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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:

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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.

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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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This is not you’re granola munching cousin’s Prius, I can tell you that much. As has been rumored for a while, Ferrari is jumping into the hybrid game with a performance oriented hybrid version of its 599 GTB Fiorano. Half-cleverly dubbed the HY-KERS, it can be efficient, and it can run on batteries only, but really, this is all about deploying Ferraris racing knowledge into a road car.

Last season, Ferrari was one of only a few teams to run the KERS system in Formula One racing. And Ferrari was one of only two teams to win with the system (the other being arch rival McLaren). The KERS system run in their F1 car is amazingly similar to the system used in the HY-KERS version of the 599 GTB Fiorano.

Like the F1 system the road going version stores energy recovered during braking in lithium ion batteries. When needed (i.e. whenever you stomp on the loud pedal) the energy is then released from the batteries and back into the drivetrain.

Of course, Ferrari being the best car maker in the world, they had some novel twists on this fairly tried and true racing scheme. For one thing, the 599 GTB Fiorano already has a driveline layout that is very well suited to integrating a performance hybrid system.





The 599 GTB Fiorano features a front engine, rear transmission/transaxle layout, with the gearbox hanging out back by the rear axle. In the “normal” version of the 599 GTB Fiorano, this aids in overall balance of the car. In the hybrid version, it allows packaging of things like EV controllers and drive motors in very nifty and slick ways.

Although the overall weight is up some from the stock 599 GTB Fiorano, the center of gravity is actually lower for the hybrid. And on top of that, the hybrid drive kicks in more than 100 horsepower on top of the already impressive V12 plant’s 600+ ponies.

And speaking of mundane things like packaging, all of the hybrid components to take away any room from either the passengers or the luggage space in the otherwise normal 599 GTB Fiorano body.

Are they going to build it? Of course they’re being non-committal, but you think it would be a lead pipe cinch for them to crank out 20 or 30 of these guys a year, don’t you think?

Photos: Ferrari

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Aston Martin just unveiled their mini-car Cygnet Concept at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. I still can’t believe this is happening. Apart from the badge, this little thing bears no resemblance to any other Aston Martin sports car. Aston’s explanation:



“Many of our customers have a need for a small car for urban and city use,” says Aston Martin CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez, “The Cygnet Concept brings intelligence, innovation and artistry to the small car market. The Cygnet Concept represents the natural choice for those customers looking for a premium commuter car.”

But are people really looking for a “premium commuter car” like this? And where does this put the Aston Martin brand? Dr. Bez goes on to say, “Our past, our future and our backbone will always remain sports cars, but the Cygnet Concept will support this by offering our customers a greater degree of freedom in the urban context.” But why give it the Aston Martin name? A car like this will only dilute the brand’s high-end, luxury sports car image. I’m fairly sure this has more to do with the upcoming EPA fuel economy guidelines than it does providing a luxury city car, and since Aston is now privately owned, that puts them in a tough spot in the US market.

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

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Alright, I’m calling your bluff, Porsche. Here they are at the Geneva Motor Show, and Porsche comes out with this fantastic new concept car. Looks like a Carrera GT supercar that got too close to the campfire and melted…but in a good way.

Porsche calls it the 918 Spyder Concept, and says it’s fit with a V8 engine good for 500 horsepower, plus three electric motors which increase that number by around 215. The engine sits in the middle where it should be, seats two, and works as a plug-in hybrid. Sounds all fine and dandy, right? Well, here’s where it gets hard to believe.

Porsche claims the 918 Spyder delivers 78 miles per gallon. Not gonna happen. Here’s the thing – with alternate propulsion, it’s tough to measure metrics like mpg fairly, especially when it comes to certain types of hybrids, which can run on electric power alone for a while. I commend Porsche for making the car – it’s very cool – but you can’t go spewing out numbers like that unless it’s real-world applicable. If I’m wrong about this, I’ll gladly eat my words.

Check out some more pictures below:

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World Debut in Geneva: The New Porsche Cayenne

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Okay all you richer than Croesus soccer moms, Carmella Soprano wannabes and the like. Get in line, because your new preferred ride, the Porsche Cayenne, has just had its world debut at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

So what’s so good about, or at least new about this latest iteration of Porsche’s SUV? For one, you get the option of buying a hybrid Cayenne. That would be the Cayenne S Hybrid, which features a sophisticated parallel full hybrid drive and fuel consumption that tips the New European Driving Cycle at just 34.4 mpg (imp). Which is impressive for a tank like the Cayenne. Of course it will give smug Porsche owners even another reason to be smug … so let us consider that a downside, shall we? Another nice green feature of the Cayenne S Hybrid is that its CO2 emissions are a paltry 193 g/km.

Porsche puts it rather succinctly: “The Cayenne S Hybrid therefore combines the performance of an eight-cylinder with the economy of a six-cylinder running on much less fuel.”

OK, I’m not really arguing with that.

As a matter of fact, Porsche is really taking this green stuff pretty seriously. For starters, when compared against the former model Cayennes, fuel consumption is down by up to 23 per cent. This is because the new models (along with every other new Porsche rolling out of the factory) have been developed according to the principle of “Porsche Intelligent Performance”: more power on less fuel, greater efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.

Huzzah!





So just what does “Porsche Intelligent Performance” mean? For starters, there’s a new Tiptronic S eight-speed automatic transmission with Auto Start Stop. The new semi-auto box features wide spread of gear ratios, and there is also thermal management on the engine and transmission cooling circuit, on-board network recuperation, variable engine cut-off and intelligent lightweight construction.

In other words, Porsche is getting pretty serious as they can with all this green stuff.

Onto the more prosaic stuff though. The latest SUV is bigger. The new Cayenne has a wheelbase that is almost 1.6” longer than previous generations. And overall, the new Cayenne is 1.9” longer than its predecessor. They’ve also monkeyed with the inside, for example the rear-seat bench moves fore-and-aft by 6.3”, with the backrest angle adjusting to three different settings.

In case you aren’t interested in the Cayenne hybrid, there is also the Cayenne Turbo available. Bottom line is 500 bhp being produced by its 4.8-liter V8 biturbo. Said plant delivers a not so shabby 27.6 mpg (imp) in the New European Driving Cycle.

The prices break down like this (in Germany, so take them with sort of a grain of salt):
Cayenne 55,431 Euro
Cayenne Diesel 59,596 Euro
Cayenne S 72,686 Euro
Cayenne S Hybrid 78,636 Euro
Cayenne Turbo 115,526 Euro

Photos: Porsche

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