Saab 9-3 restyling + AWD

Saab is getting ready a restyled 9-3 that will give the car a similar front design to the 9-5. That has not been a very successfull design although in fact the 9-5 is now a very old model having difficulties to compete with other cars in that class. Interestingly the 9-3 will also introduce the availability of AWD, probably of Haldex-type. We wonder if such new technology would not justify a deeper model change? The restyling does not seem enough to give new life to this model.

A completely new interior design is not expected altough it would be important due to the lacklustre of the current design. The 9-3 achieved a very strange feat: altough being based on a mainstream car platform (the Opel Vectra) and pretending Saab to be a sort of premium brand, it managed to have interior design and quality that is actually worse than on the original Vectra... We never understood this but such strange event might be related with the lack of direction, focus, strategy, etc. of the Saab brand in GM group.

3 Megane III

Pictured below are three CGI of possible interpretations of the Renault Megane III. These were presented by French magazine AutoPlus some weeks ago in an article that stated that the design of the next Megane was not frozen yet and that these were the alternatives on the table. We don’t consider AutoPlus a reliable source so did not bother too much about the article. However, this can be seen as an interesting exercise: how about putting ourselves in the decision-making position, pretend we are Mr. Ghosn when deciding (and BTW, the design of the Megane III is now frozen so this is really just an exercise) and choose the best version from the designer’s proposals. It’s very easy for enthusiasts, when seeing pictures of a new car, to say “this is wrong, they should have done this or that…”. Decision-makers have a much more difficult task because they have to think 3 years in advance and consider how the competitors could look, what are the design and technology trends, they have to think in the future, the auto-future!

The first proposal (the blue one) is highly unlikely. It has the new Renault face (like the other proposals) but the glass in the C-pillar is wrong. In the current and close future of cars in the European compact class the litlle window in the C-pillar doesn’t make much sense. Golf VI, Peugeot 308, next Astra, current Megane… only the Focus has a small one already assumed in its design language. Others like the Mazda 3 have it but these are not big-mainstream so don’t expect the next Megane to have the litlle window.

The second proposal is also wrong. Unfortunately, too good to be true. The design is more caricature than real life and we don’t expect Renault to be that brave. Particularly, the small greenhouse and large metal area in the profile are very un-French. We can see people in consumer clinics bitching about that “pas de lumière… on se sent claustrophobe…”.

The third (the red one) is the closest to the final version. A more mature evolution of the current Megane adequately rounded in the most controverse features of the current model. A more composed design for a more composed car thanks to the new super-platform, already found in the Nissan Qashqai, that beyound multilink rear suspension and possibility of AWD will really stretch French superiority in suspension design and active and passive safety. Classier, safer, more mature… fitter, happier, more productive.

Caricature design

The nice sketch you see below is not of a future VW model but it is indeed one of the official sketches done during the design development of the current Golf Plus. Doesn’t look much like the final design, right? Unfortunately this is a very common event, the initial sketches are fantastic but very exaggerated, almost like caricatures.

This brings us to the idea, what if car manufacturers would be able to bring to life those caricature features of initial sketches? We can remember two cars where that actually was done: the Chrysler 300C and the BMW 1-series. The exaggerated proportions (very high shoulder line for example) and the way these cars look with big wheels are signs of this approximation. Both are great successes, design-wise and also in sales and image. So just maybe this features will be found in more new models… The frequent reader of auto-future might have noticed that sometimes we like to follow or anticipate new or future trends (like our EV-future series), and this time let us trademark caricature design, just in case.

Mercedes C-sportcoupe

The next Mercedes sportcoupe follows a new trend in compact cars: upgrade to a new car without really making a new car. That is, keeping the most part of the platform unchanged and only making new panels and interior. This is rumoured to occur with the next Mercedes compact but also with the Peugeot 308 and VW Golf VI, for example. If one considers the level of sophistication that cars in this class achieved it seems rational to keep development cost low by keeping the most part of the underpinnings unchanged. Other key feature: compact cars have grown up a lot in recent years - there isn't much more margin to keep increasing width and length of cars in this class. This is another point for relaxing on the development of completely new platforms.

