March 2, 2009 www.autonewseurope.com · PAGE 15

Guide to the Geneva auto show

Stylish, sexy, smartMore than 30 concept and production carswill make their world debuts this week

Mark RechtinAutomotive News Europe

With car sales plummeting globally and little sign of life

coming from any nation’s economy, the 79th Geneva

auto show could be seen as the modern equivalent of

the string quartet on the deck of the Titanic.

Automakers and design houses will use the show to

display more than 30 world debuts of concept and pro-

duction cars.

Those sorts of numbers are normally seen during

boom times.

Of course, many of these product plans were started

when times were good. The glitz and showmanship of

past years likely will be muted due to budget cuts. Still,

the roster of vehicles, an equal split between perfor-

mance and economy, is impressive.

At a time when automakers are pulling out of auto

shows, putting the very survival of the events at risk, the

Geneva salon is perhaps one last display of brashness

from an industry looking for any hint of good news.

Yet it is possible to wonder how grand the Geneva

show could have been.

Many automakers have slowed their product develop-

ment plans in order to conserve cash, delaying introduc-

tions and extending the length of their current vehicle

cycles. Had those product plans stayed on schedule, this

year’s Geneva show would have been truly epic. What

follows is the list of planned introductions to occur dur-

ing the show’s March 3-15 run.

The redesigned A4 Allroad gives Audi amore rugged-looking variant of the A4Avant wagon with enhanced off-roadcapabilities.At 180mm, the Allroad’s suspension is70mm taller than the Avant’s. Thisresults in better ground clearance.The Allroad also has Audi’s Off RoadDetection stability control system,which offers improved traction dur-ing off-road driving.With 17-inch wheels, additionalwheel-arch cladding and deeperfront and rear protective bumpershields, the Allroad’s design has beenadapted to reflect its all-wheel-drivefunctionality.The A4 Allroad comes initially with threeengines: a 211hp, 2.0-liter turbochargedgasoline direct-injection engine; a170hp, 2.0-liter turbodiesel; and a 240hp3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel.

All three motors come in combinationwith a brake-energy regeneration sys-tem, which converts deceleration energyinto electricity. The smaller diesel has amanual six-speed transmission while the

gasoline and the larger diesel have a sev-en-speed dual-clutch transmission. The A4 Allroad goes on sale this summer.

Wim Oude Weernink

Based on the 5-seriesplatform, BMW hasdeveloped a new con-

cept for a five-door premium hatchback.BMW describes it as a Progressive ActivitySedan and calls the model the Gran Turis-mo. The concept GT is designed like afour-door coupe, with frameless sidewindows. A large two-piece tailgategives access to a luggage compartmentthat grows from 430 liters to 1650 literswhen the rear seats are folded down.

BMW claims the conceptoffers legroom compara-ble with that of the 7-series sedan, and head-room equal to that of theBMW X5 premium SUV.The overall length is4995mm, while the car is1555mm tall. As shown inGeneva, the GT is still a styling concept. Aproduction version is expected to beunveiled at this September’s IAA in Frank-

furt then go on sale in the fourth quarter.

Wim Oude Weernink

Aston Martin

Aston Martinhas stuffed a

6.0-liter V-12 powerplant into itssmall coupe’s engine bay. The V12Vantage will be “the most potentproduction sports car in the marque’s95-year history,” the automaker claims.The engine produces 510hp and 570Nm of torque, resulting in a 0to 100kph acceleration of 4.2 seconds. Aston Martin engineers cre-ated the car in just a year. The engine bay was redesigned to house the largermotor, brake cooling system and intake system. The rear suspension is more com-pact to account for wider wheels and tires. Production will start in the autumn, andbe limited to about 400 units a year. Pricing will be revealed at the show.

