This Hyundai Geneva concept signals a new design era for the brand

Hyundai says the Le Fil Rouge concept starts a new era for the brand’s design while keeping a strong link to its past. The automaker said all future Hyundai models will be based on the Le Fil Rouge theme, which is French for common thread.

“[The design] is so seamless it looks like the vehicle was drawn with one single line,” Sang-yup Lee, Hyundai’s head of styling, said while introducing the concept at the auto show here.

Hyundai said that the Le Fil Rouge theme is a reinterpretation of the design language that originated in 1974 with the brand’s Hyundai Coupe Concept.

The new theme creates a proportional character based on the so-called “golden ratio” – a common mathematical ratio found in nature – that enabled Hyundai designers to create an aesthetically pleasing, natural-looking composition.

The front and the rear pillars as well as the roof are blended into the overarching silhouette of the car. Proportional uniqueness is achieved through a long wheelbase, large wheels and short overhangs, which make the 4500mm car look bigger.

Hyundai calls this theme will be extended to all future Hyundai vehicles. The goal of this new theme is to bring instinctive beauty, creating emotional value and desirability in Hyundai vehicles, the automaker said in release.

When asked whether Le Fil Rouge shows Hyundai’s intention to move the brand upscale Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, vice president marketing and product at Hyundai Europe, said that was not the case. He said Le Fil Rouge features such as the cascading grille will appear in the brand’s production cars very soon.

“Hyundai concept starts new design era for brand” originally appeared in Automotive News on 3/7/2018

BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe debuts in Geneva

The new BMW 8-Series isn’t even out yet, but the automaker used the Geneva auto show to take the wraps off a four-door performance sedan concept version that it is calling the “BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe.” It’s best to think of this concept as a preview to an inevitable four-door 8-Series. Following the lead of the 6-Series Gran Coupe (which is actually quite nice), this concept is much like a 7-Series.

The BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe takes the four-door coupe trend and applies it to a large passenger car, ahead of the debuts of the production versions of the 8-Series coupe and convertible later this summer and fall. This concept previews a later, four-door version of the platform due in 2019.

“The BMW 8-Series will take over as the new flagship model of the BMW lineup and, as such, combines unsurpassed sportiness and elegance,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, senior vice president BMW Group Design. “The BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe offers a look ahead to the most exotic and alluring variant of the new BMW 8-Series.”

The Concept M8 Gran Coupe shows off the latest BMW design elements, some of which might make production; the large coupe/sedan features a huge front fascia with exaggerated everything and a fastback profile leading to a duck-tail trunk lid.
 

The BMW 8-Series coupe and convertible are expected to debut later this year.

“The BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe is designed to stir things up, to polarize — it should move you emotionally,” said Domagoj Dukec, vice president Design BMW M and BMW i. “With this car we want to reach people who are looking for something special and who want to stand out from the crowd. Here, BMW M is unmistakably taking luxury out of its comfort zone.”

The long wheelbase of the concept is almost dwarfed by the large features of the front fascia, meant to communicate a sense of performance, with the sleek line of the greenhouse skipping the flat plane roof of the 7-Series. The result is a visually small cabin positioned far back from the front axle and a coupe-like profile.

The surface details on the hood and doors also reinforce the performance flavor of the concept, which wears a Saleve Vert paint finish that appears to switch from grayish blue to green under different lighting conditions.

“The face of the new BMW 8-Series is evident in the new Concept’s front-end graphic,” BMW says. “The contours of the radiator grille kidneys broaden as they descend toward the road, emphasising the car’s low center of gravity. As on early BMW coupes, the kidney elements are linked by an unbroken grille surround, creating a large single element. The headlights are positioned slightly higher than the kidneys and give them the impression of sitting lower, which further emphasizes the car’s closeness to the asphalt. In contrast, the gold-colored kidney surround brings an added air of exclusivity to the front end. Within the headlights, the lighting technology familiar from the M8 GTE endurance racer provides a dynamic, hexagonal interpretation of BMW’s signature four-eyed front end, distilling elements of modern-day motor sport and luxurious quality into its inner details. Meanwhile, brawny air intakes in carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) guide the air to where it is required.”

We’ll see the 8-Series coupe and convertible later this year, but it will take a little longer for a production version of the 8-Series Gran Coupe to materialize. BMW’s pursuit of this unlikely segment, at a time when large SUVs are on their way back, may have more to do with Mercedes’ success in this price range — BMW lacks competitors to the S-Class coupe and cabrio, or at least will for a few more months.

Maserati takes its whole lineup at Geneva motor show and paints it black

Maserati didn’t bring any new vehicles to the Geneva auto show, but it did outfit its whole line in matte black and added Nerissimo Editions of the Ghibili, Quattroporte and Levante to its luxury Italian fleet. Black chrome is used for the grille frame, trident, side vents, trunk and Maserati badge. Black grille bars, door handles, exhaust tips and window trim complete the package.

Inside, the Nerissimo cars receive minor changes. The Ghibili gets heated sport seats and steering wheel with dark mirror trim. Carbon fiber and piano black are available, as well as tinted windows and a power rear sunshade. The Quattroporte gets either carbon or piano black trim, a new rearview camera with grid lines, a power trunklid, Homelink and keyless entry that extends to the rear doors. The Levante SUV gets heated sport seats, four-zone climate control and power foot pedals.

The company did make some news at the show. It’s GranLusso (luxury) and GranSport (sport) trims will now be available across the range as opposed to just in the Quattroporte. Maserati brought a Ghibli S Q4 GranLusso in white with 20-inch Urano diamond wheels and an Ermenegildo Zegna silk interior with red leather. It was flanked by a Quattroporte GranLusso in blue with beige leather and wood inserts, and a GranCabrio MC in white with 20-inch wheels, black brake calipers, leather and synthetic suede.

New to the range of sedans and SUVs is electronic power steering, which facilitates new safety functions like highway assist, lane keeping and blind spot detection. But don’t worry, Maserati says this improves comfort and handling yet retains the “excellent maneuverability typical of every Maserati.”

The model year 2018 GranTurismo and GranCabrio also got a gentle restyling, an interior upgrade and a new driver interface and infotainment system.

Jaguar releases ‘Greatest Hits’ XJ6 for Iron Maiden drummer

The Jaguar XJ is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and Jaguar’s Classic division is showing off the model’s “Greatest Hits” at the Geneva auto show in the form of a 1984 XJ6, restored for Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain.

A 1984 XJ6 seems like an unlikely starting point for such a project, but this is more than a restoration, as Jaguar Classic made quite a few custom design changes to the exterior, interior, suspension and drivetrain, creating a unique classic sedan in the process.

Over 4,000 parts were redesigned, refinished or replaced during the 3,500 hours devoted to this build, as Jaguar Classic worked with McBrain to create his dream XJ6.

