2010 Paris Motor Show: Brabus Hyundai i20 Sport Edition

The little Korean model received a tuning kit from Brabus, a tuning house well-known by the fans of the modified supercars. Even Hyundai i20 isn’t exactly a supercar model, the Germans at Brabus decided to reveal a limited edition at Paris Auto Show.

Thus, Hyundai i20 Sport Edition, as the tuner named the upgrade package, debuted at Paris Auto Show, and came with several aesthetic improvements while the technical details are unkown for now. At the exterior, the Korean i20 received a new front grille, new optical blocks, integrated LED lights, and Yokohama tires fitted on the new 17-inch rims.

Even more improvements are seen at the interior, where the German tuner prepared leather sport Recaro seats, two-color dashboard and seats and a 7-inch touchscreen navigation system. From the first information a 1.4-litre petrol engine able to develop up to 100 hp was hidden under the bonnet but more options might be available soon.-techmagdaily.com

Paris 2010: Lotus Elan Concept stuns the crowds

2013 Lotus Elan Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

We didn't see this one coming. Lotus' five-car concept explosion at the Paris Motor Show is one of the most welcome surprises sprung on us in recent memory... and the biggest surprise of all may be this Elan. Lotus says its new Elan is slated for a debut in 2013, which makes us wonder what the future may have in store for the current Evora. Pricing for the 2013 Elan is set at $118,500 (£75,000).

In any case, the Elan is powered by a 450-horsepower supercharged 4.0-liter V6 engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox from Toyota, which offers enough gumption to scoot to 62 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 193 mph. Lotus also promises that a hybrid will be available using a Kinetic Energy Recovery System similar to those seen in Formula One a season ago.

Take a good look at the awesome cockpit of the 2013 Elan. Plenty of carbon fiber, plenty of high-tech goodies, even including a digital race track readout for track days. And could anything be better than that awesome flat-bottom and flat-top steering wheel? No, we didn't think so.

Weight comes in at 2,849 pounds and there is room for a driver and a passenger, but Lotus will also optionally deliver the Elan with two itty-bitty perches out back. Are we sensing that Lotus has the Porsche 911 in its sights? You betcha'.-autoblog.com

Paris 2010: Lotus shows off its new Grand Tourer, the Elite

Lotus Elite Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Lotus continues its march towards global sportscar domination with the 2010 Paris Motor Show unveiling of the Lotus Elite. The Elite represents a step away from "lighter is better" because it is a hefty, four-passengergrand tourer – it weighs in at 3,600 pounds. One of the reasons it's so heavy? It has a retractable, folding hardtop. Don't let the weight throw you off though, this is a good looking, aggressively styled powerhouse. Under the hood sits a modified version of the 5.0-liter V8 out of a Lexus IS-F. The unit is then massaged to produce 611 horsepower which propels the car to a sub-four-second 0-60 time and a top speed of 195 miles per hour. The Elite will also be fitted with KERS for a quick boost of recovered energy.

The front mid-engine layout should help balance the Lotus Elite and make for an exciting driving experience. We expect this car to represent a slightly softer side for the automaker, but that's like saying we expect a bomb to hurt less than a missile. The entire Lotus lineup is poised in attack position, the Elite just happens to wear clothes from the Big and Tall store. 

Lotus is aiming to bring this sporty road warrior to market sometime in the year 2014. If you invest your money wisely now, you just might be able to save the estimated $180,000 you'll need to put one in your driveway. -autoblog.com

Paris 2010: Lotus Esprit Concept previews upcoming revival of a legend

Lotus is ready to make a big impact at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. It brought five concept vehicles to the show (more on the other four in short order), and one in particular has us salivating. Lotus plans to revive the much-loved Esprit for the 2013 model year. Before we see a production version of that car, the automaker is showcasing its Lotus Esprit Concept.

Taking cues from the old Esprit, the Esprit Concept plunks its engine amidship, though instead of honoring the turbocharged four-cylinders that powered the originals, the concept makes do with a meaty supercharged 5.0-liter V8. That V8 will look familiar to fans of the Lexus IS-F. The two-seater will produce 620 horsepower, accelerate from 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds and then blast onward to a 205-mile-per-hour top speed. The plan is to bring the production version to market in the spring of 2013 with a price tag around $175,000.

