Citroen unveils elegant DS5

"Radical, daring and assertive" says Citroën of its third modern vehicle to wear the legendary DS nameplate. Even its unveiling is taking place at a non-traditional venue, that being the Shanghai Motor Show in China.

While nowhere near as radical as the original DS that stunned the world at the Paris Motor Show in 1955, a car described by philosopher Roland Barthes as having "fallen from the sky", the DS5 is still likely to hit a sweet spot with its rather elegant design with sporting overtones.

Design highlights include the trademark big grille and LED strips upfront and a unique feature is the pair of chrome-finished 'sabre' inserts that run from the top of each headlight to the windscreen.

Essentially an upmarket hatch-wagon contraption, the DS5 is the production version of the C-SportLounge concept but it's about more than just style and practicality… beneath its skin lies an advanced hybrid powertrain.

Basically, it uses Peugeot's Hybrid4 system that mates a front-mounted 2-litre diesel engine to an electric motor positioned in the rear. Delivering a system output of 147kW, the configuration also allows the DS5 to operate as a four-wheel drive when needed and it can even run on electric power alone for short low-speed spurts. Its combined cycle CO2 emissions rating amounts to just 99g/km.

While more detailed information will no doubt be released in good time, Citroën has not yet disclosed whether this vehicle will use the latest version of its Hydractive suspension system - and it would be a huge shame if it didn't.Inside the cabin, you'll find a driver-focused dashboard with colour head-up display. Creating the ambience throughout the interior are classy materials like Club leather and 'watchstrap' seat upholstery and the cabin is bathed in a blend of red and white ambient lighting.

As for practicality, the DS5 has five 'real' seats and a boot that can swallow 465 litres. Citroen also claims that the driving position is worthy of a Gran Turismo coupé. That's as much as we can tell you about the DS5 for now, so watch this space for updates as they become available.-iol.co.za

New M5 Concept unveiled at pre-show event in Shanghai

This week, BMW will officially debut the new M5 Concept at the Shanghai Motor Show. The Chinese show was chosen as the venue for the unveiling due to increased popularity of the M brand on the Asian market.

The first images of the BMW M5 Concept come from a pre-show event that took place earlier today in Shanghai where BMW’s current M boss, Dr. Kay Segler revealed the concept. On April 1st, at the Garching facility near Munich, BMW hosted another press gathering which coincided with the semi-official unveiling of the car.

The new F10 M5 launches at the end of this year as a 2012 model. The car is powered by a new TwinPower V8 turbocharged engine that is rumored to produce between 560-565 horsepower. Official figures will be released shortly. Only transmission confirmed at this time is the seven-speed M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic. A manual offering is rumored to be offered only for the North American market.

Design wise, the new M5 builds atop the safer, more appealing design lines of the F10 5 Series. Using softer lines, yet elegant, the new 5 Series has proven to be a success for BMW so far. The F10 M5 delivers what one expects from an M car: aggressiveness, sportiness and elegance. The front spoiler takes the M5 a step further than the 5 Series models with the popular M-package, three large air intakes, blacked out grille and discreet rear spoiler located on the boot lid serves to optimize the car’s aerodynamics.

The M5 Concept will go through minor changes when it goes into production later this summer, the side mirrors will be replaced, just as with the previous M5 Concept, and BMW will also offer different wheels.-bmwblog.com

2012 Dodge Avenger R/T Announced

Chrysler today announced they will unveil the Avenger R/T at the upcoming New York International Auto Show. R/T Chryslers are hotted-up versions of the normal models.

The 2012 Avenger R/T is powered by a 283 horsepower version of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine (EPA fuel economy rating of 19 mpg city and 29 mpg highway), mated to a six-speed automatic transaxle. It features uprated suspension for better handling and a body kit to look the part.

On the outside the car features body-color grille with the Dodge badge, menacing black headlamp background, the “war paint” R/T decal on the front quarter panel and unique 18-in. painted aluminum wheels. The performance elements carry through to the rear of the vehicle with a spoiler and the “R/T” badge. Interior changes include distinctive Aunde fabric with Z stripe fabric inserts, red stitching and aggressive leather-trimmed bolsters that hold drivers and passengers firmly in their seats when they put the Avenger to the test. The front seats are heated and sport an “R/T” graphic stitched in red on the front headrests

Other highlights of the cabin include unique gauge cluster with a center-mounted tachometer with the “R/T” graphic and SRT-inspired brake and accelerator pedal pads. The steering wheel is wrapped in perforated leather with red accent stitching. It also gets a Boston Acoustic sound system with 276-watt touchscreen entertainment center and a 30-gigabyte hard drive.

