The rumor of a Lamborghini SUV has been kicking around since the day the LM002 died. Bentley has confirmed theirs, Maserati is set on the Kubang; if there is a perfect time for a new Lamborghini SUV, now's it. And if there's any place to reveal a quarter-million-dollar SUV, it's Beijing.
Italian publication quattroroute.it has leaked this image of an Aventador with ground clearance purporting to be the new Lamborghini SUV. It's unclear at this point if it's a leak or a rendering, but based on how similar this looks to an Aventador, we're thinking rendering. Powering the ultra-SUV will be the Gallardo's V10 in base trim and a top-trim hybrid drivetrain -- due in 2015-- cranking out 700 hp. The hybrid part of this rumor sounds unlikely by 2015.
Going along with the rendering/leak is the rumor that Lamborghini will will show the first concept of this at the Beijing Motor Show in April.
(Inautonews, quattroroute.it)
Categories: Beijing Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Lamborghini,SUVs
With so many different settings available on modern vehicles for functions such as suspension, transmission, and steering, carmakers and their suppliers have resorted to grouping such functions for convenience.
Ralf Lenninger, Vice President of strategy and research at Continental's Interior division used a camera metaphor to explain their approach. "Today's most sophisticated digital cameras use preconfigured settings for portrait, landscape, and macro so the photographer can 'point and shoot' and always achieve optimal results. Simplify Your Drive gives drivers the same convenient way to configure their vehicle for the desired driving situation."
While many other carmakers already offer these Comfort, Normal, and Sport settings, Continental may have the most appealing system yet by including some HMI (Human Machine Interface) pizzazz through reconfigurable displays and force feedback.
Hit the jump for more information and a nice movie in German, Ja.
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Categories: Beijing Auto Show,Car Tech,Future Vehicles,Green Tech,Trends,Volkswagen
Alongside its new directed-injected engines and eight-speed automatic transmission, Hyundai unveiled the Verna sedan in Beijing. This is a Chinese-market version of the car you will know as the 2012 Hyundai Accent sedan.
Compared to the current Accent, the new car has a nearly 3-inch longer wheelbase (101.2 vs. 98.4 inches) and stretches 2.4 inches longer nose to tail (170.9 vs. 168.5 inches). Width and height are basically unchanged.
Hyundai plans to offer two gasoline engines in China -- a 1.4-liter inline four-cylinder and a 1.6-liter, both port-injected. The all-aluminum 1.6-liter is rated at 121 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 114 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm.
These are nice upgrades over the current Accent's iron-block 1.6-liter (110 hp, 106 lb-ft), but we wouldn't be surprised if Hyundai makes a fuel economy play and slots in its new direct-injected 1.6-liter GDI engine on higher-line versions of the Accent. Transmissions for the Chinese market will be a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. Cost considerations will likely dictate the same offerings in the U.S., but don't be surprised to see Hyundai add a dual-clutch gearbox down the road.
More photos and video from Hyundai's booth in Beijing after the jump.
Inside Line News
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Categories: Beijing Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Hyundai,Sedans
Hyundai quietly introduced some pretty significant hardware at the Beijing auto show -- a direct-injected version of its Lambda V6, a direct-injected 1.6-liter four-cylinder and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Rather than installing them in the show cars, Hyundai release these three information videos on the new engines and transmissions. Notably, the direct-injected V6 appears in longitudinal form, so it's likely to show up in the rear-wheel-drive Equus, Genesis sedan and Genesis coupe before any of Hyundai's front-drive cars. And it's a good bet that eight-speed automatic would go with it, seeing as how the company has only a six-speed auto in those cars right now.
Curiously, the power graph in the video only shows a 302 PS rating for the GDI V6 -- which comes out to only 296 hp which is less than what the Genesis Coupe makes now. We'll assume different states of tune are possible.
