[Niiinioa]

Time Magazine


Fisker Karma S



The Fisker Karma S is a concept vehicle from two California-based companies — Fisker, and Telsa — that have generated excitement around their electric vehicles. The Karma S is described as the convertible version of the roadster Fisker unveiled last year. Like the roadster, the Karma S is powered by a plug-in electric drive system that stores power from a wall socket before its unplugged from the grid and let loose on the open road.



2010 Honda Insight



The 2010 Honda Insight is an updated version of the original hybrid and comes with a more conventional sedan shape, with interior packaging, comfort and convenience features typically found on a contemporary automobile. Honda engineers say the new hybrid system that drives the Insight is smaller, more efficient and more affordable. Honda was first automaker to introduce a gas-electric hybrid vehicle in the U.S., the 1999 Insight. But Insight was never as popular as the Prius.



Jeep Patriot



The Jeep Patriot, a concept vehicle, is one of three prototypes for electric vehicles that Chrysler is promising to deliver by the end of 2010. The electric-drive system packaged into the compact Patriot body is powered by a lithium-ion battery and an electric-drive train. The technology and engineering behind the electric Patriot is quite impressive but skeptics wonder if Chrysler can actually put it into production given its serious financial challenges.



Mercedes-Benz Blue



The Mercedes-Benz Blue concept vehicle is an experimental vehicle powered by a lithium ion battery, utilizing a new small-car chassis. Mercedes won't say when and if the car is going into production but given the regulatory pressure in Europe and the U.S. for vehicles that emit zero pollution, as this car does, it's a good bet that the company's high command will wind up putting it on the road in the not too distant future. Mercedes-Benz Smart unit also is showing off an all-electric version of its tiny city car.



2010 Buick LaCrosse



The 2010 Buick LaCrosse is an interesting experiment in cross-cultural fertilization, having been designed by teams of engineers and stylists collaborating via computer from studios in Shanghai and Detroit. The LaCrosse boasts a sharp exterior design and an elegant interior, offering neat stitching on seat covers not usually associated with General Motors cars. The LaCrosse is powered by a V6 engine equipped with both direct injection and variable valve timing that increases fuel-efficiency.



Kia Soul'ster



The Kia Soul'ster, a concept vehicle, is another experiment in cross cultural design. The vehicle started life as Kia Soul, a small, tall car due out this spring, but has been turned into a sporty convertible by Kia's Southern California design staff, which sought to endow the vehicle with the very latest in LA style. The Soul'ster is obviously designed to appeal to a young, hip audience with fold-flat seats that can double as a place to sleep, and a canvas top.



Toyota City Car



The Toyota City Car is an all electric sub, sub-compact car, about the size of the Smart car. The City Car is only a concept vehicle, but with its electric drive train and lithium ion battery in a two-seat mini car, it offers insight into what cars of the future might look like. The battery and drive train, however, are considered experimental properties and not quite ready for the American road.



Volvo S60



The Volvo S60 is the prototype for a new small, sedan from the Swedish automaker, and comes with the very latest in both safety and crash avoidance technology. It offers drivers display information of the car's electronic collision system as well as pedestrian detection via a heads-up display that puts information on the windshield.



2010 Toyota Prius



The 2010 Toyota Prius is the successor to the original Prius, one of the most influential cars in history and the car that put Toyota ahead in the race for clean and green. The new Prius boasts a more efficient hybrid system, better interior packaging and more interior space as well as new electronic features. The exterior is improved too, with the hatchback, or fifth door, sporting sharper definition. The new Prius is scheduled to go on sale this spring and buyers of the first Prius are already lining up to place orders, according to Toyota executives.



2010 Ford Taurus



he 2010 Ford Taurus is a sleek, stylish update of a car that has been one of the mainstays of the Ford fleet, and it's turning heads at the show with its expressive lines and improved interior, including a new instrument panel with chrome ringed gauges. The Taurus also delivers more fuel efficiency. No fuel economy numbers are available as yet, though Ford promises that it will be 10% better than the 2009 Taurus.

Besides the Taurus, Ford is also showing off the hybrid Ford Fusion, introduced earlier, and which the company describes as America's most fuel-efficient mid-sized car.

[Duseshoug]

We might not agree on Middle Eastern politics, but it seems we both like cars.

I was shocked to see the 2010 Lacrosse and Taurus. They're both quite nice. Cars like these should turn GM and Ford around.

[Paladin]

The new Ford looks good in glamour shots but it still says rental fleet to me. It's certainly better than any sedan they've done in years but IMHO it's a brick... and the front end is not a pretty face:


I like what Ford does in Europe:


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The Buick looks good, but their image is so trashed... I guess the Enclave has helped matters... but still: is anyone under the age of 60 going to go for it?

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[Twendypreency]

What a shame the US market doesnt get those euro Ford designs. The design team really stepped their game up lately.

[IssuessBratte]

Lincoln C Concept






Forget the Continentals of your past, or the big, long rear-drive concepts of the early '00s. While BMW has proven that rear-wheel-drive c-segment size luxury works, with its 1 Series, Lincoln is turning next to the 2011 Ford Focus' platform for post-global warming luxury. To prepare us for a CAFE-friendly world, Lincoln rolled out the C concept (for c-segment, and so far, without an "MK" prefix) at Detroit.

