New Subaru Trezia Adds Impreza Face to Toyota Verso-S MPV

Meet the all-new Trezia, the latest in a long line of Toyota models turned into Subarus as part of the ongoing partnership between the two Japanese automakers. It's essentially a rebadged version of the Toyota Verso-S (called Ractis in Japan), which was introduced in Europe at this year's Paris Motor Show.

The differences between the Trezia and its Verso-S twin are limited only to the Impreza-like front grille, the chrome treatment on the tailgate trim and of course, Subaru's logos. Everything else, including the interior and even the alloy wheel and hub cover designs remain unchanged.

Like the Toyota Ractis in Japan, the Trezia will offer buyers a choice of a 1.3-liter or a 1.5-liter engines as well as front- or all-wheel drive layouts. Prices in Japan range from 1.36 million Yen to 1.87 million Yen.-carscoop.blogspot.com

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2012 Next generation Citroen C1 Spyshots and Information

2012 Next generation  Citroen C1 Spyshots and Information

We got these pictures from autocar and France’s automobile as we have been told that these pictures is leaked during Citroen conduct  typical “clinic” reseach  prior to the launch of new models.

As autocar say, The next generation  Citroen C1 retain Some elements of the current car. however,to incorporate much more adventurous  surfacing than current car. That is apparent particularly around the C-Pillars, Which move into a roof-mounted rear spoiler.

The car will be 10-15 centimeter longer than current car.reaching about 3.60 m, the second generation approaches the size of its main rival,Renault Twingo.

The car  will also remain faithful to the three-cylinder gasoline engine.the entry level 1.0 liter petrol expect to increase tp 75 hp.

It’s has been report that  a more muscular engine is in develope, a new three-cylinder 1.2 turbo THP, PSA developed with BMW, which could peak at 135 hp which should be capable of 90g/km.The new powerplants will Be made at a factory in Douvrin in the Pas-de-Calais region.

The car will be assembled in the same plant as the current generation in Kolin, Czech Republic. the car will share many body parts with Toyota Aygo and Peugeot  108.the next generation of the car will debute a three-door version  and five-door variants to debute with a ‘Exclusive’ trim level.-autoten.com

Rinspeed builds a car of bamboo

The BamBoo uses bamboo fibers in the construction of some interior components.

(Credit: Rinspeed)

At next year's Geneva auto show, tuner and concept builder Rinspeed will show off an environmentally friendly concept car designed to evoke bronzed bodies soaking up the sun at St. Tropez. Although Rinspeed highlights bamboo in the car's name, only interior components are made from bamboo fibers, with a more conventional metal shell for the body.

The BamBoo comes with a foldable two-wheel electric bike.

(Credit: Rinspeed)

In the past, Rinspeed has given us such wild concepts as the submersible sQuba and the iChange. In comparison, the BamBoo seems less ambitious, and even Rinspeed describes it as a "grown-up golf cart." Bamboo has become a favorite material for green construction because it replenishes itself quickly.

An electric powertrain propels the car, although Rinspeed offers no specifications for it. The press release also mentions an included two-wheel electric vehicle for that last mile. Think parking the BamBoo, then scooting around the narrow streets of a European town.

The 2011 Geneva auto show takes place from March 3 through March 13.-cnet.com

Radar Shoes Could Help Locate Users Where Satellite Signals Won't Go

The rise of readily available GPS-enabled devices was supposed to make losing one’s way a relic of a bygone era. But while GPS has undoubtedly changed the way we get around, it’s still imperfect – anywhere the satellite signal can’t reach might as well not be on the digital map because we can’t locate ourselves there. But researchers at NC State and Carnegie Mellon Universities may just have a solution. All they need to do is put radar in your shoe.

Thus far, the most common fix for GPS dead zones is to employ some kind of inertial measurement unit (IMU) that uses measures your speed and direction and figures your position relative to your last known GPS location. But IMUs can be faulty. Even a tiny error in measuring speed or direction will accumulate over time, so the longer you are without GPS the more inaccurate the IMU estimation. This can lead to serious problems if, say, you are trying to find your way out of a subterranean cave or a Wal Mart.

