Yes, yes - CAR Online got a bit excited last week and thought it had scooped the new Maserati SUV when it hadn't. But this one is real: Maser showed the new Kubang concept in the metal at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.
If that badge sounds familiar, that's because Maserati showed a concept car bearing the same name at the Detroit auto show 2003. It's stuck with the same motif for the 2011 concept car.
Maserati SUV: coming soon
It's now official: Modena calls the Kubang 'the forerunner of the future Maserati range, creating at once discontinuity by entering a new segment, and continuity by maintaining the integrity of Maserati’s DNA.'
As previously disclosed by CAR, the Maserati 4x4 will be powered by Jeep tech at launch in 2012. But Maserati confirmed at Frankfurt that the engine, design, suspension, brakes and more will be tuned by Italy.
It's no mere badge engineering; the Kubang looks nothing like a Jeep Grand Cherokee donor car, and Maserati design chief Lorenzo Ramaciotti penned the look.
Maserati Kubang: the tech
Little else has been confirmed for the Maser 4x4. The company confirmed it would have an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Here's an interesting snippet of the rationale behind building a Maserati SUV: 'Until today Maserati has been producing sedans, coupes and two- or four-seater convertibles. Whether we named them Quattroporte, GranTurismo or GranCabrio – or, before them, Ghibli, Mistral, Bora or Indy - their common denominator rested in two words: sportiness and luxury. Times have changed: sportiness and luxury today don’t have just one definition. They can also take the form of a very dynamic looking and high performing sport luxury SUV.'
Maserati GranCabrio Fendi
Also lurking on the Maserati stand was the GranCabrio Fendi special edition. It's pepped up with exclusive colours and trim, including Fendi's double F logo on the seats, wood trim running the width of the dashboard and Luoio Ramano - Fendi's trademark leather - is used too.
In the first quarter of 2011, Maserati announced revenues of €303 million, 2% up on the same period last year. More good news in deliveries - it sold 11% more cars at the start of the year, up to 3213. This was boosted, unsurprisingly, by strong demand in China and the US.
Thứ Ba, 28 tháng 2, 2012
Infiniti releases teaser sketch of new EV
Infiniti’s new metal at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show was a special FX SUV co-developed with reigning F1 champion Sebastian Vettel, but the Japanese manufacturer has also unveiled a sketch of its forthcoming electric vehicle.
Hang on! Hasn’t Infiniti already released a sketch of its upcoming EV?
Yes it has, but the production date has slipped from 2013 to 2014 so a bit of PR teasing is needed to keep the press and public interested. The new image is a little clearer than the last blurry shot and shows a saloon-style body. Nissan and Infiniti design director Shiro Nakamura admitted to CAR GAMES that the company’s first EV platform (as used in the Leaf and underpinning this new Infiniti) is quite similar to that of conventional petrol and diesel cars, so the first generation of its EVs will also appear quite conventional.
Infiniti promises that its new EV will be ‘befitting the brand's promise of Inspired Performance’ and be ‘a stylish, high performance five-seat luxury vehicle’. Beyond a different bodystyle to the Leaf, the Infiniti EV will also use a more powerful electric motor to give it the performance worthy of a brand that aims itself at BMW. But while the Nissan Leaf is built in Sunderland and Japan, the Infiniti EV will only roll out of a Japanese factory.
The new EV is part of Infiniti’s plans to take 10% of the global luxury market by 2016, a huge leap forward from today. By 2016 the company promises its global model line-up will have expanded to ten cars; that includes this new EV, the new JX crossover, and the Mercedes-based Etherea, a rival for the BMW 1-series.
Hang on! Hasn’t Infiniti already released a sketch of its upcoming EV?
Yes it has, but the production date has slipped from 2013 to 2014 so a bit of PR teasing is needed to keep the press and public interested. The new image is a little clearer than the last blurry shot and shows a saloon-style body. Nissan and Infiniti design director Shiro Nakamura admitted to CAR GAMES that the company’s first EV platform (as used in the Leaf and underpinning this new Infiniti) is quite similar to that of conventional petrol and diesel cars, so the first generation of its EVs will also appear quite conventional.
Infiniti promises that its new EV will be ‘befitting the brand's promise of Inspired Performance’ and be ‘a stylish, high performance five-seat luxury vehicle’. Beyond a different bodystyle to the Leaf, the Infiniti EV will also use a more powerful electric motor to give it the performance worthy of a brand that aims itself at BMW. But while the Nissan Leaf is built in Sunderland and Japan, the Infiniti EV will only roll out of a Japanese factory.
The new EV is part of Infiniti’s plans to take 10% of the global luxury market by 2016, a huge leap forward from today. By 2016 the company promises its global model line-up will have expanded to ten cars; that includes this new EV, the new JX crossover, and the Mercedes-based Etherea, a rival for the BMW 1-series.
