Topgear News

When friends check out Aaron Priest’s new Acura TL sedan, the oohs and aahs start on the inside.
Forget the powerful 3.5-liter, 286-horsepower engine; they’re more enthralled with the car’s rearview video camera and the in-dash voice-command system.

“The technology is what gets people the most,” said Priest, a 23-year-old lab technician at The Scripps Research Institute in San Diego. “They don’t really care anymore about what’s under the hood. It’s all about what’s in the car now.”

With the release of the first official images of the Volvo XC60 Concept, Volvo’s newest concept is set to take center stage at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. Integrating both the unmistakable, muscular XC-versatility and the sporty charisma of a coupe, the XC60 Concept is a preview of the new production Volvo XC60 that is planned to reach showrooms at the beginning of 2009.

“One might say that this could be the C30-owner’s next car; equally sporty and exciting, but with more cargo capacity. The XC60 Concept offers a good indication of how the “real” XC60 will look,” said Fredrik Arp, President and CEO at Volvo Cars.

Despite widespread rumours that the basic skeleton of the model shown here was a top-secret McLaren test car, the bare chassis is actually a technology mule for a group of University of Munich designers.

Unveiled at last week’s Essen Motor Show, the EHV - Experimental Handling Vehicle - has some heavyweight backers. Public investors include BMW, MINI, Mercedes, Audi, Brembo and Pirelli. They are all hoping that, in working together, they can develop cost-effective technology for use in a wide range of models.

Is It A Car, Auris It A Toyota?
(article by Jonathan Goddard, taken from pocket-lint.co.uk)

Revealed as a concept at the Paris Motor Show last month, it seems Toyota’s new Auris will be pushed into European service sooner than expected.

Details of the new C-segment vehicle were announced today, demonstrating a startling similarity in looks to the existing Corolla - the model which it will effectively replace. Built in Europe, the Auris will spearhead Toyota’s bold ambition of securing 1.2 million annual unit sales in the Euro zone by 2008.

Disguised examples of the stylish newcomer have already been spotted testing in Japan, but insiders have revealed the production car will closely follow the look of the show model. Its stubby profile and smooth surfaces will give the Endo a futuristic appear­ance - and help it become a more upmarket alternative to the Aygo.

Toyota’s des­igners drew inspiration from the Smart and the quirky Endo, but say their car’s novel styling eliminates the compromises these two models require

Nissan’s participation at the 61st International Motor Show at Hanover will see the world debut of an all-new Cabstar light truck, as well as a hybrid-powered Cabstar concept vehicle, a new range of engines on the new Atleon light truck, and enhancements to the Primastar and Interstar LCVs based on Renault/GM platforms.

Nissan has set ambitious commitments for its global LCV business, one of four breakthrough areas identified under the company’s Value-Up business plan. By fiscal year 2007, the company plans to double operating profit margin to 8% and increase volumes by 40% to 434,000 units worldwide compared with fiscal 2004.

News image Volkswagen unveiled a concept off-roader earlier this year and is now busy putting production versions of the car through testing.

These computer-generated images are based around the Concept A design study and spy shots of the car undergoing trials. They give a very good idea of what the car, already christened Tiguan by Volkswagen, will look like when it arrives in 2008.

The Tiguan is based around the Golf and will slot into the line-up underneath the existing Touareg. It’s a rival for compact 4×4s such as the Nissan X-trail, Toyota RAV4, new Land Rover Freelander and forthcoming Honda CR-V that will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September.