Thanks to the R/T treatment, the Avenger which to be honest is a very average car, turns into a cool and sporty sedan. Pricing of the car has not been revealed yet.-motorward.com

2012 Honda Civic Lineup to Debut at NY Auto Show

Honda will reveal the all-new 9th generation Civic lineup at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday. Totaling six models, the next-generation of the Civic will include a Coupe and Sedan, Si Coupe and Sedan, Hybrid, Natural Gas model and even a high-mpg HF model.

Powered by a 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine, the new Civic comes up just shot of the 2011 Hyundai Elantra with a 39-mpg highway rating compared to the Korean model’s 40-mpg number. Honda is able to achieve this number without direct-injection, a dual-clutch transmission or even six gears. Yup, the 2012 Civic continues to rely on a 5-speed auto-box.

Those looking for improved fuel economy can opt for a special HF model that makes use of special aerodynamic pieces to help deliver 41-mpg highway. Maximum Honda fuel economy is available with a new Civic Hybrid that gets a 4-mpg bump to achieve a 45-mpg combined rating, while those with a penchant for performance can turn to the Civic Si with a larger 2.4-liter 4-cylinder making 200-hp and 170 lb-ft of torque.-autoguide.com

The latest Garmin map for Malaysia & Singapore dated 18th April 2011

The latest Garmin map for Malaysia & Singapore dated 18th April 2011 is now available for downloading. 

Click HERE to download.

Teaser Sketch of Buick’s PHEV Concept Design Known as Envision Leaked

With nations across the world attempting to embrace the green transport culture as soon as possible, auto makers are investing money as well as talent to roll out Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles and the auto shows happen to be the best possible locations for flaunting their creations. April 18 will see a newBuick concept model called the Envision making its global debut at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show.

Announcement from General Motors that the Buick Envision SUV will be technologically advanced and will have a motorization type hybrid plug-in comes without any details provided on the technological aspects including the drivetrain of the vehicle.  However, the leaked images of the upcoming Buick Envision SUV bear the inkling that the car will be a two door coupe style SUV and that the design has gathered inspirations from American and European designs. The images were leaked onto the Web courtesy of ChinaCarTimes.

The problem looming over auto lovers is that the Shanghai Auto Show and the New York Auto Showare scheduled at almost the same time and the organisers for both the most awaited events have not been able till now to resolve the issue. Under such circumstances, it seems to be natural for the auto makers to release the Envision just ahead of the Shanghai auto show, thereby to attract the Chinese consumers. At the same time, the plethora of concept designs of PHEVs by different auto makers all around the world puts a question mark on the reliability of the Envision ultimately coming to a reality.

On our first observation of the images which happen to be a teaser sketch, the concept design byBuick seems to be a very futuristic design and will hopefully not struggle to appeal to the Chinese market. The design has been termed as global with “local aesthetics for the China market”. This makes it evident that the American version of the car will have slight design modifications.-nitrobahn.com

2012 Hyundai Accent Teased Ahead of NY Auto Show Debut (video)

Hyundai has released a lone teaser image of its upcoming 2012 Accent via Twitter ahead of the car’s debut at the NY Auto Show. A cropped profile pic it doesn’t show much, but then again, we’ve already seen it.

Having been shown at several overseas auto shows with a different name on the back, the new sub-compact most recently made its North American debut at the Montreal Auto Show in Canada. We contacted Hyundai Canada and they’ve even provided an extensive gallery of pics of the new sub-compact. U.S. specs have yet to be confirmed, but look for a 1.6-liter direct-injection engine making 138-hp, plus the Accent should deliver 41-mpg on the highway.-autoguide.com

2011 Chrysler 300C spotted in Shanghai car park, ready for Auto Show viewing

The original 300C was built in partnership between Beijing Auto Works and Chrysler but the car was a complete flop in the Chinese market. Despite the 300C’s macho styling and impressive road stance the 300C could never compete with the Audi A6L despite them being similarly priced, mostly due to one reason: the back seats.

