes’ supercar features four electric motors positioned close to each wheel, for a total combined output of 740HP (750PS, 552kW) and a stunning maximum torque of 1,000 Nm (737.5 lb-ft).

With that kind of power under the hood or shall we say, near the wheels, it’s no wonder that the SLS AMG Electric Drive accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.9 seconds and tops out at an electronically limited 250 km/h (155 mph).

The Suzuki stand at the Paris Salon showcased a new concept vehicle named the S-Cross, and mind you, this isn't just another one of those show-grabbers as it hints at a production model that will go on sale sooner than you think.

"The new crossover will be the first in an ambitious programme of annual European model launches, which Suzuki will be starting in 2013," the Japanese carmaker said in a statement.

Given his performance, which was well below his own very high standards, Michael Schumacher’s departure from Formula 1 after his comeback three years ago was not a surprise.

The same goes for the driver who will replace him at Mercedes GP from the next season: Lewis Hamilton’s relationship with McLaren was not in good terms (to put it nicely) and speculation about him moving to Mercedes had been circulating since the Italian GP.

Customers of Ferrari's four-seater FF can now bask in the sun from the comfort of their car thanks to a new (but optional) full-size panoramic roof that extends all the way back to the rear window.

A silver-colored FF equipped with the aforementioned panoramic roof was displayed for the first time to the public at the Italian automaker's booth at this week's 2012 Paris Motor Show.

Compact, sporty coupes are a fast-growing segment right now. Honda returned to the segment in 2010 with the CR-Z, a front-wheel drive coupe with distinctive styling and a hybrid powertrain.

At the Paris Auto Show, Honda displayed the updated version of the CR-Z, which had already made a surprise debut in Indonesia and will go on sale in January 2013. It sports subtle cosmetic revisions, including a revised front grille and rear diffuser, plus two new exterior colors.

Billed as a showcase for Nissan’s upcoming zero-emissions technology, the TeRRa concept that was unveiled at the Paris Auto Show is also an impressive design study for a future SUV.

Having already being at the forefront of ZEVs with the all-electric Leaf, the Japanese automaker is also investing in other future technologies, such as fuel cells.

The TeRRa’s front axle is powered by the electric system already found in the Leaf, while each back wheel incorporates an electric motor, offering all-wheel drive when needed.

Honda Teases New Civic Station Wagon and Shows New Civic 1.6L Diesel in Paris

Honda appears to be full of surprises these days. Just last week, the Japanese automaker's CEO confirmed the development of several cars including a Civic Type R hot hatch for Europe, a new Jazz / Fit supermini that will also spawn an SUV derivative, and a 'sporty' roadster.

Today, Honda's European President Manabu Nishimae revealed plans to add a new model to the carmaker's range during his Paris Motor Show press conference.

The vehicle announced today is a new derivative of Honda's European Civic in the form of a station wagon model. Honda went one step further and released a teaser image of the pre-production concept that will be shown next year, most likely at the Geneva Salon in March or the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Ford's new crossover proposal in the increasingly competitive B-segment is the EcoSport that was presented at the Paris Motor Show. It will go on sale for European customers within the next 18 months.

The EcoSport is the first global Ford to be developed entirely in South America and was launched in Brazil this month.

A couple of weeks ago, we brought you news that Korea's SsangYong plans to introduce a new concept model in Paris and now, we have the first real-life photos of the e-XIV range-extender hybrid electric crossover. Read more »

Peugeot 2008 Soft-Roader Concept Hits at Next Year's Production Model

Besides the 260bhp RCZ R and the Onyx Supercar and Super Scooter models, Peugeot is also displaying a fourth concept model at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the 2008, which hints at the firm's Nissan Juke rival that will be presented next year.

The 2008 is a follow up to the ‘Urban Crossover Concept’ revealed in Beijing earlier this year with a more vibrant color scheme, but other than that, the two models are identical.

The 2012 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris was the event chosen by McLaren Automotive to present the world debut of the brand-new P1 hypercar in pre-production trim, about a year before it goes on sale.

McLaren claims that the P1 draws inspiration from its racing division and its target is to produce the world’s best driving car both on the road and on the track.

"The McLaren P1 will be the result of 50 years of racing and road car heritage", says McLaren Automotive Executive Chairman Ron Dennis. "Twenty years ago we raised the supercar performance bar with the McLaren F1 and our goal with the McLaren P1 is to redefine it once again."

