First unveiled in 1996, the Ford Ka has finally officially entered the second generation. The new generation Ka made its world debut at the 2008 Paris Auto Show and comes with new exterior design, new interior and engines.
Ford designers have given the new Ka a fashionable, modern appearance based around the company’s ’kinetic design’ form language. A number of visual cues provide a connection to the original Ka, but with its distinctive face and chunky proportions the new model has its own unique character.
The affordable new Ford Ka is designed to be both cheap to run and kind to the environment. It uses two economical, low emission engines: a 1.2-litre 69 PS Duratec petrol engine and, for the first time on Ka, a 1.3-litre 75 PS Duratorq TDCi turbodiesel.
Both petrol and diesel models are available with sub-120g/km CO2 emissions. The 1.2-litre petrol model, which is expected to be the largest seller in the new range, has cut fuel consumption by 21 per cent compared to the previous 1.3-litre Ka. The diesel model – available on the Ka for the first time – improves economy still further, achieving a combined fuel consumption of 4.2 litres/100km.
Press release after the jump.
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Audi wasn’t very successful with the last A2. It’s tall and round look made this Europe-only supermini the ugly duckling of the Audi family (and this was even during the time Audi was getting mixed results with the introduction of the trapezoidal grille on its sedans.) The car was finally killed off in 2005 and few wept.
Audi wants another chance at the small car, but it also thinks its learned it lesson. Audi’s head of Research and Development Michael Dick told Autocar that the new car will “be recognisable as an A2 but very different from the old car.” Also the cost will be spread across the Volkswagen Group. “We will not make the same mistake as with the first A2 and do it all by ourselves,” said Dick.
Audi also plans to make an electric version of the car immediately available. This means it will take a little longer to develop than a conventional car. Although Volkswagen is getting ready to produce the Up, a small car with hybrid possibilities, Dick says Audi won’t utilize that platform. The A2 will be larger than the Up, and so the A2 will be based on “a group platform of the next generation”.
The largest question that arises from the A2’s rebirth is doesn’t the A1 already fill that space in the lineup? The answer lies in the car’s function. While both will occupy Europe’s popular supermini car category, the A1 will be sportier and compete with cars like BMW’s Mini, and the A2 will fill a more functional kind of role same as a Mercedes A-Class.
Just like the first A2, don’t expect this one to reach much farther than Europe.
Scion is a blank slate. Toyota’s youth oriented brand sells cars with the idea that many of its owners will buy parts to customize their cars. Occasionally Scion gives its fans a hand by showing them what is possible by modifying the cars at the factory. The Chicago Auto Show is the place Scion is using to showcase its latest special edition with the tC Release Series 5.0. This tC is upgraded with parts directly from parent company Toyota’s TRD (Toyota Racing Development) catalog.
The upgrades include a TRD stainless-steel muffler to add performance and improve the exhaust note, a thicker rear TRD anti roll bar to improve handling and TRD split nine-spoke rims finished in matte black with a red lip measuring in at 18 inches. The limited production run will consist of 2000 examples all painted in gloss black and have special TRD badging. Although there is no official word about performance, the Scion tC Release Series 5.0 should be quicker in a straight line as well as in the twisties.
In the interior you will find a black leather steering wheel with unique red stitching, black seats also with red highlights and TRD floor mats. Each Release Series 5.0 will be identifiable by a numbered plaque that certifies the tC’s authenticity.
The limited edition tC should arrive in dealerships in March and be priced around $19,970 for the manual and $20,770 for the automatic. Scion representatives have said that this will be the only limited edition tC for 2009.
Press release after the jump
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Citroen revealed today the facelift version of the C1. The car is set to go on sale in Europe during November/December, and will receive minor styling changes including a redesigned front end and new interior trims.
Citroen C1 is an urban car that is made along side the Peugeot 107 and Toyota Aygo. They trio have become popular city cars if for no other reason than they are on the road for under £8,000 (about $13,000 at direct current rates).
