2008 Peugeot Prologue : Paris Motor Show

French car maker Peugeot is revealing a "next generation hybrid" car at next month's 2008 Paris Motor Show. Judging from the photos, the 'Peugeot Prologue' is not the 'RC' coupe that Peugeot has already been teasing us with, and it's certainly not the 307-based diesel hybrid concept the firm has touted at previous shows. So what do we know?



Not a lot, yet. It produces 109g/km CO2 -- hardly spectacular even for today's tech, as the current Prius is on 104 -- and it's a 'strong hybrid'. In other words, it's capable of running solely on electric power for short distances. We also know the car's rated at 200bhp, and Peugeot claims its eco creds won't compromise decent performance.



For more on the Prologue, come back here on 2 October, when I'll be covering the Paris Motor Show with reams of live news and photos.

The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R will take on Baja 1000

Ford, the definitive leader in tough trucks, is further building on its solid foundation of the new F-150 to deliver the all-new 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, a purpose-built, high-performance off-road truck that's versatile enough to take on the most challenging desert adventures, as well as the everyday commute.



“Ford trucks have been a mainstay on the off-road racing scene for more that 20 years because of our long history of capability and durability,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president for Global Product Development. “With the F-150 SVT Raptor, we will be delivering a true off-road performance truck with the proven 'Built Ford Tough' capability and durability that is at the core of every F-150.”



Ford and off-road racing



Desert off-road racing is something Ford knows and does well, with eight championships in nine divisions in the 2007 “Best In The Desert” series and four more titles in CORR (Championship Off Road Racing). Ford has also shown its leadership at the Baja 1000 race - 12 Ford-powered vehicles have won the overall title for four-wheel vehicles, the most of any engine manufacturer.



With interest in off-road performance growing steadily, the F-150 SVT Raptor was designed to fulfill the desires of that highly demanding market. The high-performance off-road truck market is one that's largely untapped, allowing the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor to set the bar for this type of vehicle.



“Most of the major manufacturers have focused on on-road performance, so when we looked at what was available in off-road truck performance, it was somewhat limited,” said Mark Grueber, Ford product marketing manager for pickups and large SUVs. “This was the perfect opportunity for Ford to further differentiate the F-150 from other trucks on the market.”



Looks tough and fast



The tough, chiseled look of the new Ford F-150 has been taken to a new level with F-150 SVT Raptor. The agile performance truck was designed to give the impression that it's always on the move.



Noticeable differences between the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and the conventional F-150 will include a distinctive grille that has the Ford name carved into it; front bumper, vented hood, front fascia and fenders, functional hood extractors, fender extractors with “SVT” bored out, as well as visible Fox Racing Shox.



Another key difference between the F-150 SVT Raptor and the base F-150 is that it is more than seven inches wider. Ford designers took advantage of this difference and highlighted it with distinctive marker lamps. When turned off, the marker lamps are well integrated into the F-150 SVT Raptor's front end, as opposed to on top of the cab. When lit up, Raptor's imposing stance is immediately recognizable.



While the exterior design of the F-150 SVT Raptor is about creating an image, the interior design is about creating the feel of the truck, and both must complement each other.



Design elements from the unique grille and front fascia have been carried through to the interior on the console and dashboard. The steering wheel is wrapped in black leather and features a molten-orange leather strip that serves as a centering sight line - which is especially useful in extreme driving maneuvers that can often cause the driver to lose perspective of the steering wheel's center point.



Revved up and ready



The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is powered by the F-150's proven 5.4-liter Triton® V8 three-valve engine, which delivers 320 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. A new open-valve fuel-injection strategy improves the air/fuel charge conditions in the combustion chamber, allowing greater spark advance at higher loads and engine speeds.



A new 6.2-liter V8 engine will be available after launch. The 6.2-liter engine features all-new architecture specifically designed for robustness in a truck application. Given that reliability and longevity under harsh conditions are key to truck customers, the Ford team performed extensive testing to ensure the 6.2-liter V8 engine would live up to the “Built Ford Tough” promise.



Take off and landing

Building a high-performance off-road truck is not just about the horsepower - it's about the suspension. The F-150 SVT Raptor doesn't disappoint, with 13.4 inches of usable travel in the rear suspension and 11.2 in the front.



“With the F-150 SVT Raptor, we changed the axle, the whole front suspension is different - new upper A arm, new lower A arm, new tie rods, new half-shaft joints,” said Jamal Hameedi, Ford SVT chief engineer. “The suspension does all the work to keep the truck's attitude stable.”



In addition to a beefed-up suspension, the F-150 SVT Raptor also boasts unique internal-bypass Fox Racing Shox.



“This truck is also going to be a daily driver. We brought together a lot of experts to ensure the on-road steering precision and comfort was there too,” said Hameedi. “That's where Ford expertise really came to the table and complemented Fox's off-road expertise.”