Mark Rechtin3 See Story, Page 17

Bentley

Displaying its green-performance credentials, Bentley willunveil a high-performance sports car with an engine that

can run on E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.Bentley said adapting the car to run on E85 was achieved by giving it an enhancedengine management system and newly developed transmission. Bentley declinedto disclose the price and volume goal for the Continental Supersports, but said itwill go on sale this year. The sports car will be positioned above its Continental GTSpeed model, with more power than the GT Speed. Bentley Design Director Dirk

van Braeckel oversaw the car’s styling.The car will be Bentley’s first model under its

long-term strategy to deliver renew-able-fuel vehicles throughout its

range. Bentley claims it will bethe first luxury manufacturerin the world to do so.

Bettina Mayer

Chevrolet

Replacing the Matiz, the Spark isChevrolet’s new minicar model.

The Spark was developed in South Korea by GMDaewoo Auto & Technology, which also will manu-facture the car.The Spark comes with either a 1.0- or 1.2-liter four-cylin-der 16-valve gasoline engine. It has a five-door layoutthat sits on a 2375mm wheelbase, with an overall length of about 3500mm. Athree-door version is also being considered, GM sources said.The design of the Spark reflects much of the Chevrolet Beat concept, first shown inspring 2007. A motorcycle-style instrument panel, fitted as a separate cluster tothe dashboard, is a styling touch that carries over from the Beat. The Spark goes onsale in Europe during the first quarter of 2010, with a US introduction in 2011.

Wim Oude Weernink

Audi aims A4 Allroad at rugged set

BMW hatches a new type of 5 series

Gran Turismo

A4 Allroad

ProductionAston Martin V12 VantageAudi A4 AllroadAudi TT RSChevrolet SparkFiat 500 C Mazda 3 MPSMazda 3 i-stopMercedes-Benz E class sedanMercedes-Benz E class coupeNissan NV200Opel Ampera

Peugeot 3008Renault ScenicRenault Grand ScenicRenault Megane TourerSaab 9-3xSeat Exeo STSkoda YetiToyota Verso VW Polo

ConceptBentley Continental Supersports

BMW Gran TurismoCitroen Inside DSDacia crossover/coupeFord small minivan Hyundai HED-6Infiniti EssenceItaldesign conceptKia YNMitsubishi i MiEV Sport AirNissan QazanaRinspeed iChangeRolls-Royce EX200

2009 Geneva auto show world debuts

V12 Vantage

Continental Supersports

Spark

Want another copy?For a printer-friendly PDF version of the Geneva preview, go to: autonews.com/geneva09preview

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Geneva auto show

Looking to benefit from past successes,Citroen will unveil the Inside DS, a three-door hatchback concept that closelyresembles a near-production version ofthe planned DS3 small car. The new DS3, which goes on sale acrossEurope in early 2010, will be the firstmodel in Citroen’s planned three-car“near-premium” range. The DS badgestands for Distinctive Series. The first DSwas Citroen’s iconic executive sedanduring the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. However, the Inside DS concept bears little resemblance to the classic DS. Instead, its design, size and general feeldraw immediate parallels with BMW’sMini, whose buyers Citroen executivessay will be one of the principal targetsfor the DS3 small car.The DS3 will be built on the same plat-form as Citroen’s existing small-segmentcar, the C3, as well as sister brand Peu-geot’s top-selling 207.The DS3 will offer higher-quality featuresthan its less-expensive cousins, as well asnumerous ways to personalize the interi-or and exterior. These will include a popular option

among Mini buyers – the choice of differ-ent paint colors for the body and roof.Citroen plans to launch six new modelsover the next three years, part of a plan

to extend the French brand’s profile andmarket share.

