After the success of the Megane and Megane Coupe, the Wind and Scenic this year, it was only natural for Renault to update the front of the Laguna. Only announced that the hatch and Sport Tourer will benefit from these changes, its unfortunate that the coupe wasn't included. However, it makes a nice change to the Laguna's looks and fits superbly with the rest of Renault's range.
Two years ago MINI unveiled a concept car at Paris that for all intensive purposes was pretty ugly, giant bumpers and raised platform made it look a bit of a mess.
Who would've guessed it would lead to this beautiful example of a 4x4 - the MINI countryman. I guess this will be their focus at the show this year too.
Chevrolet are already doing well this year at Paris, with the new Orlando debut - the second in the four cars that are being previewed at the show will be the new Cruze Hatchback. Looking a lot more compact than the saloon the hatch offers hatchback styling at great value.
This, together with the Orlando, is sure to make a big impression at the show this year and Chevrolet seem to be on a winning streak, ever since their departure from the stronghold of the GM group. We think it looks wicked!
Mazda have revealed their new four-door, four-seater sports coupe concept to show off their new design theme 'KODO - SOUL OF MOTION'
Shinari is the new concept that represents many new design features that will be carried into production vehicles of the brand and from the looks of it, things can only get better for Mazda. After a year of great looking cars and facelifts, the line-up for future models looks like it will be fantastic if this is what they are basing their design's on.
From the pinched grille to the 'athletic' interior as it is described by Mazda, the Shinari looks beautifully sculpted.
Hyundai this year are keeping things shtum, rather than the other manufacturers that have released photos of new cars to expect at this year's Mondial de l'Automobile.
However (like Toyota) they are also releasing a new B Segment MPV, and christening it the ix20. Not much information on the model itself, merely mentioning the crossover aspect of a people carrier - cross - exciting dynamic driving experience. Hopefully going by this sketch it will look beautiful alongside the ix35.
Other cars in the Hyundai line up this year will be their new i10, benefiting from a new design and secification, including a 1.0 litre version giving minute CO2 emissions of just 99g/km. Tieing in just nicely with showcasing their latest advances with 'Blue Drive' - their hybrid competition.
Lexus have today explained a little technical magic that they have incorporated into their new small hybrid the CT 200h.
Interior lighting can be a deciding feature for any potential buyer, you don't want to be seen driving a mobile pleasure house, but a mobile disco can be distracting also. Lexus have decided to link their lighting to how you fancy driving in a very invoking way.
Due to it's hybrid nature, the default setting is blue for when you fancy relaxing while cruising down the motorway or on an eco march through towns and cities. When in eco mode the left hand meter monitors the hybrid system, indicating how eco you're really driving.
Switch the CT200h into sport however and everything changes. Red glares around the dials and invokes that sporting feel. Not only changing how the car drives it also changes the left hand meter to unveil that all important Tachometer, needed for you to know how much more you can push the pedal to the metal.
Citroen yesterday announced a new model in their DS range - The DS4
A car that combines that effortless 2+2 styling of a coupe, with all the practicality of having the rear doors - with hidden door handles integrated into the chrome stitched styling of the beautiful new model.
Citroen are unveiling the new DS4 at Paris Motorshow later this year, to go on sale in 2011. So look out for more news later this year.
Toyota have announced their plans for this years motorshow in Paris. From interiors to world exclusive reveals, the brand is set to celebrate their 10 years of Hybrid technology with a memorable focus on the Auris and Prius hybrids - with interactive displays.
But it wouldn't be a motorshow without concepts and new cars alike. So what's Toyota bringing along with them? The new Verso S, a totally new car for the B-Segment MPV market. I have to say it looks quite cool. If you look closely, you can see the iPod integration too, including albumn artwork, a hint at what their new multimedia system may include?
This year Chevrolet are showing an array of new models at Paris Motorshow, amongst them is their brand new family car, the Orlando. True to it's concept its a unique MPV, that is sure to bring a fresh approach to the family market.