So the next Sportcoupé will be just a major restyling of the current model. The platform and underpinnings are kept the same but a new skin will appear with a front design more closer to the new C-class W204. This will keep development costs very low and Mercedes can sell it for less money. But they won’t cuz they are in this business for profit and this will make them earn a lot of money.

2008 Alfa Romeo Junior...

... or maybe Alfasud. How should it look like?... it should look gorgeous and agressive as a true AlfaRomeo. Based on the platform of the Grande Punto it could be the retro-car of Alfa Romeo. However, since all classic Alfas are RWD we think it is difficult to have iconic status in a Grande Punto package,... unless maybe if we consider the first Alfasud a classic!

BMW mid-engine Z10 (Not)

Pictured below is a conceptual drawing of a future (in the words of site topspeed) mid-engine BMW Z10. The news is from some weeks ago and was received here with satisfaction, physically expressed in the form of drooling. The drawing has some McLaren F1 inspiration which is interesting and appropriate considering that the vintage supercar had a BMW V12 engine. Although very happy with the idea we were sceptics about it since no information was available on future BMW mid-engine cars but… there is a new top management at BMW so maybe they had new ideas and our dreams would come true. Since then several inside informers have been contacted in order to try to find some truth in the rumour but … nothing! Three well informed and reliable persons have clearly stated that there will be no mid-engine F430 fighter from BMW. Front-engine super-GT SLR competitor yes! Mid-engine, no!

Such was the disappointment that we asked again but no. Too much investment, no recent experience with mid-engine, not enough possibilities for sharing components with other models, etc. Considering the success of the Audi R8 as an halo model and the future F430-like mid-engine from Mercedes-McLaren we wonder if BMW is doing the right thing. Maybe if fans support the idea and strongly ask for it… The only thing for sure is that the folks at topspeed had a dream of a future supercar from BMW and decided to draw it themselves.

2008 Ford Ka

Small and with a Ford face, that must be a CGI of the new Ka. This small car joins one of the fastest growing segments in Europe fighting the infamous triplets (C1/107/Aygo), the new Twingo and the Fiat 500. The Fiat 500 will be a twin model of the Ka being both based in the same platform in a joint development and manufacturing program of Fiat and Ford. Incidentally, the European market and the small car segment seem to be popular for collaborations between different manufacturers... we have the PSA/Toyota job on the triplets and now the Fiat/Ford partnership for the Ka/500. A future trend for other market segments and manufacturers?... In any case the Ka will have a hard time in the market particularly considering the success of established players like the triplets and the supe-cute and iconic status that the Fiat 500 will have.

2009 Seat Bolero...

... or maybe Toledo, the name is not 100% sure although highly probable. And it makes sense, because the 4-door saloon disappeared from Seat's catalogue being replaced by the pathetic thing that the Toledo currently is. A new name will signal a new car, different from the current Toledo in design and architecture because, surprise... the new Bolero will use the platform of the current Audi A4. This means longitudinal engines and optional torsen AWD. More, not only the platform is used but also the design is highly inspired in the A4 model with only changes in front and rear to respect current Seat design language. Incidentally, the Bolero name was already used in a concept car from 1998 that is a sort of 4-door coupe. Google for it and the reader will notice how beautifull that concept was and wonder with Seat did not build it!

So what about the picture below?... we had to illustrate this with something so don't worry it will look much better than that. The important news bit is that the new car is for real (that means approved by VW group management). It might also mean that VW group still cares about Seat... maybe they won't sell the brand to the Chinese after all. Oh dear, nasty rumour this last one!

Opel Agila

Pictured below are a recent spyshot of a future Opel small car and a CGI. Let’s call it Agila since it’s the name of the equivalent vehicle in current Opel’s lineup. Note that Opel is trying to establish their own fashion in car dressing with the use of black net in the lateral windows… most prototypes use black plastic or tape, sometimes Peugeot-Citroen use a sort of plastic bags to disguise the cars, Toyota uses some ridiculous things that look like cardboard bits and recently Renault started dressing their cars in white. Not sure if black net in the windows is the new black of prototype-disguising fashion but I think the test-driver must feel very sad in that thing.

