Big car manufacturers are finding it tough going in the current financial climate. FACT. Even these huge powerhouses of industrial might have seen sales slump and investment shrink. Now imagine you run a small operation that specialise in small volume machines. All of a sudden that “slump in sales” becomes a cardiac arrest. That is what has happened to German performance car manufacturer Gumpert.
The makers of the wickedly fast Apollo supercars, Gumpert, have gone bust. After a failed attempt to branch out into the growing Chines premium car market, the company were rescued by an investor with the capital to get the the production line fired up again. However, today it is a with heavy heart that we report the death of Gumpert. A drop in sales led to the investor pulling out and the brand with nowhere to go.
The Apollo was never a very pretty car, but it was a damn fast one that gave even the big boys a run for their money.
Volvo are very much leading the way when it comes to the motor cars technological advancement. Already with a reputation for pioneering new safety features, the future of the company is one that is very exciting. The new Volvo Concept Coupe shown at the Frankfurt motor show is the embodiment of a modern day Volvo wrapped in a sleek coupe package.
The Concept Coupe could be seen as a re-imagining of the classic P1800 with its coupe body style and clean design. Its design language foreshadows that of future models including the up and coming XC90. Inside the cabin you are surrounded by the latest tech and bathed in blue LED lighting. The console is dominated by a large touch screen that plugs directly into a system that will actively steer the car to avoid accidents. This concept is superseded by a 2.0 litre turbo and supercharged engine that powers the front wheels as well as an electric motor that drives the rear wheels. Total output of the system is 395BHP and 442lb ft of torque.
The Nissan Juke really started something with its funky jacked up hatchback. Though its bold styling was not to everyones taste, it does turn heads are for those looking for a small high riding car with a bit of attitude, it was an attractive niche. As always, when something proves popular others join in the fun and now it is Kia’s turn.
Though not slated for production, this Kia Niro Concept will help shape the companies future design direction in terms of a crossover. Featuring swan doors and chunky tyres, the Niro does look rather unique. Said to be design with European tastes in mind, the bold appearance continues a succession of very stylish cars from Kia. The car shall make its debut at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show.
MPV. Those three letters are possibly the least attractive in the alphabet and when put together represent a host of rather dull people movers that are all function and no fun. The original S-Max bucked that trend and offered a stylish way to ferry the family around, however, its competitors don’t exactly give it a hard time in that department. A new S-Max is just around the corner and Ford have done a damn good job at making it the best looking MPV we have ever seen.
The new Ford S-Max Concept is a real looker! It is sleek and modern with flowing lines that just demand onlookers attention. Though officially a concept, this car is very close to what the finished car shall look like. A stocky stance as well as elongated windows give the new S-Max a very sporty appearance. Inside it is a premium affair with all surfaces being highly sculpted. Seating 5, this concept car is powered by a 1.5 litre four cylinder engine.
Sometimes there are those tasks in life which just make your day that little bit harder than necessary. Posting a letter when you have no stamps. Opening a jar when the lid just will not budge. Parking your car when the pace is only just big enough. Ford may be able to help you out with that last one thanks to their innovative Active Park Assist.
Accompanied by this rather comical advert, which if you have ever visited France you will know it to be not far from the truth, Ford’s Active Park Assist scans for a space that is large enough for your car and will then park all by itself. Magic! Well, not quite but it is very clever how the car uses its parking sensors to detect how close other vehicles are whilst it reverses into the space. All you have to do is cover the brake and let the computer do the rest. Sounds like science fiction doesn’t it? Well you don’t require the starship Enterprise for this option, simply a car with a Ford badge…
Watch the pinball video along with the blue ovals other “remarkable technologies” campaigns. Fords motto of “Go Further” is embodied in the new tech that is no longer a fantasy, but can now be found in your own car. Thought of something you want your automobile to do? Visit Ford.com and share your ideas there. You never know, the boffins at Ford might think it is a very good idea!
