Turin-based styling house Bertone has released a couple of sketches teasing its upcoming Nuccio Concept car. To be debuted at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March, the Nuccio will reportedly be based on a mid-engine platform and is meant to commemorate the company’s 100-year anniversary.

The Nuccio is named after founder Giovanni Bertone’s son, who took over the company and separated it into two divisions, one for building cars and one for designing them for clients. Giuseppe “Nuccio” Bertone died in 1997 and was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit in 2006, having led his eponymous company through its most successful years.

The Nuccio Concept will be a berlinetta (Italian for little saloon) of classic Bertone design, sporting a pronounced wedge shape that sits very low to the ground. No real details were provided with the two sketches, so we’ll have to wait until the Geneva festivities kick off for any hints on the powertrain or seating configuration.

Bertone releases sketches of Nuccio Concept ahead of Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan is headed to the Geneva Motor Show in March with a brand new hatchback concept. Called Invitation, this five-door should give us an idea of what the Japanese manufacturer has planned for its next B-segment contender. The concept borrows a bit from the likes of the Honda Fit, though that’s no bad thing. With a clean, athletic design, the Invitation is a refreshing break from some of the automaker’s more questionable exteriors.

Nissan hasn’t divulged any drivetrain details as of yet, though the company has said each of the Invitation derivatives will be eligible to wear the company’s Pure Drive badge. That means the production-version Invitation will be among the most efficient and economical vehicles Nissan produces. We do know the hatch will boast the ever-cool around-view monitor system along with a full slate of tech goodies. Hit the jump for the full press release and be sure to keep an eye open for our Geneva show coverage of the concept’s official unveiling.

Continue reading Nissan Invitation Concept peeks out ahead of Geneva debut [w/video]

Nissan Invitation Concept peeks out ahead of Geneva debut [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Switzerland-based company is testing an extended-range plug-in mini-vehicle that it says gets more than 200 miles per gallon and has a single-tank range of more than 300 miles, according to website TechnologicVehicles.com.

The company, Catecar, tested a prototype of the vehicle at the Geneva Airport this week. The car weighs less than 800 pounds, while its batteries account for about 10 percent of the vehicle’s weight, according to the website. Making the car even more energy efficient are the solar panels on the vehicle’s roof.

At just under 10 feet long, Catecar is about a foot longer than Daimler’s Smart ForTwo two-seater and about two feet shorter than the Mini Cooper. In other words, it’s not big – but the company does have big plans, and production could start next year, TechnologicVehicles reports.

Switzerland-based Catecar extended-range vehicle is tested in Geneva originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You’ve seen the S-Max. You’ve seen the C-Max. Now get ready for the B-Max.

The latest European-focused mini minivan from Ford was previewed in concept form at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, but has now been confirmed for production release at the 2012 edition of the same expo this March. Based on the Fiesta (the C-Max is based on the Focus), the new B-Max will arrive into a highly competitive segment overseas, so it will need to offer some alluring features to make its mark.

The edgy design should help, but the party piece for this diminutive people carrier is that it has no B-pillars. And we don’t mean that the windows have no frame: we mean the entire pillars are incorporated into the doors themselves, so that when you open the doors there’s no encumbrance to loading and unloading of passengers and cargo alike.

Motivation is provided by a 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine, with Duratorq diesels also on offer. After its unveiling in Geneva, the new B-Max will go on sale at dealers across Europe later this year. Follow the jump for the full press release and click the thumbnails below to view the pair of images released thus far in high resolution.

Continue reading Ford previews 2012 B-Max MPV ahead of Geneva debut

Ford previews 2012 B-Max MPV ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi has been something of a punching bag among both analysts and critics in the United States for some years now, with lukewarm reception to new products and meek sales figures. But while few were paying attention, the Japanese brand’s pendulum made a mighty swing in the right direction in 2011, with sales finishing up over 40 percent year-over-year, making it the second fastest-growing brand in the States. Of course, total brand sales were just 77,995 (2010 sales: 55,683), but one has to start somewhere.

Buoyed by increasing demand for new products like the Outlander Sport, Mitsubishi isn’t quite “feeling its oats” just yet, but it’s alive and kicking. As further evidence, the company has just released a teaser image of an unnamed vehicle it plans to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Significantly, Mitsubishi indicates that this is the first time it has ever chosen to stage a global product reveal in Europe. The mystery vehicle, which appears to be a crossover – likely the next-generation Outlander – will go on sale in 2012. The second-generation Outlander has been on sale here since 2006, with a facelifted model arriving for the 2010 model year.

