WheelTronix

Kia will demonstrate its fuel cell expertise in its Borrego in Los Angeles next week.

Its newest hydrogen-fuelled arrangement is fitted into the Borrego – a big US-market 4×4 – in which it contributes a top speed of 100mph and a choice between re-fuelling stops of over 425 miles.
The new FCEV arrangement has an improved output, with the fuel cell putting out 154bhp and new super capacitors furnishing an extra 134bhp. It can also run at lower temperatures, with start-up now no trouble lower than freezing point.

The Borrego FCEV is said to give over 50mpg, and to be able to do 0-62mph in 12.8 seconds, helped by weight decreases.

Ford is planning to provide 4 F-150 pick-up trucks for the SEMA show in Las Vegas next week.

The F-150 Heavy Duty Dewalt Contractor Concept is depicted as the ‘ultimate contractor’s truck’. It has a built-in charger for battery-operated tools, a tailor-made storage area below the second-row seats and a special toolbox.
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Vauxhall is working on an Ecoflex version of the Insignia competent to emit less than 140g/km of carbon dioxide.

The Insignia Ecoflex will have GM’s 160bhp 2.0 CDTi turbodiesel engine, and still be capable of 135mph and 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds. The engine has been raised with latest-generation piezo-electric fuel injection.
Aerodynamics have been enhanced with wing-shaped door mirrors, incomplete closing of the radiator grille, a flexible front spoiler lip, rounded-off front bumper corners, reshaped rear bumper edges and other tweaks. A by-product of this work is a quieter cabin with less intrusive wind noise.

The Insignia Ecoflex will be offered in both hatchback and saloon form, and sales will start in the second half of next year.

French coachbuilder Heuliez has exposed its Friendly – a plug-in electric city vehicle with a range of up to 140 miles and a top speed of 70mph.

The pint-sized car has three motors to choose from – 16, 18 and 25kilowatt – and they are  powered from a nickel metal hydride battery which can be charged from a household electricity supply. It is planned for city use but San Franciscans need not apply: the motor will not cope with any more than a 17% gradient. It can, however, be driven on motorways.
There are three versions available – short (2m 10cm), standard (2m 50cm) and long (2m 90cm). All variants are three-seaters with the front seat located dead centre, and the two rears set in the traditional way to form a triangular arrangement. The rear seats can be removed to create a larger load bay. With the rear seats folded down, the Short offers 850 litres of space, while the Long offers 1650 litres.

Skoda’s most triumphant model is receiving an modification with new headlamps, a new front grille and bumper, new tail lamp covers and a rear bumper with cat’s eye reflectors.

A new engine alternative links the range, the 1.4 TSI, and the turbo charged 1.4 and 1.8-litre petrol engines can be prearranged with the seven-speed automated-manual Direct Shift Gearbox transmission.
New upholstery fabrics are on put forward in all models, and the steering wheel, dashboard, trim, central console and ventilation controls have all been restyled. Front whiplash-reducing head controls are now standard, and adaptive xenon headlamps are available.

Mazda will uncover its next-generation 3 in saloon form at the Los Angeles Auto Show next month.

The 3 is being exposed at first as a saloon to charm the US market, but a more European-suited produce will follow shortly after.
Both versions dump the old car’s curves for a more angular appearance. The 3 is also lighter than before, with improvement in economy and performance, and includes Mazda’s new stop-start technology.

Star of the low-polluting engine series is accepted to be the new 2.2-litre diesel that will also be applied to power the Mazda 6 from the start of next year. The new engine is tipped to be obtainable in altering states of tune from 125bhp to a powerful 185bhp, which might star in a follow-up to the sporty GTI-style MPS.

The new Mazda 3 goes on sale early next year.

The Mazda Kiyora is a sample of the Mazda 1 city car, planned for manufacture early next decade.

The ultra-aerodynamic and super-efficient Kiyora also presents Mazda’s next-generation, four-cylinder, and direct-injection petrol engine with stop-start technology.
The Kiyora uses an all-new lightweight platform deduced from that of the Mazda 2 supermini, and predicts fantabulous crash safety. It has an assortment of gadgets and gizmos to charm to younger buyers in particular.