In addition to the massive, and massively exciting ,V8 power, the Lotus Esprit will also be offered with KERSas an option. KERS, or Kinetic Energy Recovery System, is a system used by Formula 1 cars to recover heat energy generated during braking. The energy is stored until the driver wants a powerful boost and with a push of a button propels the car with more force than two bottles of NOS... the big ones.-autoblog.com

Paris 2010: Lotus Elise Concept evolves the sports car

There's no denying that Lotus had lost its way prior to the release of the much-loved Elise. The company that Colin built had strayed from its roots of lightweight sports cars and drifted towards the exotic realm... and it had drastic effects on the company's bottom line. Thankfully, the Elise and its hard-core cousin, the Exige, set the company back on the straight and narrow.

All of this begs the question, though: How do you update a modern classic like the Elise? Lotus' answer is currently being shown off at the Paris Motor Show. Here are the basics: 320 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine procured from Toyota, a six-speed manual and optional paddle-shifted automatic transmission, and a 2,409-pound curb weight. This supercharged model can hit 62 in 4.3 seconds. Price? $55,000.

For those keeping track of such things, which is to say nearly all of you, that is indeed heavier and more expensive than the current Elise... and that's not good. Fortunately, Lotus promises that there will be less expensive versions of the 2015 Elise available, presumably without the benefit of forced induction. There will also be both hard-and soft-top models on offer.

What all Elises will offer, though, is a more luxurious cabin and easier entry and exit. We're loving the look of the interior, with its pod-like binnacle of instruments, steering wheel with F1-style progressive shift lights and its digital rendering of race circuits for those venturing out the the track. As for the exterior, well, let's just say we're not quite on board yet with what Lotus designers have planned for the brand's future. Fortunately they have plenty of time to change our minds.-autoblog.com

Paris 2010: Lotus debuts Eterne hybrid sedan concept

When we think of Lotus, the words "hybrid" and "sedan" aren't exactly the first words that come to mind. Now, though, Lotus is changing all that with the introduction of its Eterne concept, a four-door sedan with an optional hybrid powertrain. This may be a big step in a different direction for Lotus, but it's nothing new. The Eterne takes the same shape as the Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin Rapide and Audi A7 Sportback.

Like the new Esprit concept, the Eterne is powered by a 620-horsepower, 5.0-liter V8 sourced from Toyota. The optional hybrid drivetrain uses a Formula 1-style KERS energy recuperation system, and the Lotus sedan will be available in both rear- and all-wheel drive. Of course, this is still a Lotus, so good performance numbers are an absolute must, and we're told that the Eterne will run to 60 miles per hour in just 4.0 seconds on its way to a top speed of 196 mph.

While merely a concept at this point, Lotus says that the Eterne is slated for production in 2015 and that the sedan will cost around $190,000. We'll have live photos direct from the Paris Motor Show floor soon, so stay tuned.-autoblog.com

2010 Paris Motor Show: Nissan Townpod EV Concept

Just as expected , the 2010 Paris Motor Show isn’t only about the long carried legacy models, and their more powerful and tweaked up iterations from the famous auto brands. The concepts are too spinning the eye balls of the auto enthusiasts, gathered to enjoy the vast galore of the striking cars showcased at their respective stands. Making a strong impact on audiences is Nissan’s Townpod EV concept with its zero emission promise, and lots of customization options for its young urban buyers.

Finished in Stratosphere White, the Townpod EV concept is a rather quirky looking subcompact that according to Nissan has been designed to adapt to driver’s way of living. Apparently, the Japanese automaker is here referring to the flamboyant “Spartan” interior that features a futuristic steering wheel, a flat loading floor and sliding rear seat and the Puck, a small rubber ball. Measuring roughly around the size of a squash ball with a wide groove into them, the Pucks can accommodate drink holders, cell-phone rests and hand-bag hooks. The prime highlight is a dual screen display that serves as an instrument panel, a satellite navigation system and controls the audio system of the car.

As for the exteriors, the charging points have been fitted into the nose behind an automatically retracting cover, which appears to be backlit, thanks to its electric blue painted surrounds. Similar electric blue hints are visible behind the door handles, number plate, the spokes of the alloy wheels and within the headlamp pods.

There are no details on the powertrain as of now except that Nissan’s Townpod EV concept,  employs the same zero-emission technology found within Nissan LEAF.-nitrobahn.com

PARIS MOTOR SHOW: BMW Takes iPhone Integration To The Next Level

Don't tell that to BMW  because they have raised the bar to a new start when it comes to iPhoneintegration.  Take a look at the shots of the integration on the X3 from phone, music and GPS, seamlessly integrated entirely replacing the NAV screen built into the vehicle.