Ford are debuting the new new focus at Paris motorshow this year, and I'm undecided about it to be honest. It almost looks like they've taken the fiesta and run a magnifying glass over it...bloating it...
Yes another car from Audi. They are slowly building up the numbers to the 43 planned models by 2011 and the A7 looks like it'll slip in the line up just nicely underneath that beautiful new A8.
Sportback's seem to be all the rage for Audi at the moment, competing with BMW's Grand Touring range. A lovely looking 4 door pillar-less coupe. One would imagine the new A7 is up against the likes of Mercedes CL which, a new shape, has also been announced recently.
Prices beginning at just over £42,000 Audi have made it fairly cheap for it's luxury appeal, but you wont be seeing them on the road until January 2011.
The SR1 was a fantastic concept and Peugeot have translated it just beautifully into the 508 released next year, benefiting from HYbrid4 technology, the 508 will come in a range of engines all emitting low CO2.
Body styles at launch will be saloon and SW, although the concept boasted style as a convertible. Will we be seeing a 508cc in the near future?
Citroen has today released images of the new C4 and it is beautiful. A definite improvement on the round bubble shape of the last, it looks more aggressive and more capable than ever before.
Citroen have incorporated a new feature called eTouch, which monitors your driving for the optimum fuel economy, includes cornering lamps, lane departure warning system and even blind-spot monitoring that we all know and love from safety obsessed Volvo.
These new features make the new C4 one of the most unique cars of the sector and looking at the pictures, definately a stylish way to travel.
So yesterday was the annual testing day for the industry, a 5.30am start and a lot of coffee later, we arrived at Millbrook.
After briefing there was a rush to Audi, to test the R8 Spyder (a review we will have when the car turns up on our very own premises). Other cars featuring very heavily at the grounds were the Bentley Super Sports, Citroen's new super mini the DS3 and Rolls Royce made an appearance with the Ghost.
Fairly still new to the Europe car market, Infiniti made a big noise, with their whole range amongst a huge black an purple tent, Toy Story screening on the TV and Buzz Lightyear himself (or at leat Sutton Coldfield's answer to the superhero)
This is a breakthrough for Peugeot, who are aiming to be the leading manufacturer known for it's design focus and concepts. A few years ago they showed us all the beautiful bumps and curves of the RCZ concept, like many concepts, it was believed by the industry that it wouldn't happen, but proving us all wrong the french manufacturer delivered on what is probably the most true to concept car ever made. More recently they unveiled a beautiful concept called the '5 by Peugeot', should we expect to see this come next year?
The new A8 was launched yesterday in Miami, and what an unveil they put on, combining everything Audi with everything art and design.
Lucy Lu hosted the spectacle, talking to everyone involved with the production of the new A8, and after a short video of lots of happy Germans signing their name a lot, the A8 was driven onto the stage, capturing the very essence of the brand.
Audi's new flagship model incorporates great features like touch pad controls and the biggest LCD display ever, plus the great Bang and Olufsen sound system that works so well in the premium land yacht.
We have just got back from Chevrolet's amazing trip to Athens to test their new city car the Spark.
Never before have we faced so many motorcycles and people cutting each other up on the roads, as we did in Greece, but complete kudos to the little Chevvy, dealing with the crazy, fast-paced streets of the capital city effortlessly.
Look out for the complete review coming soon, including a speed parking competition and a lot of monkeys and bananas!
The newly introduced ,and very well received, Infiniti are bringing a breath of fresh air to their new saloon the Infiniti M.
Bringing Forest scents and breezy air into the cabin using the air conditioning system. Designed for stress relief, keeping the driver alert and aware for driving in this busy urban world.
The silly thing is, whereas we may expect to have seen this press release on April fools day, it's actually being done, and fitted to every new M saloon Infiniti are making next year... and I think it'll work.
It won't interrupt how the conventional system works, instead it'll adjust to accommodate for hot and cold, randomly modulated air vents will create a more natural sense of the wind blowing in all directions and aroma diffusers that incorporate the calming, anti-fatigue scents of leaf and the invigorating wood scent said to help aid concentration while driving.
