OFFICIAL! - GM releases first renderings of Chevrolet Agile

GM has just released the first official renderings of the new Chevrolet Agile, a subcompact hatchback that will be produced in Argentina in order to be sold in Latin America and which may also be the car that will be produced in the USA to face the new Ford Fiesta.



Although Agile will be built in Argentina, it has been completely developed in Brazil, at a cost of US$ 400 million, entirely raised by GM do Brasil, or else, with no foreign investments, such as the US taxpayers' money.

Agile must also be produced in the USA, where it is supposed to replace Aveo, something the magazine Motor Trend has already confirmed. The plant of Lake Orion, Michigan, has been chosen to produce the new hatchback, which is set to challenge Ford Fiesta.

The platform of the car is said to be Gamma II, the same one used by the so called Corsa D, the fourth generation of the car. The new Agile will bear a wheelbase of 2.51 m, what will make it be able to face newer small cars, such as Ford Fiesta and the upcoming VW Polo V. Engines are expected to be the same ones already in use in South America, or else, two petrol options, a 105 bhp 1.4-litre and a 129 bhp 1.8-litre. No word, so far, on a diesel option.

Besides the hatchback, in three and five doors, we can expect for a sedan, a pick-up truck and a SUV inspired on the GPix concept.




Source: GM

Rendered speculation: will the new Jaguar XJC look like this?

Soon after the new Jaguar XJ was introduced, Ian Callum said Jaguar is also developing a coupé version of the new flagship sedan. It will be the first time in more than 30 years the car will have a XJC version, a car that was produced from 1973 to 1978 with in-line six cylinder engines and powerful V12 as well. With that in mind, the "automotive manipulator" Theophilus Chin (we would call him the Photoshop magician, instead) has designed what he thinks the new XJC may look like. And we would certainly hope his version is an anticipation of the future.



According to Chin, he has reduced the rear overhang, removed the window frames and took away the black D-pillar, something that most people did not find very beautiful. The XJC will naturally be a little shorter than the new XJ, which is 5.12 m long and bears a wheelbase of 3.03 m, but other measures must remain the same: 1.90 m wide and 1.46 m tall (operhaps a little lower). The new coupé will be built over the same all-aluminium platform from XJ.

As for the engines, the new XJC may offer the same four engine options from the XJ, one diesel and three petrol units. The diesel powerplant may be a 3-litre V6 that produces 275 bhp at 4,000 rpm and 600 Nm at 2,000 rpm. The direct injection petrol units are a naturally aspirated 5-litre V8 and two supercharged powerplants, one producing 470 bhp at 6,000 rpm and 575 Nm from 2,500 rpm to 5,500 rpm and the other generating 510 bhp from 6,000 rpm to 6,500 rpm and 625 Nm from 2,500 rpm to 5,500 rpm. All versions of XJ come with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual gear changes with throttles behind the wheel. The XJC is sure to follow that. It is only a pity no 12 cylinder unit will make it to these cars. You know, low emission standards...



Source: Theophilus Chin

Fiat Linea may be sold in the USA as the new Dodge Neon

Fiat and Chrysler alliance may take 18 months to produce its first cars, but Autocar has already anticipated one of the possible vehicles to come up from that marriage: a new Dodge Neon. The car would be based on the Fiat Linea. If Autocar has stated that, we have no reasons whatsoever to doubt it. And the talented designer Theophilus Chin has given us his vision of what the car may look like, and we are very inclined to think he has hit the nail in the head.



Fiat Linea uses two engines in Brazil, a 1.9-litre flexfuel unit and a petrol turbocharged 1.4-litre, known as T-JET. In Turkey, where it is also produced, the car is powered by the T-JET, a petrol 1.4-litre engine and two diesel engines, the 1.3-litre Multijet and a 1.6-litre unit. We expect the USA version to use the 1.9-litre engine, as well as the T-JET with some improvements. Meanwhile, have a look at what may appear in a Dodge dealer next to you (the one that remains open until that, of course; let's hope them to be many).




Source: Theophilus Chin

Swedish designer recreates a classic as the Vox Volvo P1800

The series of nostalgic cars will not be over with the end of Chrysler PT Cruiser, but we are not talking about VW Beetle's next generation. What we mean is beyond that, in much more interesting ways. We are talking about the new Vöx Volvo P1800, the new creation from the Swedish designer Mattias Vöcks.



This gorgeous coupe used to be known as the machine Roger Moore drove at the TV series "The Saint", but it is even better than that mechanical piece of fiction. Vöx Volvo P1800 will, for example, count on 550 bhp to 600 bhp, all served by the 4.4-litre V8 already used by S80 and XC90 helped by a supercharger.

