Alongside the Astra GTC and Zafira Tourer, Vauxhall (and thus Opel) is unveiling something a little more ‘out there’ at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show. It’s this tiny city car, known by Vauxhall as RAK e, and which we’re going to call the Rake. The name is a modern take on the Rak 2, a rocket-powered Opel that hit 140mph in 1928.
And this Vauxhall Rake concept car is what exactly?
A little electric car with Ampera-influenced stlying, which Vauxhall claims has both ‘production potential’ and could ‘revolutionise urban transport, especially for younger drivers and those on a very tight budget’. It’s designed to use a minimal amount of energy, and weigh as little as possible – the concept tips the scales just 380kg,
Think of it as something that offers a little bit more weather protection than Renault’s Twizy, and Vauxhall says it’s aimed at young (i.e. teenage) drivers. 'The Rake is inspired by our wealth of experience in the area of electro-mobility, underpinned by the Ampera,' said Vauxhall's British vice president of design, Mark Adams. 'This progressive concept is creating a new class of electric vehicle; we’re eager to see the reaction of customers at the show.'
What else do we know about Vauxhall's Twizy-rivalling EV?
The concept car has a 75mph top speed and is claimed to do the 0-60mph dash in under 13 whole seconds. Peak power from the electric motor is 48bhp, with 14bhp being constantly available; the 5kWh battery takes three hours to charge and means a 60-mile range .
There’s a steel spaceframe, with a (cheap) fully-recyclable synthetic material used for the body – there’s no expensive carbonfibre on the Rake. There’s seating for two in a tandem configuration, and Vauxhall claims the energy consumption per person in the Rake is ten times lower than that of a typical supermini. 'We want to develop electric vehicles that everyone can afford,' said Karl-Friedrich Stracke, Vauxhall and Opel's CEO. 'The Rake aims to deliver pricing that even younger customers can afford. It also has cool looks and production potential. In future, efficiency will be measured in money-terms, not litres per 100km.'
A canopy roof ensures the Rake's cabin is light and airy, the front seat, steering column and armrests automatically tip forward to aid your entry and exit, and both the steering wheel and pedals are adjustable.
Alongside a rival for the Mini and Fiat 500 being launched next year (it’s internally dubbed Junior), Vauxhall/Opel will also launch an innovative city car in 2014.
Thứ Tư, 29 tháng 2, 2012
Suzuki Swift (2011) at Frankfurt motor show
Back in 2006, the Suzuki Swift took CAR Magazine’s Car Of The Year gong ahead of some pretty accomplished opposition. But, since then, it’s rarely featured in our pages while the Renaultsport Clio has stolen our small-car affections.
Suzuki’s star of the Frankfurt show, the Suzuki Swift Sport, hopes to put the model back on the radar.
Suzuki Swift Sport (2011): the lowdown
Shunning the turbocharged/downsizing tactics of so many other small cars, the Swift Sport builds on the old model’s naturally aspirated, 1.6-litre M16A engine to produce 134bhp at an eager 6900rpm and 118lb ft at 4400rpm – up from 123bhp at 6800rpm and 109lb ft at 4800rpm.
Improvements to the engine’s efficiency – and a new six-speed manual gearbox that replaces the old five-speeder – yield an increase in mpg from 39.8mpg to 44.1mpg while CO2 falls from 165g/km to 147g/km
A rollerskate on wheels?
There are also, claims Suzuki, big improvements to the handling, with enhanced toe and camber rigidity for the torsion beam (the rear suspension set-up) and greater lateral rigidity in the torsion-beam bushings. There are also stiffer springs all round and beefed-up wheel bearings to enhance stability under heavy cornering.
We’re not expecting the less powerful Swift Sport to nab the Clio’s mini hot-hatch halo, but it could be the Vauxhall Nova SR or Peugoet 106 XSi of our times: fun, compact and relatively insurance-friendly. Let’s hope so.
Suzuki’s star of the Frankfurt show, the Suzuki Swift Sport, hopes to put the model back on the radar.
Suzuki Swift Sport (2011): the lowdown
Shunning the turbocharged/downsizing tactics of so many other small cars, the Swift Sport builds on the old model’s naturally aspirated, 1.6-litre M16A engine to produce 134bhp at an eager 6900rpm and 118lb ft at 4400rpm – up from 123bhp at 6800rpm and 109lb ft at 4800rpm.
