2012 Chevrolet Malibu teased ahead of Shanghai debut [w/video]

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Shanghai Motor Show

2012 Chevrolet Malibu teaser

2012 Chevrolet Malibu teaser – Click above for high-res image

The 2012 Chevrolet Malibu will officially be revealed at the Shanghai Motor Show on April 19, and General Motors has released this official teaser shot of its new ‘Bu, showing off its new Camaro-inspired LED taillamps. GM will also be bringing the Malibu to the New York Auto Show, which officially starts on April 20, where we’ll get our first glimpse of the new Chevrolet family sedan in the flesh.

We’ve seen quite a few spy shots of the new Malibu, and we know that it will ride on GM’s smaller Epsilon II platform that currently underpins the Buick Regal. Still, GM tells us that the new Malibu will be wider than the model it replaces, and we can expect a more rakish exterior design. The Malibu will be sold in nearly 100 countries on six different continents, and thus, a global design that would appeal to all markets is necessary in order for it to be a success.

Expect the Malibu to only be available with four-cylinder engines, including GM’s naturally aspirated 2.4-liter Ecotec four and its turbocharged 2.0-liter powerplant. Rumor has it that a hybrid version is also in the works, as is an all-wheel-drive model.

You can watch the official Chevrolet Malibu reveal on the automaker’s Facebook page on Monday, April 18 at 8:30 PM EST – right when the sheets are pulled back in Shanghai. For the full details, hit the jump for GM’s official press release, as well as a short video detailing some of the Malibu’s overall design elements.

[Source: General Motors]

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2012 Chevrolet Malibu teased ahead of Shanghai debut [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GAC X-Power crossover rendering leaks ahead of Shanghai debut

Filed under: China, Crossover, MISC

GAC X-Power
GAC X-Power leaks out – Click above for image gallery

China’s Guaungzhou Auto Corp may have not approved it, but the first look at the company’s new X-Power crossover has trickled out onto the internet. According to ChinaCarTimes, the automaker just recently purchased the Alfa Romeo 166 platform from the Italian manufacturer, and the X-Power is the second model that we’ve seen arise from those bones. Judging from the photos, the production take on the CUV wears much of the same styling as the concept version, though it would seem that the taillight design has received some tweaks.

ChinaCarTimes reports that the X-Power will hit the streets with an Alfa-sourced 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with around 163 horsepower when it debuts. GAC has also used the 166 platform for its Trumpchi sedan, which is powered by the same 2.0-liter engine.

Chinese car buyers can look forward to seeing the X-Power in showrooms soon. No launch date has been released, but the vehicle is slated for an unveil at next month’s Shanghai Motor Show.

Gallery: GAC X-Power

[Source: ChinaCarTimes]

GAC X-Power crossover rendering leaks ahead of Shanghai debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini Goodwood Concept headed to Shanghai Motor Show

Filed under: Concept Cars, China, Hatchback, Mini, Rolls-Royce, UK, Specialty, Shanghai Motor Show, Design/Style, Luxury

Mini logo

At the recent Geneva Motor Show, a source within Mini revealed to Autoblog that the automaker will be bringing a new concept, dubbed “Goodwood,” to the Shanghai Motor Show next month.

The Goodwood concept is a fully plushified, hand-wrought hatchback updo that pays hommage to not only the current Rolls-Royce headquarters on the Goodwood estate (hey, it’s all in the BMW Group family), but also to the Rolls-Royce/Bentley glory years of bespoke treatments by the in-house Mulliner Park Ward department. Consider it a high-margin fluff job for present-day good-taste barometer nations like China, Russia, India, Abu Dhabi and Switzerland.

Coachbuilder Park Ward of London became a wholly owned part of Rolls-Royce/Bentley in 1939, while H.J. Mulliner & Co. was absorbed in 1961. Together these workers melded into one under the legendary Mulliner Park Ward bespoke umbrella. In 1998 when Rolls-Royce and Bentley were hewn asunder, Mulliner was eventually reconstituted under the Bentley brand as its bespoke group, while Park Ward lasted until 2002 at the end of the limited-run Rolls-Royce Park Ward extended-wheelbase model.