So when those techno guys tell you, with it's open source nature, number of carriers and a variety of form factors that Android will be the dominant platform in the phone market. You can fire right back that very "advantages" will keep those devices out full scale automotive integration.  There are simply too many variables and form factors for any automaker to do anything other a basic Android integration. -autospies.com

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, Debuts at L.A. Auto Show

Chevrolet has announced that the Camaro convertible will make its official debut at the Los Angeles auto show this November. It’s set to go on sale in February 2011, and will battle the Ford Mustang convertible for the dollars of sun-loving pony-car fans. Speaking of dollars, we also now know how many of them it will take to snag a ‘Maro droptop: $30,000, or about $6500 more than the base hardtop. It’s also about $2000 more than the cheapest Mustang convertible ($27,995). If the pricing gap holds true throughout the lineup, expect to pay at least $39,000 for the cloth-topped Camaro SS.

As we expected, the droptop will employ the same powertrain lineup as the Camaro coupe. The base engine is a direct-injected, 3.0-liter V-6 with 312 hp, while SS models score a 6.2-liter V-8 producing 426 hp. A six-speed manual remains the standard transmission, with a six-speed automatic optional for those who like their cruisin’ simple and their livin’ easy.

We also got another peek at the convertible, this time an SS model. Shot with its top down in an idyllic beach setting, it looks as handsome as the coupe, although we have yet to see the car with its fabric roof in place.-caranddriver.com

SEAT IBE Concept Car Pictures : Electric Car at 2010 Paris Motor Show

Take a look on the striking pictures of SEAT IBE Concept Car, an electric car, which will be showcased at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

SEAT sets clear course for electro-mobility with the SEAT IBE Paris Concept car. The Spanish company is presenting its clear vision of a super-compact sports coupé for the urban mobility of the near future at the 2010 Paris Motor Show which will be held in next month. Recently, it has released photos and details with the SEAT IBE Concept.

At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the first version of the SEAT IBE Concept was already presented and after that its design, technology and interior have been further developed. Now, a new version of the IBE features further-developed design, technology and interior which is unbelievably spacious and versatile for this vehicle format and also an innovative concept for individualized connectivity and infotainment.

The SEAT IBE concept features an all-electric 2+2 sport coupe body which is only 3.83 meters (12.57 feet) long, about 20 cm shorter than the Ibiza model. Specifically, it was designed by keeping in mind European cities such as Paris, London, Berlin and Barcelona. The car’s front-mounted 75 kW (102 PS) electric motor is fitted under the front bonnet of the car while the lithium-ion battery pack is stored underneath the floor of the rear luggage compartment.

The SEAT IBE perfectly merges its sports car character with innovative technology. The all-electric drive facilitates local zero-emissions driving fun while the powerful motor and the low weight is delivered by intelligent mixed-material construction guarantee sophisticated performance. Seat IBE Concept benefits from a maximum 102 PS (75 kw) and 200 Nm of torque with this type of propulsion which indicate that accelerating from 0 to 50 Km/h takes 3.4 seconds and 9.4 seconds from 0 to 100 Km/h. The battery capacity of 18 kWh is good for a range of about 130 km (80 mi) and top speed is 160 km/h (99 mph).

Seat’s head of design Luc Donckerwolke, said, “The IBE shows Seat’s vision for a car of the future that is as emotional as it is ecologically responsible and affordable. The IBE is a gene pool for our next generation of vehicles. Many of its elements describe our design language going forward.”
Connectivity is a key feature of the IBE and wireless application is convenient tool on hand in the IBE by which a driver can connect to the car’s computer and check on the battery level. Users can conduct an online check of the car’s systems with the use of smartphone. Furthermore, albums or songs stored on the phone can be played through the car’s sound system. Other various driver assistance and navigational apps are also available.
Alongside the designing concept, the minimalist-designed model includes a more distinct front fascia with LED headlights and a more pronounced V-shape to the quite flat front bonnet. In opposition to conventional internal-combustion engine, the lesser amount of space is required by the electric motor.-b4tea.com
Seat IBE Electric Car interior pictures:

Exagon electric hybrid has 500 mile range and 155 mph top speed

The Paris Motor Show is about to get underway and the next 72 hours will no doubt see an unprecedented number of new electric and hybrid vehicles, so it’s not surprising that a few companies have jumped the gun in showing new cars to avoid getting lost in the publicity avalanche. One doing just that is a new automotive brand (as least as a manufacturer of whole cars) emanating from French company Exagon Engineering. The figures for the Furtive eGT are astoundingly brisk - 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).

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The 2+2 Exagon Furtive eGT runs two Siemens 168 hp (125 kW / 170 PS) motors for a total of 336 horsepower and an electric-only range of 400 kilometers (250 miles) before the petrol engine generator kicks in to double that distance before you need to stop.-gizmag.com