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google_ad_client=”pub-8213487891390535″;google_ad_slot=”5591521468″;google_ad_width=300;google_ad_height=250; Designing small cars with the artisanship most automakers have reserved only their large, higher margin vehicles, Mazda could be viewed as a trendsetter in North America. Mazda has ahead of Ford and Chevrolet who are only now realizing the personality available in compact designs. Unafraid to be unique at the risk of disturbing conventional car buying habits, the Japanese auto brand continuing support of rotary engines as well as radical, forward-thinking production such as the Mazda MPV is a hallmark of their past. Introduced as the MINAGI Concept car at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March, the 2012 Mazda CX-5 will be newest exhibit of the small car specialist’s enterprising future.
Launching their new compact crossover CX-5 for the 2012 model year, the vehicle will become the showcase for a more philosophical expression for Mazda adapting two, new guidelines, KODO and SKYACTIV. Brought to life on the SHINARI Concept, Mazda’s KODO design language is fueled by the desire to institute natural, free-flowing forms in sheetmetal and glass. SKYACTIV is Mazda’s approach to creating efficient, fuel-efficient motoring across the spectrum of creation. Instead of focusing solely on a key piece of technology to achieve desired efficiency, SKYACTIV covers technologies relating to the powertrain, chassis and body construction prioritizing weight reduction as well as improved torque production at lower range driving.
A sleek, brilliant crossover vehicle, the Mazda CX-5 uses the KODO design language to call off a sporty physique. Mazda describes the MINAGI Concept/CX-5 stance as projecting the strength of a cheetah. The CX-5′s front end wears a modified grille grin characterized with chrome trim. Evident at the Geneva Motor Show, the MINAGI Concept’s production ambition was made perfectly clear.
The 2012 Mazda CX-5′s interior reflects top-class construction. Displayed on the MINAGI Concept in black with satin chrome accents, comfort and even luxury wraps the crossover vehicle’s cabin. Solid, milled aluminum door handles accompany the high quality look inside of the Minagi Concept. When the 2012 Mazda CX-5 is released, expect to see a more entry-level cabin made available on lower cost trim models. However, based on the competitiveness of the compact vehicle market, Mazda will need to maintain few compromises in planning the production CX-5′s interior.
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The 2012 Mazda CX-5 production crossover vehicle will be officially introduced at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. For North American customers, expect the CX-5 to take the place of the Mazda Tribute compact utility vehicle. While Mazda’s SKYACTIV technology will be pivotal in selecting a fuel-efficient yet peppy powerplant, Mazda has not announced engine options for either the MINAGI Concept or the CX-5. Expect powertrain details to arrive close to its late 2011 to early 2012 release.
Information and photo source: Mazda Motor Corporation
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With just a week to go until the Geneva Motor Show kicks off, Aston Martin has unveiled the latest addition to its lineup.
Recent history has brought us some of the most stunning Aston Martins ever built, including the Rapide and One-77. Now the Cygnet, on the other hand….but, we digress. The Virage is proof some of the best Aston Martins ever built are being introduced right now.
The Rapide, an entry into the four-door “coupe” segment, ranks as one of our favorite Aston Martins. Following models like the Vantage, DB9 and DBS, the Rapide debuted a further evolution of Aston Martin style.

google_ad_client = “pub-8213487891390535″;google_ad_slot = “5591521468″;google_ad_width = 300;google_ad_height = 250; The Virage continues that evolution, offering a look akin to a two-door Rapide. In the process, it eclipses models like the DB9 and DBS in the style sweepstakes. The design is elegant, oozing luxury with a simple, clean appearance.
Aston Martin says the Virage is “the perfect balance” of opposites, sitting between the luxury-focused DB9 and the more performance-oriented DBS. It seems very similar to the DB9 on paper but, who would turn down more additions to the Aston range? The British manufacturer says each has a distinct character.
The Virage uses Aston’s 6.0-liter V-12 engine under the hood, making 490 horsepower and 420 pound feet of torque in this application.
Underneath the car is a further evolution of the “VH” architecture that underpins all new Aston Martins. That means a bonded aluminum chassis and the use of composites, magnesium and of course aluminum, to save weight.