If you are an endurance racing fan you will know all about Peugeots exit from the series. The team that took on Audi and won were literally at the airport to go racing when Peugeot big-wigs pulled the plug on the program in an effort to save money in troubled times for the manufacturer. That left Peugeot with a fully developed racing car loaded with cutting edge technology that no longer had a purpose. Some of it found its way into the impressive Onyx concept car, however, the real world feasibility of such a machine was next to zero. So how do Peugeot make the most out of all the R&D data the defunct 908 racer gathered? The answer is the 208 Hybrid FE.
Utilising the engineers from the racing program Peugeot have created a plausible road car that produces some biblical figures. This 208 can achieve 141.2MPG and emit less than 50g/km of CO2! That is a real milestone in terms of efficiency and it is possible through the use of the racers hybrid system and a reworked 68BHP 1.0 litre engine. You might think that with that little engine this car will bit a tad on the weedy side, but you would be wrong. 0-62MPH is completed in 8 seconds which almost halves the 14 seconds of the standard car. Aerodynamics are key to the FE’s efficiency with a redesigned rear end and a completely flat floor. Bespoke tyres, suspension, transmission, extensive uses of carbon fibre and a narrower rear track all play a part in this concept.
It has to be said that some Vauxhalls do not lead their class aesthetically as their focus is more on good value utilitarian transportation. Two things that will be prominent in the brands future are smaller engines and a new design language. Bringing back a nameplate from the past and pairing it with these future aspirations reveals the Vauxhall Monza Concept.
It is quite something to look at isn’t it? Arguably one of the prettiest cars to wear a Vauxhall badge, this highly styled low slung concept features details that will feature on future models. The wide premium grill and sculpted body lines define the shape, but do not expect to see those gullwing doors in a showroom anytime soon. Inside is a vast cabin seating four, that thanks to those aforementioned doors, is not obstructed by a b-pillar. Its engine is a 1.0 SIDI turbo unit that is an evolution of that found in the Ampera.
Hybridisation of high volume cars is becoming more and more common as pairing an electric motor to a conventional combustion engine is a good way to improve efficiency. BMW are really focusing on the green market of late with their i range, but they haven’t forgotten about their remaining fleet. Based upon the new BMW X5, this is the eDrive Concept.
BMW’s X5 eDrive Concept is a plug-in hybrid that claims an impressive 74.3MPG. A battery that is stored in the boot floor can run the eDrive for 19 miles at up to 75MPH on pure electricity. BMW say that this concept can get from 0-62MPH in under 7 seconds as well as emit less than 90g/km of CO2.
With strict Euro emission laws lurking in the not too distant future, car manufacturers are having to do everything they can to reduce the CO2 output across their range. Even brands such as Range Rover must comply and hence we see the announcement of production hybrids for the first time in the companies history.
From 10th of September you can walk into your local dealership and place an order for either a Sport hybrid or a full fat Range Rover hybrid. Utilising a TDV6 diesel as well as an electric motor, the new cars output 335BHP and 516lb ft of torque. Despite the added weight of a battery pack, these cars will out accelerate their standard models. 44.1MPG has been quoted for both the Sport and Range Rover with both cars also capable of running on an all-electric mode up to 30MPH.
The Volkswagen Golf has impressed yet again in its MK7 incarnation which is commendable considering that its predecessor was such a complete machine. The GTI model again reaffirms this “peoples car” as a real contender in the hot-hatch arena, but these days VW can offer you something a little more spicy than the GTI. Enter the MK7 Golf R.
Let us not beat around the bush here… This car sends all 296BHP and 280lb ft of torque to all four wheels allowing for a 0-62MPH time of just 5.3 seconds in the manual model. What is even more impressive is that this Golf can do the very same in 4.9 seconds if you tick the automatic option. That is serious sports car territory! The best thing about this new MK7 VW Golf R? The fact that you can have all of this performance from its 2.0 litre turbocharged engine and at the end of the day it is still a VW Golf, meaning it is still capable of taking the kids to school, fitting the shopping in the boot and being reliable on long journeys.
