Toyota's NS4 concept

Toyota's NS4 advanced plug-in hybrid concept that was unveiled this week at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit is the brainchild of Toyota engineers who were given the task of designing a new mid-size concept for potential launch in markets worldwide by 2015. While the NS4 concept is a dedicated plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), Toyota says it isn't part of its Prius family, with a next-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive plug-in system that is not only smaller and lighter, but is also more fuel efficient, boasts better acceleration and a longer all-electric range than the current system.




Connectivity

Claiming that connected vehicles are the third fastest growing technological device behind smartphones and tablets, Toyota has developed the NS4 concept with a heavy focus on connectivity. Its Human-Machine Interface (HMI) is built around a multi-touch screen that takes its lead in the look and usability departments from a smartphone and acts as a hub for displaying information and controlling the car's multimedia, air conditioning, battery-charge and navigation functions. Toyota says the HMI system is also able to learn driver preferences and habits and anticipate driver responses in certain situations.

New Bentley V-8 debuts in Detroit

Way back when Bentley unveiled the 2011 Continental GT in September 2010, it mentioned that a V-8 version was on the way. The version was originally slated for a late-2011 debut but got bumped back to this month's 2012 North American International Auto Show.


For years, Bentley vehicles have been defined by the 12-cylinder engine, an engine that Bentley is still committed to even with the rise of more fuel-efficient paradigms. While the 6.0-liter twin-turbo W-12-powered Continental GT is one of the least efficient cars on the road, Bentley did make some baby steps by equipping the latest iteration of the engine with flex-fuel capabilities. The current-generation W-12 puts out 567-hp and is able to run on traditional gas or E85 bioethanol.

Tata presents $20,000 eMO

You could be forgiven for thinking that an electric car called the eMO would be dark-colored, inspire sulkiness in its drivers, and play nothing but My Chemical Romance on its stereo. In this case, however, eMO stands for "Electric MObility study," which is just what India's Tata Technologies designed the concept car as - a study in practical, cost-effective electric city/urban transportation. The vehicle is currently on display at the North American International Auto Show as part of this year's Michelin Challenge Design exhibit, in which participants were asked to design "a personal, ground-based vehicle that can transport between two and 10 people, meeting the anticipated needs of select cities in 2046."

The eMO was designed in a collaboration between engineers from Tata's four international centers of excellence, located in Pune (India), Detroit, Coventry, and Stuttgart. They sought to minimize its exterior footprint while maximizing interior space, which resulted in a car that can seat four adults, or that can carry cargo with the back seats folded down.

Chrysler's 700C concept

Chrysler showed an interesting concept without much fanfare at Detroit's NAIAS this week. The 700C is being evaluated by Chrysler as the design direction for the next generation minivan. It's a bold effort to give some style to the boxy people mover market and public opinion will now decide if the angled B-pillar and huge wheels will see production.

My understanding is that the 700C was a last minute addition to the show, and was produced entirely without supporting literature or showcards so that people could make their own mind up on the design and its benefits.

Hondas small familly car

Honda's new N Box platform was purpose built for Japanese domestic market Kei car regulations - the idea was to create a comfortable, spacious passenger environment for four adults using the available real estate of a minicar platform. The whole N Box package is designed to be customised and the Wa Concept, which took a bow today in Tokyo, has patent leather seats and a traditional Japanese lacquerware exterior. It's gorgeous!

While the Wa is a beautiful example of what can be done with the blank N Box canvas, the minicar-sized microvan is extraordinary by design.

Honda has been able to create a primary vehicle that can carry four people in comfort, even over a long distance, at vastly reduced cost in comparison to a traditional vehicle. The base US$16,000 micro passenger van which went on sale last month in Japan, uses a 660cc CVT drive train to return 52 mpg.

Considering the lengths Chrysler and Fiat have gone to in achieving 40 mpg - it's not quite as spacious but it costs the same price as the Dodge Dart and achieves 25% better mileage.

Michael Schumacher in Ferrari FXX Burnouts & Accelerations!!

Porsche Cayman S vs 997 GT3

Porsche’s 911 GT3 R Hybrid Version 2.0

Last year in the Nürburgring 24 Hour race, Porsche's 911 GT3 R Hybrid held the lead for more than eight hours before problems unrelated to the hybrid system saw it relegated through the field. The organizer of the event thought the performance potential of the vehicle was so auspicious that for this year it crippled the rear-mounted petrol engine's performance to just 448 bhp. So Porsche built a completely new vehicle to the same design around the new regulations, lowered the weight, upped the electrical drive to the front wheels to 200 bhp and set out to run the same lap times. Not only did it achieve the same lap times, it delivered even better fuel consumption, and four hours after the start of this year's race, it hit the lead once more ...

