Concept: Mazda Hakaza

Mazda will debut this compact crossover concept next month at the Geneva Motor Show. It will be the company's new chief designer's, Laurens van den Acker's, third concept after the Nagare and Ryuga. Their purpose is to introduce to the public Mazda's new "flow" design language, as well as provide some indication as to the niches the company will enter in the near future.

The Hakaze is a small SUV-coupe, in the vain of Ford Iosis-X, with which I suspect it shares the platform. It previews Mazda's plans for a sub-CX-7 car, and even though it will never make the showroom in this form, there is no doubt the final product will carry the Hakaze's overall design theme. The nose treatment especially looks production-ready, and is likely to appear on the new Mazda 2.

[source: CAR]

From the left field: Bombardier Spyder

Seems that Bombardier, best known for its planes, decided to stand more firmly on the ground in 2007. The Spyder is a three-wheeled motorcycle, or a trike. It looks really interesting, but it remains to be seen whether this undoubtedly cool concept offers anything more than wow! factor.

I fear that though innovative, the concept of a three-wheeled motorbike will combine the worst
of the worlds of cars and bikes. It won't offer the safety, comfort and weather protection of the car, while at the same time I doubt it will be as fun to drive as a proper bike, and will surely be less maneuverable.

Still, got to love a trier!

[source: izoom.com]

Eye Candy: Kia Cee'd and a lady

While it does not bring anything new to the table, the Cee'd is IMO the best-looking car out of Korea, ever. Seeing how in 2nd and 3rd places lie the new Hyundai Santa-Fe and Sonata, the future looks bright for the Koreans. And already it's reflected in the sales figures.

[source: motoryzacja.interia.pl]

From the left field: Fiat Palio restyle

I have lost count already, but I think this is Palio's tenth restyling in as many years on the market. And it just proves the old mantra that not even the snazziest detailing can turn an intrinsically ugly car into a looker. Where the Maseratiesque grill looks great on the Grande Punto and Linea, here it's passable at best. Reminds me when Seat grafted the new Ibiza front onto its now-defunct Arosa mini.

If you like it you should hurry, though - rumour has it there is another facelift due for the autumn season ;)

[source: www.bestcars.com.br]

upcoming CTS coupe?

The illustration looks pretty spot on, if a bit exaggerated. Must say a CTS coupe is a tasty idea, as would be a CTS sports wagon. The extra models would allow Cadillac to more fully compete with the likes of BMW 5-series, Mercedes E-class or Audi A6, all of which offer a wagon and coupe, although in all three cases the latter comes under a different name (the 6-series, CLK and A5 respectively).

Looking at sales figures I think it's safe to say that in order to truly succeed in the D/E segments, manufacturers need to offer more than just a sedan. The customers like the choice, and even though I don't know the official sales figures I am sure the sedans make for no more than 50% of total sales. Additionally, in Europe about 50% of cars are sold in diesel engines, another area in which Cadillac should have an offering (although I hear it will offer a 3-liter V6 diesel on the new CTS). After it puts such an offering together, with the good-looking new CTS Cadillac could truly rock Europe's establishment on their home soil.

P.S. I would love if they made the side-gills the distinguishing feature of the coupe!

[source: hollywoodextra]

Dodge Dakota facefilt

Seems to be the new corporate face of Dodge, as already used on the Caravan and restyled Magnum. I like it much more than the previous blobby look, although it's a bit on the conservative side.

[source: CarSpyShots.net]

New Dodge/Chrysler crossover

Looks like a pretty direct competitor to Ford Edge and GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook, although in size it looks like it will fall between the 5-seater Ford and 7-seater GM twins. Probably drives on a development of the Sebring platform, with large V6 engines.

The proportions look promising, but recently with the Chrysler group you never know what will turn out. Their recent new cars range from the OK (Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot, Chrysler Aspen), through the not-so-great (Jeep Commander), all the way to the "what were they thinking" (Chrysler Sebring, the new MPVs and the chief offender: Jeep Compass). The only spark was the Dodge Nitro.

