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Report: Tesla Model S-based crossover coming to Frankfurt? [UPDATE: Nope]

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Crossover, Tesla, Electric

Tesla Model S

Tesla Model S – Click above for high-res image gallery

Up to this point, the only actual vehicle Tesla Motors has offered for sale is the all-electric Roadster. But the Silicon Valley-based automaker has drummed up a ton of interest and money by showing off its next planned product, the Model S sedan. It looks as if that trend will continue, as a report from the fine folks at Car and Driver suggests a new crossover will be shown off for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This makes some sense, since Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that we’ll get to see the Model X before the end of the year.

Assuming this report is accurate, it’s worth noting that the CUV’s appearance in Frankfurt will mark the first time Tesla has used a major auto show to introduce a new model – both the original Roadster and the Model S sedan were both unveiled in smaller, private events.

The CUV will be based on the same underpinnings as the Model S sedan, which was designed from the start to allow for future model expansion. C&D speculates the crossover will sport all-wheel drive, though it’s not known exactly how such an arrangement will work. It’s possible that Tesla will craft a second powertrain unit that will power the front wheels independently of the rears. We’d expect a similar lithium ion battery pack to be used in the CUV as is planned for the sedan.

Following the unveil of the crossover, development of both a coupe and a larger, likely three-row sport utility vehicle will move forward in full force. There’s also been talk of a carbiolet and possibly a minivan or MPV. Of course, all of this assumes that the startup automaker, which has partnered up with both Daimler and Toyota, doesn’t run out of money before any of these future vehicles come to market. Here’s hoping.

UPDATE: According to our sources at Tesla, we won’t be seeing the Model X in Frankfurt, but it could debut sometime late this year.

Gallery: Tesla Model S in motion

tesla-model-s-large-4 tesla-model-s-large-2 tesla-model-s-large-1 tesla-model-s-large-3 tesla-model-s-large-5

[Source: Car and Driver]

Report: Tesla Model S-based crossover coming to Frankfurt? [UPDATE: Nope] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota-based Subaru Trezia hatchback headed to Europe

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Subaru, Toyota

Subaru Trezia hatchback

Subaru Trezia hatchback – Click above for high-res image gallery

When we think about Toyota-Subaru collaboration, the first thing that comes to mind is the highly anticipated rear-wheel-drive “Toyobaru” project. But while the FT-86 and its Subie sibling are first in our thoughts, it wasn’t number one to market.

Automotive News reports that Subaru is set to unveil the Trezia hatchback in March at the Geneva Auto Show. The roomy five-door, which closely mirrors the Honda Fit in most every measurement, will be a near spot-on match of the Toyota Verso it’s based on, but with an Impreza-style grille slapped on the front clip and some Subaru badging sprinkled throughought. Both the Toyota Verso (named Ractis for JDM consumption) and Subaru Trezia are being sold in Japan now, and both vehicles are destined for Euro showrooms this spring.

In Japan, the Trezia is powered by a choice of 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter inline-four cylinder gasoline engines mated to a CVT, but in Europe the 1.5 will be replaced with a 1.4-liter diesel. In Japan, the Trezia can be had with all-wheel-drive provided car buyers check off the box for the more powerful engine, which will likely be the turbodiesel in Europe.

With its roomy interior and diminutive footprint, the Trezia will likely do well overseas. But will we ever see Subaru’s Fit-fighter in North America? With gas prices once again on the rise, it might not be a bad idea.

Gallery: Subaru Trezia

[Source: Automotive News sub. req.]

Toyota-based Subaru Trezia hatchback headed to Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Jan 2011 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lancia’s Geneva lineup to include Chrysler 200-based Flavia

2011 Chrysler 200 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Some might deride Lancia as the Plymouth of the Fiat group, but instead of being killed off like the defunct American marque, the pseudo-premium Italian division is being teamed up with Chrysler in an effort to increase the Pentastar’s global reach while rejuvenating the Lancia brand.

We’ve seen the pairing take effect already through the appointment of Lancia CEO Olivier Francois and the toe-in-the-water demonstration of a Chrysler-badged Lancia Delta at last year’s Detroit show, but it looks like things could finally materialize at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.

There, according to the latest reports from Europe, the Fiat/Chrysler alliance will unveil a Lancia-fied version of the new Chrysler 200. The model is expected to revive the Flavia nameplate last seen in 1975 and receive only a few modifications, in the form of a new grille (natch), European-spec bumpers and the possible mechanical additions of a manual transmission and diesel engine.