The average Chinese mid size sedan buyer does not buy a car for its beautiful dashboard or captain style seats, 99% of the time the owner does not ride up front, they dwell in the back making calls to government ministers and business associates whilst the driver takes care of piloting the ship. The original 300C was not designed with the Chinese market in mind, all the top end gadgets and comfort features were in the front but the rear passengers were living the peasant life in spartan conditions, the Audi range of sedans got the balance perfect and became the big winner in the Chinese market.

Here’s hoping that the new 2011 300C has got its product right for China.-chinacartimes.com

Electric hot rod: Nissan turns a new Leaf into a racer

 

Hoping to demonstrate that electric cars aren't a fast ticket to dorksville, Nissan's hot-rod shop, called NISMO, has turned a Leaf battery car into a race-ready whiz-mobile for the New York auto show.

Even though a lot of show cars remain as yet unseen, we wonder if this might turn out to be the coolest car at this year's show. Official media preview days are Wednesday and Thursday, but automakers have shoved some events as early as Monday, so you'll see a lot of coverage beginning any moment. Including right here at Drive On.

NISMO enlisted Nissan's engineers responsible for the automaker's Super GT and FIA GT1 race cars to help get totally nuts with the NISMO Leaf. Carlos Tavares, head of Nissangreen motorsports series."

In that vein, Nissan plans to have NISMO Leaf make special demonstration appearances at a variety of races this year, and the company will begin "exploring pioneer zero emission competition spec series in future years."

Just so you don't think the NISMO Leaf is a trailer queen that a bunch of workers have to push onto and off the display stands, Nissan emphasizes that it's a real racer with a real motor. It uses carbon fiber monocoque bodywork (i.e., what real racers use, made the way real race shops make them). The mammoth rear wing is driver-adjustable.

Read more details:

Power is from an 80kW AC motor rated 107 horsepower and 207 lbs.-ft. of torque. It'll zip from standstill to 62 mph (equivalent to the 0 to 100 kilometers per hour that most countries use for timed acceleration) in 6.9 seconds, Nissan says.

NISMO Leaf rides on a 3.9-inch-shorter wheelbase than the showroom Leaf, is 0.8 of an inch longer and a hefty 6.7 in. wider. The roof is 13.8 in. lower and ground clearance is just 2.4 in., vs. 6.3 in. on the production car.

The racer weighs 2,068 pounds, or about 40% less than the one you can buy.

And -- talk about range anxiety -- NISMO Leaf will run out of juice after about 20 minutes at race speeds. It takes 30 minutes to recharge to 80% using a fast-charge hookup, so we can imagine pit stops where the driver orders a pizza, uses the toilet, changes to a clean driving suit, gets a haircut....-content.usatoday.com

Spy Shots: Opel Zafira looks ready to move the people

This time, you are not looking at a hologram. Our spy photographers have caught this camo-clad Opel Zafiraout moving people. Vauxhall has already hinted at its version of the Zafira via the Tourer Concept, and a production version is expected to hit dealer showrooms in the first half of 2012.

The seven-passenger people mover is powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Inside, the Zafira will feature reconfigurable seating so that four can ride in spacious comfort, five can go on a journey together, or seven can be shuttled around.

Though the camouflage is covering them up, we can see the bottom-half of the aggressively stylish boomerang headlights peeking out. The overall package of this European staple appears to have stayed true to the concept shown at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Given how production-ready the car appears, we expect it to break cover very soon.-autoblog.com

Iran Khodro unveils luxury car Dena

Iranian Minister of Industries and Mines Ali Akbar Mehrabian told Press TV on Saturday that the new car has been designed and manufactured by Iranian experts and complies with Euro IV and Euro V emission standards. 

The Iranian minister noted that Dena meets the latest motor vehicle safety requirements and will replace the country's previous national car, Samand, by the end of the year. 

According to Mehrabian, Dena is the most luxurious Iranian automobile. 

"We already have markets in 30 counties. Last year, we exported 40 thousand automobiles, and now with Dena we are targeting luxury car markets,” Iran Khodro Company (IKCO) CEO Javad Najmeddin told Press TV. 