The new small-Opel is a tall vehicle obviously engineered to maximize space. Other followers of this trend include the Renault Modus, Honda Jazz or Peugeot 1007. None of these cars is a great sales success… actually the most popular small and cheap cars in Europe are the triplets 107/C1/Aygo that are of the small and cute type. The new Twingo is also small and cute as well as the next Ka and Fiat 500 that is small and super-cute. And it makes sense that young people buying their first car search for a cool design instead the practicality of a bigger luggage space. This means that the next Agila will not be a sales success. Probably product planners didn’t research properly or had the necessary vision when they chosen this type of design but I’m sure they have figured out by now that their next small car will not do well. And they must feel sad because of that.

Of course they could have asked Auto-Future for advice and we would give it for a nice chunk of money (because it’s Opel, for most of other brands we would do it for free). But when the design of the car was frozen (probably about one and a half year ago) this joint didn’t exist yet. This blog made its first anniversary in March 6th. Actually I forgot about it and didn’t signal or commemorate the event. I feel a bit sad because of that. So today we have a sad test-driver, some sad product planners and designers and a sad blog writer. Why not having a look at sniffpetrol site for some fun?... but guess what, the bloke that writes in that joint did the February issue and promised the next month issue for March 9th… and until today nothing! I hope he’s ok!

2007 Mazda 6

The next Mazda 6 is very close to public presentation. It will be greatly improved over the current (and important) version. We wonder if Mazda should take more risks with the new car… what was once fresh when the original 6 was launched could now become boring and predictable… specially since so many competitors in this class are taking a very emotional approach in design. Well, that was just a thought, because the next 6 will start from a basis of very happy customers of the current model so probably the more strong design evolution can wait for another generation.

2008 TSX/Euro-Accord

Expect news on the next Euro Accord/Acura TSX very soon, maybe on New York Auto Show. Interestingly it is not sure yet if the European model will be the same as the Acura TSX or the American Accord. The design of the coupe concept of the next American Accord could very well fit European tastes... and the later concept cars from Acura have been very strange... Just hope Honda gets the proportions right this time: the current Euro Accord is too narrow for the common practice in European cars which hurts its road presence.

2009 BMW 4dr. coupe

A very nice interpretation has surfaced on the future CLS from BMW. Noticed how these 4-door coupes look so good?... it seems designers just can't ruin this type of car. The future BMW will use the platform of the next 5-series so it might arrive later than 2009. It just seems the CLS caught everyone off-guard, even BMW.

The road to EV future: battery manufacturers make it to mainstream press

The keywords here are mainstream press. But going back a while, when did auto-future realized the great prospects for electric vehicles. I guess it was when rumours of a future Toyota Prius with Li-ion batteries surfaced. And when were we sure about it? Just a few days ago when Toyota’s boss confirmed the new battery pack for the next Prius. This is the main reason for this EV week: now we know for sure that EVs are for real and will arrive sooner than later.

Of course, now the mainstream press is giving attention to the subject so we were happy to find an article on The New York Times about A123Systems, one of the key battery manufacturers for the next EV revolution. They are now an important company because they signed a contract with GM for the development of automotive batteries and also, in a business full of illusionary claims, because their battery chemistry delivers their promises and is already being used (and abused) in electric tools (Black and Decker/Walt). Now we just need to wait for manufacturers to ride that “robustness improvement” curve and we will have real-life EVs available (and plug in hybrids) to dramatically change future transportation.

The road to EV future: Mitsubishi i MiEV prototypes

Mitsubishi and Subaru seem to have engaged in a race to deliver the first real-car-series-production-EV. A few days after Subaru showing the R1e in Geneve, Mitsubishi announced the delivery of prototypes to electric companies in Japan. In this case Mitsubishi also commited to sell a production version in 2010 for about 17000 US dollars, a rather interesting price. Well, the race is on, and now that we are sure the EV future is going to happen we anxiously wait for other competitors.

