According to Lotus, the Europa SE is designed for folks who find it’s brethren—the Elise, and the Exige—a little too "uncompromising" for use as a daily driver. Of course, even though I’m five inches too tall and 30lbs too heavy for one of the little racers, I’d happily have one as my only car. I just love their bare-bones, straight-from-the-track feel, so I can’t say I completely understand the appeal of a more civilized version. But with 222 ponies to play with, it’s not like the car will feel like a Taurus, and hey, different strokes for different folks. Right? More pics after the jump.

via Jalopnik

Here’s another one from the Geneva Motor Show that we won’t see in the States: the Accord Wagon. For some reason Honda stopped selling us Accord wagons in the mid-90s. Why? Wagons are cool. Maybe they’ll send us a TSX wagon. This one definitely looks kind of Saab-like. Insurance adjusters are gonna love the rear hatch/bumper integration. Two more pics after the jump, and you can see the rest of the photos and read the boring press release at Jalopnik.

Continue reading "Accord Wagon: We Don't Get It" »

Spyker’s new C8 Aileron sports a 400 horsepower V8 and brakes big enough to stop a freight train, but it’s the stunning sheet metal and insane interior which really set this 400,000 dollar exotic apart. Seriously, just look at the cockpit! From the pics, I can’t figure out exactly how that shifter assembly works, but if I ever get to climb behind the wheel of one of these babies, I’d certainly enjoy finding out. More info over at World Car Fans.

Continue reading "White-Hot Spyker C8 Aileron Debutes at Geneva" »

Remember how skeptical y’all were about Rinspeed sQuba concept? How you refused to give it any cred at all until we found you a video that claimed to show it putzing around beneath the surface? Well, the sQuba did show up at the Geneva Motor Show, as promised, but not in a diving tank. Instead, they have it posed on this cheesy fake beachscape, complete with blue-tinted plexiglass "water" and plastic lobsters. Yes, lobsters. Our buddies over at Jalopnik managed to snap some nice pictures of the sQuba doing nothing. Sure, the little Lotus looks cool, but where’s the big splash? Where’s the shark tank? Where’s the James Bond couple with scuba suits over their evening wear? Hmm. Neat idea, but in the absence of a live demo, we can’t be sure this concept holds water.

Continue reading "Geneva Motor Show: Rinspeed sQuba is a Fish out of Water" »

After the Toyota iQ concept was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show, it was pretty hot topic around the office. Jen thought it was ugly, and some folks commented that given that it’s chief competitor will be smart’s fortwo, Toyota could have gotten a little more creative with the name. The production model debuted in Geneva today, and reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. From these pictures, it looks like the interior is a lot sexier than the smart’s, and the two extra seats—one fits an adult, the other is designed for a child—are sure to increase appeal among young urbanities with kids. Check out a bunch more pics and the official press release after the jump.

via CarScoop

PRESS RELEASE

World premiere of Toyota’s new urban car: the iQ

• Production version of the Concept C ar iQ premiered
• ‘J-Factor’ underpins iQ design
• Six unique space-saving engineering innovations represent a milestone in Toyota’s automotive engineering
• Revolutionary packaging concept provides ample space for a 3+1 seating configuration within a sub 3 metres length
• Small urban car with low emission engines and aerodynamics reduces environmental impact
• Manufacturing starts late 2008 with a global sales target of 100,000 vehicles for the first year of production

Design

World premiere of Toyota’s new urban car: the iQ

Toyota is world-premiering the production design of the new iQ
at the Geneva Motor Show. First shown as the Concept Car iQ at last
year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the iQ will go into production during late
2008.

The new iQ is a sophisticated car, representing the ultimate
refined urban mode of transportation. Thanks to its ingenious and
revolutionary packaging it measures less than three metres in length,
yet has a flexible interior space that allows up to three adults, plus
a child or luggage to travel comfortably.

The name iQ is the best representation of what the car
embodies. "i" stands for individuality, whilst at the same time also
expressing "innovation" and "intelligence". "Q" stands for "quality"
and also suggesting that its "cubic" stature gives a "cue" to new value
and lifestyle.

