The new Lancia Delta, the first totally new car in the automaker’s second century of manufacturing, is set to make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. A historical name associated with a peak in Lancia’s motoring past, Delta is also a mathematical symbol that stands for change, difference and evolution.
While the 1980 Lancia Delta was the first compact front wheel drive vehicle from the automaker and one of Giugiaro’s best designs, the new Delta, this time designed by the Lancia Style Centre, carries forward the tradition of the ‘great’ Lancia models of the past, and slots into the medium-sized C-segment. The Delta’s exterior dimensions are claimed to set a new benchmark for interior space in this category, and it will be equipped with a sliding rear seat with reclining squab to transform the passenger compartment into a living-room.
The new car will be fitted with a range of turbo engines, both petrol and diesel, with power deliveries extending from 120bhp up to 200bhp. They will be mated to a choice of 6-speed transmissions – manual, robotized and automatic.
Mercedes-Benz has given its SL-Class a freshened design and new technology. The new car, which is offered in SL350, SL500 and SL600 guises, will bow in at the Geneva Motor Show next week alongside the sportier SL63 and SL65 AMG offerings.
The design is a facelift in the most literal sense, with the majority of changes having been made to the new car’s front-end design, which now features a distinctive V-shape and wider radiator grille. The hood includes ‘powerdomes’ and is flanked by redesigned front fenders with gill-style air outlets. Further along the side, larger exterior mirrors are encased in a newly designed housing with arrow-type indicators and a new diffuser-style rear bumper includes trapezoidal exhaust tailpipe trims.
Inside, a three-spoke leather sports steering wheel joins a new-look instrument cluster and a new ‘natural beige’ interior color, bringing the total color variations to five. Six aluminum and six wood trim elements will be offered, including new light burr walnut. The top range SL600 includes exclusive wood trim elements in pale poplar grain, specially designed interior door panels and V12 emblems on seats, steering wheel and door sills as well as a wider range of standard equipment.
After weeks of tantalizing teaser images on its website, Italdesign-Giugiaro has finally revealed its new Quaranta concept, marking the company’s 40th anniversary.
The new car is claimed to be an ‘extreme, ecological, 4WD super-sportscar’ and it is the first hybrid car with a mid-mounted engine. The main technological innovation is reflected in a search for extreme performance using Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive technology, implemented by a solar energy power plant inserted in the structure of the vehicle. Inspired by the latest research in F1, the Quaranta single volume shape adopts rear flaps to enhance aerodynamics.
Able to accommodate three adults plus a baby inside the cabin, Italdesign claims the low environmental impact vehicle is more than a ‘mere exercise in aesthetics’. It is also an unbridled performance car, which can acheive 0 to 100kph stints in four seconds and a 250km/h top speed.
Stay tuned for our impressions of the concept from the Geneva Motor Show floor.
Holden, GM’s Australian subsidy, has unveiled its new Coupe 60 concept car at the Melbourne Motor Show, based on the Holden VE Commodore.
The Coupe 60 is a pillarless concept car that is claimed to explore the limits of Holden’s current rear-wheel drive capabilities. A sophisticated appearance is delivered through simple and powerful design, highlighted by the pillarless construction and V8 supercar inspired cockpit layout and side-exiting chambered exhaust system with billet alloy tips. Almost 60mm shorter than the VE sedan, and sitting on 21-inch alloy wheels the concept car captures all the Holden DNA.
GM insists this concept is not planned for production at this stage, though Holden’s involvement with developing the firm’s global rear-wheel-drive vehicles is known fact. The concept’s suspiciously minimal changes from the VE Commodore on which it is based is good indication it may soon be rolling off the production line as the next Monaro.
The Zagato Atelier has introduced its version of the Bentley Continental GT Speed at the Geneva Motor Show today. Called the Bentley GTZ, the car is the latest in a long line of collaborations with British car manufacturers over the Milanese Atelier ‘s 89 year history.
Pronounced fender lines and a chiselled shoulder line join a double-bubble roof and a rounded tail – with Lancia Thesis-like rear combination lamps. The front end retains the donor car’s headlamps, but does away with the front and rear bumpers.
