Peugeot EX1 concept

On the eve of the of the Paris Motor Show, Peugeot held a private viewing of the EX1 Concept Car at its premier showroom on the Champs Elysees in Paris. The EX1 represents one of Peugeot’s celebrations of 200 years of business, along with the company’s new corporate mantra, “Motion and Emotion”. The EX1 concept proves that an electric powered car does not need to be only a neighbourhood local commuter car, but also an exciting, efficient, and high speed mode of transport.

Its name stands for: E = Electric, X = across four wheels, and 1 = the No. 1 vehicle of its type. The front of the car is charged with smoothing the airflow over its tapered rear half, which reflects the more mechanical attributes of the EX1. In truth, Peugeot introduced similar conceptual architectural layouts in their Asphalt concept from 1996 and the 2006 20Cup Concept.

All of these concepts feature a very narrow rear track, primarily for improved aerodynamics, handling and efficient, minimal packaging. The most significant evolution of this third generation of narrow rear track concepts from Peugeot are is its pair of electric motors, each providing power to either the front or rear wheels.

“The new Peugeot DNA is Motion and Emotion. This is all about efficiency,” explained Gilles Vidal, Peugeot Director of Design. “In the design department at Peugeot, we are pushing towards the reality that ‘electric’ is all about an emotional experience of getting out of the city, and having an exciting time driving”.

The inside tack is that its DRG is a strong hint towards the upcoming 208 supermini’s face. Aside from this, the concept seems to sit slightly ill at ease with Peugeot’s move away from what it describes as a ‘hyper-sporty’ aesthetic. While, after 14 years of similar concepts, there still seems little chance that the company will every commit one to production.

Opel GTC Paris concept

Opel is billing this as a concept, yet in really it’s a production car preview of the forthcoming Astra GTC. We can’t help but wonder whether the real intent was to divert attention from archrival Focus, which Ford is presenting at the opposite end of the show hall complex. The previous three-door GTC Astra was a great looking car that disguised its height brilliantly for a five-seat coupé and sold well as a result. The good news is that this successor continues the same formula.

The car has a well-resolved DRG. Although it shares the same hood and headlamp as the five-door Astra, the dark lamp cans provide a more piercing expression and the smaller upper grille is less dominant. The eye is drawn down to the broad lower grille, whose top half is filled with a blacked-out bumper beam and the license plate. Together with the blades on the outer corners and LED running lamps set in the side recesses, the overall visage speaks of strength while avoiding the overt aggression of certain cars at the show. Talking to design director Mark Adams, he explained “This represents one bookend of the new Opel front face, while the Insignia – with its big upper grille, is the other”.

Seen up close in side view, one notices the bone line that extends rearwards from the front door into the rear lamp, with a neat curl around the doorhandle. Meanwhile the signature Opel blade line at the front of the door remains as a subtle motif. The rear three-quarter is easily the car’s best angle, with polished surfacing of the rear spoiler into the tailgate pressing and exhausts neatly integrated in the lower diffuser.

In the interior, the driver’s seat emphasizes red, used as a contrast color against black. The seat itself is worthy of note for the interesting calligraphy etched into the suede-like Dinamica fabric in six languages. There’s also a neat detail in the use of new square baseball stitching on seats and doors.

Buick Regal GS 2012

It’s here. Buick enthusiasts have been brimming with anticipation for the return of an iconic performance moniker. We’ve seen plenty of the new Regal, but here’s our first official look at the high-performance-themed 2012 Buick Regal GS.

As expected, the car’s European roots and Opel handprint are unmistakable on the visual side. The Regal GS shares many styling similarities with the Insignia OPC, including the satin-metallic, vertical air intake ducts prominently forged to the front fascia. A unique front grille sits between the bi-xenon HID headlights, while trapezoidal exhaust outlets give the rear a more striking look. An integrated rear spoiler and rocker panel extensions build up the theme of aggression. But we’d be remiss to call the Buick an Opel clone, as this Regal comes solely with front-wheel drive and four cylinders beneath the hood.

The engine pressed into service was never a secret. Regal GS drivers will be treated to a version of GM’s direct-injected and turbocharged 2.0-liter Ecotec inline-four used in the Regal CXL Turbo, only with more power. Buick’s tuning team fitted a 3-inch-diameter exhaust system and encouraged the intercooled, twin-scroll turbocharger to compress even greater amounts of air for a more fiery combustion. The gain in performance numbers is obvious on paper: The CXL Turbo is rated at 220 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque; the GS version puts out 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet.

