We know we’re beating a dead horse by complaining about an automaker not offering its European products in the United States, but seriously, wouldn’t this handsome new be an excellent replacement for the milquetoast ?
has been doing some great things with design lately, and the full host of new styling elements has made its way down to the new C-segment offering. We like the large headlamps that stretch far up the hood line, accented with LED running lamps and pronounced fog lamps below. The unique, 18-inch wheels look cool and give the Cee’d a sporty touch, and the whole design is rounded off in back with a squared-off rump. Speaking of the rear, Kia also saw it fit to debut a new Cee’d wagon, called the SW, offering a substantial cargo area for those who need more functionality than a standard hatch can offer.
Five powertrains will be offered at launch – two diesel and three petrol – ranging from 89 to 133 horsepower. Six-speed manual transmissions are available across the board, with six-speed automatics available on two of the 1.6-liter engines. The range-topping 133-hp gasoline engine also features Kia’s first dual-clutch ‘box.
Honestly, we’re big fans of this new compact Kia, and our hope is that the Korean automaker will someday plant its Cee’d on North American soil. See the new hatchback and wagon for yourself in our attached high-res image gallery and for the full press release.
You know things aren’t going to well for Artega when one of the bullet points in its press release is “a completely redesigned infotainment system – and smaller mirrors.” But the ambitious niche automaker is still plugging along, preparing to expand its dealer network beyond Europe and into Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and China later this year.
In addition to the new infotainment systems and mirrors, Artega is adding another model to its GT range, this time with a glass panoramic roof – the closest thing Artega will get to a convertible.
Power is still provided by a VW-sourced 3.6-liter V6 mounted amidships and sending power to a six-speed DSG. The all-electric Artega SE is still under development with no firm on-sale date, but reps we spoke to at the show continue to claim there’s plenty of consumer interest, even if Artega has only offloaded a few hundred GTs in the past several years.
If SsangYong is known for anything, it’s trucks. The aspirational Korean marque brought out a handful of new pickups and SUVs here in , but the real showstopper on the SsangYong stand – if there is such a thing – is the XIV-2 concept.
The concept’s name is more contrived than its styling (it stands for eXciting user-Interface Vehicle 2), but its blend of high-riding coupe style with a more traditional CUV body is intriguingly attractive in person and proves that there’s at least one other automaker hailing from Korea that can do something interesting in a rather staid segment.
SsangYong claims motivation is provided by a 1.6-liter diesel four mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, and Yoo-il Lee, the automaker’s CEO, is adamant that a production version – available in coupe, three-door and five-door styles – will come to market in Europe within the next year. for the full details.
Sending a message that reinforces Ferrari’s commitment that all of its vehicles will kick serious butt, the Italian automaker has treated its under-appreciated model to an exceptional .
Up front, the hardtop convertible’s naturally aspirated 4.3-liter V8 has been bumped up to 490 horsepower, thanks to a tweaked ECU and a new exhaust manifold. The new power goes hand-in-hand with an updated aluminum-intensive chassis which is nearly 70 pounds lighter than last year’s model thanks to “cutting-edge aluminium fabrication techniques and construction technologies.” According to the automaker, the 0-60 sprint has dropped to just 3.8 seconds.
Other enhancements include a new optional Handling Speciale package with lightning-fast Magnetorheological dampers, stiffer springs and a quicker steering ratio. Lastly, Ferrari is offering owners a more extensive choice of colors, including two-tone finishes like the one seen here, to increase exclusive personalization (yeah, because that’s why we were all holding off on our purchases!). Be sure to check out our live gallery from the floor, a detailed press release and a couple official images from the automaker below.
If isn’t willing to give us an authentic M-ified , we’ll have to settle for the next best thing, and that’s the , the latest performance package from the marque’s motorsport division.
Based off the three-door F20 variant of the Euro-only 1 Series, the M135i isn’t quite the 1er/ lovechild of the dearly beloved , but it’s still packing BMW’s tried-and-true-and-tunable turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, putting out more than 300 horsepower presumably through a six-speed manual gearbox.