Lawrence J. Speer

Three new vehicles will make theirdebuts on the Hyundai stand: The HED-6 medium SUV concept, i20 three-door, and i30 Blue with stop-start tech-nology. The HED-6 hints at the replace-ment for the current Tucson. The newcrossover arrives at the end of this year.The concept’s name is an acronym for

Hyundai European Design, which createdthe car. It is the sixth concept done byThomas Burkle and his team at Hyundai’sdesign center in Rüsselsheim.The production model will be built at theKia factory in Zilina, Slovakia, and willtake the new name IX-35. Hyundai will use the IX prefix for all of its

SUVs in the future.The exterior features a hexagonal grille,angular style lines and back-swept frontheadlamps, LED daytime running lightsand 21-inch alloy wheels. The three-dimensional, sculpted shapeof the HED-6’s rear window is achievedusing Lexan high-performance plastics

instead of standard safety glass.The concept is powered by a 175hp,1.6-liter gasoline direct-injection turbocharged engine.The three-door version of the new i20small car also will be shown for the

first time. It replaces the Getz three-door. It was designed by Hyundai’s

European studio.The i30 Blue lower-medium carwill showcase the first applica-tion of stop-start technology ona Hyundai production car. Thistechnology will contribute to asignificant cut in both fuel con-

sumption and CO2 emissions.

John Revill

Mercedes-Benz gave a sneak peek of theredesigned E-class sedan to journalists inDetroit in January, but Geneva will markthe public debut of the car, as well as theworld debut of the E-class coupe.The new E class focuses on passive safety,with standard features including a hoodthat actively cushions against pedestrianimpacts, and a “pre-safe” brake systemthat anticipates sudden, sharp applica-tion of the brake pedal.The E class is the lead vehicle for Mer-cedes’ modular powertrain strategy,

which requires any four-cylinder Mer-cedes engine to work with any Mercedescar model, from the A class’s transversemount to the S class’s longitudinal layout. A new range of smaller, fuel-effi-cient four-cylinder gasoline and dieselengines are part of the E class’s engineer-ing package.The coupe shares most of its equipmentand powertrain packages with the sedan.For this reason, Mercedes-Benz hasdecided to price the coupe at the samelevel as the sedan.

The E-class sedan goes on sale thismonth, followed by the coupe in June. In2010, the sedan also will be offered withan extended wheelbase in China. Thatversion will be produced there.In September, at the IAA in Frankfurt,Mercedes will present both the E-classwagon and cabriolet. Sales of the wagon will start after theshow, while the convertible will reachdealers in November.

Wim Oude Weernink

Fiat

Fiat will take the topoff its popular 500minicar. The 500 C is

not a traditional convertible. Only thefabric roof panel can be folded towardthe rear, similar to Fiat’s original 500 mod-els of the 1950s and ’60s.The softtop, including its glass rear window, is elec-trically operated. The convertible retains the same interiorspace for four occupants as the standard 500.A stop-start system is standard equipment on the 500 C, which shares its power-train lineup with the 500: A choice between 1.2-liter and 1.4-liter gasoline engines,or a 1.3-liter diesel. All are available with a manual or automatic transmission. The 500 C will be made in Fiat’s Tychy, Poland, plant. The car goes on sale in May.The price premium over comparable 500 trim levels should be about €2,000.

Fiat also will debut its variable-valve-timing system, called Multiair. The technologyimproves torque and horsepower by about 10 percent, and reduces fuel consump-tion by 10 percent and CO2 emissions by half. The Multiair technology could be applied to normally aspirated and turbochargedgasoline engines, from two to six cylinders. Its first application will happen this yearon a 1.4-liter gasoline engine. Fiat says Multiair could also be adapted to work ondiesel engines, doing this would reduce NOx emissions. Fiat hopes that eventually the technology could allow two-cylinder engines to takethe place of four-cylinder engines in small cars. The system works with a new appli-cation of intake-valve operation, which uses an electronic/hydraulic valve actua-tion instead of a mechanical throttle valve. Fiat claims the system is less costly thanBMW’s similar VANOS variable-valve solution.

Wim Oude Weernink & Luca Ciferri

Ford

Much like Ford did with the Iosis (2005) and Iosis X (2006) –concepts that were preludes to the production Mondeo and

Kuga respectively – the automaker will show a multi-activity vehicle concept thathints at the replacement for the C-Max medium minivan, or a vehicle similar in sizeand packaging. The concept will also show phase two of Ford’s kinetic design phi-losophy. Although some sources believed the concept would show the replace-ment for the Fusion minivan, Ford denies it. The concept will be unveiled on March2, the evening before the show opens. At the IAA in Frankfurt in September, Fordis expected to present a model that is closer to production.

