Honda to Debut New Civic Wagon Concept and Updated NSX at Geneva Auto Show

 

With the 2013 Geneva Auto Show being less than a month away, auto manufacturers are beginning to reveal details about the models they will debut in Switzerland.

Honda today announced that it has three premieres for the event. The first one is the Civic Wagon Concept, which the Japanese company says will provide “strong cues” for the production model that will be added to the European C-segment model’s line-up, likely within the next year or so.
The NSX Concept that was unveiled last month at the Detroit show as an Acura and gave us a look at the new supercar’s nearly production-ready interior will make its European debut in Geneva, naturally with Honda badges.
Finally, Honda’s stand will also feature the new CR-V compact crossover with the company’s new 1.6-liter i-DTEC diesel engine that is already available in the Civic hatchback. The new variant of the CR-V will be offered in European markets only with front-wheel drive and a manual transmission, with sales scheduled to start in autumn.

PHOTO GALLERY

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Whats So Great About Detroit Auto Show

When I started this blog I signed up for many places through where I get news and latest press release about happenings and development in the auto world and what the major auto manufacturers are up to. What are there future plans e.t.c.

When I start receiving these updates, I was surprised that majority of the car manufacturers reveal their up coming sensations at the Detroit Auto Show. It was OK in the beginning but after frequent use of this car event and even the car testing, nominations and award ceremonies started to take place in this show, an excitement and interest started to take place in me. I became eager to figure out that why this motor show meant so much to these auto manufacturers. So I used the best source on Internet to know the reason. Thats right "Wikipedia". After reading from this website I want to present the information about this auto show and share with you people too just in case you have the same eagerness about it like me.

What Is Detroit Auto Show
Detroit auto shows actual name is North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). It is held in Detroit, Michigan. Perhaps for this reason people for their convenience replace the above lengthy name with Detroit.
One of the reason for it being the center of gravity for auto manufacturers is that it is regarded as one of the biggest auto show of North America as well as Detroit serve as a location headquarter for the three American Auto manufacturers namely Chrysler, Ford and General Motors (GM).

Its being regularly conducted since 1907 except for 10 years this is from 1943 to 1952.

Thats about the history, Now lets talk about how this show is conducted. It usually starts with with press preview days, industry preview days and a charity preview event. Fund raising means that this show has also got some humane side as well.This fund raising, for local children charity purpose, is often successful and in 2004 and 2005, they were able to raise $7 million.

This auto show distributes awards to various categories and got a segment of introduction of up coming cars.
The awards distributed for car of the  year and truck of the year. The introduction category is divided into production car introductions and concept cars introductions.

An important award is also announced, which means a lot to the car designers, known as "Excellence In Design Award".

I think its enough for this post. I only meant to make a brief intro about Detroit Auto Show. I guess its sufficient enough to get acquaint of this great motor show.

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If you have more information about this motor show, feel free to share it.

Chevrolet to Showcase Performance at New York Auto Show

Chevrolet will showcase a new lineup of performance cars for the 2014 model year at the New York International Auto Show, including the all-new Corvette Stingray coupe and convertible, all-new SS performance sedan and refreshed Camaro.

The new cars build on Chevrolet’s success in 2012, when the brand accounted for one out of three performance cars sold in the United States.

“Chevrolet customers have validated our performance credentials with their enthusiasm,” said General Motors North America President Mark Reuss “Were going to give them even more reasons to be enthused about Chevrolet performance, design and technology.”  

Chevrolet will showcase:

2014 Camaro – The New York International Auto Show will host the world debut of the revamped 2014 Camaro, which advances the design and performance attributes that has made it the most popular sports car under $50,000 for three consecutive years.

2014 Corvette Stingray convertible – Earlier this week in Geneva, Chevrolet unveiled the drop-top version of the new Corvette Stingray. Unlike other convertibles, the Stingray delivers an uncompromised driving experience with a similar power-to-weight ratio and chassis tuning identical to the coupe. It features an all-new, fully electronic top that can be lowered with the push of a button, and even remotely using the key fob.

