Renault Megane sedan

This is just a CGI of a possible design for the sedan version. This type of car does not sell a lot in Europe so this is more interesting for other markets like Brasil.

EV Future: VW Golf Twin Drive

Got to love the first sentence: "The future is electric".

EV Future: Nissan prototype

Testing for the future Electric Nissan Note introduction.

EV Future: Volvo series hybrid concept

Just a concept, it seems Ford is way behind GM in the development of Plug-in hybrids for series production.

Ford Fusion

A much needed update to the American Fusion will arrive at the end of the year. The image below shows a notable improvement of the front design while at the rear the modified car is set to loose the "rice" lights. Interior will be even more mature with some subtle chrome detailing added. Great emphasis will be placed in engines also: a new inline-4 is expected to have class-leading mpg numbers and the hybrid version will finally arrive. Ford really needed this car, now!... Anyway, looking at the image below I prefer the new American Fusion to the European Mondeo...

2009 Mazda 3

A new CGI shows a wonderfull design for the next Mazda 3. Too good to be true? Probably!

Spyshot scandal: French magazine Auto-Plus under investigation...

... and our view on the subject one year ago!

The offices of French magazine Auto-Plus were raided by officials, accusing the magazine of industrial espionage against auto maker Renault. Auto Plus published pictures and details of new models not due to launch for two to three years and Renault retaliated with a complaint to authorities resulting in an investigation being launched since last August. So far this has resulted in the confiscation of computers, documents and the detainment of Auto Plus journalist, Bruno Thomas. Renault said the complaint was intended to protect its intellectual property: "It kills creativity, you may as well just give our models to the newspapers and our competitors. What's the point of doing any research?" a spokesman said.

The interesting bit of this newstory is that the complaint originated from the publication of detailed images of the Megane III by Auto-Plus that we at Auto-Future decided not to show at the time, anticipating that these would hurt Renault's business really hard. The original post in Auto-Future is from July 2007 and you can read all of it here, or an excerpt below... our opinion on the subject one year ago!

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"Finally, what’s with the “not presented below” picture? Some stolen images of what looks like a final design and unmasked version of the car were presented by a French magazine and could be illustrating this entry. Auto-Future reports on a lot of these scoops (and other stuff like technical information, EV future series, inside tips, etc), but we believe that showing those images means bad business to Renault. We are still more than one year before introduction of the model so this leak is much more serious than photographing masked prototypes or uncovered vehicles a couple of months before presentation. The interested reader can find those images very quickly on the internet so we are doing this as an editorial statement. We love all car brands and wish no harm to the folks that design and build cars all over the world. So if we feel that we could be hurting their business with a scoop image we don’t present it. And in this case Renault had a very serious security problem with this leak, such thing can not happen more than one year before the presentation of the car!"

EV Future: new picture of 2009 Toyota Prius

A new picture of the highly awaited next generation Prius with Plug-In capability. It actually looks a bit like a photoshop image presented in this blog sime time ago. Anyway it does not have to look spectacular, it will carry the Prius design theme but more modern and a bit bigger. The important stuff is the Plug-In availability.

EV future: Fisker Karma is for real?

Really we never bothered about the fisker Karma because it looked like the series-hibrid was not for real... but now we know that Fisker Automotive has signed a letter of intent with Valmet Automotive to assemble its Karma plug-in hybrid sports sedan in Finland beginning in late 2009. So is this for real after all?... Plug-In series hybrid and 4-door coupe?...Loving it!

EV Future: Comparison of electric cars

A nice video from WhatCar showing a comparison between 4 electric cars. Some of these are not real cars (the Nice and the Reva) but neverthless an interesting review and without some of the prejudice that I've noticed lately of motor-journalists against electric cars.

EV Future: Mitsubishi i-MiEV in 2009?

According to Greencarcongress news the Mitsubishi i-MiEV could be made available for retail sales in mid-2009 in Japan, one year ahead of previous schedule. This is could have been triggered by good results in the current test program although we suspect that since Nissan has been very vocal about its EV plans for 2010 Mitsubishi might want to establish a lead.

Even better than the public availability such news shows how alternatives can be available very soon and is a sign to speculators already buying oil for 2015 futures market: chill down because you could end up loosing money!

