Autoalert : The Jaguar Mark XXI Concept

The Mark XXI concept or Bionomic Autonomous Limousine is a brainchild of Chris Pollard from Coventry University. According to him the concept investigates the implications of autonomous technology on automotive design in terms of perception, function and aesthetic. The vehicle itself looks nothing like today's Jaguar accept the fact it is a luxurious lounge that transport its occupants to their destination of choice. Chris added that he draw inspiration from a leaf when he penned the design. This can be clearly seen from the generous use of photovoltaic panels covering much of the vehicle's body. These photovoltaic panels are made to be dynamic in the sense that it will rise to face the sun and follow it as the day passes. I personally see an uncanny resemblance to a beetle when that happens.

The absence of a dashboard makes the interior a true living cabin where everybody can sit around to socialize or take a short nap before arriving at the next destination. A combination of ambient lighting contemporary laid back seats pampers the occupant's senses. A feeling you get when you are surrounded by lush greenery of the rain forest which is in line with the theme of the project "Symbiosis with Nature."









Source : Car Body Design

AutoAlert : Suzuki Kizashi unveiled

Suzuki have officially launched its flagship sedan call the Kizashi but what dreads me the most is how a car that suppose to look something like this :
has been degraded into a boring looking metal on wheels.

Suzuki 's flagship (this word seems to be out of place in this article) sedan is nothing more than an upsize suzuki SX4 sedan with better looking projector head lamps and tail lamp to complement the car. Having said that, the only side of the car that looks 'premium' to me is the rear which hints Toyota Mark X and the older BMW 5-series. The interior lacks both the looks & 'luxurious touch' associated with a flagship model. The design of the dashboard looks like an after taught with questionable materials used as finishing.

Now looks aside, lets browse through the techical bits that this vehicle possess. Under the hood, you will find an all aluminium 2.4-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine connected to either a six-speed manual transmission or Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that claims to offer better fuel economy.

To keep drivers and passengers safe Suzuki has included standard eight airbags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP®)4, an anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution , a tire pressure monitoring system & what Suzuki calls 'synergetic vehicle dynamic control' that helps the car's four wheels stick to the tarmac. There is an option to equipped your car with some off-road capabilities by having i-AWD system bundle in together with your Kizashi. The system helps with traction control with torque distribution being governed by wheel slippage and throttle input. If suzuki is really serious in trying to gain respect in this segment, they have to give the Kizashi a major overhaul. Until then we will still be waiting for "something great" to come.

Source : Suzuki via Carscoop

AutoAlert : Kia VG Official Sketch Released

Set to replace the aging Amanti, the Kia VG will be available with a 2.4L Theta II 4-cylinder or a 3.5L Lambda II V6 under the hood. This luxury vehicle will share the same platform with Hyundai Grandeur/Azera which unfortunately now looks dated & tired. The Kia gave the VG a very modern design to further strenghten their presence in the Luxury sedan segment. The US will probably get the car in the first quarter of

2010 after the Korean release in November 2009.

The Following pictures are taken from the Seoul International Motorshow earlier in April 2009.

Related Article : 2010 Kia Cee'd Facelift

Source : Kia via Thecarblogger

AutoAlert : Ferrari F458 debuts

The Successor of the F430 is now available in UK with a price tag no less then £175,000. It is the fastest and obviously most powerful Ferrari ever made with 0-60mph sprint of less than 3.5 seconds & going all the way to 203mph. The 4.5 liter V8 pumps out a mind blowing 570bhp at 9,000rpm while mated to a seven speed dual clutch gear box. According to insiders, this Ferrari was built to fend off fierce competition from the likes of Lamborghini & Audi that have seem to catch up on the prancing horse company in this exclusive segment.

Among the technological highlights that this machine carries includes specially design front air scoop to channel wind to the car's flat under tray that incorporates series of aerodynamic venturi tunnels. Ferrari's "e-diff" limited slip differential and adjustable F1-Trac traction control system together with the downforce those venturi tunnels generate at high speed ensures the car sticks to the tarmac like a Gecko. To enhance the design 'wow' factor, Pininfarina decided include LED technology into the headlamp while minimizing gaps on the body through cutting edge technology. This is truly an italian masterpiece at its best.