The iQ delivers dynamism and stability despite its small size.
It challenges conventional thinking through a design that is
forward-looking, intelligent and energetic, while retaining clarity of
purpose and function.

The marvel of the iQ’s ingenuity is in its revolutionary
packaging, which is the result of six space-saving but inter-linked
engineering innovations that represent a break-through in Toyota’s
automotive vehicle development.

"The iQ story started a few years ago when we at Toyota began
thinking of the environmental impact of automobiles. We came to the
conclusion that, in order to ensure a sustainable future, there was a
need for a radical change in vehicle packaging. We needed to create a
break-through, away from the traditional belief that small is basic.
Our answer to this is Toyota iQ," says Kazuo Okamoto, Executive Vice
President, in charge of Research and Development at Toyota Motor
Corporation.

The iQ is designed to cater for the needs of buyers who seek
more than just urban mobility but demand space and refinement in an
environmentally-friendly vehicle.

J-Factor design
The design of the new iQ has its origin in
Japan with J-Factor influences at its core. Toyota explains J-Factor as
that aspect of Japanese originality and quality that creates modern,
attractive, and globally appealing products from the apparent
disharmony and contradictory nature of its original components.
Expressions such as ‘small yet spacious’, ‘high-tech yet human’ and
‘emotional yet functional’ are all examples of what Toyota calls
J-Factor.

Although iQ is less than three metres in length, measuring
2,985mm precisely, it has a spacious interior. And while the ingenious
packaging requires hi-tech solutions, the human appeal is in the
requirement to meet intelligent urban transportation needs.

Drawing inspiration from J-Factor, Toyota has developed a unique
design language called Vibrant Clarity. Vibrant Clarity is the key to
answering the long-standing paradox of designing vehicles that are both
energised and dynamic, but at the same time rational and ingenious. The
word Vibrant represents a more forward-looking, vital nature that
expresses the feeling of energy.
Clarity symbolises all that is
fresh, clean and simple, stressing the rational aspect in the design
equation – keeping the design crisp, the functionality intact and
ensuring that the concept is easily understandable.This Vibrant Clarity
design philosophy infuses cars with an emotional intensity that is
uniquely identifiable as a Toyota.

The iQ contains three key elements of Vibrant Clarity design
Perfect
imbalance of proportions: a simple and daring exterior with a strong
contrast between the stable and robust stance provided by the iQ’s
width and the shortness of its overall length.

Integrated component architecture where each unit contributes to
the overall design: the structure around the tyres forms part of the
minimal front and rear overhangs, a synergy that conveys both strength
and agility.

Freeform geometrics: the exterior surfaces are almost
mathematical in their cleanliness and precision, but also possess
movement and emotion to make the design fresh and contemporary.

Robust yet refined styling for the iQ’s urban environment
The
four wheels – placed at the extremities of each corner – give the iQ a
self-assured ‘super stance’. At just 2,985mm in length, but with a
proportionally larger wheelbase of 2,000mm, the iQ is small in size,
but unlike a small car possesses a confident on-road appearance.

The iQ’s robustness is further enhanced by the tough-looking
bumpers. Strong vertical lines define the rear view of the iQ, while
the bold rear lamp lenses are divided into three segments by horizontal
lines, which help underpin the iQ’s strong presence. The iQ is fitted
with 5-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels that confidently fill the bold wheel
arches.
The exterior styling blends dynamism and stability:
prominent crease lines define the high belt line while the V-line of
the A-pillar creates tension across the wheel arches.
Smooth lines
flow from the front bumpers, curve graciously up through the front
pillars to meet the roof and sweep back down towards the rear hatch
where they are replaced by edgier, well-defined lines.

From a rear three-quarter perspective the creative tension continues.
A
seamless line runs from the edge of the roofline towards the B-pillar
and curves around the deep rear glass area, before returning towards
the rear hatch and then tailing off at the bold, geometrically-shaped
wheel arches.

At the front of the car, smoked headlamp units are set deep into
the bonnet and wings. Door mirrors with integrated turn indicators
further reflect the iQ’s refined urban appeal.

