Pininfarina Sergio Concept also had its reveal in Geneva

This concept is named Sergio, after the man who led Pininfarina for 40 years and conceived some of the greatest car legends, the Life Senator Sergio Pininfarina. The future-looking two-seater barchetta has the Ferrari 458 Spider mechanicals and could easily be produced in limited series of a few units.

Chairman Paolo Pininfarina, said that “My father would be proud of this concept car”, “because it expresses the aesthetic values that always inspired him: the purity of the lines, the harmony of form, and balance. Furthermore, he would be happy with this latest concept on Ferrari base, a brand to which we are related by a history that has helped define the most beautiful cars of all time in an evolution that has lasted 60 years and shows no sign of ending".

The design of the car is inspired by the ‘60s Ferraris, including half doors with vertical rotation opening, the headlights inspired by the Dino Berlinetta Speciale 1965, the rear lights reinterpret the circular themes of Pininfarina-Ferrari history and the rear bonnet borrows the iconic round graphic holes of other historical Pininfarina achievements.

Like i said before the car uses the Ferrari 458 Spider mechanicals, so it has the same 4499cc V8 engine with a seven-speed sequential gearbox. Weighs about 1280kg, has a top speed of 320km/h (200mph) and will accelerate from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 3.4 seconds.

The Subaru Viziv concept represents a new design direction for the Japanese company

The Japanese car maker says this concept serves as a basis for a new new design direction and to show the new technologies that will be present in future models of the brand. For those that can't remember what i wrote here when Subaru teased this concept, "VIZIV" is a coined word inspired by the phrase "Vision for Innovation".

The powertrain is a plug-in hybrid system combining a 2.0 liter Subaru Boxer diesel engine, a high-torque-compatible Lineartronic (CVT) and three electric motors. We have one electric motor on the front that provides both vehicle drive and power generation and two independent rear electric motors for vehicle drive only.

Those rear motors function mainly in situations of stop-and-go city traffic, allowing for a high torque in low speeds and a lower fuel consumption, while the diesel engine works at higher speeds or to charge the battery.

This concept uses a new all-wheel drive system called the Independent-rear-motor-driven symmetrical AWD due to the two electric motors on the back powering each wheel that act according to the acceleration and steering wheel position.

Mitsubishi will present the G4 concept at the Bangkok International Motor Show

While all eyes are turned to the Geneva Motor Show at the end of March will be held the 34th Bangkok International Motor Show that will also get a premiere. Mitsubishi will introduce the Concept G4 (Global 4-door sedan) that will preview a global compact sedan.

The small sedan utilizes the RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) for a lower weight to the extensive use of high-tensile steel meaning it can be powered by a small engine like the 1.2 liter MIVEC engine mated to a CVT gearbox.

While we can't clearly see the look of the car, Mitsubishi says the "short nose which delivers an outstanding forward field of view and superior maneuverability" with "graceful and flowing side proportions which balances interior space among the most generous in its class with very sleek aerodynamics, and a dynamic character line which kicks up towards the rear".

The Bangkok International Motor Show starts on March 25, so don't miss it.

Opel Adam Rocks gets revealed ahead of the Geneva Motor Show

And here you have it, the Opel/Vauxhall Adam Rocks, a small crossover that will take you to a small hill with style, and you can even put the fabric roof to the back and enjoy a little stroll in the country side at night while watching the stars. Pretty romantic, right? But you won't be able to make love in the back seat because its a little small, unless you are also small.

Opel says this is a parkour-inspired concept with a higher and wider body to make it looks more aggressive. I doubt you will able to jump over a 3 meter (10 feet) wall with the car but i wouldn't mind seeing it.

Anyway this is what Malcolm Ward, Opel/Vauxhall Lead Design Director had to say about the Adam Rocks: “With even bolder design than any other ADAM, the ROCKS is an impressive demonstration of how much more potential for individualization our new small lifestyle car still offers after its market launch. It combines the toughness of a crossover with the coolness of open air driving”.

For now we have to wait for the official presentation by Opel, so stay tuned for more news.

Here's the GR-HEV and CA-MiEV concepts Mitsubishi will bring to Geneva

A few weeks ago you saw here two teasers of two cars Mitsubishi was going to reveal at the Geneva Motor Show, but today, like most cars that are going to be revealed in Geneva, we get the first view of the cars, and they look good. It's always nice to see something different from a brand that has been making a few "ugly" cars.

First we have the GR-HEV, which is a four-wheel drive hybrid sport utility pickup truck that will have a clean diesel engine, 4WD technology, featuring Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) integrated vehicle dynamics control system driveline and will only emit 149g/km of CO2.

Next we have the CA-MiEV. A small car that promises to take electric vehicles "beyond a mostly urban environment". The range? 300km (186miles) which according to Mitsubishi is perfectly "suited for suburban and country daily life", and i agree, it is a really good range for an electric car.

Find out more at the Geneva Motor Show that starts tomorrow.
Source: autowp

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toyota i-Road Concept leaning on the way to Geneva

Toyota decided they were going to bring something different to the Geneva Motor Show. Here we have a small two seater small city car that will take the fight to the Renault Twizy starting with the Geneva Motor Show. Meanwhile Apple will sue Toyota because of the chosen name.

It has room for two people sitting one in front of the other (tandem) just like the Twizy, but unlike the latter it has only three wheels and leans when making a turn to prevent tipping over.

The i-Road has a length of 2.350mm, a wheelbase of 1.700mm, is 1.445mm tall and as a width of only 850mm meaning it isn't larger than a motorcycle so it will occupy just half of a regular parking space. The 3 meter turning radius makes it easy to drive and maneuver in a city.

The power train consists of two electric motors with 2kW each giving it a top speed of 45km/h (28mph). The Lithium-ion battery helps raise the car's curb weight to 300kg (660lbs), while a full charge gives the "trike" a range of 50km (31 miles) when driving at 30km/h (19mph).

 

 

Here's the Honda Civic Tourer concept. Will also be in Geneva.

A few weeks ago i talked about a new concept that Honda was bringing to the Geneva Motor Show which is the wagon version of the Civic, and today a few pictures appeared of that car. Unfortunately nothing else is known but i am sure more details will soon show up.

What we do know is that this concept will become a full production model in the near future and i am eagerly waiting for that since it is a very nice car, it looks really good.

The engine in the concept is the new Earth Dreams Technology 1.6 i-DTEC diesel engine from Honda. Power, top speed and all those values we all love to know will have to wait a little more, so don't miss the public presentation at the Geneva Motor Show.

Espera Sbarro Coupé Réact'EV concept gets revealed. The espera (wait in PT) is over.

Every year the students and teachers from the Espera Sbarro Montbéliard School of Design create a new vehicle and shows it in a Auto Show. Last year they brought an all-electric concept car for Geneva and a V8 rear-wheel-drive hot rod for Paris. This year at the Geneva Motor Show we have the Réact'EV. The EV part means ecological vehicle rather than electric vehicle, since it is a plug-in hybrid.

The power-train of this rear wheel-drive sports car consists of one V6 engine borrowed from the PSA Group with 210hp, a 24kWh battery and one electric motor in each rear wheel with 100kW and 750Nm. Don't miss it at the Geneva Motor Show.