Mazda Minagi (2011)

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Mazda Minagi (2011) at 2011 Geneva motor show

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

01 March 2011 06:30

Mazda is preparing the ground to launch a new CX-5 – a junior crossover to slot beneath the CX-7. The Mazda Minagi concept car is being launched at this week’s 2011 Geneva motor show and previews the production car expected this autumn.

But as well as heralding a new junior crossover in the Mazda fold, the Minagi also showcases the company’s new Skyactiv engineering philosophy and Kodo design mantra. They do love a good grand title at Mazda, don’t they…

Mazda Minagi: all about Skyactiv and Kodo

Don’t dismiss these as mere frippery. The Skyactiv system is Mazda’s new lightweight eco strategy – each new model is expected to come in at around 100kg lighter than before, with fuel saving tech and new lightweight bodyshells and architectures. And remember the Mazda Shinari? That’s the style direction the company’s heading in, and the Minagi is the latest expression of that Kodo design language – in pumped-up, SUV form.

‘I wanted to convey something different from the Mazda Shinari,’ said Masashi Nakayama, chief designer. ‘I felt a compact crossover SUV was the perfect vehicle to express agility and focused movement; the flexibility of four limbs moving in unison, and an upright posture.’

It’s a slick looking bit of design, but are we alone in seeing a lot of mid-sized crossovers converging? This is similar to parts of the Kia Sportage and Ford Kuga, especially that kicked-up C-pillar.

When will the CX-5 actually appear?

Not until next year. We’d expect it on sale in spring 2012 after a debut in late 2011. On first acquaintance, we’d say it’s shaping up to be a slick addition to the Mazda fold.

Toyota FT-86 II concept (2011)

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Toyota FT-86 II concept (2011) at 2011 Geneva motor show

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

01 March 2011 05:00

The wait for Toyota’s rear-wheel drive coupe is nearly over. The new Toyota FT-86 II was unveiled today at the 2011 Geneva motor show, alongside the Subaru version.

The two sports cars are being co-developed and Toyota president Akio Toyoda makes no bones about his mission for the FT-86: ‘I want to transfer the thrill of the race track to our vehicles, and make driving fun and exciting for our customers,’ he said.

That’s right, this car could just signal the end of Toyota’s unfortunately dull reputation since the demise of cars such as the Celica and Supra. Toyota is positioning the FT-86 as the spiritual successor to those coupes, and of course the legendary rear-wheel drive AE86. It’s some counterpoint to the magnolia Auris, isn’t it?

What’s new on the FT-86 II?

Our pictures show a car that’s nearer to production reality, with a very Subaru-influenced surfacing on the flanks and a host of new details: the lower air intake is now a taller, more aggressive shape and the all-pervasive LED day running lights now follow the arc down from the headlamps to the spoiler. The wheelarches are more pronounced too.

Toyota FT-86 II: the lowdown

The FT-86 was designed with input from the company’s ED2 European design centre and the aero package has been developed with expertise gained during the company’s F1 exploits. Apparently.

Toyota has form in facelifting concept cars. Remember the long, drawn-out gestation of the Lexus LF-A? Now it’s the FT-86’s turn to be pepped up, hence the II tag added to the name. All you need to know is that this car is much closer to production. And that means that the zip-up dashboard is sadly consigned to the concept car dustbin.

It’s a compact sports car, measuring 4235mm long, 1795mm wide and 1270mm high. That low nose is allowed by Subaru’s boxer engine, which sits low in the nose mated to a six-speed manual box.

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Audi A3 concept (2011) at 2011 Geneva motor show

By Ben Pulman

First Official Pictures

01 March 2011 08:30

Strip away the big wheels, give it a few numberplates and you're looking at the next Audi A3. Audi unveiled this thinly veiled production car at the 2011 Geneva motor show this morning.

So this is the next Audi A3?

Pretty much, although while it is undoubtedly a sharp looking saloon, from the front three-quarter angle you’d be hard pushed to work out whether this was an A3 or A6. Nevertheless, it’s good looking with great proportions, and shows us what the next A3 will look like – there will be three- and five-door hatchback bodies, plus another Cabriolet and a 'Slantback', a 'four-door coupe' much like the concept unveiled today.

The A3 concept also features a few lightweight solutions that Audi is currently readying for production. The new Audi RS3 has carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) front wings, and on the A3 concept the frame for the big front grille, the front spoiler, rear diffuser and door mirrors are all CFRP. Aluminium is also used in the construction of the door mirrors, and the five-spoke, 20in wheels are CFRP and aluminum. The A3 concept also has aluminium body panels (for the doors, bonnet and bootlid), so it tips the scales at 1540kg.

What’s under the bonnet? Anything special?

Powering the Audi A3 concept is a turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine, in the same 402bhp/369lb ft guise as featured in last year’s Quattro concept. And with so much power the A3 is, of course, four-wheel drive, with a seven-speed, dual-clutch S-tronic transmission to send the grunt to all the wheels. The claimed performance figures are 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds (thanks to launch control electronics), a 155mph limited top speed, 31mpg and 212g/km CO2. Audi’s throttle/steering/gearbox-adjusting Drive Select system also features, now with a fifth Efficiency setting beyond the Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual modes already available.

Audis has infamously good interiors – what about the A3 concept?

As good as ever. The uncluttered dash design with four circular air vents is influenced by the A1 supermini. There are two screens, one which sits between the analogue dials ahead of the driver, and another which glides from the dash – the latter is controlled by an MMI rotary controller on the transmission tunnel, and Audi’s intuitive touch-sensitive touchpad is now built into the top of the controller. We hear it’ll be on production Audis very soon.

SchwabenFolia's Weismann Roadster MF5 V10 Black Bat

We'll forgive you if you've never heard about SchwabenFolia and Dähler, its co-partner in the creation of the Wiesmann Roadster MF5 V10 Black Bat.

SchwabenFolia is a car wrapping company based in Korntal-Münchingen, Germany, and is responsible for the Roadster MF5's dark looks.

The company dressed the outer body panels as well as bits from the interior plus the door sills, trunk and engine room in a matte black skin. To showcase its craftsmanship, SchwabenFolia even wrapped the 20-inch BBS alloy wheels in the same shade.

A foiled “imprint” of the Nürburgring's northern loop on the driver's side and the chrome emblems round out the makeover.

In factory spec, the limited production roadster mode is powered by the previous BMW M5's 5.0-liter V10 engine with 507HP. This is where Swiss company Dähler steps in adding a new sportier exhaust system and modified electronics to boost output to 600-horses.

The tuner says that the Black Bat can go from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in just 3.5 seconds, to 200km/j (124mph) in less than 10 seconds and top out at 321km/h (200mph).

To improve braking, Dähler added Brembo 6-piston fixed calipers with 308x32mm discs up front and 4 piston fixed calipers with 380 x 28 discs at the back.

No pricing information has been released yet.

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