Improvements to the engine’s efficiency – and a new six-speed manual gearbox that replaces the old five-speeder – yield an increase in mpg from 39.8mpg to 44.1mpg while CO2 falls from 165g/km to 147g/km
A rollerskate on wheels?
There are also, claims Suzuki, big improvements to the handling, with enhanced toe and camber rigidity for the torsion beam (the rear suspension set-up) and greater lateral rigidity in the torsion-beam bushings. There are also stiffer springs all round and beefed-up wheel bearings to enhance stability under heavy cornering.
We’re not expecting the less powerful Swift Sport to nab the Clio’s mini hot-hatch halo, but it could be the Vauxhall Nova SR or Peugoet 106 XSi of our times: fun, compact and relatively insurance-friendly. Let’s hope so.
Volvo Concept You (2011) at Frankfurt motor show
The Concept You, says Volvo, combines a sleek coupe-like exterior with a high-tech interior that keeps the driver in command via intuitive smart-pad technology. It also gives us a first taste of Volvo’s design direction as it readies the next-gen S80.
Designed by Peter Horbury, Concept You builds on Concept Universe, which was shown at Shanghai 2011, and is based on Volvo’s new Scalable Platform Architecture. The fastback bodywork riffs on the Merc CLS and Audi A7 with, according to Horbury, ‘uncluttered, organic surfaces and superb craftsmanship that radiate timeless luxury’. These simple lines are augmented by Geog Jensen-inspired wheels (come on, the world-famous Danish design house), front grille and LED headlamps that mimic blocks of ice. Inside, meanwhile, buttons and controls are a thing of the past, replaced instead by iPhone and iPad-inspired touchscreens.
The Concept You control centre consists of four main areas; a digital Driver Information Monitor (DIM), a head-up display on the windscreen, a touch-screen in the upper part of the centre console and a touchscreen between the two individual rear seats. The touchscreen in the upper part of the centre console remains in sleeping mode until the driver looks at it. A hidden infrared camera registers the eye movements and information is displayed on the screen. Another sensor registers hand movements and, says Volvo, the whole system is intelligent enough to differentiate between passenger and driver – so the car will allow a passenger to access the internet, while keeping it out of bounds to the driver, for instance.
Meanwhile, steps have been taken to differentiate the front and rear of the cabin, with a darker, more dynamic front morphing into a calmer, more lounge-like rear. The four individual seats are trimmed in a blend of leather and ecological suede, the backs of the front seats and the door panels also receiving so-called ‘exclusive Italian fabric’ alongside designs from trendy Swede Oscar Jacobson. It’s probably best you remove your wellies too: the wooden floor is covered with hand-tufted carpet that’s dark and firm in the front and – got it yet? – light and soft in the back.
‘We are carving out a unique position among the luxury car makers with our special kind of Scandinavian Design,’ says Horbury. ‘It will be unmatched in performance, technology and craftsmanship, but without superficiality or complication.’
Could this be a much-needed tonic to the sombre German hegemony? Ask us again when the next S80 arrives.
Designed by Peter Horbury, Concept You builds on Concept Universe, which was shown at Shanghai 2011, and is based on Volvo’s new Scalable Platform Architecture. The fastback bodywork riffs on the Merc CLS and Audi A7 with, according to Horbury, ‘uncluttered, organic surfaces and superb craftsmanship that radiate timeless luxury’. These simple lines are augmented by Geog Jensen-inspired wheels (come on, the world-famous Danish design house), front grille and LED headlamps that mimic blocks of ice. Inside, meanwhile, buttons and controls are a thing of the past, replaced instead by iPhone and iPad-inspired touchscreens.
The Concept You control centre consists of four main areas; a digital Driver Information Monitor (DIM), a head-up display on the windscreen, a touch-screen in the upper part of the centre console and a touchscreen between the two individual rear seats. The touchscreen in the upper part of the centre console remains in sleeping mode until the driver looks at it. A hidden infrared camera registers the eye movements and information is displayed on the screen. Another sensor registers hand movements and, says Volvo, the whole system is intelligent enough to differentiate between passenger and driver – so the car will allow a passenger to access the internet, while keeping it out of bounds to the driver, for instance.