Fisker Surf (2011) at the Frankfurt motor show
Fisker showed off its new Surf station wagon at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show this week. As correctly revealed by CAR Online, Fisker's Frankfurt surprise was a more practical version of the Karma range-extener hybrid.
Fledgling brand Fisker calls the Surf 'the world’s first electric luxury/sports automobile for an active and eco-friendly lifestyle'. Founder Henrik Fisker describes it as a mix of crossover, sports car and station wagon and it'll go on sale in a year's time.
It can make such a claim on account of the Surf's 50-mile EV range, extended to 250 miles in range-extender mode.
What else do we know about the Fisker Surf?
Not much at this stage. 'The Surf is a first-of-its-kind eco-friendly lifestyle vehicle that offers space, performance and luxury design for people who live an active, environmentally conscious lifestyle and like to drive beautiful cars,' said Fisker, CEO and executive design director of Fisker Automotive.
The Surf will be sold in all markets globally from the 2013 model year.
Fisker: on a growth projectory
The company continues to expand since launch in 2007 and the Surf will be joined by a new 'mid-sized premium sedan' from late 2012.
Dubbed Project Nina, the new smaller Fisker saloon will be built at the former GM plant in Wilmington, Delaware. It will be powered by BMW's four-cylinder turbo engine.
Fledgling brand Fisker calls the Surf 'the world’s first electric luxury/sports automobile for an active and eco-friendly lifestyle'. Founder Henrik Fisker describes it as a mix of crossover, sports car and station wagon and it'll go on sale in a year's time.
It can make such a claim on account of the Surf's 50-mile EV range, extended to 250 miles in range-extender mode.
What else do we know about the Fisker Surf?
Not much at this stage. 'The Surf is a first-of-its-kind eco-friendly lifestyle vehicle that offers space, performance and luxury design for people who live an active, environmentally conscious lifestyle and like to drive beautiful cars,' said Fisker, CEO and executive design director of Fisker Automotive.
The Surf will be sold in all markets globally from the 2013 model year.
Fisker: on a growth projectory
The company continues to expand since launch in 2007 and the Surf will be joined by a new 'mid-sized premium sedan' from late 2012.
Dubbed Project Nina, the new smaller Fisker saloon will be built at the former GM plant in Wilmington, Delaware. It will be powered by BMW's four-cylinder turbo engine.
Mercedes C-class AMG DTM (2012) at Frankfurt motor show
Mercedes’ F125 concept might preview a hydrogen future for the automobile, but alongside this tech-laden show car Benz boss Dr Zetsche (with a little help from Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg) also unveiled a hardcore race car. It’s the Mercedes C-class Coupe AMG DTM, which will compete in next season’s Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters – think touring car, only with 4.0-litre V8s and rear-wheel drive chassis.
Is the Mercedes C-class Coupe AMG DTM a C63 AMG Coupe under the skin?
No, the pair are quite different. There’s no 6.2-litre V8 for a start; power comes from a 4.0-litre V8, with twin 28mm air restictors limiting the output to around 500bhp at 7500rpm, while maximum torque is 369lb ft. That’s more than the C63 AMG, in a car that weighs 1050kg with the driver – the C63 tips the scales at 1730kg.
As for the rest of the car games, new rules for the 2012 DTM season are designed to cut costs and improve the safety, which means all three manufacturers (Audi will race its new A5 DTM, and BMW has been tempted back into the series after a 20-year absence because of the reduced costs) share a standard carbonfibre monocoque (with an integrated fire extinguisher and fuel tank).
Each DTM car also has a steel roll cage and six carbonfibre crash structures to aid driver protection.
Merc's new DTM racer: a carbon future
The carbon moncoqoue also means an identical wheelbase for all the cars, while other components like the six-speed paddleshift transmission are shared between the manufactuers too.
Other cost-cutting measures include control tyres from Hankook, standard carbon brakes, and minimum certain weights for certain components.
HWA AG (AMG’s parent company) began the design and development work in June 2010, the first chassis was assembled 12 months later, and the first car was completed in August 2011. The DTM-spec C-class Coupe has a lot to live up to; the current C-class saloon has scored 84 vicotries in 156 races, making it the most successful car in the DTM’s 27-year history.
Is the Mercedes C-class Coupe AMG DTM a C63 AMG Coupe under the skin?
No, the pair are quite different. There’s no 6.2-litre V8 for a start; power comes from a 4.0-litre V8, with twin 28mm air restictors limiting the output to around 500bhp at 7500rpm, while maximum torque is 369lb ft. That’s more than the C63 AMG, in a car that weighs 1050kg with the driver – the C63 tips the scales at 1730kg.
