2011 Chevrolet Volt

Finally it's here. It looks great. Our concept car of the year 2007 will arrive in 2010, hopefully. The picture below shows a really nice design, clearly individual to reflect a new powertrain paradigm but still different from the Priusinsights.

I really hope that this is for real, it must be or else GM wouldn't make this the most important presentation of the Centennial party. Anyway, if this is not for real, other cars from Nissan, toyota or BMW will be. The EV future starts in the next decade.

This car is also a giant middle finger to some folks around globe. Right Mr. Chavez?

2009 Opel Astra

Opel is on our radar! We don't usually follow Opel future cars a lot because we don't care about the brand. But lately Opel presented some cool stuff: mainly the new Insignia that is a great effort. Very good design, wonderfull station version and availability of 4WD are strong points of the Insignia. So maybe we should care more about Opel.

The new Astra could be an interesting vehicle, it seems to get some cool headlights with leds and the design in the CGI below looks ok. The car needs to have more road presence than the current version, particularly it needs to look wider than the Focus or the Golf. We are interested! Of course, we can quickly loose interest if the new car doesn't have a multilink in the rear...

Mini crossover: a future mega hit

Sometimes is fun to make predictions. Will a new car be a hit or a flop? We could bet on that... Sometimes it's easy, the new Renault Laguna is a flop and just looking at the front of the car we can see why, but the new Citroen C5 doesn't help Renault either...

The new Mini crossover, small-SAV or SUV or whatever, looks like a safe bet. Of course, it's easy to forecast succes since it's a Mini, but remember the new Clubman sort of van thing is not doing really well.

The key feature for this new Mini-SUV is the proportions, there is something about the Infiniti FX there that screams mega-hit. On top of that this could be a proper practical car with some luggage space. Maybe BMW can even achieve sub-120g/km in the 1.6 diesel version. Looking beyond the concept-car detailing this is a great car in the making.

EV Future: another Prius CGI

This one doesn't look really good, as many recent Toyotas. Just check how boring the new Avensis design is. But the next Volt doesn't look very special either. However, it doesn't matter, the real joy in the new Prius is when it arrives plug-in enabled ant what is the range in full electric mode.

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.

Peugeot 3008

The Peugeot 3008, a couple of pics. A new car in the competitive compact monospace segment, as such, a late arrival in the Scenic/Picasso/C-Max party. I wonder why Peugeot took so long... The new car might also spin-off a small off-roader version although in that segment Peugeot would be so late that might as well not bother at all. From the pictures there are several Peugeot clues: the black plastic bags camouflage and the lack of rubber in the doors! But the images also show a sporty appearance with a smalish greenhouse than the usual in this kind of vehicles.

Ford Fusion

The European Fusion, that is. Based on the new global Fiesta, so this one might also turn out as a global car and end up in the USA and other markets. Anyway it won't probably look like the CGI below, although the idea of a small-SUV with emissions under 120g/km would be nice. Ford could use as inspiration the Suzuki SX4, a well resolved small-SUV. And put some Euro-Fordness in the handling, great diesels and refinement of the car.

EV future: Nissan Cube

The image below shows a glimpse of the production version of the Nissan Cube, a car that Nissan has promised to be one of the first real-life series-production Electric Vehicles. Momentum is certainly building as Nissan establishes a joint-venture with NEC to manufacture Li-ion batteries for the car. Those batteries had their last appearance in a forklift concept vehicle. Between today and 2012 the keyword for Nissan and other manufacturers that are promising EVs is "to deliver".

BMW F3/V3 (NOT!)

According to Motor "Authority" and Worldcarfans the image below shows the next BMW V3/F3 lifestyle 3 series version. Or if you prefer, another niche-filling super-profit generating thing from BMW. I know that in reality the car is actually a E91 touring mule performing cooling testing for the new X1 small SUV. This is what I know, the interested reader can believe it or not, after all they are the "authority". Maybe I should rename this blog to Auto-future-authority. Maybe I will do that when restyling the blog, it has the same design for about two years, the orange header and everything... but probably will not restyle the blog anyway cuz I'm like super-lazy.