Wim Oude Weernink & Luca Ciferri

Infiniti

Infiniti will unveil the Essence concept, a high-performancecar that executives describe as “a 20th birthday present to

ourselves.” The car will hint at the designand technology direction Nissan’s luxurybrand will introduce to new models startingin 2010. Styling will be akin to the Mer-cedes-Benz SLR McLaren or the Aston Mar-tin Vanquish. The stylish and sporty car willhave a massive engine, possibly generatingmore than 500hp. Sources were secretiveabout the possibility of a gasoline-electrichybrid powertrain. The Essence features fit-ted luggage from Louis Vuitton.

Lawrence J. Speer

Italdesign Giugiaro

“Fast and furiously clean” is perhaps the message envisaged byItaldesign Giugiaro’s new concept car debuting at the Geneva

auto show. The Namir two-seat coupe will be able to reach a top speed of 300kphand accelerate from 0 to 100kph in less than four seconds, yet still be capable oftraveling 50km on a single liter of gasoline. This miserly fuel consumption equatesto about 50 grams per kilometer of CO2. By comparison, the third-generation Toyota Prius will be the first production hybridvehicle to achieve CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km. In creating what it claims isthe fastest hybrid concept car in the world, Giugiaro teamed up with UK-based Frazer Nash Consultancy. Giugiaro will announce technical details of the hybrid pow-ertrain at the show, but a source said that a Wankel rotary gasoline engine powers agenerator. The Namir’s traction comes from electric motors that power each axle,creating a permanent all-wheel-drive setup. The wedge-shaped coupe features abody made entirely of aluminum and carbon, sitting on a carbon fiber chassis.

Luca Ciferri

500 C

Namir

Essence

Inside DS

Citroen gives DS a new twist

Hyundai unveils Tucson replacement

Modular powertrains arrive with E class

E class

HED-6

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Geneva auto show

An electric ‘pocket rocket’ from Mitsubishi

GM hopes Ampera hybrid will spark Opel The world debut of the Opel Ampera isthe first sign of Opel parent GeneralMotors Europe’s plans to enter the plug-in hybrid segment here. The car will goon sale in 2011.The four-door Ampera is a rebadgedversion of the Chevrolet Volt plug-inhybrid, but with Opel design character-istics. The car sits on GM’s global lower-medium Delta platform architecture.

The hybrid system is simpler than theToyota Prius’s because the Ampera iseffectively an electric car with an auxiliarygasoline engine. This engine will startcharging the batteries when the car hasreached its 64km range on electric power. The batteries cannot be recharged whilethe car is being driven under its own pow-er. However, with the 73hp 1.4-liter gaso-line engine engaged, the Ampera’s range

can be extended to almost 1,000km.The electric propulsion works on a 230-volt system and develops a maximum of150hp and 370Nm torque. The 181kgbattery pack will be produced by SouthKorean supplier LG Chem. GM Europe plans to sell several thousandunits a year here.

Wim Oude Weernink

A return of the Silver Ghost for Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce will display theEX200 concept car, whichwill be smaller than itsPhantom sedan. The con-

cept will preview a “baby” Rolls-Roycesedan due to go on sale in the first quar-ter of 2010.Some sources suggest the historic SilverGhost nameplate will be revived for themodel, which will be built alongside thePhantom at the company’s Goodwoodfactory in West Sussex, England.

The production version of the car will betargeted at younger buyers and will be“more like a well-cut sports jacket than atuxedo,” said CEO Tom Purves, compar-ing the concept with the Phantom. The EX200, also known internally as RR4,will be powered by a new 12-cylinderengine not seen before on any BMWgroup product, Purves said. About 80 percent of the car’s parts willbe unique. Purves declined to say whatplatform would carry the car. Although

systems such as the air conditioner areshared with BMW, the switchgear visibleto the Rolls-Royce owner will be com-pletely different than that in a BMW. Theoverall length of the car is 5399mm, riding on a 3295mm wheelbase.Rolls-Royce expects to sell about 500units a year of the EX200, with pricesstarting slightly above £200,000(€223,000)

Tony Lewin

Kia

Kia will show a small minivan concept, called No 3.The Korean automaker said the car will have a “unique glassroof treatment to create a cool and spacious automotive

powerhouse.” The production version of the car,code-named YN, will be built at the Hyundai fac-

tory in Nosovice, Czech Republic, later this year.The minivan will be based on an enhancedplatform shared with the Kia Rio. It will go

on sale toward the end of 2009. Theconcept was designed by Gregory Guil-laume, Kia’s chief European designer.

John Revill

Lagonda

Aston Martin said last September that it would revive its exotic Lagonda brandwith a concept car at this year’s Geneva show. Few expected the idea would sur-vive the subsequent financial crisis. Lagonda spokesman Kevin Watters backpedalled when asked if Lagonda wouldhave a full-sized concept, stating, “We will have a property on the stand to show.”In the Queen’s English, a “property” usually refers to a theatrical prop, not some-thing full sized. Watters wouldn’t clarify whether he was speaking about a car,scale model, or just visual renderings. In 1993, Lagonda, then under Ford control, presented its Vignale concept for aluxury sedan. The model was well received, but never entered production.

Tony Lewin

Mazda

Mazda will give worlddebuts to high-performance andenvironmentally friendly versionsof its Mazda3 lower-medium car.The Mazda3 MPS, which standsfor Mazda Performance Series,will be displayed at the show along-side the more frugal Mazda3 i-stop.The MPS features Mazda’s 2.3-liter tur-bocharged Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI)engine and pushes Mazda’s design and performanceenvelope. The engine generates 260hp and 380Nm oftorque. The Mazda3 MPS also features improved fuel economy and emissions thatsatisfy Euro 5 regulations. When sold in America, it will be known as the Mazda-speed3.The Mazda3 i-stop with Mazda’s new stop-start system adds a new eco-friendlyoption to the lineup. In combination with a 2.0-liter engine, the i-stop systemachieves a 12 percent fuel economy savings (urban cycle) compared with the cur-rent European Mazda3. Both cars will be introduced in the second half of this year.

John Revill

Nissan

Nissan will show a small crossover concept carcalled the Qazana. The four-door model showshow the production model, planned for intro-duction in 2010, could look.The Qazana will complete the Nissancrossover portfolio that comprises the medi-um Qashqai and Qashqai+2, and the large Nissan Murano. The Qazana will be built atNissan’s Sunderland, UK, plant alongsidethe Qashqai and the Note small minivan.The Qazana and its production variant arebased on the Renault-Nissan alliance’s B platform. The boxy Qazana concept features four doors, with the rear doorsopening rearward for easier access. The Qazana will compete againstvehicles like the Toyota Urban Cruiser, Kia Soul and Citroen C3 Picasso.

The Nissan NV200 is an all-new passenger vehicle derived from the NV200 lightcommercial vehicle. Its predecessor, the Nissan Kubistar, shared its platform andbody with the Renault Kangoo. But the NV200 has its own body style, thoughagain based on the Kangoo.The NV200’s design is an evolution of the Nissan NSV – New Small Van – conceptstudy, first shown at the 2007 Tokyo auto show. Nissan initially wanted to produce the NV200 at the Morocco plant it planned toshare with Renault, but now Nissan is lookingfor another location. Insiders say thatthe Japanese automaker’sBarcelona plant is the most likelyoption. The NV200 will cometo the market first as anLCV, due in September.The passenger-car ver-sion arrives at Euro-pean dealers in March2010.

