Autoblog

Click above for more high-res images of the Toyota iQ

Toyota has been working on an affordable small car that will be cost-competitive in emerging markets, and Autocar is reporting that India is being considered as a destination for production. India makes sense due to its low-cost labor, and with competitors like the Tata Nano going for as little as $2,500, the world's biggest automaker will need to cut cost everywhere it can. There is no word as to exactly what vehicle would be produced in India, but one option is Toyota's production iQ from Geneva, which is scheduled to begin production later in 2008. Toyota is looking for initial sales of the iQ to crest 100,000 units.


[Source: Autocar via Winding Road]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Peugeot 308 RC Z Coupe Concept

Originally expected to be announced a while back at the Geneva Motor Show, Peugeot has finally officially announced today at the Lisbon Motor Show that the attractive RC Z concept will go into production. Using styling cues from the Audi TT and the classic Karmann Ghia, we think that Peugeot could have a winner on its hands with its new sporty coupe. While Peugeot has not yet announced details on what will be offered underhood of the production machine, the concept used a version of the Mini's 1.6 liter turbo four. We'll be getting all of the details within time, as the official production version will be unveiled in 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. European buyers will have first crack at the RC Z when it goes on sale in the sprint of 2010.


[Source: Peugeot]

The Magna MILA Alpin concept car shown in Geneva has gotten the attention of both Mercedes and BMW. The button-cute 4-wheeler rode on a flexible platform, could utilize a variety of fuel sources, climb 45-degree angles, and get up to 120 mph. Those capabilities, and the ability to be easily rebodied and cost-effectively manufactured, have the two premium brands looking at ways to bolster their lineups and enviro-credentials.

Mercedes is known to be working on developing a 4-wheel-drive A-Class sedan. While the sandwich floors in the A-Class and B-Class cars were specifically created to allow flexible drivetrains, it is open to exploring options with BMW. Those other Bavarians in blue and white appear to be even more serious, having engaged Magna to discuss strategy and market demand. The MILA could provide a sound platform for BMW's electric car rumblings, as well as cost-effective, outsourced manufacturing.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via TTAC]

Wiesmann, the German manufacturers of the love-em-or-hate-em GT and Roadster, has plans to add V8 and V10 versions of its drop-top model that will be introduced at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. The current Roadster lineup includes only the MF3, which is powered by BMW's 3.2-liter flat-six found in the last generation M3. The new MF4 and MF5 Roadsters will be powered by BMW's 4.8-liter V8 and 5.0-liter V10 already found in the current Wiesmann Coupe models. Unfortunately, Wiesmann still has no plans to bring either the GT or the Roadster to the United States.

[Source: GTSpirit.com]

The Internet is everywhere, and later this year BMW is joining other digitally connected automakers with its own mobile web service. We gave you details on the ConnectDrive mobile Internet while we were in Geneva, and BMW TV is following up with video of how the technology works. After the jump is a short promotional video that shows what the BMW interface looks like from the cabin of a new X6. If you've got an iPhone or any other mobile device that uses the EDGE network for access to the web, try not to choke when ConnectDrive Internet boss Daniel Wittwer calls the surfing experience "fast and pleasant." Yeah, right. Regardless of the speed, the technology won't be available in the US any time soon, but it'll be available in Europe later this year.

[Source: YouTube via: eGMCarTech]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Land Rover LRX from Geneva

We've big fans of the Land Rover LRX concept's styling, which looked as good in black (unveiled in Geneva) as it did in the original white (unveiled in Detroit). So we're suitably pleased by reports that Land Rover is preparing to build the vehicle, which could get the nameplate Freelander Sport in keeping with the nomenclature already set in place by the Range Rover Sport.

