Detroit Show 2010 Highlights: BMW Concept ActiveE Concept

BMW's next chapter in its EfficientDynamics program calls for a new all-electric vehicle to complement its current fleet of leased Mini E electric subcompacts. To accomplish its self-prescribed mission, it enlisted the help of the 1 Series coupe and a revised synchronous electric motor to create a new show car called the Concept ActiveE. It's the epitome of electromobility in the true BMW sense, the automaker claims, and with the Mini E, continues to pave the way towards the ultimate goal of a mass-produced 'Megacity Vehicle'.

The heart of the concept is, of course, its electric powertrain. Engineers designed the unit to replace the 1 Series' combustion engine, fuel tank, drivetrain, and rear axle. The actual motor is enclosed in the would-be differential casing, while the lithium-ion battery modules take the place of the propshaft and also fit snugly under the front hood. ActiveE keeps the 1 Series's rear-wheel drive layout, as well as its 50/50 weight distribution, and combined with the instantaneous high torque of the new motor, promises to live up to the brand's distinct driving spirit.

Making a grand total of 170 horsepower and 184 foot-pounds of torque, the motor was built to provide generous amounts of grunt at high road and engine speeds. That's in addition to the Concept ActiveE's immediacy of power, as in other EVs. The electric powertrain has been tuned to behave similar to that of a combustion engine, by reducing torque gradually under high load, rather than abruptly. BMW points out that the 3900-lb. car can hit 60 mph in around 8.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of 90 mph.

Samsung's SB LiMotive partnered with engineers in Munich to develop the innovative power supply. Their lithium ion battery cells are grouped into compact modules that utilize individual liquid cooling systems to boost the vehicle's 100-mile single-charge range. Thanks to the battery's intuitive management control unit, users have the flexibility to charge their vehicle at any number of outlets, regardless of voltage or amperage. The control unit calculates power conversions and allows the batteries to charge at a fast pace. Engineers have quoted 3 hours to fully charge the units while plugged into a 230/240 volt European-spec outlet. On a more North American-like 32 amp plug, it'll take 4.5 hours.

On the move, the Concept ActiveE replenishes lost energy through what BMW calls Energy Recooperation. Once off the accelerator, the ActiveE's kinetic energy is used to turn a generator and create storable electricity. At the same time, the Brake Energy Regeneration system activates, illuminating the brake lights and engaging the rear brakes. If used often, Energy Recooperation can boost the EV's range by 20%. Meanwhile, BMW claims that in 75% of deceleration, the driver does not need to use the brake pedal. Should a higher measure of stopping power be required - such as in a panic situation or when coming to a full stop, the driver presses the brake pedal and the regular hydraulic system is engaged, enacting the front brakes as well.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Detroit Show 2010 Highlights: Audi e-Tron Detroit Concept

Despite the lack of a new name, Audi's latest take on its e-tron EV for the 2010 Detroit show is in fact a unique concept. As with the first e-tron that debuted at last year's Frankfurt show, the Detroit show e-tron concept is based on the R8's aluminum spaceframe, but is more than a foot shorter than its predecessor and nearly 500-pounds lighter. Perhaps most surprisingly, the Detroit car loses its front electric motors, meaning it does not feature Audi's signature quattro all-wheel drive. Instead, two motors mounted on the rear axle combine for an estimated 201 hp and 1955 lb-ft of torque (the latter figure apparently continues Audi's highly suspect practice of providing multiplied torque figures).

The result is a concept that's slightly less capable than the original e-tron (0-62 mph takes an estimated 5.9 seconds) but potentially more fun thanks to its small size - it looks positively diminutive next to an R8 -- and relatively light weight (less than 3000 lbs). It would also presumably be less expensive, though that too, would be relative given the price tag of more than $150,000 Audi will likely place on the first e-tron when it goes on sale in 2012. As with the Frankfurt e-tron concept, lithium-ion batteries mounted behind the driver provide an estimated 155 miles driving range for the Detroit show car, according to Audi.

At the moment, Audi is calling this variant an "experiment." However, the company makes no secret of its intent to market e-tron not just as a name for one vehicle, but as a distinct sub brand not unlike quattro and TDI. The concept also makes plain Audi's intent to very gradually trickle down its electric vehicle technology into more affordable products.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Hot News: Next Ford Mondeo Will be World Car

The next Mondeo is set to follow the Focus and Fiesta and become Ford’s third world car, sources have revealed to Autocar.

Insiders at the highest level have confirmed that designs for the new Mondeo are now nearing completion and the finished car is expected to hit the showrooms in 2014, when it will replace the European Mondeo and the US market Fusion.

Like the new Focus, previewed at today’s Detroit motor show, it’s also expected to be manufactured in Europe, the US and China.

In a break from tradition though, the new Mondeo is being designed and engineered in the US.

The finished production car though will be sold globally with no design changes to suit local markets, although as with the Focus and Fiesta there will probably be small chassis alterations to suit local driving conditions.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: 2011 Porsche Cayenne Details Revealed

Details of the second-generation Porsche Cayenne have been leaked out two months before the upmarket four-wheel drive’s public unveiling at the Geneva motor show.

The information brings to light the all-new-for-2010 Cayenne’s five-strong range of engines, including the first details on the new petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain it will share with the second-generation Volkswagen Touareg, alongside which it has once again been conceived, developed and engineered.

