Future Cars, Concept Cars, & Future Vehicle Photos

Thursday 14 July 2011

2011 Toyota Corolla

2011 is a big year for the compact segment with new entries from Chevrolet, Hyundai, Ford, and others competing. Toyota is responding with a refreshed 2011 Corolla, debuting at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Refining the formula for 2011 starts with a few exterior modifications. The new front grille is easy to spot on the sport model pictured here. The taillights have a new design, as well, and the side view mirrors are larger. As on any properly refreshed model, the wheel covers and alloy wheels have been redesigned. Toyota notes that the Corolla's design was created with input from design studios in Turin, Italy, but we think it's safe to say the Corolla still isn't the segment's style leader.
Inside, Toyota has paid attention to details most consumers might actually notice. That includes a new seat color and pattern, as well as a new color on the door trim. The steering wheel on the S model is new. When the 2011 sedan goes on sale in December, it will offer two new colors.
The 2011 Corolla will come with two years or 25,000 miles of complimentary maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance, like all new Toyotas. Will this be enough to fight off new compact sedan competitors? Wait just a few months and we'll have the answer.

2011 Toyota Corolla

2011 Toyota Corolla

2011 Toyota Corolla

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STI

Celebrating a year of broken records, Subaru is bringing the "Fastest STI Ever" and Travis Pastrana's New Year's Eve jump car to the SEMA show next week alongside a quartet of tuned-up rides.
"SEMA is the pinnacle of the aftermarket tuning world and the perfect place to show our new line of SPT parts," said Charlie Fishman, national accessory manager for Subaru of America. "With the launch of the new 2011 Impreza WRX and WRX STI, Subaru is having a record year for Subaru Genuine Parts and SPT accessory sales. The launch of the 4-door WRX STI has rekindled interest for the 2011 SEMA Show."
To that end, Subaru will be displaying four tricked-out cars at SEMA including the "Get More G's" WRX STI built by Subaru Performance Tuning itself. Joining it will be custom STIs from Kicker Audio and K&N Performance, as well as the Subiefest "Best of Show" Winner, a 2006 STI owned by Jamarri Whiteside. Cool as these rides may be, a pair of big guns will likely steal the show.
Travis Pastrana In His Record Jump Subaru Wrx Sti
In case you haven't heard, Tommi Makinen managed to get a prepped Subaru WRX STI around the Nurburgring in just 7 minutes and 55 seconds. That car, now dubbed the "Fastest STI Ever," will be one half of Subaru's record-setting duo present at SEMA this year. The other half will be the WRX STI driven by Travis Pastrana when he made a record-setting jump over the Long Beach Harbor on New Year's Eve 2009.
he cars won't be the only stars in attendance, either. Pastrana and SRT USA teammate Dave Mirra will be signing autographs at the Subaru booth from 1 pm to 2 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday and while not a part of the autograph signing, Makinen will be out canvassing the show floor as well.

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STI

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STI

2011 Saab 9-4x

The new Saab 9-4x luxury crossover enters a segment ripe with competition, with the best from Europe, Japan, and the U.S. battling for supremacy. The question is, can Saab regain its mojo with a product based on the Cadillac SRX?
Certainly the 9-4x, which will make its debut at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, has an elegant design, but it takes more than just quality styling and an ignition switch located between the front seats to make a Saab. Whether engineers were successful in making the driving experience significantly different from the Cadillac SRX will be crucial to the 9-4x's identity and consumer reception.
As is the case with its platform, the 9-4x's engines are shared with GM's Cadillac SRX. A 265-horsepower 3.0-liter V-6 is the standard engine, offered with a six-speed automatic and a choice of front-wheel drive or Saab's XWD all-wheel-drive system. The system, sourced from Haldex, varies torque between the front and rear axles as needed. The electronically controlled rear limited-slip differential can also transfer up to 50 percent of rear torque between the rear wheels to help maintain grip.
Step up to the 9-4x Aero model, and you'll find both standard all-wheel drive and a 300-horsepower, 2.8-liter turbocharged V-6. Saab estimates 0-60 mph acceleration times of 7.7 seconds, just a bit quicker than the all-wheel-drive 3.0-liter model, which does the same sprint in 8.4 seconds.
Although the EPA has yet to officially certify the 9-4x's fuel economy, expect the finalized MPG figures to resemble those of its Cadillac cousin. A base SRX gets 18/25 mpg city/highway, while an all-wheel-drive model with the normally-aspirated V-6 is rated at 17/23 mpg. The top-end turbocharged all-wheel drive SRX achieves a 15/22 mpg rating.
On base 9-4x crossovers, 18-inch six-spoke alloy wheels are standard. Aero models wear 20-inch "turbine-style" wheels, similar to those used on the new 9-5 sedan. The Aero model also includes bi-xenon cornering headlights and black mesh inserts in the front grille. Saab DriveSense is a technology exclusive to the Aero model. Real-time damping control helps the vehicle react to the driving style and current road conditions. Moving from the Comfort to Sport setting will provide a sharper pedal response and raised gear shifting points. The Eco mode essentially does the opposite to increase fuel economy.