Techno-organic theme for interior styling
The
‘on-the-edge’ exterior styling is replicated in the iQ’s refined
interior architecture. By mathematically analysing and recreating the
structural beauty of natural objects, Toyota has achieved a
‘techno-organic’ design which fuses geometric precision with inner
beauty.

This is demonstrated in the floating ‘V’ centre console, which
dominates the asymmetric dashboard. At the base of the V is a single
dial that controls the functions of the air conditioning.

Situated within the arms of the V are cabin temperature controls
with an LCD that displays airflow, twin face-level air vents and at the
top a 5.8-inch colour touch screen satellite navigation display.

The V-design both separates and joins the two halves of the
asymmetric dashboard design, while providing a visually appealing focus
on the interior.

The steering wheel is flat-bottomed to provide the driver
with greater legroom. Controls for audio are placed on the wheel to
save space on the centre console and to offer a high-level of
convenience for the driver.

Other techno-organic features include matt silver door handles
with flowing manta-ray styling. While the ultra slim seatbacks are
formed in a stylish one-piece moulding that enhances the edgy feel of
the iQ and assist in freeing up additional passenger space.

A secret tray is neatly concealed below the rear seat, again
providing more storage for passengers without sacrificing the cabin
space. For more luggage capacity the 50/50 split rear seats can be
separately folded flat to increase the available load area.

The interior is finished in rich chocolate-plum colour, which
contrasts with the matt silver of the techno-organic architecture to
provide an environment of urban sophistication.

Technology

Revolutionary engineering innovations create ingenious packaging solution
Creating
more passenger space in such a compact vehicle was a key aim for
Toyota’s design team. The iQ’s interior is surprisingly spacious. Six
inter-linking engineering innovations are responsible for making this
possible. Viewed together, these innovations represent a major
milestone in Toyota’s vehicle development.

To achieve such a milestone required a drastically changed
mindset. The engineers had to reconsider the very locations of various
vehicle components rather than simply re-designing parts to a smaller
size.

The result is a true break-through in ‘small yet spacious’
packaging, which at the same time has been designed to meet the top
5-star safety rating of EURO NCAP.

The new Toyota iQ measures 2,985mm in length and 1,500mm in
height, but the car’s compact ingenuity lies in its comparatively
lengthy wheelbase of 2,000mm.

Newly developed differential saves engine compartment space
A
newly developed differential allows the iQ to be built with short front
overhangs, which result in a gain of over 100mm of additional length
inside the passenger cabin area when compared to the B-segment Yaris.

Toyota’s ingenious solution to the differential is 3-fold: the
under-bonnet area is made more compact; the front wheels can be placed
at the very corners of the car, which drastically shortens the front
overhang; and the passenger compartment can be increased.

Flat under-floor fuel tank with rear-angled shock absorbers
The
design of the flat under-floor fuel tank has allowed the development of
shorter rear overhangs, which contribute to the reduction of the car’s
overall length.

Historically, a flat tank was considered difficult to engineer
successfully because of the variance in fuel surface levels depending
on the angle of the car.

However, persistent engineering efforts to downsize and find the
optimal placement of functional parts have resulted in a flat fuel tank
that creates significant space savings.

Smaller heater/air conditioning unit saves space
Toyota
engineers have managed to significantly reduce the size of the
heater/air conditioning unit without sacrificing performance output.

As a result of the size reduction the passenger-side area of the
asymmetric dashboard can be moved forward and towards the windscreen
base freeing up additional cabin space.

Asymmetric dashboard design and sliding seat configuration create more space
The iQ’s innovative asymmetric dashboard was designed to open up the passenger area.

The pushed-forward and step-like structure of the dashboard
provides sufficient space for the front passenger when the seat is set
at its most forward position while comfortably accomodating an adult in
the rear seat.

Combined with shoulder-to-shoulder distance between driver and
passenger of a similar volume to a C-segment vehicle, the unique 3+1
seating configuration creates enough room for three adults and, in
addition, either a child or luggage behind the driver.