The road to EV future: the big picture of battery development

The graphics below represent the best form of visualization of why we are hearing so much about Li-ion batteries; development of plug-in technology; series hybrids and electric cars. And why we give so much attention to these issues here at auto-future. Because we will the technology available for all those developments in a close future: we will have Li-ion batteries available with adequate power density at affordable cost. Arguably we might have it today but in reality we have two curves to ride. One of cost reduction that is closely linked to the graphics below. The other is concerned with the increase of robustness of the technology and this is where more effort is being spent and why we will have to wait for the beginning of the next decade for the real growth of EV offers. Meanwhile please take note of the following: Toyota just confirmed that the next Prius (expected for 2008) will have a Li-ion battery pack. This means a simple thing for the future of automobile: electric cars… series hybrids… Li-ion technology?...It will happen!

The road to EV future: Subaru R1e

We were delighted to see the Subaru R1e in the list of novelties for Geneve auto show. Unfortunately Subaru was only displaying the car and hinting at a possible future commercialization. So nothing solid and official yet. This (or other small Subaru) are one of the best bets for a future large scale production of a proper electric car. Subaru says it’s testing a fleet of Li-ion R1e with Japan’s electric company.

There was some disappointment regarding the EV field on this year’s Geneve show. Not many new hybrid models or concepts and the biggest novelty, the Toyota Hybrid-X, is not only very ugly but also Toyota did not give many details about technical details. The only thing we know for sure is that Li-ion batteries are in the program for a 2008-2009 model and that the next Prius will be able to run for about 9 mile on electric-only mode. Nothing was confirmed about it having plug-in ability.

2007 Audi A4

The new Audi A4 is expected at Frankfurt for immediate commercialization in Europe. Pictured below are a couple of recent CGIs, the left one from Autozeitung and the other from Auto Motor und Sport. Mind you, the one on the right is more reliable.

Much has been said about this new car, the main reason for this contribution is related to the technique and platform. The new Audi A5 confirms some of the rumoured improvements in the new platform (common to both the A5 and next A4) that were referred in previous Auto-Future reports (here and here). The reader can go back to those references but simply stated that means: smaller front overhang and more power to the rear-wheels: good. Bigger front overhang and FWD: bad. The new Audi A5 confirms the improvements and these mean good news for Audi customers. In the drawings below one can compare the new A5 vs the current A4. Although not as good as the current luxury references from BMW and Mercedes (the new C-class has a front overhang of only 765mmm), the next A4 should be a major improvement over the current car.

Peugeot 308 as seen by some crappy mobile phone

We love our cultural differences in Europe. Noticed how we never get this kind of scoops from German manufacturers?... because Germans don’t let folks walk around in their factories with mobile phones. But in the case of Skoda, manufactured in Tchek republic, we had a few weeks ago a major scoop with photos of a new car being published. And the PSA factory in Spain has been a major source of scoops, again with folks photographing and even getting videos with mobile phones of the Picasso. And what about Italians? Well the new Bravo had so many events of this kind that Fiat gave up and stopped bothering about hiding the car. The official presentation of the Bravo was a simple pro-forma since everyone knew how the car would look like.

Unfortunately people are still using crap mobile phones for this so the images you see below don’t do justice to the car design. It will look much better in catalogue photos (well, of course!) and believe me, it will look much much better in the streets!

BMW M3

Humm... not much left to hide! What do we have here?... a F1-inspired rear extractor born in the wind tunnel or some freakish thing?

Peugeot 308

“Wow what’s this, is Auto-Future trying to fool us with a picture of the 207?” Well, it certainly looks like that although the reader is really seeing one of the latest computer generated images of the highly expected Peugeot 308. The image is based on some 207 picture but it is also, according to inside information, the most similar to the real thing. Hummm… does Peugeot really hires designers or they only have a couple of blokes redesigning the same car over and over and just changing the size?

Anyway, the truth is that the 308 will look like the 207 only a bit fatter. And, again according to people that have seen it, it will really look like a current Peugeot 307 with 5 people and some luggage… this meaning that it will be a modernized version of the current car with the height reduced for a bit more sporty feel.

