All Audi models to be available with diesel engines by 2015

Diesel is slowly making an impression here in the United States and Audi has been paying attention. Parent company Volkswagen has been selling a steady stream of diesels for many years, and the enthusiasm for the oil-burners has filtered up into the luxury segment. By 2015, Audi plans to have a diesel variant available for every volume product in its lineup.

This means we still won’t see a production R8 V12 TDI, but it does mean we can look forward to seeing theA4, A6, A8 and Q5 with TDI variants. Currently, the A3 and Q7 are the only US Audis available with diesel engines. You’ve no doubt seen A3 TDIs rolling past you as you stop for gas, since the diesel version now accounts for nearly half of all A3 sales. 40 percent of Q7s have the diesel engine under the hood, and Audi is having trouble keeping either model in stock.

Automakers face stricter fuel economy targets in the coming years, and one way to improve their lineups’ mile-per-gallon figures is by adding diesel versions across the entire range. Audi believes that by 2015, diesels will make up 20 percent of the U.S. sales volume – a vast improvement over the current 5.5 percent.

 

Honda CR-Z Hybrid R is a step in the right direction

 

Honda has big plans for campaigning a turbocharged, race-bred CR-Z at the upcoming 24 Hours of Thunderhill, and while that car is all kinds of right, it’s about as far from a street-legal machine as a hybrid can get. Fortunately, the company’s engineers and designers have joined forces to give us all an idea what the car would look like in road-going guise with the CR-Z Hybrid R Concept.

Like it’s track-only brethren, the concept rocks 200 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque thanks to a little forced induction and an upgraded integrated motor assist system. Throw in a robust clutch, limited slip differential and a fully adjustable suspension and you’ve got the makings for a true sport hybrid. Hit the jumpfor the press release.

More details about Mazda’s next MX-5

Mazda is hard at work on the next-generation MX-5. We know the automaker has set a target weight of 2,200 pounds for the forthcoming roadster, and it plans to keep weight distribution at the magic 50/50 figure. A new report from Autocar, however, reveals a bit more information about what’s in store for the new MX-5.

Mazda showed off a concept vehicle back in 2003, called the Ibuki, that previewed the styling of the current generation car and many believed that was all it revealed. However, the Ibuki concept featured a twin-backbone frame that can be found in the current Mazda RX-8. This layout allows for vital components, such as the powertrain, gas tank and exhaust system, to be placed between the front and rear axle. The twin-backbone setup also enables the automaker to produce an open-top car with the rigidity of a fixed-roof vehicle. If the next-generation MX-5 receives these updates, it will allow Mazda to take its iconic two-seater to new heights.

Takao Kajima, who was in charge of the suspension on the first generation car and then promoted to program manager for the second, says:

“The MX-5 must always be lightweight sports. The car has got bigger and heavier over the past decade, but it’s now time to reverse the process and get back to basics.”

Those words are pure symphony to the ears of Miata owners around the world. As for what Mazda is planning for the next-gen MX-5, consider us on the edge of our seat.

 

More details about Mazda’s next MX-5

Mazda is hard at work on the next-generation MX-5. We know the automaker has set a target weight of 2,200 pounds for the forthcoming roadster, and it plans to keep weight distribution at the magic 50/50 figure. A new report from Autocar, however, reveals a bit more information about what’s in store for the new MX-5.

Mazda showed off a concept vehicle back in 2003, called the Ibuki, that previewed the styling of the current generation car and many believed that was all it revealed. However, the Ibuki concept featured a twin-backbone frame that can be found in the current Mazda RX-8. This layout allows for vital components, such as the powertrain, gas tank and exhaust system, to be placed between the front and rear axle. The twin-backbone setup also enables the automaker to produce an open-top car with the rigidity of a fixed-roof vehicle. If the next-generation MX-5 receives these updates, it will allow Mazda to take its iconic two-seater to new heights.

Takao Kajima, who was in charge of the suspension on the first generation car and then promoted to program manager for the second, says:

“The MX-5 must always be lightweight sports. The car has got bigger and heavier over the past decade, but it’s now time to reverse the process and get back to basics.”

Those words are pure symphony to the ears of Miata owners around the world. As for what Mazda is planning for the next-gen MX-5, consider us on the edge of our seat.

 

Ford Shelby GR1

 

As one of its most contemporary and dramatic front-engine, two-seat, fastback supercars, this running prototype reaches closer to reality with a 605-horsepower, 390-cubic-inch, all-aluminum V-10 engine, a road-tested version of the Ford GT suspension and a stunning new polished-aluminum body.

Ford took the occasion of the world’s foremost showcase of automotive splendor, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, to unveil the Ford Shelby GR-1 concept, calling the new sports car a salute to “performance art.”