The GDI 1.6-liter inline-4 is a big deal, too. The video shows a 140 PS rating for this direct-injected four-cylinder, which comes out to 138 hp -- quite an upgrade over the 110 hp Hyundai gets out of our current Accent's port-injected 1.6-liter engine. We expect to see this engine used in both the Accent and Elantra, plus some Kias. Also, look for it in the 2012 Hyundai Veloster, as Hyundai America CEO John Krafcik has said that the sporty hatch will get a direct-injected 1.6-liter making around 140 hp.
Hyundai also noted in its Beijing press release that the 1.6-liter GDI could be turbocharged for some applications, and paired with a dual-clutch automated manual transmission.
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Categories: Beijing Auto Show,Car Tech,Future Vehicles,Hyundai
First unveiled in Shanghai last year, the Geely GE was trotted out again in Beijing this year. This time, however, it had a new, more refined interior and a slightly revised exterior. There was a 3.5-liter V6 under the hood as well, a far cry from the flagship sedans that inspired the GE's style and performance.
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Categories: Beijing Auto Show,Geely,Luxury Cars,Sedans
Well, "poor" is relative term here as the V6-powered Panamera 4 you see here will start at around $80,000. Still, it represents about a $10K price cut over the base V8 model.
Porsche figures there are enough buyers who simply don't care if they have a V8 or not, so a V6 Panamera was an obvious addition to the lineup. Can't blame them on that one, although we can't imagine having a sedan this big and heavy with a 3.6-liter V6 even if it does produce 300-horsepower.
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Categories: Beijing Auto Show,Luxury Cars,Porsche,Sedans
Volkswagen unveiled the refreshed Phaeton sedan at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show. As you can see, the changes are pretty minor. In fact, we're not even sure what's different here.
Still, the Phaeton still strikes us as a good looking sedan that was never really given a fighting chance in the U.S. Volkswagen keeps hinting that it will give the big luxury sedan another chance in the States, but no time line has been given. Maybe if/when the car gets a full redesign?
Think anybody would really care either way?
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Categories: Beijing Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,Sedans,Volkswagen
Kind of surprised that the Cadillac XTS Concept wasn't getting much love at the Beijing Auto Show. We noticed a similar lack of attention to the Cadillac brand at the Geneva Auto Show, but we figured it was just the Europeans being snobby.
The Chinese love big, American sedans and the XTS is about as big and flashy as it gets these days. Still, the stand was pretty desolate most of the day while the Buick and Chevy setups were quite full. Go figure.
Categories: Beijing Auto Show,Cadillac,Luxury Cars,Sedans
Here's video of the BMW Concept Gran Coupe unveiling on Friday night in Beijing, as shot by Lead Senior Editor Ed Hellwig. For photos and details on BMW's near-production-ready four-door coupe/sedan creation, check out our original post.
2010 Beijing Auto Show: BMW Concept Gran Coupe
Categories: BMW,Beijing Auto Show,Coupes,Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,Sedans
The new, long-wheelbase 2011 Audi A8 L not only adds more room for rear passengers, it offers up a substantial list of options designed to make it the most hospitable backseat in the super deluxe luxury sedan class.
You want to watch a movie? Of course, dual DVD screens are optional. You even get individual controls so you can watch different movies on each screen.
How about a massage? Got that too, even comes with a handy little remote control so you can position the pulsing air bladders just right. There's also a refrigerator behind the armrest and individual seat adjustments that include lumber support.
Need to plug in a laptop? No problem there either, just pop out the standard electrical socket from the center console. There's a pop up table too. And an iPod input. And a rear sunroof. You get the picture.
All of it comes standard on the top-of-the-line W12 model, but you can get all the same stuff on the standard V8 version too. Not a bad setup, even if you don't get every option.
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Categories: Audi,Beijing Auto Show,Luxury Cars,Sedans
We weren't sure about this car when the pictures broke earlier in the week. Now having seen it in person, there is no more doubt. This thing looks so cool you almost forget about its silly name. Really? The Mercedes-Benz Shooting Break Concept? It's not even spelled right.