But seeing how this car looks promising already, so long as they don't overdo the detailing it might just turn out to be a looker, as Chryslers of old (i.e. 5-10 years ago).

[source: Auto Express]

BMW 1-series coupe spied

They give a very good idea what the finished article will look like. It looks a bit tall and narrow for a coupe, and a bit heavy over the rear wheelarches, but I still like the horizontal proportions which are typical BMW - long rear overhang, front wheels pushed forward.

Still, I wander who will buy this car. The most obvious group would be young people, mainly guys, looking for a car that's small but sporty. But it won't be cheap, and herein lies the problem: for the people who it should be geared towards it will probably be too expensive. And the people who have money will perceive it as a poor-man's 3-series coupe and will splash out on the latter instead (a problem not affeting the 1-series hatch, as the 3-series hatch is no more). Ultimately, the 1-series sweet spot will only be the 4-cylinder cars, and I am sure the margins on those is lower than on the 6-cylinders. This car just doesn't scream "cash cow" to me

[source: LeftlaneNews.com]

the new Smart

I know the new Smart is not exactly the hottest news anymore, but as the first tests come out I thought it would be interesting to revisit this car for two reasons:
a) it's the evolution of probably the most innovative car concept in well over a decade
b) starting in 2008 the Smart will be sold in the US, and I still can't believe the Smart executives think they can convince the American public to buy the ultimate non-American car

To me the new Smart is not nearly as successful a design as the original, and by trying to look less feminine it looks neither butch or cute. Just sort of like an aerodynamic brick, to the original's curvy ball. At least the interior looks to be of higher quality, even if it's more mainstream now.

[source: Auto Express]

New Rover...ehm, sorry, Roewe

This is what Auto Express imagines the final release of the RDX60 might look like. And because it's AE, the chop is pure speculation, but it's interesting to see the project is still being kept alive despite Rover meeting a sticky end.

The chop itself is not really well-made, but is an interesting combination of Seat Leon and Mazda CX-7. Oh, and it's infinitely better looking than the first, stillborn incarnation of the RDX60 project:

And this was a restyling proposed by Peter Stevens (the designer of the McLaren F1, among others):
For those of you who don't know what the hell the RDX60, it was the "Last Chance Saloon" for the last independent major British car company. It failed, and Rover is no more.

[source: AutoExpress]

Nissan X-trail illustrations

Another illustration courtesy of Hollywood Extra, this time of the upcoming Nissan X-Trail.

While the old one outsold the Primara, I never really understood why - it was a rugged, utilitarian-looking car, but I guess that's what the customers wanted.

The new one is promising to be much better looking, with heavy Pathfinder/Terrano and Land Rover Discovery III cues. Should go down well in the UK, but will probably never come to the US, which gets the X-Terra instead.

[source: thehollywoodextra]

upcoming 911 tweaks

Looks like the tweaks will be minor, and will focus on the introduction of bi-xenon headlights and LED taillights, the latter of subtly different shape. And a more rounded front air intakes with integrated indicators. Evolution, not revolution indeed!

[source: CarSpyShots.net]

Citroen C5 II caught testing + chop

I'm a big fan of the Citroen C4, which is a quirky, great-looking hatch (especially the 3-door "coupe" version). I also like the new Picasso, especially in its swoopy, 5-seat form. The C6 is ballsy if flawed. And the Matisse was one of my favourite concepts of '06.

By all rights, the C5 II should be a great-looking car as well, seeing how Citroen is on a roll recently. But somehow I have a feeling it won't live up to the expectations, and the Peugeot 407 platform will be to blame. The proportions are all wrong for a D-segment saloon. Check out the meter-long front overhang, short stubby tail and cab-forward profile. While these work well on the C6, they don't translate well into car that's considerably shorter and taller.