2014 SS sports sedan – Introduced at Daytona in February, the SS is the brand’s first V-8-powered, rear-wheel driven performance sedan since 1996. It’s based on a race-proven, global platform and powered by a 6.2L V-8 rated at an estimated 415 horsepower. Driving through a six-speed automatic transmission, it sprints from 0 to 60 in five seconds flat.

2014 Corvette Stingray coupe – Introduced at the North American International Auto Show in January, the all-new Corvette Stingray rolls into the Big Apple 60 years after the Corvette made its public debut in New York City. The seventh generation of the iconic sports car will be the most powerful, most capable and most fuel-efficient standard Corvette ever, with an estimated 450 horsepower, acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in four seconds, and better fuel economy than the 2013 Corvettes EPA-estimated 26 mpg highway.

Courtesy of Chevrolet News

New Chevrolet Cruze diesel to debut at Chicago Auto Show

General Motors Co.s Chevrolet brand will reveal the new Chevrolet Cruze diesel model during a Feb. 7 news conference at the Chicago Auto Show.

GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan confirmed Monday that the Detroit automaker will debut the Cruze diesel, expected out later this year, at the Chicago show. The Cruze diesel is one of 13 new or updated models Chevrolet will roll out in 2013.

GM plans to start production of the Cruze diesel in the second quarter, with vehicles hitting showrooms in April or May, a source close to the plan said Monday, asking for anonymity because GM has not announced when production of the new Cruze will begin.

General Motors Co. North America President Mark Reuss said in mid-December that GM would be "putting the Cruze out here (in the) first quarter."

"Im thrilled with the car," Reuss told journalists last month in Pontiac. "The cars going to be great."

Reuss also hinted that the company is interested in offering more diesel-powered options in the United States.

"Theres a place for diesels here. Theres a place for diesels in the future, as well," he said in December. "At the end of the day, its still the most efficient thermodynamics of combustion that we have. The mass piece of it in the U.S. has been problematic. But now were beginning to produce clean diesels. We need some stability in the quality of fuel across the country, which that would help us calibrate and bring to market more effectively."

The Cruze diesel will be built at GMs Lordstown Assembly Plant near Youngstown, Ohio.

In August, GM announced it was investing $200 million into the Lordstown plant and $20 million at a metal center in Parma, Ohio, for tooling and equipment for a new Cruze model. The automaker planned to produce the current generation of the Cruze at Lordstown through model year 2014.

Diesel sales among all light-duty cars and trucks rose about 25 percent to 125,000 units in 2012, up from 100,000 in 2011.

Many new diesel models will be introduced over the next two years, including a diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Courtesy of Detroit News

Audi Crosslane Coupé Concept at 2012 Paris Motor Show

Audi shows at the Paris Motor Show with the Audi Crosslane Coupé an exciting concept car with a dual-mode hybrid drive.

At the 2012 Paris Motor Show, Audi is a preview of a future compact SUV coupé with an innovative drive concept. The design of the Audi Crosslane Coupé Concept also shows a continuation of the current design line of the brand.

The front end is very dynamic, and combined with the beefy rear the compact SUV-coupe looks very appealing.

The interior also plays much in the future, but the designers have focused on essential elements, and so the valves landscape looks very tidy and clear.

The highlight of the Crosslane Coupé Concept is sure to be innovative drive concept. The plug-in hybrid drive of the Audi Crosslane Coupe, which is called dual-mode hybrid is as innovative as efficiently. It includes an internal combustion engine, two electric motors and a single-stage gearbox, the system output is 130 kW (177 hp). The Audi crosslane coupe accelerates in 8.6 seconds from zero to 100 km / h in purely electric mode pass 9.8 seconds. The peak is at 182 km / h was achieved. Fuel consumption is an average of only 1.1 liters per 100 km, CO2 emissions 26 grams per km. The lithium-ion battery provides 17.4 kWh, with its electric range of about 86 km.

