Toyota Corolla 2014 Previewed with Furia Concept

The all-new 2014 Toyota Corolla is still several months away, but the Japanese carmaker is keen to show off the future styling direction for their bread-and-butter compact sedan, with the unveiling of the Furia concept at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.

2014 Toyota Corolla Furia Concept

2014 Toyota Corolla to be Unveiled Before the LA Auto Show

It’s a great-looking concept, but it’s too obvious that most of the styling ideas won’t show up in the conservative Corolla, such as those 19-inch alloys and the LED tail lamps. It is slightly longer and lower than the current model, with a longer wheelbase for more interior space. No specs have been released.

2014 Toyota Corolla Furia Concept

2014 Toyota Corolla Furia Concept

Toyota Furia Concept 2014 Toyota Corolla Sedan

2014 Toyota Corolla Furia Concept

Expect the actual 2014 Toyota Corolla to debut by the winter of 2013, with a gradual release in UAE, Saudi and other GCC markets by early next year.

2013 Renault Twin-Run Concept

The rumors were true: Renault’s new Twin’Run concept, which debuted today at the Monaco Grand Prix, does channel the spirit of the wild Renault 5 Turbo rally car of the 1980s.

Renault has hinted that the Twin’Run ties in with a string of concept cars dating back to the 2010 De’Zir, but this latest concept has more in common with the Twin’Z show car unveiled earlier this year. Although that car was a five-door battery-electric vehicle, it still drew its inspiration from the old Renault 5 subcompact. The Twin’Run – which bears a close resemblance to the Twin’Z – does the same, but specifically the 5 Turbo: a rear-engined, Alpine-assembled monster originally created for Group B rally racing.

Renault Twinrun Concept

The Twin’Run’s shape and surfacing is almost identical to the Twin’Z, but a little more muscular and aggressive. The front fascia boasts a large, open lower air intake, and is topped with four square LED driving lights. The 5 Turbo’s blistering rear fenders are nowhere to be found, but large air intakes are tucked into the C-pillars, giving a hint to its mid-engine configuration.

Renault TwinRun Concept Front Three Quarters View on Track

With the exception of the carbon fiber roof and wheel wells, the Twin’Run’s bodywork is fabricated out of fiberglass and then draped upon a bespoke tube-frame chassis. That framework is especially evident within the interior, despite Renault’s attempts at dressing up the cabin. A rounded, white instrument panel echoes the shape of the original R5 Turbo’s but boasts a large, multi-function LCD panel that replaces most mechanical gauges. The dashboard and door panels are trimmed in red Alcantara, while the bucket seats use the same faux-suede albeit in three different shades. Vive les 80s.

Renault TwinRun concept side view

The cockpit is separated from the engine compartment by means of a plexiglass panel located just aft of the front seats. Unlike the R5 Turbo, the Twin’Run doesn’t use a small four-cylinder engine – or, for that matter, forced induction. Instead, Nissan’s VQ35 3.5-liter V-6 – the same engine found once found in the 350Z and Infiniti G35 — is planted amidship, and mated with a six-speed sequential gearbox. Power is then routed through a limited-slip differential to the rear wheels.

Renault Twin'Run Concept

Renault says the 3.5-liter V-6 serves up 320 hp and 380 Nm of torque. That sounds somewhat pedestrian until you consider the Twin’Z is almost the exact same size of a Fiat 500, and tips the scales at 2100 pounds – 400 pounds less than a 500 Abarth. That crazy power-to-weight ratio allows for a 0-62 mph time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. And, despite placing a large V-6 in the tail, the Twin’Run boasts a relatively even 43/57 front/rear weight distribution.

That’s pretty cool, but is it a proper successor to the R5 Turbo? According to Jean Ragnotti, former R5 rally racer and the man Renault hired to tune the Twin’Run’s handling, it certainly is.

“I’d say this is a sound car with a sound pedegree,” Ragnotti dished in a prepared press release. “It’s easy to control. All we need to sharpen our attacking edge a bit more are racing tires. There’s a slight roll but no understeer. There’s excellent traction with a responsive engine delivering full power at all revs, and with more torque than the R5 Turbo. [That] makes it particularly efficient and easy to drive, unlike the R5, which required more technique.”

That said, don’t expect this to follow in the R5 Turbo’s footsteps and become a production – or rally – reality in the near future.

