2012 Nissan GT-R – Click above for high-res image gallery
Well look what we found tucked away in a glass-enclosed corner of the stand. What you’re looking at is the , complete with a fascia comprised of a restyled bumper, air-intakes and LED daytime running lamps. A new diffuser pulled from the SpecM is mounted out back, along with new lightweight wheels that may or may not be included in the final package. Our insider wouldn’t give us any details on power increases, but they did say we should keep an eye out for an official announcement in the coming months.
2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible – Click above to see this image in high-res
has announced that the highly anticipated will (finally) make its production-spec debut at this year’s . Both the 3.6-liter V6 (now with 312 horsepower) and 6.2-liter V8 will be available, mated to six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. Aside from the folding soft top, very little has changed in terms of updates for the 2011 .
The Camaro Convertible hits dealerships in February of next year (perfect timing for us in the snow belt), priced from $30,000, which includes the $850 destination charge. That’s nearly $7,000 more than the price of a base Camaro coupe, which leads us to believe that bottom-end trim levels won’t be available on the convertible. And for those of you wondering, the least expensive Mustang V6 Convertible starts over $2,000 less at $27,995.
We’ll have more details closer to the car’s LA show unveiling. GM’s current press release is available .
[Source: General Motors]
Camaro Convertible priced from $30K, will debut in LA
Here in the United States, we’re constantly pining for the foreign versions of some of our favorite vehicles. Get ready to add another one to the never-ending list – the . is set to unveil a few new powertrains and provide a European debut for the all-new at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. One particularly interesting tidbit? The European Wrangler is available with a brand-new turbocharged diesel engine and start/stop technology.
Automotive markets outside of North America will get to enjoy the 2.8-liter unit that produces 200 horsepower and over 300 pound-feet of torque (the twist output depends on which transmission is fitted). The six-speed manual sees about 302 lb-ft (delivered from 2,000 to 3,000 rpm) while the five-speed automatic-equipped Wrangler produces nearly 340 lb-ft of torque (1,600 to 2,600 rpm).
In addition to the power boost over the outgoing diesel engine, this Wrangler also benefits from start/stop technology. This helps the Jeep see a 13-percent increase in fuel economy over the previous generation while at the same time reducing emissions by 14 percent.
The 2.8-liter diesel Wrangler will be on sale at the beginning of 2011 for markets outside of North America. It’s sort of ironic that an all-American symbol of off-road prowess will now be added to the list of unavailable forbidden fruit. for the full details in Chrysler’s press release.
2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS – Click above for high-res image gallery
The is the second act of the car that invented both the market segment and the grammatical quandary known as the “four-door coupe.” Made dramatically more bold for this go-round, it features an upright grille that flows back into a rump that disappears in photos but holds its own in person. The new sedan is also lighter, with aluminum doors that are 52 pounds less heavy and an aluminum hood, front fenders, trunk lid and parcel shelf.
Along with the design, the engines are the story. There will be four available, starting with two 3.5-liter V6 engines in Europe. One is a 265-horsepower diesel engine and the other a 306-hp gas V6 with standard stop/start. Next comes the 2.5-liter four-cylinder diesel with 204 hp, and last to arrive is the V8 CLS 550 putting out 402 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque.
LED High Performance Active Headlights, Direct-Steer electromechanical steering, a tweaked suspension lifted from the E-Class, and a host of interior trim options that range from carbon fiber to high gloss brown burl walnut are among the many changes on the car. There are more details in the press release , and a gallery of live high-res photos below.
Jaguar C-X75 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Yesterday’s big surprise at the Paris Motor Show was the range-extended electric supercar from , the . Built to celebrate the marque’s 75th anniversary, the concept looks forward to the future while honoring Jaguar’s heritage and design. Featuring four electric motors producing 195 horsepower at each wheel, along with two micro-gas turbines that – in theory – charge the batteries, the C-X75 can top 205 mph and has a projected combined range of 560 miles. Jaguar says it has no plans to produce the car, although it would be more than a worthy successor to the notorious XJ220.
From our vantage point, we’re split on the looks. While most of us think it’s stunning – especially in person – there’s a vocal minority that doesn’t think it looks “Jaguar” enough. Truth be told, it doesn’t necessarily look like any Jaguar road car ever built, but it’s easy to see that inspiration was taken from the .
You can see all of our photos from the live debut in the gallery below, or for full details on the car hit the jump for the press release.