Headline though the development is, it is expected to be only one of several new debuts – some Chrysler-based, some not – that Lancia has planned for the Swiss expo. A Chrysler 300-based Thema flagship sedan is reportedly in the cards, as could be a Lancia version of the Chrysler Town & Country minivan (as a potential replacement for the Phedra that was jointly produced between Fiat and PSA). Finally, Lancia is expected to unveil the new Ypsilon hatchback, which itself could make its way Stateside as a Chrysler. Now all we need is a Pentastar-badged version of the New Stratos and we’ll be all set.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 200: First Drive

2011 Chrysler 200

[Source: Automotive News Europe – subs. req’d]

Lancia’s Geneva lineup to include Chrysler 200-based Flavia originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Ford Focus equipped with brake-based torque vectoring

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Hatchback, Ford

2012 Ford Focus

2012 Ford Focus – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2012 Ford Focus is set to hit dealers early next year, and in addition to a cadre of standard and optional features, Ford is equipping every new Focus with its new breed of “torque vectoring control.”

For the uninitiated, torque vectoring systems actively split power between the two driven wheels to maximize traction and increase performance. Some higher-end systems manipulate the output to each wheel through a set of electronically controlled gears, while others apply a subtle amount of braking to the inside wheel, causing more power to be sent to the outside wheel, thus helping rotate the vehicle through a turn. Ford is using the latter on the 2012 Focus, the first implementation of its kind on a Blue Oval model in North America.

Thanks to the continued implementation of standard traction control systems, these torque vectoring setups are becoming more common and have finally reached the compact segment. While the benefits generally outweigh the negatives, we’ve found other brake-based systems have a tendency to overheat the pads, rotors and fluid when flogged long and hard enough (ahem, GTI). We’ll be able to test it out for ourselves soon, so look for a full driving report in just over a month. In the meantime, get the full details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2012 Ford Focus

2012 Ford Focus hatchback

Continue reading 2012 Ford Focus equipped with brake-based torque vectoring

2012 Ford Focus equipped with brake-based torque vectoring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Chevy to unveil Volt-based Amp crossover in Detroit

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM, Rumormill, Electric

Chevrolet Volt MPV5 at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show

Chevrolet Volt MPV5 at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Car and Driver, General Motors may have something special planned for the Detroit Auto Show in January. Word on the web is that The General is planning to pull back the sheets on the next vehicle to use the extended-range hybrid drivetrain from the Chevrolet Volt. The next branch in GM’s electrified family tree will be a five-seat crossover, potentially called the Chevrolet Amp. Using the same basic architecture, engine, motor and batteries from the Volt, a production Amp would help GM spread its substantial Voltec development costs over more than one model.

GM has been making noise about a crossover with Volt guts for some time, and thanks to the sleuth work of the detectives at Car and Driver, we know we may be closer than ever to seeing the vehicle become a reality. The company has gone through the pains to register a host of web domain names associated with the Amp moniker, some of which were snapped up as recently as October. Combined with the unveiling of the Volt MPV5 Concept at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show, there’s a good chance that a battery-operated Crossover will grace Detroit with its presence next month. Thanks for the tip, Phrime!

Gallery: Beijing 2010: Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept

[Source: Car and Driver]

Report: Chevy to unveil Volt-based Amp crossover in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sounds Familiar: Millionaire drops big bucks to build Lotus-based EV sportscar

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Technology, UK, Electric

Ecotricity Nemesis

We’re beginning to think that the real difference between a millionaire and a billionaire is simply whether or not one succumbs to the idea of building your own sports car. The latest to fall victim to that money trap is Dale Vince – a man with a vision for an all-electric, 330 horsepower beast capable of ripping off the 0-60 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds on its way to 100 mph in 8.5 seconds. Like a few other specialty racers we’ve seen surface recently, the Nemisis uses a Lotus chassis for its bones, while a pack of lithium-polymer batteries supplies the juice. And according to Vince, the cells can be topped off in 8-10 hours using a trickle charge.

All told, the car has a range of somewhere between 100 and 150 miles and boasts a theoretical top speed of 170 mph. Ecotricity, the company that builds the Nemisis, has its eyes set on besting the UK’s electric vehicle top speed record of 139 mph soon. So, how much would you have to pay for a car like the Nemesis? Vince isn’t saying, though considering that it cost around £25 million to develop (including a £400,000 investment from the British government), chances are it won’t be cheap should it ever hit production.

