World Cars: October 2011

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Citroën Lacoste Concept

Citroën Lacoste Concept

Citroën and clothier Lacoste have teamed up for a compact concept car destined for the Paris Motor Show, and it's called the Citroën Lacoste.
The concept is clearly intended for those aiming to live an active lifestyle as exemplified by its open-air nature. The Lacoste measures in at 136 inches long, 71 inches wide, 60 inches tall, and comes with a 91-inch-long wheelbase. It's suggestive of a futuristic buggy as the T-shaped roof support structure offers an air-inflatable soft-top roof. The windshield can be lowered like a Jeep Wrangler and the interior design is said to take on the styling of the iconic Lacoste polo with the coloration and specific weave patterns on the seating. The rear seats can be jumped into from the outside and the two-spoke steering wheel is modeled after the Citroën emblem.
Obviously, the tire choice must be French as well as the Michelin name is proudly plastered on the sidewalls. With such a small overall package, the gas-powered inline-three should more than suffice

Citroën Lacoste Concept

Citroën Lacoste Concept

2015 Lotus Eterne

2015 Lotus Eterne

2015 Lotus Eterne

A Lotus sedan? Yes, indeed. For 2015, Lotus' Eterne will rival the Aston Martin Rapide, housing a 550-horsepower engine shared with the Esprit up front. The structure, panels, and suspension are all aluminum and with a length of 196 inches, the Eterne is said to be almost as spacious as a Porsche Panamera.
As with the Esprit, a hybrid option could come in the future, bringing a 50-hosepower electric boost to the equation, along with plenty of eco-tech. This car is still years away from production, but we expect more details to be announced on a regular basis until its launch.

2015 Lotus Eterne

2011 Honda Fit Hybrid

2011 Honda Fit Hybrid

2011 Honda Fit Hybrid

Information about the upcoming Fit Hybrid has been floating around for more than a year, but Honda has officially released images and information about the production vehicle before the official debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show in September.
As has been long speculated, the Fit Hybrid uses a powertrain that Honda hybrid enthusiasts are most certainly familiar with. Honda packs the same parallel hybrid powertrain used in the current Insight into the little Fit hatchback, providing it with a 1.3-liter I-4, a continuously variable transmission, and an electric motor sandwiched between the two. According to Honda, the setup is good for 98 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque, which isn't a dramatic departure from the 117 ponies and 106 pound-feet delivered by the Fit's standard 1.5-liter I-4.
2011 Honda Fit Hybrid Rear Three Quarter View
To flaunt its green powertrain, Honda dressed the Fit Hybrid up with a new grille, blue-tinted headlamps, revised bumper skins, clear taillights, and chrome tailgate trim. If that isn't attention-grabbing enough for buyers, they can spring for an unique Lime Green metallic paint (pictured). Inside, Honda blessed the cabin with a new dashboard and instrument panel (here's hoping they're rolled out across the entire Fit lineup), and European models are offered with optional leather seating surfaces.
Fuel economy and emissions figures for the Fit Hybrid haven't been finalized, but early reports suggest it bests the Insight's 40/43 mpg (city/highway) EPA ratings, which places it far ahead of the 28/35 mpg rating earned by a normal Fit with an automatic transmission. Expect Honda's preliminary numbers to emerge closer to the auto show, along with a price tag. We've heard rumors that the Fit Hybrid could undercut the Insight's price tag with a base price of roughly $17,800.
According to Honda, sales of the Fit Hybrid will begin in Europe early next year, but a timetable for a possible U.S. launch has yet to be announced.