Tag Archives: Geneva Auto Show
Spanish Carmaker SEAT Removes Veil On Cupra e-Racer
Volkswagen-owned SEAT announced that it has come up with the Cupra e-Racer, a fully electric racing touring car that will be unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show. The Spanish automaker calls it the world’s “first 100 percent electric racing touring car,” which, based on its specs, is truly one of a kind.
Everywhere you look, fully electric racing cars are hitting the track, promising to revolutionize the race car industry. There were previous reports that even at the 2020 World Rallycross Championships, electric racers would be part of the program. In fact, they would headline the show. An electric touring car series was also reported to be supporting the Formula E.
Aside from that, Jaguar also announced that an I-Pace eTrophy racing series will be featured alongside Formula E during the 2018-19 season. There is certainly quite a turn and change in the industry as manufacturers scramble among themselves to come up with an enticing fully electric (sometimes, even automated) racing touring car for the tracks.
The Cupra e-Racer is based on the Cupra Leon TCR touring car, and is expected to headline a new E TCR category. The Cupra e-Racer can produce 400 horsepower that will peak at 670 horsepower.
The Cupra brand is new, so that e-Racer will probably act as the best vehicle the Spanish automaker can come up with now. It is expected that the brand will take over SEAT’s entire motorsport and racing division, given that it has done a fantastic job in the last touring car it produced and developed.
SEAT’s motorsport and racing division is originally under the SEAT Sport brand. If you are still unsure how SEAT wants to market its Cupra brand, or what it plans for it, you better take a look at what it tweeted earlier: “It didn’t come here to play games. It’s coming strong. And coming to stay. Discover CUPRA’s launch at https://t.co/RW2yM88LCi pic.twitter.com/F1vfqrByqi.”
The New Ford Focus RS Will Be A Hybrid
Ford is planning for another RS-badged Focus as the current generation Ford Focus RS is preparing to stop production by April 6 this year. The next-generation Focus RS will reportedly be a hybrid that can produce up to 400 horsepower.
Dutch publication Auto International started the rumor last week when it reported that the next-generation Focus RS will have a 48-volt, mild-hybrid system that will boost the power production of the vehicle. That is reason enough for the RS-badged Focus to be able to choke out a nice 400 horsepower output.
The current-generation Ford Focus RS produces 350 horsepower, though a 370-horsepower version was also available, thanks to a Mountune performance kit. The 370-horsepower Focus RS was aptly called the Focus RS Heritage Edition.
The same report said that the current 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine will be carried over to the next-generation Focus, but it is believed that the hybrid will have a bigger starter motor that will seriously boost the powertrain capability. Aside from the 400-horsepower output, the new Focus RS will allegedly also come up with an additional 44 pound-feet of torque, bringing the total to 394 pound-feet of torque.
These are just rumors, of course, but there’s credence to it since Ford plans to electrify most of its vehicles in the coming years. In fact, it even teased a future battery-electric performance crossover that would carry the “Mach 1” name. There was also a report that a hybrid version of the Mustang and F-150 might be coming out.
Jim Farley, executive vice president and president for global markets, earlier said that Ford plans to distribute seven fully-electric cars in North America by 2022. This might be the start of that project.
There’s no timeline as to when the next-generation Focus RS will come out. What we do know is that the next hatchback will make its bow at the 2018 Geneva Auto Show. The sedan version might make its debut at the 2018 New York Motor Show.
3 Things You Need To Know About The New Mitsubishi SUV
Despite the fact that Mitsubishi’s all-new compact SUV is only slated to be revealed at the 2017 Geneva Auto Show, the Japanese automaker has decided to give us a glimpse of what’s to come. The five-seater bandwagon will address the gap in the Mitsubishi SUV lineup.
Here are what we found out about it based on a source:
1. It Will Slide Between The ASX And The Outlander
This new compact SUV from Mitsubishi will fill the gap between the current ASX and the Outlander in the Japanese car manufacturer’s lineup. This will prove Mitsubishi’s plan to eventually move from passenger cars to a SUV-centric range.
2. It Will Be Based On XR-PHEV And XR-PHEV II Concepts
Mitsubishi refused to divulge any details about what platform will be used on this new SUV, but the exterior detailing has us wondering if the XR-PHEV and XR-PHEV II concepts will play a major role here.
The teaser for the SUV gave us a glimpse of sharply angled design, slanted C-pillar, and wedge-shaped glass house. All of these bear similarities with the two previous concepts.
Reminiscent of the ASX, this new SUV will have a slightly smaller size for the next generation. It will sport a traditional five-door and five-seater cabin.
3. It Will Have A Petrol Or Diesel Engine
Though Mitsubishi has not released any details about the powertrains in their new SUV, we bet the automaker will use a 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol and a 2.2-liter turbo diesel found in the Outlander. The petrol will be paired with a six-speed manual or a CVT automatic while the diesel will be mated with a six-speed automatic.
Both of these engines will come standard with a front- and all-wheel drive systems. Mitsubishi is also expected to come out with a plug-in hybrid variant, which is based on Outlander PHEV’s petrol-electric drivetrain.
There are no pricing details yet, but expect it to be similar with the ASX XLS, which has a price tag of $36,490.