Not to miss out on the electric car fad, Citroën is presenting a new take in the segment with a conceptual version of its DS3 supermini at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

The not-too-brightly named DS3 Electrum might look like a regular model on the outside but under the hood, it replaces the internal combustion engine with a pair of 65kW 87Hp) electric motors.

The stylish, highly customizable city car niche has just welcomed a new member. It’s the Opel or Vauxhall in the UK, Adam, a three-door, four-seater hatchback that will fight the Fiat 500 and the Mini.

Featuring a distinctive styling and what Opel calls a “floating roof” that can be ordered in two different shades that contrast the bodywork, the 3.7 m long Adam is counting a lot on the “more than a million” possible customization options and its lengthy equipment list to make a name for itself in the premium subcompact market.

Opel’s president of design Mark Adams claims, “no other car in this segment can be individualized as much as the Adam… It’s very unlikely that you’ll find two identical Adams out there”. Now, this certainly brings a sense of déjà vu – but let’s not name names…

At launch, the Adam will be available with three four-cylinder petrol engines: a 1.2-liter with 69HP (70PS) and two 1.4-liter units producing 86 or 98HP (87 and 100 PS respectively). Later on, a new generation of small petrol engines with forced induction and direct injection, as well as a new six-speed transmission, will join the range.

The all-new Volvo V40 R-Design and V40 Cross Country received their world premiere today at the 2012 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris. Both models are more about style than essence with the R-Design placing the emphasis on sporty looks and the Cross Country on its off-road appearance.

Beginning with the R-Design version, the Swedish carmaker's premium hatchback obtains a slightly more aggressive exterior thanks to a re-profiled front bumper, a silk-metal finish for the front grille, the new rear diffuser and the exterior mirrors, chrome exhaust pipes and 17-inch or optionally, 18-inch alloy wheels.

Porsche is giving us a strong hint at the future of the Panamera series with its new Sport Turismo Concept that was unveiled during a press event on the eve of the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

With the Panamera Sport Turismo concept, Porsche's intention is to kill three birds with one stone, in the sense that it is previewing both a new design language for the next Panamera saloon and a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain, while also testing the waters for an expansion of the series with a more practical and roomy, estate-like model.

"The body concept of the Panamera Sport Turismo is an outlook on a possible Porsche sports car of tomorrow," said the company in a press statement.

The Sport Turismo is 1,990 mm wide, 1,401 mm tall and 4,950 mm long, which makes it 61mm wider, 17mm lower and 20mm shorter than the current Panamera.

At least in concept form, the Sport Turismo has a slightly more aggressive and simultaneously sleeker appearance than today's Panamera, but this could all change once it enters the realm of production.

The term Art Deco was coined in Paris after the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, which translates to International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts.

It describes an artistic and design movement that begun in the 1920’s and influenced many aspects of 20th century design such as industrial products, fashion and architecture – a well-known example of which is the Chrysler Building in New York City.

The main attraction at Chevrolet's Paris Motor Show stand is the brand-new Trax that made its world premiere today in the City of Light.

If the Trax looks familiar, that's because it is essentially a re-bodied version of the Buick Encore and Opel Mokka twins. It will be sold in some 140 countries worldwide, excluding the United States where General Motors is already represented in the category by the Encore (however, as pointed out by our readers, the Trax will come to Canada).

If things stayed the same, we would probably still be living in caves – or even worse. Change is inevitable and this stands for car manufacturers, too.

BMW apparently thinks the same way; that’s why the Active Tourer Concept that premiered at the Paris Auto Show toady breaks with the Bavarian carmaker’s tradition by offering front-wheel drive.

The automaker claims that its latest study “offers an initial insight into innovations for the premium compact segment… in terms of both the interior and the drive concept.”

Displayed alongside the regular versions of the mildly refreshed RCZ at the French firm's Paris Auto Salon booth is a thinly disguised prototype of a model that will soon gain the title of the most powerful production model in Peugeot's automobile range.

The study is the RCZ R and it is showcased in Paris in matt black and copper livery that echoes another Peugeot concept unveiled at the show, the ‘Onyx’ supercar.

At the Paris Auto Show, Hyundai announced that it will begin production of the ix35 Fuel Cell crossover (also know as the Tucson) at its Ulsan plant in South Korea. The initial projection is 1,000 units by 2015 and a limited mass production of 10,000 units after that.

The ix35 Fuel Cell features a fuel cell stack that converts hydrogen into electricity, which charges the lithium polymer battery that powers the electric motor. It is a zero-emissions vehicle since the only thing that it emits is water vapor.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Friday, September 28, 2012

Thursday, September 27, 2012