Ford Announces 2011 Geneva Auto Show Offensive

American manufacturer Ford had just revealed the goodies it has prepared for the upcoming auto show in Geneva, set to open its doors for the media and the general public in less than one month from now.The automakers brags it will unveil a groundbreaking all-new vehicle, the European debut of the C-MAX Energi - also shown at NAIAS in January - and many more.

Also included will be the all-new Ford Ranger Wildtrak, a sporty compact pickup, the Ford Vertrek concept that signals the direction of the next-generation Kuga, the all-new Focus Electric (also shown at the 2011 NAIAS), and a show car development of its zero-emission Transit Connect Electric.

'Ford has also planned to bring the new 114g/km CO2 Mondeo ECOnetic and Ford large car powertrain enhancements, and the new Metal Ka, as part of the company’s Individual program. Ford's all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car in full team livery will also be displayed at the Geneva Motor Show.

“Today Ford has its strongest product line-up ever and we’ve got an aggressive plan to keep our vehicle portfolio the freshest in the industry," Ford of Europe Chairman and CEO Stephen T. Odell said in a statement for the press.

“We have at least 20 new models and derivatives coming across our entire European range – from small cars to commercial vehicles – and at Geneva we will be introducing some of these. From zero emission electric vehicles like the new Focus Electric, the versatile new Ranger Wildtrak and the Vertrek SUV concept - that hints at the next-generation Kuga – to our latest rally car, the Fiesta RS WRC, they will all be on the Ford stand,” Odell added.-autoevolution.com

PROTON umum jualan terhad R3 Satria Neo

Pengeluar kereta nasional, Proton Holdings Bhd memperkenalkan Proton R3 Satria Neo untuk dijual dalam bilangan terhad. 

Model R3 Satria Neo berharga RM79,797 (MT Metalik) dan boleh didapati melalui tempahan serta merta di semua bilik pameran Proton Edar di Semenanjung Malaysia, kata Proton dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Ia berkata yuran tempahan adalah RM2,000 dan pelanggan awal akan dijemput ke acara pelancaran itu.

Pengarah Urusan Kumpulan Proton, Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, berkata model itu adalah kesinambungan kepada pembabitan dan kepakaran Proton dalam sukan bermotor yang akan melihat model generasi baharu terpilih disuntik dengan elemen dinamik dan keseronokan yang lebih hebat. 

Ditawarkan dalam warna ekslusif "Fire Red" dengan bumbung bercat hitam, R3 Satria Neo mempunyai bentuk luaran yang berbeza daripada model-model sebelumnya. 

R3 Satria Neo dilengkapi naik taraf Peringkat 2 kepada enjin standard 1.6 liter CAMPRO S4PH dan mempunyai brek kuasa kuda 145 pada 7,000 rpm dan kuasa terjahan 168 nM pada 5,000 rpm. - BERNAMA 

2012 Volkswagen Beetle Rumored to Debut at NY Auto Show

With Volkswagen having teased its new 2012 Beetle during last night’s Super Bowl, the official reveal won’t come for quite a few more weeks. According to at least one report the car isn’t scheduled to debut until the New York Auto Show in April.

Inspired by the Ragster Concept, the new shape will be more reminiscent of the original Beetle’s while power will come from a variety of engines including VW’s 170-hp 2.5-liter 5-cylinder and the brand’s TDI diesel with lots of torque and exceptional fuel economy.

Later this week, VW is expected to unwrap the new Jetta GLI model at the Chicago Auto Show, boasting 200-hp from a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine.-autoguide.com

2012 Acura TL To Debut At 2011 Chicago Auto Show, Live Webcast Planned

Acura announced last month that the 2012 Acura TL will debut in "newly refined" form at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show. Refined how? In styling and performance, according to Acura. Today, we learned it will come with a live webcast of the reveal as well, allowing followers to see the refinement from afar.

Hopefully "refinement" means an abandonment of the bionic beavertooth grille, as we've dubbed it. The chrome shingle adorning the nose of the current TL has been lambasted widely since its first appearance, and few--if any--will miss it if it disappears.

As for the rest of the new TL's specs, we're left in the dark, though with Acura using the "refined" terminology, we're not expecting sea changes. The current 3.7-liter's 305-horsepower output may rise slightly, though it's possible Acura will go the other way and shoot for more efficiency.

Whether the available six-speed manual will stick around is another question, though whatever transmissions are available, the SH-AWD system powering all four wheels is sure to stay put.

Acura's live webcast of the 2012 Acura TL's unveiling will take place February 9 at 10:45 a.m. CST at Acura's Chicago Auto Show page. The page isn't live yet, however, and for the moment redirects to Acura's news site.

The Chicago Auto Show media preview kicks off February 9-10, and we'll bring you all the action as it happens.-thecarconnection.com

2011 Chicago: 2012 Buick Regal eAssist Hybrid

Buick is doubling the number of cars it offers with a hybrid powertrain with the introduction of the 2012 Buick Regal eAssist hybrid. The more efficient Regal is expected to be rated 26/37 mpg city/highway pending EPA certification.

The eAssist Regal is debuting at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show.

For those of you keeping track, that’s one mile per gallon more in the city for the Regal eAssist hybrid than Buick predicts the LaCrosse eAssist hybrid will achieve in the EPA’s hands. Both cars feature a 115V lithium-ion battery and a 15-kilowatt motor/generator. The engine at the heart of the cars is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 182 horsepower on its own, and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The same 17-inch lightweight alloy wheels (and low rolling resistance tires) are used on both Buicks. Thanks to the Regal’s smaller size, however, the wheels don’t appear as undersized as they do on the LaCrosse. If the driver is in an especially green mood, the car can be put into a fuel economy optimizing mode with the AC unit that allows for more frequent and longer engine stop periods.

Regenerative braking is, of course, part of the package. Unfortunately, so is reduced cargo capacity. Trunk space on the hybrid Regal is 11.1 cubic-feet (down from just about 14 cubic-feet on the regular Regal), still a smidge bigger than the LaCrosse eAssist’s 10.9 cubic feet.-motortrend.com