Centre take-off steering gear for compactness
Toyota has
employed a centre take-off steering gear and positioned it higher in
the engine bay. The gear, engine and differential could then be
repositioned creating the iQ’s size-reduced front overhang.

Slim seat design for greater leg room
The slimness of the iQ
seat backs release a further 40mm of rear passenger room at knee height
so that rear passengers can sit more comfortably.

With an all-new frame structure and optimal adjustment of
ancillary parts, the slimmer seat designs save space without
sacrificing comfort.

New iQ drives Toyota’s green aims with low emission engines
Toyota
has been pioneering in the continual search to reduce the car’s impact
on the environment. Using technology as its cornerstone, Toyota has
persistently sought new ideas and new inventions to make the car
friendlier to the environment.

In addition to Toyota’s ongoing Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology
innovations, the expansion of its small car range is integral to
reducing environmental impact.

The new iQ, together with the Urban Cruiser also premiered at
Geneva, plays a key role in Toyota’s drive to reduce emissions. Both
cars are also an essential part of Toyota’s challenge to support the
Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association’s (JAMA) voluntary
commitment of 140 grams per kilometre by 2009.

The iQ will have the choice of one of two petrol or one diesel
engine. These engines – along with the compact design, low weight, and
aerodynamic shape of the iQ – will contribute to outstanding fuel
economy and exceptionally low CO2 emissions, which are anticipated to
start at around 100g/km.

Production commences in late 2008
Production of the iQ will
commence during late 2008. In the first full year of production, Toyota
expects to reach 100,000 units globally. 

Actually, VW doesn’t get it. If they brought the new Scirocco to the US, it would sell like mad. Seriously. They are worried about cannibalizing GTI sales? Come on… One of my favorite car-related memories was driving my buddy’s then new ’86 16V Scirocco from LA to SF through the middle of the night, averaging 90 mph the whole way. I’m not normally a big fan of FWD,  but that was a seriously fun car. Anyway, Jalopnik has some nice shots of its official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show. And VWVortex has a nice writeup on the car. Come on VW, do the right thing and bring it over.

Unveiled at Geneva this week, the Renault Megane is one of those concepts that makes us wish that the more whizz-bang features of show cars would make it into their respective production versions. I mean, just look at those double gull-wing doors! How much trouble could it possibly be to keep those? The Megane’s powerplant will be a turbocharged 2.0L gas engine, capable of both 200hp and 36 mpg. The concept will definitely be the inspiration for a car that’ll be in production, but don’t expect it to be nearly as cool-looking as this. Drat.

Check out more pics and the press release after the jump!

Source: CarScoop

PRESS RELEASE

MGANE COUP CONCEPT:

AN EXTREME EXPRESSION OF CHARACTER AND DYNAMISM

Renault has chosen the Geneva Motor Show to take the wraps off its Mgane Coup Concept show car which foreshadows a compact production coupe to be released at a later date. Like NewLaguna, it points to an evolution towards more fluid, sportier styling from Renault. Mgane CoupConcept targets drivers who are not only drawn by the notion of driving pleasure but who also seek to express their personality through their vehicle. Mgane Coup Concept symbolizes Renault’s vision of what a genuine compact sports coupe should deliver, namely character and dynamism, two traits epitomized by the show car’s unprecedented door-opening kinematics. Distinctive looks that exude personality and dynamism

Mgane Coup Concept provides a foretaste of the forthcoming Mgane Coupe. "This show car emphatically showcases the evolution at Renault Design. Its squatter proportions and powerful, energetic styling talk directly to the driver’s senses; they say ‘driving pleasure’. The spectacular, unprecedented door-opening kinematics add that little touch of magic which contributes to the dream factor associated with the automobile," explains Renault’s Patrick Le Qument, Senior Vice President, Corporate Design.

Of a total length of 4.51 metres, Mgane Coup Concept features a modern, dynamic silhouette with tautlines that seem to suggest perpetual movement, while its alert, expressive front-end looks point at once to a truly dynamic personality.

