General Motors launched its next 100 years this week by unveiling the much-anticipated production version of the Chevrolet Volt - a vehicle that delivers up to 40 miles of gasoline- and emissions-free electric driving, with the extended-range capability of hundreds of additional miles.
The design of the Chevrolet Volt production car was directed by Bob Boniface and has evolved from the original concept, unveiled at the 2007 NAIS in Detroit. It is the first of several E-Flex vehicles that are planned for the future.
Aerodynamic improvements enabled GM to reach the Volt's target of driving up to 40 miles (based on EPA city cycle) without using gasoline or producing emissions. Many of the design cues from the concept vehicle remain in the production Volt, including the athletic stance, closed front grille and rear design graphics. More than 220 lithium-ion cells contained within the Volt's battery pack provide the equivalent of 150 horsepower and a top speed of 100 miles per hour. Production is scheduled to begin late 2010 for models in the United States. Pricing has not yet been announced.
Renault will unveil a hybrid-powered luxury crossover concept called the Onedelios at the French carmaker's home show next month. The six-passenger concept, which has individual bucket seats arranged in three rows of two, features interesting details influenced by aviation design.
Measuring 4805mm long, 1998mm wide and 1605mm high, the rakish concept has a low drag coefficient of just 0.29 and a lightweight carbon body. The aerodynamic design features a steeply raked windscreen - which extends down the hood - an aluminum-finish grille flanked by LED headlights and boomerang-shaped tail lamps nestled near air extractors that control air flow from the wheelarches. The polycarbonate roof glazing reduces weight and features a lattice-type design.
Butterfly-type side doors hinged to the roof provide access to the contemporary interior. Once inside, the cabin is reminiscent of the business class section of passenger jets; with six individually adjustable and reclining seats, complete with footrests. With its 2895mm wheelbase, the layout is claimed to have been designed to profit from all the available space.
Korean auto manufacturer SssangYong, best known for its wide range of SUV vehicles sold in Korea, has released a rendering of the C200 crossover expected to debut at the Paris Auto Show next month.
Heralded as a 'futuristic, compact SUV for urban environment', the C200 concept is the first monocoque-body vehicle in the company's portfolio and it will signal an ambitious beginning of the Korean off-road specialists' long term plan to enter the European market. At a glance, C200 is a refined and conservative design - for a concept - with visual weight sitting relatively low for an SUV, and a robust rocker panel surface sitting below the wheel center alluding to its sturdy stance.
Powered by a 2.0-litre 175hp engine mated to a four-wheel-drive drivetrain, the C200 concept satisfies both EURO 5 emissions and CO2 requirements. We should expect the production version to be released within a year.
Mercedes-Benz has released images of their ConceptFASCINATION study, to be shown at the Paris Motor Show next month.
In developing this design study, Mercedes-Benz has given fresh impetus to the long-established "shooting brake", a vehicle category that appears to be undergoing something of a revival recently in concept cars. The long, frameless, DLO describes a continuous arc from front to rear, uninterrupted by a B-pillar. As a result, the large load space in the rear is integrated in the vehicle body cohesively and harmoniously while also increasing the impression of length and creating a sense of lightness. The front is reminiscent of the current C-Class, although the four rhomboid headlamps hint at the new E-Class, due to be released next year.
The exquisite range of materials is inspired by the world of equestrianism: wood, aluminium and smoked glass give an exclusive look and feel to the trunk, which incorporates a refrigerated compartment and a humidor as well as offering a large load space.
Honda has started selling the third generation City in Thailand, a small notchback based on the mechanicals of the new Jazz/Fit hatchback. While the previous City was tall and had awkward proportions, the new model looks much better proportioned.
At the front, the treatment borrows heavily from the Civic and Airwave. The profile of the hood is longer than the Jazz and the A-pillar has been moved rearwards. It has conventional front doors, without the Jazz's triangular quarterlights. This entry-level Honda looks a scaled-down Civic sedan with a line that flows smoothly from the A-pillar and ending crisply in a short, high tail. There is a hint of the Jazz in the rising beltline at the rear of the City's DLO. Compared to the Jazz, it sits 55mm lower and on a 50mm longer wheelbase.
On the inside, the City has a different dashboard than the Jazz, as well as a squarer center console and conventional IP. As with the Jazz, a 118hp 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine sits under the hood. The City was developed and manufactured at Honda Automobile (Thailand) and will be assembled in the Philippines, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, China and Turkey.
Chevrolet has released two images of the new Orlando crossover concept, set for its first public unveiling at the upcoming Paris Motor Show. Based on the recently announced Cruze compact sedan, the Orlando is described as a 'seven-seat multi-purpose vehicle with versatility attributes of a sport utility, a family van and a wagon'.
The Orlando continues Chevrolet's distinctive design language, with strong, 'single-bar' front grille and robust, sculpted body surfacing. Its profile stands out in a way that looks to have an extremely wide track, giving it a sturdy stance. A distinctive two-box silhouette distinguishes the Orlando concept in a segment where sleek, one-box profiles have long been the norm.
Inside, the design is somewhat reminiscent of the recently revealed Opel/Vauxhall Insignia sedan, with a flowing two-tone IP, a steeply-raked center stack, and a similar steering wheel. According to GM, the five-door Orlando's adaptable, theater-style seating in three rows can accommodate up to seven occupants, thanks to its 2760mm wheelbase.
The concept is powered by Chevrolet's latest-generation 2.0-liter turbo diesel, developing 150hp and 320Nm of torque, an engine claimed to deliver both power and fuel-efficiency. And though Chevrolet anticipates the Orlando to be sold globally, general consensus is that the vehicle's 'home-field' will most likely be North America.
