Tag Archives: Paris Auto Show
Toyota To Introduce A Corolla Sportwagon
Toyota Corolla Touring Sports
Japanese automaker Toyota is in the process of unveiling a wagon variant of its popular new Corolla lineup at the Paris Auto Show in early October. The sportwagon will have a Touring Sports body style designed and developed in Europe.
Toyota will use the TNGA platform for the sportwagon which means that it’s going to be a Corolla Hatch that has a wagonback. The long-roof Corolla will have a longer wheelbase at over 106 inches. It should be noted that the hatch’s wheelbase is less than 104 inches. This gives the Touring Sports the distinguished title of being the best in its class in terms of rear-seat legroom.
As for the powertrain options, the Touring Sports will get the same lineup as the rest of the Corolla range in Europe. This means there will be a non-hybrid engine and no diesel engines. On the base model lies a 1.2-liter turbo engine that makes 116 horsepower. The two other powertrains above that trim level include a 1.8-liter engine and 2.0-liter hybrids.
The bigger hybrid engine can produce 180 horsepower while the smaller ones will only make 122 horsepower. The hybrid technology should not worry you about the possible space to accommodate a battery pack. The cargo space will be 21.1 cubic feet.
When it comes to the styling and appearance of the sportwagon, the Touring Sports will most likely resemble “lifestyle” wagons such as the original Lexus IS Sportcross. Buyers would also love the tapering roof, especially when finished with the glass moonroof, because the car resembles more “dynamic” wagon offerings.
It makes sense for Toyota to introduce a stretched version of the Corolla because its decision to pull out the IC coupe from its lineup in Europe left a wide gap. The Touring Sports will give an alternative for Toyota customers who are looking for the height of a conventional wagon but do not want a crossover.
The Touring Sports is tailored fit for the European market, so it’s unlikely we’ll see it on the American soil. It should be revealed at the Paris show in October.
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- Toyota Corolla Touring Sports
3 Things We Noticed In The 2019 Kia Proceed GT
The five-door 2019 Kia Proceed GT was just spotted in the open, and we now have a pretty clear idea of how the fastback is going to look like once it’s revealed at the 2018 Paris Motor Show in October.
To be clear, Kia hasn’t exactly confirmed when the release will be, but all signals point to the Paris Auto Show.
Exterior
The spy shots of Motor1 show the upcoming Proceed GT with a covered front section, doors, and rear section. But thanks to a bit of wild imagining, we got a pretty good idea of how the auto is going to look like without all that wrap.
The front grille will be the traditional Kia grille, though with the “GT” badge on it. The headlamps are the same as the regular Ceed, and the side air intakes, huge alloy wheels, and red brake calipers all point to a car with serious sporting credentials.
The Proceed is very much a fastback, thanks to the sweeping roof that extends to the rear section. There are large taillights at the rear, including a pair of exhaust tips on opposite ends of the sedan.
Interior
We didn’t get many snaps of the Proceed’s interior, but let’s just say that it will be similar to the concept, which had a 50s-inspired, retro-style cabin. The concept had Kia changing the color of the instrument cluster depending on the driving mode. It also had a carbon fiber spine that runs up to the front seat. We don’t know if these are exactly what we’d come to expect from Kia, but this or a more traditional cabin will be more than enough for fans.
Powertrain
Kia said that the Proceed GT will get a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo engine that can deliver around 200 horsepower.
This figure could change as production day nears, but it’s doubtful that the South Korean automaker would bring more power to the Proceed GT. If it will, the five-door fastback will officially step on the Stinger’s toes. The Stinger has a 2.0-liter engine that produces 255 ponies.
Lexus UX Concept Is A Glimpse of a New Luxury Compact Crossover
The Lexus UX Concept just made its world debut at the Paris Auto Show last week, and to say it made quite a bit of a splash is an understatement. Showcasing Lexus’ vision for a compact crossover in the future, the concept defines a new vision for the company’s design journey and driving experience.
What the UX Concept showed is that Lexus is determined to separate itself from the rest. The models using this concept will have a bold, standalone and unique character coupled with a powerful design and deconstructed interior styling.
During its introduction at the Paris Auto Show, experts raved about the concept’s sharp creases, trademark grilles, piercing headlights and flared side intakes. One can see bits of Lexus NX SUV in the concept, though the innovation was heavily exaggerated on the UX Concept. For one, it has massive wheels, ones we would not see on a production vehicle anytime soon. But this completes the muscular and sexy look of the concept.
There are some pretty interesting parts to the exterior design, but none as compelling as the wild taillight setup at the rear. The clearance between the lens on the rear hatch and the stationary units on the rear quarters is almost nonexistent that the taillight looks like one wide light.
What’s even more unique is the see-through A pillar that “blurs” the boundaries between the exterior and the interior.
Inside, there’s a “deconstructed” look as demonstrated by the sharp and angular forms that overlap each other to replace the conventional dashboard. These overlaps create shadows and contrasts, making it difficult for anyone to identify where they begin or end. The passenger seat was also not prioritized to emphasize that it is the driver that has control of the environment.
The seats, by the way, are inspired by the Lexus Kinetic Seat Concept, which also premiered in the show.
Spy Shots of the 2018 Buick Regal Surface
We finally got some spy shots of the prototype for the Buick‘s next generation Regal. It was spotted while being tested in the United States.
Based on the spy shots provided by Autoevolution, the 2018 Buick Regal will most probably be a bigger car than the previous edition.
The new Buick Regal is set to be in showrooms next year as a 2018 model. Like the current model, it will come with Opel’s Insignia. The same version will also be available in Australia and New Zealand as the next Holden Commodore.
Overall, the Buick Regal is expected to look like a downsized version of the 2017 Buick LaCrosse. Buick’s signature can clearly be seen on the waterfall grille, as well as the same winged badge on the current LaCrosse.
But what’s even more interesting is that the new Regal has a more conventional notchback body while the Opel features a fastback roof. Currently, the latest Regal and Insignia have an identical body.
Highlighting the Buick Royal’s performance is the General Motors Company’s E2XX platform, which was designed specifically for a front-wheel drive, mid-size models.
It can be recalled that the platform was launched in 2016 for the Chevrolet Malibu. A longer version, which was featured in the latest LaCrosse, promises even better performance. Key features of the platform included lightweight construction and better riding suspension.
The Buick Regal’s base option will most probably have a four-cylinder with turbocharging. The current model’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder base engine is still the expected one to be used in this new model.
The transmission will be an eight-speed automatic. The standard version will be a front-wheel drive while there will be an option of an all-wheel drive.
The new Insignia will debut at the 2016 Paris Auto Show in October while the new Regal should come shortly after at one of the major North American auto shows. But before the Regal arrives, we’ll be seeing a new Verano.