As for things shared with the more sporting DBS model, the Virage adds an Active Damping System (ADS) that reads the road and constantly adjusts to the information it receives. There are a total of 10 (!) suspension stiffness settings within two modes, normal and sport. Sport offers a quicker throttle response time and gear changes.
Standard on the Virage is Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes, an expensive option on most performance vehicles. Ceramic brakes offer advantages that include reduced weight, resistance to fade and much improved stopping power. CCM brakes are part of Aston’s overall drive to reduce weight in the Virage, all while maintaining high standards of luxury.
Both Virage Coupe and Virage Volante convertible models are on sale now at Aston Martin dealers across the world, with official pricing information expected to be released next week. Each Virage takes 200 man hours (70 spent on the interior alone) to handcraft at Aston Martin’s factory in Gaydon, Warwickshire, England.
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Porsche sales are up significantly, and the brand is selling more cars than ever on the back of the redesigned Cayenne and new Panamera.
The Panamera in particular has been beating expectations though, as customers are eager to add a Porsche-branded four-door sedan to their driveways.
One model that has helped sales significantly is the addition of the less-expensive V-6 model last year. Based on the V-6, the Panamera lineup is increasing its appeal further with a hybrid model.
Porsche has already offered a hybrid for the other car purists love to hate – the Cayenne. The standard Panamera V-6 model makes 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid model adds horsepower, and a whole lot of it.

google_ad_client = “pub-8213487891390535″;google_ad_slot = “5591521468″;google_ad_width = 300;google_ad_height = 250; The V-6 engine is supercharged to the tune of 333 horsepower. Add in 47 horsepower from the car’s electric motor and you have 380 horsepower. That is enough for a 0-60 run of 5.7 seconds. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic. Not bad performance by any measure, and the Porsche says the Panamera Hybrid is the most fuel-effiicent Porsche ever.
Rather than opting for a new lithium-ion battery pack, the Panamera sticks with a nick-metal hydride battery. The result is a mpg figure of around 34.5 mpg in the United States. Pretty impressive, especially with those kind of performance figures.
The car has the ability to go up to 50 mph in all-electric model, and to travel up to one mile on purely electric power. On the highway, when the driver lifts off the accelerator the engine is switched off and disengaged from the drivetrain via a decoupling clutch. This offers electric vehicle-like coasting that eliminates resistance.
Most importantly, the Panamera will help to increase Porsche’s CAFE numbers, helping to enable more of the outrageous performance models that we all love. While based on the V-6, the Panamera Hybrid certainly won’t come cheap. When it arrives in the U.S, the Panamera Hybrid will check in at ,000, a cool ,400 more than the V-6.
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With last week’s Chicago Auto Show behind us, attention is turning to the next event in the auto show schedule. THe Geneva Motor Show in set to take place.
Infiniti has used the show in the past to debut important statements like the Essence Concept. The Essence Concept made waves about the brand moving upmarket with a top-end coupe.
Now, the Etherea Concept looks to make waves in a different way – about a new entry-level small model. With the small premium segment steadily growing and the segment’s roots in Europe, the Geneva show makes an excellent place for Infiniti to show off its new concept.

google_ad_client = “pub-8213487891390535″;google_ad_slot = “5591521468″;google_ad_width = 300;google_ad_height = 250; Infiniti’s design language is all about fluidity and flowing, organic lines. If the Etherea is any indication, that styling language looks set to develop even further and with more drama in future production cars.
The Etherea looks to make a name for Infiniti and stand out from any other cars in the segment, and that it does. Designers worked to blend coupe, sedan, hatchback and even a few crossover elements into one car.
The result is surprisingly good-looking from most angles, and a vehicle that remains very uniquely Infiniti. We like to see styling risks like this. Styling is used to help the car look bigger than it is – it is only 173.2 inches long, firmly in the compact segment.
There are no official specifications now, but it is likely the car will be a front-wheel drive model. The question is whether a production model will be coming, and if it will look similar to this. The answer is likely yes, as Infiniti wants to get in on the segment and reach new buyers.
Toru Saito, leader of the Global Infiniti Business Unit, says that “ETHEREA is about a new type of luxury for younger buyers….It is not just a smaller version of a typically conservative and traditional luxury car.” That it is. Stay tuned for more official details and photos of the interior as we get closer to the Geneva Motor Show.

