2012 Kia Picanto

Kia has released the details and images of the new generation, 2012 Kia Picanto which will have its world premiere at the 2011 Geneva International Motor Show.

Designed by the company's European design team in Germany, the 2012 Kia Picanto will be available with four engine choices, ranging from 1.0-litre to 1.2-litres in capacity, among which a new three-cylinder turbo diesel. 

Under the hood, power will be provided by "four all-new powertrains in 1.0- and 1.2-liter displacements." Details are limited, but Kia says they will all deliver "class leading CO2 emissions levels."

Peter Schreyer, Kia’s Chief Design Officer shared: “In profile, new Picanto features significant sculpting and a very prominent rising character line. The result is a layering of light and shadow and this breaks up the height, giving the car a more sure-footed stance.”

Source: Kia




Press Release

Next generation Kia Picanto - a design that's small but grown-up

• Kia releases first official photos of 'mature' and 'sculpted' new model
• Next generation offered in two body styles with four all-new powertrains
• Production vehicle to be revealed at 2011 Geneva Motor Show

(SEOUL) January 4, 2011 - Kia Motors Corporation has released the first official photos of the next generation Picanto city car, which now offers a bolder, more mature and more self confident look.

Completely redesigned and re-engineered, the new car has grown in overall length and wheelbase and is set to redefine its position as one of the most competitive vehicles in its segment.

Kia's Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer, said, "In profile, new Picanto features significant sculpting and a very prominent rising character line. The result is a layering of light and shadow and this breaks up the height, giving the car a more sure-footed stance."

Picanto has never been sold in Australia but Kia Motors Australia has not shut the door on the latest generation.

"While there are no immediate plans to bring Picanto to Australia we have been, and will continue, to look at opportunities in areas in which we do not currently compete," Kia Motors Australia Chief Operating Officer, Mr Tony Barlow, said. "The Picanto now has the advantage of being an all-new car and if it makes sense as a business case then it is certainly not off the agenda."

While the current Picanto is available only as a five-door hatchback, the new generation version will be offered as a five-door globally while a sportier three-door body style will also be marketed in Europe.

The new Picanto will feature four all-new powertrains in 1.0- and 1.2-litre displacements, all boasting class leading CO2 emissions levels. In addition to petrol engines, LPG bi-fuel and flex fuel variations will be available depending on market.

The next generation Picanto will be officially unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show in March when further technical specifications will be available.

2012 Kia Picanto

Kia has released the first teaser images of the 2012 Picanto, which offers a general view of the next generation model. The world debut of the 2012 Kia Picanto will take place next year, at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 2011.

Styled at the company's European design studio, the new Picanto promises "to stand out from the crowd" by "exuding self confidence, solidity and maturity." Furthermore, it will be available in three- and five-door configurations.

With an exterior that looks more confident and mature, the new Kia Picanto will go on sale across UK in Spring 2011, although no details regarding motorisation and pricing are available at this moment.




Press Release

Kia sketches out future with 'stand-out' newcomer

• Kia reveals first design sketches of stylish next generation Picanto city car
• Newcomer brings confidence, solidity and maturity to the A-segment
• Production vehicle to be unveiled at 2011 Geneva Motor Show
• On sale in the UK from late Spring 2011

Kia has today released the first official design sketches of the next generation Picanto city car designed to stand out from the crowd.

The new model has been styled by Kia's European design team based in Frankfurt, Germany, under the direction of Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer.

Exuding self confidence, solidity and maturity, the next generation Picanto is designed to break the city car mould and will be officially unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 2011 and will be on sale in the UK from late spring.

Geneva Debut: Rinspeed BamBoo concept

Rinspeed has announced plans to introduce the BamBoo concept at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

The Rinspeed BamBoo is a 'grown-up golf cart' and as the name suggests, many of its interior components are made from bamboo fibers. However this is not some kind of weight saving measure, as the idea behind the Rinspeed BamBoo was to create an open top vehicle, light and easy to maneuver, reminiscent of the 70s for people who love the summer and the beach.

Since the vehicle is called BamBoo, it’s easy to guess that the material will be found somewhere in the workings of the car. Rinspeed states that bamboo fibers are a part of major components of the interior, but we’ll probably have to wait for Geneva to get more information. In fact, we’ll have to wait until the Geneva Motor Show in March to find out a lot about this open-top vehicle. The only other information we could pull from the press release is that, if produced, this vehicle will more than likely be electric for that little bit of modernization needed for this retro design.

These are about all the details released regarding the Rinspeed BamBoo concept, the manufacturer leaving room for speculation. We're sure the Rinspeed BamBoo will be completely revealed next year.