The differences on the outside may seem subtle at first, but Jaguar created unique front and rear bumpers for this 4.2-liter XJ6. It also flared the body and reprofiled the front and rear wheel arches, which house custom 18-inch wire wheels that wear 235/45R-18 Pirelli P Zero tires. Still not done, Jaguar converted the headlights to LEDs, fabricated unique door sills and fitted the rear suspension with adjustable dampers. The Classic division fitted this XJ6 with modern door sealing and sound insulation for reduced wind and road noise. Inside, there’s an integrated touchscreen featuring satellite navigation, a rearview camera and a phone. Jaguar even upgraded systems like air conditioning and remote central locking. In a project this extensive, you can be sure that the interior has been completely retrimmed, and the finished Jag now wears a bright red leather interior.

Jaguar refitted the interior with new seats and retrimmed everything, in addition to adding a new sound system.

“Creating this ‘Greatest Hits’ XJ, and the whole process of bringing someone’s automotive dream to life, has been extraordinarily rewarding for the Jaguar Classic team,” said Tim Hannig, Jaguar Land Rover Classic director. “It’s been a pleasure to work with Nicko, and we’re looking forward to hearing the reaction to this project.”

And, of course, there is a modern sound system with guitar amplifier-inspired control knobs made from aluminum, as well as USB connectivity.

“This is my ultimate XJ — my third, and lovingly, named ‘Johnny 3,'” McBrain said. “It has been a true labor of love between Jaguar Classic and myself. I’m so excited by its completion and especially to be showing it at Geneva — it really is a Greatest Hits edition, and to me it defines what the Jaguar XJ is all about. It’s a credit to the craftsmanship of the Jaguar Classic team. We couldn’t have timed it better, this being the 50th anniversary of XJ — my favorite of all Jaguar vehicles.”
 

Jaguar Classic created new front and rear bumpers for this XJ6.

The reborn XJ6 also features harder-to-spot custom touches like recessed fuel caps and Series 2 XJ wing mirrors and door handles, for a more elegant look. The flared wheel arches give this XJ a wider stance — which suits this bodystyle well — while 18-inch wire wheels give it a classic air.

Wheel choice has always been one of the most difficult aspects of the look of an XJ, and the larger-diameter wire wheels chosen for this build work surprisingly well without signaling a significant departure from a stock appearance.

“Preserved components from Nicko’s first XJ6, which spent many years on the grounds of the home of Iron Maiden bass guitarist Steve Harris following Nicko’s move to America, are present elsewhere in the build too: from the iconic Jaguar leaper hood mascot, which first attracted Nicko to buy the car, to the original ignition keys from 1984,” Jaguar said.

Mercedes-AMG stretches GT sports car into a 4-door for Geneva

Mercedes-Benz broke the cone of silence on the AMG GT Four-Door Coupe (known as a “sedan” outside Germany) at the Geneva auto show on Tuesday. The Affalterbach-bred sports sedan gets a choice of the new 429-hp, 384-lb-ft 3.0-liter I6 in the GT53 model, a 577-hp, 553-lb-ft twin-turbo V8 in the GT63 or 630 hp, 627 lb-ft from the same V8 in the GT63 S model. All get nine-speed automatics. The I6 comes with a torque converter automatic; the V8s replace that torque converter with clutches in Mercedes’ MCT transmission; all get 4Matic all-wheel drive. Top speed is 174 mph for the six, 193 mph for the GT63 and 195 for the GT63 S. The short version: Speed won’t be a problem.

Balancing that speed will be a touch of efficiency. That sixer gets Mercedes’ new EQ Boost starter/alternator that can add 21 hp and 184 lb-ft in short bursts, along with a 48-volt electrical system.  The V8 versions come with AMG cylinder management, which can deactivate up to four cylinders, depending on conditions, to save fuel. We don’t know how much fuel yet because we don’t have EPA figures.

Mercedes is calling this its first four-door sports car. It follows the company’s “sensual purity” design philosophy with a long hood featuring two power domes, a low greenhouse and AMG’s new grille and “shark nose” front bumper. Blacked-out side window frames elongate the profile, as does the raked rear window. Both front and back lights are slim and the rear gets an extendable spoiler.

The bodyshell was developed alongside the company’s race cars, using motorsport analysis and simulation methods to reinforce the structure where necessary for “maximum performance.” In the center and tail end, Mercedes uses carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic to save weight and improve stiffness, giving an “optimum basis for high lateral dynamics potential.”

All AMG GT four-doors get adaptive damping. I6 models come with steel springs, while the V8s get the company’s multichamber air suspension. Mercedes adds that the electronically controlled locking rear differential (standard on GT63 and GT63 S, not available on the GT53) has a new reinforced mount to lower noise, vibration and harshness. The 4Matic plus AWD system uses an electromechanically controlled clutch to connect the front and rear axles. The system varies the torque as necessary depending on driver input. Like the E63 AMG, the GT four-door gets a drift mode where all the power is sent rearward. Drift mode is standard on the S, optional on the GT63 and not available on the American-spec GT53.

Additionally, the V8 models come standard with rear-wheel steering, using the same setup as the rest of this new breed. At slow speeds, the rear wheels point in the opposite direction to tighten turning radius; at higher speeds, they turn in the same direction to increase stability using two electric actuator motors.

Like all good AMGs, the GT four-door comes with drive modes for slippery, comfort, sport, sport-plus and race that affect the steering, power application, transmission and traction control. As you turn the knob toward race, you get more power, quicker shifts and less intervention from the safety systems.

As for the most important safety system, the brakes, Mercedes has you covered. V8 models get six-piston front calipers and single-piston floating calipers at the rear. The GT63 gets red clampers, the GT63 S gets yellow. The GT53 has smaller discs but still a six-pack of pistons in front inside silver calipers. Ceramic brakes are offered, in bronze. Surrounding those brakes are 19-, 20- or 21-inch AMG-specific wheels.

Moving from the corners to the interior, the GT four-doors get a new steering wheel with controls for infotainment and drive modes, turbine air vents like its two-door counterpart, two 12.3-inch widescreen displays and the usual central controller with swipe and pinch motions. A program called AMG Track Pace can keep your lap times, check your sprint times and log your lateral and longitudinal g-forces.

Elsewhere inside, buyers will be offered the usual array of Mercedes stuff, including diamond quilting on the seats in leather or microfiber, carbon-fiber or brushed metallic accents and an executive rear seat package that comes with a touchscreen between the back seats for calling up dynamic data via the AMG menu, controlling the ambient lighting or adjusting the climate control and seat heating.

The first AMG GT four-doors come in early 2019; the I6-powered GT53 comes later next year.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Giulia Nurburgring editions to debut in Geneva

To celebrate two separate records at the famed Nurburgring circuit, Alfa Romeo plans to offer special-edition versions of its Giulia Quadrifoglio sedan and Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV, and will bring both to the Geneva auto show in a matter of days.