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Hyundai revealed their latest concept car at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show this week – the i-flow. Looking more like a design concept than anything, the i-flow also shows off some ideas about future propulsion technologies. Nothing new, of course, but it uses a diesel variant of Hyundai’s Hybrid Blue Drive technology that we’ve been hearing about for so long. The i-flow uses a 1.7-liter twin-turbo diesel engine supplemented by a lithium-ion battery and six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The powertrain, along with the i-flow’s fluid aerodynamics helps the concept achieve a fuel consumption of only 3 liters per 100 km, or around 78 mpg. Ironically, that’s exactly the same fuel economy as Porsche claims for their 700+ horsepower 918 Spyder Concept.

Hyundai has also implemented new techniques to use heat as an advantage. The technique helps improve fuel economy and better retain energy by using a thermo-electric generator to capture the excess heat from the exhaust manifold and use it to power the electrical systems. The engine is also “thermally encapsulated,” meaning the engine reaches ideal operating temperatures more quickly by retaining heat when the car is idle. This helps save from 5 – 9% fuel economy.



Hyundai says they’ll be producing a new car in 2011 based on the i-flow’s “sleek styling and innovative technology.” Check out the photo gallery below:

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Any time Koenigsegg unveils a new car, it’s a truly special occasion. The Swedish supercar company just unveiled their latest creation at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show – they call it Agera.

Agera is a Swedish term that translates into English as “to act.” And act it does. The Agera is fitted with an incredibly powerful twin-turbo 4.7-liter V8 engine producing 910 horsepower (!) and 811 lb-ft of torque – all while running on regular-grade gasoline. The Agera rockets from 0 to 62 mph in 3.1 seconds, going on to 124 mph in only 5.8 more seconds, eventually hitting its top speed of 245 mph-ish. Holy crap this thing is fast!

Koenigsegg says they like to stick with tradition, which is why the Agera looks suspiciously like the CC lineup, first developed 15 years ago. A few tweaks and modern interpretations later, the car still looks futuristic.



Of course a lot of new technology went into the Agera, many of which is the first in the industry. They’ve went so far as to develop a new type of interior lighting they call “Ghost Light.” Through the use of invisible nanotubes, the lighting shines through what appears to be solid aluminum buttons. This is the stuff of concept cars, and only Koenigsegg would put it into production. The rest of the center console is carbon fiber, as is most of the car itself. A customizable display will show a range of metrics from G-forces, power, sat-nav, music, as well as a lap timer for those brave enough to take it to the track. Koenigsegg also claims their traction control system is the fastest adapting system available, auto-adjusting for different road conditions, driving styles, and of course it’s customizable.

Naturally, the Agera is a two-door, two-seater, and yes, it features their specialty dihedral synchro-helix doors. The car will be put into production in about six months and will be built right next to the incredible CCX and CCXR. Check out more pictures below:

© Gearhead Media – Please visit Automoblog.net for more great content.

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Any time Koenigsegg unveils a new car, it’s a truly special occasion. The Swedish supercar company just unveiled their latest creation at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show – they call it Agera.

Agera is a Swedish term that translates into English as “to act.” And act it does. The Agera is fitted with an incredibly powerful twin-turbo 4.7-liter V8 engine producing 910 horsepower (!) and 811 lb-ft of torque – all while running on regular-grade gasoline. The Agera rockets from 0 to 62 mph in 3.1 seconds, going on to 124 mph in only 5.8 more seconds, eventually hitting its top speed of 245 mph-ish. Holy crap this thing is fast!

Koenigsegg says they like to stick with tradition, which is why the Agera looks suspiciously like the CC lineup, first developed 15 years ago. A few tweaks and modern interpretations later, the car still looks futuristic.



Of course a lot of new technology went into the Agera, many of which is the first in the industry. They’ve went so far as to develop a new type of interior lighting they call “Ghost Light.” Through the use of invisible nanotubes, the lighting shines through what appears to be solid aluminum buttons. This is the stuff of concept cars, and only Koenigsegg would put it into production. The rest of the center console is carbon fiber, as is most of the car itself. A customizable display will show a range of metrics from G-forces, power, sat-nav, music, as well as a lap timer for those brave enough to take it to the track. Koenigsegg also claims their traction control system is the fastest adapting system available, auto-adjusting for different road conditions, driving styles, and of course it’s customizable.

Naturally, the Agera is a two-door, two-seater, and yes, it features their specialty dihedral synchro-helix doors. The car will be put into production in about six months and will be built right next to the incredible CCX and CCXR. Check out more pictures below:

© Gearhead Media – Please visit Automoblog.net for more great content.

