Car In The New World: September 2009Car In The New World

Hot News: Jaguar XF Estate

A fastback, sporting estate version of the XF is in Jaguar’s future product plan, with a production date slated for around 2012.

That will coincide with the facelift of the XF, when changes are expected to include a bolder grille inspired by the new XJ.

Estate versions of the XF’s main rivals, the Audi A6, BMW 5-series and Mercedes E-class, all sell well and in the UK make the difference between the XF being the third best-seller in its class rather than market leader.

For several years after the launch of the load-lugging X-type, the words ‘estate’ and ‘Jaguar’ appeared to be banned from appearing in the same sentence, but now that the X-type has been killed off, the idea of a Jaguar estate is acceptable again inside the company.

But this won’t be some sort of Volvo-style load lugger. Expect elegant styling incorporating a shade more practicality to be the defining features.

The new four-cylinder diesel engine currently under development will be key. Small-capacity four-cylinder diesels account for 50 per cent of sales among rival executive models in the UK, and the proportion is even higher for the more practical estate body shape.

Details of the engine are scarce, but it is thought to be a variant of the 2.2-litre Ford/PSA unit used by Land Rover, but thoroughly re-engineered to reach the refinement levels that owners expect. Peak power is likely to be close to 200bhp in its most powerful version, possibly with twin turbochargers.

Thanks to: Autocar

New Concept Car: Mitsubishi i-MiEV Cargo

Mitsubishi also present at the Tokyo show will be a new cargo van-version of Mitsubishi's tiny i-MiEV electric city car. Eschewing the rear doors and seats for a 62 cubic-foot flat-floored cargo area, the i-MiEV Cargo is designed with small businesses in mind. It offers 100-mile range, though it will no doubt be affected by the cargo load, as will the performance of the 63-hp 133 lb-ft electric motor.

While the i-MiEV Cargo is slated for production in Japan, the future of the PX-MiEV isn't known yet. Even if the concept doesn't make it into production, look for the design and technology to make their way into other Mitsubishi products in the future.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

New Concept Car: Mitsubishi PX-MiEV

With the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show less than a month away, the few remaining participating automakers are throwing down their cars. Following Subaru and Honda to the table is Mitsubishi with a new plug-in hybrid crossover called the PX-MiEV and a cargo van version of the i-MiEV electric car.

Looking something like an updated Endeavour with a touch of Land Rover styling, the PX-MiEV is Mitsubishi's centerpiece. Though it may look something like the Endeavour, the PX-MiEV -- which stands for Plug-in hybrid Crossover - Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle -- is actually closer in size to the Outlander but slightly larger. While the hard, boxy yet simple styling is a big step forward for Mitsubishi crossovers, the real story is what lies beneath.

The PX-MiEV is powered by Mitsubishi's first hybrid drivetrain and rather than follow the Toyota and Honda route, Mitsubishi has skipped ahead to a plug-in series hybrid right out of the gate. Under the hood is a 114-hp 1.6L DOHC MIVEC four-cylinder engine with 92 lb-ft of torque that can either power the wheels directly or act as a generator to power the electric motors. The two 60-hp electric motors generating 148 lb-ft of torque each are mounted on the axles and can propel the car by themselves or work in concert with the gasoline engine. Mitsubishi says the combination is good for an impressive 118 mpg.

At low to medium speeds, the front electric motor does most of the work by powering the front wheels. At higher speeds or when more power is needed, the gasoline engine kicks on to either make more electricity to power the electric motors or to help power the wheels directly, depending on which the onboard computer thinks will be more efficient. The rear electric motor only comes on when the front wheels are slipping, under hard acceleration or under sudden maneuvers to help stabilize the vehicle. The electric motors also act as generators during braking to recharge the battery.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

Spied: 2011 Volkswagen Golf

One of our daring spy photographers just sent us over these photos of two Volkswagen development mules undergoing testing. The lack of camouflage shouldn't be a surprise, as all the important changes are beneath the metal.

The white mule with the wide, black fenders wears a serial number with the letters MQB. This is the acronym for the next Golf platform, meaning modular querbaukasten (that's modular transverse component system in English). The first iteration of the new platform will underpin the next Audi A3. With the current PQ35-platform Golf VI reportedly ending production in December 2011, it would make sense for the next-gen Golf to appear around the same time. Say, the Frankfurt show in September 2011?