Back in 2016, the Giulia Quadrifoglio set a lap time of 7 minutes, 32 seconds around the ‘Ring, making it the fastest production sedan (at the time) to lap the circuit. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio followed a year later with a lap of 7 minutes, 51.7 seconds. The Stelvio’s record stands to this day even though the Giulia’s was surpassed a short time later by a Jaguar XE SV Project 8.

And to celebrate both records, the Italian automaker will build 108 examples of “NRING” editions of each model, signifying the 108 years of the Alfa Romeo marque.

Each NRING edition will wear an exclusive Circuito gray color and feature carbon-fiber side skirt inserts, mirror caps and front badges. Each NRING edition will also feature an Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, Sparco racing seats with red stitching and a Mopar automatic transmission knob with a carbon-fiber insert. When it comes to infotainment, both versions will come optioned with Alfa Connect 3-D Nav infotainment systems with 8.8-inch screens and the Harman Kardon premium audio package. The biggest change in terms of equipment will be an all-new bare carbon-fiber roof for the Giulia.

The interiors of both models will feature special trim and badges.

“It is no coincidence that these two outstanding cars bear the name of the famous German circuit: Alfa Romeo cars started to record victories at the Nurburgring in the 1930s, in the hands of world-class drivers such as Tazio Nuvolari, who won the German Grand Prix at the wheel of a 8C 2300 Tipo Monza in 1932 and a Tipo B-P3 in 1935,” Alfa Romeo said in announcing the special-edition vehicles. “Other memorable years were 1966, when the Giulia Sprint GTA became the first GT to make it round the ‘Ring in under 10 minutes, and 1975, when the 33 TT 12 driven by Arturo Merzario triumphed in Germany before going on to win the World Sportscar Championship. Last but not least, on June 10, 1993, Nicola Larini’s 155 V6 Ti won both heats of the most prestigious race of the DTM championship, held on the Nurburgring circuit. The Italian driver repeated Nuvolari’s feat by winning the race with a crushing victory over the other cars, all of them German.”

No word yet on how many of these special-edition vehicles (if any) the U.S. will get, but as the Geneva auto show gets going we hope to hear more concrete details about price and availability.

Hennessey’s 1,600-hp Venom F5 is headed to Geneva

Designed to be the fastest road car on the planet with a promised top speed in excess of 300 mph, the Venom F5 is heading to the Geneva motor show next week after an official debut at SEMA late last year. This should give the all-new hypercar a wider audience, even though it won’t get anywhere near its top speed on Swiss roads.

The Venom F5, just 24 of which will be built, is powered by a 7.4-liter biturbo V8 pumping out a claimed 1,600 hp and 1,300 lb-ft of torque, with all that power sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed single-clutch paddle-shift transmission. With a curb weight of just 2,950 pounds, the Venom F5 can get to 186 mph in less than 10 seconds, while a trip from 0 to 249 mph reportedly takes less than 30 seconds.

As you may have noticed back when the car debuted at SEMA, the Venom F5’s recipe for getting north of 200 mph is quite different from that of the Bugatti Veyron and Chiron, which the Venom will taunt in Geneva.
 

Now, about that 300-mph-plus claim; Hennessey has yet to give the Venom F5 an opportunity to really stretch its legs, but company founder and CEO John Hennessey believes that the car will be able to top 300 mph.

With a starting price of $1.6 million, the Venom F5 still promises to be a civilized machine rather than some kind of top fuel dragster wearing a Potemkin-style, Lambo-shaped shell. The cabin will be filled with Alcantara and carbon fiber, even though interior photos do not evidence the presence of any cupholders. Perhaps that’s somewhere in the option book, which will reportedly offer $600,000 worth of additional equipment. (All we’re asking for is a cupholder — how much can it possibly be?)

In the meantime, we’ll wait for a video of the Venom F5 proving its claimed feats of speed.
 

BMW teases Geneva motor show reveal on social media

BMW revealed a darkened picture of its Geneva auto show concept on its Instagram page on Wednesday. It’s in a sweet shade of seafoam green and looks a lot like an Aston Martin Rapide. We’re guessing it’s a variant of the new 8-Series, possibly the M8 or what might become the 8-Series Gran Coupe. We don’t have much to go on.

If it is an 8-Series, we know it’ll get coupe, convertible and M variants. In September, rumors were swirling of a four-door version. It will replace the 6-Series, which never sold particularly well, and it’ll probably go live for the 2019 model year. A 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 is probable, as well as a hybrid. If the 7-Series can do it, why not the 8? We’ll get more details in a week when we have boots on the ground in Switzerland.

The Hyundai Kona Electric packs 292 miles of range into a perfectly sensible subcompact package

If there’s an electric vehicle revolution happening, it’s happening in waves. First came the science experiments and cobbled-together compliance cars, expensive and only marginally practical; then, high-dollar, high-performance products for the few (this is the domain of Tesla, and companies like Porsche want in). Now we’re looking at a tide of EVs with true mass-market potential: practical, mainstream and relatively affordable offerings with comfortable ranges offered by major automakers.

And you can’t get more mainstream than a subcompact crossover. hence, the Hyundai Kona Electric. The EV will make its real-world debut at the 2018 Geneva motor show, but it’s been revealed online ahead of that.

Hyundai says the Kona Electric is the world’s first fully electric subcompact SUV — good timing on the automaker’s part, given how popular these things are becoming. And if you consider a slightly lifted, moderately ruggedized hatchback to be an SUV, then yeah, they’re right. Its looks and stance will help separate it from the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt and even the Tesla Model 3, which are all vaguely similar in size.

Inside the Kona Electric. Note the gear selector buttons on the center console.

In case you haven’t noticed, Hyundai seems to be rolling out vehicles with every sort of powertrain imaginable: gasoline, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fuel cell (which we just test-drove in the form of the Hyundai Nexo) and electric. It might seem scattershot, but we can see the underlying logic; globally, different markets are facing different regulatory regimes. What works in one country might be banned in another in the coming decades, and besides, no one is really sure what future tech will stand the test of time.

Electric vehicles seem to be a safe bet. Though they’re just a tiny fraction of the global automotive market and seem destined to remain that way for quite some time, they dwarf the number of hydrogen-powered cars on the road. And adding charging stations to home garages or apartment parking lots is a lot easier than building a complete hydrogen infrastructure.
 

The Kona Electric cruising down some Highway of Tomorrow

As for the Kona Electric production specs: It will be offered with two powertrains. The big one gets a 64 kWh battery and a 150 kw motor (that’s about 201 hp), and it’s good for 292 miles of range. Plus, if you’re less concerned with maxing out that range, it’ll do 0-62 mph in 7.6 seconds — not exactly Ludicrous Mode, but not bad for this sort of vehicle. The base version gets a 39.2 kWh battery, a 99 kw battery and a 186-mile range. On a DC quick charger, you’ll be able recharge either version to 80 percent capacity in about 54 minutes.

