Mercedes-Benz SLA Concept

Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

2011-05-12T01:22:00.000-07:00

The new car features discreet revisions over the existing GLK, a model which isn’t sold in Australia.
The car is loosely based on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class medium sedan, featuring similar engine packages and interior layout. With the new model, only slight changes will be made.

It will get new front and rear bumpers incorporating LED daytime running lights in place of the old spot lights at the front. There’s also going to be more chrome trimming highlights.

The back of the new GLK will showcase only slight revisions including a redesigned rear diffuser section and exhaust outlets, and new taillights, even though this test car appears to be wearing the old taillight assembly.
Under the bonnet, the new GLK is expected to feature the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class 3.5-litre direction injection V6 petrol engine, as well as a 1.8-litre turbocharged unit for the entry-level model.

Mercedes SLS ‘Gullstream'

2011-05-02T01:08:00.001-07:00

Originally revealed in a light blue shade, FAB Design has now shown off all the lines and curves of its custom SLS with a bright white variant. Along with unveiling this version, FAB Design has also released some more details on the package.
At the heart of it all is a widebody kit that features an all new front bumper, fenders, side skirts, rear quarter panels, rear bumper and rear diffuser. A lip spoiler made of carbon fiber is probably the most subtle of all the upgrades while the roof receives a non-functional air scoop.
For wheels, the SLS AMG runs a staggered 10-inch and 12-inch wide setup of three-piece Evolution wheels that feature a concave design. Suspension duties are handled with Koni’s coilovers that can also be found on the SLS GT3 race car, giving the car that ‘stance’ look. FAB has also designed their own quad-tipped exhaust system for the SLS AMG.
Overall power gains goes from 563-hp to 607-hp. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but chances are you either can’t afford it, or don’t want to.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

2011-04-18T23:26:00.000-07:00

the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG: you might want to wait a bit longer to hand over your hard-earned gold bullion. The roadster version should be arriving very soon, provided you're willing to give up the coupe's gullwing doors for a bit of open sky. Spy photographers have caught the drop-top Merc pushing around the Nürburgring then taking in the sights around town. Sporting only a dash of camo, this shows us that Mercedes is close to showing the world a production version of the SLS AMG Roadster.Once on sale, it will pose a buying conundrum for Three-Pointed Star devotees looking for a new supercar. You might have to give up the hardtop's charismatic doors, but at least you'll also hear more of the devilish gargle produced by the SLS' 563-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series

2011-04-18T23:17:00.000-07:00

The four-door muscle car could be seen traipsing down snowy roads. At the time, there were rumors that the two-door C63 AMG coupe could also be lured over to the dark side. Now our spy shooters have returned with photographic proof to back up that claim.
The hallmark of a Black Series Mercedes is two-fold in its simplicity: more power and better dynamics through things like a wider track and lightweight materials. The "standard" C63 AMG Coupe will pump out 451-horsepower, so we're hoping that the Sith Lord-edition will crest the 500-hp mark. Weight can be shed through the use of slimmer, grippier front seats and by ditching the back seat entirely. Who has time for back-seat passengers when you have the keys to a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series anyway?

Mercedes R350

2011-03-29T00:47:00.000-07:00

Even when new, the R never found its feet. Its initial full-year sales only hit 18,000 units in the U.S., and have struggled to hit one-sixth that number in the last two years. Given its miniscule take rate, you have to wonder why ‘Benz didn’t just pull the plug completely? Obviously, the decision was made to bring the R-Class into the present, if only so it wouldn’t stick out so badly in family pictures.
RESTYLED BUT NOT REINVENTED

Gone is the gaping-wide catfish maw, replaced by a more upright, squared-off schnoz. The alien-abduction headlights are replaced by angular ones that look vaguely Korean. The whole vibe mixes GLK with GMC Terrain. New wheel designs, side mirrors, rear bumper, LED taillights and restyled exhaust cutouts try in vain to modernize the overall package. From the side or rear, it’s unmistakably R. Since Mercedes couldn’t give the originals away, that doesn’t bode well.

Inside, Mercedes-Benz barely tried to spruce things up. It’s still the same ML-derived cabin as before. Anyone who’s driven any of the next-generation products – C-, E-, and CLS-class – will be shocked at the dated electronics and controls. The interior is swathed in big black plastics with only a few strips of wood thrown on the center console and dash to liven it up.

World Touring Car Championship

2010-10-06T19:24:00.000-07:00

The past year didn't look too bright for the World Touring Car Championship. First BMW cut its program down from three works teams to one, then reports came in indicating that Seat – fresh from back-to-back titles – was scaling down its factory-backed team as well. But the latest reports give those behind the premier tin-top series something to smile about as Volvo announces its plans to mount an assault on the championship over the next couple of seasons.
The news comes on the back of the Swedish Touring Car Championship which the local automaker – fielded by Polestar and driven by Robert Dahlgren – seized this past weekend at Mantorp Park. With little in the way of an off-season, the 2011 STCC season is set to begin in just a couple of months. But while Volvo and Polestar prepare to defend their title, the two will also be participating in select rounds of the big league championship next season as well.
Polestar and Dahlgren will also be behind the WTCC effort, campaigning the ethanol-powered C30 DRIVe touring car, but while the BMW, Seat and Chevrolet-powered teams fix their eyes on the prize, the Volvo entry will be oriented primarily towards evaluating the series with an eye towards a full Volvo works entry the following season. Details in the press release after the jump.

the all-new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze

2010-09-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

General Motors has officially announced that television and movie star Tim Allen will be the new "voice of Chevrolet," starting with a series of ads that will begin airing on September 7. These ads will be for the all-new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, and while Allen is a big-name with a very recognizable voice, GM's vice president of marketing, Joel Ewanick, reminds us that "the car will be the star."

Allen is best known for his starring role on the long-running 1990s sitcom Home Improvement, as well as his roles in The Santa Clause movies and as the voice behind Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story trilogy. In addition, Allen is also a well-known automobile enthusiast and has an extensive car collection. He is a native of Detroit, Michigan, and has a strong love for classic American muscle cars.

~~Look~~ Listen for Tim Allen in four 30-second GM spots, scheduled to hit your television screen in the coming weeks. GM says that the Cruze's marketing campaign will ramp up as the cars begin to arrive at dealerships in greater volume. For the full details, hit the jump to read GM's press release.

Show full PR text Tim Allen to be the Voice of Chevrolet

- Actor's Voice to be Prominent in Television Advertising
- Debuts Sept. 7 in TV Spots for the All-New Chevrolet Cruze

DETROIT – Television and movie star Tim Allen will be the voice of Chevrolet, beginning with the TV advertising for the all-new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The first ads for the Cruze will air next Tuesday, Sept. 7, Chevrolet announced today.

"Tim Allen brings the right combination of a recognizable voice with the credibility, likeability and humor that will connect with viewers," said Joel Ewanick, vice president, U.S. marketing, General Motors. "His passion for all things cars makes him the perfect match for the Chevrolet brand."

Allen is best known for his work in television's "Home Improvement" and movies including the "Toy Story" trilogy, as the voice of Buzz Lightyear, and "The Santa Clause" franchise. He is a native of the Detroit area and has a long-standing love affair with automobiles.

Allen has an extensive car collection, including personally designed versions of a 1996 Chevrolet LT5 Impala SS, a 2000 Cadillac DeVille DTSi.

"Everyone knows Tim Allen is a 'car guy' with Michigan roots," said Debbie Crispin, owner, Bill Crispin Chevrolet of Saline, Mich. "What a great voice for Chevrolet."

Allen will debut in the advertising for the all-new Chevrolet Cruze, which will use accolades from the news media and comparisons to competitive cars in the compact segment to introduce the Cruze to the marketplace. These ads will be followed by additional television ads with a large social media component, product integration in relevant shows and events, as well as advertising specific to the features and benefits of the Cruze.

"Tim Allen will be the voice in our Cruze advertising, but the car will be the star," Ewanick said. "Our communication on the Cruze will highlight the car, its features and its competitive advantages."

Advertising will ramp up later this fall, as the Cruze begins arriving in volume at dealerships.

The TV ads were produced by Goodby, Silverstein and Partners and include four :30 second spots.