Source : AutoExpress

AutoAlert : The 2010 Saab 9-5

"It is easier to find a Moose in a German forest than to spot a Saab in Deutchland" according to Autobild. The 2010 9-5 will be the first model to debut under the stewardship of Saab's new owner Koenigsegg sports car. The fact that the car shares certain 'DNA' with the Opel Insignia isn't a surprising fact at all as the model was developed when Saab was still own by GM. Now what separates the Saab from all its GM cousin is the fact that it is 5.01 meters long thus putting it on Par with the Mercedes S Class. In comparison to its predecessor the upcoming 9-5 wheelbase grew by 13 cm to 2.84 meters.

The exterior design stays true to Saab's design language from the large trapezoidal grill to the chrome linings around the front headlights complete with LEDs. The indicator light located on the side mirror is darken in order to blend with the overall design.

The cockpit design is typically Saab with strong influence from its cousin the Insignia & Astra. Saab's signature mesh type air-cond vents still graces the dashboard. (personally I never like it ) The crown jewel of the dashboard has to be the 8-inch Panasonic navigation system with touch screen technology complemented by the Harman Kardon sound system. As always there is 3 equipment level offered by Saab starting with the Linear and topping off with Aero Hot. The Boot is able to swallow up to 513 liters of luggage.

Expected range of petrol engines kicks off with the 160ps 1.6liter turbocharged unit and goes all the way to 300ps 2.8liter V6 with 2 diesel power plants (2.0liter - 160hp & 2.0 liter - 190hp). Indications for the asking price for Saab's new flagship should be around 34000 Euros.

Source: Autobild

AutoAlert : 2010 Acura ZDX

Acura's solution to the BMW X6 is here but the exterior lines can't do much to steal the lime light from its Bavarian counterpart. Under the hood there is a 3.7-liter V-6 engine mated to an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission. The 3.7-liter SOHC V-6 all-aluminum engine will generate 300 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. Then there is the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) system. The SH-AWD® system expands the ZDX's appeal by providing outstanding handling as well as superior all-season capability. Acura claimed that their interior offers great egronomics with generous amount of storage space in addition to some 'fine' details such as hand-stitched leather dash, panels and sculpted center console. There will be 3 levels of trim offered with the base version having panoramic glass roof with movable sunshades, hand-stitched leather interior, HandsFreeLink™ Bluetooth® connectivity, power tailgate, and a high powered audio system with CD player, AM/FM/XM radio and USB audio interface with iPod® integration. Goes on sale this coming winter with a price tag around 40000$ to 47000$.

AutoAlert : JDM Lexus HS250h

The Japanese version of the HS250 h Hybrid car made its debut recently with a 2AZ-FXE 2.4 liter engine found under the hood coupled with an electric motor. The engine puts out 150 PS of power and 187Nm of torque while the electric motor which gets its juices from NiMH batteries makes 143 PS with 270Nm of torque. The two power source is brought together by the e-CVT to give a maximum of 190ps at any time. Interestingly there is an exhaust heat recovery system to shorten engine warming time.

Well other then the usual design cues found on most Toyota today, there is the LED headlapms and tail lamps to differentiate it from other non-hybrid vehicles. Other then this external 'signs' that tells other drivers on the road that you care for mother nature, the rest of the external body panel is very similar to a standard IS250.

But fear not because Lexus has kept the best part of the car exclusively for the interior. (My personal View). To keep both drivers & passengers safe the vehicle is equipped with a Pre-crash Safety System using millimeter-wave radar detects whether driver’s eyes are properly open and also determining direction of driver’s face. In the case the driver loose concentration on the road, the system will alert the driver with a buzzer & apply apply some break force. The Hazard lights will go off if there is a risk of crash & the headrest will be shifted to a proper position to reduce whiplash injury. Click on the thumbnails to view a larger picture.

Next on the list we have Lexus G-link system to grant you access to a concierge that assists you in various ways. If you really crash your car, the system will automatically communicates with the remote Lexus center to contact the police and fire department. The call center will then give you a ring to see if you are OK & if they don't get a feedback from you the ambulance will be dispatch as well. Talking about good service...of course this service will only be complimentary for the first 3 years of your ownership after which a fee will be charge to continue the service.

The area where the gearshift is usually found is occupied by Lexus "Remote Touch" system to operate most of the cars functions. Think BMW's iDrive & Audi's MMI system and you will get the idea.Audiophile will be delighted to know that this car is fitted with a 10 speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system as a standard feature with the option to upgrade to 15 speakers altogether. In conclusion HS250h is a good choice for buyers who find the Prius under equipped or just enjoys the finner things in life. Prices in US are set at $34,200 for the base model and $36,970 for the better equipped Premium version with arrival date around August.Cheers :)