Hyundai seems to be using this vehicle as a tech showcase, so it comes loaded with the company’s SmartSense safety and driving assistance features. Smart cruise control, lane keeping and lane following aren’t exclusive to the Kona Electric by any means, but it’s unusual for them to come standard on a vehicle in this size class.

Hyundai hasn’t commented on potential North American availability for the Kona Electric, nor do we have a sense of what such a vehicle would cost if it went on sale here. But from its body style to its very usuable range, it seems logic enough. While we’re waiting for US market news, we’ll let you know what it’s like in person in Geneva.
 

Graham Kozak – Graham Kozak drove a 1951 Packard 200 sedan in high school because he wanted something that would be easy to find in a parking lot. He thinks all the things they’re doing with fuel injection and seatbelts these days are pretty nifty too.
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The Alpina XD3 will whoosh into the Geneva motor show with four turbos

Tri-turbos are so last season. In case you had any doubt about Alpina’s ability to cook up wonderfully delicious diesel BMWs, the tuning house’s Geneva motor show wares should serve as a timely reminder: Alpina will use the event to show off the 2019 BMW X3-based XD3, which packs a quad-turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel inline-six good for 388 hp and 567 lb-ft of torque.

Yes, those are four turbochargers whooshing away at the common-rail high-pressure direct-injected diesel, and with the help of an eight-speed automatic they propel this locomotive from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.6 seconds, and up to a top speed of 165 mph.

If four turbos is two turbos too many, Alpina will also offer a twin-turbo version of this 3.0-liter diesel inline-six in the X3, good for a still-respectable 333 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Acceleration time drops to 4.9 seconds in this version, but there’s still plenty of torque to pull out tree stumps in the Black Forest.

These stats should give prospective buyers of the gasoline-engined X3 something to think about. If they’re based in Europe, that is. Alpina’s wares rarely make it to the states, even though BMW has offered a few models like the Z8 and the B7 from time to time.

The XD3 also features a slightly reworked interior in addition to 22-inch wheels, a retuned suspension with electronically adjustable dampers and a bodykit.

There’s more to the XD3 than the turbo count and the insane levels of torque: Electronically adjustable dampers, an active limited-slip rear differential, 22-inch wheels and a relatively restrained body kit help round out the package. And, as always, it helps to order one of these in the Alpina-friendly colors like dark blue or dark green.

Depending on who you listen to diesel may be on its way out in Europe, but on paper the XD3 is one of the best arguments we’ve seen to keep diesel around a little while longer, or mandate Alpina-tuned quad-turbo setups for any diesel BMW offered stateside.

We’ll have to wait until the Geneva motor show to find out just how much all this goodness costs, and until that time we’ll put Alpina to the top of the list of the reasons why the U.S. needs more diesel vehicles. And more turbos.

Geneva Motor Show: Here’s everything we expect to see

Several long-awaited Tesla-fighting models from European automakers will be the center of attention at this year’s Geneva auto show.

After years of dismissing talk of a Tesla threat, alarm bells went off when the Model S outsold the Mercedes-Benz S class and BMW 7 series in Europe for the first time last year.

If Tesla overcomes its Model 3 production glitches, traditional automakers will have a bigger cause for concern, Evercore ISI analyst Arndt Ellinghorst said in an investor note last week.

Jaguar’s I-Pace electric crossover is seen by industry watchers as the first credible all-electric Tesla rival. Audi, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz also will showcase electric vehicles aimed at Tesla.

Geneva also highlights the industry’s shift toward electrification in the top-end and lower price brackets. Bentley will debut its first plug-in hybrid, while Hyundai premieres a battery-powered version of its new Kona small crossover.

BMW’s Z4 and Toyota’s Supra successor are likely to be among the showstoppers. The automakers developed the sports cars together.

General Motors’ former Opel brand, owned by France’s PSA Group, is skipping the show with nothing new to offer. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Fiat brands will be there but without all-new products. Ford is limiting itself to showing the European version of its freshened Edge crossover, saving its big European launch of the year, the Focus, for a standalone event in April.

The show is open to the public March 8-18.

Here’s a look at debuts planned.

Audi

The e-tron battery-powered crossover that will rival the Tesla Model X and Jaguar I-Pace is not expected to be on Audi’s show stand because it will be officially unveiled in August at an event in Brussels, where it is being built. However, some e-trons are expected to be displayed on the show grounds for test drives. The e-tron is already available to order in some European markets and is expected to go on sale in the U.S. next year. Audi is expected to debut its latest A6 sedan. The Mercedes E-class and BMW 5-series rival will get technology and styling cues from the recently re-engineered A8 and A7 models. It moves to a new platform and will be lighter and more agile than the current car.

Bentley

The Bentayga plug-in hybrid will be Bentley’s first electrified vehicle. The hybrid drivetrain likely will be similar to that of the Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid, which mates a 2.9-liter V-6 with a 136-hp electric motor for a combined power output of 462 hp. The Panamera plug-in can travel 30 miles on electric power.

BMW

BMW’s new Z4 roadster is expected to debut, as is its Toyota sibling, the Supra successor. The automakers began cooperating on sports cars in 2012 as part of a technology sharing agreement. BMW previewed its version with the Concept Z4 last summer at Pebble Beach. The Z4 gets a fabric roof while Toyota’s version is a coupe.

BMW ramps up its focus on profit-boosting, high-margin sports cars with the 8-series coupe. The luxury grand tourer will go on sale this year as a rival to the Mercedes S-class coupe. Its production form closely follows the Concept 8 series shown at the 2017 Villa d’Este concours d’elegance in Italy. BMW is also expected to show a near-production concept for a high-performance, 600-hp M8 version.

The second-generation X4 gets a show debut. The coupe-styled crossover moves to BMW’s CLAR platform and becomes lighter, more efficient and roomier with sportier riding dynamics.

Ferrari

The 710-hp 488 Pista is Ferrari’s most powerful V-8 car to date. The Pista goes from 0 to 62 mph in 2.85 seconds. Top speed is 211 mph. Ferrari said the midengine supercar’s sporty dynamics and technological carryover from racing are a significant step up from its previous special series models.

Ford

Ford will show a face-lifted European version of the Edge. The European version of the Focus compact will be Ford’s most important launch in the region this year but its unveiling is being saved for a standalone event in April. Ford will also show its Ka+ budget subcompact hatchback with a face-lift.

Giugiaro

Designer Giorgetto Giugiaro’s GFG Style will unveil an electric sedan concept developed with Chinese energy management company Envision. The concept has autonomous driving capability.

Hyundai

Hyundai will debut its redesigned Santa Fe crossover and expand its green car offerings with the Nexo fuel cell crossover and a battery-powered version of its Kona subcompact crossover.

The Santa Fe is longer and wider than the current model, giving it a bigger cabin. It also gets a more premium interior and new safety features such as a rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance system to automatically brake the car if it detects vehicles about to cross its path when reversing.

