A hatchback is a type of automobile design, consisting of a passenger cabin which includes an integrated cargo space, accessed from behind by a hatch or flip-up window. Hatchbacks are also often called three-doors (two entry doors and the hatch) or five-doors (four entry doors and the hatch) cars.
The French automaker has already bared the details of one of their concepts, the 208 GTi Concept, and now, we’re getting the first look at the second Geneva-bound concept, the 208 XY supermini concept.
The 208 XY Concept appears to be Peugeot’s entrant into what has become a pretty competitive sub-compact market, one that includes the Audi A1, the MINI Cooper, and the Citroen DS3, among others.
Based on the images of the concept we’re seeing, the 208 XY Concept looks like it’s received some fancy exterior and interior get-ups, highlighted by a bespoke "Pulsion" paint finish that, according to Peugeot, has the capacity to be chameleon-like and change colors depending on the how and where you look at it. On top of that, the 208 XY Concept also gets a panoramic glass roof trim, subtle wheel arch extensions, a special grille set-up with three horizontal chrome bars on the lower window edge and the quarter panel, and a new set of 18" alloy wheels.
Hit the jump to read more about the Peugeot XY Concept.
Peugeot will be unveiling next month at the Geneva Motor Show the 208 GTi Concept - a tribute to the legendary 205 GTi offered by the company back in 1984. Peugeot said nothing about a production version just yet, but for sure we will see it by the end of the year.
The 208 GTi concept will be distinguished by chequered-flag motifs that embellish the metal mesh of the grille, a double chromed exhaust tailpipes, aero lower bodywork spoilers and lower sill skirt extensions. Peugeot has placed a brushed aluminum GTi Concept logo that reminds of the old 205 GTi.
For the interior the concept adds a sports leather stitched steering wheel, sports seats trimmed with Nappa leather on the outer section, and cloth in the center with an embossed tartan motif, and a leather head restraint. The fascia capping is dressed in Alcantara with grey stitching, the roof lining is entirely black and the pedals are aluminum.
Under the hood Peugeot has placed a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that delivers a total of 197 HP and 203 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission and sprints the car from 0 to 60 mph in under 7 seconds.
The history of the Kia C’eed began six years ago at the Geneva Motor Show and Kia is repeating history with a second unveiling at the same show. The 2012 Geneva Motor Show will be the backdrop for the introduction of the second generation C’eed. The first details provided for the new sedan will be a real threat on the C-segment market.
The new Kia C’eed is longer, wider, and lower than its predecessor and features a more dynamic and sophisticated styling. At the front of the vehicle is Kia’s new trademark "tiger-nose" grille and aggressive, wraparound headlamp clusters housing signature LED daytime running lights. A steeply raked A-pillar, a very low belt-line, and an integrated rear spoiler will accentuate the sporty aesthetics of the new model.
On the interior, Kia has opted for a more premium look and feel, higher perceived quality, improved switchgear, touch-screen technology, and enhanced driving position ergonomics. The dashboard features an aircraft-theme, the main control panel has been placed around the steering wheel, and the main control groups such as audio and air-conditioning have been segregated to bring a more premium, luxurious, big car feel to the interior. The rest is all about soft and high quality materials.
There are no details on the engine line-up just yet, but we’re sure details will be revealed when the Geneva Motor Show opens its doors.
The Ford Focus RS is one of the most impressive sports hatchback in the European market. And if you were impressed by the current generation, wait until Ford unveils the new generation Focus RS in 2015. According to the British magazine TopGear, the soon-to-be-launched Focus RS is fixing to go down as the most impressive RS ever, delivering a total output of 320 HP - a 20 HP increase over the current 300-HP model.
The current Focus RS is powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder, but for the next generation Ford will replace it with a new 2.3-liter four, with turbo, direct injection and balance shafts. Incidentally, this is the same engine that will be used for the Mustang starting in 2014, although for the RS, it will be updated to deliver more power.
The next RS will also be equipped with a RevoKnuckle front suspension and big brakes, but most importantly it will be a five-door model and not a three-door version like the one currently in the market. About the only potential downside is that Ford will not offer a 4WD system because this will add too much weight for an RS.
Sitting alongside the Elantra Coupe, at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show is Hyundai’s competitor for models like the Ford Focus, Mazda3, and Volkswagen Golf. The Elantra GT is the third vehicle in Hyundai’s 7/11 product initiative (seven new or redesigned models in the next 11 months), next to the the Veloster Turbo and the refreshed Genesis Coupe.
The new Elantra GT features the same 1.8-liter Nu four-cylinder engine with 148 HP and 131 lb-ft of torque as the sedan and the coupe variants. The engine is mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission and delivers a fuel economy of 28 mpg city and 39 mpg highway.
