March « 2009 « Auto Show by Auto Trader

Archive for March, 2009

Rinspeed iChange – transformation artist

Monday, March 9th, 2009

By Marc Lachapelle

The Geneva show would not be complete without the latest creation from Swiss tuner, inventor and dreamer Frank Rinderknecht, the mind behind Rinspeed. This year, as a following act to the sQuba submersible car, he brought out the iChange, a low-riding, electric-powered, streamlined sports car that can be transformed from a one-seater to a three-passenger flyer at the touch of a button. The idea being that transportation needs vary greatly and that the ideal vehicle is one that can be quickly adapted.

Rinspeed iChange

The trick lies in a huge one-piece transparent bubble that is at once the low-slung iChange’s top, windshield, rear window and… doors. The bubble opens by tilting forward to let the driver slide into the thin, sculpted centre-mounted seat. Two more seats are laid out rearward, on either side. When the driver has company, the smooth-contoured bubble top is raised electrically by about 20 centimetres at the rear, creating enough headroom for next guests.

A racing-style safety hoop installed just behind the rear head restraints would provide protection in a rollover incident. Mr. Rinderknecht is a thorough engineer, not only a dreamer. The iChange also dispenses with a key. Instead, all major functions are set and controlled by iPhone – quite fittingly – including the environmentally-friendly climate and heating systems: one electric and one that consumes ethanol 85. Solar panels on the top and sides of the roof power the fan to keep the interior reasonably cool in the summer and also help keep charge the batteries.

Mostly made of composite materials, the iChange is very light at 1,050 kilograms which helps the 204-horsepower electric motor propel form rest to 100 km/h in just over 4 seconds, coupled to a six-speed gearbox from a Subaru WRX. The slippery shape helps it reach a top speed of 220 km/h. Swift current indeed.

Tags: Geneva 2009, Marc Lachapelle, Rinspeed iChange
Posted in Gallery, Geneva 2009 | Comments Off

Audi A4 Allroad

Monday, March 9th, 2009

By Nauman Farooq

I have an interesting question to ask; what do you get when you cross-breed a station wagon with a sport utility vehicle?

You get the Audi A4 Allroad.

Carlos Bianchi, Boca Juniors; Willy Sagnol, FC Bayern; Gennaro Gattuso, AC Mailand; Frank Dreves, Member of the Board AUDI AG Production; Karl Hopfner, FC Bayern München; Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board AUDI AG Sales and Marketing; Uli Hoeneß, FC Bayern München; Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management AUDI AG

OK, this isn’t exactly a new concept. Audi has been selling Allroad variants of their A6 model since 2000, and while the model was discontinued from the North American market in 2005, they still sell them in decent numbers in Europe.

Hence the new A4 Allroad is aimed squarely at the European market, with no plans for its introduction in North America at the moment.

However, if you are moving to Europe and are provided a car allowance, you might be interested to know that the A4 Allroad would be available with either a 2.0-liter, TFSI, four-cylinder gas engine (211 hp), or choose between a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel (170 hp) and a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel (240 hp).

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, while the seven-speed, dual-clutch, S Tronic gearbox is available as an option.

A4 Allroads are easy to spot due to their beefier bumpers and flared wheel-arches and it rides 3-inches higher than a regular A4.

The A4 Allroad goes on sale in Europe this month.

Tags: Audi A4 Allroad, Geneva 2009, Nauman Farooq
Posted in Gallery, Geneva 2009 | Comments Off

Hyundai i20 three-door – chic petite

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

By Marc Lachapelle

After unveiling the five-door version of its i20 subcompact at the Mondial 2008 in Paris last fall and seeing it launch successfully on the European market, Hyundai has followed up in Geneva with the introduction of a spunky and cheery three-door i20.

Hyundai i20

Built on the same platform as the five-door i20, the three-door variant looks like a laser-lock rival to the current Toyota Yaris three-door. The Korean upstart is slightly longer (3,930 vs 3,825 mm) and built on a wheelbase also a touch lengthier (2,525 vs 2,460 mm) than its potential rival. The i20 is also quite comparable in size to the current Accent 3-door. Its longer wheelbase and a body that is both shorter and wider promise a roomier cabin and a smaller footprint. And the five-door i20 could tackle the similarly-equipped Honda Fit.

The three-door gets a full helping of active and passive safety systems including six standard airbags, active head restraints, the latest in ABS brakes, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and electronic stability control. The Euro model also gets an extensive range of modern and impressively stingy gasoline and diesel engines from 1.2 to 1.4 litre in displacement, but eventual North American versions would likely get bigger cubes.

That said, a combined fuel economy rating of 5.2 litres per 100km from a 1.2-litre gasoline engine and a Prius-competitive 4.4 litres per 100km with a 1.4-litre diesel look quite attractive to Canadian eyes these days.

Tags: Geneva 2009, Hyundai i20, Marc Lachapelle
Posted in Gallery, Geneva 2009 | Comments Off

Hyundai ix-ionic Concept – only for Europe?