Wim OudeWeernink

In an attempt to show that green vehi-cles don’t have to be boring, Mitsubishiwill present a sporty convertible electricvehicle concept.The Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport Air is basedon the electric-powered Mitsubishi i MiEV four-door, which goes on sale inJapan this summer.The show concept focuses on the enter-taining performance and driving habitsof future electric cars, while emitting zeroCO2 emissions.The Japanese carmakerrefers to the i MiEV Sports Air as a “pock-et rocket,” which points to a direction aproduction Mitsubishi electric carmight take in the future. Mitsubishi began feasibility tests of aleft-hand-drive version of the four-door i MiEV in the Netherlands, Nor-way, Spain and the UK, preparing thecar for market introduction in Europeand the US in 2011.

Wim Oude Weernink

i MIEV Sport Air

Mazda3MPS

YN

EX200 NV200

Qazana

Ampera

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PAGE 18 · www.autonewseurope.com March 2, 2009

Geneva auto show

In an attempt to broaden its offerings in the lower-medium segment, Peugeotwill debut a 308-derived crossovermodel.The crossover is called the 3008 becauseit is a different model from Peu-geot’s mainstream range.It is based on thePSA/Peugeot-Cit-roen medium-sizedplatform and hasstyling reminiscentof the 308 wagon,but with a taller ride height.Functionality andintelligent packagingare keywords of the3008, which will have adual-rear hatch for better access.The 3008 will come with standard front-wheel drive, but have an enhanced trac-tion control system. In combination with special tires, thissystem offers mild off-road capabilities.It also has an electronic compensationsystem between the left and rear shock

absorbers, to improve stability. Starting in 2011, the 3008 will comewith Peugeot’s diesel hybrid-4 system,which has an electric motor fitted to pro-pel the rear wheels.The 3008 will go on sale in April. The

company hopes to sell 100,000 unitsannually, although that target wasannounced before the current economic crisis.

Wim Oude Weernink

Saab will debut the 9-3X, which featuresadditional off-road capabilities com-pared with the standard 9-3 wagon fromwhich this model is derived.For the 9-3X, Saab will offer a 2.0-literturbocharged gasoline engine, which canalso use E85, a blend of ethanol andgasoline. Alternatively, the car will beequipped with a 1.9-liter 180hp turbo-diesel engine that emits less than 145 grams per kilometer of CO2. The 9-3X gasoline-powered variantcomes with all-wheel drive as standardand a suspension setting that is 35mmhigher than the 9-3 wagon. The dieselversion comes only with front-wheel drive and a 20mm higher suspensionthan the wagon. Both gasoline and diesel versions areavailable with manual or automatictransmission. Roof rails are standard andthe lower part of the bodywork has been

clad with grey composite wheel arches,rocker panels and bumpers. The car’sequipment is equivalent to the Aero trim level.

Production of the 9-3X is planned tostart in September.

Wim Oude Weernink

The redesigned Polo, Volkswagen’s sec-ond-best selling model, will be one ofGeneva’s most important debuts. Theoriginal Polo was launched in 1975, ayear after the original Golf. The new Polowill be the model’s fifth generation.The Polo features a strong focus on fuel

efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions,with gasoline turbocharged enginesdownsized to 1.2- and 1.0-liter capaci-ties. VW sources say the new Polo Blue-Motion diesel variant will emit 87 gramsper kilometer of CO2, down from99g/km in the current Polo BlueMotion.

Such a ratio will make the Polo BlueMo-tion’s CO2 emissions one better than thetiny Smart ForTwo. The Polo initially comes as a three- andfive-door hatchback, followed by anSUV-like variant to succeed today’s CrossPolo. In the future, VW will also introducean all-new Polo variant, a small minivanto rival the Opel/Vauxhall Meriva, at anundisclosed future date. However, only the five-door Polo will beintroduced at the Geneva show.

The redesigned Polo goes on sale inEurope starting in late summer. In2010, Volkswagen wants to intro-

duce the Polo to the US becauseit believes customers there

will be increasingly keento buy fuel-efficientsmall cars.