 

The Ford Shelby GR-1 is a uniquely emotional American sports car design that makes a bold statement about Ford’s performance future.

“The Ford Shelby Cobra concept was a small step in our plans for the Ford GT supercar architecture and our relationship with Carroll Shelby,” says J Mays, Ford Motor Company group vice president of Global Design. “And the Ford Shelby GR-1 is a giant leap toward the future.”

The GR-1 concept takes the performance car genre in a new direction combining modern sculptured surfaces in a sleek muscular fastback design. The result is a forward-looking supercar with attention grabbing Ford presence and Carroll Shelby inspiration.

The Ford Shelby GR-1 is a front-engined, two-seat, fastback supercar that is based on the architecture of the Ford GT.

Ford and Carroll Shelby

More than 42 years after their original agreement to produce performance cars, Ford Motor Company and Carroll Shelby are back together producing production and concept cars. Shelby, a former race car driver and creator of numerous collectable performance cars returned to collaboration with Ford in the design of the 2005 Ford GT, which goes on sale this summer.

Shelby worked closely with the Ford Design team and Advanced Product Creation group to develop the Ford Shelby Cobra concept car. In addition, Shelby will produce a high-performance, limited edition, Shelby Ford Expedition, for sale through select dealers next year.

 

Design Racing inspired and wholly modern in design, this show car builds on the success of the Ford Shelby Cobra concept – the 2004 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) “Best in Show” winner – and reinforces Ford’s on-going commitment to performance excellence.

The Ford Shelby GR-1 concept is a sinewy, athletic design with a dramatic front engine proportion. The long hood blends seamlessly into the teardrop-shaped cabin while the dramatic fenders dart rearwards into curvaceous haunches thrusting the car forward and enhancing the aggressive stance and width.

The car looks as if it is in motion, even when standing still. The optimized wheel arches and compact overhangs define the dramatic proportion while the sensual surfaces express the car’s athletic nature. 

A chiseled physique is achieved with sheer and full surfaces working together, interfacing one another in harmonious lines such as the strong shoulder line orbiting the car’s form. The front of the GR-1 is dominated by an impressive air intake aperture and air flow splitter, directing cooling air into the engine bay and wheel wells, while air vents on the top surface of the hood exhaust hot air from the radiator.

The V10 engine pushes unashamedly upwards into the hood’s surface exposing prominent bulges – a potent reminder of the car’s powerful performance – while air vents at the base of the front screen allow the motor to breathe. Intakes and vents perforate the body side and Kamm tail, further exhausting hot air out of the vehicle.

 

The front corners of the GR-1 are dominated by the front wheel well and trapezoidal HISS (high intensity solid state) and LED headlamps. The distinctive Kamm tail, a strong concave section, is further defined by the bold vertical tail lights at the rear.

A visor-like side glass graphic gives a hint of the dramatic motion of the butterfly-hinged doors. The race-inspired, ultimate high performance, Ford Shelby GR-1 is the next chapter in a long line of emotionally-charged Ford supercar concepts.

Building Another Showstopper

Ford worked closely with Carroll Shelby to develop the Ford Shelby Cobra concept for the 2004 North American International Auto Show. The show car was the brainchild of Ford’s Advanced Product Creation Group, engineered in Michigan and designed in California, a partnership which is charged with developing future car concepts and technologies with an eye toward production possibilities. The group used the Ford GT architecture and fully engineered the Ford Shelby Cobra concept. For demonstration purposes, two chassis were ordered for the Cobra concept, but only one show car was built.

Before body panels were even created, the fully-operational running chassis was test-driven at high speeds at Ford’s Dearborn Proving Ground. So pleased were Ford officials with the concept’s chassis that they took the extra demonstration chassis and went to work on another concept before the Ford Shelby Cobra concept was unveiled in January.

The Ford Shelby Cobra and its predecessor, the Ford GT were hits of the two previous North American International Auto Shows. The Ford Design team was challenged to follow-up with another exciting concept.

The Designer

In the Irvine Advanced Design Studio, George Saridakis, a young designer, new to Ford in 2000, was known for his contributions in executing the details of some of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury’s latest production and concept designs.

Saridakis created a sketch that caught the attention of the Irvine team and resonated with Mays.

“George produced this completely resolved sketch – the best I’ve seen in 10 years,” says Mays. “When I saw it, it wasn’t a matter of ‘Let’s do more sketches.’ It was really more of a ‘Let’s get this into clay.’”

 

 

Remarkably, only the original sketch of the car, in three perspectives, was created.

