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Filed under: Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM, Design/Style
If you're wondering why the name Trax sounds familiar, it's because we've heard it before. That's right, General Motors' chunky little crossover concept has blossomed into the production CUV you see here, and might we say, it's quite a handsome little thing.
Details about the new Trax are scarce, but since it looks to be based on the same high-riding platform derived from the Sonic that underpins the Buick Encore and Opel Mokka, so we'd expect the powertrains to simply carry over unchanged.
But know this: General Motors has no plans to offer the Trax in the United States, citing "the strong position of the Equinox" as the reason why it won't be offered Stateside. That's a shame, too. In our opinion, this baby Bowtie certainly makes more sense than the frumpy Buick Encore that doesn't really seem to fit with its brand. We suspect that Chevy dealers won't get this vehicle in part because GM wants to protect the Buick's positioning and price when it heads to U.S. dealers later this year.
The Trax will make its official debut at the Paris Motor Show in late September. For now, click the image above for a high-resolution version and scroll down to read GM's official release.
Continue reading Chevrolet Trax crossover headed to Paris, not bound for U.S.
Chevrolet Trax crossover headed to Paris, not bound for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Budget, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Opel, Vauxhall, UK
Tiny city cars are becoming a big business in overseas markets. Mercedes-Benz was a pioneer in the segment with the entire Smart brand, Toyota tackles it with the iQ, Volkswagen recently launched the Up! (along with the Skoda and Seat versions that came along with it), and soon Opel and Vauxhall will, as well.
The new city car, snapped last month undergoing testing at the Nürburgring and released in this latest pair of "official" spy shots, promises to give General Motors a slice of the city-car pie. But its nameplate has left us scratching our heads. The project has at times been referred to as the Junior or the Allegra, but has now been officially confirmed to be called the Adam.
The name is an apparent nod to the company's founder, Adam Opel, and in its invasion follows the same formula as the Ferrari Enzo - albeit and the complete opposite end of the spectrum. If this emerges as a new naming trend, we should be looking forward to seeing models like the Ford Henry, Chevrolet Louis, Lamborghini Ferruccio and Porsche Ferdinand flooding showrooms in the near future. Before that, though, expect the Opel Adam to debut at the Paris Motor Show in the fall... hopefully without the camouflage.
Opel dubs upcoming city-car "Adam" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 May 2012 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini, Rumormill
Forget cloth, the upcoming Lamborghini Aventador Roadster will use a removable two-piece carbon fiber hardtop, according to the Italian magazine Quattroruote.
The weight-cutting measure means the convertible won't have to stack on the pounds just to include al fresco driving. The carbon fiber roof will weigh less than a cloth top and its underlying metal frame. It also means that the entire rear section of the car won't change from the hardtop model, Quattroroute reports.
We first saw the hardtop in spy photos published in February, though we weren't sure of Lamborghini's plans for the 700-horsepower V12 racer at the time. Lamborghini is expected to debut the roadster at the Paris Motor Show this fall.
Lamborghini Aventador Roadster to use removable roof panel? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 May 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Spy Photos, Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Mini
Mini will launch its seventh model - a two-door version of the Countryman crossover - at the Paris Motor Show later this year, and our trusty spy photographers recently spotted this prototype out testing. Many sources have stated that the car will be dubbed Countryman Coupe when it hits the market, but we've also heard rumors that the vehicle will wear the Paceman name that was given to the original concept that debuted at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.
Whatever it ends up being called, the two-door Countryman formula is pretty simple. The rear doors have been removed, allowing for a more swept-back roofline that integrates into an updated rear fascia. The rear end design - as previewed in these spy shots, anyway - is immediately reminiscent of the Land Rover Evoque, the Countryman's main competitor.
Mum's the word on powertrain choices, though we'd expect the four-door Countryman's range of naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines to carry over largely unchanged, mated to both front- and all-wheel drive. Stay tuned for the car's official unveiling in Paris later this year.
Mini Paceman Countryman Coupe spotted testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 May 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Budget, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Renault
The supermini market is a vital one for European automakers, and though its current Clio remains a popular choice, Renault is not about to rest on its proverbial laurels as its most popular model gets older and less relevant. So with that in mind, the French carmaker is apparently preparing to unveil an all-new Clio hatchback at the next major auto salon.