The chop just proves my suspicions, although it looks like it's not all that accurate and most of the detailing is purely speculative given the thick cladding on the mule.

[source: BiNorge.no]

Beautiful car photos

The newly revamped British magazine CAR just released a bunch of its best car photographs online. You can find them under the address: http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/wallpaper.php

I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate the magazine on its great new format. In place of staple car tests, topped with ratings, and a news section, CAR's new issues now major on beautiful photographs and longer, more emotional pieces. The magazine's news and first drive sections can now only be found online.

It was a ballsy move, but as far as I'm concerned it's a huge success.

Congratulations!

[source: Car]

ABT Audi TT-R

Normally, I don't care much for tuned cars, but this one's too tasty to ignore. Long-time Audi tuner ABT came up with this supersharched 335 bhp ultra-TT. I really like the bodykit, alloys and quad pipes, but am less enthusiastic about the paintjob. It looks great from the back, but, at least in these shots, the front is less successful.

[source: NetCarShow.com]

Mini Traveller spyshots

These spyshots, courtesy of Auto Express, are the most revealing we've yet seen of the upcoming Mini Traveller. Clear are the car's longer wheelbase, extra door only on the passenger side (in vain of American pick-ups) and the vertically split tailgate. I am really looking forward to this model, it will breathe fresh air into the spacious supermini class, which lacks any truly unique designs.

[source: AutoExpress]

the Z4 / Z9 mule

There's considerable discussion in the car community whether these are spyshots of the next Z4, or maybe the expected SL-competitor, the Z9. To me this car looks a bit too large to be a Z4, and, well, a bit too Z4 to be an SL-competitor. But maybe the point of this cladding is to make this car look like the Z4, and really what's hidden undearneath is stunning and different.

I really hope so. I really admire BMW for trying to differentiate their cars from one another, and it would be a shame if they decided to blow the Z4 into a Z9 (it's a common trend these days
: think S40 -> S80 or IS -> LS). They deserve to succeed and not repeat the Z8 incident

[source: AutoExpress]

From the left field: Brazilian Fiesta facelift

So, apparently in Brazil they have a Fiesta sedan, which they recently restyled to look like the (soon to be facelifted) Focus C-Max at the front. Combine that with beige paintwork and I'd say they've managed to match Toyota in at least one department: the "yawn!" factor.

[source: CarSpyShots.net]

Upcoming VWs

The first pic is a chop of the Passat Coupe - you should have a good look at it, because we might never actually see the real deal. The industry grapevine is that Martin Winterkorn, VW's new chairman, ordered a re-think of the upcoming cars and the Coupe might be the first one to go.

The second chop is of the Golf VI, and it's probably the nicest one yet. While the large wheels are large in typical chop fashion, the front is nicely aggressive, as inspired by the GTI. With VW investing little in what's underneath, it would be nice if they at least got a bit more risque on the outside.

[source: Autocar]

upcoming Subaru Impreza - UPDATED

Some new spy shots and an illustration. The more I see the more I am worried for Subaru. Is this really meant to be their breakthrough model? It looks like a cross before the current Mazda 3 and the previous 323 (a.k.a. Prestige), with a hint of the previous Camry about the front. And how long is that front overhang?

[source: thehollywoodextra]

New Volvo V70

Somehow, Volvo's new S80 / V70 twins don't do it for me. I don't know if it's the elongated snout, a general lack of strong lines in the design or the fact that it looks like a scaled-up S40.

Can't see why anyone would chose this over a stylish A6 Avant, sporty 5-series Touring or luxurious E-Class T, maybe apart from subarban housewives and German luxo-car haters.

[source: CarSpyShots.net]

EDAG LUV

I want to meet the genius who decided that what the car world really needs is a Merc GL-based competitor to the Cadillac EXT. I would like to think not even Americans are crazy enough to pay for such a car, but I may yet be proven wrong.

[source: CarSpyShots.net]