Archive for the ‘Concept Cars’ Category
BMW's flagship coupe returns after two-decade absence.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jun.15, 2018
This is the first BMW 8-Series since the original was abandoned in 1999.
It may be time for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but the big news, trackside will turn to a new street model, BMW using the annual endurance race as backdrop to reveal the long-awaited rebirth of its flagship 8-Series model.
It’s been nearly two decades since the Bavarian automaker abandoned the original 8-Series, but we got word that it would make a comeback last year with the May 2017 debut of the Concept 8 at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Italy’s Lake Como. Finally, we’re getting a look at the production version.
The Last Word!
Like the original, the new 8-Series opts for a coupe body, albeit one with a much more modern, streamlined design. The pop-up headlights, for one thing, are gone, replaced by slim LED lamps and the automaker’s new LaserLight technology. Indeed, as you’d expect of a BMW flagship, everywhere you look the new coupe is loaded up with the latest in technology, from its optional carbon fiber roof to its self-parking system.
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Tags: 2019 bmw m850i xdrive, 24 hours of le mans, auto news, bmw 8-series, bmw coupe, bmw le mans, bmw news, car news, german coupe, luxury coupe, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automobiles, BMW, Business, Concept Cars, First Look, Luxury Vehicles, Sales, Semi-autonomous Driving, Sports Cars, Technology, Trends | 2 Comments »
New model predicted to be available in 2021.
by Michael Strong on Jun.15, 2018
Byton introduced its second EV concept, the K-Byte, at CES Shanghai.
With a newly gained $500 million in its pocket, electric carmaker Byton rolled out the new K-Byte, an autonomous electric vehicle concept, at CES Shanghai.
The K-Byte is the company’s second concept. At CES 2018, it debuted its first-ever vehicle, a crossover-style EV that now gets the moniker M-Byte.
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The new K-Byte would seem to be just another of a slew of newly minted autonomous battery-electric concepts that have been unveiled in the last 12 months, but this one is a little different. Byton officials claim it will be capable of Level 4 autonomy when it hits the road in 2021. (more…)
Tags: Byton two concept EVs, K-Byte, M-Byte, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, autonomous EV vehicles, ev news, michael strong, new Byton concept, new EVs, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, China, Concept Cars, Driverless Vehicles, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Markets, NAFTA, South America, Technology, U.S./North America | No Comments »
205 mph sedan is fit for street or track.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jun.13, 2018
The Aston Martin Rapide AMR was first shown as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show.
Aston is no slouch when it comes to performance, but it’s in the midst of amping things up another notch with the help of its motorsports operations, Aston Martin Racing.
Appropriately, fast on the heels of the new DB11 tune-up, it’s pulling the covers off the Rapide AMR, a production version of the concept first shown at the 2017 Geneva Motors Show. If you happened to get a look at the prototype, it turns out, you’ll have a good idea what will soon be hitting the street – and the track, as many buyers will likely be finding ways to push the performance version of Aston’s sedan to its limits.
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The new performance models, Aston explained in a statement previewing the Rapide AMR, “draw a direct engineering and aesthetic link between the company’s successful race team and its road cars. As such the Rapide AMR is a sports car capable of comfortably transporting a team of race drivers to a circuit on the other side of a continent and then tackling the track when they get there.” (more…)
Tags: AMR, Aston Martin Racing, Aston Martin Rapide AMR, TheDetroitBureau.com., aston martin news, auto news, new Rapide AMR, newest AMR model, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Aston Martin, Automakers, Automobiles, Concept Cars, Personalities, Racers, Sports Cars | No Comments »
Production model set to join new Mercedes-EQ sub-brand.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jun.12, 2018
Mercedes-Benz EQA concept though still a year from production is clearly making plenty progress toward road-readiness.
While Mercedes is still a year away from introducing its all-new EQ battery-electric sub-brand, it’s giving a preview of what’s to come with these images of the Concept EQA sedan being driven through the Sicilian countryside.
A production version of this prototype, which made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show last autumn, will be part of a fast-growing line-up of long-range electric models, the EQC crossover set to launch the Mercedes-EQ brand-within-a-brand in 2019.
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Parent Daimler AG is committing billions in its drive to electrify virtually its entire line-up, with everything from mild hybrids to pure battery-electric vehicles in the planning to pre-production stage. By 2022, the automaker has said, it wants to have 10 BEV models in the Mercedes line-up alone. Add various forms of hybrids and fuel-cell vehicles and there will be 60 electrified Mercedes models and variants available by then. (more…)
Tags: Mercededs-Benz EQA Sicily, Mercedes BEV roams Sicily, Mercedes battery-electric car in Italy, Mercedes-Benz EQA concept, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ev news, mercedes news, new M-B EV in Sicily, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Concept Cars, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Luxury Vehicles, Mercedes, Sales, Technology, Trends | No Comments »
All-electric models now expected to generate half its sales by mid-2020s, with 1/3 self-driving.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jun.08, 2018
The Volvo 40.2 Concept hints at what's coming with the marque's first all-electric vehicle.
