Golf VI: photoshop looking very good indeed...

Now this is a nice photoshop with inspiration in the VW Concept A. I would really like it to look like that!
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European leaders... anyone?... Please respond...

Take a look at a bunch of recent news focusing actions from USA president, Mr. Bush, on the oil prices and the energy future. Now please, can the European leaders follow his lead and start doing something about it. Mr. Blair, Mrs. Merkel, Mr. Barroso, please?...

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/04/28/bush-wants-to-set-fuel-efficiency-standards

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/04/28/100-million-bounty-for-hydrogen-breakthrough

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/04/26/bush-backs-hybrids-with-more-tax-credits

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/04/25/bush-orders-probe-into-gas-prices

Big hammer II: 2008 Cadillac CTS

Following the news of more powerful versions of the current CTS, recent pictures are presenting the next generation of the CTS. It is believed to be the car presented by Bob Lutz in a TV show preview. In this picture, Edmund’s Inside Line refers to the car as being a Merc CLS inspired design. Auto-future loves the CLS and its influence in modern car design. But in reality the similarities have to be found in the similar model designation and small glass/metal ratio of the profile - that is very small side-windows. It’s difficult to believe how the next CTS can have the elegance of the Merc-coupé. It’s more related with some Audi designs. However, it will still look fabulous although the biggest improvement lies in the interior. From the current horrid design to a new more coherent and with much better perceived quality. Again, I would like to ask for one for the European market… but it needs to be smaller and have diesel engines. I know, the BLS is smaller and has diesel engines but I believe that in reality it’s just a sort of acronym for bullshit!
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Big hammer I: CTS Super-V

Worldcarfans presented a couple of pics of the Cadillac CTS Super-V. The article presents information about a rumoured 7-liter V8 producing in excess of 500hp. Better yet it could in the future get a supercharged V8 of about 600hp. I consider this information relevant because worldcarfans is a reliable source, and the rear tyres of the thing sure look to be ready for monstruous horsepower. This is one thing I like about Americans: the "drop a big hammer on it" politics... apllied to cars. Completely different from the ridiculous politics of America in Iraq.
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Anyway, can I ask Cadillac to make a model like the CTS but in a size smaller for us Europeans? Please, don't even mention that BLS thing or I might get offensive!
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VW Golf VI or Kia ED?

Yesterday some sites, (like this), were presenting spy images of what they claim is the next Golf VI. However inside information suggests that it is in reality the next Kia ED. Check the images below for comparison. Funny how they look similar...
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Golf VI?

Kia:

NY Auto-Show: the star

You guessed it… the Scion Fuse concept. An amazing concept that sums up the excellent approach that Toyota has for this segment. The concept of the “lounge car” may become in the future a new class of vehicles on its own. Auto-Future will follow this trend and try to anticipate its influence. For now we have this glorious concept car that besides the lounge features is an excellent interpretation of a small coupé. I sincerely hope that Toyota will extract the good bits from it and apply to future vehicles. I’m not going to write “build it as it is” but I can give advice on what to use and what to miss. But sorry folks, not in this blog...
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NY Auto-Show: the flop

Auto-Future looks back at the highlights of this year’s New-York auto show. Pictured below is my choice for worst of the show: the new Hyundai Elantra. How strange is it that Auto-Future chooses a Hyundai for best of the show at Genéve (the Hyundai Genus concept) and now the Elantra for the rotten-apple… In reality there is nothing wrong with the Elantra, this is just a personal choice. The new Elantra will continue the right strategy that Hyundai is following in the United States: good, reliable vehicles with excellent value for money. Just check the success of the Sonata. The good choice for the average-Joe. The same strategy that Toyota and Honda have for America and a successful one. Eventually we Europeans will also be able to buy this new Elantra. Unfortunately this is not up to our tastes… just like the majority of the Hyundai range. This side of the Atlantic we anxiously wait for the restyled coupe and please Hyundai… give us this car instead of the Sonatas and Elantras!
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Tomorrow Auto-Future will look at the best of the show, but you may try to guess it since the choice is very predictable…

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Another 4-door coupé: Audi A7

In an analysis article Auto-Bild presents a photoshop of the Audi A7: a 4-door coupé competitor to the Mercedes CLS. It does not look as elegant as the Merc but it follows Audi's design language that basically states "Look at me, I'm German too". Interestingly it has hidden rear door handles which, if confirmed, can be seen as a typical signature of chief designer Walter da Silva. Also interestingly, another prediction, by Auto Motor und Sport presents the A7 with conventional door handles and a less massive design. Which one is right? I place all my bets on Huckfeldt's design from Autobild. Another interesting note in the photoshop by Huckfeldt: seems Audi is about to change the front design of their cars... again!