The Nexo is built on a new dedicated fuel cell platform unlike its predecessor, which was a retrofitted Tucson. The new platform allowed Hyundai to boost electric motor output to 120 kilowatts from 100 and extend its driving range by 30 percent to around 350 miles. Hyundai said the Nexo’s blind-spot detection system, which shows drivers rear and side views while changing lanes, is an industry first.

U.S. sales start in the fourth quarter.

Hyundai will add a full-electric version of its Kona subcompact crossover, which replaces the Accent hatchback. Hyundai said the Kona EV will have a range of up to 300 miles on a single charge. U.S. sales have not been confirmed.

Italdesign

The Zerouno targa is the second product from the Italian design house’s new Automobili Speciali division created last year to build limited-production cars. Italdesign, which is part of Volkswagen Group, will build five units of the $2.4 million, V-10- powered two-seat targa, which shares its platform with the Audi R8 and Lamborghini Huracan. Italdesign will also show an evolution of its Pop.Up flying car developed with aircraft manufacturer Airbus.

Jaguar

The production version of the I-Pace, Jaguar’s battery-powered five-seat crossover, will debut. The I-Pace concept was unveiled at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show. The I-Pace is built on a unique, aluminum-intensive platform and has a range of 220 miles from its 400-hp twin electric motors.

Land Rover

Land Rover’s Range Rover subbrand will add the limited-edition three-door Coupe SV as its new flagship model. The SUV will be Land Rover’s most expensive model when it goes on sale this year.

Lexus

The UX small crossover is the production version of the UX Concept shown at the 2016 Paris auto show. It will get a more toned-down design than the aggressive-looking Concept, which had heavy creasing, bold blister fenders, angular wheel wells and a massive mesh version of the brand’s trademark spindle grille.

The UX is expected to be based off the Toyota C-HR subcompact crossover, which is built on Toyota’s TNGA modular platform that underpins the Prius. Powertrain details for the UX are under wraps, but a hybrid is certain to be among the options. All-wheel drive is also a possibility.

McLaren

McLaren says the 789-hp Senna is its most powerful road-legal track car to date. The midengine coupe is powered by a twin-turbocharged V-8 engine. It’s named after former Formula One champion Ayrton Senna. The supercar accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds. Top speed is 211 mph. McLaren is building 500 units of the car and they are already sold, priced at £750,000 ($1 million) in the automaker’s UK home market.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes says it will show its first series-production model with battery-electric drive but offered no further details except to say it will provide a look to the future portfolio of its EQ subbrand. The model could preview a Tesla Model X rival based on the Generation EQ concept that Mercedes unveiled at the 2016 Paris show.

Mercedes will show the production AMG GT Coupe after the concept’s unveiling last year. Despite the word coupe in its name, it has four doors and is expected to get AMG’s 4.0-liter turbocharged V-8 engine with 604 hp. A hybrid variant with 805 hp is also planned, reports said.

Mercedes will also show another high-performance model, the AMG variant of its latest G class. The Mercedes-AMG G63 is powered by a 577-hp, 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The high-performance SUV will reach the U.S. by the end of the year.

A big debut for Mercedes is the latest A-class compact hatchback. Mercedes touts the car as a “smartphone on wheels” because it will offer what the automaker says is the most advanced human-machine interface it has developed to date.

The A-class hatchback will go on sale in Europe in May. A sedan version will arrive in the U.S. late this year as the brand’s new entry-level model below the CLA.

Toyota

Toyota is expected to debut a concept for a successor to its Supra performance coupe. The company released a teaser picture for a “modern racing concept” this month. The Supra, which is being developed in partnership with BMW, is expected to get a BMW engine and underbody, with a Toyota-styled top. Toyota’s version is expected to put more emphasis on performance.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen brand’s I.D. Vizzion fastback concept will be used to test customer acceptance for a long electric vehicle in key sedan markets such as the U.S. and China, a VW spokeswoman said. The concept previews a possible flagship sedan that would be a battery-powered successor to the slow-selling Phaeton and would compete directly with the Tesla Model S. It has a system output of 225 kilowatts (equivalent to 302 hp) and its 111-kWh lithium ion batteries enable a driving range of up to 413 miles when braking regeneration is factored in. Top speed is 112 mph.

The Vizzion has no steering wheel or visible dashboard instruments and hints at what a fully autonomous VW car could look like.

Volvo

The redesigned V60 station wagon continues the electrification of Volvo’s lineup. The V60 will be offered in the U.S. with Volvo’s T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid that delivers 386 hp. Volvo has loaded the second-generation V60 with safety technology. One of its systems includes steering help when automatic braking would not stop a collision with another vehicle, pedestrian or large animal. The wagon also has a system that helps drivers avoid collisions with vehicles in the oncoming lane. The new V60 is longer than the current model but not as tall or wide. U.S. sales start this year.

“BMW, Toyota could steal the Geneva show” originally appeared in Automotive News on 2/26/2018

5 details that make the Ferrari Portofino so special

Faster, more comfortable, smoother and more efficient—Ferrari’s new Portofino hasn’t changed much in concept, but it’s better than the California T in just about every way. This is Ferrari’s most important car for key reasons, starting with the revenue stream, and it’s an obvious indicator how the little company in Maranello (and maybe its audience) has changed the last 25 years.

The important things are still here, of course: impressive power-to-weight ratio, crazy-high specific output, studied aerodynamics, Italian design and flair. There are new pieces of technology, too, though they aren’t always visible to the naked eye.

Herewith, five of the more interesting tech bits in the newest Ferrari. It isn’t clear if any will close an extra Portofino sale, but all of them caught our attention.

Passenger Video Display

Display screens of varying technologies are everywhere in cars these days, and more often than not they’re of the haptic-touch variety. The guiding principle for automotive designers seems to be that bigger screens are better. The Portofino also gets one, much bigger than that in the car it replaces, and it can be split to show two different views or data sets. As hard as it might be for old-school Ferrari geeks to wrap their minds around split touch-screens and 3D maps, the Portofino’s primary screen isn’t likely to get more than a passing mention in the typical drive review.

What pops more forcefully is a second touch screen, and something we haven’t seen elsewhere–an elongated, 8.8 inch LCD directly in front of the front passenger, hidden above the Portofino’s glove box in the space where you might expect a trim strip. This screen allows the passenger to display a separate data set, from performance meters like road speed and RPM to nav prompts to entertainment choices, independent of what’s in front of the driver or on the bigger screen in the center stack.

So now your passenger can manipulate the audio while you keep the full map on the main screen, or read you directions or make fun of your short shifts. What you cannot do is fib about how fast you’re going, assuming your partner won’t know better without craning over your shoulder.

Those narrow slits next to the Portofino’s headlights (inset) force air into the wheel wells, then out of the vents on the front fenders

Front Fender Vents

Slits, lips or lumps in Ferrari sheetmetal aren’t usually simple adornment, but the vents or channels pressed into the Portofino’s front fenders form part of a particularly clever, aesthetically interesting aero solution. Working in conjunction with a thin port outboard of each headlight assembly, the vents deliver a couple of significant benefits.