Now it's just a waiting game until the model is released next year for us to test it out.
If you gave me £300,000 I would be having a field day and can think of at least three must haves I would buy.
1. An R8 2. An apartment abroad 3. A shopping spree on 5th Avenue
Well Lexus seem to think that their new supercar the LFA is worth all those things and £36,000 more!
Practically hand-made from the minute the idea was agreed, the LFA is different from any other supercar, using carbon fibre for the chassis and main frame of the car and using a, hand built, dedicated 4.8 litre engine delivering over 550bhp , makes the LFA's price tag a little softer on the ears.
However I can't get over it, and even after reading the press release this morning, I still don't quite understand the high price. Toyota put their everything into making new instruments, using current technologies like Dual VVT-i, meaning that the new supercar stays true to the company's identity, and with collaborations with Yamaha, wouldn't that make it lower cost? (I'm not claiming to be an expert when it comes to production)
So lets move onto design, gadgets and gizmos! (possibly my favourite topic)
Extensive wind tunnel tests show the LFA to be what Lexus call 'wind-cheating'. It looks like a supercar, but since the announcement this morning I have already had two people mention the Toyota Supra, and another mention designs mimicked from that of the Audi R8.
I personally don't think that the LFA mentions anything about R8, however I think that front facing, elements of the 350Z come to mind. But comparing this car to any other wouldn't be fair, as this is a completely new venture for Lexus from start to finish, and I think it definitely shows, from the innovative air intakes reshaping the back windows, to the triple centered exhaust. A profile thinner that Kate Moss lying down, the LFA looks aggressive, yet sleek and beautiful.
Gadgets include the complete LCD instrument panel that pulsates when turned on, and glows red when you hit 9,000rpm, invoking the most evil of demons within you, customizable to yellow and green. There is even a track timing stopwatch for tearing it up around the track.
Overall it promises so much and we hope that it delivers just as well. Whether it's worth over £300k is another matter, exclusive it may be (with only 500 examples a year being made), but how often will the LFA be rocketing past us on the road?
Yesterday Rich and I went down to that London to chat to Colin Ferguson, better known as Sheriff Jack Carter from 'A Town Called Eureka'.
What a fantastic guy and very funny! Conversations included, Duck Duck Goose and prehistoric creatures! However, you'll have to wait for the interview until November, but for now here's a little picture of the three of us together.
So I haven't posted in a while, mainly due to how busy we've been from Rich's Carpool interview.
However, this is too sexy not to mention - Toyota are set to unveil this beauty at Tokyo motorshow!! Since Celica stopped and MR2 finished convertibles off for the brand, Toyota seemed to be playing the eco warriors of the motoring industry with hybrid technology that took the industry by storm.
Since then, they focused on small city cars with the iQ and Urban cruiser. But having finished playing in the city, they have brought a new concept to Tokyo that looks so nice that it must be made, just because it looks soo great.
Introducing the FT-86...
'Great to own and fun to drive' is the concept focus for this 5 seater coupe.
Returning back to the fundamentals of a classic sports car it's rear-wheel drive, compact and has a low centre of gravity. On top of that it looks fantastic, finished off in Flash Red, it carries hints of blue and inside is all zipped up with a dashboard that is certainly innovative, with a very futuristic character.
Bugatti have unveiled their new 16 C Galibier concept vehicle to the world and I'm happily suprised to say it's very very....VERY attractive!!!!!!
Intended to be the most exclusive, elegant, and powerful four door automobile in the world, the new concept is one of several designs that Bugatti are considering for the future, and if the rest of them are as attractive as this, then I think they'd be stupid not to release them all!
A bit Bentley GTC at the rear and following suit taking hints from the R8's aggressive grille at the front, the Galibier concept is sure to be a hit for Supercar fans, and who couldn't love the new two-tone chrome sides that just look phenomenal, similar to that of the new Rolls Royce Ghost bonnet.