2012 Buick Regal GS Rear Three Quarters View Driver
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As Buick’s gift to the enthusiast, a six-speed manual comes standard and helps propel the Regal GS from 0-60 mph in under 7 seconds (the CXL Turbo we just tested takes 7.5 seconds to get there). Despite its estimated 3710-pound curb weight, fuel economy isn’t affected at 19 city/29 highway mpg, which is 1 mpg better in the city than the weaker CXL Turbo. The Regal GS will be offered with a six-speed automatic with Driver Shift Control at a later date, and that transmission will be sufficient for 18 city/28 highway mpg.

With fuel efficiency numbers pleasing enough for the CAFE bean counters, let’s dive into the components. The target Regal customers (re: young) who are thrilled to row their own gears will no doubt also appreciate the lowered ride height, Brembo front four-pot brake calipers, real-time Computer Damping Control, and Interactive Drive Control System (IDCS).

Audi R8 V-10

What’s better than a top-of-the-line, $161,000 2011 Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI Quattro? A supercharged version making over 700 horsepower. And what can possibly top that? One with a full warranty, of course.

The heart of Stasis Engineering’s Challenge Extreme Edition R8 is a bolt-on Roots-type supercharger (running at 7.5 psi) that adds another 185 horses and 132 pound-feet of twist to the 5.2-liter V-10′s 525-horsepower bottom line. A separate supercharger cooling system helps in reducing any power loss and keeps everything running smoothly, while a custom T-305 stainless steel exhaust saves 30 pounds and bellows deeper. The whole setup is commanded by a reprogrammed ECU.

Total power output on this mid-engine monster is an astounding 710 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque. As for performance gains, Stasis claims it takes just 3.1 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill.

2011 Audi R8 Spyder Stasis Engineering Rear
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Grip and handling improve as a result of 20-inch forged single piece wheels wrapped in extra-wide Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 rubber. Higher rate springs matched with beefier anti-roll bars limit body roll and keep all four corners planted. With 710 horses on tap, it shouldn’t be too hard to guess why Stasis offers 15.3-inch front and 14-inch rear two-piece Alcon brake rotors with matching calipers.

If all modifications are bought and installed at an authorized Audi dealership, owners are protected by a four -year/ 50,000-mile plan without their Ingolstadt warranty being revoked.

2011 Camaro SS X and Corvette Z06X

Dodge may be having all the fun crafting race-ready versions of its Viper, but the designers and enthusiasts employed at General Motors want to remind you they’re not incapable of building some serious race machinery themselves. Witness the Chevrolet Corvette Z06X and Camaro SS X concepts: built in partnership with Pratt & Miller for the 2010 SEMA show, these two show stoppers are GM’s vision of the ultimate track machines.

It’s hard to find fault with the basic premise of a Corvette Z06, but designers simply took the best of the production car while adding features to help it ’round a road course. The Z06X concept is built upon a production 2011 Z06 fitted with both the vaulted Z07 performance package and the CFZ Carbon Fiber option group.

From there, GM added a low-restriction air intake, along with a heavy-duty radiator and an improved cooling system. Engineers also tinkered with the suspension setup, adding mono-ball control arm bushings, adjustable stabilizer bars, and coil-over struts with adjustable camber plates. Brembo carbon-ceramic brake rotors are part of the stock Z07 package, but lightweight racing wheels, finished in a dark hue and capped with Michelin racing rubber, are unique to the Z06X.

That black finish ties well with the Z06X’s exterior design. Although all body parts are essentially stock, GM painted the car in a Icy White Metallic color, adding a black racing stripe and rear fascia, along with red accents. Inside, the Z06X’s interior is gutted of interior trim and insulation, allowing the installation of an SCCA-approved roll cage, fire suppression system, a racing seat for the driver, and a five-point harness. To help further strip the car of weight, the rear hatch glass has been replaced with a custom polycarbonate window.

2011 Camaro SS X Concept
Chevrolet’s Camaro SS X concept abides by the same formula applied to the Z06X, although a few extra modifications were required to help turn the bulky muscle machine into a satisfying road racer.

