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Wheel Fever - by Craig Hill

After years of being in the styling doldrums, Kia looks as though it has seized the day with design.

It has followed up the C'eed and surprising new-look Cerato with the No3 concept, which will be unveiled at next Tuesday's Geneva Motor Show.

The No3 concept hatch, described as a multi-purpose vehicle, is one of three new Kias to be at the show.

Apart from the No3, Kia will show off a range of cars with what it calls ISG for “idle, stop and go”, as well as an innovative hybrid.

Kia executives say the No3 concept “redefines the small MPV genre by creating a beautiful car that is also fun-to-drive”.

The concept looks almost production ready and could end up battling the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Mazda2, Toyota Yaris and Hyundai Getz in the ultra-competitive light-car class.

The concept features an extended windscreen and panorama glass roof with a diagonal supporting bar, an automatic sun visor and the new Kia corporate grille treatment, headlights and brand logo in a new constellation.

At 4045 mm long, the concept is 95mm longer than a Ford Fiesta concept.

The No3 is finished in matt Titanium Grey with contrasting gloss-white accents.

The ISG system will be previewed in the Kia Cee'd.

It delivers about to 15 oper cent fuel savings in city driving.

The device is already on sale in many countries across Europe.

The system automatically switches the engine off when the car is stopped in traffic and restarts the engine instantly when the driver moves off.

ISG cars are available with a choice of 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol engines.

The 1.4-litre ISG models at Geneva have a 137 g/km CO2 rating.

In keeping with an emerging green theme at Geneva, the Korean carmaker has built a fleet of prototype Kia Cee'd hybrids especially for testing and evaluation in Europe.

The Cee'd Hybrid uses an upgraded powertrain with Kia's Gamma 1.6-litre petrol engine, mated to a 15kW, 105Nm AC synchronised electric motor, CVT transmission and ISG.

The hybrid hits 100km/h in 11.8 seconds and has a top speed of 185 km/h.

The prototype achieves fuel consumption of 4.81 litres/100km and a CO2 figure of 109 g/km, a 25 per cent reduction compared to the standard 1.6-litre petrol Cee'd.

Herald Sun

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Posted By: Paladin - Category: Korean Cars, Hatchbacks, Kia, Other Shows

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Kia Sorento XM

February 26th 2009 14:21

Kia's No3 show car for next week's Geneva motor show is all but done and dusted.

Now the Korean carmaker is focusing on April's Seoul Motor Show, where it will unveil the new Sorento off-roader, codenamed XM.

Probably the biggest news about the new Sorento is that it will move from a traditional body-on-frame construction to a unit-body design borrowed from the Hyundai Veracruz, which is sold in North America.

Visually it is clear the Sorento has grown up, with a more refined and car-like design to distance itself from the more agricultural current model.

The new look is more muscular, following some of the same themes as the contemporary looking Cerato, also design by Kia chief designer, Peter Schreyer.

The off-roader is expected to have both turbo-diesel and petrol engines.

Its engine line-up is expected to include the next-generation 150kW/435Nm 2.2-litre R-diesel engine delivering an impressive 7.0 litre/100km, a 2.4-litre Theta II petrol four cylinder and a 200kW 3.8-litre in-line petrol six.

Engines will be coupled to a new six-speed automatic transmission.

Herald Sun

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Posted By: Paladin - Category: Korean Cars, Kia, Other Shows

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Ferrari 250 GT Auction Record

February 24th 2009 12:45

Despite the recession, record United States prices are expected to be reached in the annual ‘Automobiles of Amelia Island’ held by RM Auctions in March.

Headlining the list, with an estimated hammer fall of around US$3 million ($4.65m), is a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder.

The Pininfarina-penned design rendered into metal reality by auto maestros Scaglietti, and carrying a 179kW 3-litre V12 engine and a four-speed manual gearbox, is the 23rd of a total of about just 50 LWB Spyders ever built.

Built for Prince Alvise Hercolani of Modena, who sold it six months later to race driver Wolfgang Seidel, it features unusual front fender vents and bonnet air intake.