Beefed-up brakes, tweaked suspension bits and 18-inch M-branded wheels are fitted at each corner, while restyled front and rear fascias round out the rest of the exterior mods.
We’ve heard through the grapevine that the , both in rear-wheel-drive and xDrive trim for Europe (except the UK), but considering the F20 still hasn’t come Stateside, don’t expect the M135i to make the trek… yet.
Between the , van concept and the new Kuga (that’s to us Yanks), Ford had plenty to showcase this year at the . But one of the most pivotal – for its European operations, anyway – is the .
A mini-minivan based on the platform, the B-Max takes an innovative form. At least, its doors do. Because as Ford has highlighted () recently, the automaker has managed to eliminate the entire B-pillar, integrating it into the door itself to form an extra wide opening on both sides of the extra-small people-mover.
It strikes us as a useful feature, and while the B-Max itself will not be making the transatlantic voyage back with us from Europe to North America, we’re hoping that the door system will, in some shape or form, anyway. In the meantime, you can admire from afar in the gallery of high-res live shots from the Palexpo show floor and delve into the press release for all the details.
The may have debuted (time flies, huh?), but we’re just now seeing it in person for the first time here at the . The prolonged debut almost makes sense for BMW’s big coupe, since it’s a late entry in a segment that already includes stunners like the , , and even the (if you’re really reaching).
But that doesn’t make the 6 Series Gran Coupe any less interesting – or stunning. We still don’t 100 percent love the 6er’s new front fascia, but there’s no question that the sloping roofline and squat hind quarters are anything less than sleek and shapely. Oh, and get a load of that interior. The two-tone leather surfaces and two-passenger rear compartment look absolutely stunning.
will launch the 640i Gran Coupe in the United States first, powered by the automaker’s widely popular N55 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, good for 315 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque and mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The eight-cylinder 650i and xDrive models will follow suit in short order, as well.
Cost of entry: . Get your wallets ready, and see a full brace of live images direct from Geneva in our attached high-res gallery.
Around Autoblog HQ, we likey the wagons. And the the latest Hyundai i30 is one of our favorite road-going interpretations of the automaker’s “fluidic sculpture” design language. But while the i30 hatch – a.k.a. the in the States – fits the bill for most, Hyundai recognizes that some people need more and that’s what the i30 Wagon delivers.
Hyundai’s hexagonal grille, gem-like headlights and restyled taillights take the i30 from ho-hum family-hauling econobox to something boarding on stylish – a challenge for a utilitarian people mover – and the additional cargo space is surely a welcome addition for families with more kit to carry.
The interior gets a generous dose of upgrades as well, including a two-tone IP, creamy leather seats, brushed aluminum accents and a steering wheel full of redundant controls. This new i30 could be the perfect competitor to the Jetta Sportwagen in the U.S., but Hyundai remains mum on its chances of making it across the Atlantic.
Try this one on for size: already dropped the full details on both the new coupe and convertible, but only the hardtop makes its debut here at the . We’ll have to wait until the expo in April to see the convertible, though oddly, the droptop M6 is the one that will go on sale in the United States first. Alright then.
Regardless of what car launches when, the M6 will no doubt pack a potent punch when it finally hits the street. Powered by BMW’s 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, the big coupe (and convertible) will have a whopping 560 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque on tap, all of which is sent to the rear wheels via the M division’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. That means the M6 Coupe will run to 62 miles per hour in just 4.2 seconds with the convertible only lagging behind by a tenth of a second. And while the will be offered in the U.S. with a proper six-speed manual transmission, there’s no word on a row-your-own gearbox for the M6, though our sources have said that it’s under consideration (of course).
There’s no mention of curb weight for either car, but rest assured, the new M6 has surely shed some pounds versus the less-powerful (and decidedly uglier) E63 model. M-specific 19-inch wheels wrapped in high-performance summer tires come as standard rolling stock, but to better fill out those big wheel wells (and offer better grip on the road), a set of lightweight 20s will be available as an option.
So, it’ll be another month before we see the droptop M6, even though it’ll officially go on sale this summer as a 2012 model. As for the coupe, we won’t see that until later in 2012 badged as a 2013 model. Click through our live gallery to see the new M hotness live from Geneva, and for all of the nitty-gritty details in BMW’s press blast.