EV future: a Mercedes story

So here is an interesting Mercedes and EV-related story. Recently Mercedes decided to bring diesels to the US market. For that purpose the company invested millions in the Bluetec systems to comply with strict emissions regulations. Eventually, while arriving the US market, the diesel fuel prices in the USA miraculously rised well above gasoline... Mercedes was not happy and bitched against Big Oil.

Well everyone bitches against big oil, but Mercedes is a special company, the next time one notices they are sort of announcing that future A-Class, B-Class and Smart models will have electric versions available. That is Mercedes way of answering the tricks that were played in the US fuel market... One day, sooner than later, we consumers will also be able to give appropriate answers to the current energy market domination.

EV future: New Toyota Prius CGI

Looking good as it should. Slightly weird to please the green crowd. More important, the specs: plug-in availability (later); option of roof-mounted solar panels to power AC and other equipment. Check the full details here.

Focus III: the global platform and more

One of the most important features of the next Focus iteration is that it will become a global platform developed taking into account both European and North-American markets. Other than the necessary provision for really big cupholders (a feature that can be easily differentiated between EU and NA versions), different engine ranges (the new Ford turbo gasoline engines will arrive in great timing) one should be worried that some of the great Focus features could be lost due to market constraints. For example, check the doors of any Euro Focus II: these are exquisite pieces with plenty of rubber lines for isolation and even plastic covers in the top framing for better sound isolation and allowing no visible sheetmetal. Americans are just not used to this level of detail, in this particular the Focus is actually class leading in Europe, better than what you can find in a Toyota Auris or VW Golf. Please Ford, keep those nice doors.

Attention to detail must also be found in the 3rd generation Focus interiors. In this particular Ford must be careful in order to avoid some minor mistakes in the Mondeo, notably the inadequate use of fake wood and the too large surfacing of metal-imitating plastic applications. These kind of features tend to look cheap so it will be better to use smaller and more uniform surfaces for metal-like or wood-like appliqués. Other than that the Mondeo is a good inspiration for interior design, as well as the Peugeot 308 or Audi A3. The key theme should be: all black with accents of chrome. And please loose the oval vents, circular or rectangular shaped will be much classier.

The development of a global platform for the Focus class brings some grey areas (will the NA market adopt the car?...; will it change too much for EU tastes?...). However, it can have huge economical advantages namely in the “buying power”, that is, the ability to get better pricing with component manufacturers due to much higher volume levels. Hopefully this could also allow the introduction of higher technological features such as AWD option. Availability of AWD option is a premium factor in some European markets but it could also allow a future RS version with more than 300hp and AWD as it should be… instead of the 280hp FWD(!!!) thing that Ford is about to show us in a few weeks.

More Focus III...

The image below shows a possible interpretation of the rear design of the Ford Focus III. I don't know how much of it is based in real information but let me make this clear right now: it looks fantastic!... better yet, it's fucking great! Perfect! Please notice the evolution of the rear lights keeping the Focus high-mount signature but with a more upscale look. Also have a look at the huge wrap-around bumper, a feature that is now feasible and looks great. If this is the real deal then Ford has a home-run in its hands.

Another thing in the "wishlist" that is visible in the CGI is a "more compact" visual. This means that some of the car proportions, particularly in the rear section are a bit closer to the first generation Focus than the current model that is a bit more elongated with a higher slope in the C-pillar/3rd window area. So please bring more compactness to the car, a feature that favours a more robust perception in the design.

One of the things Ford must be targeting is a more upscale design that can allow high sales volumes with more margin per car. Such objective can be achieved with a more emotional design but also with some clever detailing. Some little touches that can make a difference are a particular headlamp design (wonderfully executed in the current C-Max in xenon versions but also in the rear light cluster with LEDs). But it would also be nice to see in the new Focus the kind of door framing present in the S-Max and Mondeo with a nice glow finish. This type of element was actually present in the Focus I so it's time to bring it back in place of the vulgar plastics of the Focus II.

Ford Focus III

The CGI presented below is recent although it is based on an older CGI from a Greek magazine. The more recent interpretation incorporates design elements from the new Fiesta. We can confirm that some of the elements in the image are real, namely the overall shape and proportions of the car... or maybe we can't but we really want the final version to look like that. The thing is, in this piece of writing some stuff might be real and some will just be our wishes for the new Focus, hoping someone listens...