Outside, the SS X shares the Z06X’s design theme, sporting the same black-on-white paint scheme as its fiberglass-bodied relative. In a move to strip weight, GM replaced the hood, fenders, doors, and deck lid with panels fabricated from carbon fiber. For aerodynamic purposes, a carbon fiber front splitter, rocker panels, and adjustable rear wing were also added to the package.

Underhood, the SS X retains the Camaro’s stock 6.2-liter LS3 V-8, although it’s been massaged with a new camshaft, revised cylinder heads, and a dry-sump oil system. The six-speed transmission is stock Getrag fare, although it is fitted with a twin-disc clutch raided from the Corvette ZR1 parts bin. 20-inch wheels and racing tires are added, and are stopped courtesy of an upgraded four-wheel-brake system, which includes six-piston front calipers, four-piston rear calipers, and slotted rotors at each corner.

As is the case with the Z06X, the Camaro SS X’s interior isn’t exactly conducive for commuting. Carpeting, insulation, interior trim, and other parts — including the rear seat — have been gutted to shave weight and make room for some serious racing hardware. An SCCA-spec roll cage, window net, race seat, and five-point harness are added, along with racing pedals, a fire suppression system, and fuel cell.

Although we’d love to see the SS X enter a revived Trans-Am series, these two cars have little, if any, chance of entering production. Which bowtie show car comes closest to serving as your dream track machine?

2011 Volkswagen Passat

The B6 Passat was heavily facelifted by Klaus Bischoff and Walter de Silva, and was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September 2010 and although designated "B7" the car is not an all-new model.

The facelift resulted in every external body panel being changed, except for the roof and glasshouse, with the most prominent change being to the grille and headights, which mirror the style first shown on the Mk3 Scirocco. The height and width dimensions are unchanged from the B6 Passat, while length increases by 4 mm. New features include a fatigue detections system and an automatic “city emergency braking” system.

It should arrive at dealerships in mid-November 2010.
The interior featured minor detail changes from the B6, although the basic dashboard design remain unchanged.
A long-wheelbase version of the Passat will be built in China by FAW-VW in 2011.

2011 Volkswagen Passat


2011 Volkswagen Passat



2011 Volkswagen Passat


2011 Volkswagen Passat


2011 Volkswagen Passat


2011 Volkswagen Passat


2011 Volkswagen Passat


2011 Volkswagen Passat


2011 Volkswagen Passat

Audi e-tron features

The A1 e-tron is a series plug-in hybrid, powered by an electric motor with a continuous output of 45 kW (61 PS; 60 bhp), and a peak output of 75 kW (102 PS; 101 bhp). A 254 cc Wankel engine is also used to power a 15 kW (20 PS; 20 bhp) range-extending-range generator.

Audi e-tron


Audi e-tron




Audi e-tron


Audi e-tron


Audi e-tron


Audi e-tron


Audi e-tron


Audi e-tron


Audi e-tron


Audi e-tron


Audi e-tron

2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT

Standard features of the Cadillac Escalade include air conditioning w/tri-zone climate controls, tilt faux wood & real leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls, cruise control, leather upholstery, heated front seats and heated 2nd-row seats, 14-way power front seats, memory system, remote engine start, premium sound system, 6-disc DVD changer, rear radio controls, compass, power lift-gate, and outside-temperature indicator.

2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT


2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT


2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT


2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT


2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT


2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT


2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT




2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT


2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT

Nissan Titan future

The Future of the Nissan Titan is still uncertain. Nissan was previously working with Chrysler to build a rebadged truck based upon the Dodge Ram, but after Chrysler filed for bankruptcy in 2009, both companies decided to part ways in August 2009. Nissan is committed to staying in the light truck market though, and is exploring all options. Production of the Frontier, Pathfinder, and X-Terra are also relying on a new design because of their Titan underpinnings. However, since the Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX56 will be based on the Japan market Nissan Patrol full-size SUV for the 2011 model year, it is certainly possible that the Titan can be redesigned on the same platform as the Armada/Patrol/QX56 in the near future.

2011 Nissan Titan

2011 Nissan Titan


2011 Nissan Titan


2011 Nissan Titan


2011 Nissan Titan


2010 Nissan Titan


2011 Nissan Titan


2011 Nissan Titan