Obscure as it may have been (and remains still) to most motorheads on the western shores of the Atlantic, the original Cisitalia 202 was (and endures as) an icon in automotive design. It was fluid, harmonious, and looked as though it were carved by wind from a single bar of soap. The modern interpretation you see here, however, is a far cry.
Designed by the students in transportation design at the IED in Turin, Italy, the was unveiled here on the floor of the to a largely indifferent audience. You can’t fault the students or their school for that, because there’s just so much going on here. But then it doesn’t do much to stand out, either.
Suffice it to say that some of the projects – namely the – undertaken by previous graduating classes caught our attention in a better way. See what we mean in the gallery of live images above.
Following in the footsteps of the U.S.-bound , Audi has unveiled its bigger, stouter brother here at the .
The takes the same proven formula of past rough-and-tumble models and applies it to the Avant version of the latest , raising the ride height by around 2.5 inches, slapping some plastic cladding around the wheel arches and fascias, flaring the fenders, tucking a few stainless steel trays to the underbody and topping it all off with a pair off roof rails.
Three diesel powerplants will be available ranging from 204 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque to 313 hp and 479 lb-ft of twist. The lone gasoline engine – the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 from the – puts out 310 hp and some 324 lb-ft though a seven-speed dual-clutch ‘box to all four wheels.
However, unlike the A4 Allroad, we likely won’t be seeing the A6 in the U.S., so only one beefed up Audi wagon will have to suffice.
Even though , officially took the wraps off of the 2012 at the . The M-tuned five-passenger sedan continues to put a smile on our face even as it causes yet another salty tear to drip down our cheek.
We grin because BMW has dropped a tri-turbo (yes, three turbochargers) 3.0-liter inline-six diesel engine under hood. With a lot of boost, the N57S engine is rated at 376 horsepower and an astounding 546 pound-feet of torque. Mated to an eight-speed automatic, the 5 Series will crack the 60-mile-per-hour benchmark in 4.7 seconds and run to an unrestricted 185 mph top speed (BMW electronically caps it at 155 mph). Permanent all-wheel drive, in the form of BMW’s xDrive, ensures the torque shreds all four tires equally. The surefooted driveline also makes the 37-mile-per-gallon oil-burning sedan the perfect all-weather friend.
Why are we sobbing? As of today, BMW has no plans to offer this magnificent machine to the North American marketplace. To read more, check out our press release and don’t miss our live gallery from the floor in Geneva.
Looking rather production-ready on the floor of the is the , which eschews the rear seat of the in favor of a flat load floor and a partition to cordon off your goods from your two front seats.
According to , the “Clubvan Concept would fit excellently into the fleet of a fashion designer, art gallery owner or catering service.” Interesting. Anyone else? Why yes: “A photographer with a stack of camera, tripod and lighting equipment to ferry around during the week – and bulky sports and leisure gear to pile on board at the weekend.” There you have it
Is there room in the “small-car-based van segment” for what Mini says is the first “premium” entry? Probably not in the States, but perhaps in Europe. Check it out in our image gallery above and in the press release .
Diesel engines are synonymous with torque, and torque equals acceleration. Considering these facts, it’s great to see some tuned-for-performance diesel vehicles hitting the ground in Europe from the likes of , including this , which is part of the automaker’s new M Performance line. Now if we could just get them sent to the States…
So, what are BMW fans in the U.S. missing out on? A 3.0-liter inline-six common-rail diesel engine augmented by a trio of turbochargers. That mill is good for 376 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 545 pound-feet of torque from 2,000 to 3,000 rpm, which is enough grunt for a 5.3-second sprint to 60 and a limited top speed of 155 miles per hour.
Of course, diesel engines are also synonymous with efficiency, and the 2012 X6 M50d scores on that front with EU-cycle ratings of 36.7 mpg Imperial (44 mpg U.S.), though such ratings aren’t equivalent to U.S. EPA figures. In any case, check out the high-res gallery of live photos from the and then for the official press release.