The black mule, conversely, wears PQ35 platform designation. Yet this mule is wider, the fuel cap is in a different place, and our spy reckons it's a bit shorter than the current Golf. Curious, indeed.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

Nissan 370Z Wallpaper

Nissan 370Z

Nissan 370Z Wallpaper

Nissan 370Z Photo

Nissan 370Z Picture

Nissan 370Z Images

BMW Z4 Wallpaper

BMW Z4

BMW Z4 Wallpaper

BMW Z4 Photo

BMW Z4 Picture

Tesla Roadster Wallpaper

Tesla Roadster

Tesla Roadster Wallpaper

Tesla Roadster Photo

Tesla Roadster Picture

Hot News Up Date: Jaguar XE

Jaguar’s next generation of sports cars is on the verge of ditching its E-type-inspired oval grille because the design isn’t sufficiently adaptable.

The company’s designers are struggling to stretch the shape to fit the nose of the two new models: the XK and new XE.

“The problem is that the proportions are all wrong when the shape is stretched. They’re not sure if it has got much more life left,” said an insider.

The solution also hasn’t been decided yet, although it could be argued that a shape like that of the new XJ/XF grille makes sense for a small car company like Jaguar, which could boost its brand clarity by focusing on a single, memorable grille design.

Getting the BMW Z4-sized front-engined, rear-drive XE to market is taking longer than some insiders had hoped. Although the two-seater is being planned in aluminium as a platform derivative of the next-generation XK coupé and convertible, the exact direction of each model is the subject of a fierce debate internally.

One faction reckons the next XK needs to get bigger and more luxurious to make room for the smaller car. That envisages the XK growing up to a size close to Maserati’s GranTurismo and featuring a pair of proper rear seats.

But another wants the XK to keep to its current theme and dimensions, which historically has been the foundation of its sales. The challenge is engineering the two cars on the same platform so they share costly elements like the front bulkhead and engine bay, but are also positioned sufficiently apart from each other to appeal to different customers at different price points.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: Jaguar Hatchback to Launch in 2014

Jaguar is working on a dramatically styled five-door sports hatch featuring lightweight alloy bodywork and new, direct-injection V6 petrol engines.

Priced from £40k, the compact five-door is pencilled in for production around 2014, when it will line up alongside a new front-engined sports car and an estate version of the XF as extensions to Jaguar’s model line-up.

Intended as a luxurious but practical five-seater combining excellent fuel economy with good performance and handling, the sports hatch still awaits the production go-ahead, but is being championed at the highest levels of the company.

Thanks to: Autocar

Lexus SC430 Wallpaper

Lexus SC430

Lexus SC430 Wallpaper

Lexus SC430 Photo

Lexus SC430 Picture

New Concept Car: Honda Skydeck

Honda is testing reaction to a future rival for the Ford S-Max with this, the Skydeck hybrid concept.

This sleek MPV is likely to replace the FR-V for Europe, although it has a more conventional three rows of seats instead of the previous car’s two benches.

The car’s proportions are only slightly smaller than those of the Ford, and it is substantially larger than the FR-V in all but width.

Honda is keen to expand its hybrid range into a number of different segments, and that is likely to include people carriers.

“Honda wants to introduce a range of hybrid vehicles that appeal to different markets,” a source told Autocar. “There are currently no plans to put the Skydeck into production, but you can see the way we are going with this.”

One significant feature of the Skydeck is that it relocates the Insight’s hybrid system battery, which normally lies beneath the rear floor to save on passenger space.

The battery is now mounted within the centre console that runs along the cabin floor. It may be a key feature of a next-generation Honda IMA hybrid system designed to power bigger vehicles.

There’s no word on engines; this concept is designed to gauge reaction to the styling and three-row seating layout.

For this show MPV, Honda has installed slim, lightweight sports seats with mesh backrests. The second row slides forward and under the front seats to maximise space.

The front doors hinge up and forward, while the rears slide backwards to allow access to the airy cabin.

Thanks to: Autocar

New Concept Car: Honda CR-Z

Combining a potent cocktail of styling hints from the Insight, Odyssey and Civic Type R, the production-ready Honda CR-Z 2009 concept's stunning lines will take center stage at Honda's stand when the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show opens on October 21.