The Cruze offers the spaciousness and amenities of a midsize car with the fuel economy of a compact. The Cruze also affirms Chevrolet's commitment to building refined, fuel-efficient vehicles using new, small-displacement, four-cylinder engines. The Ecotec 1.4L I-4 turbo with variable valve timing received an Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy rating of 26 miles per gallon in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway for the manual transmission and 22/35 for the automatic. The Cruze Eco model launching later this year is expected to get 40 mpg on the highway.

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM, Celebrities

Nissan Leaf: It drives likes a car

2010-07-20T22:47:00.000-07:00

Nissan brought out a preproduction prototype of its coming Leaf electric vehicle and we got to drive it a few miles.

How was it? It was like a real car, only a lot heavier and much quieter.

It was also, surprisingly--how shall we say--substantial. We were expecting some kind of science project with loose, flappy interior panels and rattling, buzzing and whirring noises from all over. But there was none of that. The car had a fully finished interior with all of the sound insulation, padding and trim of a real car. Leaf buyers won't have to make any compromises in comfort. Five tall adults can fit easily with plenty of knee room and headroom, and there's even some space behind the rear seat for luggage.

If it weren't for its near-utter quiet, you might think it was just a regular car. Passersby seemed to think so. No one in Santa Monica, Calif., where we drove the Leaf, really freaked out about it. Perhaps because there's usually so much more to freak out about in Santa Monica. From the outside, it looks like a regular five-door hatchback, if in a somewhat bumpily bland body.

The Leaf has an 80-kilowatt (107-hp) electric motor that gets power from a 24-kilowatt-hour battery pack. That's a fairly good-size battery pack, weighing in at 600 pounds. It's less than a Tesla and more than a Mitsubishi i-MiEV. The fact that the battery pack is mounted amidships in a compartment so strong that it's a stressed member of the chassis--adding 40 percent more torsional rigidity, Nissan says--is reassuring. But as is the case with battery-powered cars, the 3,600-pound curb weight is more than you will find in a similarly sized gasoline-powered car. This won't be news to seasoned EV zealots, but we're guessing many of the new Leaf buyers will be surprised. The somewhat similarly sized, gasoline-powered Versa weighs 1,000 pounds less, for instance.

But no one is going to be autocrossing this. The Leaf is an urban commuter car. Nissan says it has a range of 100 miles in mixed city driving. Specific range is listed as follows: If you drive it at 38 mph, it has a range of 138 miles. If you drive it slowly in the winter with the heater on, range drops to 62 miles. At 55 mph in the summer on the highway, it'll go 70 miles. If you drive it at some other rate in some other condition, it will give some other number. Your mileage will vary.

We drove it about five or six miles and felt the curb weight immediately. The body didn't roll unduly in corners, and the setup was tight enough to control that firmly, but you could feel the extra kilo in the rate at which the limited roll occurred. The electric power steering (heck, everything's electric) did yeoman's work turning the car, with little feedback but with a proper amount of boost to get the job done

The brakes were surprisingly heavy and a little touchier than we expected. The car is slowed by a combination of regenerative braking and grabbing the four-wheel discs, and there was not much travel in the pedal. The shifter bump on the center console allows for an "ECO" mode that dulls throttle response and increases the amount of regenerative braking. But beyond that, there is no other way to increase the amount of regen, which seems like a waste of potential energy recovery.

Recharging times vary, like everything else. Going from zero percent charge to 100 percent via a 120-volt wall plug takes 18 hours to 20 hours. But nobody's going to be doing that. Using a 240-volt plug, it takes eight hours. Using a DC quick-charge setup takes you from 0 to 80 percent in 30 minutes. The vast majority of owners will be recharging from higher states of charge and with 240-volt chargers, so most owners will have reasonable recharge times. What those will be? It varies.

We didn't go far enough to get a mileage figure nor was there anywhere in the crowded city to try for a 0-to-60-mph time.

So what did we learn? We have every reason to believe that the Leaf is going to be a sensible, ecologically friendlier alternative to internal combustion. It has all the room and amenities owners expect in a car. With the range limitations inherent in all EVs, it is probably not going to be the primary car for a family. But it would be the perfect second car. Mom or Dad could use this to carpool to work and be able to look down their noses at the mere hybrid drivers the way hybrid drivers look down upon gasoline users. Bicyclists could moon them all.

The Leaf debuts in December with a sticker price of $32,780, but Nissan is quick to point out that it could drop to $25,280 after federal tax credits, depending on where you live. Your tax credit could vary. Like everything else.

Nissan will be the first major carmaker to get an electric car into the market in really big numbers. The Leaf does everything a "car" is supposed to do and swaddles its occupants while doing it. Getting ahead of the competition with the right car is a bold move by Nissan but one we think will work.

2011 Nissan Leaf

On Sale: December

Price: $32,780

Drivetrain: 80-kilowatt (107-hp, 280 Nm) electric motor; 24-kilowatt-hour lithium-manganese-oxide battery

Top Speed: 90 mph

Range: 100 miles (varies)

Watch video of Mark Vaughn's drive of the Nissan Leaf:

Mazda seatbelt lawsuit headed to U.S

2010-06-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on whether or not current federal regulations protect automakers from being sued under state product liability laws. According to The Wall Street Journal, justices will examine a California lawsuit that claims that Mazda should be held responsible for the death of a passenger in a 1993 MPV minivan. The passenger was riding in the middle seat, wearing a lap belt, when an accident occurred. The belt caused serious internal injuries that eventually led to death. The plaintiff's argument is that by not installing three-point seatbelts in the center row of the vehicle, Mazda failed to do everything in its power to protect the occupants of the vehicle.

It's important to note that three-point seatbelts didn't become a legal requirement in all seating positions until 2007. Before that time, regulations established in 1989 said that three-point belts were only required in outboard seats, so Mazda built the MPV to conform to the laws in place when the vehicle was built and sold.

The lawsuit was originally rejected after Mazda pointed to a 2000 Supreme Court case in which Honda was unsuccessfully sued after injuries occurred in a 1987 Honda Accord. In that case, the plaintiff said that Honda was responsible because it did not install airbags in the vehicle.

The Supreme Court will hear the case in the 2010-2011 term starting in October.

Retailer accused of credit eBay, not too much for new cars, and this time it's a Dodge Challenger

2010-03-17T20:22:00.001-07:00

E 'deja vu all over again. Fact: Dude wins an auction on eBay for a Dodge Challenger SRT8, 2009 with 250 miles on the odometer. Fact: In general, a new (or in this case, SRT8 new-ish) sells for about $ 41,000. For it has been successful bid 29,100. Opinion: Very sweet, bro!

Of course there is the insignificant sum of sales people do not want to let go at that price. The seller, Glenn E Thomas Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Signal Hill, CA apparently near Long Beach, committed the same mistake that Glenn Hyundai Lexington, KY did with the Genesis Coupe. This means that someone Glenn E Thomas forgot to set a reserve auction, and just sold a car for much less than he had expected.

This is a 20 +-page "debate" raging in Challengertalk.com. Opinions differ, but it seems the prevailing sentiment that became known as the buyer (Hitman) the auction fair and square, and again a novice traders entered the minefield that sales of new cars that use less of their research part of eBay. Last we heard, Hyundai from America and helped establish the debacle Genesis Coupe. Good luck to Hitman, l '() is lucky SOB.

GM spokespeople have suggested that it might be possible for the Spark

2010-01-11T00:52:00.000-08:00

2010 Chevrolet Beat for India - Click above to enlarge

The question of whether or not General Motors will bring its diminutive Chevrolet Spark to the United States still doesn't have a definitive answer. Thanks to a GM of India press release, however, we now know that the little urban runabout will be coming to North America, although that geography obviously also includes Mexico and Canada.

In the past, GM spokespeople have suggested that it might be possible for the Spark (A.K.A. "Beat," or that unbearably irritating robot from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) to be imported Stateside and that the automaker had kept U.S. regulations in mind when designing the car. Regardless, with gas as cheap as it currently is and a new Aveo just around the corner, we're certainly not holding our breath for a U.S. launch any time soon, and we feel that seeing the Beat in Mexican and/or Canadian showrooms is more likely.