The F3/V3 will arrive later in the program, so no mules for now. First we will meet the next X3 and X4 and X1, just to mention niche vehicles related to the 3-series platform. I'm much too bored about these BMW vehicles and all the market niches they find. I care much more about their future EV offer under the 4th brand (named iSetta or some othe cool name they find).

EV Future: iMiEV hill-climbing test run

Mitsubishi is showing lots of videos of the i-EV. They are really showing commitment. And they really need to make it happen and make it right. We all need!

BMW 5er

The image below shows a great-looking photoshop of the next 5-series, in this case, the M5 version. I can't add much more information than on a previous post so here it is, just an updated image.

A warning to frequent readers: this joint will not be updated during the rest of the week. Probably you wouldn't notice anyway... in any case, during the next week or so, I am Niko Bellic.

Toyota iQ features video (our Car of The Year 2008)

A great video showing technical features of the Toyota iQ. You can see why it is a great car and brings real innovation and quality to this segment. I just don't like the final motto: "The ultimate refined urban mode of transportation". How much is this thing going to cost, more than a Yaris?

Ferrari Dino

A gorgeous looking CGI. The "new Dino" is not very close to the original, for example, it will have a V8 instead of the V6 of the original. But then, with anything less than a V8 the new car would not be a proper Ferrari, right?... just like the original Dino... For now this new car will be a great opportunity to further share costs and components with Maserati and thus increase profits.

Peugeot 408: design frozen

Still about two years for the official presentation of the next mid-size Peugeot but we have credible information that the design is frozen and can be adequately previewed in the image below. First mules are running under Citroen C5 sheetmetal but anyway the car will share a lot with its chevron brother. Hopefully Peugeot will make the design more mature and less cartoonish than the current car ensuring long-term profitability.

EV future: Brammo Enertia motorcycle

As expected, electric drives should become afailable first in lighter motorcycles before cars. The Vectrix scooter is on sale and the Brammo Enertia is almost ready for the public. This is a great video from Autobloggreen on the Enertia motorcycle.

Citroen C4 II

What if Citroen came up with a new kind of market research? What if the manufacturer made public a mock up of a design proposal of next generation C4 in order to check public reaction? If, and I mean, only if it would be like that, I would for sure approve the version presented in the picture below... but I'm not sure if it is to everybody's taste. Anyway, figure this: the final design of the C4 is not yet frozen.

The image below, but particularly the new Citroen C5, follow a trend that I believe suits Citroen and other French brands well: to use unmistakable German proportions for the general design but keeping some French weirdness in a couple of details. Like the C5: it does look very German but then it has the weird concave rear window and the different wheel steering with all the buttons. Remember: German proportions, French detailing. A bit like the politics of some left-wing governments in Europe: they basically act like a right-wing government but then have a few left-wing actions as an adornment. It works!

EV Future: Mitsubishi iMIEV

Mitsubishi is showing more and more information about this car. Will this be the first real-life widely available EV?

Audi Q5, almost for real

It seems some magazines already have official images of the new small SUV from Audi and found a way of dealing with the embargo by presenting photoshop images that are clearly based on the real thing. The new Audi Q5 will be super cool and good looking plus featuring practicality and some off-road manners. This image is from CAR magazine. This car would be a sure hit but now I'm not so sure because in several European countries new car tax systems are favouring lower-emission cars and sales of SUVs are decreasing. But still, this car will look really nice so maybe...

Toyota's next Supra?

What do you think? Not bad, but there is not many information about it. Japanese manufacturers have a bad habit of forgeting about developing their iconic models. Like the NSX that Honda left untouched for ages and now is taking too much time to develop a new model. Or the Skyline that Nissan took a lot of time to develop into a new model that is the current GT-R. But a f#cking amazing car it is now! Will the next Supra be as good? Don't think so, but then we already miss a new Supra, right? Bring it on, in preference as RWD and with a V6 turbo! And for all Japanese brands out there: think 911. When you have an iconic hit you stick to the design and main architecture and continuously develop it in successive models. This is a sure profit-recipy.