2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque – Click above for high-res image gallery
Land Rover’s critical new debuted today at the Paris Motor Show, ushering in a brave new world for the British off-roader brand. The debut continues the company’s march toward the softroader segment, a movement first started with the LR2/Freelander and now resulting in the handsome new three-door seen here.
Slated to be joined shortly by a , the compact Evoque fits right into the mold design-wise, albeit with a surprising amount of surface jewelry for such a sleek two-box shape. From the protruding fog lamps to the horizontal matte chrome-trimmed hood intakes to the unique divots atop the wheel lip moldings and the somewhat fiddly taillamp lenses, there’s quite a bit to draw one’s eye. The overall impression one gets of the vehicle on the show floor is one of imposing width, a feeling that’s magnified when you realize that an individual of average height can see over the vehicle when standing next to it.
The drivetrain is no less revolutionary for the brand, with a 2.0-liter turbo four pushing out 240 horsepower through a new permanent all-wheel-drive system. Key options for the Evoque include Adaptive Dynamics and Magneride adaptive damping and a massive panoramic roof which makes the interior feel like a greenhouse even on the Paris show floor. While the littlest Rover lacks the full-on four-wheel-drive weaponry of its bigger siblings, it does feature the latest distillation of the company’s Terrain Response Control, and with good arrival and departure angles, it should still be better than most crossovers when it comes to tackling off-pavement activities.
The Evoque won’t go on sale globally until next Fall, so for now you can try to make heads or tails out of the low-slung Landie by perusing our galleries below and reading the official press verbiage .
2011 Ford Fiesta RS WRC – Click above for high-res image gallery
The FIA World Rally Championship is shaping up to be particularly interesting in 2011, and the new-for- RS is a big reason why. The Blue Oval’s latest dirt-spitting racer will contest its first race at Rally Sweden in mid-February, but the -based rally car made its debut this morning at the Paris Motor Show.
In typical WRC fashion, the blue and gray Fiesta RS is all gaping intakes, massive flares and skyscraping wings, and needless to say, it looks The Business. Motivated by an EcoBoost-branded 1.6-liter turbocharged four of undisclosed output, the four-wheel-drive RS will get a shakedown run on Spain’s gravel roads next week, though says it’s already conducted about 3,000 kilometers worth of testing with various engines.
The new car, which supplants the Blue Oval’s prior Focus-based WRC car, will be driven by Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen, along with Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila. Check out our spanking-new galleries below and for the official press release.
Audi e-tron Spyder – Click above for high-res image gallery
keeps on growing its e-tron family. The automaker pulled a fast one by unveiling yet another electrified monster at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, only this time, the low-slung hybrid came sans-top. The concept is powered by two electric motors and a 300-horsepower twin-turbo TDI V6 that comes to the fight with 479 pound-feet of torque. Audi says that despite the hefty 9.1 kilowatt-hour battery mounted up front, it managed to keep the weight low and distribute the pounds evenly across the chassis. As a result, this e-tron should be plenty flingable if it ever makes it off of the stage and onto a public road.
Audi says the e-tron Spyder hits the scales at 3,196 pounds and that the drivetrain can be driver-controlled to operate on electric power only at speeds up to 37 mph for a total of 31 miles. The manufacturer says that in city driving, the capability is more than enough to hang with traffic. If not, there’s always that juicy diesel V6 to play with. for the full press blast.
2011 Audi A1 1.4 TFSI – Click above for high-res image gallery
Despite the success of the and , continues to deny us the all-new A1. There are a variety of reasons for excluding the pint-sized hatch from the U.S. market (marketing, brand image, average transaction price, etc.), but the introduction of the twin-charged A1 here at the Paris Motor Show has us questioning all of them.
Packing a 1.4-liter TFSI (read: both turbo and supercharged) inline four-cylinder engine, the A1 puts out 185 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque, sends it to the front wheels through a seven-speed S tronic gearbox and can sprint to 60 in 6.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 141 mph. Think of it as the luxury alternative to the , with a price tag to match: €24,250 or just over $30k at current exchange rates. Get all the details in the press release .
2011 Volvo V60 and S60 R-Design – Click above for high-res image gallery
We recently drove the in the and came away rather impressed with both its performance and in-person aesthetics. That said, we generally don’t begrudge a bit more visual aggression, and to that end, has obliged with a here at the Paris Motor Show that includes the S60 sedan and its not-for-North-America , a wagon so attractive that we couldn’t help but lead off our live coverage with it.