As an internal combustion engine a specially developed three-cylinder TFSI with a capacity of serving 1.5 liters, it provides 95 kW (130 hp) and 200 Nm of torque available. The three-cylinder engine is provided with an e-machine (EM 1), which acts primarily as a starter and generator. It produces 50 kW (68 hp) of power and 210 Nm of torque. The electric traction task takes the second electric motor (EM 2) with 85 kW (116 hp) and 250 Nm of torque. The gear unit has the ability to couple the internal combustion engine including the generator via a claw coupling with the rest of the drive train.

The dual-mode hybrid concept allows different operating modes. In the range from 0 to 55 km / h, the drive takes place solely by the EM 2, the necessary energy is primarily from the battery. In serial operation generate the combustion engine and the generator (EM 1) electric power to assist the battery, to relieve or to substitute, if it is empty.

The e-drive is 130 km / h. From approximately 55 km / h allows the drive system, the TFSI couple along with the generator to the drivetrain - in this hybrid operation allows the units combine both efficiency as well as optimal performance. Beyond the 130 km / h, driven predominantly by the three-cylinder, if necessary it can support the EM first

The driver of the Audi Crosslane Coupé can choose between voting "cruise" and "race". The "cruise" mode prioritizes electric driving. The driver experiences neither shifting nor perceptible engine starts. If the FSI is running constantly adjusts its speed to the speed driven, without rubber band effect. The high efficiency of the transmission makes the dual-mode hybrid drive especially in urban traffic very efficiently.

Suzuki S Cross Concept at 2012 Paris Motor Show

Suzuki has released new Suzuki S-Cross Concept a preview of a future compact SUV, which will soon go into production.

Starting in 2013 Suzuki launches a model offensive and each year brings new models to the market. A very specific view of the small Japanese cars and four-wheel specialist are here in Paris on a new compact SUV.

The Suzuki S-Cross Concept shows how a brand new off-roader could. The curved lines of the modern SUVs looks very sporty and gives the powerful four-wheel drive in a certain lightness.

With the modern design and efficient engines Suzuki wants to win new customers in the C segment. The new Suzuki model is when it comes to the market, are among the most fuel efficient in its class representatives.

Here is the 431 cm-long S-Cross can convince even with a very good space and a generous boot space. The production model of the Suzuki S-cross you will be able to expect next year, where you can also assume that the design of the production version of the concept car is the same.

Already at the Suzuki Kizashi has shown that the way in the study of the dynamics of the series need not be lost, but certainly a large part of the concept cars can find their way into the series.

2014 Chevy Cruze diesel unveiling expected to take Chicago Auto Show spotlight

General Motors Co. is expected to be one of the standouts this week at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show.

Following an array of debuts at the 2013 North American international Auto Showlast month in Detroit, GM will unveil its 2014 Chevrolet Cruze diesel.

Little has been released about the vehicle, but analysts expect it to grab a lot of the spotlight at the show, which starts Thursday with two Press Preview days.

“It’s a big deal that Chevy is bringing a diesel vehicle to the lineup in the United States,” said Brandy Schaffels, TrueCar.com senior editor and content manager. “These tend to be higher performance cars that are giving us diesel powertrains for fuel economy and performance.

“It’s really interesting to see a diesel engine come to a mainstream consumer vehicle.”

Diesels currently represents less than 3 percent of all U.S. sales. However, some companies expect that percentage to grow to 10 percent by 2020.

Robert Bosch, a global multibillion-dollar engineering and electronics automotive leader, anticipates more than 50 light-vehicle diesel models to be announced or released by 2017 in North America, including 22 new models in 2013.

European automakers – particularly Volkswagen – have dominated the diesel market in the U.S., which has increased from 235,500 units in 2008 to 301,300 in 2012, according toEdmunds.com.

“What diesel needs is more exposure in different brands,” said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds.com senior analyst and director of pricing and industry analysis. “Chevy coming out, being a non-European car, in a volume segment with the volume car, I definitely think it can make more of an impact.”

Caldwell said Chevrolet and Volkswagen aren’t traditionally direct competitors, but with the limited amount of passenger car diesel options, that could change.