As for the rest of the car games, new rules for the 2012 DTM season are designed to cut costs and improve the safety, which means all three manufacturers (Audi will race its new A5 DTM, and BMW has been tempted back into the series after a 20-year absence because of the reduced costs) share a standard carbonfibre monocoque (with an integrated fire extinguisher and fuel tank).
Each DTM car also has a steel roll cage and six carbonfibre crash structures to aid driver protection.
Merc's new DTM racer: a carbon future
The carbon moncoqoue also means an identical wheelbase for all the cars, while other components like the six-speed paddleshift transmission are shared between the manufactuers too.
Other cost-cutting measures include control tyres from Hankook, standard carbon brakes, and minimum certain weights for certain components.
HWA AG (AMG’s parent company) began the design and development work in June 2010, the first chassis was assembled 12 months later, and the first car was completed in August 2011. The DTM-spec C-class Coupe has a lot to live up to; the current C-class saloon has scored 84 vicotries in 156 races, making it the most successful car in the DTM’s 27-year history.
Jensen to build new Interceptor in 2014
These are the first renderings of the all-new Jensen Interceptor, due in 2014. Not to be confused with the 'new' old Interceptor, you can still buy.
Coventry automotive specialist CPP will build the new 2014 Jensen Interceptor at its West Midlands plant; it'll also engineer and develop the prototypes.
New and old Jensen Interceptors? I'm confused!
Don't worry, so were we!
The Jensen brand is owned by Healey Sports Cars Switzerland. Buoyed by the interest in the revived old Interceptor, available now with modern underpinnings, the parent company decided to commission CPP to launch a new one.
Healey commissioned a new design, and CPP will now bring the renderings of the 2014 Interceptor you see here to life. Production is planned for Browns Lane, a location close to any British sports car enthusiast's heart.
The new 2014 Jensen Interceptor: the lowdown
The new Jensen Interceptor clearly seeks inspiration from 1966's original, especially the wraparound rear screen and elongated flanks. It'll again be a two-door shooting break, now based on 'an all-new aluminium chassis and handcrafted aluminium body.'
No prices have been set yet, but it's clearly not going to be cheap.
Brendan O’Toole, founder and co-owner of CPP, said: 'I started my career by restoring bodies and components for classic British sports cars, so for CPP to take the lead role in reviving this iconic brand is very exciting for the business, and for me personally. The Jensen design team has respected and honoured the great heritage and attributes of the original Interceptor, while injecting a contemporary edge and advanced technologies that will ensure it appeals to the passionate, discerning motoring enthusiast of today.'
CPP: they're becoming quite a player, aren't they?
Indeed they are. They missed out on buying the Bristol brand from the administrators, but O'Toole is quietly assembling quite an automotive group, seemingly hoovering up myriad small sports car nameplates.
He now employs 250 specialists in Coventry, building one-offs and low-volume cars for the likes of Spyker, Bowler and even - once the deal is signed - Zagato. Russian investor Vladimir Antonov has provided funds for this growth.
Coventry automotive specialist CPP will build the new 2014 Jensen Interceptor at its West Midlands plant; it'll also engineer and develop the prototypes.
New and old Jensen Interceptors? I'm confused!
Don't worry, so were we!
The Jensen brand is owned by Healey Sports Cars Switzerland. Buoyed by the interest in the revived old Interceptor, available now with modern underpinnings, the parent company decided to commission CPP to launch a new one.
Healey commissioned a new design, and CPP will now bring the renderings of the 2014 Interceptor you see here to life. Production is planned for Browns Lane, a location close to any British sports car enthusiast's heart.
The new 2014 Jensen Interceptor: the lowdown
The new Jensen Interceptor clearly seeks inspiration from 1966's original, especially the wraparound rear screen and elongated flanks. It'll again be a two-door shooting break, now based on 'an all-new aluminium chassis and handcrafted aluminium body.'
No prices have been set yet, but it's clearly not going to be cheap.
Brendan O’Toole, founder and co-owner of CPP, said: 'I started my career by restoring bodies and components for classic British sports cars, so for CPP to take the lead role in reviving this iconic brand is very exciting for the business, and for me personally. The Jensen design team has respected and honoured the great heritage and attributes of the original Interceptor, while injecting a contemporary edge and advanced technologies that will ensure it appeals to the passionate, discerning motoring enthusiast of today.'
CPP: they're becoming quite a player, aren't they?
Indeed they are. They missed out on buying the Bristol brand from the administrators, but O'Toole is quietly assembling quite an automotive group, seemingly hoovering up myriad small sports car nameplates.
He now employs 250 specialists in Coventry, building one-offs and low-volume cars for the likes of Spyker, Bowler and even - once the deal is signed - Zagato. Russian investor Vladimir Antonov has provided funds for this growth.
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