2013 Skoda Rapid Sport Concept

Škoda Rapid Sport shows off the power of the Skoda design as well as the Rapid's inherent possibilities. The result is a vehicle full of dynamism and sportiness. The vehicle is painted in the metallic colors 'Corrida Red' and 'Steel Gray'. The sports car sits on massive 19" alloy wheels. The front of the vehicle impresses with spoilers and a powerful air intake in the skirt. Generously dimensioned fenders and massive rocker panels underscore the appearance of the vehicle.

2013 Skoda Rapid Sport Concept

2013 Skoda Rapid Sport Concept

2013 Skoda Rapid Sport Concept

2013 Skoda Rapid Sport Concept

Other sporty accents are the rear with a voluminous bumper and two integrated exhaust tailpipes. The rear lights in the 'C'-shaped design typical for the brand show a contrasting color. A circumferential carbon frame completes the bottom section. The sporty layout continues in the interior of the car, for example with a sport-type steering wheel, Recaro seats and illuminated door sills.

2013 Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept

Aston Martin is celebrating its centenary in world-class style with the debut of the exceptional Aston Martin CC100 Speedster Concept.
Created as a stunning celebration of the great British brand's 100 years of sports car excellence the one-off CC100 looks both to the past and the DBR1 - Aston Martin's greatest sporting triumph on the track - and to the future with its teasing glimpses of potential future design direction.

2013 Aston Martin CC100 Speedster concept front view

The 6.0-litre V12-powered concept car made its world debut by completing a lap of the famous Nordschleife at Germany's ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring race. It is lapping the circuit together with the 1000km race-winning 1959 DBR1 with British racing legend Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel. It is the most tangible expression yet of the brand's year-long 2013 centenary celebrations.

2013 Aston Martin CC100 Speedster concept front three quarters view

Viewed by tens of thousands of lucky spectators in Germany, the radical speedster is being driven today by Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez. He said: "CC100 is the epitome of everything that is great about Aston Martin. It represents our fantastic sporting heritage, our exceptional design capability, our superb engineering know-how and, above all, our adventurous spirit!

"I have nicknamed it 'DBR100' because of its affinity to the great 1959 race-winning cars and, of course, our 100-year anniversary in 2013.

2013 Aston Martin CC100 Speedster concept side view

"But this car is more, even, than a simple 'birthday present' to ourselves: it shows that the soul of Aston Martin - the thing that differentiates us from all the other car makers out there - is as powerful as ever and I very much hope that everyone who catches a glimpse of it at the Nürburgring today enjoys seeing it."

Designed and constructed in fewer than six months at Aston Martin's global headquarters in Gaydon, working with key supplier Multimatic Inc, under the leadership of Special Projects and Motorsport Director David King, the finished look of the two-seater CC100 is the work of Design Director Marek Reichman working alongside the brand's Chief Exterior Designer Miles Nurnberger.

2013 Aston Martin CC100 Speedster concept rear three quarters view

Miles explained: "The brief was very simple, yet enormously testing: create something that reflects the 100 years of Aston Martin heritage and signals the future of the brand.

"The idea of an iconic speedster concept that nods to the Le Mans − and Nürburgring - winning cars of 1959 soon came, and we have had complete freedom to shape this car."

Marek Reichman said: "I'm extremely proud of the entire team at Gaydon for creating this remarkable sports car concept in such a short time.

"The need to create a truly fitting tribute to 100 years of the Aston Martin brand has brought out the creativity and talent that makes Aston Martin such an exceptional luxury sports car maker."

Measuring almost four and a half metres nose to tail, and more than two metres wide (including mirrors) the Speedster Concept body is a classic example of the almost infinitely flexible nature of Aston Martin's trademark Vertical Horizontal engineering philosophy.

With a body and interior crafted from carbon fibre, tooled and provided by low volume specialists Multimatic, the Aston Martin CC100 utilises the latest generation AM11 naturally aspirated V12 gasoline engine mated to a six-speed hydraulically actuated automated sequential manual transmission. Controlled via steering column-mounted paddle shifts the lightweight 'box delivers truly sporting changes perfectly suited to the Speedster's track-focused nature.

The drivetrain will power the Aston Martin CC100 from rest to 62 mph in a little over four seconds, while the top speed is limited to 180 mph.

Dr Bez added: "The future of Aston Martin is, very clearly, more exciting now than perhaps at any time in its history and I'm looking forward to seeing the excitement and anticipation that CC100 creates among Aston Martin owners and enthusiasts worldwide."

2013 Buick Riviera Concept

Six years after its last concept coupe, Buick unveiled a new Riviera concept car this morning on the eve of the 2013 Shanghai auto show. 