The juxtaposition of headlamp modules with aluminium-finish air-intakes also conveys an impression of fluidity and movement. The two rows of main and dipped beam lights sit on a crystal-like striated strip which fills the sidelight and daytime running light functions. The headlamps use high-performance light-emitting diodes which are both long-lasting and extremely efficient.

The foglamps also employ LED technology and blend harmoniously with the dynamic, front-end styling. The shoulder-lines flow along the curvaceous sides before culminating in a squat rear-end which expresses power and movement. The four independent tubes that make up the modern rear lights are housed in the bodywork and serve as a further illustration of the dynamic, technological spirit behind Mgane Coup Concept. Day or night, they form a highly distinctive signature. The boot, which pulls open and then lifts to minimize vertical travel, echoes the kinematics of the doors which are divided into two sections.

The panelled door itself is topped by a separate glazed area and, as they open, the two parts deploy gracefully and elegantly in an independent movement redolent of dragonfly wings. A carbon arm at the rear of the doors connects them to the body structure and the system ensures particularly easy access for passengers. In addition to its practical aspect, this technological feature reveals a cabin that blends effortlessly with the elegance and energy expressed by the exterior.

The cabin: a compelling extension of the exterior’s dynamic voluptuousness

The interior is redolent of the world of contemporary furniture. The independent, asymmetric front seats, which rise up from the sills, seem to float in midair. Their wafer-like forms express an airy lightness, while their enveloping design is a pledge of comfort and holds the occupants firmly in place. The aperture revealed by the open doors carries over to the front seat shells and the upper part of the two rear seats. This sculptural, one-piece structure, which is finished in fire red lacquer, ensures a seamless link between the exterior and the cabin.

The centre console extends through to the rear seats and its layered design recalls the striated bar of the headlamp modules. The futuristic, ethereal dashboard features expressive, flowing lines and can be divided into two distinct sections: the red lacquered main structure and black nubuck inserts which can hold small items.

This embedded zone houses the sophisticated instrumentation which takes its inspiration from aviator-style watches, including a speedometer which displays the speed in analogue form on the periphery and in digital form in the centre, plus an analogue rev-counter. Both feature black metallic backgrounds with white graphics and red backlighting.

The choice of colours and materials is another means by which the exterior and interior have been harmonized to highlight Mgane Coup Concept’s volumes and magic. The iridescent Dragon Grey body-colour goes well with the dragonfly-like door-opening mechanism and the paintwork’s rainbow finish gives a fresh vision of the car every time the light changes: even at a standstill, it appears to be in movement.

Meanwhile, the interior’s contrasting colour-scheme underpins the dynamic exterior thanks to the blend of fire red lacquer (dashboard, upper part of the centre console, front seatbacks, etc.) and softer black leather or nubuck for the door panels, seat cushions and centre console).

The door panels themselves incorporate supple, slide-locking stowage, while the floor is protected by a black, modern, graphic mesh. Carrying over the red of the interior, there are hints of red outside, too, including the roofline, foglamp surrounds, wheel spokes and exhaust tailpipes.

The cabin equipment is modern and intuitive

The different controls have been inspired by the Renault-pioneered Touch Design approach and are both simple and practical. The central multimedia control is coupled with a display divided into three zones. The central part displays all journey-related information (navigation, radio, music, video, Bluetooth telephone), while the screens either side show the images relayed by cameras incorporated in the exterior mirrors.

Mgane Coup Concept is locked and unlocked using a Samsung F700 mobile phone which serves as a hands-free card and connects to the centre console. Both rear passengers benefit from a portable Samsung P2 audio/video multimedia player with touch screen which they can use to swap files using the mp3/video Bluetooth controls.

The four-zone climate control system allows each passenger to select the temperature they prefer using controls housed either side of the dashboard in the case of the front passengers or on the front seatbacks for rear occupants

Special care has also gone into ensuring that the cabin is brightly lit. The red backlighting of the instruments contrasts with the surrounding black backgrounds. Meanwhile, the panoramic windscreen extends over the roof to provide additional clarity during the day and blue-hued cabin lighting at night.

