No new car for Alfa at Frankfurt?
No, but the brand did launch a customisation programme called ‘Unique Alfa’ to make its cars look even better. Three ranges will be offered: Vintage (retro/traditional), TI or Turismo Internazionale (Sporty) and Collezione (fashion and style). One of the ‘Vintage’ options includes adding Alfa’s great old script logo behind the front wheel arch while ‘TI’ additions include lowering the ride height, boosting the brakes and adding high performance tyres.
Isn’t offering ‘retro’ a bit of a dead end?
If all you do as a brand is look back, of course. But A) Alfa is also offering two other custom ranges with modern sporty seats and other 21st century options and B) the brand does have a fantastic past to plunder style cues from and has interpreted them into its modern cars pretty well in most cases – just witness the wood-covered steering wheel and ribbed brown leather seats above.
Thứ Bảy, 3 tháng 3, 2012
Alpina's M car baiting line-up (2007): first official pictures
You mean BMW Alpina?
We do, because the Buchloe-based manufacturer has to feature the blue and white propeller badge on all its cars games. Although Alpina is considered a manufacturer in its own right, that’s just how the deal with BMW works. And the self-proclaimed ‘manufacturer of exclusive automobiles’ unveiled three new cars at Frankfurt. There were more powerful versions of the B5 and B6, plus a new B3 cabrio.
B6, eh? You mean they make vitamins?
Nope, those are Alpina’s model designations: you may not have even heard of them before as Alpina doesn’t advertise. So B3 is a 3-series and the cabrio unveiled at Frankfurt featured the 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight six from the 335i. Add in a few Alpina tweaks and power is up to a still relatively unstressed 355bhp (from 306bhp). However it’s the 369lb ft from 3800-5000rpm that makes this car an M3-baiter. That V8 Three only has 295lb ft. And you can get the B3 as an auto too. If wind in your hair motoring isn’t your thing then try the saloon, which has beaten the M3 saloon to the market. Unfortunately neither Alpina nor BMW looks set to build a Touring estate version of their hot 3-series.
We do, because the Buchloe-based manufacturer has to feature the blue and white propeller badge on all its cars games. Although Alpina is considered a manufacturer in its own right, that’s just how the deal with BMW works. And the self-proclaimed ‘manufacturer of exclusive automobiles’ unveiled three new cars at Frankfurt. There were more powerful versions of the B5 and B6, plus a new B3 cabrio.
B6, eh? You mean they make vitamins?
Nope, those are Alpina’s model designations: you may not have even heard of them before as Alpina doesn’t advertise. So B3 is a 3-series and the cabrio unveiled at Frankfurt featured the 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight six from the 335i. Add in a few Alpina tweaks and power is up to a still relatively unstressed 355bhp (from 306bhp). However it’s the 369lb ft from 3800-5000rpm that makes this car an M3-baiter. That V8 Three only has 295lb ft. And you can get the B3 as an auto too. If wind in your hair motoring isn’t your thing then try the saloon, which has beaten the M3 saloon to the market. Unfortunately neither Alpina nor BMW looks set to build a Touring estate version of their hot 3-series.
Farbio GTS (2007): first official pictures
Looks good. How much?
Not impatient, are you? This is the Farbio GTS, another British attempt at a sports car and it’s yours from £59,925. It’s already in production, though ‘near Bath’ doesn’t have the same ring to it as Maranello. Nevertheless Farbio doesn’t appear worried, declaring the GTS the ‘definitive British sports car’.
With a price to match the 911, and being 911-sized is it…
…taking on the 911? Of course. It even shares its name with a Porsche, albeit the Cayenne GTS. At 4215mm long, 1940mm wide and 1170mm high, it’s shorter, wider and lower than Porsche’s iconic car. However, the GTS is only a two-seater as this car is mid-engined.
Not impatient, are you? This is the Farbio GTS, another British attempt at a sports car and it’s yours from £59,925. It’s already in production, though ‘near Bath’ doesn’t have the same ring to it as Maranello. Nevertheless Farbio doesn’t appear worried, declaring the GTS the ‘definitive British sports car’.
With a price to match the 911, and being 911-sized is it…
…taking on the 911? Of course. It even shares its name with a Porsche, albeit the Cayenne GTS. At 4215mm long, 1940mm wide and 1170mm high, it’s shorter, wider and lower than Porsche’s iconic car. However, the GTS is only a two-seater as this car is mid-engined.
Renault Clio 197 Cup
Renault Clio Renaultsport 197 Cup: the lowdown
Look past the mouthful of a name (Renaultsport models still manage to be a real mouthful, n'est-ce pas?), and this should be one of our favourite hot hatches of the year. The new Clio 197 Cup is the full production version of the limited-edition Renault Clio 197 F1 Team R27. See what I mean about long names? This is the hot hatch for discerning hot hatch lovers - only those with precision g-meters built into their backsides will fully appreciate the chassis tweaks that make the Cup a dartier, more precise pocket rocket. We're talking a 7mm drop in ride height, with stiffer springs and recalibrated dampers.