Meanwhile, steps have been taken to differentiate the front and rear of the cabin, with a darker, more dynamic front morphing into a calmer, more lounge-like rear. The four individual seats are trimmed in a blend of leather and ecological suede, the backs of the front seats and the door panels also receiving so-called ‘exclusive Italian fabric’ alongside designs from trendy Swede Oscar Jacobson. It’s probably best you remove your wellies too: the wooden floor is covered with hand-tufted carpet that’s dark and firm in the front and – got it yet? – light and soft in the back.
‘We are carving out a unique position among the luxury car makers with our special kind of Scandinavian Design,’ says Horbury. ‘It will be unmatched in performance, technology and craftsmanship, but without superficiality or complication.’
Could this be a much-needed tonic to the sombre German hegemony? Ask us again when the next S80 arrives.
Land Rover DC100 concept (2011) - it's the new Defender
>> UPDATED STORY: a second Land Rover Defender concept has been unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt show. Read about it here.
The new Land Rover DC100 concept car, ready for a 2011 Frankfurt motor show arrival - points to the company's planned replacement for the Defender 4x4.
Land Rover has now confirmed officially that it'll launch a successor to the Defender in 2015, and the DC100 provides plenty of clues to what we could expect.
So the Land Rover DC100 is the new Defender?
Hang on a minute. Not quite. Land Rover today kicks off a process of deciphering what a Defender should stand for in the new millennium.
The current Defender has changed little for decades, and dwindling sales suggest that Gaydon needs to reinvent the hardcore 4x4 DNA to keep it relevant in these carbon-crunched times.
Insiders suggest that Land Rover must keep the honesty and purity of the Defender, so it appeals to core markets such as the agricultural and country communities, as well as rescue services and third-world buyers.
But how should it stretch up to appeal to car owners more used to creature comforts? That is the challenge that Land Rover faces.
The DC100 is one interpretation for how a future Defender could look. It's short, squat and modern. Are we alone in spotting a hint of Skoda Yeti in the side profile and glass treatment?
At the front, there is a new chopped-circle headlamp graphic, and a fresh design to the Land Rover honeycomb grille. The mud-plugging photo suggests that Land Rover will make sure the DC100 and future Defenders can cope with the brown stuff as well as before.
Land Rover design chief Gerry McGovern on the DC100
'Replacing the iconic Defender is one of the biggest challenges in the automotive design world; it is a car that inspires people worldwide,' he said. 'This isn't a production-ready concept but the beginning of a four-year journey to design a relevant Defender for the 21st century.'
John Edwards, global brand director Land Rover, added: 'Loved the world over for its simple, honest and distinctive design, we are determined that the new Defender will be true to its heritage, while meeting the requirements of a changing global market.
'We plan to engage with existing and potential customers to help us finalise the details of the new vehicle. One thing's for sure, it's going to be an exciting journey, and we can't wait to get going.'
The new Land Rover DC100 concept car, ready for a 2011 Frankfurt motor show arrival - points to the company's planned replacement for the Defender 4x4.
Land Rover has now confirmed officially that it'll launch a successor to the Defender in 2015, and the DC100 provides plenty of clues to what we could expect.
So the Land Rover DC100 is the new Defender?
Hang on a minute. Not quite. Land Rover today kicks off a process of deciphering what a Defender should stand for in the new millennium.
The current Defender has changed little for decades, and dwindling sales suggest that Gaydon needs to reinvent the hardcore 4x4 DNA to keep it relevant in these carbon-crunched times.
Insiders suggest that Land Rover must keep the honesty and purity of the Defender, so it appeals to core markets such as the agricultural and country communities, as well as rescue services and third-world buyers.
But how should it stretch up to appeal to car owners more used to creature comforts? That is the challenge that Land Rover faces.
The DC100 is one interpretation for how a future Defender could look. It's short, squat and modern. Are we alone in spotting a hint of Skoda Yeti in the side profile and glass treatment?
At the front, there is a new chopped-circle headlamp graphic, and a fresh design to the Land Rover honeycomb grille. The mud-plugging photo suggests that Land Rover will make sure the DC100 and future Defenders can cope with the brown stuff as well as before.
