Color Me Bronze: Toyota's FT-86 II Concept Hits the Frankfurt Stage with a New Color

Toyota seems ready to knock down the Chevrolet Camaro's record number of motorshow appearances before it finally entered production with its FT-86 sports coupe.

More than three years after Toyota and Subaru announced plans to co-develop a rear-wheel drive coupe, and almost two years after Toyota first showed a concept of the FT-86, the Japanese company is still displaying prototypes of its long-awaited sports car.

At this week's Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany, Toyota brought along the most recent interpretation of the FT-86 II Concept that we first saw in Geneva this past March with a small twist: instead of a black finish, the study features a bronze/orange hue along with colored brake calipers, and that's about it.

Check out the pictures right after the jump.

 

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

IAA 2011: C-X16 Production Concept is “The Future of Jaguar Sports Cars”

Jaguar is so far under-performing, recording a 27% sales drop in the first quarter of the year. Indian owner Tata Motors is determined though to turn its fortunes around by investing US$2.5 billion annually for the next five years in the British luxury carmaker and its Land Rover stable mate in order to develop 40 new models and variants.

A spiritual successor to the legendary E-Type is certainly a good start: a modern sports coupe along with a roadster variant boasting compact dimensions and 21st century design and driving dynamics. This is exactly Jaguar’s main attraction at the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show: the C-X16 “production concept”, as the study is officially named, clearly pointing at a road-going model.

To mark the event, Jaguar organized a motorcade of 50 classic models, such as XK120s, C-Types, D-Types and, of course, E-Types that drove through the city of Frankfurt starting at the Villa Kennedy and ending at the Palais Thurn and Taxis where the C-X16 was presented to the media.

Jaguar/Land Rover head of communications, Frank Klaas, who drove a D-Type in the parade, commented: “What better way to start the motor show than by driving such a selection of beautiful sports cars through Frankfurt, culminating with the global debut of the future of Jaguar sports cars, the C-X16.”

The two-seater compact coupe (4,445 mm in length, 2,048 mm in width and 1,297 mm in height) uses a shortened version of the next-generation XK aluminium platform. The concept features a hybrid system that combines a 380 HP 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with a 95 HP electric motor integrated in the eight-speed automatic transmission’s structure.

Like the much more exclusive and expensive C-X75, the C-X16 has a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). This allows the driver to use the electric motor for extra acceleration by pushing a steering wheel-mounted button, just like in Formula 1 cars. The difference is that, unlike the four-wheel drive, two-electric motors equipped C-X75, the small coupe's KERS will be simpler and drive will be directed only to the rear wheels.

Jaguar has even announced performance data for the C-X16: it accelerates from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.4 seconds, reaches a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) and weighs 1,600 kg (3,527 lbs). Looks like Porsche’s Cayman and 911 will, in the near future, have another contender added to their rivals’ list.

 

VIDEO

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

BMW to Show New 1-Series Performance Concept and New Power Kits in Frankfurt

While the new 2012 1-Seriesluxury hatchback and M5 sports saloon along with the i3 hatchback and i8 sports coupe concept will highlight BMW's presence in Frankfurt, the Munich-based carmaker has a lot more in store for the press and visitors alike.

BMW will display a range of new accessories and Performance packages, as well as Performance concept car based on the new 1-Series.

The study was developed in cooperation with BMW’s M-division and it features a Performance aerodynamics package comprising of new front and rear bumpers, side skirts, a rear diffuser, bespoke body trim and graphics, and a roof spoiler.

Interior enhancements include sport pedals, a three-spoke steering wheel with a flattened bottom trimmed in Alcantara and a carbon fibre gear lever.

In addition, the 1-Series Performance Concept sports a tuned suspension, an 18-inch brake system, which is characterized by reduced weight and high thermal resistance, and newly designed 19-inch light alloy wheels.

BMW did not say when or if these features will be offered on the series production model.

For current and future owners of the 1-Series, BMW offers a power kit specifically designed for the latest inline-six engines of the 135i Coupe and Convertible and all versions of the 335i (Sedan, Coupe, Touring and Convertible).

The power kit consists of a modified engine management system that increases the 3.0-liter turbocharged engine’s output by 20HP, to 326HP, and its torque to 430 Nm (317 lb-ft) for models equipped with a the manual gearbox and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) for those with the six-speed auto or seven-speed double clutch transmission.

BMW Performance also offers a second, track-oriented version of the power kit, which includes an additional aluminum radiator with a very powerful fan.

For those who want more from their BMW M cars, the German company will present the M Performance line which includes new products for the powertrain, the suspension, aerodynamics and the interior.

The Performance M accessories for the X5 M and the X6 M consist of 21-inch double-spoke light alloy wheels, a carbon fiber front splitter, a black grille, new side skirts and a new rear spoiler and tail fins in black. In the cabin, the steering wheel is covered in Alcantara and has a flat bottom section.

BMW will also display two more additional accessory lines for the new 1-Series, the Sport Line and the Urban Line which offer options such as a specially designed bicycle rack, a new range of model-specific bags and (wait for it…) special, three-dimensionally profiled, all weather… floor mats

 

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More