The production LRX would target the likes of the upcoming BMW X1 and Audi Q5 (and potentially the Porsche Roxster), while offering a range of eco-friendly engine options that help Land Rover reduce its overall environmental impact. Such powertrain possibilities could include a 2.2-liter diesel and 3.2-liter gasoline inline-six with the potential for start-stop technology and even a hybrid system. Although the Freelander Sport would be oriented towards on-road driving dynamics, we wouldn't expect it to compromise the brand's legendary off-road prowess as much as recent offerings from Jeep. Reports place the production LRX on the road as early as 2010, and we hope much of the show car's dramatic styling would remain in place as the Land Rover rides the rocky road from concept to production.

[Source: Auto Express]

Raikkonen's Sauber C20: click to view in high resolution

Considering that modern Formula One race cars share as much in common with aircraft as they do with actual road-going automobiles, selling retired F1 cars at the airport suddenly seems to make sense. Last month we brought you initial news about the auction of former Sauber racers at the Zurich airport that include seven Sauber single-seaters ranging from the 1993 Sauber-Mercedes C12 (the team's first F1 car, driven by JJ Lehto) to the 2004 Sauber-Petronas C23 (driven by Giancarlo Fisichella under Ferrari power). All are being auctioned off – without their engines – each with a starting bid of Є200k.

On our way back from Switzerland following the recently-concluded Geneva Motor Show, we had a chance to see and photograph the four cars on display at the Airside Center in Zurich's Terminal A where they'll reside until the auction ends on March 25. What we saw includes the first and penultimate Saubers mentioned above, along with Jean Alesi's 1998 C17, Kimi Raikkonen's 2001 C20 (pictured above) and several individual components that would make awesome paperweights. The rare opportunity to see these technically-advanced racing machines up close and parked was a nice break from the overpriced boutiques and duty-free shops while transferring flights, and the experience in person illustrated just how intricately crafted these cars really are. See for yourself in our high-resolution image gallery by clicking the thumbnails below; more details are available at saubercars.ch.

[Source: saubercars.ch]

Click above to see more of the Bertone BAT 11 concept

Bertone's future continues to hang in the balance as three court-appointed bankruptcy commissioners move forward with trying to secure a new owner for the 96-year-old design house and coachbuilder. The commissioners have just presented a 132-page initial report to the court outlining their findings, but while sources suggest that as many as seven potential buyers have stepped forward, the commissioners have thus far only met with the lawyers and bankers representing those companies.

While the courts try to determine the carrozzeria's fate, a selection of crude images have surfaced of the BAT 11 design study that Bertone unveiled in Geneva at a location away from the motor show. Check them out in the gallery below.


[Source: Italiaspeed]

Autoweek and Fourtitude were able to enjoy some seat time in the Audi R8 V12 TDI LeMans concept before its official unveiling in Geneva last week. Their drive was short (about an hour with a 50 mph speed limit imposed by Audi's boffins), but their time at the airport adjacent to Sebring International Raceway has made an impression.

The crimson beast we saw in Geneva was the same concept that was displayed in Detroit, simply sporting a new paint job, but spending quality time with the R8 V12 TDI revealed a few interesting tidbits about the concept. First, the firewall behind the driver and passenger had to be extended by some six-inches to accommodate the oilburner and although claimed torque output is somewhere in the 737 lb.-ft. range, the few journos asked to take part only got to experience 442 lb.-ft. of twist – a good thing considering that the transmission mated to the engine is an A4 case with modified internals.

While the performance was impressive, the short gearing and shorter redline (not disclosed) seemed to make all that grunt superfluous in first and second, but Audi is expecting the R8 V12 TDI to return around 24 mpg and meet the 2014 Euro 6 emissions standards if, and when, it goes on sale.

While the Autoweek piece only provided the "50/50" quote in the title, the Fourtitude article is far more entertaining and informative -- well worth a read.



[Sources: Autoweek, Fourtitude]

It's time for Autoblog Podcast #89. Of course we run over what's been in the garage lately – you'll know what reviews to anticipate. Our big item this week is recapping what we saw in Geneva and what might actually wind up in the US. Talk of Geneva moves us to anticipatory chatter about New York, mere days away. Thanks for your 49 minutes!

SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
ADD the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
DOWNLOAD the show now