Stand next to it, however, and you get a much better appreciation for its low stance, big wheel flares and nicely dished wheels. Trust us, no one will ever call this thing a "station wagon."
And the best part? It's a pretty sure bet that this will go into production. That's our kind of concept.
2010 Beijing Auto Show: Mercedes-Benz Shooting Break Concept
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Categories: Beijing Auto Show,Concept Vehicles,Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,Mercedes-Benz,Wagons
Never a dull moment at the Beijing Auto Show.
Categories: Beijing Auto Show
Don't ask us to explain the whole long-wheelbase thing in China. We've heard the official explanation and it really doesn't make much sense. There's clearly a market for such sedans, though as various automakers just keep cranking them out.
Looking at this extra-long 5 Series only reminds us that it looks too similar to the 7 Series these days. Then again, maybe that's the whole point, at least in China.
IL News: BMW 5 Series at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show
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Categories: BMW,Beijing Auto Show,Luxury Cars,Sedans
This is the curiously familiar-looking Lifan 320. Worried that it wasn't quite cute enough, the folks at Lifan gave this show vehicle a Hello Kitty-themed interior. Ever see that in a Mini? Didn't think so.
Categories: Beijing Auto Show,Hatchbacks,MINI
Still not sure what to think of this new Audi A8. The styling has been growing on us little by little, but the current model still looks fresh. This was the first public appearance of the long wheelbase model and the extra few inches does help even out the proportions just a bit.
This particular version was the top-of-the-line W12 model that gets a few extra styling tweaks like a revised grille with more chrome and unique set of wheels. Both the standard size and the long-wheelbase A8 go on sale this fall while the W12 engine option won't arrive until 2011.
Beijing Auto Show: 2011 Audi A8 L W12
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Categories: Audi,Beijing Auto Show,Luxury Cars,Sedans
You know a merger is official once you see companies sharing a stand at an auto show. Here in Beijing we saw the first signs of the Saab-Spyker convergence. No sign of Volvo on the Geely stand though.
Categories: Auto Industry,Beijing Auto Show,Saab
We took some time to admire the new Ferrari 599 GTO today. Like most Ferrari's, it looks even more impressive in person. Those giant carbon brake rotors and that serious rear diffuser definitely make this car look worthy of a few track days.
There was only one big problem: it was sitting next to a 458 Italia. From that perspective, the 599 looked positively huge. And were not talking in a strong, powerful way, more like a lumbering, could use a diet kind of way. That's the fate it will suffer until a redesign comes around, one we hear is still two years away.
Build Your Own Ferrari 599 GTO
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Categories: Beijing Auto Show,Coupes,Ferrari,Sports Cars
Lead Senior Editor Ed Hellwig took a quick peek around the Chevrolet Volt MPV5 Concept today in Beijing, and sure enough it's shaped and sized exactly as you'd a small minivan to be.
No further details on production prospects for the Chevy Volt minivan were offered today, but you can read more about its Volt-based propulsion system in our full write-up.
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Categories: Beijing Auto Show,Chevrolet,Concept Vehicles,Crossovers,Hybrids,Motorsports
BMW figured Beijing would be the perfect place to unveil it's new "four-door coupe" concept, it just didn't think the auto show floor was the right place for it.
Instead, BMW setup up a design studio in a hotel ballroom complete with a full-size clay model and various designer types sitting around trying to look busy. Then, after a brief history of BMW design by Adrian van Hooydonk, the current design chief, they rolled out the Concept Gran Coupe.
Now, you may be thinking to yourself, "hey, that's no coupe at all," and you would be right. But Mercedes-Benz proved years ago that if you call something a coupe enough times people will get so annoyed they won't even care anymore.
When asked about the obvious comparison to the CLS sedan, van Hooydonk said, "We've actually been thinking about this four-door coupe concept for sometime, but our focus was on sustainability recently. We think now is a good time to get focused once again on exciting design."
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Categories: BMW,Beijing Auto Show,Concept Vehicles,Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,Sedans
