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Geneva 2011: Toyota FT-86 II Concept is one step closer to production

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Toyota

Toyota FT-86 II Concept at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show

Toyota FT-86 II Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

As one of the more hotly anticipated debuts of the Geneva Motor Show, we were sure to aim the lenses of our DSLRs in the direction of the Toyota FT-86 II Concept, which, as you’re surely aware by now, previews a new rear-wheel drive sports coupe that’s due to enter production in 2012.

Needless to say, we’re looking forward to an actual production model, but in the meantime, at least we get to gaze on an exterior shape that Toyota says “gives the clearest indication yet as to the final design of Toyota’s next sports car” with “aerodynamics developed from F1 technology.” Good thing that got something out of their lackluster F1 efforts.

There’s very little information in the way of hard specs, but we’ll get more of those soon enough when Subaru shows off its own version of this rear-wheel-drive sports car, which was jointly developed by the two automakers. What we do know is that the concept and future production cars will use a 2.0-liter four cylinder boxer engine mounted up front and driving the rear wheels through a manual gearbox.

For the full details, check out the press release after the break, and be sure to scope out our high-res image gallery of live photos below.

Gallery: Toyota FT-86 II Concept: Geneva 2011

Toyota FT-86 II Concept

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Geneva 2011: Toyota FT-86 II Concept is one step closer to production originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 04:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen brings XL1 Concept a step closer to reality

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Hybrid, Technology, Volkswagen, Diesel

Volkswagen Formula XL1 Concept

Volkswagen Formula XL1 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Volkswagen has taken another step towards making the one-liter car a reality, and this 200 mile-per-gallon dream could be on the roads within the next few years.

The Formula XL1 Concept combines a two cylinder TDI engine, electric motor, lithium-ion battery pack and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to achieve an astonishing 0.9L/100 km – just over 260 mpg to us Yanks. The included plug-in system, along with the XL1’s low drag and extensive use of lightweight materials has the potential to make the concept the most efficient vehicle to ever grace public roads.

The XL1 is making its debut at the Qatar Motor Show this week, and while it might look familiar to previous iterations, this latest version is more production read than its predecessors. Check it out from every angle in the gallery below and click past the jump for the full details.

Gallery: Volkswagen Formula XL1 Concept

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen brings XL1 Concept a step closer to reality

Volkswagen brings XL1 Concept a step closer to reality originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Paris takes first step to ban SUVs

Filed under: SUV, Europe, Government/Legal

Ford Explorer question

Does a Sport Utility Vehicle belong in the city? Environmental officials in Paris certainly don’t think so and they’ve taken the first steps toward an outright ban of the SUV. While not strictly aimed at SUV owners, the Parisian officials are looking to implement restrictions on gas-guzzling vehicles.

It’s not clear yet what types of restrictions will be set in place for SUVs (and older diesel-powered cars as well), but officials hint at limitations on vehicle type by neighborhood and time of day. Penalties for breaking these restrictions have yet to be established.

Paris is not alone in moving to implement these changes either as Lyon, Grenoble, Aix-en-Provence and a handful of other French cities are joining in this movement. Elsewhere in Europe, London and Berlin already have such restrictions in place in the form of Low Emission Zones with varying levels of success. However, the biggest question is: How do you define an SUV?

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Report: Paris takes first step to ban SUVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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