A show car dedicated to passion and driving pleasure

Mgane Coup Concept’s generous bumper, wide, low grille and alveolar air-intake point to the presence of a high-performance powerplant under the bonnet. Indeed, Mgane Coup Concept is powered by a 200hp (147kW) 2.0 Turbo petrol engine which delivers torque of 280Nm at 2,600rpm and peak power of 200hp at 5,800rpm to ensure punch and flexibility at all engine speeds for everyday motoring pleasure.

Mated to a manual six-speed gearbox, the 2-litreturbocharged unit drives Mgane Coup Concept from a standstill to 100kph in just 7.2 seconds, yet it returns economical fuel consumption of just 6.5 litres/100km (154g of CO2/km).In order to exploit this engine to the full, Mgane Coup Concept features a sport chassis, plus suspension and steering engineered to guarantee precise, responsive handling.

This promise is compounded by the 21-inch aluminium alloy, seven-spoke, satin-finish Dragon Grey wheels equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres (245/35) which provide outstanding grip for even greater driving pleasure.

Mgane Coup Concept is a compact, stylish, dynamic coupe which delivers undeniable driving pleasure, while its sporty calling is also expressed by its modern, elegant cabin. This show car, which builds on the trend established by Laguna Coup Concept, sees Renault take its will to dial genuine passion into its cars yet another step forward.

Dimensions

Length (mm) 4,514

Width (mm) 1,908

Height (mm) 1,371

Height with doors open (mm) 2,085

Wheelbase (mm) 2,749

Front track (mm) 1,658

Rear track (mm) 1,648

Front overhang (mm) 950

Rear overhang (mm) 815

Unladen weight (kg) 1,310

Boot volume (litres) 290

Technical data

Engine 2.0 T petrol (200hp)

Power (hp) 200hp (147kW)

Maximum torque (Nm) 280Nm at 2,600rpm

Acceleration from standstill to 100kph (s) 7.2

Standard cycle CO2 emissions / fuel consumption 154g/km / 6.5 litres/100km

Gearbox Six-speed manual gearboxwith ‘stop and start’ system

Transmission Front-wheel drive

Tyres 245/35 ZR21Wheels 21-inch

The official unveiling of Lamborghini’s LP560/4 isn’t until tomorrow, but high quality pics are already circulating. Hey, if Lambo’s brass really wanted to keep this baby a secret, they’d have put a cover on it!  The next-gen Gallardo will come with a new 5.2-liter V10, and while exterior tweaks are minor, in my humble opinion, it looks wicked. More pics after the jump.

Asphalte via Jalopnik

Continue reading "Lamborghini LP560/4 Revealed!" »

Talk about a package deal! For just over a million bucks, German tuner BRABUS will hook you up with both a SLR McLaren Roadster and Smart Ultimate 112. Of course, both are beyond trick, feature matching paint/interior themes and of course, a few more horses. While it seems pretty stupid to even mention the word "practical" when referring to a deal like this, it seems like having the smart to bop around town in is kind of a good idea. If you’re dying to see the pair in person, they’ll be on display at the Geneva Motor Show. More photos and the press release after the jump. 

via CarScoop

Continue reading "BRABUS SLR McLaren Roadster and Smart Ultimate 112" »

Isn’t it nice when the car-makers offer "special editions" where they spice up their cars with different wheels and other goodies so they can sell a few more? This practice is admittedly a lot more exciting when the subject happens to be an already-exclusive supercar. Koenigsegg has recently announced their CCX and CCXR limited editions, which, according to the company, are what their customers have been asking for. Both cars come with the Koenigsegg 4.8L dual-supercharged engine. They’ve been designed with more of a track bias when compared to the company’s standard offerings, with stiffer springs, a lower stance, and reset dampers. The body is made of clear-coated carbon fibre and the interior has been retrimmed with a host of goodies and gagetry. The CCX’s very limited production run will include all of fourteen cars, each producing 888 hp; the CCXR is even more exclusive, with production capped at six fire-breathing, 1018-horsepower vehicles. Get full specs at Koenigsegg’s website.