2009 Opel Astra

Autozeitung magazine presented an article on the future Opel Astra and VW Golf VI, actually, they also call it Golf "five and a half" just like Auto-Future. Anyway, we found the Astra photoshop very atractive although one needs to have in mind that Autozeitung's CGIs are usually very nice but not very reliable.

Also of interest is the information that the 5-door version of the next Astra will be a notchback instead of a hatchback. So a 2-1/2 volume car like the previous Astra H. This is interesting considering that every car in this class is now a hatchback with a thick C-pillar. Could this be a way of Opel to express their leadership in this class? (Yes, the Astra sells more than the Golf in Europe). The article also refers a multilink suspension in the rear (about time!) and that it will be a world car with the platform spreading for models in different continents. So another step in the trend for global platforms as explained in a previous article at Auto-Future.

Mercedes GLK

We, EU folks, are known for being generally environmental conscious. That is, we embraced diesels long ago, we don’t drive big cars, we like fuel efficiency and even our politics seem to care (just check the latest proposals for emissions reduction in Europe). So why oh why so many new SUVs from European manufacturers? Well, one thing is that some of these small SUVs are meant for the NA market where crossovers and smaller SUVs are gaining momentum. But we also like our not-very-off-road-capable-but-very-nice-looking-tall-machines… only we do it smaller and more eco-friendly. So we have the BMW X3 (and possibly a future X1), the next Focus SUV, a future small Renault SUV, the VW Tiguan and also the Mercedes GLK.

A new impression of the small Mercedes SUV has surfaced. It shows a really boxy design that I think fits well with this type of car. It looks a bit like a smaller GL. I always imagined that the perfect design for the Land-Rover LR2 would be just a scaled down version of the big Range Rover. It didn’t quite turned out like that although it still is a good design. The GLK has that scaled down feel of a much more expensive car. Not that the GLK will be cheap…

The road to EV future: Toyota Hybrid X

In the next month at Geneve car show Toyota will present a hybrid concept that "proposes a new design language for hybrid models and will act as a technology showcase for future hybrid cars". Well if Toyota says so it will be an interesting concept to follow, can we expect a preview of the next Prius design, the display of plug-in technology or even a series hybrid concept?

Other than that we can also take other things for sure. Namely that every next motor show will present new concepts of hybrids and electric cars. Volvo will present a series hybrid C30 concept also in Geneve and we can expect for other manufacturers to follow. Particularly interesting will be the Tokyo show at the end of the year where I'm sure several interesting novelties will be shown and maybe even real production cars either fully electric or predominantly electric hybrids.

Future vehicle platforms

CSM worldwide has used a crystal ball to predict the top 10 vehicle platforms in 2012. We think this is a bold move considering how far we are from 2012 but hey, it’s the future and that word is in the title of this joint.

Today the VW group is well established as the king of platform sharing. The PQ35 (that’s the current Golf underpinnings) is a fine example of optimization of resources and cost cutting. Just marvel at how a humble Seat Leon is transformed in a posh compact like the Audi A3 while sharing everything except exterior panels and some tactile-pleasing plastics. Accountants at VW-group love it, people-that-can’t-quite-afford-a-1-series-or-a-Merc-sportcoupe love it, and we love it too: those nice metal-polished door handles and chromed air vents… brilliant engineering!

But, for the 2012 prediction CSM says the Toyota Camry platform will be established as a real world car, spreading through more than 20 vehicles including bi-fuel, gasoline, diesel, hybrids and possible hybrid plug-ins (according to CSM the next Prius will also be based on the Camry platform). Also note as in 2012 the Ford C1 platform designation changes from “Euro Focus” to “Global Focus”. That means more Euro-Fords for America.

Ford Focus III

The current Focus is a great product. The only thing Ford needs to improve is the design and add an extra layer of desirability. The photoshop presented below follows that theme and is clearly inspired in the new Mondeo's design. Make it look like this and add some flair in the interiors and the Focus III will be an even greater success than the current model.

