Mitsubishi Motors Corporation will launch another all-new concept at this years Paris Motor Show.

Following the unveiling of the Concept XR PHEV II and eX Concept at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show and the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show respectively, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) continues the development of its ‘Dynamic Shield’ design philosophy with its latest concept to be unveiled at this year’s Paris Motor Show.

The Ground Tourer Concept carries the latest expression of Mitsubishi Motors’ design journey, expressed through four powerful elements: Functional beauty, augmented possibilities, Japanese craftsmanship and solid thrust.

Combining Mitsubishi Motors’ unparalleled off road heritage and cutting edge plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technology, the Ground Tourer Concept SUV will offer effortless travel both on and off the beaten track whatever the driving conditions.  

Citroen to display a techno fest at frankfurt with a host of cars displaying sporting and family expertise.

Illustrated by its victorious WTCC commitment, Citroën is in the race more than ever. The Frankfurt Motor Show will be an opportunity to showcase the brand’s ambitions with:

• A BOLD AND CREATIVE CONCEPT CAR: Citroën will be showcasing its vision for the future of the automobile through a strongly designed concept car:
  • Making its European debut, the Aircross concept car sports a body style with international appeal and illustrates the brand’s new upmarket positioning.
• A RENEWED AND MORE APPEALING RANGE:
  • A modernised range with new features for the C4 Cactus and C1.
  • Renewed best sellers with the C4 New Range and the New Berlingo Multispace.
  • A modernised range that shares the same common denominator of Citroën’s expertise: comfort.
• TECHNOLOGIES THAT MAKE SENSE:
  • The latest-generation range of increasingly efficient engines, including the Diesel BlueHDi engines (with the arrival of the BlueHDi 150 and 180 on the Citroën C5) and the PureTech petrol engine family, including the 3-cylinder PureTech turbo, voted Engine of the Year.
  • A comprehensive line-up of connected services with Citroën Connect, which has been enhanced with new features.

The Frankfurt Motor Show will open its doors to the general public on Thursday 17 September 2015. The Citroën stand will be located in Hall 8. Press days will be held on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 September.

GM confirms plans for Chevy Bolt production in Michigan.

Chevrolet this morning confirmed production of its next-generation pure electric vehicle, based on the Bolt EV concept. It will be built at General Motors’ Orion Assembly facility near Detroit.

GM North America President Alan Batey made the announcement ahead of the Chicago Auto Show. The Bolt EV concept was introduced last month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

“The message from consumers about the Bolt EV concept was clear and unequivocal: Build it,” said Batey. “We are moving quickly because of its potential to completely shake up the status quo for electric vehicles.”

Leveraging the industry-leading battery technology found in the Chevrolet Volt and Spark EV, the Bolt EV concept was developed as a game-changing, long-range pure electric for all 50 states, designed to offer more than a GM-estimated 200 miles of range at a target price of around $30,000.

The progressively styled concept vehicle features selectable driving modes for preferred driving styles, such as daily commuting, and it was designed to support DC fast charging.

“We’re proud that Chevrolet has decided to produce the Bolt EV here in Michigan at the Orion Assembly facility,” Gov. Rick Snyder said. “Michigan unquestionably remains the global automotive leader. Chevrolet is tapping a skilled workforce that includes some of the most talented and hard-working people in the world for this cutting-edge vehicle. Chevrolet is an important part of our state’s automotive history, and Michigan-made products like the Bolt EV point to a bright future as well.”

Start of production and additional details will be announced later.

$200-million investment

GM’s Orion Assembly, home of the Chevrolet Sonic sub-compact and Buick Verano luxury compact,  and Pontiac Metal Center facilities are receiving a $200-million investment to support production of the next-generation electric vehicle. Orion will receive $160 million for tooling and equipment, and Pontiac will receive $40 million for new dies.

