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X-Raid previews Mini All4 for Dakar

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Hatchback, Mini, South America, Racing

X-Raid Mini All4 Racing – Click above for full-size image

Mini is going to Dakar, or at least the 2011 Dakar Argentina-Chile race. Monster Energy has partnered up with the X-Raid Team to bring a diesel-powered Mini Countryman to the sands of South America in just 90 days. The team started on the project last month, and the reworked Countryman has to be in Argentina before the New Year. Between now and then are hours of wrenching and a few shake-down runs in France on December 13 and 14.

X-Raid has previously campaigned a BMW X3CC, helping the team to nab three FIA World Cup titles for cross country racing, and last year the vehicle helped the team walk away with fourth and fifth place finishes in the 2010 Argentina-Chile race. To that end, the team will be using a turbo-diesel engine borrowed from the bad Bimmer. With 315 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque, the engine brings a substantial bump in power to the table while using the same architecture as the lump found in the 2010 X3CC.

Switching to the Countryman has a number of benefits, including better handling from the vehicle’s lower center of gravity and shorter wheelbase, though the team says that ingress and egress is a little more complicated compared to the BMW. Look for the Mini All4 Racing during this year’s Argentina-Chile this January.

[Source: X-Raid]

X-Raid previews Mini All4 for Dakar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rinspeed previews BamBoo well ahead of Geneva debut

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Off-Road

Rinspeed BamBoo

Rinspeed BamBoo – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ah, Rinspeed. The crafty Swiss design house that has brought us funky creations like the UC?, iChange and sQuba has just given us a preview of its latest creation, the BamBoo. Set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show next year, the BamBoo is a sort of “grown up golf cart” (Rinspeed’s words, not ours), and as its name would suggest, many of the interior components have been constructed from bamboo fibers.

So, what’s the purpose of the BamBoo? Beach assault vehicle? Tropical resort cruiser? Rinspeed offers this as an explanation:

“This open-top vehicle awakens the longing for sun, summer, for lightness and easiness, the desire to be at the beach. It is a reminiscence of the Seventies, of the south of France and St. Tropez. And one would expect to find Brigitte Bardot behind the wheel with playboy Gunther Sachs at her side heading towards Tahiti beach.”

Sounds lovely, but the Swiss designers have left out practically all of the nitty-gritty details about the BamBoo, including powertrain, interior accommodations and plans for production (if any). Nevertheless, we’ll get the full scoop at the Geneva show in March. In the meantime, check out Rinspeed’s latter-day Fiat Jolly/Volkswagen Thing Acapulco in our gallery below, then follow the jump for the press release.

Gallery: Rinspeed BamBoo

Rinspeed BamBoo

[Source: Rinspeed]

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Rinspeed previews BamBoo well ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2010: Nissan Ellure concept previews future sedan design

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Sedan, Nissan

Nissan Ellure concept

Nissan Ellure concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan calls its Ellure concept “the sedan re-imagined,” previewing what sort of design is possible for its forthcoming four-door range. This concept is at once elegant and aggressive, with styling elements that don’t stray too far from what the automaker is currently putting out. Those headlamps, for example, use the same fin-like design of the taillights on the 370Z and Juke, and are a more forward-thinking version of what we currently see on the Maxima.

Let’s be clear, though – there are plenty of elements on the Ellure that are purely concept car spec. The large, 21-inch wheels and rear-hinged rear doors, for example – stylish and sleek, yes, but hardly practical for future production sedans. The same thing can be said for the interior, which uses suede seats, “floating” headrests, red floors and red pedals (why don’t more cars have these?).

The Ellure is powered by a supercharged 2.5-liter inline-four and a 25-kilowatt electric motor, mated to the automaker’s Xtronic CVT and a front-wheel-drive layout. Nissan says the concept uses regenerative braking and an advanced drive-by-wire electric/hydraulic steering system to ensure that the Ellure is as involving as possible for drivers out on the road.

No, the Ellure won’t be destined for production, but we’re eager to see how this sexy new sedan influences Nissan’s future product portfolio. See it in full high-res glory in the gallery below, and follow the jump for the official press release.

Gallery: LA 2010: Nissan Ellure Concept

Nissan Ellure Concept

Gallery: Nissan Ellure Concept

[Source: Nissan]

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LA 2010: Nissan Ellure concept previews future sedan design originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:26:00 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]

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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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Hyundai previews ix20 subcompact ahead of Paris rollout

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Hyundai

Hyundai ix20

Hyundai ix20 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai’s “Fluidic Sculpture” design language may be doing wonders on North American-spec Sonatas and Tucsons, but this same design language will make its way across the automaker’s entire worldwide lineup over the next few years. We’ve seen it previewed in the next-generation Elantra and Accent, and now Hyundai has released some preview images of its new ix20 small MPV, set to debut at this year’s Paris Motor Show. At first glance, it looks like a teeny-tiny ground-bound Tucson. It’s cute, if a bit angry-looking.

We’ll have to wait until the Paris show opens up before we get the full details on the ix20. For now, Hyundai is only saying that its new MPV will offer class-leading fuel economy, low C02 emissions and the latest in active and passive safety technologies. Follow the jump for the full details in the press release.

Gallery: Hyundai ix20

[Source: Hyundai]

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Hyundai previews ix20 subcompact ahead of Paris rollout originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heico Sportiv previews 330-hp tuned 2011 Volvo S60

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Volvo, Luxury

Heico S60

Heico Sportiv Volvo S60 renderings – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’re all pretty excited about the launch of the 2011 Volvo S60 – the sedan that could make or break Volvo’s worldwide appeal. We haven’t driven it yet, but the shapely new S60 certainly looks like it means business. We hope that it retains that solid “Volvo-ness” that we’ve come to love, while adding a welcome dose of driver involvement.

Even though the S60 hasn’t quite hit the road yet, Volvo tuner Heico Sportiv already has plans for its first modified version of the new sedan. These renderings show an S60 with sharper, more aggressive design elements, including hot new wheels, a revised front fascia, and a rear diffuser that encompasses quad tailpipes. Mechanically, Heico plans to rework the suspension and exhaust, as well as boosting output to around 330 horsepower – 30 more ponies than the standard S60 T6. We’ll take one in matte black, please.

Gallery: Heico Sportiv Volvo S60

[Source: Heico Sportiv]

Heico Sportiv previews 330-hp tuned 2011 Volvo S60 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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