Mitsubishi says this is the start of a new, “re-focused design language,” which evidently means moving away from the massive Lancer Evolution-inspired grille that currently adorns the Outlander. We like what we see here, from the gaping lower air intake to the U-shaped hood pressing and assertive headlamps. We’ll probably have to wait until closer the Swiss show starts to get a closer look at the rest of the vehicle, but for now, check out the image above and the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Mitsubishi teases mystery reveal ahead of Geneva

Mitsubishi teases mystery reveal ahead of Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi has been something of a punching bag among both analysts and critics in the United States for some years now, with lukewarm reception to new products and meek sales figures. But while few were paying attention, the Japanese brand’s pendulum made a mighty swing in the right direction in 2011, with sales finishing up over 40 percent year-over-year, making it the second fastest-growing brand in the States. Of course, total brand sales were just 77,995 (2010 sales: 55,683), but one has to start somewhere.

Buoyed by increasing demand for new products like the Outlander Sport, Mitsubishi isn’t quite “feeling its oats” just yet, but it’s alive and kicking. As further evidence, the company has just released a teaser image of an unnamed vehicle it plans to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Significantly, Mitsubishi indicates that this is the first time it has ever chosen to stage a global product reveal in Europe. The mystery vehicle, which appears to be a crossover – likely the next-generation Outlander – will go on sale in 2012. The second-generation Outlander has been on sale here since 2006, with a facelifted model arriving for the 2010 model year.

Mitsubishi says this is the start of a new, “re-focused design language,” which evidently means moving away from the massive Lancer Evolution-inspired grille that currently adorns the Outlander. We like what we see here, from the gaping lower air intake to the U-shaped hood pressing and assertive headlamps. We’ll probably have to wait until closer the Swiss show starts to get a closer look at the rest of the vehicle, but for now, check out the image above and the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Mitsubishi teases mystery reveal ahead of Geneva

Mitsubishi teases mystery reveal ahead of Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai has decided to drop a little gift ahead of the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Yes, we said Geneva, which means this teaser comes a full three months before the curtains drop on its official debut.

In any case, the Korean automaker says the I-oniq “will preview the next evolution of the brand’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ form language,” and that its two strong arched curves create “a playful contrast between the sharp character lines and soft but muscular features.” Who are we to argue?

Based on this image alone, it’s hard to say whether this is a hatchback, a shooting brake, a crossover of sorts or even a four-door coupe in the vein of the Mercedes-Benz CLS. See an enlarged version of the teaser by clicking on the image above, and stay tuned for more information on the Hyundai I-oniq as we get closer to its Geneva debut.

Continue reading Hyundai teases I-oniq concept for Geneva

Hyundai teases I-oniq concept for Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Growing tired of lagging behind its rivals in the increasingly competitive luxury wars, Infiniti is getting serious about a number of things: the European market, for one, sports cars, for another, and finally, alternative propulsion. And based on those drives, the premium Nissan division is preparing to unveil a new hybrid sports car concept at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show this March.

Very little in the way of details have been released as part of the announcement, with the press release indicating only that the concept will be a “highly advanced, range-extending electric sports car concept.” Check out the aforementioned release after the jump, but not before you check out the pair of teaser shots which we’ve placed in the gallery for your consideration.

Continue reading Infiniti to unveil hybrid sports car concept in Geneva

Infiniti to unveil hybrid sports car concept in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Our coverage of the 2011 Geneva Motor Show included showing you 76 production and concept vehicles that were unveiled or displayed. However, there simply wasn’t enough time in our exhaustive auto show schedule to video the vehicles revealed. Fortunately, Fully Charged’s Robert Llewellyn did just that. Lllewellyn spent a frantic day on the floor in Geneva capturing video of most of the alternative technology vehicles on display.

There’s the Nissan Leaf, Nissan Esflow, Toyota Prius +, BYD e6-Eco, BMW ActiveE, Rolls-Royce Phantom 102EX, Opel Ampera, Ford Focus Electric, Mia and a blizzard of unusual electric and plug-in hybrid concepts. So, hop the jump to see the alternative technology vehicles that took to the stage in Geneva. Hat tip to Chris!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Fully Charged takes you inside the Geneva Motor Show

Video: Fully Charged takes you inside the Geneva Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tata has revealed its Euro city car concept in Geneva today and it’s a trick little piece. First off, Tata says it is the most efficiently-packaged four-seater in the world, comfortably seating four regulation-size adults in a car just 10 feet long.

Even more trick is the car’s zero turning radius system, which, in simple terms, rotates the rear wheels in separate directions to make parking as easy as possible in tight spaces. According to Tata, the system works with the help of something called a “Zero Turn turoidal traction-drive Infinitely Variable Transmission. Right. The effect is that the outside rear wheel spins forward while the inside wheels spins backward, creating a pivot point.

In keeping with the modern microcar trend, Tata claims that the Pixel will return more than 60 mpg and only releases 89 grams of C02 per kilometer. The efficiency comes by way of a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbodiesel, which, though it isn’t a full hybrid, employs stop-start technology and regenerative battery charging.

Could we be looking at a blueprint for a future Nano? Perhaps more in form factor than in specific technologies, but either way, this is a nifty looking little space egg.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL
[Source: Tata]

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Tata Pixel Concept turns on itself

Geneva 2011: Tata Pixel Concept turns on itself originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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