Ferrari Spyder

Also showcased in the auction listing is the `Yellow Peril’ 1911 Oldsmobile Autocrat race car, with an enviable track history dating up to classic events in the 1980s, but with many early trophies in its cabinet are from races on dirt. It’s said to have often competed with the fenders and lights removed for weight savings, and had a home-made fuel system that was a pioneering version of fuel injection.

Other cars going on the block include a 1954 Packard Panther-Daytona Roadster concept car – the only roadster version of the mere four Panther concepts built – with a one-piece fibreglass body and the first of the company’s wraparound windscreens.

Another rare concept is the 1941 Chrysler Newport Dual Cowl Phaeton, which was put to work as a pace car for the Indianapolis 500 and then retained by Walter P. Chrysler.

There is also a supercharged 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Faux Cabriolet known as `Charmaine, one of the last Bugattis built before WWII and tipped to possibly go for as low as $850,000, a 1953 Cunningham C-3 Cabriolet that could be yours for as little as $620,000, and a private collection of 1932 Fords – including a Roadster, a Cabriolet, a Woodie and a rare Ute.

Other cars on the list include

Top 10 car auction records (US$ prices)

1 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Cal Spyder R M May-08 $10,894,400

2 1931 Bugatti Royale Type 41 Christie’s Nov-87 $9,800,000

3 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM R M May-07 $9,281,250

4 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster R M Oct -07 $8,252,201

5 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe Gooding Aug-08 $7,920,000

6 1929 Mercedes-Benz 38/250 SSK Bonhams Sep-04 $7,443,070

7 1904 R olls-Royce 10hp Bonhams Dec-07 $7,254,290

8 1962 Ferrari 250 LM R M May-08 $6,979,000

9 1931 Bugatti Royale Type 41 Kruse Jun-86 $6,500,000

10 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM R M Aug-01 $6,490,000

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Posted By: Paladin - Category: Italian Cars, Sports Cars, Ferrari, Other Shows

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Hyundai i20 three-door

February 20th 2009 06:45

Just days after Hyundai exhibited the new i20 five-door at Melbourne motor show, the three-door version will debut at Geneva’s auto-fest.

The three-door is built on the same wheelbase, and carries the same 1.2-litre Kappa engine, but weighs 10kg less than the five-door’s 1045kg.

Hyundai Australia says they would welcome the three-door here, and doesn’t see any barriers to it arriving.

“We are certainly looking at bringing it to Australia,” spokesman Ben Hershman says, but can’t predict how soon after the five-doors arrival – set to be mid-year – that might happen.

“There’s no impediment, but we just can’t confirm what the timing would be on that. We haven’t been advised of production dates.”

Hershman says he expects both versions of the i20 will do well in the local showrooms.

“There’s a strong market for both three and five-door small cars at the moment,” he says.

“The Getz does very well for us in both areas.”

Hershman says the i20 will land here around the competitive $16,000 price mark, so he doesn’t believe there is any risk of the i20 cannibalising from its stablemate, which is currently around $2000 cheaper.

“We really see two different customers in that end of the market … the value buyer looking at price of entry, and then those who are looking for the slightly larger body and more sophisticated technology that the i20 will offer.”

The three-door has the same nose and tail as the larger version, but has larger doors and a more upswept line along the side profile.

Hyundai says its quick-release memory seats allow easy `walk-in’ access for the rear, while the car as specced for the overseas market will feature six airbags – front, side and curtain – plus active head-restraints.

Overseas specs show the 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the five-door develops 57.4kW at 6000rpm and 119Nm at 4000rpm, with a five-speed manual driving the front set of 14” wheels. It’s reported to get to 100km/h in a fairly leisurely 12.9 seconds and to a top speed of 165km/h, with a frugal combined fuel consumption of 5.2L/100km and 124g/km of Co2.