Looking much like a Renault with Lincoln's "flying wing" '41 Continental retro cue grille, the C is about the length of the '11 Focus, but about 2.75-inches wider for three-abreast seating via two flat benches. Ford designers cite the '39 Lincoln, '56 Continental II and '61 Continental as inspiration. But the a-pillar is curved much like a Renault Espace's, and the c-pillar ends in a Clio-esque bustle trunk. While there's no tumblehome, a deep shoulderline accents the profile.

The stainless steel-like top is actually aluminum with a metalized paint, and the gray interior wood trim is recycled driftwood veneer.

The Lincoln C has more interior space than a '61 Continental, J Mays and Freeman Thomas proudly note. The engine, theoretically - Lincoln didn't open the hood -- is a planned 1.6-liter EcoBoost four with central direct injection, variable valve timing on both cams and an interesting stop/start system to shut down the engine for red lights and stop signs. Restarts use a fraction of the starter energy required for a cold start by injecting and igniting fuel in the cylinder closest to top-dead-center on the compression stroke. The six-speed, twin-clutch "Powershift" transmission uses more efficient dry clutches (Audi DSG's wet clutches require an oil pump). It gains 9-percent better fuel economy than a conventional automatic transmission, Ford says. Including some key weight savings, Ford expects the EcoBoost-powered C would get about 25-percent better fuel economy than a similar car with a 2.0-liter.

Inside, the C is a showcase for Ford's Microsoft Sync of the future, a two-way voice command system featuring avatar Eva, a kind of female HAL with a British accent and access to the Internet via the driver's mobile phone. Ford expects features like a navigation system that supplies the most fuel-efficient route (for when gas next breaches $4/gallon), restaurant reviews and the like will be the foundation for its future Sync systems. Anyway, the owner will be able to configure it to his or her preferences, much like on an Apple iPhone, and update it regularly with a thumb drive.

Other interior features include no b-pillar (which Mays insists is approaching production viability, even if the "suicide door" feature that accompanies it is only for show), a hubless steering wheel rendered in Apple-computer white plastic, thin-seat technology for better interior room (another near-production feature), hand-drawn floral patterns laser-etched into the otherwise stark white leather seats, weight- and height-sensing power head restraints, and stereo speakers in the headliner, which surrounds a Lincoln-symbol glass sunroof.

Thomas says the instrument panel, which includes a "privacy" screen to allow passengers to look at the Internet without distracting the driver, is "not a lot of separate parts, almost like an iPhone." (Domestic and foreign auto designers have evolved from evoking the translucent iMac in their designs at the beginning of the decade to talking about the iPod, and now the iPhone.)

North America design chief Peter Horbury says his favorite feature, though, is a device in the car's grille that recognizes other Lincoln Cs and automatically "winks" the left headlight, Mini Cooper-owner style. Question is, can Lincoln build a c-segment car with so much appeal that owners "wink" or wave at others voluntarily? We may have to ask that question again when Lincoln markets a c-segment car, in as little as two or three years.

Gallery

[f29sXS07]

What a shame the US market doesnt get those euro Ford designs. The design team really stepped their game up lately.

Word on the street is that the Euro Focus will be coming stateside in 2010.

US model - WTFTWTFTWTF:



Euro model - yes, please:



And as for the Taurus, I don't really understand why it's needed. Very few people are in the market for a large (202" long) sedan these days, and those that are are probably legacy sales who already have their minds set on the Grand Marquis or Town Car.

Bringing back the Taurus nameplate is a wise move (kudos to Mulally), but it needs to be put on a relevant car -- otherwise you're just hurting the name's image even more. I say nix the 'Fusion' moniker and put 'Taurus' back on their midsize car. That way the Taurus nameplate is back to fighting the Cam-cord juggernaut, just as it did for a decade or two.

[MpbY5dkR]

It looks like Ford saved on that Lincoln show car by copying the 10 year old Renault VelSatis:





The VelSatis eventually became the very ugly Avantime:


And now Lincoln seems to want to do an update... good job!

[IACJdKfU]

Similarities with the Megane:

[illilmicy]

LOL yes... instead of looking to the Renault Megane (of all things)... why don't they try copying this... :

[sessoorale]

Ah the BMW. My favourite car company. The styling has vastly improved after their disasters a few years back. Something Mercedes seems to be doing now.

[irrelaAnnekly]

All the US Ford grills are butt ugly and cheap looking (same for Buick).

It seems so basic to get that right (it's like the first minute of film or play -- if they don't work the rest hardly matters).

[CIAFreeAgent]

I've just decided that what I really want to do in life, is a car blog ...shooting the $hit on styling and stuff. Of course like everything we really want to do: I have no time.

[Edifsdubs]

Fabrizio, do you know about Car Lust Blog? Considering your time constraints, it might be worth it to simply become a regular commenter there rather than start anew.

Edit: err... is that the 2009 7 Series you posted, Fab? I can't believe I'm having trouble identifying what Bimmer it is.

[exchpaypalgold]

Yes, 2009 7 Series

[Mabeavyledlib]

^ It looks quite good from that angle. The new front though.. I don't think I like that weird upper lip ridge thingamajig.

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Something I noticed about the new Taurus is the lower air dam:



It has the same gaping trapezoidal shape like those on the European Fords. Obviously they're preparing us for the introduction of Focus and Fiesta next year.

[LorencoLoricelli]

Nothing looks cheaper than a big chunk of plasticized chrome (or should that be chromolated plastic?).