auto shows

Filed under: China, Etc., Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Beijing Motor Show, Design/Style

Our post on China’s “Tiger mom” phenomenon was illustrated with that above picture; it’s the Jeep Wrangler Dragon Design Concept at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show, accompanied by a booth professional. The model – her, not the Jeep – made a fair few friends in the Autoblog Comments section, but it turns out she and her kind attracted the ire of the Chinese authorities.

The Capital Ethics Development Office gave the Beijing show organizers a caning because the “scantily clad” models had “a negative social impact,” and the show was warned not to let “such vulgar publicity” occur again. There’s a lot of room between that leather bustier and a burqa, however, so all’s not lost for next year’s show in Shanghai.

Scroll down to watch the Bloomberg video on the matter.

Continue reading China chastizes Beijing Motor Show over scantily clad models

China chastizes Beijing Motor Show over scantily clad models originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 May 2012 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM, Design/Style

If you’re wondering why the name Trax sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve heard it before. That’s right, General Motors’ chunky little crossover concept has blossomed into the production CUV you see here, and might we say, it’s quite a handsome little thing.

Details about the new Trax are scarce, but since it looks to be based on the same high-riding platform derived from the Sonic that underpins the Buick Encore and Opel Mokka, so we’d expect the powertrains to simply carry over unchanged.

But know this: General Motors has no plans to offer the Trax in the United States, citing “the strong position of the Equinox” as the reason why it won’t be offered Stateside. That’s a shame, too. In our opinion, this baby Bowtie certainly makes more sense than the frumpy Buick Encore that doesn’t really seem to fit with its brand. We suspect that Chevy dealers won’t get this vehicle in part because GM wants to protect the Buick’s positioning and price when it heads to U.S. dealers later this year.

The Trax will make its official debut at the Paris Motor Show in late September. For now, click the image above for a high-resolution version and scroll down to read GM’s official release.

Continue reading Chevrolet Trax crossover headed to Paris, not bound for U.S.

Chevrolet Trax crossover headed to Paris, not bound for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Hatchback, Volkswagen

Volkswagen worked with Fender, its stereo partner, to put together the concept Beetle shown at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The concept had an iPod dock set into amp-like mesh, a tube amp, sunburst-patterened wood trim and a trunk-mounted sub you could plug your guitar into.

Car and Driver reports that a production version is coming, perhaps before the end of the year, but it will be missing several of the components that made the concept that much cooler, like the mesh-decorated dock, the tube amp and the port in the sub. Oh, and the sunburst-pattern trim might not be made of wood.

There’s plenty that could remain, though. The black concept featured special red and chrome trim, a leather roof, and sat on a lowered suspension with 19-inch wheels. Those could make it through the production transition, as well as the high-end Fender stereo system, naturally.

Volkswagen to offer Fender edition Beetle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 May 2012 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Opel, Vauxhall, UK

Tiny city cars are becoming a big business in overseas markets. Mercedes-Benz was a pioneer in the segment with the entire Smart brand, Toyota tackles it with the iQ, Volkswagen recently launched the Up! (along with the Skoda and Seat versions that came along with it), and soon Opel and Vauxhall will, as well.

The new city car, snapped last month undergoing testing at the Nürburgring and released in this latest pair of “official” spy shots, promises to give General Motors a slice of the city-car pie. But its nameplate has left us scratching our heads. The project has at times been referred to as the Junior or the Allegra, but has now been officially confirmed to be called the Adam.

The name is an apparent nod to the company’s founder, Adam Opel, and in its invasion follows the same formula as the Ferrari Enzo – albeit and the complete opposite end of the spectrum. If this emerges as a new naming trend, we should be looking forward to seeing models like the Ford Henry, Chevrolet Louis, Lamborghini Ferruccio and Porsche Ferdinand flooding showrooms in the near future. Before that, though, expect the Opel Adam to debut at the Paris Motor Show in the fall… hopefully without the camouflage.

Opel dubs upcoming city-car “Adam” originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 May 2012 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, China, Videos, Volkswagen, Beijing Motor Show

In 2011, Volkswagen commenced its People’s Car Project in China to create crowdsourced concepts of the VW of the future. More than 33 million people visited the site, and three concepts were created from the inputs: the Music Car, the Hover Car and the Smart Key.

The Music Car is a Beetle wrapped in LEDs that change colors to match the driver’s choice of music. The Hover Car is a zero-emissions two-seater that, no surprise, hovers over electromagnetic road networks. The Smart Key is Big Brother for your car, in your pocket: the high-def touchscreen on the nine-millimeter key can track the status of your car and keep an eye on it via “satellite transmission.”

The project is continuing, so you can still post your thoughts to VW’s future. In the meantime there’s a video and a couple of press releases below the fold for more on the story.

