Lotus Debuts 2015 Elise
In Paris, Lotus showed off their entire upcoming line - as much to telegraph the vision they have for themselves as a company as anything else.
Of interest to most Lotus-philes is the new Elise - the replacement for the core of their current line.
What we've been shown now is a brand new styling theme for the brand (less cosmic insect, more sophisticated sports car contender) - but also that even the super-lightweight Elise will end up putting on almost 20% more weight...likely so the interior appointments can stack up to buyer expectations (while disappointing the folks who like to see no-frills structural members as 'styling' elements). It remains to be seen how this affects overall dynamics of the car and its appeal to the core Lotus demographic.
Sales should begin as early as 2014 for likely a bit more money than you'd plunk down on a current generation car (and if you prefer yours with no-frills - get 'em while they still make 'em).
Lotus Shows Off a Smart Done Right
Lotus looks to resolve all of these issues with a concept they are calling the City Car. It has the standard microcar 2-seat configuration, but packs a Chevy Volt-like series hybrid powertrain. Range on electric only is projected at 37 miles with a 3-cylinder range extender, developed by Lotus, providing electricity from that point on.
Differentiating the City Car from other offerings in this segment are Lotus styling - with a wide and aggressive stance, as well as a 4-seat configuration (trumping the Smart's 4 and the 3-ish seats of the Toyota/Scion iQ)
Expect the City Car to hit the streets in 2013. Availability in the US is anyone's guess - though tighter CAFE requirements likely make it a sure thing.
Performance is on par in the segment with 0-60 times of about 9 seconds and a range of over 300 miles.
If this allows Lotus to maintain some independence and continue to produce their wonderful line of sports cars - bring it on.
Mazda shows off Minagi Concept
While we've known for a while that a smaller than CX-7 was on its way, we had to guess at how it would look.
The Minagi concept, shown in sketch form here, is way too production ready to be anything other than a thinly-veiled preview of that car - likely to go on sale in under a year.
It shows that the new design language for Mazda is much easier to swallow and won't be prone to the previous language's overly-happy criticism.
Mazda Mulling Options for next RX
Rumors abound of what Mazda plans for its next flagship sportscar.
Most rumors center on Mazda dropping the 4-seat, 4-ish door model of the current RX-8 - while leaving the people's sportscar duties to the new, lighter MX-5.
What we are hearing runs from the new model being badged RX-9 (though a 2-seater could likely bring back the storied RX-7 moniker just as easily).
Expectations are that the 1.6l version of the rotary that was shown recently by Mazda would help give the new RX additional torque. Direct injection is likely. Turbocharging is a possibility (with some rumors of an electrically driven turbo being tossed around - this uses an electrically driven turbine to replace the the normal exhaust-driven setup and giving even more low-speed response...further reducing the need to visit high-rpm and further improving fuel consumption).
Expect a production model to hit in 2013 as a 2014...unless technical challenges prove too much for even the rotary's lone champion to resolve.
Most rumors center on Mazda dropping the 4-seat, 4-ish door model of the current RX-8 - while leaving the people's sportscar duties to the new, lighter MX-5.
What we are hearing runs from the new model being badged RX-9 (though a 2-seater could likely bring back the storied RX-7 moniker just as easily).
Expectations are that the 1.6l version of the rotary that was shown recently by Mazda would help give the new RX additional torque. Direct injection is likely. Turbocharging is a possibility (with some rumors of an electrically driven turbo being tossed around - this uses an electrically driven turbine to replace the the normal exhaust-driven setup and giving even more low-speed response...further reducing the need to visit high-rpm and further improving fuel consumption).
Expect a production model to hit in 2013 as a 2014...unless technical challenges prove too much for even the rotary's lone champion to resolve.
Porsche Green-Lights 918 Spyder
Porsche has announced that the 918 Spyder hybrid sportscar has been approved for production.Packing a 3.4l V-8 and an electric motor at each axle, the 918 takes the brands flagship position vacated a few years ago by the Carrera GT. Expected to be limited production, the car will showcase the engineering prowess of the Porsche brand and establish them as a leader in hybrid technologies that will trickle into the rest of the line during the next decade or so.
Expect a total output of over 700hp and a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds when the car hits production in a few years.
Source: DailyTech
Next Miata Going Super-Lightweight
Details are starting to emerge on the direction of the next MX-5 from Mazda.
Not surprising, given the rapidly approaching fuel economy regs in the US, which are making all makers look closely at lighter weights and more exotic powertrain tech, Mazda is taking the challenges and spinning them in a decidedly Zoom-Zoom sort of way.
The next MX-5, due in 2012 as a 2013, should shed about 300 lbs, putting it much closer to its original 1989 fighting weight. Engines are expected to downsize from the current 2.0l to the 1.6 or 1.8 sizes from generations past as well. Expect these engines to be part of Mazda's SKY-G engine initiative that will see them getting direct injection as well as start-stop tech to further increase mileage without much (if any) compromises in sportiness.
Not surprising, given the rapidly approaching fuel economy regs in the US, which are making all makers look closely at lighter weights and more exotic powertrain tech, Mazda is taking the challenges and spinning them in a decidedly Zoom-Zoom sort of way.
The next MX-5, due in 2012 as a 2013, should shed about 300 lbs, putting it much closer to its original 1989 fighting weight. Engines are expected to downsize from the current 2.0l to the 1.6 or 1.8 sizes from generations past as well. Expect these engines to be part of Mazda's SKY-G engine initiative that will see them getting direct injection as well as start-stop tech to further increase mileage without much (if any) compromises in sportiness.
We're Baaaaaack...
It's been about 6 months since we've posted the latest auto news here at UOwC - without going into detail about the things that have been going on in our press room...suffice it to say that life has gotten in the way of timely updates.
Starting today, we will try to hit the high-points of the last half year of automotive happenings which will then roll us into timely updates of current news.
Thanks for all your patience and support.
Starting today, we will try to hit the high-points of the last half year of automotive happenings which will then roll us into timely updates of current news.
Thanks for all your patience and support.
JD Power APEAL awards announced
Following up the IQS awards announced previously by JD Power, the APEAL (Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout) study measures vehicles in 80 criteria to determine how 'gratifying' vehicles are to own and drive and result in a score on a 1000 point scale. The survey was conducted with 76000 owners after 90 days of ownership.
Mirroring the IQS, this marks a major sea change with the Detroit automakers surpassing the imports with an 11 point gain for the 'domestics' with a 7 point drop for the 'imports'.
At the top of the APEAL rankings sits Porsche for the 6th straight year. Ford saw 5 of its nameplates rank in the top of their segments. No other brand had more than 2 vehicles top their segments.
JDP noted along with their study that the swing of the domestic brands was led by new designs for many products that saw them much more satisfying than their predecessors to consumers.
Mirroring the IQS, this marks a major sea change with the Detroit automakers surpassing the imports with an 11 point gain for the 'domestics' with a 7 point drop for the 'imports'.
At the top of the APEAL rankings sits Porsche for the 6th straight year. Ford saw 5 of its nameplates rank in the top of their segments. No other brand had more than 2 vehicles top their segments.
JDP noted along with their study that the swing of the domestic brands was led by new designs for many products that saw them much more satisfying than their predecessors to consumers.