That said, feel free to hit the jump to read GM of India's press release on the introduction of the Beat, which made its production-ready debut earlier in the week in New Delhi.

[Source: General Motors]

Show full PR text

GM India Launches much awaited Chevrolet Beat

Sexy, Smart & Tough - New Global mini car to be key pillar of Chevrolet's growth strategy in India

New Delhi: GM India today launched the much awaited Chevrolet Beat, the next offering from the 300 series after the Cruze, at a ceremony presided over by its President & Managing Director, Mr. Karl Slym. Based on GM's global mini-vehicle architecture, the experts took 27 months to develop the Beat. Chevrolet Beat will be launched in over 150 markets around the world including those in Europe, other parts of Asia and North America in the coming days.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Slym said "with its best-in-segment design, performance and safety, the Beat is destined to become an industry benchmark and a winner among consumers in India. Aimed at meeting the highest quality and performance standards in the most sophisticated markets in a competitive environment, the global vehicle was put through over 1 million kilometers of intensive durability tests in extreme weather conditions and crash tests both in India and abroad. It has high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel over key areas of the body to ensure segment-leading occupant protection. And with a revolutionary design, advanced technology, unique features and benchmark safety, the Beat offers much more than an ordinary mini, Mr. Slym added.

The Beat comes in three trim levels of 1.2, 1.2LS and 1.2LT. In addition, an Option pack is available on the LT variant which consists of ABS, Alloy wheels, Dual Airbags and Seatbelts with Load limiters.

Sexy Beat:

Segment-Leading Size and a Dynamic Exterior

The Beat is a car that is ideal for those with a modern lifestyle. With the styling of a sporty hatchback, it showcases the new direction of Chevrolet design and a new trend in the design of mini-cars. The clear goal from the very beginning was to create a revolution in size and design despite the restrictions of the mini segment. The vehicle is destined to make a statement with an innovative design that would go far beyond a typical mini-vehicle and set new standards for the segment.

The Beat's roomy proportions and dynamic styling are courtesy of its segment-leading length of 3,595 mm, height of 1,520 mm, wheelbase of 2,375 mm, and width of 1,595 mm combined with its "body-in/wheels-out" stance. Dramatically sized headlamps that literally stretch from the front fascia to the back of the hood, with clear polycarbonate lenses and chrome-coated bezels, resemble diamonds, adding an upscale appearance and glamour.

A window line that is slanted dynamically upward, an arching roofline and sharp sidelines bring a sporty yet edgy look, a rarity in the segment. Secret vertical rear door handles located in the C-pillar are another unusual feature in this car. They give the Beat a unique, sporty three-door coupe appearance without sacrificing five-door utility.

A first-in-segment offering of an integrated rear spoiler as standard equipment essentially extends the rear roofline, for enhanced aerodynamic performance and provides a stable stance in high-speed driving as well as increased fuel efficiency. Round tail-lamps with clear polycarbonate lenses add to the Beat's strong rear impression.

A chrome-coated radiator grille and fog lamps, outside mirrors with two-tone color, and a refined-looking roof rail are other design cues that transport the Beat's styling beyond that of a conventional mini.

Beat buyers have a larger palette of exterior colours to choose from. They may select one of the seven colours - Olympic White, Linen Beige, Caviar Black, Misty Lake, Moroccan Blue, Green Cocktail and Super Red.

Unique Interior Defined By Fun, Fashion and Functionality

The design revolution continues inside the Beat. While pursuing a harmonious theme with the dynamic exterior, the interior is more about functionality. With its wider track and longer wheelbase, the Beat provides best-in-segment front legroom, rear legroom, front headroom and rear hip-room, resulting in generous space and comfortable accommodation for five adults.

The flowing interior weaves together the instrument panel, front seats and door trims, creating an environment that is harmonious, uninterrupted and inviting to the senses.

The most striking design element in the interior is a Steering Column mounted motorcycle-inspired dynamic meter cluster which is also a first-in-segment and combines analog and digital systems, contributing fun and unique styling as well as enhanced visibility and convenience. Adding to the refined look is an integrated center stack design that eliminates the traditional "picture framing" layout and results in a contemporary stylish relationship. LED-lit ice blue illumination which is a signature Chevrolet adds to the urban, edgy styling.

Pattern-printed semi-bucket seats provide a stable feeling when cornering. With high-quality materials and exceptional craftsmanship, they also enhance the luxurious interior atmosphere.

SMART Beat

Segment leading fuel efficiency with high power output engine

Newly developed for the next-generation global mini, the S-TEC II engine – a 4-cylinder, 16-valve 1199cc DOHC engine delivers a best in class mileage of 18.6 kmpl. The Beat is Smart because it does no compromise on performance as it delivers an excellent peak power of 80.5ps. The S-TEC II engine includes a series of advanced features that enhance performance. The first-in-segment application of the PDA (Port De-Activation) system ensures high exhaust gas recirculation, resulting in combustion stability at low speeds and optimal performance at high speeds together with improved fuel efficiency. In addition, the PDA system contributes to a reduction in emissions, making the Beat a truly eco-friendly vehicle.

Another first-in-segment application is an automatic temperature controller inside the engine, which helps improve fuel efficiency by reducing unnecessary heat loss. A dome-type long-skirt cylinder block narrows the space between intake valves while the application of four resonators reduces engine noise. Mated with the efficient S-TEC-II engine is a 5-speed manual transmission tuned to GM's global standards that provides enhanced shifts for an outstanding ride.

Segment first & Premium Features Go "Beyond Mini"

The Beat features an array of premium comfort and convenience amenities that one would expect in more expensive vehicles, including:

* l Automatic Climate Control
*
* Integrated Center Stack Audio with USB and Aux-in Port
* Tilt steering
* Steering Column mounted LED back-lit speedometer & LCD digital tachometer
* 60:40 Split folding seats
* Tubeless Tyres
* Satin Silver Roof rails

TOUGH Beat

Solid Structure and Advanced Chassis Ensure Pleasurable Ride and Handling

The ride and handling of the Beat also set it apart from any other vehicle in its segment. Adopting the body-frame integral (BFI) system, the upper body structure and frame are engineered as a single unit, resulting in better feel of the road along with a heightened sense of firmness and stability, and enhanced connectivity between the driver and vehicle. A McPherson strut front suspension combined with a four-point mounted long engine cradle and a width power reduction spring enhances the solidity of the entire chassis, for improved crash safety and driving performance. A rear compound crank torsion beam incorporates a tubular V-beam for more effective tuning and dynamic performance.

A first-in-segment triple acoustic absorbent structure and special underbody structure prevent noise inflow from outside for optimal quietness. Wind noise is minimized through the Beat's aerodynamic body line and detailed door sealing structure.

Class-Transcending Use of High-Strength Steel

A host of structural enhancements combined with a full offering of active and passive safety systems make the Beat a segment leader in its class.

Its body is the stiffest and toughest in the mini segment; 66.5 percent of its body is constructed of high-strength steel and over 16 percent is made of ultra-high-strength steel. This ensures the highest level of protection in the segment. The solid structure played a key role in securing EuroNCAP rating in crash tests.

In addition, ultra-high-strength steel applied to the side structure minimizes the chance of the structure deforming in the event of a crash. High-strength steel is also used in the rear body structure to protect passengers as well as the fuel tank, minimizing the possibility of fuel leakage during a collision. The four-point mounted long engine cradle protects passengers in the event of a head-on collision by optimally dispersing crash loads. The collapsible steering column helps protect driver's chest in frontal collisions

The use of H-spider type ultra-high-strength steel bars in the underbody prevents severe deformation caused by a side crash. The tailor-welded blanking method used in the B-pillar ensures maximum protection of passengers' upper bodies. High-strength steel in the rear and rear crash boxes minimize the impact of whiplash.

The roof is especially stiff, for maximum rollover protection. The Beat has been developed to withstand up to four times its weight – which goes far beyond industry regulations. Safety features include driver and front passenger air bags a 4-channel/4-sensor EBD-ABS system and seatbelt with load limiter.

The Beat comes with a high localization content and the parts have been very competitively priced in line with Chevrolet's philosophy to provide low cost of ownership experience to the owners. It also comes with a segment best warranty of 3 years or 100,000 kms (whichever is earlier).

GMC doesn't produce concept vehicles

2010-01-11T00:28:00.000-08:00

GMC Granite Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

As one of the four remaining brands at the new General Motors, the folks in charge of GMC are trying to come up with a reason for the brand to exist. Until now, GMC's wares have been to Chevrolet trucks what Mercury has been Ford – same stuff different badges. Over the last decade the marketing boffins have tried to position GMC as "Industrial Grade," but it's never been entirely clear exactly what that means.

As a general rule, GMC doesn't produce concept vehicles, but at this year's Detroit Auto Show that's set to change. The GMC Granite is being badged as an "urban utility vehicle," a compact crossover that could slot in below the Terrain and give the brand something relatively unique. GM hasn't divulged what platform underpins the Granite, but it's likely to share many parts with GM's global compact (Delta II) architecture. That means this Granite will have a lot in common with the upcoming Chevy Orlando, but with a five-inch shorter wheelbase and a few other unique attributes you can read about after the jump.

GMC Granite Concept

the former producing the elegant 402 and the latter building the glorious Traction Avant

2010-01-11T00:03:00.000-08:00

Hope for France: Left to right, Gilles Vidal, Jean-Pierre Ploué and Thierry Metroz

There was a time when "France" and "design" were nearly synonymous, at least in the automotive sphere. Delahaye, Voisin, Bugatti, Talbot-Lago (including the high-water mark Figoni et Falaschi "Tear Drop" cars), etc. Prewar, no one had anything on the French. Even Peugeot and Citroën were in on the action; the former producing the elegant 402 and the latter building the glorious Traction Avant.

However, after the Great Depression and post-WW2 auto shakeout, the scenery changed. Sure, Citroën still had a few design masterpieces left in the tank - the 2CV, the DS and SM. Peugeot made some excellent cars (205, 404) but they certainly weren't lookers. Then a few years back, Peugeot bought Citroën. Since that time, Peugeots have become wildly bizarre-looking, while Citroën has produced exactly one beauty, the C6. Point being, France's automotive designs are a far cry from their prewar glory days.

PSA Peugeot Citroën wants to change that trajectory. Under PSA design leadership of Jean-Pierre Ploué, Gilles Vidal has taken over design of Peugeot and Thierry Metroz is now in charge of how Citroëns look. Metroz might have an easy time of it, as Ploué has to some degree set Citroën on a halfway righteous path. Again, we're big fans of the big C6 and in truth, the C3 and DS3 are pretty much OK-looking as well. Monsieur Gilles, however, has his work cut out for him. Have you looked at a 3008 or an 807 lately? Not so hot.

You know that Toyota iQ your cousin's seen running around Europe and Japan

2010-01-07T22:53:00.000-08:00

Scion iQ Concept - click above for hi-res image gallery

You know that Toyota iQ your cousin's seen running around Europe and Japan? It's making its way Stateside, first to next week's Detroit Auto Show, then to a Scion dealer near you as a hybrid. This is according to a scoop by Inside line. We've known for a while now that the iQ will be showing up as a Scion, just not for certain as a hybrid. Also, according to IL, the fate of the brand hangs in the balance. Also-also, they might (yay!) drop the name iQ.

That's right, the diminutive Toyota with the silly name is going to greet us as a youth-branded Scion. In multiple flavors, too. First will come a five-door hatchback, followed next by a four-door sedan. The latter is almost a little puzzling – who on earth wants a four-door sedan version – but then we recall all the other cars PR types tell us the American market forces into four-door guise and we're not surprised one bit. The Scion iQ will also come as a three-door hatch. Expect the five-door to show up first, towards the end of 2011.

The engine options are pretty interesting. If you so desire, a 1.3-liter four-banger will produce 93 horsepower. However, most folks will probably opt for the hybrid version. First of all, the gas and electric propulsion is so cheap that Toyota will be able to sell it for $15,000 or less. Second, expect a 1.5-liter four and some sort of electric motor to produce between 100 and 120 hp and return 60 mile per gallon. Not bad at all. Again, Inside Line ends their scoop explaining that if the iQ doesn't get youngsters buying Scions, nothing will. Er, make that nothing will have a chance to, as Toyota is likely to fold the brand.

Scion iQ Concept

The initiative is the first of its kind in the UK

2010-01-07T22:26:00.000-08:00

Here's a police vehicle guaranteed to make you move out of the fast lane pretty quick! This liveried lorry, complete with flashing blue lights, has been unveiled as part of a crackdown on dodgy HGV drivers.

The aim is to give cops some much-needed height so they can see directly into lorry cabs. It allows them to catch drivers using mobile phones, watching DVDs on laptops or committing other offences.

The initiative is the first of its kind in the UK, and is being run by the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG). This is part of the West Midlands force, which looks after 450 miles of road between Cheshire and South Wales. A spokesman said: “One officer drives the truck while another sits in the passenger seat armed with a hand-held video camera, ready to film into the lorry’s cab as we overtake.” If an offence is being committed, or the driver’s behaviour arouses suspicion, the officer will radio an unmarked police car following behind, which pulls it over. If the driver disputes the reason for being stopped, the video footage can be used as evidence in court.

The liveried HGV was created for the launch of the scheme, but isn’t actually taking part. Unmarked lorries supplied by local hauliers will be used instead.

When it comes to show-stopping unveils, the Focus is on Detroit

2010-01-07T22:01:00.000-08:00

When it comes to show-stopping unveils, the Focus is on Detroit! Rumours are gathering that Ford is preparing to reveal its third-generation Focus in saloon and hatchback form at the US expo next week.

As Auto Express closed for press over the Christmas holidays, news had leaked on to the North American International Auto Show’s own website. We brought you pictures of the whole new Focus family in Issue 1,092 (right), and the four and five-doors will get a bold face characterised by triangular lights and a stylish grille.

Don’t expect the latest Focus to be too radical, though. As a global car, it will need to have mass-market appeal. Contrary to previous reports, the car is believed to be based on a front-wheel-drive platform from the Mondeo, to ensure class-leading handling and increased space.

A new range of EcoBoost turbo petrol engines will be available. This will comprise 89bhp or 108bhp 1.0-litre units and a 170bhp 1.6. Diesel choices include a 1.6 giving 128bhp, plus a 2.0-litre with 168bhp or 197bhp.

Stop-start is expected to be standard on most cars, while Ford’s dual-clutch Powershift transmission should also help reduce emissions. In addition, the Focus will come with adaptive dampers, a lane departure warning system and traffic sign recognition. Wi-Fi is likely to be offered, too. Sales will start towards the end of this year.

There are now so many Car of the Year awards

2010-01-07T19:29:00.000-08:00

There are now so many Car of the Year awards given out that the whole idea of one vehicle being honored above all others has lost its impact. But when the giver of said award is Playboy Magazine, well, the honor means a little more. Why? Because Playboy doesn't pick a winner based on such tangible criteria as horsepower, miles per gallon or MSRP. They don't care so much about the fastest, greenest or most significant car in its segment. They care about cool. Which car is going to get you to that VIP event and make all eyes turn towards you on arrival? For 2010, Playboy says that car is the Porsche Panamera.

We can absolutely understand where Playboy is coming from here. You just have to imagine yourself as Hugh Hefner: Porsches are both cool and fast, but a Porsche that can accommodate me, my smoking jacket and three bunnies is worthy of a place in the Playboy Mansion garage and perhaps an X-rated car wash in the driveway.

Playboy gave out eight other awards in such categories as Best Horsepower Value (Nissan 370Z), Best Mean and Green (Ford Fusion Hybrid) and Best Reborn Beauty (Ford Taurus SHO) among others. You can check them all out in the press release after the jump, and while we're not sure how many automakers will place their new Playboy awards front and center in the corporate trophy case, we're sure behind close doors they're... well, let's not talk about what they're doing behind closed doors.

2010 Porsche Panamera

Racing Dynamics is one of the coolest BMW tuners

2010-01-03T20:51:00.000-08:00

Racing Dynamics is one of the coolest BMW tuners, not only because of their huge obsession with horsepower, but also because of the amazing bodykits which are like their signature. They are currently working on some packages for the all-new BMW 5-series, and based on the emerged details, they are good! as always.

