2012 Hyundai i30 revealed at Frankfurt Motor Show

One of the more relevant releases at this year’s Frankfurt motorshow is the next-generation Hyundai i30, which will see the Korean brand revitalise the model that brought it into its current good fortune.

82,900 first-generation Hyundai i30s have been sold in Australia already and more than 360,000 in Europe, so the succes of the new model is paramount to the company’s ongoing success story.

From a design perspective Hyundai has stuck with its current ‘fluidic sculpture’ design DNA, which means the new i30 is now firmly in place amongst the i45, ix35 and the i40 wagon family. It’s also hard to miss the familiar hexagonal-shaped grille.

Europeans will have a choice of four engines with six different power options to pick for their Czech built i30s, details for Australian delivered models (likely to be soured from South Korea) are to be decided before the car’s arrival mid 2012.

The new Hyundai i30 has increased in size, now measuring 4300 mm long and 1780 mm wide, but its height has been reduced to 1470mm which sees it sit wider but with a lower centre of gravity.

The European delivered models will have the option of Hyundai’s new Flex Steer™ which provides three operating modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport – to help fine-tune your driving experience.

The system actively changes the level of steering assistance and feedback to allow for a more engaging drive (sport) when needed or for maximum usability when you’re stuck in traffic (comfort).

A 7-inch touch-screen with Satelite Navigation will be available for European markets and we suspect it will flow through in one shape or form to the Australian market as well.

Hyundai will fit all the expected active safety features (ESP, ABS, VSM) as well as Emergency Stop Signal and six airbags as standard kit. A driver’s knee airbag is available as an option. The Korean giant expects the new i30 to retain the same maximum five-star safety rating as the model it replaces.

All new Hyundai i30s will have their power delivered via a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, which is a major improvement over the current model’s five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.

It’s very likely that we will see both high output 1.6-litre diesel (94kW – 260Nm) and petrol (99kW – 164 Nm) engines for the Australian market with a potential entry model powered by a 1.4-litre petrol (which is only available as a manual).-caradvice.com.au

Technical specifications – 2012 Hyundai i30 (final figures for Australian-spec vehicles to be confirmed at time of launch)
Diesel engines
1.4-litre 66.0 kW
Type / capacity U-II, WGT, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve / 1396 cc
Power / torque 66.0 kW @ 4000 rpm / 220 Nm @1500~2750 rpm
Bore x Stroke (mm) 75 x 79
Compression ratio 17.0
1.6-litre 81.0 kW
Type / capacity U-II, VGT, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve / 1582 cc
Power / torque 81.0 kW @ 4000 rpm / 260 Nm @ 1900~2750 rpm
Bore x Stroke (mm) 77.2 x 84.5
Compression ratio 17.3
New 1.6-litre 94.0 kW
Type / capacity U-II, VGT, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve / 1582 cc
Power / torque 94.0 kW @ 4000 rpm / 260 Nm @ 1900~2750 rpm
Bore x Stroke (mm) 77.2 x 84.5
Compression ratio 17.3
Petrol engines
1.4-litre 73.2 kW
Type / capacity Gamma 1.4, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve / 1396 cc
Power / torque 73.2 kW @ 5500 rpm / 137 Nm @ 4200 rpm
Bore x Stroke (mm) 77 x 74.99
Compression ratio 10.5
1.6-litre 88 kW
Type / capacity Gamma 1.6 MPI, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve / 1591 cc
Power / torque 88 kW @ 6300 rpm / 156Nm @ 4850 rpm
Bore x Stroke (mm) 77 x 85.44
Compression ratio 10.5
1.6-litre 99 kW
Type / capacity Gamma GDI, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve / 1591 cc
Power / torque 99 kW @ 6300 rpm / 164 Nm @ 4850 rpm
Bore x Stroke (mm) 77×85.44
Compression ratio 11
Suspension and damping
Front Fully independent subframe-mounted MacPherson struts, with coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers. Anti-roll stabiliser bar.
Rear Fully independent subframe-mounted multi-links, coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers.
Steering
Type Motor-driven power steering, with Flex Steer™
Steering wheel turn 2.85 Turning circle 10.6 metres
Brakes
Front 15 / 16 inch ventilated discs
Rear 14 inch solid discs
Dimensions (mm)
Exterior

• Overall length 4300
• Overall width 1780 (excluding door mirrors)
• Overall height 1470
• Wheelbase 2650
• Front overhang 880
• Rear overhang 770

Interior Front Rear

• Leg room 1067 880
• Head room 1018 963
• Shoulder room 1420 1395

Capacities (litres)

• Fuel tank 53 litre
• Luggage 378 with rear seats upright

2012 Lotus Exige S gets 3.5 V6, unveiled at Frankfurt Motor Show

Lotus has unveiled the 2012 Lotus Exige S at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The new model is larger and features a 3.5-litre V6 engine. It also gets smooth new panel contours and a new DPM Lotus driving management program.

The new 2012 Lotus Exige S does look similar to the predecessor but upon closer inspection, there are a number of distinct clues that set it apart. The main of which being the slightly redesigned panels including a new face, headlights and single-piece nose.

From the back, it’s completely revised. The taillights are recessed into a shallow panel which spreads the entire width of the rear end. There’s also a new spoiler moulded into the body work along with a big rear wing mounted on the rear deck.

The main change for the new model though is of course the engine. The 2012 Lotus Exige S now gets the 3.5-litre supercharger V6 that’s also seen in the Lotus Evora. In the Exige S it produces a whopping 257kW of power and 400Nm of torque.