Volvo took a lead in the push into electrification last year, announcing it would use some of battery-based drive system on all future products, whether mild, conventional or plug-in hybrids, or pure battery-electric. And, last January, it gave us a hint of what that first BEV would be with the debut of its 40.2 concept.
The production version will follow in 2019 and, if Volvo’s latest forecast is any indication, so will plenty of other all-electric models, as the Swedish automaker now says it wants them to generate half of its sales by mid-decade.
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The mid-term plan Volvo is laying out is nothing if not ambitious. It also predicts that half of the Chinese-owned automaker’s sales will come from self-driving vehicles, and that half of its volume will come through its Care by Volvo subscription service, rather than conventional sales and leasing. Oh, and add a goal of boosting volume – and profitability – to match other premium manufacturers.
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Tags: Care by Volvo, Volvo EV, Volvo Hybrid, auto news, car news, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, volvo earnings, volvo electric, volvo electric vehicle, volvo electrification, volvo news, volvo plug-in, volvo profit, volvo subscription
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, Business, China, Concept Cars, Diesel, Driverless Vehicles, EVs, Earnings, Electrified Vehicles, Environment, Europe, Financials, Fuel Economy, Geely, Hybrids, Infotainment, Investors, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Polestar, Ride-Sharing, SUVs, Safety, Safety, Sales, Sales, Semi-autonomous Driving, Technology, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America, Uber, Volvo | Comments Off
Automaker teams up with Waymo, BMW and Aptiv, but carves out its own path.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jun.01, 2018
A Waymo-modified Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.
While there are a growing number of autonomous vehicle prototypes on the road these days, Waymo and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles made headlines when they announced, earlier this week, plans to direct as many as 62,000 Pacifica Hybrid minivans into the self-driving ride-sharing service the Google spin-off will launch later this year.
By some estimates, 20% or more of the miles Americans clock on the road will be in driverless vehicles operated by ride-sharing services like Waymo, Uber and Lyft by the end of the coming decade. Millions of motorists may opt to give up their personal vehicles and switch to those services. Millions more are expected to own their own autonomous vehicles.
The Last Word!
Until recently considered a laggard in the self-driving field, FCA has jumped in big, relying on partnerships with not only Waymo, but BMW and mega-supplier Aptiv. And that approach will not only help it to make up for lost time but give FCA several alternative paths to follow.
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Tags: FCA news, auto news, autonomous vehicle, car news, chrysler pacifica hybrid, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, ride sharing, thedetroitbureau, waymo autonomous ride-sharing, waymo chrysler pacifica, waymo chrysler pacifica hybrid, waymo fca, waymo ride-sharing
Posted in Alfa Romeo, Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, BMW, Business, Chrysler, Concept Cars, Driverless Vehicles, Executives, FCA, Jeep, Lyft, Markets, Maserati, Personalities, Ram, Ride-Sharing, SUVs, Sales, Semi-autonomous Driving, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America, Uber, Waymo, waymo | Comments Off
After slow start, automaker reveals big plans for electrification.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jun.01, 2018
The production version of this Maserati Alfieri concept will use an electrified drivetrain to launch from 0 to 60 in barely 2 seconds.
Sergio Marchionne isn’t much of a fan of battery power, or at least he hasn’t been until recently. When Fiat Chrysler Automobiles launched its first all-electric model, five years ago, the CEO actually urged motorists not to buy it, admitting FCA lost about $25,000 on every one of them.
But at the automaker’s “Capital Day,” in Milan on Friday, Marchionne and his management team were far more upbeat, announcing plans to add dozens of electrified vehicles – everything from mild hybrids to pure battery-electric vehicles – into the FCA line-up over the next give years.
Electrifying!
The economics still aren’t great, noted Mark Chernoby, the automaker’s head of technology compliance, but in an era of increasingly stringent emissions and mileage regulations, it’s the only real day to meet targets being set in markets as diverse as the U.S., Europe, China and Brazil. That’s all the more so as FCA continues to migrate from traditional sedans and coupes to the less efficient SUVs and CUVs that will overwhelmingly dominate its global line-up.
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Tags: FCA 5-year plan, FCA EV, FCA news, Maserati Alfieri, Sergio Marchionne, alfa electric, alfa-romeo news, auto news, battery car, car news, chrysler pacifica hybrid, fca battery car, fiat 500e, jeep news, maserati electric, maserati news, mild hybrid, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Alfa Romeo, Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Chrysler, Concept Cars, Driverless Vehicles, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, FCA, Ferrari, Financials, Fuel Economy, Geneva, Hybrids, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Maserati, Muscle Cars, NAFTA, Personalities, Pickups, Ram, Ride-Sharing, SUVs, Sales, Sales, Semi-autonomous Driving, Sports Cars, Super Cars, Technology, Tesla, Trends, U.S./North America, waymo | Comments Off
Morning presentation outlines plans for Jeep, Ram, Maserati and Alfa Romeo brands.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jun.01, 2018
The Ram TRX will be among the new models FCA will bring out over the coming five years.