That show won't be taking place until September when Renault's home-market Paris Auto Salon opens its doors at the Port de Versailles, but a pair of teaser shots have already surfaced giving us a tiny glimpse at what to expect. The images - reportedly leaked from internal documents - show the grille and a sliver of the rear 3/4. The front looks to take cues from the smaller Twingo, while the rear betrays an upward kink in the shoulder, more aggressive taillights and an altogether more sculpted shape.
Styling penned by Laurens van der Acker is expected overall to take its lead from the DeZir Concept. We'll have to wait until after the summer to see it in full, though.
Renault to unveil new Clio at Paris show in September originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Spy Photos, Budget, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Opel, Vauxhall
The new Opel minicar has been so long in gestation that it has worn three names (so far). From the Junior and Allegra, we are now being told that it will now be called the Opel Adam, no doubt a nod to company founder Adam Opel.
Still clothed in enough camo to hide a barn, we can't tell much about how it looks, but with the latest spy shots we do know its sporting chops have been tested at the Nürburgring. That's a necessity since a longer version of the Adam's platform will go under the next Opel/Vauxhall Corsa. Beyond that, we aren't sure what will power it at launch but three-cylinder engines co-developed with SAIC are in the product pipeline. The electric version, however, has reportedly been canned.
At 3.70 meters, the Adam extends 15 cm beyond the Volkswagen Up! but is smaller than the Opel Agila. It is expected to go on sale in the Spring of 2013 for a base price of under €10,000 (Roughly $13,000 USD). If it does, that would be a turnabout from last year when former Opel chief Nick Reilly said the "Junior" would be an upscale mini and cost more than the larger Agila, which currently lists at €10,600 ($14k), but still wouldn't be a competitor to the Mini Cooper.
Stay tuned, for those and other mysteries will begin to be solved on May 8, which is when Opel will officially announce the car. So the rumors say. The showcase reveal will come at this year's Paris Motor Show.
Opel Adam a.k.a. Junior a.k.a. Allegra caught on the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini, Beijing Motor Show
Following the debut of the Lamborghini Urus SUV in Beijing this week, it's only natural to ask: What happened to the Estoque?
At the 2008 Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini unveiled the striking sedan concept as a way to preview a new model line for the brand, but since then, nothing has come to fruition. AutoWeek sat down with Lamborghini CEO Stefan Winkelmann, who shed some light on the decision to move forward with a sport-utility vehicle rather than a rakish sedan.
"It was placed on hold because of a number of reasons, including the lack of a suitable platform. We haven't given up on the idea of a sedan entirely, but we see more potential in a sport-utility vehicle encapsulating typical Lamborghini attributes."
Given the fact that the production Urus isn't slated to hit the market until around 2015, that means a Lamborghini sedan will likely be even farther out. Nearly four years later, we're still quite fond of the 2008 concept, but we aren't sure if we can hold our breath for another five-ish years.Lamborghini Estoque not quite dead yet originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Paris Motor Show, Mazda
The gorgeous Mazda Takeri concept is making its U.S. debut at the New York Auto Show, and you'll want to take another close look at it: it will "strongly influence" the 2014 Mazda6 that we'll see at the Paris Motor Show later this year. The next Mazda6 will also follow the Mazda CX-5 in the company's lineup of SkyActiv vehicles.
In spite of the 2014 model year, the 6 will go on sale during Q1 of 2013 and will feature the SkyActiv 2.0-liter gas engine that shifts through a six-speed auto or six-speed manual. Mazda says it is gunning to post class-leading fuel economy figures.
We will also be looking to see if it spawns a coupe, since the Takeri could make an equally beautiful two-door. If so, that isn't expected to happen for at least a year after the sedan bows, but recent events at Mazda have made such long-distance predictions exceedingly difficult. Follow the jump for a press release with more info on the 2014 Mazda6.
Continue reading 2014 Mazda6 confirmed for Paris Motor Show
2014 Mazda6 confirmed for Paris Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Spy Photos, Hybrid, Sedan, Paris Motor Show, Fisker, Electric
Who wants to wait until the official unveiling of the Fisker Nina plug-in hybrid next week when we can see spy shots right this second? Neither do we.