These IMU errors are usually the result of misreading when the subject is standing still. The person may stop, but the IMU may think the person has taken a few more steps, or is even still moving slowly. So the NC State – CMU team devised a means for IMUs to better calculate when a person is standing still: a radar embedded in the heel of the shoe.

The shoe radar works by tracking the distance between the foot and the ground. If that distance doesn’t change for a given period of time, the system knows the foot is firmly planted and tells the IMU as much. By improving the IMUs understanding of when a person is at a complete standstill, the shoe radar can drastically reduce those accumulation errors.

Installing radar in every pair of shoes you own would probably be a bit over the top. But for people who spend a lot of time underground, especially in dangerous situations – miners come to mind, as do construction workers and engineers working on tunnels and large infrastructure projects – technology that can accurately locate you in a pinch seems like it would be a pretty wise investment.-popsci.com

AC Schnitzer Mini E Polizei

Every year BMW tuner Ac Schnitzer reveals a tuned Police car based on one of the Bavarian company’s productions, as their contribution to VDAT’s TUNE IT! SAFE! initiative. This year it’s the electric Mini which received the Cop Car treatment. The 204-hp MINI E in Police livery sporting AC’s tuning package was presented for the first time at the Essen Motor Show 2010.

The car gets AC Schnitzer’s racing suspension, and the front and rear skirts and bonnet vents, as well as “MI 2″ (7.5J x 18″) alloy wheels and high performance brake system from AC Schnitzer with 4-pot fixed calipers on the front axle.

The “Police Look” is provided by the latest signalling system from Hella on the roof, and the blue paintwork by AC Schnitzer in conjunction with special stickering from Foliatec.

The TUNE IT! SAFE! initiative by the Verband Deutscher Automobil Tuner e.V. (VDAT) supported by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development, shows that the yearning for individualisation can continue to be met in the future.-motorward.com

The all new 2012 BMW 1-Series

The new generation 1-Series from BMW is supposed to be revealed in January 2011 at the Detroit Auto Show. There is however very less probability of a car remaining secret that long in the automotive industry. An image of the car has been revealed on the internet. The 1-series would be launched in both coupe and the convertible model and that is exactly what the picture also reveals. More details for sure would be out soon.
The future M Version of the car is also going to be based on the 1-Series. So it is best that one learns more about this car before getting interested in the future M version. BMW is expected to keep the 1-Series and the future M version nearly same as far as their looks and interior are concerned. There would be changes in all probability only in the engine performance to cater for better fuel efficiency.-speedlux.com

Proton's electric car showcased at 'green' conference

Malaysia's first electric car is taking shape with the completion of the prototype of the vehicle based on the latest Proton Saga model.

The prototype, unveiled for the first time today, was built in collaboration between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Proton, the national car maker.

Proton Group Managing Director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said the prototype has given them confidence in making better electric vehicles and hoped that it could be a mass production soon.

"The first stage of validating the product from end-to-end is completed, it gives us a lot of confidence, the system will work as a car.

"And I think the next stage will be pre-testing by the people, and put a better volume of the product, and finally at the end of the day, we are going for mass production," he told reporters on the sidelines of the International Conference on Sustainable Mobility 2010 here today.

The three-day conference starting today and organised by the SAE international Malaysia Section and UTM aims to provide opportunities for participants to exchange ideas, findings, promote knowledge-sharing and cooperate in the field of sustainable mobility.

UTM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Ir Dr Zaini Ujang said the prototype has been under research and development for the past 11 months and the modification was started by converting a petrol-based Saga model to a fully electric-powered car.

"Upon completion, the car can travel as far as 160 kilometres using a 15 kilowatt battery and will take up seven to eight hours to re-charge conventionally," he said.