(This story has been revised to update plans for Jeep’s pickup and a midsize pickup from Ram that, CEO Marchionne now says will come to the U.S. market.)
In a sweeping presentation designed to give analysts, investors, media and potential buyers a good look at its future, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles executives are spending a day detailing their plans for the company and its various brands.
At the midway mark, as they break for lunch, they’ve already lifted the kimono far enough to show what’s coming for the Jeep, Ram, Maserati and Alfa Romeo brands and, in a nutshell, it can be summed up as more products targeting lots more volume and much bigger margins.
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The new five-year plan will be the last crafted under the guidance of Sergio Marchionne, the 65-year-old executive who helped pull off the pairing of two struggling manufacturers to form Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. His third five-year plan, Marchionne stressed that “The true finish line is the one always yet to come.”
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Tags: FCA 5-year plan, FCA news, Maserati Alfieri, Sergio Marchionne, alfa romeo plan, alfa suv, auto news, car news, fca capital day, fiat chrysler 5-year plan, jeep pickup, jeep product plan, maserati plan, maserati suv, new Jeep, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, ram product plan, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Alfa Romeo, Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, Business, China, Chrysler, Concept Cars, Diesel, Dodge, Driverless Vehicles, EVs, Earnings, Environment, Europe, Executives, FCA, Ferrari, Financials, First Look, Fuel Economy, Funding, Hybrids, Infotainment, Investors, Jeep, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Maserati, Muscle Cars, NAFTA, Personalities, Pickups, Product Reveals, Ram, Ride-Sharing, SUVs, Safety, Safety, Sales, Sales, Semi-autonomous Driving, South America, Sports Cars, Super Cars, Technology, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America, V2V | 5 Comments »
Add $6,200 for reborn A-Spec.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on May.29, 2018
With the launch of the 2019 RDX, Acura brings back the A-Spec performance design package.
Acura was the first of the Japanese luxury brands but, in recent years, it has lagged behind rivals Lexus and Infiniti. Could the stars finally be coming together for Honda’s high-line marque, however?
While Acura’s passenger car models continue to struggle, the automaker has done far better with its SUV line-up, and it expects to gain even more ground with a complete makeover of the compact RDX. The timing likely couldn’t be better considering the U.S. luxury market’s accelerating shift from sedans and coupes to SUVs and CUVs. Add the fact that Acura is bringing back the A-Spec version of the RDX for 2019.
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The first new model to really deliver on the promises of Acura new Precision Concept design language, the 2019 model offers an array of new and updated features, from its new turbocharged 2.0-liter powerplant to a completely redesigned infotainment system dubbed AcuraLink with True Touch. But what may garner even more interest is the fact that the 2019 Acura RDX starts at the same price as the outgoing, 2018 model: $38,295, which includes $995 in delivery charges. (more…)
Tags: 2019 Acura rdx, 2019 acura rdx price, Acura RDX, acura news, acura rdx a-spec, acura rdx price, auto news, car news, compact japanese suv, compact suv, luxury suv, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Acura, Automakers, Automobiles, Concept Cars, First Drive, First Look, Honda, Infotainment, Markets, Reviews, SUVs, Safety, Safety, Sales, Technology, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America | 2 Comments »
Customized VWs taking tour of United States.
by Michael Strong on May.22, 2018
Tanner Foust's SEMA Atlas concept may be the star of VW show of the five concepts touring the U.S. this summer.
Every year, thousands of crazed Volkswagen fan flock to the Wörthersee VW meet in Europe. It features a slew of tricked out and tweaked up cars from across the decades as well as few sneak peeks at what the company is working on.
However, American VW fans with travel budget that doesn’t include a trans-Atlantic flight have an option: SoWo: The European Experience. The show was held last weekend in Savannah, Georgia.
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More importantly, it seems VW likes a good party and rolled up with some modified versions of the Jetta, Golf, Arteon, Atlas and Tiguan. Although very impressive, it’s highly unlikely that any of them will follow in the path of the Golf TCR shown in Europe, which is likely to find its way to dealerships relatively soon. (more…)
Tags: SoWo Savannah Georgia, TheDetroitBureau.com., VW Tanner Foust, VW concepts at SoWo, Volkswagen concepts at US Wörthersee, auto news, five VW concepts, michael strong, thedetroitbureau, vw news
Posted in Advertising, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Concept Cars, Markets, U.S./North America, Volkswagen | Comments Off