Here's just a few little highlights of what's been going on in Franfurt this week. We have been spoilt with Supercars from Audi, Ferrari and Maserati, and tickled with laughter at some odd concepts from Pugeot and Renault.
Our favorite car to be unveiled is of course the Audi R8 Spyder, a beautiful car made even more sexy!
Then Audi took the R8 front and seem to have merged it with the rear of their new Sportback, smoothed over a few creases and introduced concept E-tron, the electric sports car.
Next its Lamborghini and with the Murcialago roaring into the distance, they unveiled the new Reventon! It looks quite similar, but a lot more edgier and beasty, with angles and grooves everywhere!
Ferrari officially announced the 458 Italia, the brand seems to be becoming a lot more smooth and curved since the California was unveiled in Paris last year.
Maserati unveiled the GranCabrio and after the Spyder was discontinued Maserati seem to have really outdone themselves with their new convertible.
Volkswagen have shown us that the GTI is not so super compared to the new Golf R. Similar to the Scirocco R the golf has an upgraded body and some new shiny wheels.
Renault are taking the Megane even further with the new Renaultsport 250, a sexy black bumper, front fin, shiny black wheels and a nice beefy centred tailpipe adds to this already sporty car.
Renault then showed off their electric capabilities with four vehicle concepts, one of which made us smile. The Twizy Z.E. concept
Mazda revealed their MX-5 Superlight, taking the little convertible into a new era with futuristic styling, a compact little concept.
Peugeot then gave us the answer to the new urban mobility solution with the B11 concept, which actually looks like it could easily fit in to the great concrete jungles of the UK.
Following suit of the beautiful new C70, Volvo have face lifted their baby Volvo and it looks meaner than ever before.
Keeping true to the brand they have again taken inspiration from the S60 Concept to create the new front, giving the car that bracing stance.
With the giant Volvo logo in the honeycomb grille, bigger intakes resembling that of the XC60 and the angled offset headlamps, the C30 looks sportier, meaner and overall a more refined design than that of the previous shape. The rear remains relatively unchanged apart from a more pronounced bumper and if you get the accessories pack then you benefit from chrome highlights throughout, which really make a difference.
Of course Volvo never just stop with the outside. The interior has been updated wit new colour options, including Espresso/Blond. Staying true to their Scandinavian roots, so all you need is a fine pair of legs to complete the look.
Finally an optional sport chassis, giving the C30 a sharper ride, with more precise steering and an overall stiffer ride, available on all models, exept the 1.6 DRIVe derivative.
Ford Has released Images of the all new C-Max, so now it fits seamlessly into the rest of the line up, taking elements from the Fiesta and Focus models.
Keeping all the comforts of the old model and introducing new technologies, like blind spot detection and parking aids.
The C-Max will be available late 2010 and will fit into the Global range including the new 2010 Focus yet to be revealed.
Alpha have decided to team up with TV's Louise Roe, to challenge two up-and-coming fashion designers to create a line of women’s jeans that would be as cool and desirable as the Alfa MiTo and, and at the same time, raise money for charity - Jeans for genes.
Working off the idea of the MiTo's D.N.A button (dynamic, normal, all weather) and the idea that DNA is in your Genes, the designers got to work and have created something certainly...unique.
Renault have announced the Fluence. A new saloon designed to stand out as the most attractive car in it's class.
After they announced the Laguna and new Megane, Renault were certainly taking a step in the right direction, then the Laguna Coupe came to fruition and it got people talking for all the right reasons. All this combined with a 'toungue-in-cheek' ad campaign, and Renault seem to have it all.
Clean lines and that rather strong, distinct styling shouldn't however distract you from thinking that the new Fluence is said to be a comfortable ride and follows suit with the rest of the Renault range with it's ergonomic interior.
Unfortunately we won't be seeing the Fluence in the UK, however Turkey, Russia and Romania will reap the benefits of Renault's latest offering.
The eagerly awaited new Batman game has been awarded ‘Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever’ by the Guinness Wold Record association, achieving the highest average score of 91.67 from reviews around the world.
