Mitsubishi reveals images and real name of production cX: RVR

When Mitsubishi revealed the Concept cX in 2007, at the Geneva Motor Show, it was almost sure thing the new vehicle would be produced. Two years later, the Japanese company has confirmed it will produce the car, but in a different shape, closer to current cars, as you can see below, in the first official images of the crossover. And it will be named RVR in Japan, the first place where it will be sold. Exactly three years after the cX first appeared, or else, in March 2010.



The RVR will be about 4.3 m long and its wheelbase is expected to be about 2.52 m, what will make it the smallest crossover in Mitsubishi line-up, similar to Nissan Qashqai, Dacia Duster and the crossover that will be built over the base of Ford Fiesta. Ford already produces a small crossover in South America, called EcoSport, a highly successfull vehicle in the markets where it is sold.

Power will come from a 1.8-litre MIVEC engine, internally known as 4B10, a 1,798 cm³ unit able to generate 105 kW at 6,000 rpm and 177 Nm at 4,250 rpm. No word has been said on which wheels will drive the RVR, but it is very likely that the car will be all wheel drive. Cheaper versions may be front wheel drive, in order to reduce costs. The RVR will be sold worldwide later in 2010.



Source: Mitsubishi

VW reveals first pictures and details of Amarok, its first mid-size pick-up truck

Amarok is a funny name for anything, including a new mid-size pick-up truck, the first one from Volkswagen, but the vehicle itself is not, especially for its competitors. Let's start from what is most visible: the style of the new car, which will be built solely in Pacheco, Argentina. At least for the time being.



The first body option for Amarok will be a double cab. The single cab will also be available, but its presentation will only happen in the first half of 2010. Since sales will also begin by this time, it is quite likely both body options will be available from the start. But Amarok will offer much more than this in what relates to choices.

Engines will be the smallest turbodiesel units available in mid-size pick-up trucks. They will both be based on a 2-litre four-cylinder, but the entry-level one will generate 122 bhp and 340 Nm at 2,000 rpm. The strongest option will produce 163 bhp and amazing 400 Nm at as low as 1,500 rpm. Volkswagen still does not mention that, but it will surely offer a flex fuel option for the pick-up truck, a relevant choice in the Brazilian market, where ethanol plays an important role. This flex fuel engine will probably be offered for the cheapest versions of Amarok, or else, the single cab. Depending on demand, a double cab with this powerplant can also be offered.

There will be three trim levels. The basic one has no name and will not include many features. In fact, its bumpers will not be painted and it will be powerless. Not in what relates to the engine, but to windows, doors and rear mirrors. They will all bear manual adjustments. Wheels will be 16", made of steel. A hard working vehicle, not willing to search or offer any sort of luxury or comfort.

Trendline versions will be much more sophisticated. They will have power windows, power doors and power rear mirrors, bumpers will be painted in the same colour of the body and other equipments, such as air-conditioning, CD player, cruise control, 16" alloy wheels and fog lamps are standard.

The top version is called Highline. Besides the things Trendline offers, it also brings chromed rear mirror caps, fender skirt extensions to house the 17" alloy wheels, colour contrasting instrument panel and Climatronic air-conditioning system.

Volkswagen states all Amarok units will come with ABS, ASR and EDL (Electronic Differential Lock) available, but we do not thing the base versions will get these equipments, at least not in South American markets. It's always a matter of cost...

As for traction option, there will also be three: a rear wheel drive, a switchable all wheel drive, for the people that will really face difficult terrains, and the 4Motion AWD, aimed at on road performance.







Source: VW

New generation of Audi A8 is unveiled in Miami

Audi has chosen a different event to present the third generation of its flagship sedan, A8. Instead of an auto show, it has been presented in a design event, Design Miami, a name that reveals its location and objectives in a very concise way. Audi, on the other hand, spent pages and pages describing its new car. We'll give you an idea of all things it offers, but first have a look at the vehicle.



The new A8 is built over the ASF (Audi Space Frame) architecture, which relies basically on aluminium to produce a very stiff and light body. Although it is bigger than the previous A8, its body is 6.5 kg lighter. And by bigger you can understand almost 10 cm more in length. The new A8 is 5.14 m long, 1.95 m wide, 1.46 m tall and presents a wheelbase of 2.99 m. Most of the length gain can be credited to the increase in wheelbase, what reflects in a roomier car.

In what relates to the heart of the car, there will be, at first, three options: two V8 engines, petrol and diesel, and a turbodiesel V6. The 4.2-litre V8 petrol engine delivers 372 bhp and 445 Nm, while the 4.2-litre V8 turbodiesel engine produces 350 bhp and amazing 800 Nm. The 3-litre TDI V6 is able to reach 250 bhp and 550 Nm, but, in the future, there will be a weaker version available, good for 204 bhp.

All engines will be able to use a new eight-speed Tiptronic transmission, similar to the ones already present in Lexus and BMW products. A pneumatic suspension, adjustable to the way people intend to drive the car, complete the package of relevant information about the new A8. All the rest relates to infotainment and other stuff that we do not really care about. When we get the chance to seat behind the steering wheel and drive it, we will be more specific about them.


































Source: Audi

LEAKED! - Nissan Micra appears in steel and plastics in Auto.QQ.com

Nissan plans to sell the next generation Micra all over the world. It will be its way of expanding market share in emerging countries such as India, Brazil and China. With its official presentation scheduled for March 2010 in Thailand, the new car has already appeared in steel and plastics in the Chinese website Auto.QQ.com. And you may have a look at the pictures below:



The new Micra, developed under the codenames X02A and X02B (for its bigger version), will adopt 1.2-litre or 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre engines, although its version in Brazil is expected to be powered by 1-litre e 1.6-litre flexfuel engines supplied by Renault. Nissan and Renault already share engines in Nissan Livina, which is also produced in Brazil.

Nissan is not the only Japanese company aiming to increase market share in emerging countries with a small hatchback. Toyota is also developing a vehicle with the same standards and will reveal it very soon, possibly in India. Let's wait and see.





Source: Auto.QQ.com via Autoblog.nl

Volkswagen presents the New Fox, not headed for Europe anymore

Normally, emerging country citizens are the ones that had a sort of envy of European and North American customers that manage to buy modern and affordable cars while old projects are produced and sold in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The new VW Fox, just presented in Brazil, may be the first example of the opposite: European customers willing to buy a car that, at least for now, will not be exported to the Old World, as the current version is.



There are some reasons why the new Fox will not be seen in Europe. The first one is that the new VW Lupo, still only known as up!, will be available in European countries in the next few years. The second one it that the new Fox, which borrows its visual identity and some parts from the Polo V, will not be shipped due to homologation costs. According to Volkswagen, they would not be worth the volume of the car that is currently sold in Europe.

As the pictures present, the car has a new front fascia that is very similar to the one Polo V uses. The tail lights have also been modified. All changes have made the car look tougher, what may make it appeal more to the male public. The previous Fox rounded body made it a hit among women.

Besides the exterior, the car has also improved its interior with a more upscale trim and a new dashboard, with four clusters and a small screen for the car computer to present information on fuel consumption and allow the consumer to configure his/her main preferences.

As for the engines, nothing has changed. We are still waiting for a 1.4-litre powerplant, but the car will only be sold in Brazil with 1-litre and 1.6-litre engines, both able to consume petrol or ethanol at the same time.

















Source: VW