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Official: Ford S-Max Concept previews new look, technology for Euro seven-seater

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Technology, Ford

Ford S-Max Concept showcases sharp styling, a thoughtful interior and innovative technologies.

Ford unveiled today the S-Max Concept, which comes with a new, sleek look and loaded with innovative technology, such as a heart-rate monitoring seat. But if your heart is set on a ~~minivan~~ sports activity vehicle (SAV) and you live in the States, don’t wait for this one – it’s a Europe-only product, and we don’t expect that to change when the next-gen S-Max is released.

The styling follows Ford’s global design language, looking a bit like an overgrown Focus hatchback with the company’s signature grille, wraparound headlamps, steeply raked windshield and curved roof line. Ford also implemented details to make the S-Max look longer and faster, such as a feature line on each side of the vehicle and muscular-looking fenders. The engine isn’t Ford’s most powerful, but the new 1.5-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine should be potent enough with turbocharging and other efficiency related technologies.

Ford says the new interior, which seats up to seven people, features high-quality materials and fine detailing, such as an “ultra-soft” leather wrap for the instrument panel and leather and carbon-fiber details on the seats. Ford’s Sync connectivity system with MyFord Touch makes the car a wireless hotspot, and there’s a tablet docking station for second-row occupants.

But it’s the health-related systems that have our attention. The heart-rate sensing seat records the driver’s heart rate and has the potential to respond to medical emergencies via Sync. This can range from alerting medical experts to triggering active safety systems that can take over temporarily for an incapacitated driver. The car even has a glucose monitoring system that Ford claims can detect a sleeping child having a diabetic episode in the back seat.

Take a look at the press release below for a closer look into the sharply styled, tech-forward SAV.

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Ford S-Max Concept previews new look, technology for Euro seven-seater originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Ford’s official Euro aftermarket partner Mountune coming to US

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Ford

Now that we’re getting a steady stream of Ford’s European offerings, the aftermarket world is finally starting to catch up as well. UK-based aftermarket tuning company, Mountune has just announced that it will be setting up shop in California to provide high-performance and racing parts for Ford vehicles including the Focus ST and Fiesta ST.

Mountune lays claim to being Ford’s “official European tuning partner,” and US buyers will soon have access to these parts through Ford dealerships and with a Ford Racing warranty. Speaking of Ford Racing, Mountune also says that it will be working with Ford’s in-house team to develop future components for both street and track. There are no specifics as of yet for which products will be offered here, but the company plans to launch a US-specific website later this month with more information.

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Ford’s official Euro aftermarket partner Mountune coming to US originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Aug 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: BMW M135i vs. Mercedes A45 AMG in Euro small-lux throwdown

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Hatchback, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, UK

BMW and Mercedes-Benz – please, please, please bring the M135i and A45 AMG hatchbacks to North America. For as long as we can remember, buyers in the New World have been forced to look longingly at Europe and Great Britain and the excellent super hatches that are so routinely offered there. And while we’re quite content with the Ford Focus ST and Volkswagen GTI, having a 360-horse five-door with a premium, content-rich interior sounds quite nice.

Our envy for Europe has grown after watching the latest video from Drive, which stars Chris Harris, the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG and the BMW M135i. This latest battle between MB and BMW takes place on both road and track, with Harris providing a running commentary. If you’re interested in the upcoming Mercedes CLA45 AMG, you should pay special attention to the section on the A45, as the two are essentially fraternal twins. While the video is a bit on the long side, it provides a comprehensive rundown of both cars, giving those of us in North America just a small taste of what we’re missing. Check it out by scrolling below.

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BMW M135i vs. Mercedes A45 AMG in Euro small-lux throwdown originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jul 2013 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Euro car sales plummet to two-decade low

Filed under: Car Buying, Europe, UK

Volkswagen's car elevator and storage - overhead view

Just three months ago, as of April, the story was that the European car market registered its first gain in 19 months, consumer confidence was up “higher than average” and observers were hoping the month could be the first footstep in the trek to “legitimate recovery,” even though Europe’s four-month sales were down seven percent. The stats for June are a return to dark portents, with Bloomberg now reporting that sales for the month haven’t been this bad since 1993. As a result, investor confidence in Germany has taken a dive and Eurozone exports have fallen for a second straight month.