The Elantra GT features the same "Fluidic Sculpture" which includes an aggressive profile and low overall height, as well as sleek side mirrors. The interior offers comfortable seating for five people or can accommodate four passengers with long items such as golf clubs or snowboards.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT.
Nissan will be unveiling a preview version of a new addition to the B-segment at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The Invitation concept will be introduced next to the Micra city car and the Juke crossover. The production version of the Invitation will follow sometime in 2013.
The first details of the Invitation offered by Nissan state that the concept will combine "fresh style, innovation, and excitement." The concept’s sides are dominated by a distinctive character line, known internally as the "Squash Line," which adds a powerful dynamism to its profile with distinctive sculpted front and rear wings. The interior combines the latest technologies with high quality materials.
At this point, Nissan hasn’t revealed what engine will be used for the Invitation, but they have confirmed that it will offer an ultra-low CO2 emission target of under 100g/km. This tells us that we should expect to see the supercharged 1.0-litre engine already used in the Micra. However, whichever engine ends up underneath that hood, Nissan has promised class-leading levels of fuel efficiency and emissions.
Chevrolet’s Super Bowl ad for the Volt was a little weird - and that’s putting it lightly.
But they certainly made up for it with this cute and funny ad for the Sonic, featuring bugs and insects of all kinds. Taking a stab at all those times when insects get wiped out by grilles, headlights, and wiper blades, Chevrolet decided to address this ad and put a creative spin on it: insects actually having some fun while riding a car.
Even one insect - we actually don’t know what it is - even gets slammed into the grille and bellows out a joyful scream like he had just ridden an intense roller coaster!
If insects were an actual market segment in the industry, this commercial will certainly shoot up sales in that demographic. But even if they aren’t, it’s still a pretty funny ad that will make you chuckle some.
And considering some of the ads that we’ve seen during the Game, chuckles have been hard to come by. That in itself is a victory for Chevrolet.
While everyone is waiting for the Beetle TDI version to debut next week in Chicago, German tuner Je Design has prepared an upgrade package for the existing 2.0 TFSI version. The package includes a pretty cool exterior upgrade, as well as the addition of 40 HP under the hood.
The new Beetle already looks the part with its new, more masculine design, so the exterior didn’t need much. Je Design only added an attractive rear apron insert with a diffuser, a centered air duct, and a new steel muffler with a round 90 millimeter large twin tailpipe. The car now sits on a new set of 19" alloy multi spoke wheels painted in an exclusive black "Tornado" finish. The new wheels can be combined with new suspension springs with a progressive characteristic and a sporty spring constant.
Under the hood, Je Design has tweaked the ECU to increase the output from 200 HP to 240 HP and the peak torque from 206 lbs-ft to 228 lbs-ft. As a result, the Beetle will now sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds (down from 7.5) and will hit a top speed of 138 mph.
It’s been a rough winter in almost all parts of Europe, but if anyone se the guts to go out in weather like this then Volkswagen has a little something for them. The company has created a tool to provide some of the best sledding experiences anyone has ever had. Their new toy is a snow sled called the GTI Crazy Bob and with a name like that, it’s bound to be fun.
Crazy Bob is a hot sled, in the truest sense of the word. It was built in the GTI style with high quality, cold-resistant plastic and features ergonomically shaped front and rear footrests. Both sides are worked to offer the highest security and special runners provide excellent glide and tracking. Due to its light weight, the Crazy Bob is easy to carry on your shoulder.
The Crazy Bob can be had for 64,90 €, or about $85 at the current exchange rates. If this is too much, Volkswagen is also offering another traditional wooden sled that is priced at $65.
The Chicago Auto Show is one of America’s biggest auto events, yet it doesn’t hold the same glamorous standards as that of its counterparts in Detroit, New York, and even Los Angeles.
That being said, a lot of automakers have used Chicago as the venue for their concept debuts and it’s no different this year as Kia prepares to roll out the Track’ster Concept.
The Tracks’ter Concept is being touted as "the ultimate performance" Soul that features an aggressive hatchback body with a low and aggressive bodykit. Looking at the Soul’s overall design, it should be easy to paint a picture of the Tracks’Ter as a concept that carries a far edgier look to coincide with the Korean automaker’s evolving design language, one that’s a far departure from the conservative approach the company used to be known for.
Performance details on the Tracks’ter Concept have yet to be announced, but considering what we’re looking at and how it’s being touted, we wouldn’t be surprised if it packs the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder powertrain that can be found under the hood of the Hyundai Veloster Turbo.
Whatever the case may be, we’re all looking forward to seeing the Kia Tracks’Ter Concept make its world debut in Chicago later this month.
