View
215
Download
2
Category
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
Detroit... Home of the 1/4 mile, roaring V8’s and the muscle car. Yes it is that time of year again where the automotive world turns to the North American International Auto Show. And what a show it was... We had everything from hybrid racing cars to futuristic cross-overs and even the odd “likable” Prius... So here comes the round-up of all the major goings on from motor city!
Citation preview
Inside Lane
DETROIT Review
Issue 23 Detroit Motor Show
Detroit... Home of the 1/4 mile, roaring V8ʼs and the muscle car. Yes it is that time of year again where the automotive world turns to the North American International Auto Show. And what a show it was...
We had everything from hybrid racing cars to futuristic cross-overs and even the odd “likable” Prius...
So here comes the round-up of all the major goings on from motor city!
Born in the USA
New Passat for USVW today is the worlds largest manufacturer after
consuming the likes of Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley,
Skoda and many more. It is also seen as one of the
most wealthy in the industry not only thanks to a
great line-up from itself but a good variety from its
other brands. Audi for example last week
announced record sales figures for the companies
history. VW’s own line-up though doing well is
aiming for a huge sales boost in the US through
2011 and it hopes to do this with the new Passat.
There were whispers that VW may drop the Passat
name we have come to know over the years for its
next generation medium size saloon, yet here we
are with the next incarnation . Set to be built in a
new factory in Tennessee this car is designed for
the North American market only and VW has no
current plans to bring it to Europe. However the top
spec car receives a 3.6 litre V6 petrol engine with
270BHP and 258lb-ft of torque not to mention a
DSG gearbox as standard. This new Passat will
start at a very reasonable £13,000 making it the
biggest bargain we have seen so far this year. Two
TDI “clean diesel” engines are also available.
Chevrolet hatchbacks are only generally sold to
those on a budget and in need of a bargain quick.
Quality neither deign are these cars strong point
but price is often the only selling factor people
need. The result is the many people, especially in
the current economic climate, are driving around in
cars that are more basic than ready saluted crisps
and worse to drive than a shopping trolley with a
wonky wheel. However Chevy’s new compact
aims to change that.
First seen as the Aveo concept this is the all-new
Sonic and it aims to change the image of
Chevrolet in Europe. The funky new design gives
the little car quite an aggressive stance and with a
1.8 litre four-cylinder engine it’s a bold attempt to
live up to the little blue hedgehog. The car is also
available with a 1.4 litre turbo capable of
producing 138BHP, that’s more than the Fiesta.
Super Sonic?
“If cars like this are to survive here is their future...”
At first the dream formed a reality...
...Now reality is the dream
Porsche 918 RSR With growing pressure from the Eco-Nazi this breed of car is
desperately looking for a way to appease them before they
are made extinct. Porsche last year started a revolution by
unveiling the 918 Concept, a hyper car of biblical
proportions but with enough green credentials to beat off the
authorities. So much interest was generated that Porsche
found themselves with over 1000 calls asking when they can
place an order; the result was that Porsche had no other
option than to announce it for production. Yet it is in
motorsport where the German brand really earned its stripes
and so at the Detroit motor show we catch our first glimpse
of the 918 RSR!
With the same beautiful architecture
this one seat racing variant is
powered by both the 6.2 litre V8 in
the middle of the car and two 75
kilowatt motors up front. Paired with
regenerative breaking this car could
be seen as one of the most
competitive in endurance motorsport
due to reduced fuel consumption let
alone 767BHP. The Formula One
derived KERS finds its way into the
918 for an extra performance boost
when needed.
Ford Vertrek Concept
The cross-over is an ever more popular segment of the
automotive industry giving customers that high stance of a 4X4
without the high running costs. Ford launched the Kuga a few
years ago and surprise surprise it was a big success. Mum’s all
over the country were seen dropping off kids in their little yet
large Ford and so naturally it is a model the company wish to
continue producing. The Vertrek Concept gives us our first look
into the future.
