Mitsubishi iMiEV Sport Air streamlines the bubble

Mitsubishi revealed the latest iteration of its iMiEV Sport this morning in Geneva, the Sport Air. This year's version is marginally longer (20 mm) and taller for what Mitsubishi describes as a "more technical" look to the car's teardrop shape. While the new concept doesn't look dramatically different, some of the contours are a bit sharper, and solar power cells are embedded in the lower portion of the windshield and the removable glass roof.

The iMiEV Sport Air uses an aluminum space frame to carry its lithium ion battery and electric drive system, which help limit mass to just 2,072 pounds. The motor gets a bump from the standard iMiEV's 47 kW to 60 kW which helps acceleration, and the range climbs from 100 miles to 120 miles, although Mitsubishi has declined to specify whether the new battery is larger.

Opel goes Voltec, Ampera coming in late 2011

General Motors Europe boss Carl-Peter Forster began this morning's press conference in Geneva with an acknowledgment of the dire financial straights that the entire industry is experiencing right now. Forster also candidly admitted that GM is currently investigating all options when it comes to changing its relationship with Opel, including outside equity investments. Once he got past all the bad news, however, he introduced the production-intent version of the Opel Ampera. If it looks familiar, it should. If it doesn't, well, what rock have you been hiding under for the last two years? The Ampera is the Opel badged variant of the Chevrolet Volt. It uses the same Voltec powertrain as the Volt, as well as most of its body.

The main differences are the markedly more aggressive front and rear fascias and the black (rather than white) interior. Like the Volt, most of the front fascia is closed off to optimize aerodynamics. The styling of the nose is a mix of the 2007 GTC and Flextreme concepts, and we rather like the bold new look, particularly the chevron-like forms that grow downward from the headlamps.

The Ampera is planned for production in late 2011, about one year after the Volt. A right-hand drive Vauxhall version is scheduled to launch a year after that.


March 2, 2009


Geneva World Premiere: Opel Ampera to Debut in 2011

Electric car with 500 km extended range

Geneva/Rüsselsheim. The revolutionary Opel Ampera today celebrated its world premiere at the 79th Geneva Motor Show. General Motors Europe president, Carl-Peter Forster, unveiled the extended-range electric vehicle and announced plans to put the car into production in late 2011.

The Ampera will also be offered with right-hand drive in the United Kingdom by Opel's sister-brand, Vauxhall.
"The Opel Ampera further demonstrates GM's leadership in the electrification of the automobile," said Carl-Peter Forster. "Its ground-breaking Voltec electric propulsion system is the kind of game-changing technology the automotive industry needs to respond to energy and environmental challenges."

The five-door, four-seat Ampera is influenced by Opel's award-winning design language of sculptural artistry meets German precision, incorporating several styling cues from the innovative Flextreme and GTC Concept show cars
"There could not be a more fitting way to celebrate Opel's 110 years of innovation in the car industry than by revealing the Ampera," said Alain Visser, GME Vice President Opel.

The Ampera's wheels are turned electrically at all times and speeds. For journeys up to 60 km (MVEG), it runs on electricity stored in the 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery, and emits zero CO2. When the battery's energy is depleted, electricity from an engine-generator extends the Ampera's range to more than 500 km.

The Ampera can be plugged into any household 230v outlet for charging. GM Europe is analyzing the requirements of a recharging infrastructure for plug-in electric cars with energy companies, including Iberdrola of Spain.

Rolls-Royce 200EX

In this economic climate, nobody is immune. But everything is relative. Rolls-Royce may continue to set sales records, but even they're downsizing... sorta. Rolls' answer to a shrinking economy is a smaller model, but at 212.6 inches long, it's the 200EX is still bigger than most luxury sedans roaming the roads. And it still looks every bit as deserving of the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament adorning its streamlined, brushed aluminum nose as the larger Phantom range. When the 200EX enters production, it'll lose the traditional Rolls showcar nameplate in favor of something like Silver Cloud, and it'll still command a prime spot in the valet lot at the yacht club, but don't take our word for it:

Bentley takes a tipple, Continental SuperSports goes FFV

Bentley claims that the new Continental Supersports is the fastest, most powerful production Bentley ever produced. But beyond raw power and speed, CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen said it was the beginning of a new era for Bentley. Paefgen declared that when this recession ends outstanding cars will be needed to lead the way. To that end the Continental Supersports program shaved 242 pounds off the big coupe, removed the back seat and bumped up the output to 621 hp. That's enough to push this big coupe to 204 mph top end and while passing through 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds.

The really big news is the addition of flex-fuel capability to the twin-turbo W12. Paefgen claims that fueling the Supersports on E85 can reduce well-to-wheel CO2 emissions by up to 70%. Of course that figure would be commensurate with using cellulosic ethanol which is currently available... no where. Paefgen announced that between now and 2012 all Bentley's will get flex-fuel capability and in that year an all new powertrain will be introduced. Paefgen did acknowledge that E85 capability is simply a stepping stone to future technologies like plug-in hybrids start to make a dent over the next decade.

Rinspeed iChange in the flesh

With automakers pouring into Geneva from around the world, it's largely up to Rinspeed to hold down the home fort here in Switzerland, and the quirkiest of niche automakers never disappoints. So this year we made sure to swing by Rinspeed's show stand right away to take in its latest concoction. Called the iChange, we've already brought you the details and factory photos of this innovative electric vehicle, and it looks no less unique in person. Its low-slung body is punctuated by a forward-hinged canopy, which can be expanded to accommodate a third passenger as needed.

Rinspeed's Abarth-based E2 concept

Usually one concept is enough to put Rinspeed on the map here at its home-turf Geneva Motor Show, but this year the quirky Swiss coachbuilder doubled down with a modified Fiat 500 that hugs the road and the planet at the same time. Joining the innovative iChange on its show stand, the Rinspeed E2 starts with the hot Abarth version instead of the standard Cinquecento, tuned it to squeeze out both extra power and extra economy thanks to a dual-mode engine management system. Painted the same shade of metallic orange as the iChange concepet, the E2 may not be quite as attention-grabbing, but extra power without the penalty is a trend we could get used to all too easily.

Nissan previews wacky Qazana crossover concept

To borrow a phrase: Great Googly Moogly. Looking something like a Apple-branded lunar rover, Nissan has released its first images of its Qazana concept, an "intelligent, all-wheel drive crossover which is masculine, agile, lean, and designed for the tough city streets."

The compact crossover appears to be the latest take on the emerging sportscar softroader aesthetic populated by genre-benders like the BMW X6 and Infiniti FX, and to a lesser extent, lower-to-the-ground mainstream offerings like the Toyota Venza. For whatever it's worth, the Nissan Design Europe team says that they were influenced by the "motif of a modern day beach buggy and a four-seat motor-bike." Why this idea didn't result in a more skeletal open-top off-roadster on balloon tires (the Qazana rides on modest-for-a-concept 20-inch wheels), we're not sure, but we think this design has merit on its own regardless. While we wouldn't expect a greenhouse quite this radical or the some of the motorcycle-inspired interior details to see production, a UK-built smaller counterpart to the smash hit Qashqai has been promised, and the Qazana could well influence the design.