He said the car was suitable for urban and short-distance travelling and it was environment-friendly as it does not release sound or smoke.-mmail.com.my

Honda shows five seater New Small Concept

India’s automotive industry is the second fastest growing in the world and has exceptional prospects. Already the ninth largest in the world it is expected to become one of the largest in the world several decades from now. Already the auto makers are developing specifically for the future, with Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) pulling the covers off what has been dubbed the “Honda New Small Concept”, a very small vehicle with seating for five people. The world premier was aptly staged at the Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi, India's leading auto show, along with new small cars from Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan and Ford.

Ff Nirvana means bliss ... and free from wants, the Delhi Motor Show is small car Nirvana in no less than six different Avatars. Almost every global major is showcasing a new small car avatar, that promises to free you of your desires of a large car. Small car concept from Honda and Suzuki , Etios from Toyota, Polo from Volkswagen, Micra from Nissan and Figo from Ford; each car has its own story to tell. ...

India is the worlds second fastest growing car market; but with a car ownership ratio of only 4 per 1000 people compared to nearly 500 per 1000 people in America , most of Europe and the developed world...people see India as a big oppurtunity. But with a billion plus population with is very much unique, this oppurtunity promises to spawn many unique ideas and products.

By 2050, India will have more cars than any other country, and Japan’s second largest auto maker is clearly planning to get its share of sales by competing with local makers planning to offer the world’s cheapest cars. HSCI also announced plans to begin sales of a car based on this concept in both India and Thailand in2011.

Honda will strive to provide a new small-sized vehicle that is beyond the expectations of customers in rapidly growing markets and offer it at an affordable price by leveraging Honda's global parts sourcing network. The visual presence of the Small Car Concept is interesting, even if the name isn't (did the marketing department go on holidays this week?).

It has been dubbed an "Efficient Energetic Exterior" and there's little doubt that it does have a presence beyond its size.-gizmag

Honda shows BRIO city car prototype

Honda finally showed the smaller-than-small city car it has been developing for Asian markets - the Honda BRIO - today at the 27th Thailand International Motor Expo in Bangkok. It will be the smallest, lightest and cheapest car in the Honda range when it goes on sale in India and Thailand next year - around THB 400,000 (US$13,300).

The sub-light Brio hatch shown today in Bangkok is a strong indication of what the car will look like when production begins in March 2011, but very little detail of the engine or specifications were shared – an extraordinary move given that it is only four months from production.

One likely reason for this is that Honda has not competed in this increasingly important segment previously and is a very late starter, entering a market pioneered by the Suzuki Swift, well behind established players such as Volkswagen’s Polo, Ford’s Figo, Kia's Picanto, Hyundai’s i10 and Nissan’s Micra. Toyota will also launch a competitor in the form of the Etios before Honda makes it to market.

One of the features of the Brio will be its ultra light weight – though no figures were specified, the announcement hinted that the car will be highly efficient due to its lightweight construction. In Thailand it is targeting 5liters/100km, indicating that it will most likely use a cut-down three-cylinder version of the Jazz 1200cc four-cylinder engine. Further indications that several engines are still being considered came when Honda announced there would be several major differences between the Indian and Thai versions of the vehicle.

For the Thai model that is scheduled to be introduced in March 2011, the fuel economy of more than 5liters/100km*2 will be targeted so that the vehicle will qualify as an eco-car by the Thai government, and a starting price of approximately 400,000 baht will be targeted as well. For the Indian model that is scheduled to be introduced within 2011, local customer needs for a small car will be reflected and local content will be increased to create a model that achieves a good balance between vehicle performance and price.

"Honda would like to expand the joy of mobility to more customers in Thailand, India and other Asian countries through the introduction of a new small vehicle with compact and highly efficient packaging by utilizing our own experiences cultivated by motorcycle business here in Asia," said Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor.-gizmag

Jaguar Hybrid Concept Features Four Motors, 780 Horsepower

While electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt tend to dominate the headlines, there's more to the plug-in scene than small passenger cars. Like super cars, for instance. At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Jaguar showed off its new C-X75 concept, which takes plug-in cars to a whole new level.