Press Release

"BamBoo" - the Pure Roots of Mobility

The names of the concept cars from Swiss car visionary Frank M. Rinderknecht are more than marketing-driven slick onomatopoeia that polls well with focus groups. At Rinspeed names often have a deeper meaning. That is also true for the latest creation from Rinderknecht. "BamBoo" is the name of his latest ‘baby' that resembles a grown-up golf cart and is bound to evokes plenty of admiration at the next Geneva Motor Show which runs from March 3rd through 13th, 2011.

Nomen est omen - the name says it all - is immediately apparent: Many interior components are made from bamboo fibers. But the four-seater "BamBoo" takes it to a whole new level - to the Meta level so to speak: This open-top vehicle awakens the longing for sun, summer, for lightness and easiness, the desire to be at the beach. It is a reminiscence of the Seventies, of the south of France and St. Tropez. And one would expect to find Brigitte Bardot behind the wheel with playboy Gunther Sachs at her side heading towards Tahiti beach..

Anyone who might think that this is simple retro design for nostalgia's sake underestimates the boss of the Swiss concept powerhouse. Yes, Rinderknecht incorporates the automobile references of the time. But he doesn't leave it at that. He reinterprets them and evolves them into the future. And he focuses in them the yearning to get back to the roots, paired with the absolute desire to be in harmony with creation. That makes electric drive, also for the onboard foldable two wheeler for the last "mile", a must.

Anyone not blinded by horsepower orgies, chrome tinsel and top-speed frenzy should take a closer look. "BamBoo" pushes the ‘reset' button, clears the mind for a new way of thinking. It sports simple, clean lines. No bells, no whistles. Nothing is superfluous. Plain aesthetics in their purest form. As stated before and even in a figurative sense: Nomen est omen. Simply bamboo.

2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante Photo Shoot - New Car Pictures

When the Aston Martin DBS Volante made its debut at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, Aston released only a couple of studio shots.

In between, the Aston Martin Rapide and the Aston Martin Cygnet, the folks at Gaydon have found a little time to take some real-life shots of the DBS Volante...

Citroen Survolt vs Agni Z2【Video】

Citroen Survolt, the French electric concept presented this year at Geneva Auto Show,

The Citroen Survolt was driven in the race by Vanina Ickx – Le Mans Series and Touring Car racing driver. Yes, she's the daughter of Formula One driver, Jacky Ickx. The Agni Z2 was ridden by Jenny Tinmouth - the fastest woman around the Isle of Man TT course. The Citroen Survolt is powered by an electric motor, juiced by a 62kW battery, that outputs 300 bhp. The top speed of the Citroen Survolt is rated at 162 mph and the manufacturer says it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds.

The Citroen Survolt features a tubular chassis, has a carbon fiber body, weights 1.15 tonnes and its 140 Kg lithium-ion battery pack enables it to reach speeds of 260 Km/h (162 mph). The Citroen Survolt packs a combined power of 300 BHP and need less than 5.0-seconds to sprint from 0 to 100 Km/h (0 to 62 mph).

Powered by 80 battery packs and weighing 220kg (485 lbs), the Agni Z2’s 65hp all-electric drivetrain delivers a 0-100 km/h (0-62mph) time of around 3.5 seconds with a top speed of just over 210 km/h (130 mph).

Propelled by two electric motors with a combined power of 300bhp from0 to 5,000rpm, Survolt is capable of exceptional performance with a topspeed of 260kph (162mph) and a 0-100kph (0-62mph) time of under five seconds.  The concept’s twin 140kg lithium-ion batteries each boast a 31kw capacity and can cover 200km (124 miles).






Press Release

Electric racecar faced electric superbike for the very first time as Citroën’s striking Survolt concept and an Agni Z2 went head-to-head at Thruxton race circuit.

In the capable hands of two professional female racers – Vanina Ickx and Jenny Tinmouth – car and bike battled it out to test speed, agility and performance in the all-electric shoot-out of four wheels against two.

Piloting Survolt was Vanina Ickx – Le Mans Series and Touring Car racing driver and daughter of Formula One driver, Jacky Ickx. Riding the Agni Z2 was Jenny Tinmouth, the fastest woman around the Isle of Man TT course and championship leader in the 2010 TTXGP.

Vanina Ickx commented; “This was a fantastic experience – the first electric duel of its type. The lack of engine noise made it a very interesting challenge. Normally you have an idea where your opponent is by their sound, but with electric vehicles it’s so much quieter – a new racing dynamic. I had a lot of fun and I’m thrilled to have been part of this unique track event.”

Survolt was fresh from its appearance on Sunday (12/09) as part of The Prince of Wales’ Start Eco Car Spectacular. Held on The Mall in the shadow of Buckingham Palace, Survolt led a parade of ecologically-conscious vehicles, wowing the crowds and attracting much appreciation from attending celebrities including Kevin McCloud, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Lisa Rogers and Quentin Willson. At the event’s prize-giving, Survolt was presented with the ‘Vision Award’ by M&S Chairman Sir Stuart Rose.