Much like the gullwinged Riviera concept of 2007, this new Riviera concept is a long, and sensuous two-door coupe. Like that concept, this new Riviera is also the handiwork of GM’s design team based at its Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center in Shanghai. 

The automaker says the concept not only pays homage to its 110th birthday, but also looks toward its future.

“The new Riviera offers a preview of Buick’s future design language…and heralds the start of a new chapter for the 110-year-old Buick brand,” Ye Yongming, president of Shanghai GM, said in a prepared statement.

2014 Honda M Concept

Honda has unveiled a new MPV concept known as Honda Concept M at the Auto Shanghai 2013. The world premiere of this model previews a  production vehicle that is about to go on sale in 2014. As Honda says, this concept is aimed at the buyers of MPVs in the Chinese market which, at present, largely constitutes commercial vehicles.

The concept M was designed by the Honda engineers in Japan but developed mainly for the Chinese market. It’s clear from their launches today that Honda are thriving to expand their segment growth in a vast country like China. The MPV is stunning in appearance and it glows along with the LED flashes up front.

The grille on the nose has undergone no nonsense treatment.  It is simple yet elegant like the gleaming headlights. Those black alloys are the coolest feature out there with more effort put on making the rear look as good as the front. But, it remains to be seen if these features would be carried over to the production model.

The body lines run deeper from one door to the other and the mirrors are cleverly crafted. If a derivative of this car comes out next year, we wish to see the styling being carried over from the Concept M for a every good reason.

2013 Hyundai HND-9 Concept

Hyundai Motor Co., the fastest-growing automaker by brand, staged a world-premiere of the Hyundai HND-9 Concept, its latest luxury sports coupe concept that illustrates the company's future design direction, at the 2013 Seoul Motor Show.

2013 Hyundai HND-9 Concept

2013 Hyundai HND-9 Concept

2013 Hyundai HND-9 Concept

2013 Hyundai HND-9 Concept

2013 Hyundai HND-9 Concept

"HND-9 will give customers a glimpse of Hyundai's future luxury sports coupe models," said Suk-Geun Oh, head of Hyundai Design Center. "Representing an evolution of Hyundai's 'Fluidic Sculpture' design philosophy, the rear-wheel drive sports coupe concept balances high performance with a sophisticated image." The concept was unveiled at the 2013 Seoul Motor Show.

The Hyundai HND-9 Concept is the ninth concept model developed by the Hyundai Motor Group's R&D Center in Namyang, Korea. Based on a modern reinterpretation of an elegant, classic premium sports coupe, sophisticated details in every design element of the car reinforce a premium look. The vehicle, with its dramatic, long hood and wheelbase, has an overall length of 4,695mm, width of 1,890mm and height of 1,340mm with a 2,860mm wheelbase.

Equipped with 3.3-liter turbo GDi engine and 8-speed auto transmission, HND-9 delivers a maximum output of 370ps, while its exterior design exudes a befitting image of the powerful performance.

Fluidic yet sleek character lines that stretch from headlamp to trunk, voluminous, powerful car body and a striking, wide hexagonal-shaped radiator grille enhance the vehicle's high performance image.

Moreover, butterfly doors, sculptural rear combination lamps, and dual tailpipes placed on both sides, give the car a sleek, futuristic look. Twenty-two inch alloy wheels - mixed with carbon materials - also contribute to great styling, while lowering its weight.

Like its exterior, the interior styling of the Hyundai HND-9 Concept was designed to deliver a modern, luxurious driving experience. Three key concepts were embedded into the interior design to realize this goal: spiral sculpture, elegance and high-tech interface.

Based on the spiral sculpture concept - derived from Hyundai's Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy - dynamic and distinctive spiral-shaped metal lines frame the entire interior in a speedy and rhythmical way, creating a unique layout.

The seats are made of sporty yet luxurious mesh, and depending on which angle they are seen from, they project different colors, exuding elegance and mystique. The driver-oriented, high-tech interface is modeled after a cockpit, offering both improved functionality and aesthetics, optimized for dynamic driving.

Opel Brings Adam Rocks and R2 Rallye Concepts to the Geneva Motor Show

As it turns out, ItalDesign's pair of Parcour concepts aren't the only studies making their debut at the Geneva Motor Show that are inspired by parkour athletes, as Opel claims the same about its new Adam Rocks, though, we'll take the former any time of the day and night if anybody is offering keys, thank you very much.