As with its predecessor, the second-generation Cayenne will continued be manufactured at parent company Volkswagen’s factory in Bratislava, Slovakia alongside the new Volkswagen Touareg and existing Audi Q7, with final assembly at Porsche’s Leipzig plant in Germany alongside the Panamera.

Porsche will also continue offering its new four-wheel drive system with the choice of three petrol engines – all updated versions of the units used in the outgoing first-generation model. They include a 296bhp 3.6-litre V6 in the entry level Cayenne, a 395bhp naturally aspirated 4.8-litre V8 in the mid-range Cayenne S and a range-topping 493bhp turbocharged 4.8-litre V8 in the top-of-the-line Cayenne Turbo.

Also planned from the outset of UK sales in May is a successor to the Cayenne Diesel running a lightly modified version of the existing model’s Volkswagen-developed 237bhp 3.0-litre V6.

Thanks to: Autocar

New Concept Car: Volkswagen New Compact Coupe (NCC)

Volkswagen’s New Compact Coupe (NCC) has leaked out ahead of its official launch later today at the Detroit motor show.

Reports claim the Jetta-based coupe is a hybrid, with power coming from a 148bhp, 177lb ft version of VW’s 1.4-litre TSI engine and a 27bhp electric motor. The motor is powered by lithium-ion batteries and the NCC is able to run for short distances on short journeys only.

The reports also claim the NCC’s CO2 emissions are just 98g/km and it can achieve more than 50mpg. Top speed is reportedly 141mph, with 0-62mph taking 8.6secs.

The Tungsten Silver Metallic NCC show car comes equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels and LED lights at the front and rear. The interior is finished in Grigio Quartz and Berry White leather.

The NCC is reportedly 4540mm long, 1780mm wide and 141mm high. According to the reports, the car is tipped to make production within the next two years.

Thanks to: Autocar

New Concept Car: GMC Granite

Urban lofts are pretty popular, and GMC thinks it has “the automotive equivalent of an urban loft apartment”: the GMC Granite concept, which will debut at the Detroit auto show. Styled with an “industrial look,” the Granite is edgy, beveled, and crisp, with multi-layer LED taillamps out back and headlamps that stretch into the hood. All the brightwork is brushed or satin-finished, as opposed to chrome. However dissimilar it looks to its current GMC brethren, we like it anyway.

Two feet shorter than the freshly added GMC Terrain, a production Granite would be the most compact GMC ever, and would be closer in concept to the Scion xB than to anything currently in the lineup. For further reference, the wheelbase is about as long as that of a Chevy Cobalt, but the overall length of 161.3 inches is about the same as a Honda Fit’s. At 70.3 inches wide, the Granite is about 3.5 inches wider than the Fit.

Lots of space has been carved out of those modest dimensions to accommodate, say, stuff with which you might want to furnish an urban loft. Long items such as a floor lamp, folding table, or even a prone supermodel can be brought inside, due to front and rear passenger-side seats that fold forward and rotate inboard. The four doors open French-style and there are no B-pillars, creating a large opening to load gear and passed-out people.

The full-length center console has a bunch of power ports to plug in computers, iPods, and other electronic gobbledygook. And, as is expected of a show car, technology-laden interfaces replace the familiar. Controls for the climate control, navigation, and audio systems, for example, are located on an organic-LED screen.

Power for the Granite concept comes from a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder; a similar, 138-hp unit is debuting in the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze. The engine is mated here to a six-speed automatic gearbox, which is controlled by a rotating electronic gear selector—like that used by Jaguar—instead of a conventional lever.

GMC, of course, has not announced an intention to produce the Granite, but we think it’s pretty probable given every automaker’s need to meet upcoming emissions and fuel-economy mandates. And as it’s likely to be based on the Cruze, such a GMC shouldn’t cost a tremendous amount of money to develop. We say bring it on.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

New Car: 2011 Ford Focus

The current U.S. Ford Focus is a disappointment to those who know how good the car was when it went on sale in 1999, as well as anyone who has driven the second-generation European-market Focus. While the rest of the world got a sharper, better handling, and more luxurious Focus for 2005, we merely got a heavy refresh of a car that was, in effect, already six years old. (It originally went on sale in Europe in 1998.) We then got an ugly refresh of that refresh for 2008.

Ford has now got its product development crews on the same page, so the next-generation Focus debuting at the Detroit auto show will be the same the world over. In the U.S., the car will be offered in early 2011 as a 2012 model in two variations: a sharp five-door hatchback and a good looking, if more conventional, four-door sedan. Compared with the current U.S. Focus, at 58.1 inches high, the new one is 0.5 inch lower. The overall length has gone up from 175.0 inches to 178.0, and the wheelbase grows from 102.9 inches to 104.2.

Both body styles initially will be powered here by a new, 2.0-liter direct-injected four-cylinder that makes 155 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque, up from the current car’s 143 hp and 136 lb-ft. The engine will feature variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust cams and will be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox that was co-developed with Getrag. Around the rest of the world, there will be a broader range of gas and diesel engines, including turbocharged and direct-injected EcoBoost four-bangers. Expect EcoBoost engines to make it into U.S. cars, too, including one with over 225 horsepower in a sporty version, perhaps wearing an ST or SVT badge. A 1.6-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four likely will be included as a more mass-market choice, as well, offering a more efficient and more powerful alternative to the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter.

Thanks to: Car and Driver