2011 Saab 9-4x

2011 Saab 9-4x

2011 RMR Hyundai Equus

In his down time from racing in the Formula D championship and piloting wild cars up Pikes Peak, Rhys Millen runs a performance shop in Huntington Beach, California. While generally focusing its efforts on sports-derived vehicles, RMR recently began crafting a custom Equus for the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas.
2010 marks the third straight year RMR and Hyundai are working together to bring a customized vehicle to the SEMA show. In 2008 RMR built a Genesis coupe and worked its magic inside and out. Stepping up its game, in 2009 RMR started with a similar Genesis coupe, but stripped its engine and installed the same Tau 4.6-liter V-8 as found in the Genesis sedan and upcoming Equus sedan. With go-fast parts, the V-8 produced somewhere near 500 horsepower. Generally using SEMA to launch its latest and greatest, Hyundai gave RMR a 2011 Equus to customize for the show.
Millen's work on the Equus is subtle and tasteful. RMR's line of high-end carbon fiber Signature Edition parts include the front chin spoiler, rear deck lid spoiler, and side mirrors. A two-tone paint scheme has the top half of the car sprayed to look like carbon fiber, while the bottom is Red Bull blue. A set of gunmetal multi-spoke 21-inch HRE wheels finish off the exterior's mild appearance upgrades.
2011 Hyundai Equus Front Three Quarter
From the factory the Equus comes equipped with plenty of standard niceties. RMR replaced the leather seating surfaces on the front seats with ostrich hides with suede inserts. The only other remaining interior differences from a stock Equus are the embroidered headrests and floor mats.
In stock form, the 4.6-liter V-8 produces 385 horsepower, but being a performance shop, RMR had to tinker with the engine just a little. The addition of a new air intake and stainless exhaust tack on another 30 horsepower, bringing the Equus' output to 415 horsepower. A set of 14-inch brakes bring the 4500-pound beast to a halt.
Hyundai's 2011 RMR Equus is scheduled to roll onto the SEMA show floor next month in Las Vegas.

2011 RMR Hyundai Equus

2011 RMR Hyundai Equus

2011 Peugeot 508

Look familiar? It should, so long as you've been scoping out auto show coverage from abroad. The 2011 Peugeot 508 is the first production Peugeot to wear the brand's new design language, but the look was introduced on both the 5 by Peugeot concept from the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, along with the slinky SR1 conceptual roadster.
It's an improvement over Peugeot's outgoing design language, which seemed hell-bent on adding a wild, gaping grille and headlamps that stretched from the fenders to the A-pillars. Instead, the 508 wears a clean, chiseled look -- though we wonder if the entire look is a touch too sedate.
2011 Peugeot 508 Sedan Rear View
While it's designed to replace Peugeot's former flagship, the 607 sedan, the car is actually based on the platform used in the smaller Citroen C5 and the outgoing 407. Looking at the specs, the 607 is roughly 10 millimeters longer than the 407, but 20 millimeters shy of the 607. Go figure.
Apart from dimensions, Peugeot's not releasing much concrete data surrounding the 508. We'd expect a range of gas and diesel engines to be offered, and Peugeot says a new start/stop system will be paired with the diesels to help boost fuel economy by as much as 15 percent. Fuel misers may wish to hold off for a hybrid model due in 2012, which will reportedly offer both 200 horsepower and all-wheel-drive.

2011 Peugeot 508

2011 Opel Astra Sports Tourer

Opel revealed its New Astra four-door hatchback just about a year ago and today unveiled the the Astra Sports Tourer, its second body style in the New Astra lineup.
Unlike the four-door hatchback, which places style over substance, the Sports Tourer is more of a pure wagon. The roofline flows straight over the rear seats, giving rear passengers more headroom and continues out towards the hatch, increasing luggage space. Like the hatchback New Astra, it still sports a stylish European wrapper.
2011 Opel Astra Sports Tourer Rear View
As the Sports Tourer was designed to hold as much cargo as possible as efficiently as possible, the engineers went to great lengths to ensure optimum storage space. At the back, the cargo compartment has been carefully sculpted to eliminate any odd, hard-to-use corners. Additionally, a new "FlexFold" rear seat system has been added to easily fold the rear seats down. The system works using a spring-loaded mechanism that fires with the press of a button, automatically folding the seats down.
2011 Opel Astra Sports Tourer Rear Three Quarter View
The biggest difference between the four-door hatchback and Sports Tourer is body style, as most of the pieces carry over from the hatch. The suspension from the hatchback carries over mostly unchanged to ensure good ride quality and handling, but the rear suspension has been calibrated to handle higher loads. An optional FlexRide system functions like Audi Drive Select and allows the driver to select a driving mode from among Touring, Standard, and Sport. Sport mode stiffens the suspension for better response and also enhances throttle and steering responsiveness. The Astra Sports Tourer will also feature Opel's electronic trailer stability assist, for those owners who pull trailers.
2011 Opel Astra Sports Tourer Side View 2
The powertrain lineup mimics the four-door hatchback's, with a total of eight gasoline and diesel engines. Power ranges from 95 horsepower in the frugal Ecoflex Astra with a 1.3-liter turbo-diesel to 180 horsepower in the 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. A six-speed manual with an upshift indicator is standard with every engine, and a six-speed automatic is available with most. We also expect start-stop technology to become standard across the Astra range.
The Astra Sports Tourer goes on sale in November.

2011 Opel Astra Sports Tourer