First, they dramatically improve front brake cooling, and they do it without adding drag. High-velocity air channeled through the headlight slits flows through the wheel well, over the brake discs and out the vent in the fender.

Indeed, the slit/vent combo actually reduces drag considerably, because it flushes out the extra-turbulent air that tends to collect around the wheel wells in a more predictable fashion. That air flows out as a denser “air curtain” from the wheel-well vents rearward, close to the Portofino’s flanks, according to Ferrari engineers. It’s one of the bigger contributors to a 6 percent reduction in drag, compared to the California T.

Cast-in Turbo Cases

The Portofino’s exhaust headers are now sand-cast as a single part with the turbo housing, rather than welded up from separate pieces. What’s the big deal with that? Where to start?

Yes, we are starting to see exhaust manifolds that are cast into, rather than bolted to, the cylinder head, on cars more pedestrian than the Portofino, and we’ve seen a more rudimentary example of what Ferrari has done with its turbocharged V8s. That came from Hyundai when it launched its 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo four in the Sonata in 2010. But it came only after Hyundai (one of the world’s largest, best endowed manufacturers) spent years developing a patented process to manufacture the single-piece manifold/ turbine case, and then had to look long and hard for a supplier who could actually manufacture it. And Hyundai’s single casting is a more conventional, pitchfork-style manifold.

This is more complicated. For starters, Ferrari wants exhaust headers that are precisely equal in length, feeding two separate scrolls on the turbo turbine with staggered cylinders to keep exhaust pulses precisely even. That minimizes turbo lag and promotes Ferrari-suitable engine sounds, but it also leaves a manifold that looks like snakes swarming around the turbine case.

If you cast this complicated form, you’ll need multiple mold pieces, inside and out, and all of these individual, resin-impregnated sand molds must be structurally bound to each other and stable enough to withstand the pressure of casting force. The interior mold pieces have to deliver the precise path and flow dynamics you require for turbo performance, but you also have to get them out when the part is finished. Then you have to flow your alloy to ensure uniform, bubble-free thickness.

Sound complicated? Remember: A company Ferrari’s size is doing this with a relative handful of engineers, miniscule compare to the number at Hyundai’s disposal, and then casting the manifold/cases at the same Maranello foundry that casts F1 engine blocks.

So the one-piece header/turbine case is pretty cool. The payoff for Ferrari might be twofold. First, the single casting might ultimately represent a cost reduction, once the development and capital costs are amortized over a lot of parts. At Ferrari volume, that could take a while. More to the point, they’re left with a turbo that more effectively harvests exhaust gas flow to more quickly compress intake air for the engine. See the chart above for a representation of the Portofino cast header/case’s improvement on the welded California T version.

Pink is the California T (plastic) and blue is the Portofino (aluminum). Blue is better

Aluminum Undertrays

Undertrays on the bottom of production cars are nothing new, and they’ve trickled down in some fashion to some of the least expensive cars you can buy. Yet even in expensive cars with expansive undertrays, these drag-limiting devices tend to be molded from plastic or a light composite. The undertrays in the Portofino are stamped from aluminum and attached with bolts rather than Dzus-type fasteners or something else.

They’re not intended as giant skid plates, though they probably do add some protection in that context. The Portofino’s aluminum undertrays actually provide structural framing that plastic could not. That allowed Ferrari engineers to remove mass elsewhere in the Portofino’s frame with lighter extrusions or castings. In short, the heavier aluminum undertrays were crucial to lightening the Portofino’s frame 70 pounds compared to the California T, while still delivering a 35 percent increase in static torsional rigidity.

The really woke thing here isn’t visible to the naked eye

Magnesium Seat Frames

We’ve seen magnesium in post-war automotive applications since at least the 1950s, from racing wheels to transaxle cases in the low and mighty Volkswagen Beetle. Magnesium alloys have made a bit of a comeback through the 2000s, thanks partly to fabrication advances and usually in higher-end cars via a brace here or a case there. Yet with rare exceptions (like the Beetle), there’s usually a cheaper way to do it.

With a 35 percent weight advantage on aluminum, the appeal of magnesium remains, but the cost still gets in the way. Raw materials run about 80 percent higher than aluminum, and it gets worse when you start fabricating—a bit worse if you’re casting, compared to aluminum, and a lot worse if you’re extruding. Metallurgists say that every pound you save with magnesium is going to cost an extra $4 minimum, and maybe twice that depending on where you’re doing the saving.

So where did Ferrari introduce magnesium alloy into the Portofino? In those sexy, attention-grabbing seat frames, of course. Engineers say they’ve trimmed 53 pounds from the Portofino’s interior components, compared to the Ferrari California T, and we can be fairly certain that the biggest chunk of those 53 pounds came out of the seats. The magnesium frames also allow much thinner seat backs, and helped increase knee room in back of the Portofino two inches compared to the California T.

The cost of a magnesium upgrade might be easier to absorb in a $220,000 car, yes, but we appreciate Ferrari’s dedication to mass reduction nonetheless.

Is the Aspark Owl the quickest car on the planet?

The Aspark Owl EV debuted at the Frankfurt motor show last year. As with many of these super-hyper EV one-offs, our first thought was “vaporware.” But this week, the company put out a video of the slick, carbon-fiber lightning bolt ripping off a claimed sprint to 62 mph (100 kph) in just 1.9 seconds. That’s as fast as Tesla claims its new Roadster will be, in case you’re wondering.

According to the website, the Owl prototype uses two 40-kW motors, but “according to calculations, 320 kW of power is required to go from 0 to 100 kph in two seconds. We developed a completely new current-control technology to draw 160-kW of power from those 40-kW motors.” Aspark continues, “So we came up with a completely new idea. We used capacitors powered by the regenerative energy from braking. The super g forces need to be experienced to be believed.”

The video is from a site called Gigazine, entirely in Japanese, but it does have some pictures of the crazy, rear-mounted battery/motor setup of the Owl, which looks like a legit supercar — though we do wonder how many have actually been built.

The two-seater Owl comes in at about 190 inches long, 76 inches wide and just 39 inches high. It will get 93 miles of range on a single charge.

What we’re most surprised about is the runoff: The rear parking area of this warehouse looks to be too short to get to 62 mph, let alone slow back down to zero. And as you can see, the driver barely has enough room to get it stopped at the corner.

Mark the Aspark Owl down as something we’re cautiously optimistic about. The Owl makes about 1,000 hp, and with that carbon body weighs in at 1,874 pounds. And that’s frickin’ fast. It’s all-wheel drive; that’s basically the only way to can get those numbers outside of top fuel dragster. Speaking of that, in the video, the car looks like it was shot out of a cannon, and we’re wondering what that does to the driver’s neck, retinas and internal organs. For the record, the wheelman looks fine as he scans through the times.

Check out the brochure straight from Aspark below.

