VW plans to put Chico into production to beat smart fortwo

Last November, AutoCar released the information Volkswagen intends to have a very fuel efficient car. This car would be based on the future Lupo platform, nowadays known as the up! concept, and would be called Chico, after a small hybrid concept presented back in 1991. Chico, in Spanish, means "small, tiny".



Besides having a product on a market segment that promises to grow rapidly, as the presentation of Toyota iQ states, Volkswagen aims to lower its emission and fuel consumption rates. The goal established for Chico is 50 km/l and 60 g/km of CO2, according to AutoCar.

If the first Chico was to be taken into consideration, this number would be easily reached, since the small car was able to reach 71.43 km/l with its hybrid powertrain. If its only propulsion system was its 636 cm³ two-cylindre petrol engine, able to generate 34 bhp at 6,000 rpm and only 45 Nm at 3,000 rpm, it would spend 23.36 km/l at a constant speed of 90 km/h.

The problem is Volkswagen intends to use a larger engine with no hybrid help to accomplish its targets. There are two options: a 1.2-litre four-cylinder direct-injection engine with cylindre deactivation (up to two of them can be deactivated) and a 1.2-litre three-litre turbodiesel engine. Start-stop system, regenerative brakes and low-rolling-resistance tyres will be standard for the new Chico.

The previous Chico was 3.15 m long, 1.60 m wide, 1.48 m tall, with a 2.05 m wheelbase. Since it was very frugal, its fuel tank did not need to be larger than 20 l. Chico was considerably heavy, with an unladen weight of 785 kg. Aerodynamics are also something to be improved: it had a cx of 0.32. As well as iQ, it was a 2+2 vehicle, with a 60 l luggage compartment. The top speed of 131 km/h was a clear sign performance was not to be cherished. Accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h took as much as 30 s. Let's hope the production series car improves all these numbers.















Source: AutoCar

Audi reveals R8 V10 before presenting it at Detroit Auto Show

When Audi first presented R8, it was obvious the supercar had a big deal of Lamborghini DNA, a company that Audi controls. It only did not have a Lamborghini engine, or else, no V10 and no V12, engines that have only beem under the hood of concept versions of R8. It will remain like this until January 2009, when the German automaker intends to officially present the new R8 V10, powered by a 5.2-litre engine able to generate 525 bhp and 530 Nm



With such an engine, similar to the one used by Lamborghini Gallardo, R8 is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km in 3.9 s and to reach a top speed of 316 km/h. The German supercar uses 19-inch alloy wheels, with 235/35 tyres in front and 295/30 tyres in the back. Ceramic brakes of 380 mm in front and 356 mm in the rear can be purchased as options, as well as buckett seat and Audi Parking System, which uses a rear camera.

With no options, or else, totally stock, R8 V10 will cost 142,400 euros in Germany, by the middle of 2009.








Source: Audi via Autoblog

BMW Z4 appears in movie shooting in the USA

BMW will unveil the new Z4 this month, but images of the new vehicle have already surfaced, even if not officially. The one you see below was obtained by Jason, from ZPost.com.



It was taken in a BMW dealer where a new movie, with Michael Douglas, Solitary Man, is being shot. Though it did not come with any news about engines or dimensions, it gives us a pretty fair idea of what the car will look like. We're glad it is not only a movie that was being shot there, but also pictures!

Source: ZPost.com via AutoBlog.nl

Production-ready Fisker Karma will be presented at Detroit Auto Show

NAIAS, also known as Detroit Auto Show, will be a mirror of the North American car market when it opens its doors next year, in January. It will have very little to be proud of, since many carmakers have already decided not to attend it. Anyway, there is at least one good news expecting the event's visitor: the production-ready Fisker Karma, shown for the first time today.



Besides this first image of the car that will actually be sold, Fisker has also informed the car will use a 2-litre Ecotec direct-injection turbo petrol engine to recharge Karma's batteries. The company did not explain why Karma need a 260 bhp engine to do this job (a smaller engine would do the same with much less fuel), but this will probably be discussed when the car is officially presented. Meanwhile, you can also see the new electric sedan with fuel-powered recharging system undergoing tests. Let's hope they can make this beautiful car be also known for a sharp handling, great performance and ultra-low or no emissions at all. This would justify the US$ 87,900 price tag.













Source: Fisker Automotive

LEAKED! - VW presents the new Golf Plus ahead of Bologna

The new VW Golf Plus was scheduled to be officially presented next Wednesday, at Bologna Motor Show, but it seems someone has swapped folders and sent the ones about the new car to the wrong auto show. The fact is some Essen visitors, including AutoTelegraaf journalists, have managed to have one of these folders. And the Dutch professionals did not wait any longer to show us all official images of the minivan.

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Changes have apparently been very subtle and include only new headlights and a new front grille, to make the car look as much as possible like Golf VI and Scirocco. Engines must be the same, with some improvements, but we will only be able to be sure of that next Wednesday. Stay tuned!





Source: AutoTelegraaf.nl via AutoBlog