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Infiniti G35 sedan: good news for BMW, Mercedes and Lexus...

The new Infiniti G35 was presented yesterday in the New York Auto Show. This was a car highly expected for several reasons. For starters, the previous generation put Infiniti in the map of prestige luxury sedans. It played all the right notes: longotudinal-centrally-mounted engine (an amazing V6) and RWD platform. The right ticket for this class of vehicles. Design of the 4-door was bland but the coupé version was very refined and enjoyed great success. Interiors were the worst part of the car, mainly due to poor-quality plastics. So the new one was expected to raise the bar and pose a real challenge to BMW, Mercedes and Lexus. It features notorious improvements in the interior (although questionable ergonomics of the Sat-Nav interface), and keeps all of the mechanical goods and the optional AWD system. So does the established luxury-trio needs to be worried?

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But there are other reasons that make this car interesting... for European consumers. Nissan (and Infiniti) are owned by Renault so in this side of the Atlantic we are very curious about what Renault will make out of it. Bring Infiniti as a prestige brand? Use the prestigious RWD platform and engines in Renault vehicles? There are several possibilities and Renault MUST extract advantages from Infiniti to the European market.

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In the end what did we got? Look at the pictures and judge for yourselves. In my opinion BMW, Mercedes and Lexus do not need to be very worried. The engineering of the G35 is great but the design is wrong. In this days, where emotional, even dramatic design is winning in the sales, I find the G35 too bland and soft-looking. Maybe the coupé version will be more appealing?

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And what about Europe? Well it is really too boring for us. I think the best option for Renault is to take advantage of Infiniti by the reborn of the Alpine brand. Use the platforms of Infiniti but with European design: start with a Alpine coupé and evolve from there making Alpine the luxurious brand of the Renault group for Europe.

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Peugeot 308 - Analysis and predictions: Why it will fail...

The Peugeot 308 will fail to be the overall leader in this class of vehicles, simply because the small people-carrier version (the 3008) is late in the program. Without such vehicle Peugeot can only aspire to be leader amongst 3/5 door hatchbacks. It is, in my opinion, a wrong move by Peugeot. They should aready have released their mini-MPV vehicle to fight the Scénic/C-máx/Zafira etc. I suppose Peugeot does not want to have internal competition for the Citroen Picasso... but if PSA has two brands they have to deal with it. Another strong point for th 3008 version is that it could be designed as a sporty-alternative to other MPV's. Scénic, Zafira, Picasso are more comfort-oriented so the Focus C-max is praticaly alone in the sporty side of this class of vehicles. Peugeot is loosing time and money by delaying the 3008 so much.

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I can't be so afirmative regarding the success of the 3/5 door versions. It has good chances and many of the items of yesterday's wishlist will be addressed. However it will also face stiff competition from the next Mégane and the Golf VI that will have a much more emotional design than the current version. However, if Peugeot gets the design right it has very good chances. We already know that it will have its height reduced and length and width increased. Existing photoshops and inside information confirm a highly complished interior with excellent quality and design. However I', a bit worried about the design of the C-pilar... just check Lehman's pictures...

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Regarding the third objective, to increase premium position, Peugeot also has good chances. Design and interior quality improvements are a good sign and we can expect to have full-leather versions to further increase its appeal. However, Peugeot is lacking some technical assets to further increase its premium value. The most recent trend is to fill all possible profitable niches: small SUV, sporty coupé..., for example VW will spawn all of this niche vehicles from the Golf and Ford will have a SUV version of the Focus platform. In order to do this Peugeot needs a platform with AWD option and they will not have it for the 308. This is a limiting factor. And please, don't even think of making some sort of SUV that is only FWD!

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