Specially developed with compact dimensions and a light-weight frame (1.15 tonnes) to suit the race track, Survolt features a tubular chassis, flat underside with extractor and full carbon bodywork, all combining to make a genuine emissions-free, electric racing car.

Propelled by two electric motors with a combined power of 300bhp from 0 to 5,000rpm, Survolt is capable of exceptional performance with a top speed of 260kph (162mph) and a 0-100kph (0-62mph) time of under five seconds. The concept’s twin 140kg lithium-ion batteries each boast a 31kw capacity and can cover 200km (124 miles).

Powered by 80 battery packs and weighing 220kg, the Agni Z2’s 65hp all-electric drivetrain delivers a 0-60mph time of around 3.5seconds with a top speed of just over 130mph.

New Porsche 918 Spyder Sports Plug-in Hybrid Concept Revealed in Geneva | AUTO WORLD

Porsche has unveiled a striking concept car, the new 918 Spyder, at the special pre-show event in Geneva. The mid-engined sports car has introduced as the new “ecology vs. performance” issue.

The 918 Spyder “Super-Sports” concept is powered by both a 500-horsepower V8 and a pair of electric motors (one for each axle) producing an additional 218 hp or 160kW. On the ecological surface it is talented of 3.0 litres/100 kilometers (94 mpg imp / 78 mpg US) with just 70 grams of CO2 emissions per kilometer. That gives a combined power output of 528 kW (718 PS / 708 hp) resulting in a 0 to 100 km/h tear in just 3.2 seconds, top zoom of 320 km/h (198 mph), and a lap time on the Nurburgring Nordschleife in excluding than 7:30 record, which is closer than the Porsche Carrera GT.

Read more (details and photos)!!

The 918 Spyder features a liquid cooled lithium-ion battery, brake energy regeneration, exhort-to-corridor “E-Boost” knob for swift overtaking drills, and four energetic modes. They are: E-Drive genre for exciting only powered powerful; Hybrid means, which uses both the thrilling motors and the V8 engine relation to powerful conditions; Sport Hybrid genre uses both passion systems, but with the focus on performance; and Race Hybrid mode for hardcore performance operation at the boundary.

Power is transmitted to the wheels by a seven-zoom Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission that feeds the power of the thrilling force practice to the rear axle. The front-helm thrilling take powers the wheels through a preset transmission ratio.

New ABT AS8 Based on Audi A8 Revealed at 2010 Geneva Motor Show | AUTO WORLD

ABT Sportsline tuner has unveiled a modified 2011 Audi A8 at the Geneva Motor Show. Project called as AS8 and features a new front spoiler, aggressive face skirts, a revised rear apron, and classy 20-creep wheels (21-inchers are also available).

What’s about performance, Abt tweaked the 4.2-liter TDI engine to products 385 PS (283 kW / 380 hp) and 880 Nm (649 lb-ft) of torque. This represents a modest fuel of 35 PS (26 kW) and 80 Nm (59 lb-ft), compared to the customary car.

Read more (details + photos)!!

According to Abt, the “AS8 has been optimized to endure the high strain of its drivers: ABT Sportsline has not distorted the elegant glider into a racing car, but charily into a certain and sporty automobile.”

All-new 2011 Volkswagen Sharan Introduced in Geneva | AUTO WORLD

The all-new Volkswagen Sharan MPV has introduced at the Geneva Motor Show. This is the third-generation model has become better than before. The car can be ordered from this month in European markets.

The 2011 VW Sharan measures 4.85 metres long, 1.9m broad but 1.72m lower. The wheelbase is 2.92m long. The car front end features styling such as the gloss black bars across the radiator grille, integrated chrome clips and a chrome VW logo. Optional bi-xenon light can be planned and they come with LED daytime operation lights.

Read more (photos + video)!!

Another feature is the rear sliding door expected at making rear access easier. A diversity of three bottom kind interiors with five, six or seven seats will be free. There is also the adaptable EasyFold seat usage that allows seats on the instant and third rows to be certainly stowed away in the ground.

Some interior appointments enter an electrically operated panoramic sliding roof, a 3-zone climate control and a radio/ CD sound practice as streamer.

The new Sharan will initially be free with four dictate addition turbo petrol (TSI) and turbo diesel (TDI) engines. At the stand is a 110 kW (150 PS) TSI motor, followed by a 147 kW (200 PS) edition. The TDIs press out 103 kW (140 PS) and 125 kW (170 PS) each respectively. VW says the 103kW TDI averages 5.5 litres per 100km (51.4 mpg) and income 145g/km in C02 emissions from its 70 litre fuel tank.