Likely to become the Kuga’s replacement in some form or
another, the Vertrek previous the blue ovals future design
language for cross-overs. We like the muscular stance and highly
aggressive front grill as the Kuga might have been a good
looking car, it wasn’t very adventurous in design. This concept
has a 1.6 litre Ecoboost motor with the addition of stop/start
functionality. It is clear that Ford want to promote this cars
economy as they describe it as “class leading.” The Vertrek is
based on the new Focus platform and in addition to it Ford plans
to add a cross-over based on the Fiesta in the near future.
You’ve only gone and blown the bloody door off!
We are not Hyundai’s biggest fans and quite openly announce our views on the cheap Korean cars. Build
quality though improved across the range still isn’t up to standard and competitors are light years ahead on
just about every other forefront. However Hyundai have of late brought a string of rather good looking cars
to the market showing that at least the design department has got its act together. That was until the
Veloster.
They were doing just fine until this unpalatable jumble of shapes
arrived. Designed to be an affordable and practical coupe the Veloster
also has the capacity to make any member of the general public
projectile vomit by sight alone. A competitor for the Renault Megan
Coupe, it shall under cut its French rival in price upon its arrival in the
UK. The door layout is also similar to that of the Mini Clubman which is
ridiculous because it is illogical to have two doors on one side of the
car yet only one on the other. The top spec Veloster will be powered
by a 1.6 litre direct injection engine that produces a rather limp
138BHP, thought it does come connected to a six-speed manual.
Will it sell? Based on price alone, maybe. We will have a full road test
on the Veloster as soon as possible. “God help us!”
Toyota Redefines Prius With Two New Models...
The Toyota Prius for me has special place
reserved in hell. I don’t fin it appealing, its far
to costly and worst of all it is no better for the
environment than a Diesel Golf. Despite my
clear and undying bias I have to tell you that
Toyota has released two new variants of its
high volume hybrid at the Detroit motor show.
They are not so much Prius with modifications
but all new models within the same name
bracket. Is there hope yet?
First up is the Toyota Prius V, a hybrid that
invites you to take that extra trip to Ikea. The
new design is much larger and as a result vast
amounts of space greets you as you enter. An
impressive 38 inches of legroom is very
generous and that boot does look like it could
swallow an elephant. However it uses the
same 1.8 litre engine and hybrid system as
the saloon meaning it wont match it for MPG.
To be honest thats not the best start for a
sales pitch of a car that is to save you
spending on fuel.
The next car is something that we rather like
the looks of and that is a rare thing on a car
that carries the Prius badge. The C Concept is
a rather futuristic looking thing that promises
to make production by 2012. The smaller
package promises to be the most fuel efficient
hybrid when it goes on sale meaning it
actually will have a reason to exist unlike its
older sibling. Also it will be the most “value
orientated” hybrid on the market, we are not
sure what to make of this as it all depends
upon how much the Japanese company value
there own product (in short, might not actually
be that cheap.) Ok so the production model
will be softened up a bit but take a look at the
iQ, Toyota did a good job there.
2012 Audi A6 Hybrid Shown At Detroit
This seems to be a running theme in Detroit this year… Oh
how the environmentalists must be cheering. Audi a few
years ago started looking at various ways to make their
model line-up “green” and we had some rather interesting
concepts. The E-tron in particular being an electric R8 is
exactly the way to try and temp people like us into EV’s. But
now all the ice-cube saving tech has filtered down into cars
like this new A6 hybrid. So whats new?
This A6 unlike any other is front-wheel-drive meaning it
doesn’t carry the brands prestigious quattro badge. It is of
course all in aid of reducing fuel consumption and yet the
Germans have specifically kept the A6 styling despite their
lack of aerodynamic efficiency. The car is powered by the
2.0 litre TFSI in combination with an electric motor
producing 242BHP and only 155lb-ft of torque. Figures only
project 45MPG so the customer base for this luxury barge is
going to be quite small.
Recommended