We’re eager to get our hands on the official images and details sometime before the Wee Roller’s debut next month. Should be rich.

[Image: Drew Phillips/AOL]

Mini Goodwood Concept headed to Shanghai Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: BMW to unveil M5 Concept in Shanghai

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Performance, China, BMW, Shanghai Motor Show

2008 BMW M5

The Chinese market is becoming increasingly vital for automakers like BMW, which could go a long way towards explaining why the Bavarian company has chosen the world’s most populous nation as the location to unveil such new debuts as the long-wheelbase 5 Series and the Concept Gran Coupé.

Now reports indicate that BMW is planning on returning to the Shanghai Motor Show in April with a conceptual preview of the new M5 performance sedan. Based on the latest 5 Series, the new M5 is tipped to carry a 600-horsepower version of the 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 put to work in the X5 M and X6 M crossovers. Westerners won’t feel too left out, however, as the concept version in Shanghai is anticipated to be followed by the production version at the Frankfurt Motor Show in the Fall.

In parallel to the M5 – and at the other extreme of the range – BMW is also working on the 5 Series hybrid, anticipated to mate a 306-hp turbo six with a 54-hp electric motor for possible debut alongside the M5 in Shanghai as well.

The biennial show in China is also rumored to the debut show for the 2012 6 Series Coupe.

[Source: AutoTelegraaf.nl – translated | Image: Dan Roth/AOL]

Report: BMW to unveil M5 Concept in Shanghai originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe coming to Shanghai

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Etc., Europe, BMW, Rumormill, Shanghai Motor Show, Luxury

BMW 6 Series Coupe Concept

BMW 6 Series Coupe Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Word has it that BMW is planning to unveil the next 6 Series coupe at the upcoming Shanghai Motor Show in April. According the Dutch arm of AutoWeek, it only makes since for the big two door to take a bow this spring since the concept version debuted at the 2010 Pairs Motor Show last fall. Given that we’ve seen more than a few spy photos crop up recently, the prediction would seem spot-on.

The report says that buyers can first expect to get their hands on the coupe in either 640i or 650i variants with additional models showing up later down the line. But that’s not the most interesting bit of news to pop up.

AutoWeek is also reporting that BMW is currently slaving away on a sedan version of the 6 Series. Supposedly, the car would make use of the same coupe body lines as its two-door brethren. Such a vehicle would allow BMW to tango with the ever-popular Mercedes-Benz CLS, but we have to wonder if there’s room in the Roundel’s stable for yet another sedan.

Gallery: BMW 6 Series Concept

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: 2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe coming to Shanghai originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi TT GT4 Concept unwrapped in Shanghai

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Coupe, Europe, Audi, Racing

Audi TT GT4 Concept

Audi TT GT4 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Heads up, weekend racers: Audi has officially pulled back the sheets on its TT GT4 Concept. Designed to be the next logical step in the company’s customer sports program, the racer will supposedly bring a relatively low price tag to the table when it arrives as a production model in 2012, but for the moment, it’s been confined to some demo laps at Shanghai’s DTM over the weekend with racer Frank Biela behind the wheel.

The racer comes complete with a 340-horsepower TFSI engine back by the company’s S-Tronic DSG gearbox and a limited-slip differential. Buyers will also find a set of adjustable dampers on hand for improved tuning, as well as carbon fiber reinforced plastic skins on the doors, hood and trunk lid.

How much will you be asked to pay for the privilege of owning such a piece of machinery? Chances of this vehicle making it to the States seem pretty slim, but Audi says that European buyers can look to fork over around €120,000 (around $157k USD). That’s probably a small bargain in the world of privateer ready-to-race cars, but it also goes some way toward reinforcing that people have a slightly different definitions of “affordable.” Check out the official press release after the jump and our high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Audi TT GT4

[Source: Audi]

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Audi TT GT4 Concept unwrapped in Shanghai originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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