It is hard to believe, but the gorgeous is pushing seven years on the market. In that time, the British automaker has worked hard to keep its sporty coupe relevant and current. Along those lines, and in a move expected to be embraced by enthusiasts worldwide, the 2012 model is on the receiving end of yet (its last was in 2008).
While the naturally-aspirated 4.8-liter V8 (pumping out 420 horsepower) and six-speed manual gearbox remain unchanged, the optional automatic transmission has been upgraded from last year’s six-speed Sportshift to a seven-speed Sportshift II sequential transmission. While it still remains a single-clutch unit (while the rest of the industry is migrating towards dual-clutch), it will deliver smoother and quicker performance when compared to its predecessor.
Other tweaks include a quickened steering rack and beefier brakes (now configured with Hill Start Assist). Lastly, the front fascia has been resculpted to improve and optimize airflow to the brakes and radiator – and to make it easier to differentiate from its siblings. Check out the press release . The first gallery is live from the floor, and we have also posted a few official images from Aston Martin.
is keen to get as much impact from its as possible, and to that end, has decided to showcase its German touring car in full factory racing livery for at the .
Underneath its high-tech composite skin lurks a 480-horsepower 4.0-liter V8 engine that sends power to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox. It’ll hit 60 in about three seconds on its way to a top speed of somewhere around 186 miles per hour.
Judging from all the splitters, intakes and wings, we’d say the Bavarian team is more concerned with making the M3 DTM racer stick to the road like glue than hit ludicrous speed on the straights, and if nothing else, make the machine look awfully menacing to its rivals. Check out the full gallery of live images above.
The is a lengthy name for a sedan with a lengthy menu of delicate and expensive details: “Flying B” fender vents, titanium fasteners for the two-piece, 21-inch wheels, drilled alloy pedals, a new Sport setting that provides additional handling chops to a three-ton, 505-horsepower sedan that gets from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds.
Inside, along with diamond quilting and non-perforated tramlines, the hides have perforations shaped like diamonds. Because, you know, who really wants to sit on circles? When the world is not enough you buy a . When the 100 billion stars in the Milky Way aren’t enough you add the Mulliner Driving Specification to it. Check it out in the gallery of high-res photos from the above, and see below for the complete press release.
The world needs more relatively compact people movers. While those of us living in the United States are blessed with an almost limitless supply of square footage, our friends in Europe, Asia, South America and the rest of the world need machines that can haul people and their stuff while still fitting into the tight confines of urban life.
Enter the . This eight-passenger van previews the Blue Oval’s next front-wheel-drive passenger van for overseas markets (not the U.S.). A trio of 2.2-liter diesel engines put out as much as 153 horsepower along with more torque than a hundred obstinate mules.
Inside its Kinetic-inspired sheetmetal sits an opulent leather-lined cabin and a full brace of technologies that include Sync, Lane Departure Warning and a Driver Alert system that lets you know when to take a break. Read all about it in the press release and see it for yourself in our high-res image gallery of live photos from the .
Behold, the stars and stripes of the . As you may recall, this patriotic little hatchback isn’t headed to our shores anytime soon. has decided to offer up the America F-Yeah edition to European customers only, which seems like an odd move to us. Fiat seems to agree. The company is only producing a total of 1,000 units draped in the U.S. theme, with 500 of those leaving the factory in hard-top guise and the rest as convertibles. Changes are pretty scarce beyond the special decal treatment and unique wheel accents.
Fiat says the 500 America will go on sale this March, followed shortly by the new Fiat 500 Color Therapy edition in June. No matter how badly we wish it were, that’s not a joke. for the press release.
It was only a matter of time before spiced up its crossover with the application of its go-fast John Cooper Works kit, and it’s now made an official debut at the .
Boasting 211 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque (up to 221 on overboost), the is the most powerful production machine ever to wear the Mini badge. Those ponies are routed to all four wheels through a six-speed gearbox (either manual or automatic) and can propel the upright box to 60 in as little as seven seconds.
We’ll have to wait until the car’s official launch this fall to if this latest JCW lives up to its storied name, but in the meantime, check out our live photos above and the press release .