These styling cues are integrated into an imposing body which is more aggressive than the production coupe. A hand painted two-tone paint scheme coordinated with the interior color adds a new dimension to the extrovert body lines, even if they are not to all tastes.
The Zagato Atelier has introduced its version of the Bentley Continental GT Speed at the Geneva Motor Show today. Called the Bentley GTZ, the car is the latest in a long line of collaborations with British car manufacturers over the Milanese Atelier ‘s 89 year history.
Pronounced fender lines and a chiselled shoulder line join a double-bubble roof and a rounded tail – with Lancia Thesis-like rear combination lamps. The front end retains the donor car’s headlamps, but does away with the front and rear bumpers.
These styling cues are integrated into an imposing body which is more aggressive than the production coupe. A hand painted two-tone paint scheme coordinated with the interior color adds a new dimension to the extrovert body lines, even if they are not to all tastes.
Webasto has presented a new category of roof design for convertibles with the LigHT Concept unveiled in Geneva today. The innovative roof system – a so-called ‘Hybrid Top’ – showcases a simple, lightweight roof, which combines both soft and hard top features.
Made of polyurethane and polycarbonate materials the roof was developed in cooperation with IED Automotive, a professional spin-off of the Italian design school IED (Istituto Europeo di Design), and was styled by Andrea Militelo, Chief Designer of IED Automotive.
The entire substructure is manufactured in one piece and relies on self supporting surface cross members connected by film hinges. It can be easily opened manually and weighs only 14kg. Apart from the film hinges the roof consists of one additional rotational point, which is used for moving the roof. The result is a combination of retractable hardtop substructure with the stylistic impression of a soft top.
Sitting atop the rear decklid when retracted, the roof does not take up any space inside the car and does not affect trunk space. The company has already developed a possible electromechanical opening mechanism.
Saab unveiled its new 9-X BioHybrid concept at an exclusive media preview the evening before the start of the Geneva Motor Show press days. Mark Adams, Vice-President of Design at GM Europe, says the concept is the precursor for a future compact car from Saab.
Inspired by Saab’s award-winning Aero X and earlier 9X concepts, the youth-oriented premium compact has ‘fuselage’ bodywork, a nod to Saab’s aviation past. Using active aerodynamics to reduce drag – and fuel consumption – at cruising speeds., the concept features a roof-mounted spoiler which extends at speeds above 43mph. At the same time an underbody diffuser is deployed from the bottom of the rear bumper.
The four-seat interior showcases an entirely new expression of Saab’s driver-focused cockpit design, together with innovative, seamless connectivity for personal nomadic devices and a rear cargo deck with a ‘low friction’ loading system.
Mila Alpin is the latest addition to the strategic Mila concept car brand from Magna Steyr’s design department, headed by Andreas Wolfsgruber. The new showcar is claimed to be an extremely capable and compact off-roader, inspired by the mountain rock and ice of the Alps; the scenario for which the car was created.
Measuring 3.5 meters long, just under 1.8m wide and 1.7m high, the electric/CNG (compressed natural gas) hybrid-powered concept has a wheelbase of 2.2m. “The car’s extreme off-road ability is aided by a ground clearance of 230mm and ramp angle of 46 degrees, and skid-plates front and rear,” says Wolfsgruber.
On this basis, simple, low-cost versions are also possible due to the horizontal waistline, as the construction of the upper body can vary. For example, a simple two-seater pickup can be built, or a 3 +1 seater with a roll-cage. The closed body version with gull-wing doors on show in Geneva is the top of the range model for this concept.
The first generation Volkswagen Scirocco was first presented to a world audience in Geneva 34 years ago. Now Volkswagen is celebrating the comeback of the legendary two-door car at this year’s Geneva show.
The Scirocco nameplate has been absent from the VW repertoire for 20 years, but VW is keen to bring it out of the archive of distant memories and back to the forefront of people’s minds. The extended wagon-coupé roof, it offers space for four adults, and is powered by four TDI and TSI engines, ranging from 122 PS to 200 PS. The new sports car will be introduced to market in late summer this year.