Continue reading Volkswagen’s People’s Car Project in China has produced three concepts [w/video]

Volkswagen’s People’s Car Project in China has produced three concepts [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 May 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Paris Motor Show, Lamborghini, Rumormill

Forget cloth, the upcoming Lamborghini Aventador Roadster will use a removable two-piece carbon fiber hardtop, according to the Italian magazine Quattroruote.

The weight-cutting measure means the convertible won’t have to stack on the pounds just to include al fresco driving. The carbon fiber roof will weigh less than a cloth top and its underlying metal frame. It also means that the entire rear section of the car won’t change from the hardtop model, Quattroroute reports.

We first saw the hardtop in spy photos published in February, though we weren’t sure of Lamborghini’s plans for the 700-horsepower V12 racer at the time. Lamborghini is expected to debut the roadster at the Paris Motor Show this fall.

Lamborghini Aventador Roadster to use removable roof panel? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 May 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Ford

Get ready. The hype machine is revving up for the 2013 Ford Fusion. And it’s not going to slow down in the coming months, as Ford prepares to launch it’s most important midsize entry in 30 years.

Even with no pricing available, Ford has launched its Build Your Own Fusion website. The configurator will walk a curious customer through all of the variations of the new Fusion from a base S model to the fully loaded Titanium to the gas-electric Hybrid. (The only model missing is the plug-in hybrid Fusion Energi.)

The configurator, which Ford says on the website is for “survey purposes only,” will allow you to see the Fusion S in eight different colors (the Titanium model comes in nine – click through our attached gallery to see them all), list out each model’s engine choices, features and options, as well continue the buzz the Fusion created at the Detroit Auto Show.

After building the Fusion of your dreams, you can also sign up for email updates, which, over the summer, will be many.

2013 Ford Fusion configurator powers up originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 May 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Spy Photos, Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Mini

Mini will launch its seventh model – a two-door version of the Countryman crossover – at the Paris Motor Show later this year, and our trusty spy photographers recently spotted this prototype out testing. Many sources have stated that the car will be dubbed Countryman Coupe when it hits the market, but we’ve also heard rumors that the vehicle will wear the Paceman name that was given to the original concept that debuted at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.

Whatever it ends up being called, the two-door Countryman formula is pretty simple. The rear doors have been removed, allowing for a more swept-back roofline that integrates into an updated rear fascia. The rear end design – as previewed in these spy shots, anyway – is immediately reminiscent of the Land Rover Evoque, the Countryman’s main competitor.

Mum’s the word on powertrain choices, though we’d expect the four-door Countryman’s range of naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines to carry over largely unchanged, mated to both front- and all-wheel drive. Stay tuned for the car’s official unveiling in Paris later this year.

Mini Paceman Countryman Coupe spotted testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 May 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Renault

The supermini market is a vital one for European automakers, and though its current Clio remains a popular choice, Renault is not about to rest on its proverbial laurels as its most popular model gets older and less relevant. So with that in mind, the French carmaker is apparently preparing to unveil an all-new Clio hatchback at the next major auto salon.

That show won’t be taking place until September when Renault’s home-market Paris Auto Salon opens its doors at the Port de Versailles, but a pair of teaser shots have already surfaced giving us a tiny glimpse at what to expect. The images – reportedly leaked from internal documents – show the grille and a sliver of the rear 3/4. The front looks to take cues from the smaller Twingo, while the rear betrays an upward kink in the shoulder, more aggressive taillights and an altogether more sculpted shape.

Styling penned by Laurens van der Acker is expected overall to take its lead from the DeZir Concept. We’ll have to wait until after the summer to see it in full, though.

Renault to unveil new Clio at Paris show in September originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: SUV, China, Europe, Land Rover, UK, Middle East, Russia, Beijing Motor Show, Off-Road

Not long ago, Land Rover embarked on an epic trans-continental road trip that sought to retrace the route taken by a similar expedition in 1956 and raise £1m for the Red Cross. And after 8,000 miles traveled through thirteen countries – starting in Birmigham, England and ending in Beijing, China – they finally made it.

The departure was celebrated with the production of the millionth Discovery, the arrival timed to coincide with the Beijing Motor Show. Along the way the rugged motorcade swung through Switzerland for the Geneva Motor Show, hit some of Europe’s oldest cities, traversed a wide variety of terrains and climates, rolled through Chernobyl as the first private vehicles to tour the disaster site since the nuclear meltdown there 25 years ago, visited an array of museums and toured a former Soviet submarine base.

But before it could complete the final 72-hour leg into China, the crew had to detonate a controlled avalanche to clear an alpine pass. In other words, it was not your average road trip. Read more about it in the press release below and scope out the high-resolution images in the gallery for a closer look at what the convoy encountered along the way.

Continue reading Land Rover completes 8,000-mile Journey of Discovery from Birmingham to Beijing

Land Rover completes 8,000-mile Journey of Discovery from Birmingham to Beijing originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 May 2012 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments