Honda will unveil the revised Insight hybrid car at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show – and CO2 emissions have finally been tickled under 100g/km.
The five-door hatch now boasts a CO2 rating of 96g/km. So – under current tax regimes – you won't pay a penny in annual road tax or the London congestion charge. Though we all know that the threshold for both will doubtless be lowered as the average CO2 of most cars continues to tumble.
How has Honda lowered the CO2 on the 2012 Honda Insight?
It's all about enhanced aero, reduced engine friction, a remapped CVT auto transmission and an air-con which draws less power, apparently.
There's also a minor facelift, and anoraks can spot the 2012 Insight by the new grille, a slimmer rear spoiler and – nerds read on – a smaller rear wiper motor.
Perhaps sensitive to previous criticisms of the Insight's wobbly ride, Honda has also made further suspension changes and the interior is said to be better quality too.
Thứ Ba, 28 tháng 2, 2012
Citroen Tubik concept car (2011) first pictures
The Citroen Tubik may have overtones of a guppy fish, but this new nine-seat MPV concept car shows how the French envisage a people carrier of tomorrow.
It draws inspiration from the Type H or TUB (French slang for a front-wheel drive commercial vehicle) van from Citroen's history books. So it's a spacious monobox and aims to solve the usual MPV dilemma or seats or baggage, by being simply massive.
The Citroen Tubik'll seat nine at full capacity, but with a more likely load of four or five boot space is said to be massive.
The cabin is modelled on a lounge, with modular full-grain, felt and silk leather seats that swivel and flop and arrange in three conventional rows or to face each other. So far, so Renault Espace. But not many contemporary MPVs boast a hi-definition TV screen and surround sound system.
Citroen Tubik: the lowdown
The Tubik is powered by PSA's new Hybrid4 system, the hybrid powertrain launching on the 3008 this autumn and slowly cascading across most of the large and medium car ranges. All four of those 22in wheels can be driven in 4wd mode.
Citroen claims the diesel-electric Tubik concept car has CO2 emissions on a par with a conventional saloon. Note how the two-tone paint - grey and white - debark the front-mounted diesel engine and the saintly hybrid unit at the rear.
Tubik: a versatile MPV
It's 4800mm long, 2080mm wide and 2050mm tall. That vast cliff face of a snout leaves you in no doubt this is a sensible family-bearing device. And there's an obvious visual link to the Type H which sold 500,000 units over 34 years.
The Citroen Tubik should be a practical thing: the huge cabin doors incorporate the entire side of the vehicle.
It draws inspiration from the Type H or TUB (French slang for a front-wheel drive commercial vehicle) van from Citroen's history books. So it's a spacious monobox and aims to solve the usual MPV dilemma or seats or baggage, by being simply massive.
The Citroen Tubik'll seat nine at full capacity, but with a more likely load of four or five boot space is said to be massive.
The cabin is modelled on a lounge, with modular full-grain, felt and silk leather seats that swivel and flop and arrange in three conventional rows or to face each other. So far, so Renault Espace. But not many contemporary MPVs boast a hi-definition TV screen and surround sound system.
Citroen Tubik: the lowdown
The Tubik is powered by PSA's new Hybrid4 system, the hybrid powertrain launching on the 3008 this autumn and slowly cascading across most of the large and medium car ranges. All four of those 22in wheels can be driven in 4wd mode.
Citroen claims the diesel-electric Tubik concept car has CO2 emissions on a par with a conventional saloon. Note how the two-tone paint - grey and white - debark the front-mounted diesel engine and the saintly hybrid unit at the rear.
Tubik: a versatile MPV
It's 4800mm long, 2080mm wide and 2050mm tall. That vast cliff face of a snout leaves you in no doubt this is a sensible family-bearing device. And there's an obvious visual link to the Type H which sold 500,000 units over 34 years.
The Citroen Tubik should be a practical thing: the huge cabin doors incorporate the entire side of the vehicle.
Skoda MissionL concept car (2011) unveiled
Skoda will show this new MissionL concept car at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.
It's a clear look at its proposed new model to slot between Fabia and Octavia. If you ever wondered at the strange 'half sizes' used by the Czechs, this is why.
Skoda MissionL: what it means
The improbably named MissionL is described as a compact liftback, and it's close to the production-ready design. This is a five-door vehicle for sale in Europe, Russia and China, says Skoda. There will also be a distinct version for the Indian market.
It's all part of a plan to raise Skoda group sales to 1.5 million by 2018.
'Revealing the look of our new compact model, the MissionL shows exactly the direction our brand is going to take,' said chairman Winfried Vahland. 'The world premiere in Frankfurt gives a clear signal that Skoda is going full steam ahead now. We are going to present a new vehicle every six months over the next two or three years.'
How Skoda will get to 1.5m sales
It's no joke. Skoda is gearing up for a product offensive unheralded in its two decades under the VW wing. It's launching the Yeti in China in mid-2013 and it's planning its own version of the Up city car too.
It's a clear look at its proposed new model to slot between Fabia and Octavia. If you ever wondered at the strange 'half sizes' used by the Czechs, this is why.
Skoda MissionL: what it means
The improbably named MissionL is described as a compact liftback, and it's close to the production-ready design. This is a five-door vehicle for sale in Europe, Russia and China, says Skoda. There will also be a distinct version for the Indian market.
It's all part of a plan to raise Skoda group sales to 1.5 million by 2018.
'Revealing the look of our new compact model, the MissionL shows exactly the direction our brand is going to take,' said chairman Winfried Vahland. 'The world premiere in Frankfurt gives a clear signal that Skoda is going full steam ahead now. We are going to present a new vehicle every six months over the next two or three years.'
How Skoda will get to 1.5m sales
It's no joke. Skoda is gearing up for a product offensive unheralded in its two decades under the VW wing. It's launching the Yeti in China in mid-2013 and it's planning its own version of the Up city car too.
Audi A2 concept (2011) first official pictures
The original Audi A2 was ahead of its time – it was small and fuel efficient, but its all-aluminium construction made it costly before the world was ready to pay a premium for a small car. But now it’s back, and to preview the new A2 being launched in 2015, Audi is unveiling this A2 concept car at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show next week.
What is the new Audi A2?
CAR knows that the new A2 will go into production as a premium-priced plug-in hybrid and EV in 2015. But before then there’s this A2 concept car, with a 85kW electric motor delivering torque peaks of 199lb ft to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission. In its current guise, complete with lithium-ion batteries mounted in the sandwich floor, Audi reckons the A2 has a 125-mile range, and will take four hours to recharge from a 240v household plug.
The A2 is 3804mm long, 1693mm wide, and 1494mm tall, making it ever so slightly smaller than the BMW i3 in all dimensions. And despite the electric powerplant and big glass roof (which can switch from white to opaque at the push of a button), the aluminium construction (and various CFRP parts) keeps the weights down to 1150kg. The baby BMW tips the scales at 1250kg.
The 0-62mph run takes 9.3 seconds, the top seed is limited to 93mph, the suspension is typical small car stuff (MacPherson front struts, torsion beam rear), while the steering and brake systems are purely electric, with no mechanical or hydraulic connection to the steering wheel or pedals. Not that you’d notice.
What about the styling of the new A2 concept?
Audi’s big single-frame grille dominates the nose, but the upper two-thirds aren’t for sucking in cooling air; instead the grille flips up, to reveal the charging socket. The bottom third is an air intake, with graphite foam cooling elements. Like the original A2, the bonnet doesn’t open, while the rear end bears a remarkable resemblance to the i3
There are LED headlights and tail lamps, connected by the ‘Audi Dynamic Light’, a band of LEDs running along the flanks of the A2 – it lights up blue when you unlock the car, shines orange when you’re driving (and flashes in sync with the indicators), and pulses red when you brake.
Is the Audi A2’s interior just as clever as the interior?
What there is of it, yes – calling it minimalistic would be generous. The Audi Dynamic Light features in here too, there’s a small pod of instruments for the driver, and a central infotainment screen. The EV powertrain negates the need for a transmission tunnel, the central armrest can be lowered to allow ‘free passage through the vehicle’, and heating or cooling air enters the cabin via disguised vents beneath the windscreen.
Tap both touchpads on the steering wheel simultaneously and the A2 switches to a semi-autonomous driving mode (best get your timing right). And while the car takes over and lets you stop concentrating on the road (doesn’t sound dangerous at all) you can surf the web thanks to the A2’s connectivity systems.
What is the new Audi A2?
CAR knows that the new A2 will go into production as a premium-priced plug-in hybrid and EV in 2015. But before then there’s this A2 concept car, with a 85kW electric motor delivering torque peaks of 199lb ft to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission. In its current guise, complete with lithium-ion batteries mounted in the sandwich floor, Audi reckons the A2 has a 125-mile range, and will take four hours to recharge from a 240v household plug.
The A2 is 3804mm long, 1693mm wide, and 1494mm tall, making it ever so slightly smaller than the BMW i3 in all dimensions. And despite the electric powerplant and big glass roof (which can switch from white to opaque at the push of a button), the aluminium construction (and various CFRP parts) keeps the weights down to 1150kg. The baby BMW tips the scales at 1250kg.
The 0-62mph run takes 9.3 seconds, the top seed is limited to 93mph, the suspension is typical small car stuff (MacPherson front struts, torsion beam rear), while the steering and brake systems are purely electric, with no mechanical or hydraulic connection to the steering wheel or pedals. Not that you’d notice.
What about the styling of the new A2 concept?
