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GM releases first images of the new Chevrolet Cruze

Posted: 21 Aug 2008 07:23 AM CDT

A few minutes ago GM released the first images of their new global car, the Chevrolet Cruze. Scheduled to make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show, the Cruze features bold front styling, with large headlamp housings that wrap around the front corners and sweep up, arrow-like, into the fenders and sculpted hood. Other design themes include a concave shoulder line, the two-tier grille and a “wheels-out/body-in” stance. On the interior, the Cruze features a ‘twin cockpit’ design motif, first introduced in the Corvette.

“Our goal in designing Cruze was to be bold, not evolutionary,” says chief designer Taewan Kim. “We wanted to take a big step forward, making a strong design statement for Chevrolet products around the world.”

When sales will start in Europe, next March, the Chevrolet Cruze will be available with two petrol engines, a 1.6 liter (112 hp/82 kW) and an 1.8 litre (140 hp/103 kW) featuring Variable Valve Timing (VVT) technology on both inlet and exhaust sides and a new 2.0 liter turbo diesel, developing 150 hp/ 110 kW and 320 Nm of torque. Customers will be able to choose between a five-speed manual gearboxe and an all-new six-speed automatic.

“We are proud that Europe is leading the introduction for this global product,” said Wayne Brannon, Executive Director, Chevrolet Europe. “Chevrolet has always stood for expressive value and Cruze delivers on that promise like never before. It further redefines Chevrolet with its design, quality, materials and great style inside and out. The fit and finish for gaps and interfaces sets a new standard for this segment in Europe and around the world.”

Read more details in the full press release and check out more official photos after the jump.

Photo Gallery: The new Chevrolet Cruze

Source: GM

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Revival of the Datsun 240Z / Fairlady Z by European designer

Posted: 21 Aug 2008 05:11 AM CDT

Polish designer Jacek Kolodziejczyk alias Iacoski recently drew up this concept of one of the most popular sport cars in the 1970’s, the Datsun 240z/Fairlady Z, combining the retro look of the old model and the new aspects of the Nissan GT-R.The lines respect the classic look of the Fairlady and quite a few elements remind of Nissan’s new beast, like the front grille, the headlamps or the side vents behind the front wheel arches. The designer admitted that he was inspired for this concept by the Datsun XLink Concept, created by Japanese designer Benjamin Nawka, which in his own part was a really cool car, but this I must admit is even more good-looking. Enjoy the pictures!

Source: CarScoop

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Official details on the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 02:58 PM CDT

Next week, at the Moscow motor show, the Japanese company will unveil the new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. The SUV is larger than its predecessor and so far we know that under the hood there’ll be a 3.2 liter turbodiesel engine that develops 162 (120 kW) and 343 Nm of torque. However, it’s possible that a 2.5 liter turbodiesel and a 3.5 liter V6 could also join the range. The car will come with Mitsubishi's Super Select 4WD system and buyers will be able to choose between a 4-speed Sport Mode automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual gearbox.

After the Russian debut, the Pajero Sport will be available in Russia, South-East Asia, the Middle East and South America. In Australia and Latin America the vehicle will be marketed as the Mitsubishi Challenger, while in South America it will carry a Montero Sport badge. The car won’t be available in Central & Western Europe or in North America. Why? No one knows.

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Spied: Maserati GranTurismo Spyder with folding hardtop

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 02:21 PM CDT

We already know that the cabrio version of the Maserati GranTurismo will be available sometime next year, probably by next March, but what what no one knew was that the car will not have a fabric soft-top, but a folding hardtop. At least that’s what we see in these spy photos taken by one of Autogespot’s readers in Modena. No official confirmation from Maserati so far, but we assume that the car will be powered by the same engine from the GranTurismo coupe, the 434 hp 4.7 liter V8. Given the looks of the car, we also expect it to make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in October.

Source: Autogespot

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Trident Iceni biodiesel supercar

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 02:01 PM CDT

British company Trident announced today that they’ve finished working on the first prototypes of their ultra efficient high-performance Iceni sportscar. The Iceni (named after a tribe that inhabited the Norfolk area) is powered by a 6.6 liter GM turbodiesel V8 engine which was modified to run on biodiesel and which develops 550 hp (410 kW) and 950 lb.-ft. (1,286 Nm) of torque at 1,800 rpm. The whooping torque is possible due to the car’s weight, of only 1,480 kg (3,262lb). Mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, the Iceni’s estimated performances are incrdible and the fuel consumption is also impressive. If driven at 70 mph, the car returns 70 mpg (3.37 liter/100 km) and Trident claims that if you drive the car at 30 mph it returns an incredible 108 mpg value. This is possible through Trident’s torque multiplication technology, a process where the car's rev range can be kept low.

The Iceni will come standard with satnav, MP3/DVD playback, a reverse camera and two-tone leather trim and the starting price will be at around £75,000 ($140,000). But the company’s biggest problem is that it currently doesn’t have enough investment so the car’s launch will probably be delayed a few years. Check out one more photo after the jump.

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Peugeot teases with RC hybrid concept

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 12:36 PM CDT

Peugeot has released a group of images of the new concept it will be unveiling at the Paris Motor Show in October. The full name will be revealed at the French Show and so far we know that the car has four doors, four seats and highly innovative hybrid architecture. The RC is fitted with an unspecified hybrid powertrain producing a maximum of 313 hp and emitting only 109 g/km of CO2 in gasoline mode and, of course, zero in electric. The vehicle is eco-efficient which has all the characteristics that ensure great driving enjoyment.

More photos after the jump.

Photo Gallery: Peugeot RC Hybrid Concept

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Audi RS6 Avant tuning package from Kicherer

Posted: 20 Aug 2008 09:32 AM CDT

It’s amazing to see how many 700+ hp tuning programs were created for the Audi RS6 Avant. After the MTM and the B&B ones, the German tuning Kicherer also set its eyes on the high performance wagon. The 5.0 liter V10 engine received a major upgrade and now develops 700 hp (522kW) and 577lb-ft (780Nm) of torque. That’s enough to take the care from still to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.3 seconds, to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 13 seconds and to a top speed of 280 km/h (175 mph). Not as impressive if you compare it to the other programs, but still, a really cool upgrade.

But Kicherer did great with the exterior upgrades, especially the two-tone paint job. The body kit includes several carbon fiber parts, like the side mirror shells, the front lip spoiler and the rear diffuser, plus the massive 22 inch alloys. Other mods include a sport exhaust and new springs that lower the ride height by 25 mm. No clues on the package’s pricing, but MotorAuthority expects it to be priced around $10,000, without the power-enhancing ECU reflash and speed-limiter removal.

More photos after the jump.

Photo Gallery: Audi RS6 Avant tuning by Kicherer