Specialized Technologies

The F-150 SVT Raptor provides the complete package for off-roaders, including state-of-the-art technologies to keep it at the top of capability.



“For many years, enthusiasts have been struggling with the performance of electronic technologies in the extreme off-road environment since that was not the environment they were designed for,” Hameedi said. “What SVT has done is tailor technology to function in both an on-road and an extreme off-road environment.”



The F-150 SVT Raptor will be built alongside the new F-150 at Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant at the historic Rouge Center in Dearborn, Mich. It will be available in spring of 2009.



The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R will take on Baja 1000



The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R, which features modified components, was developed by SVT and Ford Racing specifically to race in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 - one of the most grueling off-road races on the circuit.



Prepared for racing in long-distance off-road endurance events, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R uses stock components of the F-150 SVT Raptor, including the transmission, brakes and axles. The frame - the part of the truck that will take the most stress - is the same proven fully boxed frame that delivers class-leading towing and hauling in the base F-150. The race truck is powered by a specially calibrated 500 horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 engine. Placing the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R in the Baja 1000 also serves as a test bed for development of the production F-150 SVT Raptor.



Ford is bringing some of the best stock class off-road truck drivers together to drive the F-150 SVT Raptor R in the Baja 1000. The team includes driver of record Steve Oligos and co-drivers Randy Merritt, Greg Foutz and Bud Brutsman who will compete in class eight for moderately modified full-size pickup trucks.



The Baja 1000 will run Nov. 20-23. The intense off-road endurance race runs from sea level up to 7,000 feet over 1,000 kilometers of sand, rock and mountain passes on the Mexican Baja Peninsula.



Preproduction vehicle shown.

Updated version of 2011 Suzuki SX4

Suzuki has released an updated version of its Suzuki SX4 compact crossover vehicle in Australia, addressing a number of concerns raised by customers and media.

All models are now equipped with stability control (ESP) as standard, a continuously variable (CVT) automatic transmission is now offered and fuel consumption has been reduced, thanks to an all-new 2.0-litre petrol engine.

"SX4 set a new vision for small crossover vehicles when it launched and the updated version continues to stamp Suzuki as a significant player in the local industry," said Suzuki Australia General Manager Tony Devers.

"The update guarantees the new SX4 will offer small-car customers a value-packed choice combining performance, efficiency and Suzuki's legendary reliability."

The new engines output 112kW/190Nm and fuel consumption has been reduced to 7.3 litres per 100 km for the 2WD manual and 7.6L/100 for the CVT 2WD models, improving efficiency by 11 and 16 per cent respectively.

Devers claimed that the Suzuki SX4 is one of the best performing and fuel-efficient small cars available today: "Customers have always enjoyed the power of the SX4; now they can do it without paying an impost at the petrol pump. Our aim is to be among the class leaders, and SX4 more than delivers on the powertrain front."

As well as improvements in safety and efficiency, the SX4 comes in for some minor styling updates, though only eagled-eyed car spotters will notice the difference (new mesh grille, different wheels). The interior has also been refreshed.

Volkswagen introduced Passat CC R-Line

Volkswagen introduced a sports version of the Volkswagen Passat CC R-Line, which has already taken pre-orders. Marking R brings to model a variety of changes, both in the interior, and for the body.

The car comes with 17-inch wheels R-Line Mallory (18-inch available as an option), shod in 235/45 tires. In addition, there is a new front bumper with integrated headlamps, sills, body-colored, in turn, slightly zatonirovany rear lights.



In the salon VW Passat CC R-Line there is a new sports steering wheel, leather-performance, having multi-functional keys. Sports seats, climate control system and parking are also features of the model.



This package will be available for the entire range Passat CC, the value of which starts from 2 200 euros, for the model 2.0 TDI (140 hp), equipped with a six-speed gearbox.



In the standard Passat CC is proposed, in total, with three engines, including the most popular 3.6-liter V-6. This unit develops a maximum 300 hp at 6 000 rpm and 320 Nm of torque at 2 500 rpm. In terms of performance car races to the first hundred in 6.1 seconds, with a maximum speed of 249 km / h. Fuel consumption in the urban cycle is 15.2 liters. 100 km., in suburban 7.3 liter., according to official data.

2011 Freelander 2 model range, on sale in the UK

The 2011 Freelander 2 model range, on sale in the UK from the end of September 2010, benefits from a new 2.2-litre diesel engine available with either 150PS or 190PS outputs, a new look exterior plus interior alterations including new instrument dials and a new Premium Pack option.



Land Rover's new turbo diesel engine is available in the 4WD TD4 150PS model featuring a manual transmission and intelligent Stop/Start technology as standard (an automatic gearbox without Stop/Start is available as a cost option), or the new SD4 model delivering 190PS (available in automatic transmission only).