So, what do the shots reveal? For starters, we can see that the Nina is indeed shorter than its Karma big brother. This is expected, but the impression we have is that the Karma's design language translates quite well into a vehicle about the size of a BMW 5 Series. The front end, too, sports a moustache-like grille that's similar to the one on the Karma. On the back side, the "EVer" badge is still proudly in place, but the non-functional diamond-shaped exhaust outlets are missing. The four-door sedan's rear doors have the handles hidden smoothly between the window and the C-pillar. Then there are the wheels. It's hard to miss those. If you want to compare the Nina with the Karma directly, open the gallery above as well as this gallery in another tab and click away.
The problem with these images is that they still don't tell us much about the car itself. We've heard the cost for the Nina, which is supposed to be powered by a BMW four-cylinder engine, will be about the same as a top-of-the-line BMW 3 Series. That implies something north of $45,000, despite what Vice President Joe Biden said back in October of 2009: "It looks like a four-door Ferrari, I can't believe it's only going to be $40,000." We'll hopefully know more when we get to the New York Auto Show next week.
After all the problems Fisker has had with the Karma launch and the DOE loan, it's important to remember that it's the vehicle you see above that the DOE has been helping with all along. Do you like where your tax dollars have gone?
Fisker Nina caught peeking out before New York reveal originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Aftermarket, Paris Motor Show, Lotus
Under its current management, Lotus has proven nothing if not ambitious. Lotus can't achieve its goals without help from the outside, however, and thus has has teamed up with established racing teams to field cars under the Lotus name in countless motorsport series, hunted for new capital from external investors and collaborated with Mansory to customize its vehicles. It's that last joint venture that the British automaker is now preparing to expand.
The collaboration goes back a little over a year when Lotus brought Mansory in to tart up the Evora with some extra carbon fiber bits that debuted at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. That led to the production Evora GTE (pictured above) and subsequent special editions based thereon, but now Lotus and Mansory are preparing to roll out an entire customization range not only for the Evora, but also the Elise and Exige models.
The catalog, according to Lotus, will include custom "bodywork, trim and special finishes", although not much more information was released at this point. The collaborative effort, however, is gearing up to unveil a new variant at the Paris Motor Show come September, so follow the jump for the full press blast and watch this space for more.
Continue reading Lotus ramps up partnership with Mansory
Lotus ramps up partnership with Mansory originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Budget, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, GM, Opel, Vauxhall
The resurrected Opel/Vauxhall Junior is expected to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show later this year with a three-cylinder engine tucked in its engine bay. That motor will be a joint product of General Motors and its Chinese partner SAIC and the heart of Opel and Vauxhall's gas-powered, small-capacity engine family.
Both three- and four-cylinder engines are on the way ranging from 1.0 to 1.4 liters. The Junior is predicted to get a three-cylinder, but Opel hasn't confirmed that or even if the Junior will be the first car to get one of the co-developed motors. Automotive News reports that the engines have "direct injection and turbocharging capability," but with double-digit gains in fuel economy and torque out of the box, those features might not appear immediately.
Above that, there will be 1.6-liter diesel and gas engines to replace current units, perhaps like the 1.4-liter in the Opel Insignia. GM says those engines will come to the U.S. "within two years."
The three-door Junior will be smaller than the Opel Agila (pictured), a challenge to the Mini Cooper and Audi A1. An electric version is a possibility for 2015.
Opel to debut engines developed with SAIC at the Paris Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Paris Motor Show, Rumormill, Design/Style
You may never have heard of the French carmaker Facel. After starting out as a coachbuilder for companies like Delahaye and Bentley, Facel moved on to crafting entire cars. From 1954 to 1962, the company produced the Chrysler Hemi-powered Vega. Facel closed its doors in 1964, but some intriguing sketches and renderings have stirred up a lot of chatter on the Internet of a possible revival of the brand.
Details are scarce and almost impossible to verify, but if Google's translation of French websites are believable, the image above is a rendering of what the resurrected Facel could show off at this September's Paris Motor Show and we might even see a production version in 2014. But rumors written in French translated by Google are not exactly credible. The images all appear to come from a constantly updated Facebook page called "Facel Vega Concept."
