Geneva Preshow: 2012 Kia Rio Revealed in Detail, gets 1.2-liter Turbo Gasoline Engine

Kia's product assault continues with the presentation of the all-new Rio subcompact, which will receive its world premiere together with the new Picanto at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show in the beginning of March.

The latest car to be revealed by Kia boasts a far slicker exterior design than the current Rio bringing it in line with the rest of South Korean company's passenger model range. There are no photos of the interior, but Kia says its newcomer "will deliver a high level of quality previously associated with larger models" along with a wider selection of trim options.

The Korean firm's Ford Fiesta-sized vehicle features a wheelbase extended by 70 mm (to 2,570 mm) compared to the outgoing Rio thus promising to offer improved passenger space together with an increased cargo capacity to 292 liters for the hatchback body style. Exterior dimensions changes include: +55 mm (overall length), -15 mm (height) and +25 mm (overall width).

In Europe, the firm's B-Segment contender will be offered with a comprehensive range of petrol and diesel engines including a 1.1-liter diesel unit delivering 70-horsepower and CO2 emissions from as low as 85 g/km.

But the big surprise is the announcement of an all-new 1.2-liter Turbo Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) that will be available from 2012, and which will offer the Koreans a significant advantage over its Japanese rivals.

Soon-Nam Lee, Director of Overseas Marketing for Kia, commented: “This new model is a big step forward. The Rio has always been successful, and with this new incarnation we have a car that people will want to buy for its looks.”

The new Rio will go on sale in Europe as a 5-door model this fall, with a 3-door to be introduced into the range in early 2012. Pricing and full range details will be announced nearer the on-sale date.

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VIDEO: Nissan Esflow Sports Coupe Concept in Some Tron-Like Digital Action

Leaving aside the name which sounds like something a German (no offense) would say to an English bloke that stole his parking space, Nissan's Geneva motorshow-bound Esflow concept is a very interesting proposal for a pure-electric sports coupe. It uses the Leaf's battery technology but with a lot more juice from the electric motors that motivate the rear wheels and a dramatic coupe styling. Following an initial release with photos and preliminary details (see here), Nissan has now published a CGI video of the sports coupe study that you can watch right after the break.

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Geneva Preshow: Lotus Joins Forces with Mansory to Tune the Evora

Mastering the fine art of tuning is a complicated process and, judging by the sheer number of overkills one can see on the web every day, it’s clear that only a few have what it takes to do a good job. For Lotus that special someone is Swiss tuning firm Mansory, which is responsible for the creation of an Evora concept that will be presented at the Geneva show in the beginning of March.

The automaker released two pictures of the special version 2+2 sports coupe, while also stating this:

“Let’s be clear on this: contrary to media reports, what you’ll see in Geneva is NOT an Evora facelift. It’s a taste of the future of Lotus product customisation. Merely the first toe in the water and a showcase of the potential future.”

From what we can tell, the modified Evora features a new front bumper with bigger air intakes and inserts, which appear to be made out of carbon fiber. The same lightweight composite material seems to have been used for the side vents, mirror housings, side skirts, greenhouse, rear spoiler and oversized diffuser. The 10-spoke alloys with a glossy black finish are also new.

While we can’t say that the Evora is our favorite Lotus, overall the bodykit looks nice and it seems that the Brits are really on to something good here.

By Csaba Daradics

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BMW ActiveE: Production Version of All-Electric 1-Series to Debut at Geneva Show

The ActiveE is the production version of BMW's 2010 Detroit Motor Show EV concept of the same name and it will share the limelight with the Vision CD Roadster study at the Bavarian firm's Geneva Salon stand. BMW plans to build a test fleet of more than 1,000 units of the fully electric version of the 1-Series Coupe, and lease them to select customers in the USA, Europe and China. The ActiveE will serve as a test bed for technologies that will be incorporated into the into BMW's future electric models such as the Megacity EV, due in 2013.

Power comes from an electric synchronous motor that produces 168HP (125 kW) and 250 Nm of torque, good enough to propel the 1 Series Coupe from standstill to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 9 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 90 mph (145 km/h). The electric motor draws power from three lithium-ion batteries, which replace the engine, transmission and fuel tank.

To increase the driving range, the electric motor also acts as a generator every time the driver takes his foot off the accelerator pedal. The recuperated kinetic energy is fed back into the batteries and the system also creates torque to slow down the car. BMW estimates that this way the autonomy can be extended by up to 20%.

Additionally, the ActiveE also has a “gliding mode”, in which the car is moved just by its own kinetic energy, and an Eco Pro mode that lowers the energy consumption of the heating and air conditioning system, while the accelerator uses less power with the same travel.

The EV can be charged in five hours using a 32-ampere wall box or overnight from a conventional household socket.

From a design standpoint, the ActiveE is set apart from its conventional counterparts by the electric circuit-inspired livery, a bonnet scoop and lack of tail pipes. Inside, the seats are covered in grey leather with contrasting blue stitching, accompanied by a revised instrument cluster.

According to the manufacturer, the four-seater ActiveE offers the same cabin space as a standard 1-Series Coupe, but has a reduced luggage space of 200-liters.

By Csaba Daradics

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2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe: New Photos Hit the Web...Again

New pictures of Mercedes-Benz's worst kept secret, the 2012 C-Class Coupe, have been leaked onto the web, courtesy of several European magazines. First seen in these shots in early January, the two-door version of the C-Class was recently teased alongside the SLS AMG Roadster in Mercedes' Super Bowl commercial.

Designed as a replacement for both the CLK and CLC Sports Coupe,the firm's entry-level two door model will take on both the BMW 1- and 3-Series coupes. It is largely based on the freshly facelifted C-Class model series featuring an almost identical front end, but a unique styling from the A-pillars and back with a more rakish roofline, a Hoffmeister-esque kink on the rear window and a new rear end.

From what we can tell by looking at the two photos of the interior that have made their way onto the web, the dashboard appears to be unchanged from the rest of the 2012 C-Class models.

The engine range will most likely include the same force-fed four-cylinder naturally aspirated 302HP V6 gasoline units found on the other C-Class cars, while a range-topping V8 powerplant should make its way into the BMW 1 M and M3 rivaling AMG variant.

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De Tomaso Lives! Italian Brand to Re-Launch in Geneva with a Premium Crossover Concept

Just like Pagani, De Tomaso is another Italy-based sports car manufacturer founded by an Argentinean, more exactly by former racing driver Alejandro De Tomaso. Known for its quirky models of the 1960s and 1970s like the Pantera, the company eventually went under the radar and ended up filing for bankruptcy in 2004.

Fortunately, it was bought five years later by ex-Fiat marketing executive and Lancia CEO Gian Mario Rossignolo, who decided to revive the iconic brand. Now, it seems that the Italian businessman’s efforts have come to fruition, as the revitalized automaker is planning to unveil a Pininfarina-designed premium crossover concept at the Geneva Motor Show.

Codenamed SLC (Sport Luxury Car), the design study is said to rival the likes of the BMW 5-Series GT and Lexus RX-450h.

According to reports, the SLC will have an aluminum body, four-wheel drive and three engine choices: 550HP V8 and 300HP V6 gasoline engines, plus a 250-horsepower diesel unit.

De Tomaso plans to build some 3,000 units of the crossover annually, and if everything goes according to plan, it will be followed by a luxury sedan and a coupe, also built from aluminum. Projected sales for these two models are 3,000 and 2,000 units respectively.