Chrysler is screening special-edition Jeep Compass and Grand Voyager models at this week’s Paris Motor Show, in addition to the Jeep Patriot Back Country.

The Compass Overland, like the Commander and Grand Cherokee Overland edition models already on sale, is a top-specification model.
Additional communications kit, a high-spec stereo, special styling details and unique embroidered seats are all included. Chrysler is also celebrating 25 years since the launching of its first Voyager MPV with a 25th Anniversary Edition Grand Voyager model.
This comes with special badging, a dark grey interior with black wood trim, satin-finish details and leather upholstery, 17″ alloy wheels, chrome side moldings, and a roof-rack with crossbars.
Chrysler has also declared that its dual-clutch transmission will now be available in Europe in the Avenger and Sebring. It works in combination with the 2.0-litre diesel engine, and offers better fuel economy than a traditional automatic gearbox.

After much bugging from Lamborghini over its all-new concept car, here is the complete thing – and it is said to be close to production.

The Estoque is a long-rumored four-door Lamborghini, a 2+2 seater to rival the likes of the Aston Martin Rapide and the Porsche Panamera.
Its extra rear doors are subtle. It is also lightweight and is built around an aluminum space frame structure similar to that of the Audi A8.

Lamborghini has fixed this four-wheel-drive Estoque idea with the 5.2-litre, 560bhp V10 as used in the Gallardo LP 560-4, instead of the Murcielago’s V12, though numerous other engines from the Volkswagen-Audi Group could have been used in the production vehicle – even the V12 TDI diesel as in the latest range-topping Q7, a smaller V8, or a hybrid powertrain system. The Estoque is planned for production in 2010, with annual sales of 3000.

More images about this great ride can be found on this page.
Images thanks to Autoblog.

More wallpapers about Lamborghini’s can be found here.

Zagato will be presenting the Bentley Continental GT Speed based car on the autoshow in Genève. Zagato, an Italian design company created a whole new face and a remarkable rear end for this car. It has to be a big scoop, but it isn’t anymore. To bad for them, but great news for us to post about it. Here the Bentley Zagato GTZ!

Click on the images for a bigger view:

It isn’t the first time Zagato had a big scoop, in 2006 the released a really exclusive car for a Japanese owner. This Japanese men is owner of several exclusive cars like the 166M, 250 Spider California, two Daytonas and an Enzo. All collectors items, but that wasn’t enough for him. He gave Zagato the job to create a really exclusive Ferrari. It was the Ferrari 575GTZ, based on the 575M Maranello and this design looks a lot on the 250 GTZ from 1956.

Click on the images for a bigger view:

Zagato has also designed the Spyker C12 and several Aston Marin’s.
Not only the Bentley they have created is unique, but they also created the Diatto.That is from a car brand that quited years ago.

Zagato press article about the Bentley Zagato GTZ:

Bentley wears Zagato
Italian Carrozzeria (coachbuilder), Zagato, the most famous Automotive Atelier in the
world is developing a unique, coachbuilt body for a Bentley, one of the world’s most
beautiful and desirable cars.
The Bentley project follows the long-standing tradition of Zagato Atelier co-operation
with premium British automotive brands over several decades. Ace, Bristol, Aston
Martin, Jaguar, MG, Rolls Royce and Rover are among the UK-based brands that
have worked with the Milan Atelier in the past to produce, what are now some of the
most sought after collector’s cars in the world. Other notable cooperations include
Ferrari and Maserati.
The concept of sports elegance, dynamically functional design, remaining free from
contingent tendencies but seeking directly to drive emotion and pure pleasure,
combined with the hand-shaped precious aluminium bodies, have made Zagato
Atelier appreciated as one of the very best and most admired by Customers and
Collectors since the 1920’s.
Zagato’s strength lies in the creation and realisation of this sports-style elegance
within a functional design that does not bow to momentary fashions but seeks out the
sheer excitement and total pleasure of driving, an appreciating value recognised
everywhere.
Today Zagato is the only Atelier capable of marrying its great and long history of
craftsman-led workshop experience with the most modern design and development
technologies currently available. This capability has allowed Zagato to build small
numbers of unique samples, combining the very best of premium manufacturer’s
mechanical running gear with highly exclusive neo-classic Zagato bodies.