2007 Hyundai Arnejs/FD

Let’s start this entry with the related cousin, or actually, brother of the Hyundai: the Kia Cee’d. The Kia has been tested by European magazines and is getting some good reviews. It rides and feels like an European car: ride quality (multilink suspension), interior quality, space, mechanical credentials (7 year warranty) and a small diesel, everything one might expect from a native European car. We wonder how it will do in the market because with all those qualities it still has a rather generic and bland design… and we Europeans are a difficult crowd to please.

This gets us to the Arnejs. Not sure if Hyundai will use such a stupid name but they kept Cee’d for the Kia so it seems they want to build a tradition of stupid names. The Hyundai is expected to have all the features of the Kia plus the extra pluses that might make it more appealing. A bit more style in the design, a bit more attention to detail in the interiors, improved sound proofing materials and overall refinement. The extra layer that can justify a higher price than the Kia and that might just be the ticket for success in Europe. The design is the biggest question here but we will only have to wait a few weeks to meet the production car.

2007 Peugeot 308... and future hybrid HDI

The next Peugeot 308 is ready for a market introduction in September at Frankfurt Auto-show beginning comercialization shortly after. Until then the car undergoes the latest tests in typical PSA black plastic bags dressing... But the pre-series are already being assembled and shown to people that... are telling us what they saw: Expect a great design, an evolution of the 307 but more sportier. And surprise... the diesel hybrid is for real, the new car was designed having that version previewed from the beginning. But it will arrive later than 2008...

2007 BMW M3

AKA “The Daddy” But… what’s up with those mirrors? Just reminded me of the cool mirrors of the E36 M3 version, although these ones look a bit strange… hopefully they will look alright in the flesh. Probably BMW will say that the mirrors were designed with the help of the supercomputer that they are using for the aerodynamic development of the F1 car, and they will probably mention that these were also tested in the wind tunnel where the F1 car is tested... and you know what?... it's probably true.

This car is making people wait patiently. Folks that are looking for a sports coupe (or sedan) are keeping it as cool as possible while waiting for the real thing. Judging by the amount of camouflage it seems the presentation is near. The prospect of revving the V8 engine of this thing past the 8000rpm while still the commercialization is months away is a modern way of torture. Please BMW, hurry up. Oh, why bother, they never do, they always test their cars for ages.

2007 Audi A5

The relentless pursuit of profit in auto companies has many forms. One is to sell a derivative of an existing car at a higher price. Examples: the 3-series coupe vs 3-series sedan; 407 coupe vs regular 407; Mercedes CLK vs C-class. Frequently the derivative versions has a distinct design (see the different front end and rear design of the BMW sedan and coupe) and even a different name for the model (see the CLK vs common C-class). BMW gambled with the prospect of changing the 3-series coupe for 4-series but they give up because the M3 badge is such a strong one and the 3-series designation highly iconic.

The new Audi A5 follows that trend: it is based on the Audi A4 (current version or next platform??) but it gets a different design and different name. And all for a bit more upscale perception and presumably higher selling price. It will be presented very shortly but until then we are curious about how it will look in the streets. Because, although the design is highly related to the Nuvolari concept, master Walter de Silva gave it a more latin touch in the design of the side profile that doesn’t look so teutonic as in current Audis. So a new orientation for Audi?... we will soon see how it turns out.

Chevrolet Volt: the ifs, buts and maybes

The uncertainties...
Some unanswered questions like: what if I travel at 160kph and discharge the batteries until 10%, can the ICE generate sufficient power to charge them with the energy rate I need? How should the discharge cycles be handled? How many full cycles will Li-ion batteries allow in the near future? How will car manufacturers adjust to a series hybrid shift… even if the mechanical simplicity and the fact that the ICE is kept should make them more friendly than if considering a pure electric vehicle? How will Big Oil react to this? What if a higher demand for Li-ion batteries triggers an increase in prices of its raw materials used for manufacturing. Do series hybrids present a challenge for the electrical grid? Is Big Oil going to buy electric companies?