What Racing Dynamics is going to do is quite amazing! They are going to release a powerful version of the 550i so you don’t have to wait for the actual M5 to arrive. The 407hp turbocharged V8 of the 550i will undergo a surgery to give 620 hp! That’s more than the 2011 M5, for sure! Other modifications to this car include a new rear-locking differential, sport suspension and high performance braking system.

They also have a package for the 535i six-cylinder model in which the power is upped from the standard 306hp to 410hp. This car too will get new exhausts, suspension and brakes and will be a serous performer. It’s all very good, but we can’t wait to see what they have in mind for the body! We just hope that the 5er get RD’s superb front bumper!

Ford Fiesta S2000 rally car

2009-11-22T04:38:00.000-08:00

Ford Fiesta S2000 rally car - click above for high-res image gallery

Ford Motor Company and noted rally masters M-Sport have pulled the veil off their latest collaborative rally machine, the Fiesta S2000. It's their first global rally car, and as such will be able to compete in a whole bevy of international competitions ranging from IRC to the S2000 World Cup to Aatos and Aamu's Finnish Tree Bash. Long story short, going by past history alone, this should be one bruiser of a successful rally car.

Right, so let's talk stats. The Fiesta S2000 comes with a naturally aspirated 1998cc I4 Duratec S2000 engine good for 280 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of twisting torque all the while spinning to an 8,000 rpm redline. That mill gets mated to a permanent all-wheel drive system hooked up to a sequential manual transmission with an AP clutch. Sizable Brembos are at all four corners (and like the wheels, vary in size depending on asphalt or gravel). Ready for the best part? It weighs just 2,640 pounds – and that's with the roll cage. And get this – the Fiesta S2000 is "due for homologation in January 2010." Fake, well-produced "spy video" after the jump, gigantic high-res gallery below.

Ford and M-Sport Fiesta S2000 rally car

Honda to show off Personal-Neo Urban Transport concept

2009-11-22T04:25:00.000-08:00

Jim Kenzie of the Toronto Star tries out the U3-X - click above for high res-image gallery

When we visited Honda's headquarters last month after the Tokyo Motor Show, we asked company officials what they would be showing at upcoming auto shows. As you might have guessed, they were reticent to provide specific answers. What we were told, however, is that they would be following last year's pattern of showing an advanced concept in Los Angeles and then a new production model in Detroit. The Detroit is broadly expected to be the final production version of the CR-Z hybrid sport coupe.

Today, Honda did provide a hint of what the LA concept will be, although they provided no images. The Personal-Neo Urban Transport or P-NUT is some kind of very small coupe. Based on the very brief description Honda has provided, it sounds like Honda's take on what General Motors tried to do with the Segway-based Puma concept shown in New York earlier this year. The idea is to provide increased personal mobility in crowded urban environments without resorting to actual cars.

Presumably, the P-NUT will be somewhat larger than the U3-X unicycle we saw in Tokyo, although we wouldn't be surprised to see Honda incorporate the novel Omni-traction drive wheel that can go in any direction.

Honda mobility devices

Ferrari preparing hardcore 599 GTO?

2009-11-22T04:11:00.000-08:00

Ferrari 599XX – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ferrari often uses its World Finals event to unveil exclusive new versions of its most enticing road cars. The FXX Evoluzione was unveiled there a couple of years ago, and the 16M Scuderia Spider made its debut at the event last year. But aside from a mishap involving Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Luca di Montezemolo in a California convertible, this year's event at Valencia came and went with nothing new to offer. However, the latest churns from the rumormill indicate Maranello could be working on an exciting new project.

Supposedly leaked pre-order sheets reportedly refer to a "599 GTO Limited Edition", named in deference to the iconic 250 GTO (to say nothing of the ground-pounding 288 GTO). Based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, the GTO could be Maranello's answer to arch-rival Lamborghini's Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce.

Incorporating design cues and technologies from the 599XX program, the 599 GTO could benefit from a weight-reduction program to cut some 100-150 pound off the curb weight thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber, while squeezing out as much as 700 horsepower from the Enzo-derived 6.0-liter V12. Pricing would be expected to jump by as much as a quarter to nearly $400,000, and if the reports prove accurate, the 599 GTO could be ready for debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March with the first of just 500 examples slated for delivery by this time next year.

Ferrari 599xx

By the Numbers 2009: Green is Growing Edition

2009-11-07T00:36:00.000-08:00

Hyundai, Kia and Subaru all report +40% increase in sales

If you've been paying attention to recent editions of By the Numbers, you'll have noticed that the amount of green on our chart below is growing. Month after month, more and more brands and manufacturers are managing to produce sales numbers that exceed the same month last year.

For October 2009, the list is topped by three familiar players: Hyundai (+49%), Kia (+45%) and Subaru (+41%). The South Koreans and this lone Japanese brand have bucked the trend all year, and now that other brands are beginning to sell relatively well, they are distancing themselves from the pack even further.

Their success shouldn't overshadow the rest of the industry, though, which includes many players surprisingly high on our chart. All four "Core" brands of General Motors (Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC) posted positive numbers, and GM as a whole, which still counts sales from "non-Core" brands like Hummer, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn, managed to post a 4.1% gain in sales. Likewise, the Ford brand (+3.6%) and Ford Motor Company (+3%) both reported sales gains versus October of last year. The rest of the big Japanese manufacturers, meanwhile, were close behind but didn't quite manage to earn a green cell this month, while the Chrysler Group LLC landed farthest off the mark with a drop of 30.4%.

Have industry sales turned the corner? Are we headed into a bright future of 14+ million sales per year and green cells for every automaker? Hardly, though it's increasingly clear that new product, being competitive in key segments, and creative marketing and incentives are the best recipe for climbing out of the red.

*Brands and companies are both displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 28 selling days in October 2009 and 27 selling days in October 2008, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in the average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company.

Brand	Volume %	10/09	10/08	*DSR%**	DSR 10/09	DSR 10/08
Hyundai	48.92	31,005	20,820	43.60	1,107	771
Kia	45.26	22,490	15,483	40.07	803	573
Subaru	40.66	18,169	12,917	35.64	649	478
Cadillac	21.60	11,602	9,541	17.26	414	353
Mercedes-Benz	21.32	18,193	14,996	16.99	650	555
GMC	20.44	25,423	21,109	16.14	908	782
Lexus	19.77	19,502	16,283	15.49	697	603
Volvo	19.37	4,437	3,717	15.11	158	138
Buick	18.46	9,053	7,642	14.23	323	283
Porsche	15.07	1,642	1,427	10.96	59	53
Chevrolet	8.50	116,436	107,313	4.63	4,158	3,975
Nissan	7.69	53,664	49,833	3.84	1,917	1,846
Volkswagen	7.23	17,037	15,889	3.40	608	588
Ford	3.57	119,072	114,969	-0.13	4,253	4,258
Honda	-0.01	75,751	75,756	-3.58	2,705	2,806
Mercury	-1.14	6,676	6,753	-4.67	238	250
Audi	-1.14	7,358	7,443	-4.67	263	276
Toyota	-2.32	132,663	135,818	-5.81	4,738	5,030
Acura	-3.53	9,751	10,108	-6.98	348	374
Lincoln	-8.97	6,735	7,399	-12.23	241	274
Infiniti	-9.29	6,451	7,112	-12.53	230	263
Pontiac	-18.45	10,646	13,054	-21.36	380	483
BMW	-18.61	16,443	20,203	-21.52	587	748
Mini	-20.79	4,176	5,272	-23.62	149	195
Dodge	-22.21	26,265	33,763	-24.99	938	1250
Chrysler	-35.61	12,815	19,903	-37.91	458	737
Jeep	-36.80	13,500	21,360	-39.05	482	791
Mitsubishi	-48.34	3,867	7,486	-50.19	138	277
Suzuki	-49.89	1,745	3,482	-51.67	62	129
Saturn	-57.79	3,623	8,583	-59.30	129	318
Smart	-70.44	661	2,236	-71.49	24	83
Saab	-74.03	513	1,975	-74.95	18	73
Hummer	-77.56	307	1,368	-78.36	11	51
Mazda	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

COMPANIES
General Motors	4.11	177,603	170,585	0.40	6,343	6,318
Ford Motor Company	3.07	136,920	132,838	-0.61	4,890	4,920
Nissan NA	0.28	60,115	59,945	-3.30	2,147	2,220
Toyota Mo Co	0.04	152,165	152,101	-3.53	5,434	5,633
American Honda	-0.42	85,502	85,864	-3.98	3,054	3,180
BMW Group	-19.06	20,619	25,475	-21.95	736	944

When General Motors entered into Chapter 11 bankruptcy over the summer

2009-11-06T23:51:00.000-08:00

When General Motors entered into Chapter 11 bankruptcy over the summer, its bad assets were moved into a firm called Motors Liquidation Company (MLC). That company was capitalized with more than 600 million shares that were meant to be worthless; however, quite the opposite has happened: with its shares priced at $0.60 per, MLC now has a market cap of $370 million. How did that happen?