While we still only have these Photoshop pieces of work, a real car is being developed and it is possible a small limited production of it will take place. We really hope these rumours turn out to be only an anticipation of the future reality. This is a good explanation for anxiety.








Source: Auto Motor & Sport via World Car Fans

Check a possible Fiat-Chrysler sedan created by Jorge L. Fernández

After we have presented you to a possibility of the future Fiat-Chrysler compact sedan created by Rodrigo Bruno, some other designers also came up with ideas, but none has been so interesting so far as Jorge L. Fernández's, from Area 75. He has even come up with a name suggestion: Chrysler Shadow. Would that be a shadow of Bravo or Alfa Romeo Milano, cars that already use the FAT C-Evo platform? We hope not.



In fact, Fiat has to improve the quality of its products a great deal in order to attract North-American customers. This is what some satisfaction indexes point out in Europe. And the Italian carmaker is already aware of that, if its experience with Alfa Romeo in the USA in the 1990's has taugh the company anything. For the sake of Chrysler and Fiat, that's highly advisable.

Source: Area 75

Will Chrysler's compact sedan look like this? Will there be a Bravo Sedan?

News are that Chrysler is so confident in a partnership with Fiat it has even presented future common products with the Italian automaker to its dealers. One of these new vehicles would be a sport sedan. Compact, for North American customers, mid-sized, for the rest of the world, it would be built over the FAT C-Evo platform, the same one used by Fiat Bravo, Lancia Delta and the future Alfa Romeo 159, Milano and Giulia. That made us wonder what would this car look like and the designer Rodrigo Bruno gave us a hand in figuring it out. In fact, he gave us a rendered speculation that may turn into a real product. Both for Chrysler and for Fiat.



The Italian automaker was confident Fiat Linea would be accepted by many markets as a contender against Honda Civic and other sedans, but the fact it Linea is widely seen as the (gorgeous) sedan version for Grande Punto. Therefore, people expected it to be cheaper. A Bravo Sedan, specially in developing countries, would solve the matter right away.

Meanwhile, let's see if Fiat and Chrysler really can reach an agreement. If they do, Bruno's suggestion may be in the dealers in a few years from now.




Source: Rodrigo Bruno

VW presents the first sketch of its new mid-size sedan, the NMS

What is the best way to have huge sale numbers in a country? Establishing a plant there is certainly the answer and this is what Volkswagen plans to do in the USA with a new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. The first product to leave its production lines, in 2011, will be the NMS, or New Mid-size Sedan, a car that the German automaker has presented in a light way with the rendering below.



This car is expected to be as big as the current Passat, what will assure lots of space inside. Luggage will also have plenty of room and the planned engines are the FSI and TFSI petrol units and TDI powerplants.

The NMS, which will still have its definite name defined, will also be sold in other markets and will be built over a platform that is easier to build than the current Golf VI, what will probably put it in emerging markets such as India, Russia and Brazil. A hatchback version based on it, prone to replace older versions of Golf in these markets, is also expected to appear.

Source: VW via CarScoop

What would a Viper have been if presented in 1967? Rafael Reston answers that

Some cars are classic cars because of their age and of their power, such as Chevrolet Corvette. Some others are classic cars because of what they represent. This is what happens with Viper, a sportscar that could have been discontinued due to the crisis Dodge is facing, but which will be sold to anyone willing to keep it alive. What would that car have been if it was also presented in the past? Let's say... in 1967? Check what the Brazilian designer Rafael Reston thinks about that below. And tell us if you agree with his vision.



"The 1967 Viper Concept came out when I decided to find out what Viper could have been if it was created in the 1960's. With that in mind, I made an extensive research on materials and building processes of that time. The idea was to design something very close to what could have been done in 1967. Big round headlights, 15-inch wheels and a little of Dodge's main styling cues, but in a sportier way, pushing them to a car that did not exist at the time", Reston told MotorTips.

Although it seems to be a classic car, Reston's Viper kept some of Viper's main characteristics. "This car maintains the roof line, the scoop in the hood, the long bonnet, the driver almost sitting over the rear axle and many more, such as the headlights and the taillights." Under the hood, Reston would have placed a 440-Magnum V8, the same one that was used by Challenger R/T. "It would be stronger, of course. The V10 would not be very easy to produce in 1967. It would make the car become very expensive", Reston said.

The research Reston has performed was so intense he can even determine the price the car would have. "According to my conclusions, the 1967 Viper would have cost US$ 4,110, what would make it a great contender against Chevrolet Corvette." Since Viper did not have that past, we only hope it still has a future ahead. Hopefully, a bright one.






