At the end of 2010, Ford’s Design boss, Martin Smith, stated that the company was on the verge of creating new and exciting products to build on their already successful model lineup. The new ideas behind these products were brought to life at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show with the Ford Evos Concept and in continuation of Smith’s laid out plan, we think this concept was just a preview of the future revival of the Capri name.
The model name Capri was used by Ford for three different generation models: one from 1961 to 1964, one from 1969 to 1986, and another one from 1989 to 1994. The future Capri will be a coupe version of the current generation Ford Focus that will also give birth to a convertible model down the line. J Mays, the company’s chief designer, states that there is enough room at the front of the Evos Concept to fit one of Ford’s 4- or 6-cylinder engines, so we expect the future Capri to be toting one of those options. It may even come packing the new Ford Focus ST’s 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine delivering 247 HP.
Expect to see the new Ford Capri in 2012 with a starting price of about $30,000.
It is no longer a secret that Opel has been working on a new model to be placed under the current Corsa. At this point, the new vehicle is being called the "Opel Junior," but it is believed that the future model will be called Allegra and that it will debut in 2013 as a competitor for models like the Volkswagen Up and the Fiat 500.
Be it Opel Junior or Allegra, the new model has been caught testing for the first time outside a test facility while driving on public roads. The model will be about 3.7 meters long and will only be offered in a three-door variant.
As far as power is concerned, Opel has yet to officially announce the engine lineup for the Junior/Allegra. However, it is believed that it will be powered by a new family of engines, which we may also be seeing in the next generation Opel Corsa. Considering the fact that Opel is already preparing an electric powertrain for the Rak, expect to see an electric version of the Junior as well.
Updated 01/25/2012: The new Opel Allegra/Junior has been caught testing again, this time in winter conditions.
After four years out on the streets, the Smart ForTwo deserves a new generation model. To their credit, Daimler is preparing to accommodate with the debut of their new ForVision Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The new concept vehicle is intended to show two things: the new design direction that Smart is undertaking and new technologies that the company is readying for their future models. The latter was made possible by Smart’s collaboration with BASF, the world’s largest chemical company, in the development of several advanced technologies that will be used on the concept and any other future models that could follow suit.
For this particular model - the second Smart concept to come out this year after the ForSpeed - the whole idea was to build a platform for future vehicles. Among the new materials that were built into the car with the idea of future production use include revolutionary plastic wheels and carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin for the doors and the passenger compartment. The latter allows the car to reduce up to 50% of its weight compared to steel and 30% when compared to aluminum. The ForVision Concept also carries a solar roof that provides an alternative source of energy for the concept’s electric drivetrain.
Since the ForVision Concept is still, well, a concept, expect the production version to be a little more attuned to the times. That’s not to say that it won’t carry all of the features of the concept version; it’s just that as far as concept-based production vehicles are concerned, it’s probably to temper expectations on the car.
A few days ago, a mysterious Audi prototype was spotted in Berlin decked in camouflage, leading to the proverbial question as to what kind of car it was. Fortunately, the mystery didn’t last long.
The German automaker has released the first details of its new Urban E-Tron Concept that will be gracing us with its presence at the coming Frankfurt Motor Show. It took a while for Audi to release all the information of the Urban E-Tron Concept, but thankfully, did so just in time for the opening of Frankfurt, complete with all the performance numbers that might not tickle the fancies of those looking for some speed to go with the cool city car concept.
UPDATE 11/02/2011: We thought the Audi Urban E-Tron Concept was a huge waste of time because there was no chance Audi would ever actually put it into production. Turns out, we were absolutely wrong.
Audi has just announced that the Urban Concept will indeed go into production and that it will be limited to only 999 units. Sales will begin in 2013 at a starting price of £8,800 or about $14,000 at the current exchange rates.
Check out more details on the Audi Urban E-Tron Concept after the jump.
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You never know what you’re going to find at shows like the Frankfurt Motor Show, certainly anything like a special edition Volkswagen Beetle. But this is what makes Frankfurt such an interesting place to be in; you never know what you’re going to find.
Speaking of a special edition Beetle, one in particular was introduced in Frankfurt as a collaboration model with Fender. The Beetle Fender comes with a number of unique features, most specifically a state-of-the-art sound system that fits right in with what Fender does best.
The Beetle Fender Edition is 10 mm wider and sits 30 mm closer to the ground than the standard Beetle. It also differentiates itself with a leather coated roof, chromed side mirror coverings, a chromed signature and guitar pick decal on the bonnet, new door handles, side sills, a twin-tailpipe exhaust system, and a new set of 19" alloy wheels. Inside the car, the new additions include RNS 510 radio-navigation system, colored metallic controls, a pick holder and a number of other styling accents that are right up Fender’s alley.
As far as the sound set-up goes, there’s 3-color ambient lighting - red, white, blue - that sets the mood right. There are also two sets of tweeters with neodymium magnets and fabric domes, woofers that carry dual and single voice coils, and a dual voice coil bass box that’s located in the luggage compartment. The whole sound system set-up is rounded up by a 10-channel amplifier with Class A/B power amplifiers and 400 Watts.
No pricing has been set for the special edition Volkswagen Beetle, but expect it to come sooner than later.
