During the past week, automakers have announced a wide variety of production and concept vehicles that they will show off at the Geneva Motor Show (Switzerland) next month.
IHS Automotive perspective | |
Significance | During the past week, automakers have announced a wide variety of production and concept vehicles that which they will show off at the Geneva Motor Show (Switzerland) next month. |
Implications | The vehicles underline a host of key trends present in the industry at the moment. |
Outlook | As the event draws closer, further launches will be made by global automakers hoping to cause a buzz around their brands, particularly in the depressed European market |
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Audi A3 e-tron |
On the 5 March, the 83rd Geneva Motor Show (Switzerland) will open to the media. Automakers from around the world will display 900 vehicles, of which 130 are set to be global and European premieres. During the past few weeks there has been a flurry of announcements made by automakers in the lead-up to the show that range from styling concepts to production vehicles, many of which will focus on emissions reduction. Here are the most recent:
Audi A3 e-tron
Based on the A3 Sportback, this vehicle is a plug-in hybrid concept vehicle that the automaker claims will "give some insight into how the technology will take shape in the Audi models of the future". The hatchback combines a modified 148 bhp 1.4-litre TFSI gasoline (petrol) engine with a 75kw electric motor, linked through a clutch, which is integrated into a newly designed six-speed "e-S tronic" double-clutch transmission (DCT). Combined, it generates up to 204 bhp as well as 258 lb/ft of torque. The vehicle can also offer a range of up to 31 miles and speeds up to 80 mph using electric power alone. Under the ECE standards for plug-in hybrid cars, the vehicle is capable of achieving up to 188 mpg and producing as little as 35 g/km CO2.
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Audi RS Q3 |
Audi RS Q3
At the other end of the scale and developed to top the line-up of Audi's compact sport utility vehicles (SUVs) is the RS Q3. More aggressively styled with RS-specific body styling, this variant uses the automakers five-cylinder, 2.5-litre turbocharged gasoline engine that first gave service in the TT RS and RS3, and produces 310PS and 310 lb/ft of torque. This is channelled to all four wheels through a seven-speed S-Tronic double-clutch transmission (DCT), giving it the ability to accelerate from 0–62 mph in 5.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 155 mph. However, it is also said to achieve fuel consumption of 32.1 mpg and CO2 emissions of 206 g/km. Other features include a selective dynamics system controlling exhaust volume and accelerator characteristics, larger 365-mm brake discs and 25-mm lower sports suspension. Internally, the RS variant gains sports seats, flat-bottomed steering wheel and additional displays in the Multi Media Interface (MMI) system.
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Bentley Flying Spur |
Bentley Flying Spur
The sedan version of the second-generation Bentley Continental revealed at the end of 2011, this vehicle has more distinctive and sharper lines than the original launched in 2005. It shares much of the underpinnings with its coupé and convertible counterparts, including the W12 gasoline engine. The company is said to have focused its attentions on refinement, with the use of additional sound deadening, greater body rigidity and softer suspension settings. The vehicle is available as either or a four- or five-seater, and it is available with an optional Multi-Media Specification featuring wireless networking.
Nissan Note
Nissan will show off its second-generation Note, which closely resembles the Invitation concept it displayed at the event in 2012. The automaker has decided to shift the mini multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in to becoming a more conventional B-segment hatchback, although with a focus on offering interior space benefits and an elevated seating position.
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Nissan Note |
The vehicle will be offered with three engine options: a naturally aspirated, 79 bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder gasoline; a supercharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder gasoline engine producing 97 bhp and a four-cylinder 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine managing 89 bhp. These produce CO2 emissions of 109 g/km, 99 g/km and 95 g/km with manual transmission. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is also offered as an option. As part of its efforts to underline the premium aspects of this vehicle, Nissan is said to have focused on the quality of the interior materials and greater technology content. Available equipment includes blind spot warning, lane departure warning, moving object detection, around view monitoring using separate cameras and dashboard monitor to help with vehicle positioning, and stop-start system.