“As one of the most environmentally progressive facilities in GM’s global network, Orion Assembly is uniquely suited to build this game-changing electric vehicle,” said Doug Hanly, Orion Assembly and Pontiac Metal Center plant manager. “In partnership with UAW Locals 5960 and 653, we’re committed to building the highest level of quality into it.”

Located approximately 30 miles north of Detroit, Orion Assembly is powered by gas from two nearby landfills, which saves more than 6,300 tons of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere annually. It is also home to a 350-kilowatt solar array that produces the energy equivalent to power 165 homes and sends enough energy back to the grid to power about 45 homes.

“This is very exciting for our members who were facing the possibility of losing that plant during the auto crisis,” said UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada, director of the union’s GM Department. “Our members are also proud to have their plant chosen to produce what is sure to be another popular and dynamic Chevy product rolling off the line at the Orion Assembly Plant.”

Orion Assembly is the first GM facility to receive the Clean Corporate Citizen designation by the State of Michigan, and the Pontiac plant has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR^®Challenge for Industry three times.

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MG will run scared of new brand Qoros and its cheaper pricing in China

• The Qoros 3 Sedan will go on sale in China at a starting price of RMB 119,900
• Qoros’ first production model spearheads New Premium concept
• A Style Accessories Concept debuts, signaling the intention to meet the growing trend of personalization

At its first ever appearance at the Guangzhou Motor Show, new international car brand, Qoros, today announced the China specification and pricing for its first series production model, the compact Qoros 3 Sedan.

Delivering international standards of quality, safety, specification, design and technology, the Qoros 3 Sedan represents a New Premium.  The car received very positive response following its global unveiling earlier this year at the Geneva and Shanghai Motor Shows.

The Qoros 3 Sedan will go on sale in China with a line-up of six variants, ranging in price from RMB 119,900 to RMB 167,900.

The full model line-up is as follows:

The Qoros 3 Sedan targets young, modern, metropolitan consumers who are ambitious, aspirational and always connected.  They are proactive, independent-minded and seek quality.

The Qoros 3 Sedan has been designed, developed and engineered by an international team of engineers with expertise gained from world-class western automotive brands.  Thanks to a comprehensive development programme conducted under the leadership of this experienced team in conjunction with a number of globally renowned systems and technology providers, Qoros is about to start sales of the most advanced car ever developed in China.

Along with the launch of the Qoros 3 Sedan, Qoros is developing its dealer and aftersales service networks following the opening of its first dealer in in Nanjing in early November.

Style Accessories Concept

Alongside the production Qoros 3 Sedan, Qoros also unveiled its ‘Style Accessories Concept’ at the Guangzhou Auto Show.  The new concept incorporates a number of exterior design enhancements.  Each has a functional purpose as well as providing a distinct accent to the Qoros 3 Sedan’s elegant styling.

The Style Accessories Concept includes small spoiler extensions to the front and rear bumpers, subtle side skirts and a rear wing on the trunk.  These are conceived not only provide a sportier look but also to optimise airflow under and around and over the car to improve aerodynamics and fuel economy.  Striking, large 18-inch 20-spoke alloy wheels feature an eye-catching matt smoke silver finish and are wrapped in low-profile tyres that neatly fill the more prominent wheel arches that are also part of the styling enhancements.

The Style Accessories Concept is indicative of a comprehensive range of accessories being developed for the Qoros 3 Sedan that will be available to order exclusively from Qoros retailers in China in the second half of next year.

Design

The production Qoros 3 Sedan spearheads the introduction of a simple, timeless, elegant design which will feature across all future Qoros models.  The clean, simple styling – adopting a horizontal theme and inspired by European automotive design – benefits from deliberately striking accents such as the LED daytime running lights and taillights, and the large, bold alloy wheels.

Advanced touchscreen multimedia system

The horizontal theme continues inside.  The passenger cabin is an unusually generous space thanks to the widest body (1,839 mm) and longest wheelbase (2,690mm) in its class.  The focus of the dash is the eight-inch capacitive touchscreen for the Qoros MMHTM (Multi Media Hub), fitted as standard across the range, which eliminates the plethora of buttons and switches that blights the interior of many modern cars.  Designed to minimise driver distraction, this highly intuitive system was developed in-house at Qoros.  It is operated through simple finger swipe gestures, and can be navigated very easily without the complex multi-layer menu structures of rivals’ systems.

