Cars Review

The Volvo S60 Polestar Concept has graced the pages of Autoblog numerous times in recent memory, but weve never actually seen it in person. That is, until now.

We caught up with the blazing blue sedan sitting on the floor of the LA Auto Show, and it looks even better up close. As a refresher, the four-door is fitted with a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine (3.0-liter) generating an impressive 508 horsepower. Its close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox sends power to all four wheels through a fourth-generation Haldex XWD system. With a decent driver behind the steering wheel, the Polestar can crack the 60 mph benchmark in about 3.7 seconds as it rushes towards a top speed in excess of 186 mph.

Volvo has said that this Polestar-modified S60 was built for a specific client who paid upwards of $300,000 for the pleasure of owning it. But as they say, if there is market demand for more...

Volvo Cars Official Motorsport and Performance partner Polestar present the Volvo S60 Polestar, a performance concept car developed with the aim of satisfying the performance minded driver.

(16-06-2012) -- "We are proud to present Polestars interpretation of the Volvo S60" says Christian Dahl, founder and CEO of Polestar. "Its a car developed with our own preferences in mind which, we from experience know, are shared by a group of active drivers"

The main focus when developing the car has been to combine a comfortable genuine Volvo driving experience with a high level of power and handling. The Volvo T6 engine has been tuned to deliver a considerable increase in power and torque. This, in combination with a lowered, widened and reinforced chassis together with a tuned Haldex all-wheel drive system and Öhlins suspension makes the car suitable for both high performance driving and long distance travelling.

Robert Dahlgren, Volvo Polestar racing driver, comments the driving experience: "to me the Volvo S60 is a very well sorted car from start. In our concept car we have developed chassis, engine and transmission just like we want it, and the result is a huge leap forward in terms of handling and performance. It is, by far, the most impressive street Volvo Ive ever driven. But I must also say that the genuine Volvo feeling is still there. 

The car presented at Gothenburg CityArena is the first car built for one specific client. A small series of Polestar modified S60s may be built pending market response;

"Polestars heart and soul is motorsport and our main focus is to deliver the absolute best results for Volvo on the track" says Christian Dahl. "But over the years we have also seen a significant increase in demand for Volvo performance cars and parts and naturally we want to respond to this."

Articles Source : Autoblog

This is the new CA-MiEV, a Geneva Motor Show-bound concept study made by Mitsubishi to provide us an indication of the next generation of the brands all-electric models, and which from certain angles, looks like a smaller Toyota Prius with more interesting design details (though, feel free to disagree).

According to the Japanese carmaker, the compact five-door hatchback incorporates many of the next-generation EV technologies under development at the company, including high-energy density batteries and high-efficiency EV systems such as electric motor, inverter, regenerative braking and wireless charging system.

These new systems work together with a much lighter and more aerodynamic body to offer the CA-MiEV a theoretical driving range of 300km or about 186 miles.

Other features present on the concept include magnetic resonance wireless charging technology and smartphone activated functions.

Aston Martin is celebrating its centenary in world-class style with the debut of the exceptional Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept.
Created as a stunning celebration of the great British brands 100 years of sports car excellence the one-off CC100 looks both to the past and the DBR1 - Aston Martins greatest sporting triumph on the track - and to the future with its teasing glimpses of potential future design direction.

The 6.0-litre V12-powered concept car made its world debut by completing a lap of the famous Nordschleife at Germanys ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring race. It is lapping the circuit together with the 1000km race-winning 1959 DBR1 with British racing legend Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel. It is the most tangible expression yet of the brands year-long 2013 centenary celebrations.

Viewed by tens of thousands of lucky spectators in Germany, the radical speedster is being driven today by Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez. He said: "CC100 is the epitome of everything that is great about Aston Martin. It represents our fantastic sporting heritage, our exceptional design capability, our superb engineering know-how and, above all, our adventurous spirit!

"I have nicknamed it DBR100 because of its affinity to the great 1959 race-winning cars and, of course, our 100-year anniversary in 2013.

"But this car is more, even, than a simple birthday present to ourselves: it shows that the soul of Aston Martin - the thing that differentiates us from all the other car makers out there - is as powerful as ever and I very much hope that everyone who catches a glimpse of it at the Nürburgring today enjoys seeing it."

Designed and constructed in fewer than six months at Aston Martins global headquarters in Gaydon, working with key supplier Multimatic Inc, under the leadership of Special Projects and Motorsport Director David King, the finished look of the two-seater CC100 is the work of Design Director Marek Reichman working alongside the brands Chief Exterior Designer Miles Nurnberger.

Miles explained: "The brief was very simple, yet enormously testing: create something that reflects the 100 years of Aston Martin heritage and signals the future of the brand.

"The idea of an iconic speedster concept that nods to the Le Mans − and Nürburgring - winning cars of 1959 soon came, and we have had complete freedom to shape this car."

Marek Reichman said: "Im extremely proud of the entire team at Gaydon for creating this remarkable sports car concept in such a short time.

"The need to create a truly fitting tribute to 100 years of the Aston Martin brand has brought out the creativity and talent that makes Aston Martin such an exceptional luxury sports car maker."

