An auto show or motor show is a public gathering of automobile manufacturers which includes demonstrations of current automobile models, new debuts, and concept cars.
The attention generated by the Kia Provo Concept at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show wasn’t an accident. Neither is the Korean automaker’s follow-up concept, the CUB Concept.
Scheduled to make its debut at the 2013 Seoul Motor Show, the CUB Concept is described as a compact four-door coupe whose styling reflects the attitude of "trend-setting urban dwellers".
Although it doesn’t have the same revolutionary concept design as the Provo Concept, the CUB Concept does have a whole lot going for it, at least as far as what the lone teaser of the concept is showing us.
The most striking deal of the teaser is the headlight design of the CUB Concept, which looks a lot like what the automaker has on its Quoris luxury sedan. There’s also a distinctive strip running the length of the concept, which usually equates to a car with a sporty and racy character to it.
Not much else was divulged, but fortunately, the Seoul Motor Show is fast approaching and we’ll have all the details of the CUB Concept when they become available.
Well, that was a lot of fun, but extremely overwhelming. Of course, we’re talking about the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and the massive number of cars that is contained. We saw sports cars, supercars, hypercars, concepts and so so much more over the course of just a few days. Sure, the show is technically still going on, but we have seen everything it has to offer.
As we do with every auto show, we are going to pick apart the cars that were unveiled and let you know what we think was the best and worst of the show. Additionally, we are going to let you know what we were hoping to see at the show but did not. At the same time, you can let us know in the comments what you though stole the show and what stunk up the joint in the “comments” section.
Click past the jump to read our wrap up of the Geneva motor Show
Alfa Romeo hasn’t sold a new car in the U.S. since the 8C and, for the most part, they haven’t been missed. But every now and again, even the most conservative of automakers puts out a wild model that we crave here in the States, but we are forced to watch from a distance since they are not typically available here. Fortunately, the 4C is not one that we have to watch from a distance, as all signs point to it making a run in the U.S. market in small quantities – about 2,000 of each version.
The details of the 4C are no secret any longer, as we know it features a 1,750 cc four-cylinder turbocharged powerplant that puts down more than 200 horsepower and hooks up to a dual-clutch automatic transmission. We also know that the drivetrain will launch this sub-1,873-pound sports car to 60 mph in under 5 seconds and up to a 155 mph top speed.
Yeah, we’ve got all of that stuff covered. What we are concerned with now is how this petite mean machine sounds. Well, omniauto managed to catch this beast on video at the Geneva Motor Show and it gives us an earful of sweet exhaust notes and the ominous whine of the turbocharger.
Have a look and listen to the video above and let us know just how excited it makes you for the 4C’s official launch in the U.S.
We know that everyone’s attention is now focused on the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, but right after that the New York Auto Show will open its doors. This is where Chrysler will unveil the successor to the current Liberty. We say the successor because the company still has to decide if the "Liberty" name will be kept or a new name will be adopted.
The new model will be smaller and lighter than the new Grand Cherokee, but it will deliver the same off-road capacities of its big brothers in the Jeep lineup. One of the major updates will include a new independent rear suspension system - as revealed by the prototypes that were caught testing.
Along with the new-generation Liberty, Chrysler will also unveil 47 all-new or significantly refreshed models over the next four years, six of which will come from Alfa Romeo. It is rumored that Jeep will contribute with a new-generation Wagoneer, plus an entry level model set to be produced in Italy.
Don’t get carried away with the cool Technospace Concept, as it is merely an insight on what to expect from the upcoming C4 Picasso MUV — one of the best-selling models for the French Automaker.
Slated to be shown off at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the Technospace Concept looks production ready. Given the new radical design language that Citroen currently follows (Check out the Citroen DS5 for instance), expect the 2014 Picasso to retain minimal changes from the concept design.
If Citroen were to choose the above path, the 2014 Picasso will be 40 mm (1.57 inches) shorter in height than the outgoing model and 55 mm (2.16 inches) longer for extra cabin space. With these changes, the new Picasso will feature new proportions that delicately combine compactness and a large cabin space — a good aspect to impress customers looking for sheer practicality in a well-built package.
To befit the name, the car boasts several cool features to fascinate the children you will soon be ferrying such as a full-touch driving interface with a high-definition 12-inch panoramic screen.
The all-you-can-fit French van sits on Citroen’s new Efficient Modular Platform 2 (EMP2) that aims to make the car lighter and more stable. And with an eco-friendly lineup in the cards, expect emission to be at a record level of 98 g/km.
The production version of the Technospace concept, aka the 2014 C4 Picasso will see the light of day from the second half of 2013. We’ll update this review once details fly by.