But the biggest question remains? Can we really achieve the necessary robustness in future batteries? Make them last 10 years and be charged/discharged for more than 200 thousand kilometers and without safety/reliability issues? The next 3 to 4 years should give the answer to that.

Batteries are the weak link...

Chevrolet Volt: architecture and technique

Architecture and technique

Starting with a quick look at the design. In the side profile just check how the front overhang is small. This is usually an attribute of luxury longitudinal engine RWD cars. And yet the Volt is a FWD car… however, the E-flex platform allows evolutionary changes in the architecture like this one. The electric engine is placed very low and the small ICE engine is placed behind it, in front of the firewall. This arrangement makes for a lot of free space in the front for radiators (also very small because of the size of the ICE) and in the end you can make the car with very short front overhang. Other benefits of the current E-flex architecture include more space for crash absorbing structures and an easier implementation of pedestrian safety measures because there are much less hard points under the hood.

More good stuff in this architecture: having the ICE placed behind the front wheels and all those batteries sitting low in the center of the vehicle make for outstanding weight distribution, very low center of gravity and a bigger wheelbase for the same vehicle length. This means making an humble FWD with most (if not better) attributes of a RWD car, something impossible in the current paradigm of vehicle architecture.

Another significant note: the ICE is decoupled from the electric engine. Imagine what one can do with that: ICE in the front and electric in the rear wheels, two electric engines for AWD and the ICE in front, ICE and electric together but in the middle for a mid-engine roadster, 2 electrics+ICE and batteries under the platform for a SUV… And when the in-wheel electric engine reaches maturity one can have a truly revolutionary architecture change.

Finally a quick look at the underpinnings. There’s a wonderful real-car feel to it. You don’s see exotic materials (these were used but in the body of the concept), you see stampings, sheetmetal and familiar parts (the rear suspension looks like the one in the Opel Astra). The overall message is: “this is for real, this is meant to go for production…”

The Chevrolet Volt: our Concept Car of the Year 2007

This week Auto-Future is exclusively dedicated to the Chevrolet Volt: our Concept Car of the Year 2007. No need to wait for other concepts for the rest of the year: we made our choice!

Concept and design

How would the reader imagine a new concept car showing a green technology? Perhaps something like a Prius but more exotic. Probably a car with refined aerodynamics (and thus, a compromised design), skinny tyres; a cute look… Now look again to the Chevrolet Volt… what a macho car! The high shoulder line, the strong face, the character lines and the definitive sports car features: the short front overhangs, big tyres and powerful stance. This is the main statement of GM with the Volt: this car is a no compromises green vehicle. The series hybrid technology will allow drivers in the future to greatly reduce their environmental impact while keeping the comfort, features, safety and driving pleasure of today’s cars. Moreover, series hybrids are a key technology to keep the liberty of choice: you will not have to drive something like a Prius, you can have something similar to the E-flex platform on a car like the Chrysler 300C or a SUV seating up to 7 persons.

But still, if the Volt is for real, it will change habits: it will force companies to put charging stations in parking lots, and in the 3-5 years that it will take for something similar to arrive in the market the photovoltaic industry will have evolved to a higher level. We will discuss that in Auto-Future in a couple of months…

Stars and flops of Detroit 2007

The year is beginning very busy: while the Detroit show is fresh we are already receiving press releases on new cars and concepts for Geneve. So let’s quickly finish the Detroit issue.

Star of the show, concept car of the show and Auto-Future’s Concept Car of the Year 2007: Chevrolet Volt
Auto-Future’s love affair with the Volt will fully develop next week. It’s all Volt all week with analysis and details on the concept that is amazing the world.

The other star concept: Jaguar C-XF
The cool thing of this concept is that the real world version will not be very different, at least judging from the first available spy shots. This is the design that Jaguar needs and another spin-off of Auto-Future’s darling: the 4-door coupe, a type of car whose growth we predicted and discussed before.

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The flop of the show: Lexus IS F
What a pathetic joke! What was the Lexus philosophy in design?... ah, L-finesse or something like that. The IS F is the complete opposite, a tacky design without any sort of class or finesse. We could even try to warm the rear exhausts but the side skirts of this thing would still ruin the design.