The largest carmaker in the Middle East, IKCO, plans to increase its production to 730,000 vehicles a year by the end of 2011, and raise the volume of exports to more than 600,000 cars by 2016. 

Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Ukraine, and Egypt, are among the main target markets of the company. 

The mid-size four-door class-D sedan has an Iranian-built EF7 engine that produces 113 horsepower and a fuel efficiency rating of 7.2 liters per 100 kilometers. 

Dena comes in two models of LX and ELX. The former is outfitted with an EF7 gasoline engine and a CNG-based engine. The ELX version is equipped with a turbo-charged EF7 engine. 

A manual gearbox is fitted in the car, but an electronically-controlled automatic transmission system could be a future possible option. 

IKCO plans to manufacture 35,000 units of Dena in 2012, 80,000 units in 2013 and 100,000 units between 2015 and 2017. -presstv.ir

Spy Shots: 2013 Ford Focus RS Wagon Test Mule

The current Ford Focus RS is a beastly little hatch, piping 305 horsepower through its front wheels, slinging pointy bits at you from every angle, and, of course, not being available for purchase here in the U.S.--and that's before you even consider the RS500. It looks like the next-gen car could add to the mix with a hybrid all-wheel drive system--and, according to these spy shots, possibly a wagon, shown testing alongside its five-door hatchback sibling.

Though the wagon is not fully decked out in RS gear, it does feature RS seats and a wide central exhaust outlet like the hatch it was spotted with.

A Focus RS Wagon? Well, it would be known as the Turnier in some parts. As the long-roof model in the Focus stable, we're more familiar with the wagon name. Either way, we doubt we'll see it in America. Why? Because Americans don't like wagons, for whatever reason, and even more so because of the price: it should sit around the $40,000 mark, which is beyond the pale for most of us when it comes to a tarted-up Ford.

If the next RS does go all-wheel drive and hybrid, though, our green-eyed monster is likely to rage even more fiercely: a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine plus an electric motor could still top 300 horsepower, deliver fuel economy in the mid- or upper-30 mpg range, and offer the same or similar performance to the current RS.

We're still looking at about a two-year wait until we see the next Focus RS, in hatch, wagon, or any other body style, however. The cars spotted here are development mules for testing near and on the Nurburgring.-motorauthority.com

US plugs in to Prius; Toyota celebrates sale of one-millionth USA hybrid Prius

Although it’s been making noise since its arrival in 2000, its unveiling and pricing at the NY Auto Show years ago is memorable for another thing: the abject silence with which a hall full of journalists silenced themselves and sat in relative silence when Prius debuted for $19,995 in the Jacob Javits Center.

This week, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., heralded the one-millionth sale of its vaunted gas-electric hybrid car in the USA.

If you’re keeping count, and Toyota certainly is:

• worldwide Prius sales topped two million in October 2010
• overall global Toyota hybrid sales passed three million last month.

“Since the Prius went on sale eleven years ago not a year has gone by when it hasn’t been the number one selling hybrid vehicle in the U.S,” said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager. “Prius has become synonymous with the word hybrid and as we see fuel prices starting to rise again, it has accounted for more than 60 percent of hybrid passenger car sales so far this year. Prius paved the way for hybrids and while it is still the hybrid leader in sales and fuel economy, I’m proud to say that since its introduction, 13 other auto brands have seen the benefits of hybrid technology and joined the hybrid market.”

Other interesting Prii, or is it Prius, fun facts from Toyota:

• The 3rd-generation Prius topped the EPA’s list of the Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles for 2011
• Best Overall Value of the Year for the last 9 years in a row (IntelliChoice)
• Has the highest owner loyalty of any mid-size vehicle for 4 of the last 5 years (R.L. Polk)
• More than 97 percent of all Toyota Prii sold since 2000 are still on the road
• Compared to the average car, has saved Americans more than an estimated 881 million gallons of gas, $2.19 billion in fuel costs, and 12.4 million tons of CO2 emissions.

At the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, Toyota showed off the Prius v, a midsized vehicle with 50 percent more interior space than the current edition. It is due on sale in the third quarter of 2011.

The year 2012 will be more Prius spawning results with the Prius c compact hybrid vehicle and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicle.-autoinsane.com