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

By Marc Lachapelle

Korea’s leading carmaker has shown great concept vehicles over the years, but the ix-ionic concept (pronounced ““ik-sonic” and yes, written in lower case letters only) appears to be anything but far-fetched. In fact, it looks everything like the production-ready evolution of the i-mode concept (small letters again) that was unveiled in Geneva only last year.

Hyundai ix-ionic Concept

The hexagonal front grille is quite similar but the profile and rear are definitely more realistic. Designed by Hyundai’s studio in Rüsselsheim, Germany, this stylish compact crossover is 4,400 mm long, 1,850 mm wide and stands 1,650 mm off the ground. All measures within a few whiskers of a BMW X3, a likely target and benchmark. The ix-ionic concept also splits the difference between Hyundai’s current Tucson and Sante Fe models in length and width. It is fashionably lower than the former by 8 cm, which is fine for a vehicle described by its makers as an “Urban Nomad”.

The ix-ionic seats five: save for the snazzy blue rear-lighting in the gauges, navi screen and radio display, as well as some bright magnesium accents, the interior is production grade too. Worthy of notice are speakers mounted much higher than usual in the doors for better sound quality. There’s also a ‘blind spot’ warning light in the rear-view mirror. And under the hood is a 1.6-litre, 168-horsepower, direct-injected four-cylinder gasoline engine with ‘stop-start’ mode, coupled to a dual automated clutch, six-speed gearbox and four-wheel-drive. Look for additional muscle if this one makes the trip over.

Tags: Geneva 2009, Hyundai ix-ionic Concept, Marc Lachape
Posted in Gallery, Geneva 2009 | Comments Off

Infiniti Essence Concept – a quantum leap hybrid

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

By Marc Lachapelle

Infiniti will be celebrating its twentieth anniversary in North American this year and was celebrating its first in Europe in Geneva, where CEO Carlos Ghosn introduced Nissan’s luxury brand last year. What better way to underline this landmark than to unveil a spectacular concept car. The Infiniti Essence is an achingly beautiful rear-wheel-drive grand touring coupé that seats two in lavish luxury, propelled by a 592-horsepower gas-electric parallel hybrid powertrain. It is said to prefigure upcoming Infiniti models in style, performance and refinement, technical and otherwise.

Infiniti Essence Concept (photo: Infiniti)

Infiniti says that the Essence was designed in a spirit it has defined as “Dynamic Adeyaka”, offering a modern interpretation of some ‘very old Japanese traditions’. The Japanese word “Adeyaka” means “bewitching or fascinatingly elegant” and it fits the Essence perfectly. With the classic long hood/short tail proportions of the greatest GT cars, its remarkably smooth, flowing shape would befit Europe’s greatest marques, with a touch of the latest Aston Martins and the Ferrari F599 in profile view. It does away with cumbersome visual distractions such as side rear-view mirrors and door handles, replaced by tiny cameras and a couple of push buttons, respectively.

The car’s interior is just as original and refined, with an asymmetrical design that has all controls turned towards the driver, sitting in a black ‘cocoon’, while the passenger’s is an earthy shade of red, all finished in the richest-looking leather, suede-like Alcantara, alloy trim and wood surfaces hand-painted in the traditional Japanese lacquer tradition. A flat-bottomed steering wheel with large paddle shifters, chronometer-type dials, a short shift lever and a red started button are the main driving tools.

Infiniti Essence Concept (photo: Infiniti)

On the safety front, Infiniti adds two new technologies: side-collision prevention (SCP) and back-up collision prevention (BCP) to the full array of familiar systems. And in a practical, albeit highly-chic vein, the Essence gets a set of high-quality luggage custom made for its trunk, a joint effort between Infiniti and the famous Louis Vuitton craftspeople. At the push of a button on the key fob, the trunk opens and its floor slide out gracefully by electric power.

The Essence’s hybrid powertrain is built around a twin-turbocharged version of Infiniti’s 3.7-litre, double overhead cam V6 gasoline engine, pushing its separate output to 434 horsepower. It is combined with a new type of electric motor dubbed 3D. This slim, disk-shaped motor reportedly generates twice the torque of a conventional unit and is installed between the engine and transmission, cranking out 158 horsepower and instantaneous torque, fed by a lithium-ion battery pack placed under the trunk. This 3D motor can operate in propulsion and regeneration modes simultaneously, to keep the pack fully charged. The calculated combined output of 592 horsepower should make the Essence quite swift and its electric motor will let it glide forward silently as you pull up to the entrance of your chosen hotel. Classy motoring indeed.

Tags: Geneva 2009, Infiniti Essence Concept, Marc Lachapelle
Posted in Gallery, Geneva 2009 | Comments Off

Tata Nano Europa

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

By Nauman Farooq

Last year, Indian automaker Tata launched the cheapest new car on the planet, called the Nano. At this year’s Geneva Motor Show, they have brought along the European version of this model.

Aptly named, the Nano Europa, the European version has a slightly longer wheelbase, and has standard features like ABS brakes, ESP stability system, and air bags.