These galleries from Retromobile are the next best thing to being there

Every year the Retromobile classic show, held at the Parc des expositions de la Porte de Versailles in Paris, hosts an eclectic collection of the continent’s rarest and most important automobiles, with a special focus on European marques. Set inside the high-ceilinged pavilions, Retromobile is one of the most visited classic expositions in Europe, one that combines the sights of a traditional concours with a trade show, as a number of restoration shops show off their skills.

Think of it as a traditional indoor auto show, but for classic cars. And with 500 cars on display from 550 exhibitors, it takes even longer to see it all than the Detroit or New York auto shows.

Retromobile hosts not only automakers and prominent restoration experts, but car clubs, auction houses, art galleries, parts and automobilia vendors and specialty fabrication shops. In short, there really isn’t a U.S. equivalent of Retromobile that features this mix of classic cars and automobilia indoors. Arizona in January is certainly bigger, but it’s very different — Retromobile combines many elements all under three roofs in three exhibit halls in an urban setting, just off Paris’ ring road.

It takes a few days to see it all, which is why Retromobile runs for a full five days. Of course, you don’t have that much time, so we’ve put together these three galleries, above and below, that should give you a 10-minute appetizer-size taste of the show.

Among the milestones celebrated at Retromobile, this year was Renault’s 120th anniversary, which the automaker marked with a display of several notable models from its long history. The French marque’s collection at Retromobile included an original 1898 Type A model — the first Renault — as well as far more recent models like the 1974 Renault 5, which made it to the U.S. as the Le Car (let’s just say that the Renault 5 enjoyed a vastly different reception and legacy on its home continent than in the States).

“Renault’s collection includes more than 750 vehicles testifying to the inventiveness and know-how of the firm founded in 1898 in Boulogne-Billancourt,” the automaker says. “A living collection, it is preserved, maintained and operated by Renault Classic, which regularly showcases it at exhibitions, fairs, historic races, press and television reports and sporting events around the world.”

Renault also brought a 1947 4CV to Retromobile, a model that was the first Renault to exceed 1 million cars in sales, as well as the 1950 Colorale, which the automaker calls its first SUV. The most recent car on display that might be familiar to U.S. audiences was the Renault 9 from 1981, which was in production in Kenosha, Wisconsin, for a few years (with some changes) as the Renault Alliance. The very latest models on display included the 1984 Espace, one of the first mass-market minivans as we know them today, as well as the 1992 Twingo subcompact hatchback.

If you missed out on Retromobile this year, make plans for 2019. (But we’ll still have galleries for you next year if you miss it again).

Lexus will debut UX crossover with…taillamp fins?

Lexus plans to take its long-anticipated plunge in the premium small crossover segment with the debut of the UX at the Geneva auto show on March 6.

Lexus confirmed the Geneva debut in a statement on Tuesday outlining its show plans

While Lexus gave no further details, a spokesman for its parent Toyota Motor said the vehicle is the production version of the UX Concept shown at the 2016 Paris auto show.

It will get a more toned-down design than the aggressive-looking UX Concept, which had heavy creasing, bold blister fenders, angular wheel wells and a massive mesh version of the brand’s trademark spindle grille.

The UX is expected to be based off the Toyota C-HR subcompact crossover, which is built on Toyota’s TNGA modular platform that also underpins the Prius.

Powertrain details for the UX concept are still under wraps, but the production version could use at least one of the three available globally in the C-HR: a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder in the U.S. and a hybrid powertrain or a 1.2-liter turbo four cylinder available outside the U.S.

All-wheel-drive is also a possibility.

The UX nameplate helps round out the Lexus lineup with a crossover-styled vehicle at the small end of the spectrum as customers flock to crossovers of all stripes.

The Lexus NX was the top-selling compact premium crossover in the U.S. last year, and the RX topped the premium midsize ranking. There is little competition in the luxury small segment outside the Infiniti QX30. But mass market subcompact crossover sales in the U.S. surged 14 percent last year, despite the overall market’s slump.

Lexus executives have long wanted to tap that demand.

Lexus sold 45,098 cars in Europe last year, up 1.5 percent, of which almost 20,000 were the NX, according to figures from JATO Dynamics.

Hi there, 2020 Volvo V60: Swedish wagon leaks ahead of its Geneva debut

The digital covers came off a little early for the next-generation Volvo V60 wagon, set to debut at the Geneva motor show in a matter of weeks. Images of the upcoming smaller sibling of the Volvo V90 were leaked by AutoMotoSvijet in Europe, revealing the design of the midsize station wagon due in the U.S. next year. The unplanned reveal coincided with a planned official publication of a teaser video previewing the next-generation V60, which will replace a model that has been on sale globally since 2010 and will also be joined by an all-new S60 sedan.

What can we glean from these images? For starters, the design appears to be a scaled-down version of the larger V90 wagon, which went on sale in the U.S. just last year. The rear side windows appear to be a little more generous this time around compared to the outgoing model, which was knocked for not offering much cargo space in the back.

When it comes to engines, the V60 is likely to share the powerplants of its SPA platform siblings like the new XC60, which debuted recently. This means we’re likely to see a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four badged T5, good for 250 hp, and a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter inline-four badged T6, which churns out 316 hp in other models. It remains to be seen whether the V60 will get the pricey 400-hp T8 version of this engine, which has been the range-topping powerplant in a number of recent Volvo models.

Volvo is likely to offer the T5 and T6 four-cylinder powetrains in the new V60. Photo by Volvo

2018 Volvo XC60 T8 review: Swedish overachiever

The new Volvo XC60 SUV landed on the scene a full two years after its bigger brother XC90 received a complete redesign; both SUVs’ predecessors were on the shelf past their expiration dates. As a …

We expect to see an interior dash design similar to other recent Volvo models, including the XC60. This means a center stack dominated by a large touchscreen and bookended by two vertical A/C vents, wood trim accents along the beltline of the dash and the doors, and a starter switch on the center console. The latest Volvo interiors have been examples of minimalism, and we don’t expect the automaker to depart from this look for some time.

The V60 will be revealed online on February 21, ahead of its appearance at the Geneva motor show.

Confirmed: Toyota Supra (or a racing version) will debut at the Geneva auto show

Toyota Supra news is coming fast and furious these days, but today we got the first official image from the Japanese automaker, with a confirmation that “the legend returns” at the 2018 Geneva motor show on March 6 at 3:45 p.m., EST. The darkened pic features a fastback-style coupe with a giant wing perched on two risers.

So, what do we know? We know that the new Supra, though we’re not sure that’s the name, was developed in conjunction with BMW and the new Z4, and that the two will share engines of BMW’s design. Hopefully that means a 250-ish-hp turbocharged four and a 335-ish-hp turbocharged I6. We’re also guessing it’ll have a dual-clutch transmission — there has been no word of a manual option yet. The last BMW Z4 didn’t not offer a stick shift; however, the Toyota 86 does, so who knows?