So starting on the front design please do keep the lower trapezoidal grille. This is a design element very well resolved in recent Euro-Fords and one that establishes a clear and dynamic front identity. If Ford does not change its mind in future car generations with new languages different from current "Kinetic Design" I could see this trapezoidal element to achieve the same importance as the twin kidneys in BMW or Audi's singleframe. Such strong and time-lasting front identity would be important to improve image for the brand.

The reader will notice in the image below that the shoulder line is higher than in the current version. This is a typical element of CGIs and design sketches (just as the huge wheels) but it is one that I would like to see implemented. More metal, less glass... as if it would move to a "5-door coupe" language or if you prefer a bit more Audi-influenced side profile. The reader will also notice the character line running in the sides, this must-have feature in current automobile design is already present in the current Focus II.5 and will be carried on to version III. Actually, inside information has already confirmed that the new car will look a lot like the current Focus restyled but with a more cohesive design. I like those words, "cohesive design", I think it's just what Ford needs for generation III Focus: a more cohesive design, even stronger proportions (a Martin Smith specialty) and a time-lasting surface language. Well, this is so easy to write and ask for these things, it all makes sense but in reality it's very difficult to achieve... however, congratulations to Ford for the restyled European Focus, it really is a strong base to build the 3rd generation.

More on Focus III in the next days, the rear design, the interior wish-list, the "global platform" thing, will it have huge cupholders because of the Americans?...

News on Ford... and on Focus III next week

First things first: next week you will be able to read some stuff about the 3rd generation Ford Focus here at auto-future. Because we have new info?... no, simply because I noticed in our statcounter software some suspicious IP addresses that suggest important people from an important manufacturer read this joint. Oh yes, or maybe we got it totally wrong who knows... but some of that IP information doesn't show only numbers... also cities and even companies... great thing that statcounter software. So I will take this opportunity to write about the Focus III, more precisely on how I think the new car should be!

Other Ford bits are extremely amusing: this week a rumour spread that North-American Ford was about to retool some of its factories from trucks and big SUVs to compact cars. It's not just a rumour, it's true. And those compact cars are no other than the Euro Focus and related family such as the C-Max and Kuga. This reminded us of our April's fool joke when we came up with the "news" that Ford of Europe was declaring independence!... it seems after all that Ford of Europe is taking over global Ford in the development of new products (future Fusion/Mondeo, new global Fiesta) and now bringing some Euro models to America. That Ford badge with the yellow stars is starting to make sense after all...

Peugeot 608

The image below is from AutoExpress but its origins are French magazine AutoPlus. I have information that the image is reliable so be shocked... a reliable AutoExpress CGI! Regarding the new car, it seems Peugeot stoped bothering about the regular version and went straight to the 4-door coupe derivative... frequent readers will remember the love of auto-future for 4-door coupes so yes, this is great news. So the 608 is a 4-door coupe based on the Citroen C6 platform, with pneumatic suspension available as an option and a great range of diesel engines. The most interesting feature about the car is the possibility of a diesel-hybrid version with unbeatable CO2 emissions in that class. French ministers will be travelling in class.

EV future: Details on Mitsubishi offer

I think I should link the interested reader to a EV World article with details about the future of Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Please read it, it's great news and of course, EV World is a great site following EVs for many years now. Also worth noticing recent news that PSA and Mitsubishi will study further cooperation extending to electric vehicles. It seems PSA does not want to loose this new trend, now that executives from VW and Mercedes finally assumed that EVs will play an important rule in the sustainable future of automobile...

EV future: some Nissan numbers

Mitsuhiko Yamashita, Nissan's executive vice president for research and development, said advances in lithium-ion battery technology will dramatically boost the operating range of electric vehicles, potentially broadening their appeal. Some numbers:

- 400km range for the 4th (!!) generation lithium-ion batteries that will be ready by 2015;

- 2nd generation available in 2010 with 170km range, presumably the first EV to be globaly sold by Nissan

- 3rd generation lithium-ion technology (2012) good for 300km;
- mass production of batteries by Nissan and NEC starts in 2009 (13000 units) and could reach 65000 units per year.

I assume the range numbers are for a small city car such as the Mixim concept and 65000 batteries per year doesn´t sound like much but considering the rate that things will be changing this can certainly improve.