“George nailed it in one crack,” Mays opines. “This is a designer so masterful at visualizing every aspect of the car and its story that it literally flowed out of his pen. And because the design is so pure, we really believe this show car will be a hit.

Saleen S5S Raptor Concept supercar showcases new supercharged V8

In a quick glance, you might think this is the Italian car – a Lamborghini, perhaps, or even a Ferrari. That is all yellow-American supercar, however. The Saleen S5S Raptor made its world debut at the New York Auto Show, putting an exclamation point on specialty manufacturer’s recent reinvention of itself.

Noticeably more limited than the previous Saleen S7 supercar, S5S Raptor features clean lines sculpted in light composites. A solar glass roof allows the light of day, and half of the engine looks purposeful design world-class.

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Saleen’s racing heritage is evident in the heart S5S Raptor, a new 5.0 liter supercharged V8. This-650 hp, 630 lb-ft torque motor runs on ethanol, just as the IRL and American Le Mans cars, and the Saleen indicates a second time 3,2-0-60 mph and a maximum speed of over 200 mph. Saleen has chosen engine burning ethanol partly as a nod to the track and, in part, to consider a reduction in emissions and dependence on oil. The engine uses a double-screw compressor and is connected to a six-speed manual transmission. The Raptor is also designed to manage a paddle-shifted sequential change, if desired.

 

Double wishbones are used in all four corners, and the massive fifteen inches in front, thirteen-inch rear brakes are increased by ABS and traction control. The 20-inch forged aluminum wheels have a black diamond and finishes carbon fibre.

This is all very exciting, but it’s all just talk until bench rubber hits the road. Saleen says that S5S Raptor could be on the road in two years at an estimated $ 185000 MSRP, depending on the public reaction to this car. Saleen seems to have thought that this form, so it’s a good bet that we will see a Raptor road in the near future.

BMW M3 Convertible & CS Concept Make North American Debuts

BMW Concept CS now shows its futuristic interpretation of a GT sports coupe at the New York International Auto Show will be held in Manhattan, New York City. The concept CS remind you their first public appearance at the Shanghai Auto Show in 2007. The car, bigger than a 7-series, the next style benchmark for BMW, the flame welding at its next level.

With an interior fit for a proper GT, the Concept CS will definitely be built, according to our sources in BMW. Meanwhile, the M3 convertible makes its American debut at the fair. M3 Cabrio fits the same 4.0-liter V8 in the sedan and coupe versions. It speaks 414 hp from its natural aspiration. M DCT, the new double-clutch gearbox was in the M3 convertible. The 7-speed transmission provides for the formation of stars in other BMW products of the near future, especially coming M cars, and the twin-turbo-powered cars.

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Present also in New York, the new X6, 1 Series coupe and convertible, and the stonking 335D. BMW and other German car manufacturers want to get the Americans into the diesel swing of things as quickly as possible.

 

Kia KOUP Concept Unveiled in New York Auto Show

We had our first look at the concept KOUP Kia in the late hours of the first day in the press in New York Auto Show, now at the beginning of the second day on the new concept of the Korean manufacturer is released for all.

The case is particularly aggressive dominated what Kia signing of the designs used on us for the first time in last year’s SEMA show in the form of the Spectra5 SX concept. An insight into the BMW Concept CS can be seen in the headlights, with a “we want business” bad eye contact, but regardless of Kia are trying to achieve, you have to say, the design of the works. The modern design lines further back, where the lid of the box lifts the basis of C-pillar, and not from above, we are accustomed to see the intersection models.

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If we get that, what we see is without doubt one of the best inner Kia jobs. A race inspired steering wheel in the direction of the interior of the scoreboard and monitoring dashboard really sporty to squawk.

Coutesy can Theta 290hp with a 2.0-liter engine with turbocharger II couple standing at 289 lb-ft at 2000 rpm.

KOUP The concept seems not far away from the production of loans, but you can not help but to wonder what is happening in Korea is determined by the market, another 2 coupe doors after the opening of the football Genesis to the sister brand Hyundai yesterday .

New Suzuki Kizashi 3 Concept Revealed

The New York International Motor Show. Suzuki is well on the way to a sports sedan on the basis of this very concept car.

Until 2010, Suzuki will start selling their sports sedan in North America, although Suzuki calls it a global car, it is very much aimed at building its image in North America. Kizashi kick means in Japanese, so it is safe to say that sports sedan is powered by a still unknown names. The new Suzuki flagship brand in the Sagara Suzuki plant in Japan.

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Suzuki plans to power its new flagship sports sedan with a 3.6-liter V6 DOHC engine with plated cylinder delivers up to 300 hp. The plated cylinder save weight and space, and has directly from Suzuki motorcycle business and the development of the WRC teams.