Swoopy fenders, and a slick greenhouse wrap the four-seater concept in a sports car disguise. The interior sketches show minimal seating that seem more suited to racing than relaxing.
Speaking of performance, there's no mention of what would power such a car, but it sure is fun imagining that car barking with the power of Dodge's 392-cubic inch, 470-horsepower, 6.4-liter Hemi. Sinister sexiness.
Facel Vega revival in the works? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Hybrid, Wagon, Paris Motor Show, Fisker, Luxury
Although the split front grille may not be to everyone's liking, by and large the overall shape of the Fisker Karma is what defines it as much as its hybrid propulsion system. The trouble is, packaging two powertrains into one lithe shape penned by the same designer behind the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the BMW Z8 has left the Karma with little in the way of useable trunk space. That's what prompted Fisker to showcase the Surf concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year.
The Surf takes the four-door Karma's shape and extends its roofline with a hatchback/wagon/shooting brake body style aimed to make the luxury hybrid more versatile. The result isn't what we'd call cavernous, but as any good fundraiser worth his tax receipt book will tell you, every little bit helps.
And so Fisker is reportedly set to put the Surf into production, with the final version slated to debut not at the Geneva Motor Show next week, but at the Paris Auto Salon in September. We'd think Fisker might want to expand the cargo bay a little more before it hits showrooms, but we'll have to wait until the fall to find out.
The shooting brake isn't the only model variant Fisker reportedly has in the pipeline, as reports further indicate plans are afoot to put the Sunset convertible - complete with retractable hard-top also known as the Karma S - into production for debut in Geneva next year.
Fisker to launch production Karma Surf wagon at Paris salon in September originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Wagon, Paris Motor Show, BMW, Rumormill
We know what you're thinking: Another day, another BMW bodystyle. Except this one's different.
The Bavarian automaker, much like its fellow German marques Audi and Mercedes-Benz, has exploded its product offerings with spinoffs of its established models. So the two-door 6 Series has bred a four-door GranCoupe version. The 5 Series, in addition to the sedan and wagon, has given us the oddly proportioned 5 Series Gran Turismo. But the upcoming 1 Series Gran Turismo is another kettle of fish in that it is not expected to share the small rear-drive platform with its recently revised namesake, but rather pack a new front-drive platform.
According to BMW Blog, the long-rumored 1 Series GT will finally make its debut next fall at the Paris Motor Show. When it does, the tall hatchback will be targeted directly at the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, slotting (in form at least) in between the existing 1 Series hatchback (pictured above) and X1 crossover. But if front-wheel drive isn't how you picture your BMW channeling its power, an all-wheel xDrive version is also tipped to be in the cards, as well as a hybrid model.
BMW 1 Series GT tipped for Parisian debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Renault, Rumormill
Love it or hate it, the automotive industry of today is not lacking for its exercises in reviving old nameplates. The trend ranges from Mini to Maybach, from Dodge Dart to Dodge Challenger. And the French are certainly not immune. Citroën revived its fabled DS moniker for a range of premium hatchbacks, and Renault - most of all - has been mulling bringing back the Alpine for years now.
Arguably just as central to Renault's performance heritage as the recently revived Gordini line, Alpine made mid-engined sportscars with Renault mechanicals starting in the 1950s and discontinued four decades later. Its most famous model, however, was the A110 (pictured above), which is now celebrating its 50th anniversary. And if a new report from Autocar is accurate, Renault has no intention of letting the occasion slip by unnoticed.
In fact, the French automaker is reportedly planning an Alpine concept car to unveil at the Paris Motor Show next fall. But the question remains whether there's any production potential with such a concept. The French are known for producing some rather intriguing show cars - sportscars in particular - that never seem to get very far from the show stand, from the GTbyCitroën to the Renault DeZir.
Whether Renault can make the business case - without the North American market, at that - to take on the sports car establishment remains to be seen, but having the Nissan product bin to raid certainly couldn't hurt.
Renault planning 50th anniversary Alpine tribute concept for Paris originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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