There were 1.18 million cars registered in June, which represents a 6.3-percent decline from a year before. The overall seven-percent decline in car sales remained on track, the half-year number of 6.44 million vehicles sold so far this year being a 6.7-percent drop from 2012 (that number also being the smallest number of cars sold since 1993). The UK market was the only bright spot, jumping by 13 percent but being more than offset by Germany’s 4.7-percent decline and France’s 8.4-percent drop.

No one expects it to get better, either, one analyst saying “I don’t think that it will get better in the very near future,” Renault, Peugeot and BMW saying they expect a five-percent decline year-on-year, and another analyst opining that perhaps the best that can be said is that perhaps things are bottoming out, but that’s “not the same thing as saying they have started to recover.”

Euro car sales plummet to two-decade low originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jul 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Breaking: 2014 Mazda3 breaks cover early, in Euro-spec at least [UPDATE]

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Europe, Hatchback, Mazda, Diesel

2014 Mazda3 - front three-quarter dynamic view

We’re set to get a closer look at the US-spec 2014 Mazda3 later today, but AutoExpress has the first peek at the machine’s European cousin (after initial leaks reportedly came from a Czech outlet). The photos show a compact that’s taken plenty of design inspiration from its older sister, the Mazda6. That’s excellent news, as the larger car’s dynamic front fascia, accentuated fender arches and long nose translate well to the Mazda3. Inside, there are are new and improved material choices, and the longer wheelbase means occupants get to enjoy more room than before. There’s also a larger trunk with 12.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

Buyers in the EU can get their hands on a 1.5-liter Skyactiv-G gasoline engine with 99 horsepower, though the old 2.0-liter four-cylinder will still be available in either 118 hp or 163 hp configuration. A 2.2-liter diesel tops out the engine choices.

The 2014 Mazda3 is lighter than its predecessor and boasts disc brakes and a multi-link rear suspension on every trim. That means this thing should be fun to shuffle around. Stay tuned for details on the US-spec variant later today, including a lot more images of the good-looking hatch.

UPDATE: We’ve just received word from Mazda that the photos seen here do, in fact, show the global Mazda3, and not merely a European version. So the good-looking hatch in our gallery is one that you can look forward to in your dealership before too long. Expect to see full US specs, and even more images of the 3, later today.

2014 Mazda3 breaks cover early, in Euro-spec at least [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Euro car sales hit 20-year low in May

Filed under: Car Buying, Europe

Renault billboard

Automotive News Europe reports vehicle registrations in the European Union fell to 1.08 million in May. That’s down from 1.15 million a year earlier and marks the lowest number for any May since 1993. General Motors, Peugeot-Citroen, Fiat, Renault, Ford, Volkswagen and Audi all saw sales fall off last month, though Seat managed to increase its sales by a relatively heady 13 percent. Currently, analysts are predicting that the European automotive market will continue to contract through 2013, though may show signs of rebounding by the end of the year. From there, it may be a further five years before EU car sales recover to their pre-recession heights.

In Germany, new-car registrations fell by 10 percent in May. France suffered a similar fall while Italy saw a decline of eight percent and Spain suffered a dip of three percent. The UK, meanwhile, saw registrations climb by 11 percent. EU heads of state are currently looking for ways to reverse the region’s economic decline. Unemployment is now at 12 percent in the 17 countries that make up the European Union.

Euro car sales hit 20-year low in May originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 08:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris 2010: Honda CR-Z gets Euro-cessorized

Filed under: Hybrid, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Honda, Design/Style

2011 Honda CR-Z with Accessories

2011 Honda CR-Z with optional accessories – Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda’s big introduction at this year’s Paris Motor Show may have been the 2011 Jazz Hybrid, but that doesn’t mean the Japanese automaker didn’t bring some other automotive fodder for us to look at. Here, for example, is the new CR-Z hybrid hatch wearing some of Honda’s optional visual accessories.

Honda is really trying to emphasize that the CR-Z is a sport hybrid. By adding things like larger wheels, a mesh grille, unique blue-tinged headlights, carbon fiber trim and a rear spoiler, the little hybrid’s visual sportiness has indeed been improved without falling prey to the over-modded tuner look. This CR-Z may certainly look the part of a new-age hot hatch, but even the fanciest of body jewelry won’t help the not-entirely-sporty and not-so-efficient hybrid powertrain under the hood.

Click your way through our gallery of live images below to see and judge the added visual modifications for yourself.

Gallery: Paris 2010: 2011 Honda CR-Z w/ Accessories

2011 Honda CR-Z