Carsguide

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Posted By: Paladin - Category: Korean Cars, Hatchbacks, Hyundai, Melbourne International, Other Shows

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Saab 9-3X

February 16th 2009 11:46

It has taken a little while but Swedish carmaker Saab has finally answered the call of the wild.

The new 9-3X all-wheel drive wagon follows the proven path pioneered by the Subaru Outback and joins a legion of new Euro softer-roaders battling in the recreational lifestyle market.

The jacked up, chunky Swede debuts at next month's Geneva Motor Show and could hit local Saab showrooms next year.

For the downtrodden Saab brand locally, GM Premium brands director, Parveen Batish, says the 9-3X is not too little too late.

"I don't think so, I think the brand is moving forward and we've been talking about other cars and they will come," he says.

"Things have been tough but we can see some light.

"The cues we've seen from some of the concept cars are a real eye-opening in terms of where the brand is going."

Last year Saab sold just 1158 vehicles locally, mostly 9-3s.

The 9-3X and its bigger, still secret 9-4X off-roader, could be a sales savior.

Batish says the 9-3X does not go into production until towards the end of the year "so that gives us plenty of time to investigate where it would fit and how it would fit".

"Regardless of the brand, we've got to make sure it's the right thing for Australia," he says.

In Europe the 9-3X will be available with both front and all-wheel drive.

GM Premium Brands will investigate both options, Batish says.

"But being a small market we can't take everything," he says.

Using the 9-3 SportCombi as its base, the 9-3X gets a 35mm higher ground clearance and Saab's cross-wheel drive (XWD) system, as well as some stirdy plastic trim.

For the first time, Saab's E85-capable BioPower engine technology is mated to its XWD system.

In Europe buyers will have a choice of the 155kW/300Nm 2.0-litre BioPower four-cylinder as well as petrol 2.0-litre four cylinder.

The 2.0-litre petrol turbo has a similar output to the BioPower unit.

A front-wheel drive 132kW/400Nm 1.9-litre TTiD two-stage turbo diesel will also be available.

There is little difference between the all-wheel drive and front drive.

The front drive gets the same styling but its suspension is only raised by an extra 20mm.

Visually the soft-road wagon uses a proven formula of grey plastic body trim, wheel arches and sill panels and beefier bumpers.

This treatment is complemented by matt aluminium skid panels.

Black roof rails are standard, along with multi-spoke 17-inch alloys and dual exhausts.

The XWD system is an active, intelligent system that continuously distributes engine drive torque between the front and rear axles.

The hardware includes an electronically-controlled torque transfer system that varies power delivery between the axles.

Herald Sun

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Posted By: Paladin - Category: Other Makes, Wagons, Saab, Other Shows

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Mazda3 MPS

February 4th 2009 09:45

Apart from the fact that it’s bright red, Mazda is saving some crucial details about its new MPS until next month’s Geneva Motor Show.

Although it has confirmed the hot turbocharged hatch, performance details are scarce.

The company is saving the best for the car's first official airing at the Geneva show, which opens on March 3.

But Mazda Australia spokesman, Glenn Butler, has confirmed the MPS will hit local showrooms around September.

If exchange rates hold, pricing is expected to be close to the current car, around $40,000.

The MPS makes up a small but important portion of sales of the 3000 Mazda3s sold locally each month but Butler says it has a strong following.

“It's reason for existence is more than just sales,” he says.

“It's the halo car for the Mazda3 and for the brand.”

Visually the new MPS gets the go-fast bits that so characterise the current car, but the letterbox bonnet air intake for the turbo is new.

It gives the car and edgier, more aggressive look that is obviously designed to go head-to-head with its key rivals, the Subaru Impreza WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart.

Apart from the air intake there is low-profile performance rubber, dual exhausts, rear diffuser and sports body kit and a rear roof-mounted spoiler.

Inside buyers can expect comfy sports seats and sports instruments.

Power comes from the carry over turbo-charged direct injection 2.3-litre four cylinder engine, shared with the CX7, mated to six-speed manual gearbox.