The C-X75 features four electric motors, each providing 195 horsepower, giving the sleek car a grand total of 780 electric horsepower. But, as a hybrid, the car also features two small micro-gas turbines, which can provide upwards of 180 additional horsepower. When in electric mode, the C-X75 has a range of nearly 70 miles. When the electric battery pack runs out of juice, that's when the gas turbines kick in.-gearlog.com

Lincoln garage joins growing Proton network

PROTON has announced another dealership to join their ever-expanding dealership network.

The Shakespeare Street Garage of Lincoln has joined the maker’s network and becomes the Proton main dealer for the area.

Tony Richardson, a director at the Shakespeare Street Garage, commented:  ’We are delighted to have become Proton’s main dealer for Lincoln.

‘Thanks to their Lotus inspired design, Proton’s cars are very stylish, fun to drive and have fantastic handling – it’s also a brand that offers motorists great value for money, coupled with the reassurance of delivering reliability – especially with the three year warranty available.  Above all they have an exceptional build quality with high levels of standard equipment.’

A family owned business established in 1983, the Shakespeare Street Garage today employs 14 people, and provides new and used car sales, MOTs, servicing and body repairs. The garage is also the Perodua and MicroCar dealer for Lincoln.

Simon Park, general manager of sales & marketing for Proton Cars (UK) Ltd, said:  ’We are pleased to welcome the Shakespeare Street Garage to our expanding network and offer customers more choice in the area.  With a growing demand for more cost-effective motors, Proton makes for a sensible choice of car.’-cardealermagazine.co.uk

PGO Hermera BMW mystery car spy shots revealed

At first, not even our spy photographer knew exactly what this car was. It was initially thought to be a Wiesmann of some sort. But since it was snapped inside BMW grounds in Munich, rumours have changed. It’s taken some thorough research to finally figure out that this is a PGO Hermera.

So what’s a PGO Hermera then? Well, it’s a French company known for creating Porsche 356 remakes and that’s exactly what this is meant to be.

From the rear though it’s quite obvious this is not your classically stunning Porsche 356 convertible. No, it’s a Shooting Break, with the rear window being the hatch.

The reason it’s inside BMW grounds is that it uses an engine developed in conjunction with BMW’s PSA partnership. So rumour has it this Hermera could be powered by a version of the Mini engine, also seen in the Peugeot 207.

It looks kind of awkward at the back, with its high roof line and bulged out hips. From the front though you can see the Porsche 356′s softly rounded bonnet, friendly eyed headlights and the traditional chrome front bumper/fascia insert.

It’s unclear at this stage when and in what market this car will go on sale but we’ll keep you posted. Let us know what you think in the meantime. Is the Hermera a worthy modern retake of the Porsche 356?-caradvice.com.au

Govt to field-test Proton hybrid car first

The mass production of a Proton hybrid vehicle will be decided after it has been tested through government use in Putra jaya and Cyberjaya next year.

Proton managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamad Tahir said the company needed to get positive feedback from the Government before marketing the car on a large scale.

He added that Proton would produce 50 to 200 units of the hybrid vehicle, and would start to deliver them in January.

“If we go straight to mass production, we fear we might find problems. So let the Government use the hybrid and we’ll get feedback.

“We hope we can make a decision to market them in a big way by the middle of next year,” he said yesterday at the family fiesta and Proton Innovation and Creation 2010 competition, which was attended by company chairman Datuk Seri Nadzmi Salleh at Shah Alam Stadium.

The price of the hybrid vehicle is expected to be 50% higher than that of an ordinary car, he said.

But people could be encouraged to buy the hybrid with indirect incentives from the Government.