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The Audi A1 has been rumored and speculated about for a while now. Just because Audi finally rolled it out at Geneva yesterday, doesn’t mean there weren’t a few surprises to be had. The first thing you have to understand about Audi’s diminutive A1 is that it’s not, most definably not, a cheap little car. Audi is not trying to make an entry level, “cheap” Audi with the A1. They are making a luxury, small city car, and will be pricing it appropriately.

And the other thing about the A1, and this was completely unexpected, is that Audi also rolled out an e-tron version of the little guy yesterday too. e-tron started out as Audi’s all electric uber-car. But Audi recently stated that e-tron was going to be the moniker for a whole range of EV/hybrid cars or options. Think of e-tron as being the electric version of Audi’s quatro, and you’ll get the picture.

So what to make of the Audi A1, either electrified or not?

There’s a bunch of ways to look at the car. One way is to note the broad range of drivetrains it will come with. In addition to the e-tron variant, Audi will also be producing it with a wide range of gasoline and diesel engines. In other words, Audi is serious about this car working in a wide variety of situations. From traditional guys that will go with the petrol engined versions, to eco-conscious green types that will opt for the e-tron variant.

The next thing to notice is the build quality and the comfort and convenience features Audi is putting into the A1. Audi stresses that the A1 is NOT an entry-level Audi. This is not some de-contented mechanical grab to get more market share. In much the same way that the Smart is a small Mercedes, not a cheap Mercedes, the A1 is Audi’s version of that.

But the real question boils down to will people buy it?

Will consumers want to spend the kind of coin Audi will be asking (prices around the mid to high 20s they say) for the A1?

Why spend that kind of money for a small Audi when you could get a large or mid-sized Hyundai?

We shall see.

Photos: Audi

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Aston Martin is showing a new special edition DBS called the UB-2010 at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Strange name aside, the DBS UB-2010 is a limited edition model celebrating Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez’s 10th year with the company.

Only 40 models will be made – 20 DBS Coupes and 20 Volantes. The DBS UB-2010s were personalized by Bez, and feature the “Azurite Black” paint you see above, as well as A “metallic bronze leather with woven leather seat inserts and a ‘Cryptic Titan’ fascia finish.” Each car has a UB-2010 plaque personally signed the man himself.

Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but expect to spend a pretty penny over the DBS’ base price of 2,000.

© Gearhead Media – Please visit Automoblog.net for more great content.

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Continuing down the course making their cars look less like the crates they’re shipped in, Volvo has rolled out the S60 at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. It’s a good car, it seems, and engineering with all those Volvo safety features we’ve come to know and love, but somehow it is more bland and has less character to it, at least to my eyes, than the older, boxier Volvos of old.

“The all-new Volvo S60 – more extrovert attitude than any previous Volvo” says the company’s press release. So they are right up front with it not being the old Volvo. We’ll see how this works out, but being fairly undistinguished never seems to be a smart marketing strategy.

Underneath the “me too” exterior, there is some impressive engineering to be had. Engine-wise, the Volvo S60 comes with a really broad spectrum of choices (at least if you live in Europe). The range topping T6 engine, which puts out 304 hp and no less than 440 Nm of torque from its 3.0 liter plant also features Volvo’s second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission with new valves and lower friction for faster gear changes than before and AWD is standard on the T6.

Other engines available include a new four-cylinder 2.0T GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) engine, two five-cylinder turbo diesels.





In the chassis department, European market S60s get the newly developed dynamic chassis as standard, while most markets in North America and Asia will have the comfort chassis as standard with the sport variant available as an option. The difference between the two options is in the dampers and the front and rear subframes. The comfort variant has a somewhat softer setting to give a smoother ride on poorer road surfaces.

“The spotlight was on giving the concept of comfort a whole new dimension. The dynamic chassis has an alert, quick-responding architecture that puts the focus on the driving experience, yet without diluting the impression of a comfortable ride,” explains Stefan Sällqvist

“The sporty design delivers a visual promise of enthusiastic driving characteristics and I can assure you that the all-new S60 truly lives up to that promise. Its driving properties are better than those of any previous Volvo. What is more, the car’s innovative new technologies help you become both a better and a safer driver,” says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell.

Photos: Volvo

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