In either case, the well-integrated R-Design package consists of a distinct front fascia, rear bumper cutout with diffuser and bespoke 18-inch alloys in a fetching smoked finish. While there isn’t any more power under the hood, the 300-horsepower 3.0-liter inline turbo six should fit the bill rather nicely, especially with its generous 325 pound-feet of torque. No word on any shift-map changes for the six-speed automatic gearbox, but what we’d really like to see for this sportier S60 is a set of paddle shifters.
That aside, R-Design models ought to handle a bit better than their more common brethren, as they hug the ground a bit more closely thanks to shorter, stiffer coils and monotube shocks. The rest of the suspension gets beefed up, too, with firmer bushings and a front strut-tower brace. Check out our from-the-floor images below and the official press release .
Paris press conference isn’t set to take place until later today, but the boys from Bavaria left its hanging around on the display’s massive curved plinth.
While we couldn’t finagle our way inside to take a gander at the interior (at least not yet), the crisply styled GT clearly foreshadows the nearly-here 6 Series production model. The attractive and surprisingly large coupe borrows bits from as well as the new , particularly in the nose.
When it arrives next year, the serial 6′er will likely be powered by BMW’s range of turbocharged and naturally aspirated six-cylinder engines, with eight-cylinder motivation reserved for the next M6.
2011 Peugeot 508 – Click above for high-res image gallery
Peugeot is celebrating its 200th birthday (as a company) and to mark the occasion, the French automaker is planning an all-out product offensive. Chief among them is the mighty – a sedan that benefits from reduced weight and increased interior room compared to the old 407. In a word: Progress.
Initially, the company says that the 508 will be available with everything from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 120 horsepower and 118 pound-torque of torque to a 150-hp 2.2-liter turbo-diesel mill with 331 lb-ft of torque. Available gearboxes vary from a six-speed automatic to both five- and six-speed manuals. Peugeot also plans to roll out a hybrid version of the big sedan, though the company says that European buyers can expect to wait a little while on that one. Interestingly, Pug officials say when the 508 does get its batteries, the hybrid will pack a 200 hp diesel in addtion to whatever the electric motors add.
2011 BMW X3 – Click above for high-res image gallery
has whisked the sheets off of its 2011 X3, and the second-generation crossover looks suspiciously like its predecessor. Beyond a seemingly endless parade of spy shots over the last couple of years, that’s predictable, as the Spartanburg built X3 has been a considerable sales success for the German automaker.
While the sheetmetal stays largely the same, the lineup receives new engines and an eight-speed automatic gearbox that’s set to spread like kudzu throughout the automaker’s offerings. The X3 also becomes the first model in BMW’s growing X franchise to adopt electric power steering (the automaker’s controversial variable sports steering rack is optional), as well as optional Damper Control and Dynamic Drive Control (as seen on its range of sedans and sports cars).
In addition to the new sheetmetal, BMW promises added rear seat room, addressing one of the vehicle’s key shortcomings for the North American market.
Power will come from BMW’s Twinpower Turbo (Bimmerese for twin-scroll turbo) inline six-cylinder that gives the XDrive35i model 306 brake horsepower at 5,800 rpm with max torque of 295 pound-feet of torque at just 1,300 rpm. That’s good enough for a 0-62 mph time of just 5.7 seconds and a top whack of 152 mph, though it’s not clear if that figure will be governed when it reaches us Yanks. An entry-level xDrive28i model will also receive I-6 power, with 240 hp and 230 pound-feet of torque. Naturally, diesel mills will also be available in other areas of the globe, but as of yet, BMW officials haven’t committed to bringing an oil burner to the States. The petrol model, however, should be in showrooms before year’s end.
Check out our gallery of live shots below, and hop the jump for the official press release.
Opel GTC Paris Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
If there’s one thing we can count on from the Paris Motor Show, it’s a slew of . Opel was first out of the gate with the GTC Concept which the automaker is pitching as an obtainable sports car that can still haul five people if the need arose. Under that creased hood sits a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine good for an undisclosed amount of pep (we’re hearing 240+ horsepower), though as small as the GTC is, we can’t imagine it would take much to get the hatch to hustle.