3 Things You Need To Know About The Upcoming Mitsubishi Crossover
The US market is in need for a new car from Mitsubishi. Lucky for them, they can expect one during the Geneva Auto Show in March. The concept has been released, and it looks like it will fit the bill between the Outlander Sport and the Outlander.
The company’s last big auto-show production car was the Mirage hatchback back in 2013. But in just a few short months, the all-new vehicle is going to arrive in America and true enough, it’s going to be another Mitsubishi crossover.
Where It Will Fit In
The gap between the Outlander Sport and the Outlander is quite small to accommodate another model based on a report, so we’re a little bit curious as to how small or big the new crossover needs to be. The Outlander Sport is a five-seater and slightly larger than the “kings” of crossovers such as the Honda HR-V. The Outlander, on the other hand, is a seven-seater that is a bit bigger than other compact like the Honda CR-V.
This only means that Mitsubishi is looking at growing the Outlander and making the Outlander Sport smaller by 2018, when the two will get refreshed for that model year. It’s still unclear if the resize of the Outlander Sport and the Outlander will happen during the refresh or when it get fully redesigned later on,
What The Engine Is Going To Be Like
The engineers over at Mitsubishi have full control of the design and power of the crossover. Nissan, its new owner, did not intercede in this one. According to reports, the new crossover will use a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that will have more power than the current 2.4-liter four-cylinder that comes as standard on the Outlander and optional on the Outlander Sport.
The engine will give off around 166 to 168 horsepower and about 162 to 167 pound-feet of torque.
How Will It Look Like
The crossover will have Mitsubishi’s famed “diamond shield” grille design, and it might look a bit like the eX concept that was shown in 2016.
Bugatti Chiron In NYC For Private Show
The Bugatti Chiron made its debut last month at the Geneva Auto Show, but it was absent during the 2016 New York Motor Show in late March. Bugatti’s new 1,480-horsepower hypercar will replace the Veyron.
Although the Chiron was not present during the NY Auto Show, it wasn’t really far from the action as the same blue example shown in Geneva was spotted parked at the curb in the Big Apple according to Motor Authority.
The photo shown was posted on Facebook by a Bugatti Chiron fan. The hypercar’s front trunk was even unlatched.
It wasn’t clear why the Chiron was in New York when it didn’t attend the motor show to begin with, but it was more likely there to be privately presented to prospective buyers who flocked in Manhattan for the NYIAS.
Chiron has been enjoying massive demand and orders. During the car’s launch in Geneva last month, it claimed a third of the planned 500-unit production. The starting price is at 2.4 million Euros, in case you’re interested. That’s roughly $2.73 million.
With the price tag, Bugatti said the car is actually making a profit compared with the Veyron, which was rumored to have been selling at a loss.
The Chiron has an 8.0-liter W-16 engine with a two-stage turbocharging system. There are four turbos, with two designed to be always on while the two other are electrically actuated when the driver wants more acceleration.
That engine churns out 1,500 horsepower and 1,180 pound-feet of torque. It’s more powerful than the Veyron, but the acceleration is just 2.5 seconds to 62 mph. the top speed is 260 mph, but Chiron is aiming for more with a “top speed more” that can be activated by a special key.
The company calls the headlights up front an “eight-eye face” with an active wing on the rear for the air brake. It also has 20-inch wheels on front and 21-inche wheels at the rear, as well as eight titanium brake pistons at the front and six at the rear.
New Mitsubishi L200 Geoseek Concept Lands At The Geneva Motor Show
Mitsubishi launched its new concept called the Geoseek at the 2016 Geneva Auto Show. The concept is based on the L200 Triton truck, which was last updated in 2015, but with a bespoke paint job, a roof rack, and a custom interior.
According to a report from TopSpeed, the automaker didn’t divulge much details about the Mitsubishi L200 Geoseek in its press release for the auto show, but it did say that the Geoseek Concept was designed to highlight the outdoor adventurous side of the truck. It also packs tough looking accessories to attract outdoor enthusiasts.
But beyond the fancy paintwork and updated grille, the L200 is a standard production truck. It has a total of three engine options, although Mitsubishi has not said which will be used for this model.
What it did say is that the truck can be bought either in 2WD or 4WD, though this L200 model might also come with a transfer case.
Right now, Mitsubishi has yet to announce if a production version of this concept will be available. And if it does, only those in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America would have a chance to get it.
Outside, the L200 Geoseek Concept takes the came for a special coat of a pearl grey body color with bright orange accents on the fog light surrounds, mirror caps, side steps, wheels, fender flairs, tailgate spoiler, and rear bumper.
There’s also a roof-mounted cargo basket, a custom-built roof rack that sports off-road lights and grab handles, and a front grille with custom-made mesh.
Inside, you’ll most probably find an all-black interior with some orange accents to match the exterior. Mitsubishi hasn’t releases any photos of the truck’s interior, but the seats are said to have a suede-like center section with a “functional covering that aids in temperature control” along the side bolsters.
As mentioned above, the L200 Geoseek Concept will use either of the three engines–the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 130 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque, the 2.5-liter turbodiesel unit that makes 175 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, or 2.4-liter MIVEC four-cylinder turbodiesel with a variable-geometry turbo.
The third one, the most modern engine, produces 133 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque.
Transmission options are a six-speed manual gearbox and a six-speed automatic.