Cloud-connected features

Qoros MMHTM is also the portal through which users can access the comprehensive range of QorosQloudTM cloud-based services (standard on Experience models and above, optional on Essence), such as enhanced navigation, vehicle status and social networking features.  This technology, which integrates seamlessly with users’ smartphones and other connected devices, allows the Qoros 3 Sedan to become part of the customer’s digital world like never before.

World-class safety

The Qoros 3 Sedan is the first car developed in China to achieve a maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating.  It is one of the safest cars ever tested in the programme’s 16-year history, and is the best performer so far in 2013.

Power and refinement

The Qoros 3 Sedan is powered by 1.6-litre VVT gasoline engines in either naturally aspirated or turbocharged form, and both are available with six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch transmissions.

The 1.6-litre turbo yields 115 kW (156 ps) power and maximum torque of 210 Nm, and when matched with the six-speed dry dual-clutch transmission, accelerates the Qoros 3 Sedan to 0-100 km/h in 9.7 seconds, and on to a top speed of 217 km/h.  Fuel consumption is rated at just 6.4 l/100 km.

The naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre unit delivers 93 kW (126 ps) and 155 Nm.  With this engine paired to the six-speed manual transmission, the car accelerates to 100 km/h in 11.6 seconds.  Fuel consumption is just 6.1 l/100 km, or an impressive 6.0 l/100 km when married to the dual-clutch gearbox.  Both engines deliver exceptional drivability.

The chassis set up sees MacPherson struts at the front and twist beam axle at the rear, which endows the Qoros 3 Sedan with a compliant and comfortable ride, yet positive handling when a more dynamic response is required.  In conjunction with an exhaustive development programme that results in extremely effective NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) management, occupants can enjoy a quiet and refined driving experience.

Lexus will unveil the new CT 200h at the 2013 Guangzhou Motor Show

Lexus will unveil the new CT 200h at the 2013 Guangzhou Motor Show on November 21, 2013. The CT 200h was first introduced in 2010 as the world’s first full hybrid luxury compact car.

The new CT 200h features a refreshed exterior design including the adoption of the Lexus signature ‘spindle grille’. New design alloy wheels and changes to the rear of the car reinforce the car’s powerful presence on the road.

All other details about the new CT 200h will be revealed at the upcoming Guangzhou Motor Show. A press conference will be held on November 21 at the Lexus booth, Hall 5.1 in the China Import and Export Commodities Fair Complex.

Suzuki to wow crowds with a number of new concepts in Tokyo.

Suzuki Motor Corporation will display several concept exhibits at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013 (organised by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association) which will open to the public at Tokyo’s Big Sightbetween November 23 and December 1, 2013.

The theme of the Suzuki booth at this year’s show is: “Let’s Create a Brand New Story”. Suzuki recognises that the daily life of each and every customer is a story, and by adding something to each of those stories, the desire to create different, brand new ideas together with our customers, is put into the theme.

Based on the Suzuki slogan of “Small Cars for a Big Future”, the concept cars exhibited at the show offer cars that are currently in demand, cars that should be available in the near future, and cars for the more distant future. In order to build a Brand New Story that will add excitement and passion to the daily lives of customers around the world, the cars are packed with Suzuki’s attractive products and unique leading-edge technology.

In addition, the design of the Suzuki booth features an S-shaped border that depicts lightness and softness to an open construction that expresses a bright future. A wide panoramic screen measuring 3.6m x 40m is set at the back of the stage. Introduction videos of the concept cars will be streamed across the main stage to show the Brand New Story of Suzuki and its customers in a beautiful image, all of which were produced by movie director Shunji Iwai.