The C1 is available in gas and diesel versions, mated to an automatic gearbox or a SensoDrive 5-speed automated manual. The three-cylinder gas engine makes 68 hp 1.0i and is the same as the ones available in the Peugeot and Toyota. The diesel engine is exclusive to the Citroen and makes 53 hp at 4,000 rpm.
Press release after the jump.
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Car Magazine revealed today the first rendering of the future Gordon Murray Design T25 city car. Although Gordon Murray is better known for designing much more exiting cars like the McLaren F1, his latest project is this minicar that will go on sale in Europe and Japan in 2012. Truly high hopes also put the T25 on the U.S. shores in 2014.
The future city car will be offered in two versions. The mini-MPV one will be a direct competitor with Toyota’s iQ, but with a length under seven feet, it will be about 23 inches shorter than the iQ.
The car will weigh a little over 1200 lbs and will be powered by 51bhp three-cylinder engine that will return 81mpg on regular gas. Pricing shout start under $10,000 (U.S.) when the first ones come off the assembly line in 2012.
Laughter is sometimes the best remedy, even for a speeding ticket. Although the car in the speed camera shot is from Britain, the road is in Germany. So this was just a right-side driver having fun with the left-handed Germany. The owner of this
Audi A4 Avant must know the German system, because although the authorities have the license number, they also need a clear picture of the driver. According to the current "driver" pictures, the offender is about four foot tall, long pink hair and possibly on drugs.
The Mercedes C-Class represents the most successful vehicle from the German manufacturer and due to this, it attracts many tuning companies who wish to present their tuning kits for the compact car. The latest tuning house who unveiled it customization program for the C-Class is Lorinser, a German tuner specialized in Mercedes vehicles.
The new kit of the compact Mercedes includes a new rear bumper, new side sills, a new rear roof spoiler and a re-designed rear bumper with integrated exhaust system and integrated air diffuser. Also a new set of RS9 19 inch alloy wheels were added in order to offer a better view.
Press release after the jump!
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Tadashi Arashima, the chief of Toyota Europe, announced the company plans a compact car from Lexus that will compete with cars like BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3. He also said he wants to double the sales of hybrid cars.
Arashima said: "We will offer a car in the compact class. We need smaller and more efficient vehicles, developed to meet the new CO2 emission targets."
Toyota wants to raise the hybrid sales from the current 50,000 units to 60,000 units in 2009 and 100,000 units. In 2009 Toyota will offer the new generation Prius that will also get a family van version. A plug-in version is scheduled for 2010.
Abarth will unveil at the Paris Auto Show the "esseesse" kit for the 500 Abarth, only few months after the standard car was launched. Next to it the company will also unveil the Assetto Corse Abarth.
The 500 "esseesse" kit’s display area is characterized by those elements of the Scorpion philosophy that have made it so unique and popular worldwide: the tough spirit, speed, and an innate desire to win. Compared to previous shows, nothing has changed as far as the brand’s distinctive identity is concerned: the colour red, a great passion for cars, the red and white chequered flag used to signal the end of endurance races (the competitions in which Abarth has notched up its greatest achievements), and the yellow and red shield with the black scorpion, representing the stinging zodiac sign of this mechanical genius.
The beautiful polished white floor only adds to the dynamic look of the stand, while the materials and finishes almost fade into the background in order to show off the car and the kits – the real protagonists of the stand.
Press release after the jump.
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As a result of the high gas prices, Pontiac will bring one more small car on the US market: G3. This Aveo-based small car will be available on showrooms starting early next year.
The G3 will be the fourth Pontiac model capable of more than 30 miles per gallon on the highway. The other three are the Vibe (32 mpg), G6 sedan (33 mpg) and G5 coupe (37 mpg), which make up in Pontiac’s “Over 30” club.
The G3 is powered by a 1.6L Ecotec four-cylinder engine that delivers 106 hp. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmission.
The all-new Pontiac G3 hatchback arrives in dealer showrooms in March 2009 and becomes Pontiac’s fourth vehicle achieving highway fuel economy of 32 miles per gallon or higher. Pricing will start from $14,995.
Press release after the jump.
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