Audi A6

Pictured below is a nice CGI showing a possible interpretation of the next Audi A6. The new car is related to the A4 model because Audi is using a new Modular Longitudinal Platform for the two cars. This means the next A6 will have a shorter front overhang and improved weight distribution. The rear lights in the illustration are clearly based on the available information on the Q5. Not sure if it will turn out like that but they do look very good.

Breaking News: Ford of Europe declares independence!

In an unexpected development we got to the knowledge that last night the European branch of Ford declared independence. According to our sources the situation was triggered during a transatlantic videoconference meeting between the European and American top bosses to discuss the implementation of the new Fiesta as a global vehicle. Things started on a wrong note when the American crew asked for “more and bigger cupholders”, but reportedly it was when they requested “a bigger grille with more chrome” that an angry German-accent voice was heard: “zwe are tired of your inability, zwe are the ones that make profit, zwe don´t need you, zwe are now independent and zwe vill prevail!..”. The Americans were quick to react and threaten to sue, pursue and generally kick butts everywhere but at that point the Germans were pumping Euro dance music through the videoconference speakers… several Americans simply collapsed with the atrocious sounds.

The declaration of independence by Ford of Europe was unexpected unless one analyses it under the light of the recent events in Kosovo. We are not sure about the outcome of this new geometry and its effects in the auto-industry. But the shockwaves are spreading and making effects: a top VW manager has reportedly said “ah it would be so nice if now Seat declared independence from us, that would be really sweet!”

Edit: this story was published on 1st April of 2008 and yes, it's a fake. April fools can also be a way for one to express his/her wishes!

EV future: BMW's i-mobility solution

This is just a quick update on the issue of BMW's future "4th brand", "new iSetta" or whatever it turns out to be. The CGI below is not new and its origins are Auto-Bild. I'm showing it now because I got a sort of confirmation of its credibility both in design direction, packaging (rear-engine layout) and electric drive. By confirmation it means... you know what!... Obviously BMW wants to be the luxury choice in every segment and since we will have a new EV-urban-small-car segment BMW will say "present". And of course, establish another money-printing operation.

Future trends: Eco discounts

The European market is starting to present a new trend: to associate discounts to eco-value. This results from the manufacturers that are becoming interested in a "green" branding of their products (just notice the econetic, bluemotion, eco2... labels). But also because in several European countries the taxes applied to cars are now based on CO2 emissions wich favours lower pricing of more environmentally friendly vehicles. This trend is now starting in France, Spain and also in the UK due to the famous London congestion charge.

The example below is from a VW discount campaign in France. Being the king of mainstream discounts and regular promotions VW was very quick to adopt the new marketing strategies (and you can bet that the presented 3500€ discount can be further extended with adequate negotiation with the sales representative). Other brands are presenting similar campaigns that join together market-appealing promotions and image-boosting "eco" branding.

Renault Mégane III: coupe

The picture below is a reliable preview on how the next coupe iteration of the Megane family will look like. The image is actually older than the recent coupe-concept presented in Geneve by Renault but it already had shown some of the design lines of the concept, which point to its credibility. The new Megane III should be a very good machine building on a new platform (common with the Nissan Qashqai) with superb stiffness and passive safety as well as a new multilink suspension that will make the Peugeot 308 look like a jurassic machine from the torsion-beam era. Will the design of the new Megane work? It has to sell in order to overcome the cold reception of the new Laguna...

Auto-Future's Car of the Year 2008: Toyota IQ and also... the Star of Geneve Auto-Show

Yes, it's becoming a tradition: we don't expect until the end of the year to announce the most significant car of the year. Cuz we know the future. Yehaa baby, the future of automobile! So the Toyota IQ below is Auto-Future's Car of the Year. Because it's a very important car, an example of great downsizing, done with style, quality and several technical advances. For example, Toyota developed a new differential in order to achieve very small front overhangs in a FWD car. And worked on the packaging of the AC systems to make better use of space. In total, six innovations that made possible such a small car with a 3+1 seating configuration. But even better, it looks super cool, kind of an iPod of cars. Unlike the Smart that looks like a plastic toy car. Because it really is a kind of plastic toy car, unlike the IQ that promises a 5 star rating in EuroNCAP crash tests... I hope they deliver. On sale after the summer, the Toyota IQ is our car of the year!