Peugeot 2008
Peugeot is taking the opportunity to unveil the production version of the 2008 crossover, a concept of which it displayed at the Paris Motor Show (France) during 2012. The styling of this B SUV, which is going to be sold globally, is extremely close to that of the original concept, and shares much of its technical aspects with its 208.
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Peugeot 2008 |
According to Autocar this will include three-cylinder 1.2-litre turbocharged and naturally aspirated gasoline engines and a 1.6-litre gasoline engine, as well as diesel engines. The vehicle will feature the automaker's Grip Control system, head-up display and seven-inch touchscreen, as well as the option of Peugeot Connect Apps, which uses 3G mobile phone connection to feed line information regarding traffic conditions and local attractions. Further applications will be offered at a later date. Also on display will be a 2008 concept featuring the automaker's Hybrid Air technology.
Skoda Octavia estate
Following the Octavia hatchback unveiled at the beginning of the year, Skoda will use this event to reveal the estate variant. This version, larger than the outgoing model, has a wheelbase 110 mm longer than the hatchback in an effort to increase rear legroom by 73 mm. Practicality will be the order of the day for this vehicle, with 610 litres of boot space with the rear seats up or 1,740 litres of space with them folded. Other features will include a double-sided boot mat, a luggage net and bag hooks. The vehicle will share its powertrain options with its hatchback sibling. The event will also reveal the four-wheel drive version of this model.
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Skoda Octavia estate |
Volkswagen XL1
Volkswagen (VW) has announced that it will unveil the production version of its XL1 high efficiency vehicle. The two-seat vehicle has already been shown as a concept several times, but when it is launched at the show it will be the most fuel-efficient production car in the world with fuel consumption of approximately 313 mpg and CO2 emissions of just 21 g/km. It achieves this thanks to a 47bhp two-cylinder 800cc diesel engine combined with a 27bhp electric motor and a 5.5kWh battery pack. It is also helped by a range of lightweight materials in the body and other components such as carbon fibre and aluminium as well as advanced aerodynamics giving it drag coefficient of 0.189. The production will initially run to 50 vehicles that are homologated for sale in Europe, before then building it to meet demand.
Outlook and implications
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VW XL1 |
The vehicles above give a good outline of what events like this bring out, and the market as a whole. "Bread and butter" vehicles such as the Nissan Note will make up the core of the market, even through the difficulties that the European market is suffering at the moment. This will mark something of a return for Nissan to this area, having been expanding into new niches such as crossovers in Europe during recent years. The question will be whether – despite the hyperbole in the press release – it can prove to be a strong alternative in this closely fought sector which is under both internal and external pressure. One example of this is the B SUV sector, which the Peugeot 2008comes under; it is seeing an influx of competitors with more to come in the ensuing years.
Bentley's and Audi's launches underline the growth of the premium and luxury sector in recent years. While the Flying Spur is merely a replacement of an existing, popular vehicle in this category, the Q3 RS reflects a trend for an increased number of "micro-niches" as German premium brands push boundaries on pricing and customer expectation. While the high-performance C SUV segment is not exactly large at the moment, it is unlikely that BMW, Mercedes or even Land Rover will be left napping. Such halo cars are also likely to help sell more vehicles further down the range when similar, optional styling kits add kudos at much less expense.
The launches outlined above also reflect the ongoing focus on CO2 reduction, high fuel efficiency and alternative powertrains. While the VW Group is the focal point here, others will also be unveiling their ideas on this matter. Among them will be Ferrari and McLaren, their new hyper cars are both destined to use some kind of optional electrical power whether for increased performance or under sole use when the internal combustion is less effective.
As we can see, the wide range of VW Group brands will also offer a wide variety of interest, showing the importance of the German automaker, not only in this region but globally. While it has steamrollered the competition in recent years, particularly in Europe, it remains to be seen whether it can maintain and extend this lead going forward, or whether its sheer scale could become a hindrance as it has to General Motors (GM) or Toyota in the past. However, on current form this seems very unlikely.
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