Toyota does say that what’s appearing at Geneva will be a “modern racing concept” that signals Toyota’s commitment to “bring back to the market its most iconic sports car.” We’re guessing that means a GT-type race version, which will hopefully give us more clues on the forthcoming street car.

Sidenote, wouldn’t “Fast 9” be the perfect on-screen debut for Toyota’s next serious sports car? The original was famously featured in the first film. “More than you can afford pal, Ferrari.” That guy and his girlfriend are then promptly smoked by a souped-up Supra built by Paul Walker and Vin Diesel’s characters.

Regarding that name: We’d like to see Supra plastered on the trunk, but we’re more likely to see something like GT-One. The GT86 in concept form was called FT-86; this concept was called FT-1. The GT-One was also Toyota’s name for its GT1-turned-Le-Mans-prototype car built in the late ‘90s, so there’s some precedent.

We’re also guessing Toyota’s Gazoo Racing department will get its hands on the new car. Gazoo developed the hot Yaris compact that we’re not getting here in the U.S., and we see no reason it shouldn’t breathe on this new coupe too.

The Geneva motor show is less than a month away, and as someone who grew up pining for the last Supra — and as someone who might actually have a chance to drive the new one — March 6 can’t come soon enough.

Here’s why the 2018 VW Touareg will pass us by

Volkswagen is giving the world a preview of the third-generation Touareg ahead of the model’s debut at the Beijing auto show at the end of March, hinting at close resemblance to the T-Prime GTE concept that the automaker presented in Beijing in 2016.

At the time, the T-Prime GTE was seen as a close preview of 2018 Touareg design themes and technology, and the sketch VW revealed over the weekend confirms this. The next-gen Touareg has already been seen completely uncamouflaged in several spy photos, so perhaps the sole departure from this official sketch will be the height of the roofline, which is a little taller on the actual vehicle.

Based on the MLB Evo platform shared with the likes of the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, the third-gen Touareg promises to take a substantial technological (and dimensional) leap over the outgoing model, growing in wheelbase by several inches and offering four-wheel steering in addition to an adjustable air suspension and a giant 15-inch infotainment screen. V6 and V8 engines will power the new Touareg, which is also expected be offered in a hybrid flavor with an electric-only range of about 30 miles.

The T-Prime GTE concept of 2016 was a close preview of the production version the third-generation Touareg.

“The new Touareg makes the brand’s standards clear. The highly expressive design by Klaus Bischoff, head of Volkswagen design, and his team give it an unmistakable appearance that is strong in character,” Volkswagen said. “A phalanx of innovative assistance systems gives it a maximum degree of safety and comfort. One of the largest digital cockpits in its class, the Innovision Cockpit, opens up a new type of infotainment environment. Its connectivity makes it a driving internet node. The drivetrain, air suspension, rear-wheel steering and roll stabilization all ensure a safe and dynamic driving experience.”

If it sounds interesting, get it out of your head: The Touareg won’t be offered in the U.S.

The new VW Atlas SUV, which went on sale in the U.S. last year, took a lot of the pressure to be affordable off the Touareg. The 2018 model will be as advanced (and expensive) as it wants to be, which means it’ll be closer to its pricier Audi and Porsche siblings in terms of tech and equipment. The first two generations of the Touareg were criticized as too pricey for the VW badge, especially given the fact that the Q7 was there for much of its existence, and with a new Tiguan and Atlas in the lineup, Volkswagen can afford to keep the Touareg at the top of the range while taking aim at pricier offerings from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The world will see the all-new Touareg in the metal on March 23 in Beijing.

2019 Mercedes-AMG G63 revealed: Because the new G-Class needed 577 hp and side pipes

We’re not asking you to agree that the 2019 Mercedes-AMG G63 is, strictly speaking, a necessary addition to the automotive market. Or that the already ridiculous performance G-Class needed to get quicker or more powerful. We’re simply telling you that Affalterbach’s fresh take on the totally redesigned is coming, as we all knew it would be, and that Mercedes has released the details ahead of its Geneva motor show debut.

Besides, if we only had cars that were, strictly speaking, necessary, the world would be a boring place.

The G63’s basics aren’t surprising if you’ve already scoped out the 2019 G550, which debuted at the Detroit auto show earlier this year. The boxy SUV is superficially similar to its long-lived predecessor, which began rolling off assembly lines shortly after the Patent-Motorwagen’s first drive, but it’s all-new. It’s gained some much-needed interior room (something this rolling monument to excess was surprisingly short on) but lost its live front axle in favor of an independent setup. The automaker assures us this change-up has not handicapped the darn near unstoppable box off-road. Time and testing will tell.
 

Look past the flared wheel arches and G63-specific front facia and grille and optional 22-inch wheels and the AMG version feels a lot like G550, at least on paper: Both have a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission pumping power to all four wheels through three electronically locking differentials. But there’s more power and torque (577 hp at 6,000 rpm and 627 lb-ft from 2,500 rpm to 3,500 rpm) and the AMG Performance 4matic all-wheel-drive system has a 40:60 rear-biased torque distribution. Plus, the truck’s dual-flow exhaust keeps the side pipes seen on previous G63s.

The extra output is all in the interest of a 4.4-second estimated 0-60 mph time. This obviously the most important you’re gonna want to look at when you’re shopping for a brick-like SUV, and it’s down from 5.3 seconds on the outgoing model. The side pipes are in the interest of making the thing sound fantastic when you mat it.

Top speed is 137 mph or 149 mph if you get the driver’s package — again, absolutely crucial for this sort of vehicle.

2019 Mercedes G-Class interior: 5 things to know

Behold, the interior of Mercedes’ new G-Class SUV. We got a sneak peek at what the next G-Wagen will offer occupants, and it’s a marked upgrade from the narrow, decade-old trappings of the …

The interior of the 2019 G-class is, like the rest of the truck, all-new, and the G63’s cabin is (as expected) much like the G550’s. Despite the vehicle’s utilitarian roots, U.S. buyers like their Gelandewagens plush. So, to differentiate itself from the already comfy G550, the G63 adds a flat-bottomed AMG Performance steering wheel. You’ll be able to get as far out there as you want with Benz’s Designo customization program, so get creative!

If this thing is anything like the G63 it replaces, we know that it will be improbably fun to drive and more capable than you’d be inclined to give it credit for. We want to know if its new suspension setup makes it feel less like a rocket-powered shopping car going around corners, though — and if it does, whether that will make the overall experience more or less fun.

The G63 will roll out later this year. Mercedes hasn’t revealed pricing, but the outgoing model started at $142,325. Don’t expect the 2019 model to be any less expensive.

The side pipes are right there where they belong, on the sides, on the 2019 G63.

Graham Kozak – Graham Kozak drove a 1951 Packard 200 sedan in high school because he wanted something that would be easy to find in a parking lot. He thinks all the things they’re doing with fuel injection and seatbelts these days are pretty nifty too.
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