The Concept A is set to debut at the 2011 New York Auto Show as well as the Shanghai Auto Show later in April but Mercedes-Benz thought they would be kind and dish us up some juicy info before then to build some buzz. The Concept A is an over-styled version of what the 2012 A-Class will look like. And while it is a rather large departure from the current A-Class, the final release version will no doubt be a lot tamer than the incredible images Merc have presented us with in the concept.

The Concept A is front-wheel drive and is powered by a direct-injection, turbo-charged 4-cylinder 2 litre engine which pumps out 210hp. The engine is a BlueEFFICIENCY which should result in some impressive fuel consumption figures and low emissions.

Such a fancy concept car would be nothing without some innovation on the inside. The Mercedes-Benz Concept A comes with a radar-based collision warning system that is linked to the adaptive Brake Assist which is a world first in the compact class. The system aims to lower the risk of rear-end collisions by providing a visual and sound warning and will prepare the Brake Assist for precise braking as the driver operates the brake pedal.

Looks-wise the Concept A has a much more aggressive appearance, especially when compared to the current A-Class which looks rather “Soccer-mom” like. Mercedes credit “the wind and the waves” for the design inspiration of the A Concept, with its long hood, low silhouette and interplay of its lines. The front grille is probably the most striking element of the car and is described by Merc as “a star-filled sky”, this theme is repeated in the design of the wheels. It certainly looks flash but you cannot help but feel that it will be the first feature to be cut once the 2012 A-Class hits production.

The Concept A will be debuting soon, so check back for full details when they are available.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

After first being revealed at the Geneva International Motor Show, Citroen’s Survolt Concept recently took a spin around the famous Le Mans race track. While concept cars are often far too outlandish and ridiculous to ever make it into production, the Citroen Survolt concept seems to still have its feet on the ground in one way at least; it’s completely electric driven. It’s not often that a concept sports car is designed as electric, so it’s a refreshing change to say the least.

Being green and eco-friendly is definitely a huge concern these days, apparently even on the racetrack. The Citroen Survolt is powered by 2 electric motors that combine to produce 300hp from 0 – 5000rpm. This results in the Survolt completing 0-100km/h in under 5 seconds and a top speed of 260km/h, which is something quite special for an electric car.

On a full battery charge, the Survolt can drive for 200km before it will need to be recharged. Re-charging can be done in just 2 hours with a specific setup but on a normal 220 volt network the re-charge will take 10 hours.

There is still no definite word on whether or not Citroen are going to start production of the Survolt, so we will just have to wait and see.

Source: Citroen.

The Mini Beachcomber concept debuted at this years Detroit Auto show and caused a massive amount of buzz. So much so in fact that BMW are seriously considering putting the Beachcomber into production. Don’t hold your breather just yet though, as it is still just a rumour and if it was given the go-ahead it would only be ready in the next few years.

There could definitely be an audience for the Mini Beachcomber though, as it draws some elements from the Toyota Rav4 and combines them with the Mini look to create a fun and funky car that doesn’t necessarily need to stay on the road. The doors of the concept were left off, as well as the boot to give on-lookers a better view of what the Beachcomber has to offer and the response seems good enough to justify its production. Now we just wait and see what BMW decide.

Source: AutoExpress

The call for lighter, more economical and more environmentally friendly cars has been heard by all manufacturers and now even Land Rover are developing a lineup of cars to cater to this need. A future Range Rover model will be made with a 2wd option, as well as the standard 4wd. The car will go on sale in 2011 and has a CO2 emission level of just 130g/km. It aims to be the lightest and most fuel efficient Land Rover that has ever been made.

The idea is to give their customers more options, the company has always been a 4wd company but giving the buyer the option to get a 2wd with reduced weight and improved fuel efficiency simply opens up their vehicles to a larger market. Adding to this, Land Rover are working on their first ever Diesel Hybrid model which they are looking to make for 2012 and have on the road in 2013. This first prototype diesel hybrid will be called the “Range_e”.

Source: Land Rover.

Ford chose the Beijing Auto Show to debut their new Ford Start concept car. This concept is a little different to most usual concepts that are showcased as motor shows. The Ford Start concept is aimed at short inner-city driving, with the focus being on fuel efficiency and low cost.