And the star of Geneve Auto-Show is...

Actually, although being unveiled in Geneve the IQ was not the star of the show. In reality, the most talked about car in Geneve was available only for a few Very but really Very Important Persons to see. BMW was showing in a reserved VVIP area the new 7-series... and the reactions from people that saw the thing were great! There will be a new language at BMW, Bangle 2.0 is for real and will be spectacular!

Peugeot 408

A popular sight here at auto-future: the Peugeot 408. The CGI below is not a step in the right direction. Because the next Peugeot 408 needs to build on an emotional design but at the same time keeping timeless features that ensure a longer market-life and more profit in the long-term. Some of the latest Peugeot designs have been too cartoonish... but a company that can design the new Citroen C5 can certainly find a good path for Peugeot.

EV future: Project Better Place

One has to wonder why Israel was the first country to get involved with Project Better Place. In Project Better Place proposal electric cars will be able to travel throughout a network of charging spots and battery exchange stations, with easy access to electricity. A partnerships with car manufacturers and battery suppliers could also create huge benefits for a network subscribers, including lower car prices and batteries that cost far less than conventional fuel. Why the interest of Israel? Do they know something we don't? Well, these folks usually are well informed through their Mossad antenas but the truth is peak oil is not a secret anymore and we need to prepare ourselves for a change in our way of life. A network of charging stations and battery exchange stations to increase the range of electric cars could be a future viable proposition.

EV Future: Fifth Gear tests the Smart ED

An entertaining review. Do notice that the electric Smart is based on the previous generation model, unlike the petrol that is the current generation. This could explain the handling results.

EV future: Nissan Cube EV

Nissan will be showing at the next New York Auto Show a concept previewing an electric version of their Cube model. According to Nissan, the car will be on sale in the United States in 2010 (but limited to fleet sales) and for general public in 2012. Not a big fan of the design but at this point I wouldn´t mind a public selling real-life EV, even if it looked like a Seat.

EV future: New Th!nk concept Ox

This one looks like a real car unlike their production model Th!nk city. Th!ink is building momentum with new contracts with GE and battery manufacturer A123. Hopefully this will translate to a future production version of the Ox concept. Do check Th!nk site for more detais on the concept.

Auto-future revisited: Infiniti in Europe

The ongoing Geneve Auto-Show marks the announcement of Infiniti's arrival in Europe. To celebrate this fact I would like to revisit a previous post, from June 2006, on this great arrival. You can check the post here.

After reading the whole thing (actually, it was a sum-up of several previous thoughts) the reader can now hopefully understand the significance of this arrival better. And understand the importance of getting news about the future of automobile here, in Auto-Future blog. And also remember on how I used to write a lot back then, not just the one or two paragraphs per post as in the latest months.

However, there is still one thing that will keep Infiniti a rare sight in european roads. No diesels! Infiniti needs a good diesel offer to succeed here. And please, Renault, don't be afraid to use 4-cylinder diesels like the excellent DCI 175hp. It would suit the beautifull kind-of-SUV-thing below just perfect.

EV future: Audi A1

A recent report from German Auto-Motor und Sport indicated that the next Audi A1 will have available a plug-in electric version. These are great news considering that probably Audi will not be a pioneer in the area so others will have such technology even before. 2010 is now expected to be a great year for our EV future. The article also has other news bits on future Audis but it's all more of the same the EV related part is the most interesting of all.

Seat Ibiza

Some documents surfaced showing details of the new Seat Ibiza. The Ibiza is Seat's iteration of the B-class VW-Audi platform. The latest iteration is the Skoda Fabia, now in a few weeks we will meet the Ibiza, and next year the VW Polo. Later, the Audi A1 will arrive, being it essentially the same thing as its cousins although featuring a more robustness-perceived design and of course Audi's famous photo-perceived interior quality. The detail images of the Ibiza don't look pretty but don't worry because the final official pictures will show a much more accomplished design. Err... actually they won't, but then who cares!