Main Exhibits

Crosshiker: a compact crossover that fuses fresh new styling with a dynamic weight reduction and highly-efficient power train

• The Crosshiker is a compact crossover, which is an alternative offer of the G70, the concept car packed with lightweight and fuel-efficient technologies that was exhibited at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. It uses the next-generation lightweight platform adopted for the G70.
• It features a size of a compact car while weighing just 810kg, the weight of a minicar. With a newly developed 1-litre 3-cylinder engine, it strikes a good balance between power and environmental performance.
• The Crosshiker inherited the G70 concept “Eco-friendly on the inside while having a design with personality that would evoke passion in users”, while adopting more exciting styling and a design befitting a crossover tailored to adults keeping a playful mind.

X-LANDER: a real 4WD hybrid with a distinctive personality

• Suzuki wants drivers to use this car in the city as well as sometimes go out to play in the field. This concept model is packed with such intentions.
• Based on the Jimny, Suzuki’s world-class compact 4WD vehicle, the X-LANDER is equipped with a 1.3L engine and a newly developed automatically controlled manual transmission.
• It incorporates a compact lightweight hybrid system equipped with a highly-efficient motor built onto a 4WD system, achieving both up-to-date environmental performance and excellent running performance.
• The vehicle design is loaded with full of playful touches so that the vehicle looks like a fusion of off-road power and mechanical precision.

HUSTLER: the challenge to a new genre, a crossover that suits an active lifestyle

• This is a crossover type concept model of a new-genre minicar that suits the active lifestyle of people who love the nature, love the outdoors, and love sports.
• This is a stylish yet practical design with plenty of SUV touches, combining an exterior that looks like it belongs in the outdoors with a roomy, comfortable, and useful interior.

HUSTLER Coupe: the challenge to a new genre of minicar, a crossover coupe with a beautiful silhouette

• This is a concept model that adds further design variation of a coupe silhouette to the reference exhibit HUSTLER.

iV-4: a compact SUV with a powerful design that carries on the Suzuki SUV image

• The iV-4 is a compact SUV concept model newly offered by Suzuki, who has earned much praise for its Jimny, Grand Vitara, and other compact SUVs.
• Its concept “Grab Your Field” has the meaning to let users pursue their own pastimes and lifestyles.
• This model is equipped with Suzuki’s next-generation 4WD system ALLGRIP and will be launched in Europe in 2015.

Mitsubishi launches three new concepts at the Tokyo Motor Show 2013

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will unveil three world premiere concept vehicles at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013[1]. Incorporating a new design identity that symbolises the sense of security and functionality of an SUV, the three models highlight Mitsubishi Motors innovative engineering, MMC's next-generation advanced technologies that embody the concepts of environmental responsibility, driving pleasure, toughness and safety.

The first of the three concepts, the MITSUBISHI Concept GC-PHEV[2] is a next-generation full-size SUV that uses a high out-put PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) system. The MITSUBISHI Concept GC-PHEV offers both the dynamic drivability of an SUV and class-leading environmental performance. MMC’s S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) integrated vehicle dynamic control system delivers superior handling, stability as well as the all-terrain capability an SUV offers. The MITSUBISHI Concept GC-PHEV is a “connected car” that also offers next-generation preventive safety technology and driver support technology through wireless connectivity.

The MITSUBISHI Concept XR-PHEV[3] is a next-generation compact SUV loaded with a lightweight and highly efficient PHEV system with dramatically enhanced environmental performance. The MITSUBISHI Concept XR-PHEV offers nimble drivability and a body style resembling a sport coupe.

The MITSUBISHI Concept AR[4] is a next-generation compact MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) that offers both the mobility of an SUV and the occupant space of an MPV. The latest fuel efficiency technologies adopted in the MITSUBISHI Concept AR include the use of a down-sized direct-injection turbocharged engine. The MITSUBISHI Concept AR provides a relaxing space for occupants through its enveloping interior design and a range of seat arrangements that provide comfort for all passengers.