What else is new on the Clio 197 Cup?
Those suspension tweaks are the main change; the spring and damper rates are claimed to be 27 percent stiffer at the front, 30 percent at the rear, making the Cup track flat and hard through the twisty stuff. We thought the chassis revisions on the limited-edition R27 were the business, and there's no reason why they won't work on this regular 197 version. The only other mechanical change is longer gearing, which will become standard on all Clio 197s from now on. Both fifth and sixth gears are stretched marginally (top now runs 20.5mph per 1000rpm, rather than the boisterous 18.9mph in the normal 197) to make motorway cruising a less riotous affair. We're not convinced that's enough to make the Clio a proper long-distance proposition; take CAR's long-term test car on a long trip, and it's like spending an evening in a drum 'n' bass nightclub.
Look past the mouthful of a name (Renaultsport models still manage to be a real mouthful, n'est-ce pas?), and this should be one of our favourite hot hatches of the year. The new Clio 197 Cup is the full production version of the limited-edition Renault Clio 197 F1 Team R27. See what I mean about long names? This is the hot hatch for discerning hot hatch lovers - only those with precision g-meters built into their backsides will fully appreciate the chassis tweaks that make the Cup a dartier, more precise pocket rocket. We're talking a 7mm drop in ride height, with stiffer springs and recalibrated dampers.
What else is new on the Clio 197 Cup?
Those suspension tweaks are the main change; the spring and damper rates are claimed to be 27 percent stiffer at the front, 30 percent at the rear, making the Cup track flat and hard through the twisty stuff. We thought the chassis revisions on the limited-edition R27 were the business, and there's no reason why they won't work on this regular 197 version. The only other mechanical change is longer gearing, which will become standard on all Clio 197s from now on. Both fifth and sixth gears are stretched marginally (top now runs 20.5mph per 1000rpm, rather than the boisterous 18.9mph in the normal 197) to make motorway cruising a less riotous affair. We're not convinced that's enough to make the Clio a proper long-distance proposition; take CAR's long-term test car on a long trip, and it's like spending an evening in a drum 'n' bass nightclub.
BMW 1-series Convertible (2007) first official pictures
A 1-series Convertible? Seems like a logical step…
Indeed it does. BMW is gradually filling every niche with every possible model combination. So after three- and five-door hatches, and a coupe, here’s the convertible version of the 1-series. It’s the same formula that BMW has used with the 3-series to such success, and the Bavarians are banking on the Coupe and Convertible to spearhead the launch of the 1-series range in the USA.
So tell me about the roof?
Of course it’s electric, and BMW claims it’s the first premium convertible in this sector. Audi’s A3 cabriolet will be here soon, but it won't arrive until 2008. The 1-series' fabric roof opens and closes in 22 seconds, and can operate at low speeds. For posing value of course. The car will still seat four, but those two poor souls in the back will be very short on leg space. BMW is also claiming a world first with the roof design. As an option, you can elect for an anthracite roof with ‘interwoven shiny fibres’. Basically it's a sparkly roof, or in BMW speak it ‘produces charming reflections in sunlight’. Sounds more like a dodgy sweater your auntie knits for you.
Indeed it does. BMW is gradually filling every niche with every possible model combination. So after three- and five-door hatches, and a coupe, here’s the convertible version of the 1-series. It’s the same formula that BMW has used with the 3-series to such success, and the Bavarians are banking on the Coupe and Convertible to spearhead the launch of the 1-series range in the USA.
So tell me about the roof?
Of course it’s electric, and BMW claims it’s the first premium convertible in this sector. Audi’s A3 cabriolet will be here soon, but it won't arrive until 2008. The 1-series' fabric roof opens and closes in 22 seconds, and can operate at low speeds. For posing value of course. The car will still seat four, but those two poor souls in the back will be very short on leg space. BMW is also claiming a world first with the roof design. As an option, you can elect for an anthracite roof with ‘interwoven shiny fibres’. Basically it's a sparkly roof, or in BMW speak it ‘produces charming reflections in sunlight’. Sounds more like a dodgy sweater your auntie knits for you.
Mazda Taiki concept: first official pictures
Mazda Taiki: the lowdown
Is it just us, or has Mazda gone a bit concept car crazy in recent months? Its current design mantra of 'nagare' - or flow - has spawned the Nagare, Ryuga and Hakaze show-offs at recent motor shows. And, true to form, there will be another car in the series at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month. That honour befalls the Taiki, a clean-fuel two-seater that's again inspired by natural waves and rhythms of nature, apparently. Officials drop hints that it'll inform the design of the next RX-8, but then spokespeople always say that sort of thing, don't they? Our guess is that Mazda is slowly but surely playing with a new style, and we're inching closer to flavours of what will actually appear in a showroom near you. Eventually. Don't expect sci-fi style out-rigger rear wheels quite yet, though...
The Taiki looks nothing like the next RX-8, surely?