The engine in the Ford Start will be a 1-litre, 3 cyclinder with direct injection and turbo-charging to improve efficiency. As you would expect from any concept car, the Start comes with many futuristic and styled features, such as the LCD located in the dashboard and its funky curves.

The Ford Start concept looks great, with sleek curves and a more luxurious design that is usually reserved for larger cars. The start will appeal to youngsters and anyone looking for a cheap, convenient get-around car to transport them around urban settings.

Source: Ford.

Stuttgart. Presenting a high-performance mid-engined concept sports car with ultra-efficient, low-emission drive technology, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is further increasing the Company’s competence in hybrid technology.

The 918 Spyder prototype combines high-tech racing features and electro-mobility to offer a fascinating range of qualities: An emission level of just 70 grams CO2 per kilometre on fuel consumption of three litres/100 kilometres (equal to 94 mpg imp) truly outstanding even for an ultra-compact city car, on the one hand, combined with the performance of a super sports car and acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h in just under 3.2 seconds, top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph) plus, and a lap time on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring in less than 7:30 minutes, faster than even the Porsche Carrera GT, on the other.


This open two-seater is powered by a high-speed V8 developing more than 500 bhp and running at maximum speed engine of 9,200 rpm as well as electric motors on the front and rear axle with overall mechanical output of 218 bhp (160 kW).

The V8 combustion engine is a further development of the highly successful 3.4-litre power unit already featured in the RS Spyder racing car and positioned midship in front of the rear axle, giving the car the right set-up for supreme performance on the race track through its good balance.


Power is transmitted to the wheels by a seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungs-getriebe also feeding the power of the electric drive system to the rear axle. The front-wheel electric drive powers the wheels through a firm transmission ratio.

The energy reservoir is a fluid-cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell. The big advantage of a plug-in hybrid is that the battery can be charged on the regular electrical network. A further point is that the car’s kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy fed into the battery when applying the brakes, thus providing additional energy for fast and dynamic acceleration.


A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose among four different running modes: The E-Drive mode is for running the car under electric power alone, with a range of up to 25 km or 16 miles. In the Hybrid mode the 918 Spyder uses both the electric motors and the combustion engine as a function of driving conditions and requirements, offering a range from particularly fuel-efficient all the way to extra-powerful.

The 918 Spyder also comes with further innovative functions such as the Range Manager. After being activated in the Center Display, the Range Manager uses the map in the navigation system to present the remaining range the car is able to cover, naturally allowing the driver to influence that range through the appropriate choice of power and performance. In cities with environmental alert areas the Range Manager also states whether the driver is able to reach a certain destination on electric power alone.


Applying this information and using further info on the availability and location of special energy filling stations, the driver is then able to choose his personal style of driving as well as the right battery charge and filling strategy.


Offering a unique combination of extremely low fuel consumption, supreme performance and long electric range, the Porsche 918 Spyder represents an essential milestone in Porsche’s strategy on the way to genuine electro-mobility.

Source: Porsche

World Premiere at the Geneva Motor Show 2010

Rüsselsheim. Opel will unveil its Flextreme GT/E concept car at the 80th Geneva Motor Show (March 4 – 14), that will boost the company’s credentials as a leader in green technologies, offering expressive design with efficient environmental performance – and engineered with German precision.

In Opel’s strategy for achieving more independence from fossil fuels, electricity plays a key role. The 4.7-meter long Flextreme GT/E concept illustrates how extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) technology can be plugged into large or mid-size vehicles, as well as compact cars such as the upcoming Ampera.

Opel calls this strategy e-mobility unlimited: adapting the highly efficient E-REV drive system – which removes the limitations of battery-only power – to vehicles across all market segments. To enjoy zero CO2 driving emissions Opel-style, the Flextreme GT/E concept shows that size doesn’t matter.

The purposeful design also enables the Flextreme GT/E to achieve a projected drag co-efficient of just 0.22, which helps it reach a 200 km/h-plus top speed as well as conserve energy and extend its driving range. Stand-out visual features include a low and wide stance, wing-shaped lights front and rear, a distinctive nose and grille, floating C-pillars and muscular, sculptured bodywork.

“The Flextreme GT/E concept shows the shape of things to come from Opel,” says Frank Weber, Vice President, Corporate and Product Planning. “Bold, expressive and highly efficient, it represents the product strategy we will apply to all our future vehicles, large and small, across all market segments.”

Source: Opel

Source: Honda