Audi has unveiled the Sportback Concept at the Detroit Motor Show today.
The German car manufacturer admits the design is coupe-influenced, which is also evident in the four seat arrangement (eg. two rear seats instead of three) of the Sportback Concept. Audi seems to be following a trend with this car, as coupe sedans have only been a recent development. Models such as the VW Passat CC, Mercedes-Benz CLS and the BMW X6 are the most obvious examples.
The Sportback Concept is powered by a 3.0 liter V6 diesel generating 225 bhp and will be the cleanest diesel yet from Audi.
- click picture for the high-res VW Concept BlueSport gallery -
Volkswagen’s Concept BlueSport was unveiled in Detroit as a study car in combining great fuel economy with a sporty looks. The mid-engined roadster has a 2.0-litre TDI engine producing 180 bhp, claiming to take just 6.6 seconds to reach 0 - 100km/hof and has a top speed of 226km/h (140mph). A 6-speed dual clutch transmission – the most economical and agile transmission system in the world – transfers this power to the rear wheels. Gears can be changed either automatically or via shift paddles on the steering wheel.
The car named the Concept BlueSport and presented in Flex Silver painted and sporting an orange coloured fabric roof – was designed by the team led by Klaus Bischoff (Director of Design for the Volkswagen Brand) and Thomas Ingenlath (Director of the Design Center in Potsdam). “The design of the Concept BlueSport,” says Klaus Bischoff, “represents a perfect synthesis of technology and aesthetics. Its form is very clear and is reduced to essentials; the car body itself has a lean and linear structure.” Thomas Ingenlath adds: “Emanating powerfully from this car body are the circular wheel housings, flared out in three dimensions as in a sculture. The radial surfaces, edges and blending of forms emphasize the wheels and thereby the agility of the BlueSport concept car. The lateral air intakes are identifying features of the mid-engine layout, their volume-reducing design offers visualization of the car’s sporty low weight.”
When looking at the design you will notice the Concept BlueSport is characterized by a new Volkswagen design language introduced for the first time on the Scirocco and the new Golf. It is based on a ‘design DNA’ that will leave its mark on all new Volkswagens.
BMW has released an official video of the BMW X6 M, which is going to be presented in 2009. Naturally it’s a combination of all wheel drive and M power, and Limmer calls it “the X6 in its most sportive form.” Not sure if we can see the point of it, but well…
Next to the already announced unveiling of the production version Karma plug-in hybrid sedan, Fisker now plans to also debut a new concept car at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The Sunset will officially be called Fisker Karma S and is very similar to the Karma.
Fisker says the concept has similar architecture and will use the Karma’s Q-DRIVE powertrain. This system offers a 50 mile range on a single charge to its Lithium-Ion battery pack, and produces up to 408 bhp from the two electric motors. More details will follow about the Karma S at the company’s press conference on January 12, 2009.
Volvo will show this S60 Concept at the Auto Show in Detroit in January 2009. This is a show model of the car that will replace the current S60 in 2010. The concept car has officially been revealed by Volvo, ahead of Detroit, with this video.
Stephen Odell, President & CEO of Volvo cars, said, “The sporty design gives visual promise of an enthusiastic drive and I can assure you … that the all-new S60 will live up to that promise. The driving properties are better than in any previous Volvo. The car’s technology will help you to be a better and safer driver.”
Volvo Cars design director Steve Mattin continues to say that “In forthcoming models, you will see more and more of our ‘racetrack’ design cues. The car’s lines do not end abruptly but instead forge a continuous flowing pattern inspired by the fast sweeps of the racing track. In the concept car, this is particularly visible at the rear.”
At the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Subaru will unveil the Legacy Concept to celebrate the model’s 20th anniversary. The concept most likely indicates the new styling of the future models, which is why we see the new headlight design and the square grill. We’re a little unsure about the fender flares on the concept, because they seem a bit too large for a mid-size sedan. Stay tuned, more information will follow next month.
This heavily disguised BMW test car has triggered rumours that BMW is working on a production model of the CS concept car. The spy shots show a large sedan, like the 7-series, but with unique elements at the front-end and a generally more sportier impression.
The luxury four-seater was intended as a rival for the Maserati Quattroporte and upcoming Porsche Panamera. But last month, BMW announced that it would be focusing on smaller cars, with which the production CS, likely to be called the 8-Series, was out of the picture. However, the latest spy photos most likely show further development of the super-sedan.
- click picture for more photos of the GTbyCitroen -
A French outlet has indicated that Citroen is planning to build a limited number of production cars based on the amazing GTby Citroen concept supercar. This car was revealed at the Paris Motor Show earlier this year, and was a major attraction there.
The car has been co-developed with the creators of the Playstation game Gran Turismo, as part of the promotion for the 5th title of the racing game. Caradisiac reports that Citroen will make 20 production models of the concept. As this car was purely a design study, no further details have been provided yet.
Next month Audi will reveal the Audi A7 Concept at the Detroit Auto Show. The new car is expected to be a four-door coupe/sedan model, comparable with the Mercedes-Benz CLS. It’s good to hear that a non-US car company is going to reveal a new model, and we look forward to the premiere!
Subaru has announced it will bring a world debut of a concept vehicle to the Detroit Auto Show in January. No further information on this car has been revealed, but Carscoop believes it could be a concept version of the RWD Compact coupe, which is scheduled for 2010 /2011.