2007 Mercedes C-class

We should see the first official pictures in the next days but for now here is a picture of the bodyshell. The W204 is a very important car. It will be the new reference of this segment. People that can afford it have nothing more to bother choosing, unless they prefer a sportier drive: then the choice is the BMW 3-series. For those that can't pay there are plenty of alternatives but for now the top spot in this class of cars is known: The new W204 and the E90 are the undisputed leaders.

The road to EV future: Chevrolet Volt video

Guess what: Auto-Future is awarding the Chevrolet Volt as Concept Car of the Year 2007. Shouldn't we do this only at the end of the year considering so many new models and concepts will be presented? Well, check the title of this joint again: Auto-Future. We just know this is the most important concept of the year.

For further joy check this video presented by Motorauthority on the Volt. It shows the car charging, moving, interviews with different folks from the design team and even the instrumentation.

2008 VW Golf VI

There is a new article from German magazine AutoBild with lots of juice on the next Golf VI. The pictures present what looks like a major restyling of the current model. That's because the generation VI will indeed be only a heavily restyled Golf V, with emphasis on cost-cutting changes. A prediction of a new 1.6TDI brings novelty in the engine range this being , of course, a common-rail diesel.

Other than some politics the article presents explanations for the unusual short cycle life of the current model and why the new one will keep so much stuff from current one. Some of the explanations presented by AutoBild are incorrect: the Golf V is not not expensive and for sure it is not premium, at least in Europe. It certainly is more premium than a Kia but, unlike what happened with generation IV, it is now very far from the exclusive BMW 1-series/Mercedes sportcoupe league. We are not sure if a major restyling will be enough to revive the VW Golf. The game has moved on, maybe it's time for a new start?... For sure, the current Golf V will have a place in history but for the worst reasons: This is the Golf that failed!

The road to EV future: Chevrolet Volt

Oh what a pity, it’s still only a concept. Auto-Future already mentioned this vehicle in a previous series-hybrid post. The concept car was finally presented in all its glory. It’s a series hybrid: fundamentally an electric car where the ICE only works as generator to charge the batteries when needed. Please Toyota, build it! LOL, just being mean!

Other than the great internals and technology, the Chevrolet Volt is also a great-looking car! It as a sort of 5-door coupe style with a high shoulder-line. We love high shoulder lines. What is lacking for this thing to be built? Only the robustness of the Li-ion batteries and a reduction of their price. Hopefully, these issues should be solved in the beginning of the next decade. Until then the countdown continues, we are on the road to EV future.

2007 Citroen streetlounge

... or whatever other name they will come up with. The car pictured below fits in a sub-segment that is widespreading, although cars in this class are generally not very successfull. We are talking of variants of Puntos/Corsas/Clios etc. that have monospace features in design and space. Cars like the Renault Modus; Fiat Idea; Skoda Roomster; Opel Meriva are based on smaller car platforms but are made with a higher roofline and seating position in order to increase space. This is generally well accomplished but unfortunately all of these cars look like crap, hence the lack of sales success.

It seems that the poor thing pictured below will follow the same path: more space and more uglyness. We could not care less about such things but actually the great success of the Ford S-max and C-max models exposed a savoir-faire of Ford in making great-looking monospace cars. We wonder if the future Ford B-max will have an improved design compared to other brand's approaches. For now this Citroen thing is just another forgetable also ran.

Ford Interceptor concept

The new Ford Interceptor concept is making a lot of people happy. More precisely, it's making a lot of people dream because such thing will probably never be built. But maybe if enthusiats show enough appreciation... Auto-Future is doing just that and showing the best part of the car: the short front overhang. It's not just pretty, it means that underneath the car there's a longitudinal engine RWD platform.

However, rumours state that the Interceptor uses the Mustang platform, and these rumours go along others that prospect a future 4-door version of the classic muscle car. Although we thing RWD is a great thing for a medium or large sedan, fact is the Mustang platform is too simple for this kind of car. A new platform shared with Australia's next Falcon would be more appropriate.