Land Rover design chief Gerry McGovern on the DC100
'Replacing the iconic Defender is one of the biggest challenges in the automotive design world; it is a car that inspires people worldwide,' he said. 'This isn't a production-ready concept but the beginning of a four-year journey to design a relevant Defender for the 21st century.'
John Edwards, global brand director Land Rover, added: 'Loved the world over for its simple, honest and distinctive design, we are determined that the new Defender will be true to its heritage, while meeting the requirements of a changing global market.
'We plan to engage with existing and potential customers to help us finalise the details of the new vehicle. One thing's for sure, it's going to be an exciting journey, and we can't wait to get going.'
Jaguar C-X16 sports car (2011) at Frankfurt motor show
When is a concept car not a concept car? When it’s a ‘production concept’, to use Jaguar’s oft-repeated description at the unveiling of the new Jag C-X16 coupe at the Frankfurt motor show today.
Officially the two-seat, supercharged V6 coupe hasn’t got the green light. Unofficially this is the R version of a production car which is almost certain to be in showrooms in 2013.
Interviewing the bosses behind the Jaguar C-X16 concept car
‘For technical feasibility, we now know where we stand,’ Jaguar’s global brand director Adrian Hallmark told CAR GAMES Online. According to Hallmark, every element – from side impact safety to a nose that meets pedestrian protection – conforms with production car regulations. Aside from carbonfibre seats which are too thin to accommodate side airbags. For now.
‘We could have cliniced it quietly, but we’ve chosen to show it loudly at Frankfurt,’ said Hallmark. ‘The whole world has been speculating that Jaguar’s going to build a Boxster competitor. No, we are not going to build a £35,000 sports car.’ Instead the C-X16 is gunning for base 911s.
Jag C-X16: target 911
‘It’s as quick as a 911, it’s priced between Cayman and 911. We will attack the market that we don’t with the XK,’ said Hallmark. Set to cost from £55,000 to £75,000, the C-X16 is a little shorter and wider than the [997] 911 Carrera – and it's fractionally quicker.
The 375bhp supercharged V6 can power the C-X16 from standstill to 62mph in 4.4sec. Hallmark says the car would feel much more darty and agile than the grand touring character of Jaguar’s existing XK.
The hybrid bit
The concept’s drivetrain incorporates a KERS-style electric motor, which delivers a 173lb ft slug of torque for 10-second overtaking bursts. Thanks to Jaguar’s trademark aluminium monocoque construction, the C-X16 weighs 1600kg, with the KERS system adding up to 150kg of that mass. Combined fuel consumption is a claimed 41mpg.
Officially the two-seat, supercharged V6 coupe hasn’t got the green light. Unofficially this is the R version of a production car which is almost certain to be in showrooms in 2013.
Interviewing the bosses behind the Jaguar C-X16 concept car
‘For technical feasibility, we now know where we stand,’ Jaguar’s global brand director Adrian Hallmark told CAR GAMES Online. According to Hallmark, every element – from side impact safety to a nose that meets pedestrian protection – conforms with production car regulations. Aside from carbonfibre seats which are too thin to accommodate side airbags. For now.
‘We could have cliniced it quietly, but we’ve chosen to show it loudly at Frankfurt,’ said Hallmark. ‘The whole world has been speculating that Jaguar’s going to build a Boxster competitor. No, we are not going to build a £35,000 sports car.’ Instead the C-X16 is gunning for base 911s.
Jag C-X16: target 911
‘It’s as quick as a 911, it’s priced between Cayman and 911. We will attack the market that we don’t with the XK,’ said Hallmark. Set to cost from £55,000 to £75,000, the C-X16 is a little shorter and wider than the [997] 911 Carrera – and it's fractionally quicker.
The 375bhp supercharged V6 can power the C-X16 from standstill to 62mph in 4.4sec. Hallmark says the car would feel much more darty and agile than the grand touring character of Jaguar’s existing XK.
The hybrid bit
The concept’s drivetrain incorporates a KERS-style electric motor, which delivers a 173lb ft slug of torque for 10-second overtaking bursts. Thanks to Jaguar’s trademark aluminium monocoque construction, the C-X16 weighs 1600kg, with the KERS system adding up to 150kg of that mass. Combined fuel consumption is a claimed 41mpg.
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