The Italians are going to invest €116 million (US $172 million) into the project, with the cars being manufactured at a former Pininfarina plant, using an innovative technology called Univis said to considerably simplify the manufacturing process.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Autonews Europe (Sub. required)

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Renault Captur: Juke-Sized Crossover Convertible Concept Demonstrates New Design Language

Remember the Renault DeZir sports coupe concept from the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show? If you don't, you can refresh your memory here, but in short, the two-seater study herald the French firm's new and more curvalicious design strategy on a sports car. Fast forward to today, and Renault has unveiled a new concept model called the Captur, which applies the DeZir's design philosophy on a three-door small crossover with a removable hardtop.The Captur will receive its world premiere at the upcoming Geneva Salon.

“It takes as its basis the fundamental design language introduced on the DeZir concept car but adds a more technical dimension – more functional but still highly sensuous," said Renault's director of concept cars, Axel Breun,

The French firm said that for the exterior designer, the main sources of inspiration were athletes and radical sports with styling references to equipment such as helmets, gloves and other protective gear.

The Captur, which is close in size to alliance partner Nissan’s Juke, is crafted from carbon fiber and features a removable hardtop that allows it to transform from a coupe to a convertible crossover. Other highlights include the butterfly doors and extra-large tires fitted to 22-inch black and white rims.

The colorful and futuristic-looking interior that can seat four passengers features fluorescent highlights picked out by a constant stream of light. "My main sources of inspiration were the human body, outdoor sports and urban styling," explains the colour and trim designer, Kana Watanabe. "I wanted Captur to radiate warmth and dynamism."

Power for the Captur comes from a 1.6-liter twin-turbocharged diesel engine concept with 160HP, developed from the new Energy dCi 130HP that will eventually replace the firm's current 1.9 dCi unit. The oil-burner is paired to a dual clutch EDC gearbox, and according to Renault, it emits less than 99g of CO2 per kilometer.

The Captur also comes with numerous technological advancements including a new RX2 mechanical self-locking differential and the Visio-System with a forward-facing camera mounted at the top of the windscreen providing driver-assistance functions.

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Lexus LFA Nürburgring to get its First Public Outing in Geneva

Nearly 3 months after the start of production of the standard LFA, Lexus will debut the more track-focused Nürburgring Edition at the Geneva Motor Show in March. While we've known about the bespoke version of the LFA since May, 2010, according to the Japanese automaker, this is the first time that the supercar will be shown in public.

Available as a special package on the options list, Lexus will build a maximum of 50 Nürburgring Editions out of a total of 500 LFAs. The limited production model gets additional aerodynamic features and technical revisions to improve handling and downforce, increases the V10 engine output by 10bhp to 562bhp and speeds up gear shifts in the six-speed sequential transmission.

In the United States, the Nürburgring package is priced at $70,000 while a Matte black finish carries an additional cost of $20,000. The MSRP of the standard LFA is $375,000.

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BMW's Geneva Show Vision ConnectedDrive Roadster Concept Signals the Return of the Shark Nose

Truth to be said, we miss a lot of things from the BMW cars of the pre-Bangle era, but if we had to single one out, it would most likely be the characteristic and aggressive shark-nose of the old-school bimmers. However, BMW's new concept roadster model that was revealed today ahead of its world premiere at the Geneva Salon in March, may very well signal the return of one of the German firm's most characteristic styling traits.

The concept study is called the Vision ConnectedDrive, and with its reveal, BMW is launching a new design language and an array of intelligent driver information technologies that will find their way in future production models.

The two-seat roadster model was penned under the supervision of BMW's new head of design, Adrian von Hooydonk. Aside from the pointier front end with the shark-nose grille, you should also pay attention to the cleaner overall design, the blending of taut and multi-layered surfacing treatments and the shape of tail lights.

The interior is far more futuristic but the minimalistic design philosophy may be applied in a more production kind of way in the next generations of the BMW models.

As mentioned previously, the Vision ConnectedDrive also showcases numerous technologies including a fully programmable instrument cluster with , three-dimensional displays plus a separate HUD (Head-Up Display) unit, and various driver assistance systems.

BMW did not mention anything in the press announcement about the roadster concept's powertrain hardware, which could mean that the Vision CD is a static study with nothing under the hood.

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