Chevrolet Debuts Sail Hatchback and MPV Concept at New Delhi Auto Expo

The 11th Auto Expo that takes place these days at New Delhi was the ground for the display of the ChevroletSail and MPV Concept, GM’s first products from its joint venture with China’s SAIC.

The Sail is a five door sub-compact hatchback that has been developed at GM’s Technical Center in Bangalore to ensure that it will meet the needs of the Indian buyers.

On the outside, it sports the brand’s family signature grille with the golden Chevy badge and vertical taillights at the rear. The cabin gets Chevrolet’s “double cockpit” design, along with chrome-plated accents, and an audio system with radio, CD-player and Aux-in connectivity (remember, the Sail is designed for emerging markets).

GM claims that the Sail can accommodate up to five people thanks to the placing of the fuel tank in the middle of the car and the short overhangs, which maximize interior space. It will be offered with both gasoline and diesel engines from GM India’s latest “Startech” line-up, though no further information was provided.

“The Chevrolet Sail hatchback will be a strong addition to GM’s mini-car portfolio in India”, said GM President and Managing Director Lowell Paddock. “It will bring a new sense of vitality to the biggest, fastest-growing and most competitive segment in the domestic passenger car market.”

The second tailor-made product for India, as well as other emerging markets, to be shown by GM and SAIC is a B-segment MPV study, which Lotus spent a year and a half cooperating with GM people to tune the chassis.

Chevrolet says that the roomy MPV Concept will be available in seven- or eight-seat configurations, both of which will feature the firm’s so-called flexi-seating system.

“The Chevrolet MPV Concept is designed for those who want a spacious, comfortable and well-styled vehicle to enjoy life with their loved ones”, said Paddock.

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2012 F30 BMW 3-Series Sport, Modern and Luxury Lines Detailed [Video]

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Just like the all-new 1-Series, the 2012 F30 BMW 3-Series was launched with three extra trim choices, or customized lines as they call them - Sport, Modern or Luxury. The automaker’s US division has launched a video detailing how each of these was created any how they will enhance appeal of the premium saloon that’s so crucial for their bottom line.

The Sport Line comes with a number of high-gloss black to accentuate the dynamic appearance of the BMW 3 Series Sedan. Double-spoke design 18-inch light-alloy wheels also give sport character. It also comes as standard with black painted exterior mirrors and the standard high-gloss black B-pillar and window trim.
Meanwhile, the Luxury Line is all about the chrome elements and brings more elegant and exclusive appeal. Special 18-inch light-alloy wheels in multi-spoke design are also fitted.
As for the Modern Line, this gets satin aluminum finished bits to accentuate the contemporary look. 18-inch turbine-style light-alloy wheels and an Oyster or black interior are just some of the features.

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First Toyota GT 86 Videos Released: Driving Footage, FT-86 Evolves

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Toyota Europe has decided to enhance the appeal of the recently revealed production version of the FT-86 sports coupe, which has been renamed as the GT 86. We have a couple of short and sweet videos to bring to your attention, one covering the evolution that took place from the FT-86 concepts and the other how the new 2+2 looks going down the road.

The new “GT 86” name is derived from the legendary Corolla GT from 1986. Cue AWD Subarus and the mighty RX7 on the winding roads of Mount Fuji... or something like that.
ust like the old Corolla GT, the GT 86 should play the underdog really well in the real world, because it’s only got 200 horsepower coming from it’s 2.0-liter engine that’s fitted with Toyota’s advanced injection technologies. That only as much as a Clio RS, but the GT manages to sprint to 100 km/h in just 6 seconds, thanks in part to its low weight and focused chassis.
The power is sent to the back via a six-speed manual or the optional six-speed auto that use paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. The budged sportscar also comes with a limited slip differential as standard and its center of gravity is impressively low at just 475mm (18.7-inches).

autoevolution will be attending the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show, so stay tuned for some real up close and personal shots of the vehicles, as well as for first-hand details of the motorized contraptions presented at the event.

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The First Photos of the Voice-Commanded VW eT! Van in Action

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Former Ferrari Designer To Lead Lancia-Chrysler Integration

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Lorenzo Ramaciotti to lead design team that will establish a common design language for the two brand

What is the common denominator between Fiat Group and Chrysler LLC? So far it was only Sergio Marchionne, the architect of Fiat's takeover ofChrysler and who also serves as the CEO of both companies.There are also a few Lancia models based on Chrysler cars and Chrysler cars based on Lancia's. However Marchionne is not satisfied with that level of integration, that is only badge engineering.

Now he aims to create stronger links and more substantial integration between the two nameplates in order save costs and double sales.In order to achieve his goal he chose Lorenzo Ramaciotti, Fiat Group's chief of design since 2007 is to lead a design team that will develop cars for the two brands."We are trying to find an international language, which could have a place both here in Italy and in the U.S.," said Ramaciotti to Bloomberg.com. "If you put all the models into the showroom, they must fit together. It's a delicate problem."
Before joining Fiat, Ramaciotti had worked for Pininfarina, the Italian coachbuilder, for 32 years. He was involved in the design of Ferrari cars, among them the 612 Scaglietti. He headed Pinifarina Design for almost 20 years and under his watch the company created some 20 concept cars for various customers.However his latest mission, to combine the two worlds, that of European car design with that American car design is going to be his toughest task, as Marchionne's ambition is to sell 800,000 Lancia-Chryslercars by 2014, more than double the current sales volume.

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Range_e Concept wins the 2011 British Automotive Innovation of the Year

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Range_e Concept wins the 2011 British Automotive Innovation of the Year 

Land Rover's Range_e, a plug-in hybrid diesel-electric powertrain concept, has been crowned as the Automotive Innovation for 2011 by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in the UK (SMMT). The concept was first shown at the Geneva Auto Show last March.It is powered by a plug-in hybrid system with an overall CO2 output of 89 g/km and 85mpg. The hybrid system made up of a 3.0-liter 245hp TDV6 diesel combined with a 93hp electric motor powered by a 14.2 kWh lithium-ion battery.

The Range_e can be driven more than 20 miles on its electric power alone and its maximum range is 690 miles.The diesel hybrid drivetrain engages seamlessly as the system's combined 339hp delivers a top speed of around 120mph. Battery recharging can be accomplished simply and efficiently by connecting the system to an external 240V power source.The Range_e is engineered with the same full-time 4WD capability as the standard Range Rover Sport, with high and low range in the transmission, front and rear differentials and a mechanical locking center differential. Dependent on the driver's demand, the car's system decides the most efficient method to deliver the power required, whether this is by electric, diesel or both.The Range_e also features regenerative braking to capture energy usually wasted in heat energy via the brakes. This energy can then be redeployed to drive the vehicle, further reducing fossil fuel consumption.

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Toyota Fun-Vii Concept Coming to Tokyo

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Toyota today announced that it will use the upcoming Tokyo Auto Show to give us the Fun-Vii concept, a development that can be described in one word: interactivity.

The exterior of the car can be used as a display space, so the driver can change the color and the message(s) shown on the vehicle, while the interior offers a similar feature, aiming to match the mood of the passengers and also uses augmented reality to introduce navigation information to the occupants
The Fun-Vii has the following dimensions: Length 4,020 mm; Width 1,745 mm; Height 1,415 mm and Wheelbase 2,750 mm and can seat three. Toyota brags that the vehicle can also communicate with surrounding cars and infrastructure.

autoevolution will be attending the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show, so stay tuned for some real up close and personal shots of the vehicles, as well as for first-hand details of the motorized contraptions presented at the event.

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