Investors engaged in "naked short-selling" is how it happened. Short sellers usually procure an actual 'tangible' stock from a broker or investment house – 'tangible' meaning a share unit comprising the finite number of a company's total shares – as collateral when they take a short position. The naked short seller doesn't borrow any shares, taking a position before it can be determined if there are any shares available. This allows them to essentially create a position that isn't beholden to the ideal of a "structured" market.

Earlier this year the SEC put the kibosh on naked short selling, and required investors who had done it to get the tangible shares they need to hold their position. Since there are fewer shares to be had, and those naked traders are trying to absorb anything available to cover their positions, the price has yet to decline. Quite simply, no one can make money off of it.

Well, except for the holders of new GM shares. The SEC regulations also called on naked short sellers to close out their positions if they couldn't get the tangible stocks to cover. The investors who can't get actual shares to borrow are having to buy stock from "new" GM shareholders – at much higher prices. Eventually MLC shares will be worth zilch. Until then, the wacky world of finance reigns...

BusinessWeek calls out 50 Ugliest Cars of Past 50 Years

2009-11-06T23:31:00.000-08:00

Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder. While some cars seem to be almost universally loved for their gorgeous lines and undeniable sense of style – the Lamborghini Miura and Shelby Daytona Coupe certainly come to mind. Others, such as the new Honda Accord Crosstour and even the latest Nissan GT-R, not to mention nearly everything currently wearing the Acura badge, sport more debatable duds.

And what of the car that's most commonly associated with the green movement? Of course, that would be the Toyota Prius, and we know that some happen to find the car rather attractive... whether that's for its slip-through-the-wind styling or fuel mileage – made possible in part by that styling – its owners happily enjoy. According to BusinessWeek, though, the second-gen Prius is one of the 50 Ugliest Cars of the Past 50 Years. Not a distinction any owner wants their car to carry.

Take heart, Prius owners. There are a number of questionable vehicles on the list. For instance, the classically boxy Volvo 240 isn't ugly at all... it's purposeful and practical. Neither are the Lamborghini LM002, 2002 BMW 7 Series, Tata Nano or Toyota iQ deserving of inclusion on this unflattering list. Lastly, does anyone really think the DeLorean is that unattractive? Unabashedly '80s sure, but ugly? Nah.

Hurst completes the muscle car trifecta with Mustang, Camaro

2009-11-06T22:54:00.000-08:00

2010 Hurst Performance Series Camaro - Click above for a high-res image gallery

We can't believe it's been just a year since Hurst unveiled its stunning white and gold Hemi Challenger. Since that time we've seen a few variations, including different color combinations and the Competition/Plus model, and we even got to see how the cars were built. Up to this point, all of Hurst's production models have been Challengers, but when the company showed off a one-off Camaro and Mustang convertible, we figured production versions wouldn't be far away. We were right.

Yesterday afternoon, Hurst pulled the covers off the new Performance Series Mustang and Camaro, each with a slightly different take on Hurst's classic color combinations. Both cars get the kind of performance upgrades you would expect from Hurst including a supercharger, Magnaflow exhaust system, Eibach suspension components, Hurst Competition/Plus shifters and 20-inch wheels and tires. Each car also gets Katzkin leather inserts, embroidered floor mats, and a dash plaque. Just 50 examples of each will be built, and judging by how fast the Challengers sold, you will need to put your order in quickly if you want one. Follow the jump for full details on both cars, and be sure to check out both of the high-res galleries below.

2010 Hurst Peformance Series Camaro

Hurst Peformance Series Mustang

GM officially sells Hummer to China's Sichuan Tengzhong 2009

2009-10-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

General Motors has reached an agreement to offload Hummer onto China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery, with Tengzhong taking an 80 percent stake and a private investor consuming the rest.

Details on the deal (available in the press release after the jump) include Hummer contacting vehicle manufacturing from GM, with the General's Shrevport and Mishawaka plants continuing to produce vehicles through June of 2011, with a possible extension until 2012. A recent report says the sale will net GM around $150 million, although the transaction still has to be approved by both U.S. and Chinese regulatory agencies, which could come later this year or in early 2010.

Tengzhong, which only produces commercial trucks and industrial equipment, has never entered into consumer vehicles before, but according to Yang Yi, chief executive officer of Tengzhong. "We are excited about some of the initiatives already underway at HUMMER that we believe our investment will be able to accelerate, particularly related to the creation of the next generation of more fuel-efficient vehicles to meet not only future regulations but also customer expectations."

Meet Brian Deese, the 31-year-old in charge of breaking up GM 2009

2009-06-06T00:15:00.000-07:00

Many of us ABers being in our early- to mid-30s, we're less amazed that another of our ilk has risen to a decisive government position. We are, after all, a generation on the rise. The surprising part about Brian Deese's story is that he's been instrumental in shaping the Obama administration's moves to save General Motors, and this is his first official tour of duty in Washington. What qualifies a guy who hasn't even finished his Yale Law degree to steer President's automotive task force around? From what's been said about Mr. Deese, his quick ability to boil down the often competing economic and political aspects of any given issue.

Deese piped up in favor of Fiat's rescue of Chrysler, pointing out with a memo that a fire sale of the ailing automaker would send unforseen ripples out into the economy as a whole. Speaking out in such an influential manner is definitely unusual considering Deese doesn't appear to be an auto enthusiast or business propeller-head with his nose buried in studies and reports about the car industry. A childhood spent in the Boston suburb of Belmont, Massachusetts under the parentage of a college professor an an engineer, Deese did his undergraduate time at Middlebury College in Vermont before heading to Washington to work for Nancy Birdsall on international aid. A turn with former Clinton policy wonk Gene Sperling before the move to Yale, Hillary Clinton's bid for nomination brought Deese back to DC. With friends in Washington, Deese found himself hooked into the Obama team, and from there he's been running busily around our nation's capital.

If General Motors can successfully navigate Chapter 11, we'll all get to see just how well Brian Deese has done digesting the thorny chestnut that is saving our domestic auto industry.

2000 mercedes-benz vision sla concept drawing front and si

2009-05-07T03:43:00.000-07:00

Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA Concept review:

2009-05-07T03:42:00.000-07:00

"Arousing curiosity � firing the emotions � thinking ahead � anticipating the future and translating new ideas into reality � the designers at the Mercedes Technology Center in Sindelfingen certainly have an interesting job. Their 'present' is the future. And sometimes they give us glimpses of that future by bringing out concept cars � cars which show us how we will be getting around in a number of years' time. The new Vision SLA is one such glimpse."

This was how Mercedes introduced the Vision SLA when it made its public debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2000. A small roadster based on the A-Class, the Vision SLA's aim was to translate the appeal and driving enjoyment of the SL series into an altogether smaller segment.

Reflecting its A-Class parentage Vision SLA had compact dimensions, with an exterior length of 3.77 meters promising a nippy driving experience � the SLK (R 170) was 20 centimeters longer, the SL (R 230) no less than 73 centimeters longer. Key design features of the compact roadster concept included powerfully sculpted fenders, a sharply raked windshield, large doors and a gently slanting rear in the style of the legendary Mercedes Silver Arrows. Two particularly innovative features were a prominent front fin and a V-shaped nose borrowed from the SLR high-performance sports car, which incorporated a centrally positioned Mercedes star.