The company isn't revealing performance figures but power could be as high as 200kW, just enough to eclipse the WRX and Ralliart.

The current car develops 190kW/380Nm.

Butler says there was no need to upgrade the 2.3-litre to a normally aspirated 2.5-litre, which will power the new Mazda3 SP25.

Apart from power and torque figures, Mazda isn’t telling us whether the car will stick with front-wheel drive or opt for all-wheel drive.

There is also some speculation it could borrow the new “Revoknuckle” front-wheel drive suspension from the Ford Focus RS, as the new Mazda shares much underneath with the Ford.

The Revoknuckle suspension is designed to eliminate torque steer and provide a more connected steering response.

According to the Mazda3 program manager, Yoshiyuki Maeda, the MPS is “is the ultimate sporting expression of our new-generation Mazda3 range”.

“It builds on the already capable new-generation Mazda3 hatch with higher levels of ferocity and exhilaration, and like all new Mazda models with an eye to environmental concerns, powering responsibly into the motoring future.”

Herald Sun

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Posted By: Paladin - Category: Japanese Cars, Hatchbacks, Mazda, Other Shows

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Mitsubishi i MiEV Electric Car

January 29th 2009 08:20

The first plug-in electric car for Australia is the Mitsubishi i MiEV.

The tiny battery-powered city car has been confirmed this week for local trials in February, edging out upcoming electric contenders from Smart, Nissan, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

There is no firm sales plan yet, but Mitsubishi Motors Australia is keen to turn the i MiEV trial into much more than just a dummy run — with genuine local deliveries sometime in 2010.

"We are going to do this. We're the first ones to put it out there," says Rob McEniry, managing director of Mitsubishi Motors Australia.

"There is a lot of talk about electric vehicles, but this will test the true appetite. We'll see whether it is factual or just fluff.

"We are ready to go for 2010, if the price is right and the market is there."

The first i MiEV will be on the Mitsubishi stand at the Melbourne Motor Show from February 27, with a second car setting out soon after for a national tour of politicians, governments and major fleets.

McEniry says there will be an even bigger event before the end of the year before Mitsubishi decides if it will go ahead with sales in 2010.

"This is not a 'might be', this is a 'what is' from Mitsubishi. We'll have a car on the stand at the motor show and another ready for driving," he says.

"Later in the year we want to bring some more cars out for some customer evaluations. That will be fleets and things that can spend a bit of time with the vehicle. This is very much market testing. This will be the real thing that's in the market today in full trial in Japan."

McEniry believes there will be demand for the i MiEV — which can be charged from a regular household power supply — but is not sure yet on the reaction to buying and running a car in the real world.

"We're going to take the car around Australia and allow various groups to see the vehicle and give us some feedback. We're very interested in what they have to say," he says.

The big questions are the price of the car, the warranty back-up and the infrastructure needed to support any sort of serious fleet of electric cars. McEniry is well aware of the challenges and preparing to work through them in time to get the i MiEV into showrooms.

"We know the target price, but we won't talk about that for the moment. Initially it will need some support form the customer base, if it's a government department or fleet," he says.

"It depends on the demand. We might do it on a lease. We're really not sure yet."

While there is uncertainty on the showroom plan for the original i MiEV, a five-door hatchback based on a Japanese city car, Mitsubishi is pushing into the next phase of its electric car program.

It will unveil a second i MiEV, this time an electric sports car, at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The newcomer — called the i MiEV Sport Air — shows that the electric cars could become a whole new family for Mitsubishi, with the potential for more than just short-haul commuter work.

The Sport Air uses Mitsubishi's latest lithium-ion batteries and a high-torque engine for sports car acceleration.

It says the idea is to go beyond a green car to something people also want to buy for driving, thanks to low weight, strong acceleration and good cornering grip.

But Mitsubishi is keeping quiet on the details, beyond releasing two sketches which show the thinking behind the design of the Geneva Show car.

Herald Sun

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Posted By: Paladin - Category: Japanese Cars, Electric, Mitsubishi, Melbourne International, Other Shows

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