Tata Nano Europa

Plus instead of the Indian market Nano’s underpowered two-stroke engine, the Nano Europa gets a three-cylinder engine, which according to company founder Ratan Tata, will produce CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km. The Nano Europa will also come with a new five-speed automatic gearbox.

All this means is that the Nano Europa would be much more expensive than its Indian market counterpart (which will go on sale next month with a starting price of $2800), although no exact price was mentioned.

So far, there are no plans in the immediate future to sell this vehicle in North America.

Tags: Geneva 2009, Nauman Farooq, Tata Nano Europa
Posted in Gallery, Geneva 2009 | Comments Off

Porsche Cayenne Diesel

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

By Nauman Farooq

The Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger (a.k.a. the “Governator”) was in Switzerland this week and dropped by the Porsche exhibit at the 79^th Geneva Motor Show, to check out their new models. Of main interest was the Cayenne Diesel SUV.

This might not be the first diesel powered Porsche ever produced, they made tractors back in 1934 called the Master AP144, which produced just 50 hp.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (photo: Porsche)

The Cayenne Diesel has a lot more power though, 236 hp to be precise. More impressively, this 3.0-liter, variable geometry turbo-charged, V6 unit produces an incredible 405 lb/ft of torque.

That enables this vehicle to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 8.3 seconds, and will hit 214 km/h flat out. Not bad performance numbers for any SUV, let alone a diesel powered one.

Power is still sent to all-wheels through a six-speed, Tiptronic S, automatic gearbox.

Porsche says that the Cayenne Diesel would have a range of over 1000 km on a single tank, which carries 100-liters.

These are certainly impressive numbers for Porsche’s first ever passenger diesel vehicle, however the “Governator” seemed to be more interested in Porsche’s other latest offering, the new 911 GT3.

For now, the Cayenne Diesel is not planned to be sold in North America, but that decision might change.

Tags: 2009, Geneva, Nauman Farooq, Porsche Cayenne Diesel
Posted in Gallery, Geneva 2009 | Comments Off

Nissan Qazana

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

By Nauman Farooq

Nissan surprised the crowds in Geneva with its latest concept vehicle, called the Qazana.

This five-door, compact crossover is inspired by motorbikes and beach buggies according to Nissan, which said “Qazana shows that mind-numbing motoring could be a thing of past.”

Nissan Qazana (photo: Nissan)

While stating that this concept (which was penned at Nissan Design Europe), is for the moment just a design study, Nissan did say it plans to produce a smaller crossover to be marketed below the Qashqai in Europe.

Nissan says, due to its “compact overall dimensions (4060mm in length, 1570mm tall, 1780 wide and a wheelbase of 2530mm) mean Qazana would be ideally suited to the urban environment.”

To go with its wild-looking exterior comes a wild-looking interior, which Nissan says involves both hard and soft interior elements to show that the interior is “an extension of the exterior.”

Audi TT RS – 340hp

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

By Nauman Farooq

There are plenty of people who would love to park an Audi R8 on their driveway, but are a bit short on cash. However, now there might be an alternative to satisfy their hunger for speed. Audi just launched the fastest version of their TT sports coupe at the 79^th Geneva International Motor Show.

Listen to the engine sound of the Audi TT RS:

It is called the TT RS; a turbo-charged, five-cylinder engine, which produces 340hp, powers this version. That is enough to propel this sports car from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds and onto a top speed of 280km/h.

Its improved handling is aided by new aluminum-intensive McPherson struts front and back, and magnetic ride can also be optioned.

Audi TT RS

The car was driven onto the Geneva stage by works Audi driver Tom Kristensen who said, “This car is very agile and it drives as well as it looks. There is fantastic music played by this engine.”

No word yet on when the car will go on sale in North America (rumors are that it might not be available in Canada) or what it’ll be priced at, but it is safe to say it’ll be somewhere in between the Audi TTS and the R8.

Tags: 2009, Audi TT RS, Geneva, Motor Show, Nauman Farooq
Posted in Gallery, Geneva 2009 | 1 Comment »

KTM X-BOW ROC

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

By Nauman Farooq

In the category of “desirable vehicles that won’t be sold as street legal cars in Canada”, the KTM X-BOW ranks very high up the list.

This Austrian built machine might be street-legal in Europe, but sadly not in North America.

The production version of the X-BOW was unveiled exactly a year ago at the Geneva Motor Show, and about 250 of these were delivered to customers in the first six months. The new factory in Graz, Austria’s second largest city, will be producing about 600 units per year.

KTM X-BOW

Among them will be this new version, called the X-BOW ROC. ROC stands for Race Of Champions, and KTM prepared some special units for the competition which took place at Wembley Stadium in UK last December. This contest pits top drivers from the world over against each other in a variety of machines, which also included the X-BOW.

The new ROC edition benefits from a lightweight carbon-fiber monocoque shell and a noisier sports exhaust. Power still comes courtesy of the 2.0-liter, turbo-charged mill from Audi, which is tuned here to produce 240 hp.

The X-BOW ROC is priced at Euros 69,980, or $114,103 in our currency. So if you have a villa in Europe and want a road-legal track car, get one of these.