You're right - this is a long, long way from any kind of production reality. But squint awhile at the front end, and you're not a million miles away from future design cues. The grille treatment, in particular, is said to be a preview of a fresh facial expression for Mazdas. The Taiki also premieres a new package of aerodynamic aids, although Mazda isn't elaborating any more until its Tokyo debut. Many manufacturers are playing with semi-active aero aids, so expect moving body parts to smoothe the airflow.
Is it just us, or has Mazda gone a bit concept car crazy in recent months? Its current design mantra of 'nagare' - or flow - has spawned the Nagare, Ryuga and Hakaze show-offs at recent motor shows. And, true to form, there will be another car in the series at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month. That honour befalls the Taiki, a clean-fuel two-seater that's again inspired by natural waves and rhythms of nature, apparently. Officials drop hints that it'll inform the design of the next RX-8, but then spokespeople always say that sort of thing, don't they? Our guess is that Mazda is slowly but surely playing with a new style, and we're inching closer to flavours of what will actually appear in a showroom near you. Eventually. Don't expect sci-fi style out-rigger rear wheels quite yet, though...
The Taiki looks nothing like the next RX-8, surely?
You're right - this is a long, long way from any kind of production reality. But squint awhile at the front end, and you're not a million miles away from future design cues. The grille treatment, in particular, is said to be a preview of a fresh facial expression for Mazdas. The Taiki also premieres a new package of aerodynamic aids, although Mazda isn't elaborating any more until its Tokyo debut. Many manufacturers are playing with semi-active aero aids, so expect moving body parts to smoothe the airflow.
Suzuki Kizashi 2, X-Head and PIXY concepts (2007): first official pictures
Suzuki Kizashi 2, X-Head and PIXY: the lowdown
The Japanese car industry is enjoying the run-up to the Tokyo Motor Show at the end of this month, with a steady stream of new metal - and typically madcap concept cars in particular. Suzuki is the latest manufacturer to provide us with teaser shots of its wares. The Kizashi 2 (above left) is a further derivative of its Frankfurt concept for a future Mondeo rival. This one looks more like a coupe version, with a lower roofline and a smaller grille, and it's powered by a 3.6-litre V6 driving the just-for-show monstrous 22-inch alloys. While the Kizashi previews a future production car, Suzuki's other show cars are all about showing off.
The X-Head is a Tonka toy vehicle with looks chunky enough to qualify for a sci-fi film cast, while its interior seeks its inspiration from wetsuits, apparently. What's the point of it? It's designed to showcase Suzuki's knowledge of tough working vehicles, so imagine it pounding the beaches of Baywatch, rather than your child's sandpit. Take a deep breath, because Suzuki's next Tokyo treat is an especially crazy one.
The PIXY is a step up from a Segway - it's a mobility pod to transport one in upright, telephone booth style. Naturally, the PIXY is electric for zero emissions around town and its claimed range is 20 miles. If your battery runs out, there's a mother ship called the Suzuki Sharing Coach that can carry two PIXYs. It's easy to scoff at the more outrageous cars shown at Tokyo, but we have to remember the cultural backdrop. Japanese show-goers love to be wowed by far-out-there concepts and are less incredulous than some western observers. And even the maddest show cars often have a kernel of serious research within. Maybe it's the slightly mad, visionary concepts that have brought Japanese manufacturing to its position of engineering dominance today.
The Japanese car industry is enjoying the run-up to the Tokyo Motor Show at the end of this month, with a steady stream of new metal - and typically madcap concept cars in particular. Suzuki is the latest manufacturer to provide us with teaser shots of its wares. The Kizashi 2 (above left) is a further derivative of its Frankfurt concept for a future Mondeo rival. This one looks more like a coupe version, with a lower roofline and a smaller grille, and it's powered by a 3.6-litre V6 driving the just-for-show monstrous 22-inch alloys. While the Kizashi previews a future production car, Suzuki's other show cars are all about showing off.
The X-Head is a Tonka toy vehicle with looks chunky enough to qualify for a sci-fi film cast, while its interior seeks its inspiration from wetsuits, apparently. What's the point of it? It's designed to showcase Suzuki's knowledge of tough working vehicles, so imagine it pounding the beaches of Baywatch, rather than your child's sandpit. Take a deep breath, because Suzuki's next Tokyo treat is an especially crazy one.
The PIXY is a step up from a Segway - it's a mobility pod to transport one in upright, telephone booth style. Naturally, the PIXY is electric for zero emissions around town and its claimed range is 20 miles. If your battery runs out, there's a mother ship called the Suzuki Sharing Coach that can carry two PIXYs. It's easy to scoff at the more outrageous cars shown at Tokyo, but we have to remember the cultural backdrop. Japanese show-goers love to be wowed by far-out-there concepts and are less incredulous than some western observers. And even the maddest show cars often have a kernel of serious research within. Maybe it's the slightly mad, visionary concepts that have brought Japanese manufacturing to its position of engineering dominance today.
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