The 2012 Lotus Exige S tips the scales at just 1080kg. Lotus says the new Exige S is capable enough to dismiss 0-100km/h in just 3.8 seconds on has a top speed of around 270km/h. Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar recently spoke about the new model upon its unveiling, saying,

“Anyone who has ever driven an Exige will tell you that it’s not for the faint-hearted. The new Exige S skips a few rungs on the ladder to give the driver the ultimate Lotus experience. Quite simply you can’t get more Lotus than the Exige S.”

A unique new technology for Lotus is also featured on the new Exige S. It’s called Dynamic Performance Management (DPM), which basically provides three different driving settings switchable in the cabin; Touring, Sport and DPM off.
Each of these options sets the car up in terms of the car’s stability control program to best suit the driving conditions. An optional Race Pack will also be on offer, which brings with it a Race setting and launch control function.
The 2012 Lotus Exige S will go on sale some time later this year. Prices are yet to be finalised.-caradvice.com.au

Volvo Concept You unveiled at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

The breathtaking Volvo Concept You has just been unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, previewing the design direction of the Swedish brand’s next large luxury sedan.

The Volvo Concept You is an evolution of the Volvo Concept Universe that debuted at Auto Shanghai 2011 in April. While still very much a concept, the new design gives us a much clearer indication of the basic size, shape and styling elements to expect when Volvo launches its next flagship model.
Volvo Car Corporation President and CEO, Stefan Jacoby, admitted the Concept You gives the world a “good indication” of the brand’s next large sedan, potentially the car that will replace the ageing Volvo S80.

“The blend of contemporary Scandinavian design, exquisite craftsmanship and intuitive technology will appeal to luxury car buyers all over the world,” Mr Jacoby said.
“We will compete with the best with our special kind of luxury. Volvo’s cars are intuitive and uncomplicated. Our customers don’t have to give away driving pleasure to drive safely. They can be environmentally conscious and still indulge the pure joy of owning a luxury car.”

Volvo hasn’t revealed any powertrain or performance details of the Concept You, mostly because horsepower and displacement are not really the point of this car. Surprisingly, there’s little word about new safety features either, but we’re sure there’s plenty of innovation hiding below the surface.
The interior tech sounds truly amazing. A large tablet-style touchscreen in the centre console takes the place of all the usual switchgear. It’s linked to the fully digital instrument panel in the dashboard and a head-up display on the windscreen.

The central screen waits in sleep mode until the driver looks at it – a pair of infrared cameras tracks the driver’s eye movements – at which time it instantly comes to life.
The display incorporates all the usual infotainment and climate settings and provides full internet access. Front passengers can bring up any information on the screen and ‘swipe’ it to either the heads-up display or the touchscreen in the rear.

Volvo also says the Concept You features a new Alpine ‘FreshAir’ subwoofer, which weighs only 1.4kg, compared with a conventional subwoofer, which weighs around 15kg.
It’s also hard not to love the seatbacks, which are upholstered to look like business suits, and even incorporate pens in the pockets.
If this is the new direction of Volvo luxury, are you impressed? Let us know in the comments section below.-caradvice.com.au

Lokatoo : Singapore map is now available together with Malaysia map

Singapore map is now available together with Malaysia map in the latest map version 3.34! For your information, Singapore map is only available for Navigation Software version 4.1. Please check your Navigation Software version and update software if necessary.


For Navigation software 2.07, 3.10 and 3.20, users will still enjoy the latest Malaysia map updates in this map version 3.34. Majority of the road and POI updates in this version covers Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah, Sarawak and Melaka. 


Click HERE to download.

2011 Frankfurt Auto Show: 2013 Ford Focus ST Revealed, Europe Gets a Wagon

Ford has released photos of the 2012 Focus ST production car, and sure enough, the five-door hatch looks just like the concept we saw last year in Paris. The little surprise is what you see here: Ford is also building a fantastic-looking Focus ST wagon. For Europe. Only. Sorry.

Both cars will use the drivetrain you've been reading about: a turbocharged and direct-injected, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder (with variable intake- and exhaust-valve timing) hooked to a six-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels. Horsepower is rated at 247; torque comes in at 266 pound-feet. Ford hasn't disclosed the rpm thresholds for either, yet, but redline is marked at 6,800.

Torque steer is going to be a problem on any front-driver with this much torque, and Ford has chosen to rein it in through electronic means (rather the Focus RS' RevoKnuckle), using the car's electric-assist power steering to counteract it. Ford says it has adopted variable-ratio steering for the ST to make it more fun on tight, twisty roads without making the car twitchy and annoying on the highway (we're hoping to get more details on that while we're here in Frankfurt).

Torque Vectoring Control will help you modulate the power through turns, but in addition to braking individual wheels as on the regular Focus, it can also apply torque to either of the front wheels to create yaw and snub understeer, so maybe, just maybe, you won't miss having a conventional limited-slip differential. Stability control has three modes, one of which is indeed completely off.

If it's any consolation about us not getting the ST wagon, consider that the wagon has to make do with the same angled shock absorbers you'll find on any lower-line Focus, instead of adopting the more upright dampers (which presumably have a more direct motion ratio) on the ST hatchback -- a necessary compromise, says Ford, so that it can still haul around wagon-like payloads.

Otherwise, both cars have the same 10mm (0.4 inch) lowered ride height, with upgraded knuckles and a more effective antiroll bar in the rear. We're still waiting for details on brake hardware. Tires are 235/40R18 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 summer rubber, but we'll be very surprised if Ford doesn't at least offer all-seasons at no extra cost in the U.S.

Recaros (standard cloth, optional leather) are evidently coming, too, though it can be costly to certify those for the U.S. market (what with our occupant sensor requirements). We'd love to have them, but we wonder if Ford will bother when VW, Mazda and Subaru aren't. This nook of the market is price-sensitive and you have to get people out the door under $30K if you want to play. Stay tuned.-blogs.insideline.com