Measuring almost four and a half metres nose to tail, and more than two metres wide (including mirrors) the Speedster Concept body is a classic example of the almost infinitely flexible nature of Aston Martins trademark Vertical Horizontal engineering philosophy.

With a body and interior crafted from carbon fibre, tooled and provided by low volume specialists Multimatic, the Aston Martin CC100 utilises the latest generation AM11 naturally aspirated V12 gasoline engine mated to a six-speed hydraulically actuated automated sequential manual transmission. Controlled via steering column-mounted paddle shifts the lightweight box delivers truly sporting changes perfectly suited to the Speedsters track-focused nature.

The drivetrain will power the Aston Martin CC100 from rest to 62 mph in a little over four seconds, while the top speed is limited to 180 mph.

Dr Bez added: "The future of Aston Martin is, very clearly, more exciting now than perhaps at any time in its history and Im looking forward to seeing the excitement and anticipation that CC100 creates among Aston Martin owners and enthusiasts worldwide."

Audi interiors have adopted intelligent mix of materials in accordance with the motto: the right amount of the right material in the right place. Audi TT Ultra Quattro Concept uses carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) in the rear, the center tunnel, in the B-pillar and roof. Magnesium components in the floor and as reinforcing the hinges to reduce weight even further.

The combination also reflected light and sporty in appearance. Compared with the series-production models, Audi designers have substantially refined the contours show car further. With a large spoiler, Audi TT quattro concept of ultra-proudly display motorsport genes. Basic rear wing is made as a supporting component of milled aluminum, while the wing, as a functional element, made of visible carbon.
True highlight: exterior mirror was replaced with a compact camera that transfers pictures directly to a digital cockpit. To reverse the weight spiral, Audi ultra-lightweight construction concept is applied to all elements in the car. The developers have further optimized the individual components. Features ceramic front brake discs with aluminum fixed caliper, exhaust system made of titanium exhaust ending in a single center. The wheel also reduces weight by 20 kilograms (44.09 pounds). The fingers are made of high strength aluminum wheels are bolted directly to the CFRP.

With the changes to the interior and exterior on the Audi TT quattro concept, can minimize inertial mass that 228 kW (310hp) 2.0-liter TFSI engine contend with during acceleration. Modified unit high-end four-cylinder develops a maximum torque of 400Nm between 1,900 and 5,000 rpm, putting it on par with the power of a V8. With the six-speed transmission, ultra-Audi TT quattro concept is 1.3 seconds faster than the series-production models when accelerating from 0 to 100 km / h (62.14 mph). Top speed is 280 km / h (173.98 mph).

Whenever you hear the words Subaru and crossover in the same sentence, images of the brands much-loved Forester come to mind, a car for which stylish good looks take a back seat in favor of interior space, practicality and simplicity.

However, with the Viziv crossover concept, revealed at the Geneva Motor Show, Subaru is announcing a much more style-oriented approach for its future models and its design direction in general.

The concept features a "Subaru Boxer Diesel Hybrid" system, which uses the companys 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed turbo diesel engine in conjunction with two rear-mounted electric motors. With various selectable modes, the system ensures the car has adequate grip in slippery conditions, while at the same time being at home in town.

From a design standpoint, the Viziv concept is rather successful, we say. With clean, flowing lines and a prominent front fascia, the car heralds the arrival of a much better-looking range of Subaru vehicles.

Hopefully, the modern design of the interior will also serve as inspiration for future road-going models, as this is an area where the Japanese automakers offerings have never really shined.

The hybrid powertrain will also make its way into future production models, but will it mean the end of fun-to-drive Subarus? After all, remotely controlled electric motors cant really be a substitute for a prop shaft sending the engines power to the wheels, at least not in terms of driver engagement and the overall experience of driving a car.

The e-Co-Motion Concept is Volkswagens vision of a zero-emissions, compact delivery van of the not-so-distance future, and it was unveiled in the flesh today during a media-presentation held ahead of its public premiere at the Geneva International Auto Salon on Tuesday, March 5.

Smaller than a Transporter at 4.55 meters (179 inches) long, the e-Co-Motion features an electric powertrain comprising an electric motor mounted on the rear-axle together with a single-speed planetary gearbox, and a battery package.

VW said it chose this layout to achieve large wheel turning angles at the front axle and thereby, improve maneuverability, something necessary for a vehicle of this type. Thanks to this design, the e-Co-Motion has a turning circle of 8.95 meters.

The electric motor has a continuous power output of 50 kW (67hp or 68 PS) and a maximum output of 85 kW (114hp or 115PS), together with a constant peak torque of 270Nm (199 lb-ft). While it was primarily designed for city use, VW says the speed limited doesnt kick in until 120 km/h (75mph).

The e-Co-Motion was created to be fitted with three different battery packages. A 20kWh unit provides a driving range of around 100km (62miles), while a larger 30kWh enables 150 km (93miles), and finally, a battery with 40 kWh storage capacity offers a top driving range of 200 km (124 miles).

In its current form, the e-Co-Motion concept has a maximum cargo capacity of 4.6 m3 and a payload of 800 kg (1,763 pounds), but VW said the platform can serve as a basis for as many derivatives as possible "for a wide variety of body concepts and customer solutions".