Audi’s big single-frame grille dominates the nose, but the upper two-thirds aren’t for sucking in cooling air; instead the grille flips up, to reveal the charging socket. The bottom third is an air intake, with graphite foam cooling elements. Like the original A2, the bonnet doesn’t open, while the rear end bears a remarkable resemblance to the i3
There are LED headlights and tail lamps, connected by the ‘Audi Dynamic Light’, a band of LEDs running along the flanks of the A2 – it lights up blue when you unlock the car, shines orange when you’re driving (and flashes in sync with the indicators), and pulses red when you brake.
Is the Audi A2’s interior just as clever as the interior?
What there is of it, yes – calling it minimalistic would be generous. The Audi Dynamic Light features in here too, there’s a small pod of instruments for the driver, and a central infotainment screen. The EV powertrain negates the need for a transmission tunnel, the central armrest can be lowered to allow ‘free passage through the vehicle’, and heating or cooling air enters the cabin via disguised vents beneath the windscreen.
Tap both touchpads on the steering wheel simultaneously and the A2 switches to a semi-autonomous driving mode (best get your timing right). And while the car takes over and lets you stop concentrating on the road (doesn’t sound dangerous at all) you can surf the web thanks to the A2’s connectivity systems.
Jaguar C-X16 concept car (2011): the E-type reborn
This is Jaguar's new C-X16 concept car - and something very like what you see here will go on sale in late 2012 as a £55,000 sports car.
So the Jaguar C-X16 is the long-awaited E-type reborn?
Sort of. It's never as easy as that in real life, is it? But, yes, the C-X16 or XE or whatever we end up calling it will indeed prove an accessible, beautiful sports car, slotting beneath the XK in Jag's burgeioning range.
The C-X16 is a front-engined, rear-wheel drive coupe positioned slap bang between Cayman and 911. The good news is that what goes on sale in late 2012 will look remarkably like what you see here.
Jag C-X16: in detail
There is undeniably a touch of E-type about the C-X16. The side-opening tailgate, for instance, or the square grille. That side-hinged boot is impractical for production (although it was recycled from the RD-6 show car) and you can expect a conventional tailgate in production.
This is a compact car, at 4445mm long, and we'll see a convertible roadster version in due course.
Powering the new compact Jag sports car games
There's a new supercharged V6 application of the familiar 3.0-litre lump, turning out a stout 375bhp and 332lb ft. But this is 2011 - wake up! - so obviously the C-X16 is hybrid.
There's a 94bhp electric motor in the drivetrain and Jaguar claims this concept car can travel at up to 50mph on EV mode. It's quick, too: 0-62mph takes 4.4sec, combined economy is quoted at 41mpg.
You'd better believe the hybrid hype: Jaguar Land Rover is developing its own tech (the concept's borrows help from Lotus) and we'll see part-electric sports cars inside 30 months.
What will change from the C-X16 to the XE road car?
Happily not much, we hear. Tone down those 21in rims for more manageable 19s (20s will be an option). The concept's eight-speed auto will happen, but you'll be able to order a six-speed stick shift too.
Even more happily, the 1600kg kerbweight of the C-X16 will tumble to a svelter 1500kg for production. All that remains now is to decide on the name. We've heard XE is possible, and now the C-X16 is out in the open, we suspect the clues will start flowing thick and fast.
So the Jaguar C-X16 is the long-awaited E-type reborn?
Sort of. It's never as easy as that in real life, is it? But, yes, the C-X16 or XE or whatever we end up calling it will indeed prove an accessible, beautiful sports car, slotting beneath the XK in Jag's burgeioning range.
The C-X16 is a front-engined, rear-wheel drive coupe positioned slap bang between Cayman and 911. The good news is that what goes on sale in late 2012 will look remarkably like what you see here.
Jag C-X16: in detail
There is undeniably a touch of E-type about the C-X16. The side-opening tailgate, for instance, or the square grille. That side-hinged boot is impractical for production (although it was recycled from the RD-6 show car) and you can expect a conventional tailgate in production.
This is a compact car, at 4445mm long, and we'll see a convertible roadster version in due course.
Powering the new compact Jag sports car games
There's a new supercharged V6 application of the familiar 3.0-litre lump, turning out a stout 375bhp and 332lb ft. But this is 2011 - wake up! - so obviously the C-X16 is hybrid.
There's a 94bhp electric motor in the drivetrain and Jaguar claims this concept car can travel at up to 50mph on EV mode. It's quick, too: 0-62mph takes 4.4sec, combined economy is quoted at 41mpg.
You'd better believe the hybrid hype: Jaguar Land Rover is developing its own tech (the concept's borrows help from Lotus) and we'll see part-electric sports cars inside 30 months.
What will change from the C-X16 to the XE road car?
Happily not much, we hear. Tone down those 21in rims for more manageable 19s (20s will be an option). The concept's eight-speed auto will happen, but you'll be able to order a six-speed stick shift too.
Even more happily, the 1600kg kerbweight of the C-X16 will tumble to a svelter 1500kg for production. All that remains now is to decide on the name. We've heard XE is possible, and now the C-X16 is out in the open, we suspect the clues will start flowing thick and fast.
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