Slated for a February 2010 launch in Japan and later that year in the U.S., the world's first dedicated sports hybrid coupe employs a 1.5-liter gasoline engine paired to an updated version of Honda's now well-known IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) system. Upgraded from the Insight's 41 mpg 1.3 liter unit, one source close to Honda tells that we can expect somewhere around 32-35 U.S. mpg from the new coupe. Helping the front-wheel-drive CR-Z to achieve that kind of mileage will be the hybrid world's first six-speed manual gearbox, which Honda engineers have fitted to generate the best mileage possible while at the same time injecting more fun into the driving experience of hybrids. And anything that spruces up the thrill factor of piloting a hybrid is welcome news to us.

In fact, with its combination of meaty bottom end torque from the larger 1.5-liter engine and its revised IMA system, all channeled through that six-speed floor-shifter, you can expect some relatively quick getaways from the CR-Z.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Spied Up Date: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg

One of our spy photographers just caught the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg undergoing testing as it nears its spring debut. As we reported in July, the next iteration of the popular SUV will be lighter and more fuel efficient, and will offer a third-row seat. The camouflage it's wearing here doesn't reveal any surprises, but you can safely expect Walter da Silva's look of a wide grille and horizontal lines.

To rid the Touareg of 550 to 650 lbs., VW is moving the formerly standard off-road equipment to the options list. The V-8 is an engine of the past; its replacement is a supercharged V-6. A 3.0L diesel is expected, too.

Expect a debut sometime around the Detroit auto show in January.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

Hot News: Toyota Recalls 3.8 Million Vehicles

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today advised owners of specific Toyota and Lexus models to remove their driver's side floor mats. According to the NHTSA, some floor mats can cause the gas pedal to stick, creating a potentially fatal situation.

The affected models follow:
• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2004-2009 Prius
• 2005-2010 Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2007-2010 ES 350
• 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS350

Earlier this month, it is believed that a stuck floor mat in a Lexus ES350 caused a crash that killed a California Highway Patrol officer and his family of three. According to the NHTSA, Toyota and Lexus will launch a safety recall soon. Some 3.8 million vehicles are expected to be affected by the recall.

Whether the problem is improperly secured mats, bulky and poor fitting aftermarket mats, or an issue of gas pedal clearance, the NHTSA is taking no precautions. "The agency strongly recommends taking out removable floor mats on the driver's side in certain models and not to replace them with any other mat, either from Toyota or any other brand," it said in a statement.
Thanks to: Motor Trend

New Car: 2009 Hyundai Equus Limousine

Korea's substantial executive market will have one more model to choose from when deciding which luxury limousine to buy. Hyundai recently unveiled its latest Equus Limousine, which promises to offer more comfort and luxury than its closest competitors, the Lexus LS460L and Mercedes-Benz S500L.

An additional 12 inches has been tacked onto the stock Equus chassis making for an overall length of around 215 inches. Aside from the extra length, designers installed a horizontal crossbar grille to further distinguish the edition's exterior. Find your way inside and you'll be treated to powered footrests, plush leather, fine woods, a rear seat leg support, and seats with what the automaker calls a Relax Posture Control and Massage System function.

The brand's widely used Lambda 3.8L V-6 and Tau 5.0L V-8 motors can be specified to power the Equus Limo, and there's even a bulletproof edition for those looking for the ultimate in protection.

Hyundai estimates the limo will retail for around $113,000 to $122,180 when it hits Korean dealers in the coming months. Currently there are no plans to export the car to world markets, although the regular Equus sedan is officially U.S.-bound. But if it did come here, and if you were in the market for a luxo-limo, would you consider it over the best from Germany and Japan?
Thanks to: Motor Trend

New Concept Car: Subaru Hybrid Tourer

Skimming through the Subaru Hybrid Tourer concept press release, the second paragraph left us a little confused. “The original point of the ideal grand touring car is its interior design, featuring four independent and comfortably positioned seats. Passengers are enclosed within an atmosphere that provides a surpassing feeling of openness and stress-free reassurance, through the further pursuit of a human-centered philosophy, the essence of Subaru car design, and the incorporation of functions that are friendly to passengers.” Say what? After some head scratching, what we divined from reading that jargon is that this car has four seats and it’s about the essence of nothingness.
Thanks to: Car and Driver