The bodywork sheltered advanced Mercedes engineering. A 1.9 liter engine developing maximum power of 92 kW (125 hp) and maximum torque of 180 Newton meters at 4000 rpm provided lively performance, with a 0 - 100 km/h sprint time of 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 209 km/h. High active safety standards meanwhile were provided by the A-Class-derived, slightly modified chassis with Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Brake Assist.

With the bodywork, the staff from the advanced engineering and research departments had broken new ground. The Vision SLA had an innovative hybrid body structure consisting of aluminum sections and panels and high-grade plastics. This lightweight construction allowed Vision SLA to tip the scales at just 950 kilograms (DIN unladen weight).

The A-Class influence could be seen in the safety concept too. Although the open-top two-seater wasn't built on the sandwich principle, in the event of a serious front-end impact it used the same bright idea as the A-Class of shunting the engine out of the way underneath the passenger compartment. The positioning of the engine at an angle ensured that in an impact it would slide down along the sturdy front floor panel without intruding into the passenger compartment. This gave Vision SLA the same high safety standards as larger Mercedes sedans. Roll-over protection was provided by sturdy roll-over bars behind the seats and by a reinforced front windshield frame.

Once again, lighting was an important development focus. At the rear, 30 high-performance LEDs, with prisms to disperse the light, provided a more effective rear warning system than conventional bulbs, particularly in conditions of poor visibility. It took the form of vertical bands. The powerful LED turn signals, housed on fins inside the light housings, were likewise innovative and designed to attract attention. High-performance LEDs were also used for the brake lights, which were mounted in the rear bumper and in the rear crossbar on the trunk lid. Evenly dispersed road illumination and a long beam range were provided by state-of-the-art xenon projector-beam headlamps which used two separate headlamps for the dipped beam and the high beam.

At the front, the transparent ends of a frontal fin spanning the full width of the car incorporated yellow high-performance LED turn signals, which were supplemented by repeater LEDs in the exterior mirror casings.

Inside, the accent was on lightweight design. The technical aspects were woven neatly together with styling features suggesting lightness and transparency, such as perforated sheet metal, aluminum rotary controls and aluminum instrument cylinders. Carbon fiber bucket seats, adopted in slightly modified form from the Vision SLR, continued the theme � they were approximately 25 percent lighter than similarly specified conventional car seats.

The cockpit recalled sports cars and tourers of earlier years. The chronometer-style instruments normally supplied data only on speed, rpm, oil pressure and fuel level. However, other displays appeared behind the dials when needed, in the event of a malfunction.

In all respects Vision SLA put the accent on a natural and unfiltered motoring experience. This was at the heart of this roadster's charm and was reflected in the interior design. Carpeting and fabric upholstery had been dispensed with in favor of painted metal surfaces and dark brown, specially supplied saddle-quality leather. This leather was tanned using only vegetable matter, thus helping to preserve its very special character. A natural material with a strong air of quality, hard-wearing and also very breathable, it was used on the dashboard, on the insides of the doors and in areas exposed to frequent occupant contact, such as the steering wheel, the seat surfaces, the armrests in the doors and the floor. The cut edges were deliberately left visible, with light-colored stitching providing a color contrast and hand-finished effect.

With Vision SLA, a compact Mercedes-Benz roadster made its debut. The concept has been developed and refined to the point where it would be ready to go into production at a moment's notice. Who knows? Before long we might even see it in the showrooms.

Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA Concept Technical highlights

Lightweight hybrid bodywork consisting of aluminum sections and panels and high-grade plastics
LED rear light clusters -> introduced 2003 in the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (C 199)
LED turn signals -> introduced 2003 in the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (C 199)
Carbon fiber bucket seats -> introduced 2003 in the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (C 199)

Powertrain: Four-stroke, four-cylinder gasoline engine, 1.9 liter displacement, 92 kW (125 hp), front-wheel drive, five-speed manual transmission
End of Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA Concept review

2000 Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA Concept

2009-05-07T03:41:00.000-07:00

---- Specifications ----

Price	--	Production	--
Engine	1.9 liter four-cylinder	Weight	2094 lbs
Aspiration	natural	Torque	133 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
HP	125 hp	HP/Weight	16.8 lbs per hp
HP/Liter	65.8 hp per liter	1/4 mile	--
0-62 mph	7.9 seconds	Top Speed	130 mph

(from DaimlerChrysler Press Release) Vehicle: Vision SLA

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When: January 2000
Where: North American International Auto Show, Detroit
What: Compact roadster
Powertrain: Four-stroke, four-cylinder gasoline engine, 1.9 liter displacement, 92 kW (125 hp), front-wheel drive, five-speed manual transmission

Technical highlights

Lightweight hybrid bodywork consisting of aluminum sections and panels and high-grade plastics
LED rear light clusters -> introduced 2003 in the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (C 199)
LED turn signals -> introduced 2003 in the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (C 199)
Carbon fiber bucket seats -> introduced 2003 in the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (C 199)

"Arousing curiosity … firing the emotions … thinking ahead … anticipating the future and translating new ideas into reality – the designers at the Mercedes Technology Center in Sindelfingen certainly have an interesting job. Their 'present' is the future. And sometimes they give us glimpses of that future by bringing out concept cars – cars which show us how we will be getting around in a number of years' time. The new Vision SLA is one such glimpse."

This was how Mercedes introduced the Vision SLA when it made its public debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2000. A small roadster based on the A-Class, the Vision SLA's aim was to translate the appeal and driving enjoyment of the SL series into an altogether smaller segment.

Reflecting its A-Class parentage Vision SLA had compact dimensions, with an exterior length of 3.77 meters promising a nippy driving experience – the SLK (R 170) was 20 centimeters longer, the SL (R 230) no less than 73 centimeters longer. Key design features of the compact roadster concept included powerfully sculpted fenders, a sharply raked windshield, large doors and a gently slanting rear in the style of the legendary Mercedes Silver Arrows. Two particularly innovative features were a prominent front fin and a V-shaped nose borrowed from the SLR high-performance sports car, which incorporated a centrally positioned Mercedes star.

The bodywork sheltered advanced Mercedes engineering. A 1.9 liter engine developing maximum power of 92 kW (125 hp) and maximum torque of 180 Newton meters at 4000 rpm provided lively performance, with a 0 - 100 km/h sprint time of 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 209 km/h. High active safety standards meanwhile were provided by the A-Class-derived, slightly modified chassis with Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Brake Assist.

With the bodywork, the staff from the advanced engineering and research departments had broken new ground. The Vision SLA had an innovative hybrid body structure consisting of aluminum sections and panels and high-grade plastics. This lightweight construction allowed Vision SLA to tip the scales at just 950 kilograms (DIN unladen weight).

The A-Class influence could be seen in the safety concept too. Although the open-top two-seater wasn't built on the sandwich principle, in the event of a serious front-end impact it used the same bright idea as the A-Class of shunting the engine out of the way underneath the passenger compartment. The positioning of the engine at an angle ensured that in an impact it would slide down along the sturdy front floor panel without intruding into the passenger compartment. This gave Vision SLA the same high safety standards as larger Mercedes sedans. Roll-over protection was provided by sturdy roll-over bars behind the seats and by a reinforced front windshield frame.

Once again, lighting was an important development focus. At the rear, 30 high-performance LEDs, with prisms to disperse the light, provided a more effective rear warning system than conventional bulbs, particularly in conditions of poor visibility. It took the form of vertical bands. The powerful LED turn signals, housed on fins inside the light housings, were likewise innovative and designed to attract attention. High-performance LEDs were also used for the brake lights, which were mounted in the rear bumper and in the rear crossbar on the trunk lid. Evenly dispersed road illumination and a long beam range were provided by state-of-the-art xenon projector-beam headlamps which used two separate headlamps for the dipped beam and the high beam.

At the front, the transparent ends of a frontal fin spanning the full width of the car incorporated yellow high-performance LED turn signals, which were supplemented by repeater LEDs in the exterior mirror casings.

