Mazda has dropped the official details on the company's Minagi Concept. The sleek CUV is intended to give us all a little taste of exactly where Mazda's design is headed in the near future as well as show off the company's new Skyactiv drivetrain technologies. Mazda isn't telling us exactly what's under that sculpted hood other than to say that the Minagi gets its power from a Skyactiv engine and puts it to the ground via a Skyactiv transmission. In addition to those fuel-saving components, Mazda claims that the Minagi also uses a host of weight-saving tricks to boost fuel economy.
The concept wears the new Mazda design theme called Kodo, or soul of motion. From what we can see from the renderings, the look is a full galaxy ahead of the all smiles design the Japanese automaker is currently employing. We'll be interested to see how the lines translate to the real world when the concept shows up at this year's Geneva Motor Show in March.
[Source: Mazda]
Officially Official: Mazda Minagi Concept headed to Geneva
Beijing 2010: Honda Li Nisn Everus sedan concept
Li Nian has unveiled the Everus concept at Auto China 2010.
Jointly-developed by Honda and Guangqi Honda Automobile (previously known as Guangzhou Honda Automobile), the Everus features angular lines and an Acura-like grille.
While details are limited, the concept is likely based on the Honda City. This means power will be provided by a 1.5- or 1.8-liter engine with at least 120 hp (89 kW / 122 PS).
Look for more information to be released when a production version debuts at the Guangzhou Motor Show.
Other Honda cars in LuxuryAutos Blog:
+ Honda cancels development of V10-powered NSX successor
Audi RS7 Concept Artist Design Interpretation
This is an artist's imagining of a possible Audi RS7.
This RS7 rendering sees the car with a rear-mounted engine, with design elements much like the current (real) Audi R8, including the contrast in color between the engine bonnet and the rest of the body.
But here the contrast becomes more defined, with a stark black covering the rear engine bay and extending to the rear of the body, covering the rear wheel wells too.
The horizontal design lines resonate Lamborghini, just like the R8 does, but also provide a larger curve over the front wheel wells adding a more organic touch to the RS7.
Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid concept gets 78 mpg, hits 62 mph in 3.2 seconds
Here you go, have your cake and eat it too. Porsche is looking to prove that the best of both worlds don't have to be mutually exclusive with the 918 Spyder concept scheduled to debut tomorrow at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Looking a bit like a Carrera GT evolved, the 918 Spyder is powered by both a 500-horsepower V8 and a pair of electric motors (one for each axle) producing an additional 218 hp or 160kW. At full gallop, the concept can theoretically reach 62 mph in 3.2 seconds and nip 198 mph on the high end. On the flip side, Porsche says it can also achieve 78 miles per gallon and emit just 70 grams of CO2 per kilometer.
How does a supercar have such range? Well, the 918 Spyder concept is a parallel hybrid just like your mom's Prius (well not just like). That means the two powertrains, gas and electric, can operate together or separately to motivate the wheels into motion. There are no less than four modes that configure the powertrains for anything from maximum efficiency to maximum performance and everything in between. The E-Drive mode means pure electric power, and the car can reportedly last up to 16 miles on electrons alone. Next up is Hybrid mode, which is just what it sounds like and would probably be the mode for everyday around town driving. The Sport Hybrid mode again uses both powertrains, but tips the needle a bit more towards performance with most power reaching the rear wheels. Finally, the Race Hybrid mode means all systems are go for the lowest lap times possible (Porsche says it can do the Nordschleife in less than 7:30 minutes). There's an even a push-to-pass button (if only it were that easy) that adds a bit of E-boost on the straights and, of course, regenerative braking is present and accounted for.
[Source: Porsche]
Geneva Motor Show2010 Live: BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid ConceptM
The dispersion of BMW's ActiveHybrid – and conjoined word – initiative continues with the 5 Series ActiveHybrid Concept. Billed as a "future-oriented full-hybrid model in the upper midrange segment" it boils down to the turbocharged inline-six you love and along with a 53-horsepower electric motor you will learn to love working through an eight-speed auto 'box for the middle-management set. They'll get 10-percent more distance for the gallon, and a squirt of instant boost thanks to those hard working electrons.
Geneva Motor Show 2009 Preview: Giugiaro concept claimed to be the world's fastest hybrid
Giorgetto Giugiaro has a series of successful concepts under his belt, including the Ferrari GG50 and his own interpretation of the Mustang. But his most recent design exercise -- the Italdesign Quaranta, shown at last year's Geneva Motor Show -- was a clear indication that he was moving beyond bespoke bodywork and taking a long look into the future of the automobile.
At this year's Geneva expo, he'll take the wraps off another hybrid concept that appears to evolve the Quaranta design and the (theoretical) drivetrain underneath. Judging by the teaser, it's decidedly more sleek than its predecessor, dropping the blocky '80s aesthetic of the Quaranta and packing a powertrain that will supposedly propel the gas-electric coupe to 186 mph. If the same 270 hp, 3.3-liter V6 hybrid employed on the Quaranta migrates to this new concept, expect an all-wheel-drive system with a duo of electric motors powering the front wheels and a claimed 0-60 time of around four seconds.
Report: Mercedes Benz considering A-Class roadster for production
The 2009 Mercedes Benz A-Class was revealed earlier this year, and though it received a number of updates, the car is due for a complete redesign sometime in 2011. The next-generation Mercedes Benz A-Class range is expected to feature a number of body styles, but the latest word indicates a roadster could be joining the group as well.
Previous speculation on the next-gen A-Class family had only included mini-SUV, sports-hatch and four-door coupe models. Now a possible roadster, perhaps styled after the SLA Concept, is also thought to be in the works, reports AutoWeek. The car hasn't yet been confirmed, and even if it does make it to production, the car might not make it to North America. Weak sales and small margins could prohibit the car from finding a successful niche given its likely premium placement and pricing.
2008 Paris Motor Show: Mazda Kiyora concept
Like so many shows in recent memory, part of the theme in Paris is "green." So in addition to the Nissan Nuvu micro EV, Mazda took the wraps off yet another Nagare-themed concept, the Kiyora.
Taking inspiration from past design studies and its Japanese name, which translates to "clean and pure," the Kiyora will influence Mazda's next city car, due to replace the Mazda2 in the middle of the next decade. Measuring in at 3,770mm, the four-seat city car features a 1.3-liter gasoline-powered engine with direct injection and more efficient combustion chambers mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. Weight and aerodynamics are two key elements of the Kiyora, and with a body made almost entirely of carbon fiber and a drag reduced by 10 percent over the current Mazda2, the diminutive city car would put out less than 90g/km of CO2... if it goes into production.