Wim Oude WeerninkToyota

Toyota will unveil a productionversion of the redesigned Corol-la Verso medium minivan,which originally launched in2004. The new version, based onthe new Avensis platform, will do without the “Corolla” part of its name, and simplybe called Verso. Its wheelbase grows by 20mm, and has 70mm more overall length.

Luca Ciferri & Wim Oude Weernink

Seat

The Spanish carmaker’s upper-medium Exeo sedan launched at lastyear’s Paris auto show will get a wagon sibling in Geneva. This gives Seat a morecomprehensive lineup for its entry into the segment. The Exeo ST wagon goes onsale in the third quarter. The Exeo sedan is arriving at European dealerships now. The Exeo sedan and wagon both borrow heavily from the 2000-2007 version ofthe Audi A4. Seat says the original A4 design has been upgraded with more than500 details. The changes include a Seat front-end design as well as a carryover ofthe A4 cabriolet’s dashboard. The car also will have the latest A4 suspension andits engine technology, which meets Euro 5 emissions standards.The Exeo comes with three gasoline engines of 102hp, 150hp and 200hp, plustwo diesels of 143hp and 170hp with diesel particulate filters. Seat expects to sell50,000 units per year of the combined Exeo wagon and sedan. That would be amarked improvement over the Toledo lower-medium sedan, which sold only4,280 units in 2008.

Wim Oude Weernink

Skoda

Get ready for lots of “abominable Skoda” jokes.Skoda describes its Yeti small SUV as a practical solution for cus-

tomers who want a compact car that is robust, safe and has universal appeal. TheYeti will be built on the Octavia Scout platform, but use some parts from the Fabiasmall car. It will come in two- and all-wheel drive.The small SUV segment is a new one for Skoda. The Yeti might be the flagship forthe Scout trim level, which usually includes all-wheel drive and SUV-style cladding.The Yeti will compete with the Kia Soul and Nissan Qashqai when it goes on sale inSeptember. The Yeti is based on the same-named design study unveiled in 2005.Skoda also will debut a GreenLine version of its Octavia lower-medium car. Green-Line is the badge Skoda uses for its most fuel-efficient cars. The Octavia GreenLinehas fuel consumption of 4.4 liters per 100km and CO2 emissions of 116 grams perkilometer.

John Revill & Lyle Frink

Rinspeed Swiss concept car builder Rinspeed will unveil a zero-emissions car with a bodythat adapts to suit the number of occupants inside. The iChange can transformfrom a single-seat car into a vehicle with room for three with the press of a but-ton. The car has no doors. Instead, the roof panel pops up to allow access for occu-pants. The iChange is barely one meter in height.Rinspeed partnered with engineering firm Esoro to create the car, which weighs1,050kg. The electric motor, powered by lithium-ion batteries, is able to propelthe car to a top speed of 220kph, with a 0-100kph acceleration of just more than

four seconds. Siemens supplied the motor-generator, electronics and battery con-

nection interface. Touches includethe use of an Apple iPhone to

control important vehiclefunctions. The pro-ject took six monthsto complete.

Mark Rechtin

Renault

Renault will unveil the third generation of the Scenic medium mini-van – which has defined the segment since its unveiling in 1996.

Based on the same platform that underpins the new Megane, the redesignedScenic also comes in a stretched-wheelbase version, Grand Scenic.Although the front fascia styling evokes the new Laguna and Megane sedans, thedesign of the Scenic is more of a mild restyle of the current model. The new Scenic grows by 180 mm in length while the Grand Scenic will be150mm longer than its predecessor.The Grand Scenic can seat seven people. Thatmoves it closer to the Renault Espace large minivan, for which no successor hasbeen planned. The Grand Scenic goes on sale at the end of March, while the Scenicarrives at dealerships two months later. Renault also will unveil a wagon version ofthe recently redesigned Megane, tentatively bearing the name Estate.

Wim Oude Weernink

iChange

3008

9-3X

Exeo

Polo

Exeo ST

Peugeot joins crossover fray

Tougher Saab 9-3X to arrive in September

Polo sets new green target of 87g/km

Computer illustration: Christian Schulte

Verso

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