This new engine is quieter, more efficient and both derivatives have 20Nm more torque than the outgoing engine. This means the 2011 Freelander 2 offers improved engine response and more mid-range strength for towing. CO2 emissions have been significantly reduced to 165g/km and 185g/km respectively with corresponding fuel economy benefits.



However, despite reductions in consumption and emissions, there has been no compromise in performance. The flagship 190PS Freelander SD4 accelerates from rest to 60mph in 8.7 seconds with an increased top speed of 118mph. The Freelander 150PS TD4 manual and automatic versions match the performance of their predecessors.



As well as being upgraded from EU4 to EU5, both versions have a new variable geometry turbocharger and have been extensively re-calibrated to deliver new levels of power, meet emissions regulations and reduce CO2 emissions. They are fitted with a catalysed diesel particulate filter as standard and are now compatible with 10 per cent biodiesel rather than 5 per cent.



As an addition to the Freelander 2 range, Land Rover will also offer customers a 2WD derivative, available in the UK from January 2011. This will be called the Freelander 2 eD4 and it will be the most efficient Land Rover ever produced, with fuel consumption of 47.2mpg combined, and CO2 emissions of just 158g/km.



"The new Freelander 2 eD4 moves Land Rover into the hugely popular and fiercely contested two wheel-drive SUV market," said Land Rover managing director Phil Popham. "The European market for two-wheel drive SUVs represents 23 percent of the segment and we intend to compete strongly here.

"A 2WD option is just one way in which we are developing our vehicles' efficiency whilst adding to the Land Rover range and expanding our appeal to a broader group of customers. We will continue to make the 'world's finest all-terrain vehicles' for those customers who require 4WD but will also now offer an alternative."



This groundbreaking Freelander 2 eD4 is powered by the new 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine, delivering 150PS. It is only available with a six-speed manual transmission featuring Stop/Start technology as standard.



The exterior of the latest Freelander 2 gets a new look for 2011. Marked out by a new front bumper assembly incorporating new front fog lap bezels, a new front grille finish, improved headlights and tail lamps, new full width tailgate appliqué and new 18- or 19-inch alloy wheel styles. There are three new colour schemes for 2011 Kosrae Green, Baltic Blue and Fuji White.



Inside the cabin, Land Rover's design team have revised the instrument dials, and there are four new seat styles with the option of a Premium Pack that includes Windsor Leather upholstery, an 8/6 way electric seat, plus premium carpet mats and covered centre stowage.



The 4WD TD4 and SD4 models are on sale in the UK from the end of September.

2011 Volkswagen Eos Exclusive price starts at 34350 EUR

 

Meet the Volkswagen Eos Exclusive edition. Normally a plebian offering, the Eos can now be spruced up with a few luxury car standards such as two-tone nappa leather, sport seats, contrast stitching, "piano lacquer" trim, chrome accents on the grille ribs and three new 18-inch wheel designs. The Volkswagen Exclusive package also nets you a sport suspension that lowers the car 0.6 inches.



All of these luxury-like extras come at a price, though. A standard VW Eos will run you 27,524 euro with shipping and hefty European taxes, or roughly $35,300. To snag an Exclusive package, you'll need to drop a whopping 34,350 euro, or about $44,200. Obviously the prices don't translate exactly due to differences in U.S. and European taxes, but that's still a $9,000 (5000 euro) mark-up for the package. For perspective, the luxurious Volkswagen Phaeton starts at 65,800 euro, or $84,600, and in the U.S., the Eos starts at $32,390.



Is the extra coddling worth the coin? Unless you live in Europe, you won't have to worry about it for now, but VW says it's working on a Special Edition Eos for the U.S. market though no specific release date has been set. Presuming it does come here, would you buy one if the price was right?

Thanks to: Motor Trend

2011 Chevrolet Camaro convertible

Chevrolet has announced that the new Chevrolet Camaro convertible will make its official debut at the Los Angeles auto show this November. It’s set to go on sale in February 2011, and will battle the Ford Mustang convertible for the dollars of sun-loving pony-car fans. Speaking of dollars, we also now know how many of them it will take to snag a ‘Maro droptop: $30,000, or about $6500 more than the base hardtop. It’s also about $2000 more than the cheapest Mustang convertible ($27,995). If the pricing gap holds true throughout the lineup, expect to pay at least $39,000 for the cloth-topped Camaro SS.



As we expected, the droptop will employ the same powertrain lineup as the Camaro coupe. The base engine is a direct-injected, 3.0-liter V-6 with 312 hp, while SS models score a 6.2-liter V-8 producing 426 hp. A six-speed manual remains the standard transmission, with a six-speed automatic optional for those who like their cruisin’ simple and their livin’ easy.



We also got another peek at the convertible, this time an SS model. Shot with its top down in an idyllic beach setting, it looks as handsome as the coupe, although we have yet to see the car with its fabric roof in place.