Source: Rafael Reston

If Ford EcoSport gets a new generation, would it look like this?

Ford plans to produce the new Ford Fiesta in Brazil to distribute it to other South American markets. Over this car's platform there should be made a new small SUV to replace the current EcoSport. How would this new vehicle look like? Jorge Luiz Fernández bets on this new appearance:



Since this car looks very much like the new Fiesta, we don't think it would be something Ford would try to do. The new EcoSport should indeed have more rounded lines, but it will also be very different from Fiesta in order to maintain its own identity.

The new small SUV should be on the market by 2011, althoug the renderings give the idea it can arrive next year. It sounds a very short deadline for the new car to appear.

Source: Area75 Car Design

VW Fox will receive a restyling in 2009: check out how it should look

The designer Jorge Luiz Fernández has not stopped on the Viva Project, the car that is expected to succeed Corsa in South American countries. Aware of the restyling VW Fox will suffer in 2009, after five years in many markets, including Europe, he has searched for inspiration on up! to reach these ideas for the new car:



Curiously, the up! concept is expected to replace VW Fox in Europe with the name Lupo. Changes for the VW Fox, therefore, should be minimal. They would include only new headlights, hood, fenders and front bumper. At the back, new taillights, with round elements, should replace the current ones. These changes aim to keep Fox up to date with VW' new visual identity, presented for the first time by Scirocco and recently followed by Golf VI.

We do not think the new Fox will not have a front grille, as in the renderings, but the headlights look very feasible. Let's wait for the new car to see how close Fernández got.



Source: Area75 Car Design

Argentinian designer anticipates mass production Viva Project car

When Chevrolet GPiX first appeared, we have warned you about what that concept was revealing. It was an anticipation of the Viva Project, which must place a substitute for Chevrolet Corsa in the South American market, even though GM always declares that both models will coexist. Now, the Argentinian designer Jorge Luiz Fernández gives us an idea on how the series production model should look like:



In the image above you can see two versions of Viva, three and five-door. In Brazil, where the car is supposed to be produced, the three-door version is very unlikely to be produced, unless other markets demand it to be made.




Source: Area75 Car Design

Peugeot 308 Sedan appears with the help of Jorge L. Fernández

Peugeot 308's production has been confirmed for Argentina in 2009, but the first body to emerge will not be hatchback. It will be a sedan, as it has already happened with Citroën C4. In an effort to show us how the car will be, our friend Jorge L. Fernandez has made the following rendering:



As Jorge has said, if we take the latest hatchback based sedans from Peugeot, the real car will be diffent from his. It was a nice way to say they will be ugly as hell, with a boot compartment that does not seem to be part of the car, as it already happens with 307 Sedan. We hope to be very wrong on this and that the real car is better looking than the car it will replace. Cross your fingers!

Source: Area75

Would you love to buy a brand new Stingray? Soon you will be able to

Many kids (and grown-up men) dream of owning a Corvette Stingray, but there are no new cars to sell. At least until Christian Cyrulewski manages to bring his ideas for a C6-based Stingray to the real world. And the designer has promised to do so next year. If you wonder what his ideas would be like, there is no need to try your imagination out. Here they are:



This gorgeous vehicle is currently under development in order for its body to fit Corvette C6 chassis. The car will be presented at the 2009 Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit, which will happen in August, and, later, it will follow to next year's SEMA Show. According to Cyrulewski, if there is enough interest, his company will start to develop kits. If he manages to make his kits look as good as his renderings, there should be little doubt about it.












Source: C3Retro

Chevrolet Opala is recreated by Brazilian designer

There is a Brazilian vehicle closely related to the old Opel Rekord. In 1968, GM presented Chevrolet Opala, its first vehicle built in Brazil. Forty years later, the car appears again, but not as a real model, but rather as a college conclusion project done by Cauê de Mattos in the 40th anniversary of the car presentation.



According to Mattos, his idea was to bring back the same bounds old cars used to create with their owners. Just to exemplify, he has remembered people that once bought a model, such as an Opel Ascona, and has stuck with it through all the car's life span. He has also seized Opala's 40th anniversary to pay an homage to it, especially to Opala Coupé, created in 1978, since lots of important cars, such as Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger have emerged again. It is a pity Opala will surely not get that chance. As a good rear-wheel drive luxury car, it would not manage to find a place in current GM Brazilian production lines, most of them dedicated to compact or subcompact vehicles.
















Source: Cauê de Mattos