With the market for youth-oriented, lower-priced vehicles on the rise, Honda aims to grow its share in this market with their new Gear concept that gives insight to what we can expect from the Japanese manufacturer in the future.
Quietly launched at the Montreal Auto Show, the Honda Gear Concept is designed with specific people in mind — the young with a budget (aka Generation Y). The whole aspect of the car is said to be inspired by the fixed-gear bicycles, though we don’t know exactly how that connection is made.
We can say that it looks quite good, as it features a simple and sleek design that is a clear departure from the current design of today’s Hondas. We especially like how the rear windscreen wraps around both the C-pillars at the rear profile. Being a concept, we can do nothing but hope that such a design, or rather, some design elements make it to a production model.
No details have been provided about what’s under the hood, but it’s safe to expect a frugal, low-displacement engine or a plug-in electric drivetrain.
Overall, this concept does look promising. If it goes into production, it sure will manage the young who are on the lookout for their "first car.”
Everybody knows that Detroit has always been the Automobile hub of the United States. So, it’s no surprise that the 2013 Detroit Auto Show is an important platform to show-off brand new models.
Regarded as the first major auto show to kick off the New Year, the Detroit Motor Show brought tons surprises and drool-inducing releases as compared to disappointments. Most car manufacturers have shown off their new models that aim to broaden their lineup and strengthen their respective images, a goal shared amongst all automakers.
Though there were many new models that launched in Detroit, which made it one of the most anticipated and exciting auto shows, if we were to point out the one car that really made not just us but nearly every auto enthusiast impatient, it would be the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Being the home turf of the ’Vette, it was befitting for Chevy to debut the seventh generation of the successful Corvette at Detroit.
Click past the jump to check out the top four debuts that have impressed us greatly, making the Detroit Auto Show worth the wait.
When Shelby announced that they were bringing two models to the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, a lot of us already penciled in that one of those models would be a custom-tuned Ford Mustang. The other one, however, was still subject to speculation with the front runner being some sort of derivative for Ford’s mighty sports hatch, the Focus ST.
True enough, those who thought it was the Focus ST were proven right when Shelby unveiled the Shelby Focus ST, a "budget-minded" performance vehicle for those who can’t afford the bigger and meaner Shelby Mustang.
Limited to only 500 units, the Shelby Focus ST is, as its name suggests, a souped-up Ford Focus ST that comes with a plethora of aesthetic and performance upgrades that’ll turn your already awesome sports hatch into one that has the stamp of approval from Shelby themselves.
Is the Shelby Focus ST all that it’s hyped up to be? Find out if it is - or isn’t - after the jump.
The latest Passat in the U.S market is perceived as a less-expensive executive car with hardly any sporting character. However, VW thinks that the upcoming Passat Performance Concept to be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show, will change that notion.
The subtle nature of the body kit that this “Performance Concept” wears may be a little misleading, as this is one timid-looking sedan that’s ready to run. The concept will feature 19-inch Luxor wheels, a new front bumper with honeycomb inserts, to go along with HID headlamps and LED tail lamps borrowed from the Chinese Passat.
Step inside and two-tone leather upholstery welcomes you along with, carbon-fiber-looking accent pieces and black headliner. We’re a little turned off by the faux carbon fiber, but we’ll deal with it or now.
The main highlight of this concept is the EA888 1.8-liter turbocharged four-pot engine that will most likely be used in the U.S.-spec Beetle, Jetta and Passat. This engine is already used in the Asian and European markets, and would theoretically replace the 2.5-liter in-line five-cylinder in the U.S.-spec models.
Though the number of the cylinders is fewer and the displacement is lower than the engine it would replace, this new four-cylinder produces 250-horsepower – an increase of 80 ponies from the 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine – and it’s more fuel efficient.
Since it is still just a concept, eager customers will have to wait for VW to officially announce the release of this model, which could be dubbed Passat R-Line.
To roll with the increasing popularity of hybrid vehicles, Audi is all set to unveil a plug-in electric hybrid at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.
According to reports, the hybrid will be based on the newly announced A3 Sportback, a 4-door version of the standard A3.
The aspect we’re interested in is the hybrid setup. The powertrain will feature a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine coupled with an electric motor and an 8 kWh lithium-ion battery. This setup could enable the hybrid to produce a combined output of nearly 237-horsepower. Furthermore, the car is expected to average 117.6 mpge and to have an Audi-claimed 50 km (31-mile) range in electric-only mode, which is on-par with current hybrid standards, maybe better.
Audi is not setting the hybrid segment on fire, so such a model would help their quest for a cleaner footprint. However, given the expected price tag of $47,000, which is quite baffling considering the base gasoline-powered twin costs around $29,000, things aren’t looking so bright for the tree-hugging Audis.
We’ll update you once Audi officially announces the A3 Plug-in Hybrid.