If you want the short story –and we're guessing you probably do, the Adam Rocks is a concept that gives Opel's premium a little more character by blending styling elements from crossovers with a large retractable fabric top.

The Adam-based model features a 15mm higher and 40mm wider stance, along with new body cladding, redesigned bumpers and a fresh set of wheels, and yes, Opel is likely considering a production model for the near future.

The second Opel Adam concept is the R2 Rallye that follows the "CUP" version launched in November of 2012. It is based on FIA R2 regulations R2 and is powered by a 1.6-liter ECOTEC gasoline engine generating 182hp (185PS / 136kW) and peak torque of 190Nm.

Following its homologation, the ADAM R2 will be eligible for every national championship in Europe. "All 40 vehicles that Opel planned to race in Germany and France have already been sold and are in the hands of their proud owners,” said new Opel CEO, Karl-Thomas Neumann.

Mitsubishi's Bootylicious GR-HEV Concept is an L200 Pickup from the Future

One of the two previously-teased Mitsubishi concepts featuring some kind of electric power, is the GR-HEV. What it does is to grant us a glimpse into the brand's future design direction, and most likely (very loosely) previews the next generation L200 pickup.

It is quite handsome, for the type of vehicle it is, and if they don't tone it down too much in its transition from concept to production, then it may even attract some style-conscious buyers, who will be more attracted by its rugged good looks, and the idea behind it, not the necessity of having five seats and a big flatbed on the back.

Rugged good looks aside, the GR-HEV is also interesting from a powertrain point of view, as it offers a diesel-electric hybrid along with the firm's Super All Wheel Control system, or S-AWC. No real technical details are available, other than its very low CO2 emissions figure of 149 g/km – an impressive feat for a vehicle of this bulk.

The concept will made its debut at the Geneva International Motor Show.

Toyota Conceptualizes New RAV4 and Auris Touring Sports Models in Geneva

Joining the three-wheel i-Road and FT-86 Open concepts at Toyota's Geneva motor show booth, are three new design studies based on the Japanese brand's new Auris Touring Sports and RAV4 models. According to Toyota, each one was created to individualize and amplify certain aspects of the car's character.

 

We'll begin our tour with the RAV4 Adventure designed to emphasize the SUV's off-road capabilities. Painted in a dark red finish, the Adventure study features extended wheel arches that accommodate larger 20-inch alloy wheels shod in off-road tires, and redesigned front and rear bumpers finished in matt paint and fitted with reworked skid plates.

Rounding out the changes are the machined roof rails, a different front grille, chunkier side sills and quad exhaust pipes integrated into the rear bumper.

As you can tell by its name, the RAV4 Premium is all about luxury and a more sophisticated look, starting with the exterior that is painted in a bespoke 'Deep Bronze' color, while also gaining chrome trims and roof rails, 20-inch alloy wheels and newly designed bumpers. Inside, the cabin is dressed in two-tone leather with two-tone double stitching used in several areas.

The third and final study is the Auris Touring Sports Black that stands out thanks to its 'Night Sky' black metallic paint finish, which contrasts with the red and black 19-inch alloy wheels, and the red inserts on the front and rear end, while there's also a new central exhaust pipe design.

The same color scheme can be found inside, with black leather surfaces and double red stitching featured on the sport seats, steering wheel, door panels, dashboard, gear shift lever and handbrake. Furthermore, Alcantara is used to cover the interior pillars and for the roof lining, while red is the feature color for the instrument panel illumination and the finish on the air vents and cup holders.

Italdesign Presents Lamborghini V10-Powered Parcour Concepts

Even Italdesign can't stray away from the SUV-mindset that has taken over the Volkswagen Group lately. At the Geneva Motor Show, the Italian design house, which passed into the ownership of the VW Group in 2010, will debut two new concept models for a high-performance crossover running on Lamborghini power.

Named  after the modern sport of Parcour (or Parkour) that's focused on moving around urban obstacles with speed, Italdesign developed both a coupe and a roadster version of the concept, which combines elements of crossovers and sports cars, wrapped in an outfit that could easily pass for a Lamborghini model.

Both cars offer space for two people and are fitted with a 542hp (550PS) 5.2-liter V10 engine sourced from the Lamborghini Gallardo mounted behind the passenger compartment. A 7-speed double-clutch automatic automatic transmission drives all four wheels (on 22-inch rims).

The concepts measure 4,530mm long, 2,070mm wide and 1,335mm high, and tip the scales at 1,550kg or about 3,417 pounds.

Italdesign quotes a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 320km/h (199mph).