The game is said to push the boundaries of superhero adventure, creating a dark atmosphere and diverse gameplay. Finding himself trapped in Gotham city's psychiatric hospital, Batman has to fight off the insane inmates, that have struck a deal with the Joker to eliminate Batman.
Stunning graphics and a whole host of characters will see you battling the likes of Poison Ivy, Bane and the Scarecrow. Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy play Batman and the Joker respectively, in this great adventure featuring an original story written by the Emmy award winning Paul Dini, who wrote Lost and Batman: The Animated Series.
It looks to be very exciting and we will have a review for you asap! for more information about Batman: Arkham Asylum please visit: www.batmanarkhamasylum.com
Saab have released images of their new 9-5 saloon, Franfurt does look to be a really good motorshow this year.
Claiming to be a new era for Saab, the new 9-5 features Scandinavian design taken from Aero X concept that they revealed last year.
The new Saab brings a whole host of new technology from their Harman Kardon audio system, to the new head-up display in the signature Saab green.
Obvious design cues are the new lights, grille and the 'cockpit' style wrap-around windscreen, reminding everyone of Saab's aviation history.
Personally, I think it's definitely a step in the right direction for the brand and looks cool. Plus, it's always nice to see a brand not follow the crowd with design.
Volvo has made their XC60 even sexier! A beautiful car anyway, the XC60 has been made even sexier with the new release of the R-DESIGN.
The new trim level brings more aesthetic beauty to the car including metallic matte finished wing mirrors, rear skid-plate, side skirt plates and twin chrome tailpipes. Wheels are upgraded to 18" exclusive 5 spoke Cratus alloys, and a first offering of 20" alloys can also be specified.
Similar to the C30, the lower section of the car is colour matched, so no matte black bumpers, giving a lower impression of the car's stance, although ground clearance remains unchanged.
Inside the car, metal finishes are dominant, the steering wheel gets aluminium inserts, along with the centre console and door mouldings. Lastly, sports pedals in brushed aluminium with rubber grips complete the bling inside. To top it all off, the R-DESIGN signature emblem, engraved in the steering wheel, will be sure to remind you of just how sexy this new model looks.
Of course the R-DESIGN trim never just stops at styling. It brings new driving dynamics too, with the introduction of a stiffer chassis and tighter, more refined handling. All this without compromising on comfort.
I know I sound like a salesman for Volvo, being that they've only just announced the model. But I have never disliked a Volvo R-DESIGN yet, and I'm sure that this will be just as brilliant! I'm stupidly excited!
So here's an overview of what the new trim includes:
Exterior:
- Grille in silk metal finish with R-DESIGN badge - Door mirror housings in silk metal finish - Five-spoke 18-inch aluminium wheels - Cratus (20 inch optional) - Sill mouldings in aluminium look - Twin chromed tailpipes - Colour-matched lower body mouldings - Chrome-plated rear skid-plate with black mesh - Sport chassis - 7 body colours to choose between including the R-DESIGN unique colour Passion Red
Interior:
- Sport seats for great cornering support and comfort - Unique upholstery in smooth leather with a choice of two colour combinations: off-black with soft beige inserts or vice versa - Embossed R-DESIGN emblem in the front backrests
- Watch Dial instrument with blue gauges, unique to the R-Design model
- R-DESIGN sports steering wheel trimmed in perforated leather - Sports pedals in aluminium - R-DESIGN centre stack trim with a new décor pattern - Gear selector trimmed with perforated leather
Hyundai have released the first image of their new replacement for the Tucson, the ix35! Showcasing their new 'fluidic sculpture' design language.
Design from the ix35 will be brought over into the rest of the model line up, the most noticable feature being the pronounced hexagonal grille.
With a smaller footprint than any other SUV in the sector, the Hyundai is aimed at people looking for more stylish alternatives than conventional cars.
However, I cant help but think it looks very similar the Ford Kuga! Regardless, it's a sexy looking SUV and gives Hyundai something to boast about at Frankfurt this year, where the ix35 will make it's debut.
.
sexy! 
.
.