It was the same in other countries, Syed Zainal said, where government incentives spurred people to buy a hybrid car. — Bernama

Mazda8 launched in China

Earlier today the Mazda8 officially launched in China and is set to make a big splash in the MPV segment. The MPV market has increased by over 60% in 2010 alone, the Mazda8 will be competing against the Buick GL8 in the higher end MPV segment, until now the GL8 has had a free run of the business use MPV market, but the 8 will change this. The Mazda5 will also launch in China in early 2011 and will be produced by Chang’an Mazda.

The Mazda8 pricing has yet to be announced, the Mazda8 will be powered by a 2.3L and will be using a 4 speed gearbox to power the front wheels.-chinacartimes.com

Proton in talks for charging stations

PROTON Holdings Bhd is currently in talks with the government as well as highway operator PLUS Ex pressway Bhd on the possibility of setting up electric charging stations in the country, to help drive its soon-to-be-launched hybrid vehicle.

"We know that in order for the project to take off on a big scale, we need to have the infrastructure in place, infrastructure like charging station for the electric car," said Proton lead engineer and head of electric vehicle project Ilham Shamsul Ibrahim in Cyberjaya yesterday.

The company plans to launch its hybrid vehicle sometime next year. Unlike most hybrid cars where engines are powered by either petrol or electricity, or both at the same time, the ones by Proton will be slightly different.

The car's engine will be electric-powered, but there will be a petrol-powered motor, which will be used to charge the battery. 

"This is what we call series hybrid, or in another term, range-extended electric vehicle (REEV)," Shamsul said. 

The electric car, on its own without another motor to charge the battery, can only run about 140km. But with the motor, its mileage can increase to over 500km, said Shamsul. 

Currently, the REEV system is being tried out on the Exora. 

There are about 10 of these REEV-version of Exora on the roads now for test runs and trials. Tests have been ongoing for about two months. 

"We are currently in prototype stage 1. Once stage 1 is completed, we will get feedback on all the prob lems we faced, and solve it, and then move on to stage 2 and so forth," said Shamsul. In total, there will be at least three stages of tests. 

According to Shamsul, the REEV will be very en vironment-friendly and will help ease the burden of rising fuel prices. 

A full charge of the REEV would cost less than RM8, based on the current power rate. With that full charge, the car can go about 140km (without the help of the fuel-powered engine). This means, for RM40, the car can travel more than 500km, the common mileage a car can achieve on a full tank. 

So far, Shamsul said there are still some issues with the system. However, he stressed that it is common as it is still in the first stage of testing. -btimes.com.my

Porsche’s new 911 (2011) shows off its pop-up rear spoiler

Another week and yet more spy shots of Porsche’s all-new 911. And this time Porsche’s next-gen 911 is showing off its new pop-up rear spoiler.

The bigger rear spoiler, which is now wider than ever before, and extends beyond the intakes atop the engine and out across the flanks – it’s there to make the 911 both more slippery and stable at speed.

Ignore that Turbo-aping disguise, too. And as we close in on the launch of the new 911, the rest of the disguise is slipping away, revealing the familiar silhouette but a Panamera-influenced snout.

What else can you tell me about the new 911?

Slung out the back will be a marginally downsized 3.4-litre flat six for the 345bhp Carrera, while a 394bhp 3.8-litre flat six will power the Carrera S. You’ll be able to mate either to a seven-speed dual-clutch PDK ‘box, or (yes, really) a seven-speed manual transmission. There’s some eco sops too, with stop/start, intelligent decoupling alternators, and for the first time (and rather worryingly) electric power steering.

Porsche boss Matthias Müller also recently confirmed to CAR at the LA Auto Show that the company was working on flat four engines based on the architecture of the current flat six. The new motors are earmarked for the next-generation of Boxster and Cayman, but although Müller ruled it out for the 911 in the near future, we hear it will be deployed in the rear-engined icon in around five years time.

The new Porsche 911, internally dubbed 991, will be unveiled at the next Frankfurt motor show in September 2011.-carmagazine.co.uk