[Sources: Inventorspot, The Daily Mail]

Sounds Familiar: Millionaire drops big bucks to build Lotus-based EV sportscar originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche upgrades world’s best-selling racing car with new RS-based 911 GT3 Cup

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Porsche, Racing

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – Click above for high-res image gallery

As many Porsche 911s as you think you might see at the golf course, yacht club or shopping mall, that’s nothing compared to the legions regularly running around racing circuits worldwide. Aside from the myriad open GT grids dominated by Stuttgart machinery, the iconic German sportscar is the spec racer of choice for various national Porsche Carrera Cup championships and the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup that supports F1 races around the year. Those series use the versatile 911 GT3 Cup. With over 1,400 sold since 1998, Porsche maintains that it’s the best-selling racing car of all time, and it has just announced a new model for the 2011 season onward.

Whereas the outgoing Cup racer was based on the street-going 911 GT3, the new model starts life as the harder, faster and sharper GT3 RS. That means a wider body that can accommodate bigger wheels, tires and brakes. It also carries the larger 3.8-liter flat-six with 450 horsepower – 30 more horses than the outgoing model coming from 200cc of added displacement. It also looks more like the RS, with an aggressive aero package and LED lighting for when tracks go dark and dreary.

The 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will make its track debut at the opening round of next season’s Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship, but you can delve into the details right now in the press release after the jump and in our high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche upgrades world’s best-selling racing car with new RS-based 911 GT3 Cup

Porsche upgrades world’s best-selling racing car with new RS-based 911 GT3 Cup originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Chevy working on Aveo-based crossover

Filed under: Crossover, Chevrolet, GM, Rumormill

Chevrolet Aveo

2011 Chevrolet Aveo – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to the blokes over at Autocar, Chevrolet’s Korean arm is furiously working on turning the latest Aveo into a five-door, five-passenger crossover. This CUV version of Chevy’s subcompact, which just recently began production in Seoul, South Korea with sales slated for early 2011, will reportedly sport a stretched version of the platform and will be offered in both front-wheel and all-wheel-drive flavors.

Upscale interior bits and pieces are apparently being borrowed from the European Opel parts bin, which should mean good things for the Gamma II-based cute ‘ute. Other higher-end specs include a next-gen digital display grafted into the dash that is apparently going to filter across the rest of the Chevrolet lineup.

In related news, the British magazine is also reporting that the four-door sedan version of the new Aveo is likely to be shown off at the next Detroit Auto Show in January. Will a crossover join in on the Aveo’s time in the spotlight? We’ll be there in DSLRs in tow either way.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Aveo

Gallery: Paris 2010: Chevrolet Aveo

Paris 2010: Chevrolet Aveo

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Chevy working on Aveo-based crossover originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Renntech previews Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG-based C74 ahead of SEMA

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Renntech C74 Konzept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Captured here auditioning for the role of World’s Angriest C-Class is the Renntech C74 Konzept. Starting with a C63 AMG, the tuner added a body kit comprised of an aggressive carbon fiber front lip, spoiler and rear diffuser, along with 19- and 20-inch wheels. Under the hood the 6.2-liter AMG engine is goosed to 605 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque thanks to a upgraded internals, larger throttle bodies and a tweaked ECU, while carbon fiber stabilizer braces are fitted front and rear. And the “74”? That refers to the width of the rear track, where 11-inch, 305-series tires reside. The whole package will run you $11,950, and you can get the details after the jump.

Gallery: Renntech C74 Konzept

[Source: Renntech]

Continue reading Renntech previews Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG-based C74 ahead of SEMA

Renntech previews Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG-based C74 ahead of SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acura mulling TSX coupe, Civic-based sedan?

Filed under: Etc., Acura, Rumormill

Acura is planning a host of product updates in the very near future, and along with the launch of the TSX Wagon, two new models could come down the pike. According to Autoweek, Acura is considering a coupe built atop the TSX platform and a compact sedan to capitalize on the States’ newfound love of smaller vehicles.

A TSX-based coupe would fill the gap left by the CL after its demise in 2003, and while Acura already produces a compact sedan for the Canadian market – the Acura CSX pictured above – it’s simply a re-badged Civic with an upgraded interior. Obviously, Acura would need to do more to woo buyers into a smaller vehicle, and its best bet is to leverage one of Honda’s other platforms for the task. An Acura Fit? Not so much…

[Source: Autoweek]

Acura mulling TSX coupe, Civic-based sedan? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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