Excluding luxury vehicles, such as Audi and Mercedes-Benz, VW is the only automaker to offer a strictly diesel passenger vehicle in the U.S. since 2008, when Chrysler offered a Grand Cherokee diesel, which it will once again start to offer later this year.

Diesel-powered vehicles have remained a niche market in the U.S. for decades due to consumer perception, pricing and the fuel being more expensive than standard gasoline, according to analysts. Diesels cost about $2,000 to $3,000 more on average than a standard gasoline engine.

American automakers have remained reluctant to build anything but diesel-version pickup trucks and heavy-duty vans.

But now, “clean diesels” are 30 percent more fuel-efficient, produce lower CO2 emissions and maintain a higher residual value compared to traditional gasoline engines.

“People that buy them tend to know a lot about the automotive industry,” Caldwell said. “I think for a lot of commuters, diesel makes a lot of sense.”

The Chicago Auto Show,celebrating its 105th year, is open to the public from Feb. 9-18 at the McCormick Center, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive. Dozens of vehicles from the world’s top automakers are expected to debut during the show’s press preview days Feb. 7 and Feb. 8.

Courtesy of MLive 

New Chevrolet Cruze diesel to debut at Chicago Auto Show

General Motors Co.s Chevrolet brand will reveal the new Chevrolet Cruze diesel model during a Feb. 7 news conference at the Chicago Auto Show.

GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan confirmed Monday that the Detroit automaker will debut the Cruze diesel, expected out later this year, at the Chicago show. The Cruze diesel is one of 13 new or updated models Chevrolet will roll out in 2013.

GM plans to start production of the Cruze diesel in the second quarter, with vehicles hitting showrooms in April or May, a source close to the plan said Monday, asking for anonymity because GM has not announced when production of the new Cruze will begin.

General Motors Co. North America President Mark Reuss said in mid-December that GM would be "putting the Cruze out here (in the) first quarter."

"Im thrilled with the car," Reuss told journalists last month in Pontiac. "The cars going to be great."

Reuss also hinted that the company is interested in offering more diesel-powered options in the United States.

"Theres a place for diesels here. Theres a place for diesels in the future, as well," he said in December. "At the end of the day, its still the most efficient thermodynamics of combustion that we have. The mass piece of it in the U.S. has been problematic. But now were beginning to produce clean diesels. We need some stability in the quality of fuel across the country, which that would help us calibrate and bring to market more effectively."

The Cruze diesel will be built at GMs Lordstown Assembly Plant near Youngstown, Ohio.

In August, GM announced it was investing $200 million into the Lordstown plant and $20 million at a metal center in Parma, Ohio, for tooling and equipment for a new Cruze model. The automaker planned to produce the current generation of the Cruze at Lordstown through model year 2014.

Diesel sales among all light-duty cars and trucks rose about 25 percent to 125,000 units in 2012, up from 100,000 in 2011.

Many new diesel models will be introduced over the next two years, including a diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Courtesy of Detroit News

MASERATI KUBANG PICTURES AUTO SHOW CAR

We covered Maseratis new sport luxury SUV prior to the announcement at IAA in Frankfurt earlier this week, but theres now a bit more info plus a lot more pics and detail available.

Maserati showed a Giugiaro-styled SUV named the Kubang (after a Javan wind) in Detroit in 2003 in response to the then new Porsche Cayenne.

Theyve kept the name, and the basis of the vehicles will be the Jeep Grand Cherokee, but the engine, suspension, steering and brakes will be Maserati and the Jeep styling makeover has been conducted under the eye of Maseratis Lorenzo Ramaciotti.

The car will also come with a choice of several new Maserati engines designed by ex-Ferrari F1 engine designer Paolo Martinelli, and will be produced in Maranello by Ferrari.

The transmission will be an AT eight-speed auto and the suspension, brakes and steering components will also be developed in Modena by the Maserati Product Development Department.
The Kubang is still expected to be built in Detroit as per the article earlier in the week.

Interestingly, the original Kubang was to be powered by a Chrysler Hemi V8. Giugaro did a nice job IMHO. Thats it below. (source)