New VW Polo minivan

The image below presents a possible interpretation of the minivan version from the next VW Polo. It shows predictable influence from the Up concept car. From the picture it does not seem like the next Polo minivan will be the first atractive car of this genre. Renault Modus, Opel Meriva, Peugeot 1007... all of these cars look like crap because of the poor proportions (the height is too big compared to the width). However, these cars frequently offer added capacity for cargo and more space for occupants. Rationally, very good cars, unfortunately it's very difficult to make an atractive design. Maybe the next Opel Meriva with its suicide doors will improve desirability.

Ford Focus III station

Is it station what Ford calls the Focus station these days?... or is it break, or touring, or sportback, or lifestyle van... maybe they could try with acronyms in BMW's fashion: PAS-Progressive Activity Sedan. In the Focus case it could be PAH-Progressive Activity Hatchback. BMW will be using more acronyms for internal designations of future cars, other than the PAS, there is the CS concept and also the next SAS (Sports Activity Sedan, that is, the X4... a coupe-ish version of the next X3). One can expect other brands to start doing the same, as usual. I also invented a new acronym, in this case applied to the litlle MINI Clubman station: it's the POS.

Whatever name they call it, the next Focus station will borrow the great design of the 3rd generation Focus, if some of the CGIs turn out accurate... I sure hope they do, because the only thing Ford needs to improve in the Focus is to get a more emotional design, The recent restyling was a good move but Ford can do better.

Auto-future revisited: Diesel in America

Just recently it got to my knowledge that in the first months of the Mercedes E-class diesel availability in the United States, 12% of the cars sold were of the diesel version. That's a great number, particularly considering the total lack of momentum from previous diesel offers at Mercedes. This reminded me of a text on auto-future from September 2006 where the issue of diesel in America was discussed. Revisiting the text let's remember that a boom in diesel sales in the USA can be linked to the availability of diesel versions from European luxury brands (BMW and Mercedes) instead of the second rate "Mexican-made ratlleboxes", European-brand available previously... Next step is the mainstream-diesel from Honda that Americans can buy shortly in the Accord. However, diesel engines will face stiff competition from hybrids, particularly since GM and Ford will have new models available. Remembering the article from 2006 it seems the only thing that missed the target was related to Chrysler since Mercedes got rid of this manufacturer so now Chrysler will have a difficult time finding good diesel engines for their cars.

2009 BMW 5-series

Please take note of the keyword for future BMW sedans: sleeker. If you remember well, in 2001 BMW added a layer to the 7-series (as explained by Bangle) and initiated a new design language that included other features, such as the flame design that BMW's master of sheet forming techniques allowed. The design language spread to such cars as the 5-series and 3-series that became bolder and more complex. Future conventional saloons will bring a new direction towards sleeker designs and more elegance. Several reasons are on the basis of the shift: new emission regulations favour the research of more aerodynamic shapes, hence the cars will become longer, which makes it easier to reduce Cx coefficient. And also will provide for more interior leg space. Furthermore BMW has new offers in the range: new SUV, compact-SUV and coupe-SUV plus the "lifestyle" versions of the 5-series (Progress Activity Sedan)... this opens space for further differentiation by making the design of the classic sedans more sleeker and elegant. The concept BMW CS is a clear indication of the new direction, both in overall proportions and some of the detailing. The next BMW 7-series will be the first (again) to present the new language with the 5-series (see CGI below) following.

Peugeot SUV-like vehicle (3008)

What could be the perfect small-SUV? It should look like the image below, have just good-enough off-road capabilities, great on-road manners, efficient diesel engines and measures to lower CO2 emissions, and priced like a Ford Kuga/VW Tiguan. However, the next 3008 will not quite match those features: it won't look like the image below (it will resemble a compact monospace) and according to some inside information it won't even have AWD available. Pathetic, right? Don't really care...

VW Touareg

The image below has been around for some weeks but only now it becomes interesting because we got confirmation that the front design of the CGI will be featured in the next Touareg (so the image is reliable) and other VW models, namely the restyled Passat (yes, the full chromed grille has to go!). A simpler execution will be found in the Golf VI and Polo, with less chrome horizontal bars.