Inside, the accent was on lightweight design. The technical aspects were woven neatly together with styling features suggesting lightness and transparency, such as perforated sheet metal, aluminum rotary controls and aluminum instrument cylinders. Carbon fiber bucket seats, adopted in slightly modified form from the Vision SLR, continued the theme – they were approximately 25 percent lighter than similarly specified conventional car seats.

The cockpit recalled sports cars and tourers of earlier years. The chronometer-style instruments normally supplied data only on speed, rpm, oil pressure and fuel level. However, other displays appeared behind the dials when needed, in the event of a malfunction.

In all respects Vision SLA put the accent on a natural and unfiltered motoring experience. This was at the heart of this roadster's charm and was reflected in the interior design. Carpeting and fabric upholstery had been dispensed with in favor of painted metal surfaces and dark brown, specially supplied saddle-quality leather. This leather was tanned using only vegetable matter, thus helping to preserve its very special character. A natural material with a strong air of quality, hard-wearing and also very breathable, it was used on the dashboard, on the insides of the doors and in areas exposed to frequent occupant contact, such as the steering wheel, the seat surfaces, the armrests in the doors and the floor. The cut edges were deliberately left visible, with light-colored stitching providing a color contrast and hand-finished effect.

With Vision SLA, a compact Mercedes-Benz roadster made its debut. The concept has been developed and refined to the point where it would be ready to go into production at a moment's notice. Who knows? Before long we might even see it in the showrooms.

Mercedes-Benz Reconsiders Vision SLA Concept

2009-05-07T03:39:00.000-07:00

Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA concept 2000
It seems like Mercedes Benz has found the cure for the crisis, the small car. In this case, we are talking about the A-Class. But we all know that the A-Class is not a good looking car so German engineering was put into overdrive and they came up with the Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA concept that debuted at the 2000 Detroit Auto Show.

The model will be based on the A and B class platform. It will probably be beneath the SLK and it will rival models that were showcased at the Detroit show in January by Volkswagen and BMW. Mercedes will invest around 1.5 billion euros in the new platform for the roadster and will open a new production facility in Hungary.

Mercedes turned their eyes once again to the SLA concept to keep in line with the development of small-size roadsters like the 1 series based Z2 roadster that BMW is working on.

The next generation of the A and B Class models are expected in 2012. They will be fitted with a new front-wheel drive platform, four cylinder gasoline and diesel engines and two additional variants, a coupe and a SUV version.

Nothing has been planned yet for the future of the roadster and it remains uncertain if it will be presented on the North American market considering that sales have dropped 38.2 percent in November.

"When the SLA was originally proposed at the end of the last decade, we didn't have a suitable platform; the sandwich platform is too high and too heavy. This problem will be alleviated with the arrival of the next A-class, whose new platform provides much greater scope in terms of the sort of variants it can support," AutoWeek quoted a Mercedes-Benz senior official as saying.

Mercedes-Benz Vision models SLA concept 2000

2009-05-07T03:38:00.002-07:00

Current financial crisis is forcing auto makers into designing smaller models that are reasonable in price and far more fuel efficient. That sounds like a very good reason for Mercedes-Benz to make the first steps in building a roadster based on their A-class platform. Inspired from the SLA Concept they showed off in Detroit in 2000, with futuristic curves and state of the art technology, the roadster will be just below the SLK in the product lineup, taking on BMW’s Z2 and VW. We’d love to get the chance to spin the little guy. For a budget model, this concept looks pretty aggressive, no? [via WCF]

Mercedes SLA Still on Track

2009-05-07T03:38:00.001-07:00

There are new plans for a compact roadster that remind many of the Mercedes Visions SLA concept seen at the 2000 Detroit Auto Show. The design will be based on the 2011 A-Class platform and will put a focus on affordability and fuel-efficiency.

Thanks to the economic crunch and subsequent decline of auto sales, the management at Mercedes is seeing the perfect time to come out with a compact roadster. Mercedes will have to decide whether to use the Mercedes name or badge the car as part of the Smart line.

The new SLA roadster will be just under the slot of the SLK. It will feature a new platform that does away with the previous sandwich format, allowing a wider range of supported variants for greater flexibility and market coverage.

With competitors such as Volkswagen and BMW announcing their counterparts for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, we will be seeing a lot of mid-range vehicles in the same class as the SLA—more affordable fuel-efficient cars competing for a share of tomorrow’s market.

New Mercedes Benz SLA Concept

2009-05-07T03:37:00.001-07:00

This isn’t one of the newer concept cars, which is good - because it means that it luckily didn’t make it out there onto the roads. But it still gives you some insight into what the heck people are thinking when they try to come up with a design.

Kudos to whomever pulled the plug on this before it made its way into production. Just making a concept car was a waste of time and resources though. If you look at the car and just take away the Mercedes emblem from front-center, you would never ever guess that this could be a Benz. It looks like some failed attempt by some cheap Korean brand to make a sports car (or at least something that looks like it). What’s the deal with that grid on top of the hood? Is it so that people can peek in? That looks like those crates that line the ceilings of rooms with fluorescent light bulbs/tubes.

Oh golly - and I hope that the suitcase there is included for free. Of course I’d like to let everyone know that I don’t have enough trunk-space to hold my groceries. C’mon now - there’s clearly a good reason for it. I cross the border a lot and I’d like to speed it up by making clear that I couldn’t be hiding anything. A body wouldn’t fit in there if I can’t even get a suitcase in, and clearly no smugglers would hire me since that load would be too puny for them. So let me go.

Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA Concept with pictures and wallpapers

2009-05-07T03:36:00.000-07:00

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Vision SLA is the name of a new roadster study with which Mercedes-Benz aims to bring the driving sensation of its traditional SL models to the compact car class. Just 3.77 meters long and kitted out with the innovative technology of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the open-top two-seater meets one wish above all others of young, active people: pure driving pleasure.

The Vision SLA speaks perfect, simple driving enjoyment at first glance. With its curved lines, the design symbolizes the dynamics of the roadster, whose youthful spontaneity is infectious: get in, drive off and enjoy is the promise which the Vision SLA fulfills, both in terms of form and technology, every kilometer of the way.

Typical style features which highlights the sporty dynamics include the arrow-shaped front section with the central Mercedes star and the striking wing profile of the hood, adopted from the future Mercedes super sportscar SLR. Here the compact Vision SLA demonstrates that this new design element also suits sporty Mercedes models of other vehicle classes.

Behind the elliptical apertures in the wing profile of the hood are powerful xenon projection headlamps for low and high beam. As turn signal lights, the Mercedes engineers have used high-performance LEDs which can be found in the outer, transparent ends of the wing.

Carbon seats, aluminum switches and leather trim

The design of the interior follows the classic roadster philosophy of concentrating on the essentials. Steering wheel, gearshift lever, two chronometer-design cockpit instruments and a few switches on the center console are all that the driver needs for the pure roadster experience. Primed metal surfaces, matt aluminum elements and transparent perforated metal structures reinforce the simplicity of the look. Naturally processed saddle leather, used to cover the carbon seats and as trim for parts of the instrument panel, the floor and the door panels, lend the interior a special, individual feel.

Drive components and axles adopted from model series

Under the large hood, which covers the entire front of the roadster Vision, the innovative technology of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is at work. The high-torque 1.9-liter engine of the A 190 achieves 92 kW/125 hp and accelerates the Vision SLA to a top speed of 209 km/h. Fuel consumption is 7.1 liters per 100 kilometers (NEDC overall consumption). Front and rear axle of the roadster study are also derived from the A-Class.

Lightweight body using aluminum and plastic

Two modern, lightweight materials are used for the bodywork: aluminum and plastic. While the loadbearing parts of the body are manufactured from aluminum profiles, the outer bodyshell is largely high-quality plastic. Thanks to this innovative method of construction, the Vision SLA weighs only 950 kilograms.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class also served as the model for the roadster study's safety concept. In the event of a serious head-on collision, the oblique positioning of the drive unit ensures that - as with the A-Class - it slides below the vehicle, leaving the interior largely undamaged. Seat belt tensioners, belt force limiters and airbags offer the occupants additional protection.

Mercedes-Benz SLA Concept

2009-03-23T22:34:00.001-07:00