Posted by AutoWeek Thanks Greg for keeping up dated these concept look great, my motor head fan will love to see the real think. I can’t wait to see it at the auto show.
BMW is attempting to seize the alternative-drive initiative from luxury rivals by creating a new subbrand, under which it plans to sell a range of purpose-built electric, hybrid and range-extended models.
The company is planning to take its new subbrand, called BMW “i,” public in September at the Frankfurt motor show, where an initial two-model lineup consisting of the diminutive i3 and a larger, more sporting two-plus-two i8 will be revealed in concept guise for the first time.
Additional “i” models, including a Chevrolet Volt-rivaling hatchback expected to be badged the i5, are on the drawing board. But BMW’s focus at this early stage is on developing the technically advanced i3 and i8 to meet a planned 2013 on-sale date
After examining the huge outpour on its dedicated Fiat Mio website, the auto maker has designed a concept urban vehicle based on popular aspirations. Dubbed as the Fiat Mio concept, the single volume box shape car wears a sleek and futuristic well suited for urban travel. Adorning an uncluttered appearance, the vehicle has large glass windows and roof with the headlights camouflaged within the black glossy panel. Most efficient in terms of interior space, the car provides seating for two. Equipped with stylish lounging the interior also has ergonomically placed easily accessible controls. The wheels of the car too are covered that help improve the aerodynamics, thereby increasing the vehicle’s efficiency.
Automaker Citroen has tied up with leading French fashion house Lacoste to sweep everyone off their feet by revealing a new gracefully charming concept at the next month’s Paris motor show. The official pictures released show a buggy concept which embraces stylishly minimalist design and elegantly laid-back looks. A product of inventive tinkering with conventional car design, the C1 amuses the onlooker with no roof or doors. Instead the car has a bar which stretches from the windshield to the trunk with supporting handles for easier access to the rear seats. The roofless car, however, doesn’t leave the occupants exposed to the elements, for there’s a covered stowage in the dashboard and bright yellow soft-top that automatically inflates in the rain. The front styling integrates the lights into the bumper instead of the sheet metal. In fact, calling it a buggy wouldn’t be fair. The car is longer, wider and taller as today’s C1 with a similar wheel base and is powered by a three-cylinder petrol engine. The car wears square relief designs on the bonnet resembling a tennis court, whereas the material used for the seat bears similarity with the weave used on the polo shirt.
Toyota has blessed its European market HiLux pickup truck with a mid-life facelift for the 2012 model year. The cosmetic surgery starts with the exterior that gains a redesigned front end sporting a different grille dressed in chrome, new bonnet, headlamps and front bumper. The changes continue with the redesigned front and rear wings, a new crop of 15- and 17-inch steel and alloy wheels, plus new door mirrors.
On the inside, Toyota restyled the upper part of the dashboard and the instrument binnacle, while the company also claims to have improved the perceived quality “through the adoption of uniformly darker finishes with a greater colour consistency throughout the interior, and the addition of silver ornamentation”.
Beneath the sheetmetal, thanks to the introduction of variable nozzle turbocharging, the 2012 Hilux 2012 2WD 2.5-liter D-4D models benefit from a 24HP increase in output with the four-cylinder diesel engine now rated at 144-horses at 3,600 rpm and 343 Nm at 2000 rpm.
Toyota says that in spite of the power increase, combined cycle fuel consumption has been reduced by 1.0 lt/100 km to 7.3 lt/100 km (32.2mpg US or 38.7mpg UK) while CO2 emissions have been lowered by 26 g/km to 193 g/km.
Furthermore, the 2012MY 2WD versions are now equipped with the chassis of 4WD models, which improves vehicle ground clearance and increases towing capacity to 2.5 tons.
For the 2012MY, both the 2.5-liter D-4D and the more powerful 3.0-liter D-4D come equipped with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).
Aside from the two diesel engines, European buyers of the 2012 HiLux also have a choice of three body styles, manual and automatic transmissions and two- or four-wheel drive layouts.