We’re digging the GTC’s hunkered stance, especially in the rear, where a set of flared hips dominate the vehicle’s design. If you live in the old country and your mouth is watering at the thought of this slinky German, we’ve got bad news for you. As of right now, Opel has no plans to bring the GTC Concept to life, but we’d put money on a production version within the next year. for the full press release.
Opel Astra Sports Tourer – Click above for high-res image gallery
Opel is keeping busy, and aside from moving into a handful of new markets and pulling the sheets off of a , the German manufacturer has been whittling away on its long-roof interpretation of the company’s Astra. The 2011 Astra Sports Tourer wears the brand’s trademark nose and sculpted sheet metal, but throws in an arching roofline for good measure. Inside, buyers can look forward to a set of snappy folding seats in the rear Opel claims should help make the car appealing to both families and small businesses looking to haul goods.
Power comes from either an uber-thrifty 95-horsepower mill or a more robust 180-pony lump, and a total of three transmissions are available – a five-speed manual, six-speed manual and six-speed automatic. The company says that European buyers can expect to see a start/stop system land on its 1.3-liter turbo-diesel engine in the Astra Sports Tourer as well. for the full press release.
Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Concept live debut – Click above for high-res image gallery
Surely, one of the most hotly anticipated releases at the 2010 Paris Motor Show would be the . After all, no automaker has these last few weeks more than , and perhaps no single vehicle manufacturer is as beloved by the teenage boys lurking inside each one of us.
That said, any new Lambo is going to have big shoes to fill, with such classics as the Miura, Countach, Diablo and , and Reventon each holding its well-earned place in the annals of supercardom. Will the Sesto Elemento turn out to be yet another masterpiece from Italy? Too early to say, but we can still drool a bit over the live shots in our high-res image gallery below. Enjoy!
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Live photos by Zach Bowman/Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
2012 Ford Focus ST live debut – Click above for high-res image gallery
To say that American enthusiasts have been anxiously awaiting a properly hotted up version of European hatchback would be a gross understatement. And while we’re still waiting for a proper to hit our shores, we’re certainly happy to see its little brother, the , hit the showroom floor with ringing in our ears.
Here’s why our interest is piqued: a turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine with 247 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque; a six-speed manual transmission and Ford’s new torque-vectoring power control system. Throw in a Tangerine Scream paint job and some 19-inch alloys in the Blue Oval’s signature Y-spoke ST pattern and we’re tickled pink.
Sure, we’re still waiting on an official price tag, but that won’t stop us from pouring over these live photos from Paris, now will it?
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Live photos by Chris Paukert/Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Paris 2010: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster – Click above for high-res image gallery
Another day, another new iteration of the . Not that we’re complaining. This time around we got to feast our lucky eyes on while it makes its world debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
The 911 Speedster is designed to pay homage to the original Porsche 356. Combine the French Racing Blue paint job, 408 horsepower flat-six engine and a low run of 356 models, and we expect the 911 Speedster to be sold out by the time you are done looking through the high-res image gallery below.
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Live photos by Zach Bowman/Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
There’s an interesting realization that occurs when you drive an electric car like the 2010 Mitsubishi i-MiEV. You pass by gas station after gas station and it finally sets in – your car has rendered the fuel pump obsolete.
Perhaps the most important new car launch for Ford, however, is the 2012 Focus, which makes its world premiere at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. This is the first product designed from the ground up with the Blue Oval’s “One Ford” product strategy, and the Focus you see here will be sold in both North America and Europe with only very minor tweaks being made for the individual markets. It certainly looks good, and with a raft of new engineering, safety and infotainment technologies on hand, the 2012 Focus is ready to set the C-segment on fire.
Jaguar’s C-X75 concept features two 96-horsepower micro gas turbines that pump juice into a plug-in li-ion battery pack, allowing 780 horsepower and 1,187 pound-feet to push you to 62 in 3.4 seconds.
2011 Bentley Continental GT live debut – Click above for high-res image gallery
Here is your first glimpse at the redesigned as it makes its world debut at the Paris Motor Show. Earlier, over the previous model, which is nothing compared to the overall improvements the new car has received.
Like any car, it has good and bad angles (obviously, the exception to this rule is the which looks beautiful from every angle…) – we’ll hold off final judgment until we can see it outside in natural light, not surrounded by a mob of flash bulbs and clamoring journalists. See for yourself in our high-res gallery of live images below.
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Live photos by Zach Bowman/Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