It's not surprising that the car cruised into the lead at this year's race around the "green hell", given the additional front wheel torque to haul the car out of corners and a quartet of Porsche works drivers - Joerg Bergmeister (Germany), Richard Lietz (Austria), Marco Holzer (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) - but once again fate played a role and although the hybrid system functioned perfectly, unrelated problems crippled the challenge.

BMW unveils more powerful yet fuel efficient fifth generation M5

Following the appearance of the Concept M5 in April, BMW has released details of the new M5 that is expected to go on sale later this year. The fifth generation of BMW's flagship high-performance saloon will be the first vehicle to feature the newly developed BMW M V8 engine that propels the car from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.4 seconds, 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in 13 seconds, before topping out at 250 km/h (155 mph) or 305 km/h (190 mph) with the optional M Driver's Package. But alongside the impressive performance stats, BMW is also touting the improved fuel efficiency of the new M5.The new M5's M division-developed twin-turbocharged, 4.4 liter V8 develops 412 kW/560 hp at 6,000-7,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 680 Nm (502 lb-ft) from 1,500 rpm. Although BMW says the engine output is 10 percent up on the previous model M5 and the maximum torque has increased by 30 percent, the new M5 manages to cut fuel consumption by more than 30 percent over the previous M5, coming in at a combined figure of 9.9 liters/100 km (28.5 mpg), thanks to the inclusion of systems such as Auto Start-Stop and Brake Energy Regeneration.

Engine variants revealed for MINI Coupé

The move from concept vehicle to production vehicle is almost becoming standard practice for Mini. So much so that when the company first unveiled the Mini Coupé concept vehicle alongside the Roadster concept vehicle at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, it was made clear the Coupé would be going into production. Mini subsequently announced a 2011 release date and, true to its word, the Coupé will be hitting showrooms this year, while the soft-top Roadster topless version is set to be released early next year.

The Mini Coupé will be the first two-seater to join the current Mini line - although some will argue the rear seats on the existing models couldn't really be considered seats by anyone with legs. The company says the chassis set-up of the Coupé has been designed to take the Mini's "go-kart" handling to a new level with what Mini says are the best performance statistics ever for a volume-produced Mini. The company says measures to enhance the rigidity of the Coupé's body have also resulted in the car's weight balance being shifted slightly forward to improve front wheel traction.

The Coupé sits 29 mm (1.1 in) lower than current Mini models and features a distinctive "helmet roof" with integrated roof spoiler. It is also the first Mini with an active rear spoiler that extends automatically at 80 km/h (50 mph).

The Coupé is due to hit showrooms in August with the Roadster due for a February 2012 release. It's unclear whether the Roadster will come in the same engine variants as the Coupé - the details of which are listed below.

MINI John Cooper Works Coupé: Four-cylinder petrol engine with twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection, plus numerous technological details carried over directly from motor sport. Displacement: 1,598 cc, output: 155 kW/211 hp at 6,000 rpm, max. torque: 260 Nm/192 lb-ft at 1,850 - 5,600 rpm (280 Nm/207 lb-ft with Overboost at 1,700 - 4,500 rpm). Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 6.4 seconds, top speed: 240 km/h (149 mph). Average fuel consumption according to EU standard: 7.1 liters per 100 kilometers (39.8 mpg imp), CO2 emissions: 165 g/km.

MINI Cooper S Coupé: Four-cylinder petrol engine with twin-scroll turbocharger, direct injection and fully variable valve management based on the BMW Group's VALVETRONIC technology. Displacement: 1,598 cc, output: 135 kW/184 hp at 5,500 rpm, max. torque: 240 Nm/177 lb-ft at 1,600 - 5,000 rpm (260 Nm/192 lb-ft with Overboost at 1,700 - 4,500 rpm). Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 6.9 seconds, top speed: 230 km/h (143 mph). Average fuel consumption according to EU standard: 5.8 liters per 100 kilometers (48.7 mpg imp), CO2 emissions: 136 g/km.

MINI Cooper Coupé: Four-cylinder petrol engine with fully variable valve management based on the BMW Group's VALVETRONIC technology. Displacement: 1,598 cc, output: 90 kW/122 hp at 6,000 rpm, max. torque: 160 Nm/118 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm, Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 9.0 seconds, top speed: 204 km/h (127 mph), Average fuel consumption according to EU standard: 5.4 liters per 100 kilometers (52.3 mpg imp), CO2 emissions: 127 g/km.

MINI Cooper SD Coupé: Four-cylinder turbodiesel with aluminum crankcase, common-rail injection and variable turbine geometry. Displacement: 1,995 cc, output: 105 kW/143 hp at 4,000 rpm, max. torque: 305 Nm/225 lb-ft at 1,750 - 2,700 rpm. Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 7.9 seconds, top speed: 216 km/h (134 mph). Average fuel consumption according to EU standard: 4.3 liters per 100 kilometers (65.7 mpg imp), CO2 emissions: 114 g/km.