Honda showcased its new RC-E Electric superbike at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. While details are limited about the new concept, the machine is designed as a dual-purpose track heathen and commuter.

Tiny LED headlights are tucked into the front fairing and rear of the bike with turning indicators. While the bike is purely a concept at this stage, there is a small change that the RC-E may hint at what Honda has planned for the future of the company’s motorcycle design.

source: Autoblog

Power comes from an internal combustion engine and two electric motors. Using two 60kW electric motors individually powering the front and rear wheels, the hybrid can drive exclusively in electric mode for up to 50km and a further 800km when combined with its petrol engine.

The vehicles also offers three driving modes that combines electric and pedal power. In the case of an emergency the PX-MiEV can act as an outdoor power supply through a socket that supplies the stored power in the battery.

source: Car Advice

Since the first images of the concept were revealed back in October, Mazda has officially unveiled its new Takeri concept at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show in the Big Sight expo hall.

Built to preview the next generation Mazda6, The Takeri is the “most-evolved Form of Mazda’s New ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’ Design Theme and Breakthrough Skyactiv Technology”. The Takeri is a four-door coupe with a strong and prominent hexagonal-shaped grille, 20 inch alloy wheels and measures 4, 850mm in length, 1, 870mm in width and has a height of 1, 430mm.

The clean interior showcases elegant leather seats, metallic trim and a fully equipped infotainment centre.

Power comes from a 2.2-litre Skyactive diesel engine that is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission. The start/stop technology with i-ELOOP regenerative braking system, allows the vehicle to travel about 1, 500km before having to refill the tank, improving performance and fuel economy.

Watch the Takeri promotional video below:

source: Worldcarfans

The Los Angeles Motor Show was the platform for the debut of Porsche’s new Panamera GTS. Based on the Panamera 4S, the latest model is tougher, faster and sportier.

The engine has been upgraded  t0 the 4.8-litre naturally aspirated V8, making a total of 424bhp and 384lb ft with an additional 30 horsepower. Torque has been increased from 360 lb-ft to 384 lb-ft and the motor is coupled with a 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission in the Sport Chrono package.

The Porsche GTS weighs in at 1920kg which explains the 25.9mpg combined fuel economy and 256g/km of CO2 released. Porsche has also dropped the body by 10mm, tightened the damping system and tuned the chassis with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). Handling is improved by the body drop, 19 inch Turbo wheels, Porsche Ceramic Composite Breaks (PCCB) and bigger brake discs.

The interior is fitted and styled with sports seats, SportDesign steering wheel with shift paddles, exclusive GTS leather interior and Alcantara surfaces.

An extraordinary feature is the new ‘Sound Symposer’ system that diverts intake noise into the cabin at a push of a button in the cockpit and plays that actual noise into the cabin via a membrane in the A-pillar.

The Porsche GTS will be available for purchase in the UK with a pricetag of £90,409 (about R1,165,470).

Image source: egmCarTech

General Motors has just unveiled its next generation Chevrolet TrailBlazer for 2013 at the Dubai International Motor Show.

The new seven-seater is powered by a 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine and has second and third row seats that fold down to provide a space that functions as a cargo area. The TrailBlazer combines the hauling and towing capability of a body-on-frame SUV with the comfort and efficiency of a crossover. In terms of styling, the vehicle gets a power dome in the hood, high-mounted dual projector headlamps, tri-coat pearlescent white paint and polished 20-inch aluminum wheels.

According to Brad Merkel, GM’s global vehicle line executive for midsize trucks and SUVs, TrailBlazer offers the strength, design, capability and refinement needed to compete with the world’s best off-road vehicles.

While the new model featured was purely a show vehicle, it is expected that the production version won’t stray too far from the original.

So far, GM has no plans to sell the Chevrolet in the U.S. with sales beginning in Thailand in 2012 and later continuing into other global markets still to be confirmed.

Watch the Chevrolet TrailBlazer promo video below:

source: autoblog

While very little information has been revealed about the new full EV, one can see from the sketches the car’s targa top, heavily scalloped sides and bold graphic running around the front of the car following the shape of the grille.

The Small Sports EV Concept

According to Honda the Small Sports EV “maximizes the fun of driving while achieving excellent environmental performance.”

Another interesting battery powered concept, that will be on display, is the super compact Micro Commuter that Honda says offers a new type of communication between people and mobility, offers an exterior that can be easily customized for each driver and if produced, would be accessible to the masses. At first glance, in terms of design, the Micro Commuter closely resembles that of Nissan’s new EV, the Pivo 3 also expected in Tokyo.

The Micro Commuter Concept

images: car magazine

The first official picture of the Subaru BRZ STI concept car, that will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Motor show this month, has been revealed. The new concept is Subaru’s version of the rear-wheel drive sports coupe that is being developed with partner Toyota.

Although it vaguely resembles its Toyota relative, the FT-86, the Subaru BRZ concept has a slightly boxier look and weighs around 1200kg. The engine is likely to be a 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer, delivering around 200bhp/170lb ft in regular guise which will allow a low sense of gravity resulting in edgy handling.

As a concept, details are scarce at this stage but the final production model is expected to appear at the Tokyo Motor Show in December before entering into international markets in early 2012.

image source: topgear

The champagne silver exterior emblazoned with Realtree graphics, a custom front bumper, winch and 35-inch off-road tyres is powered by a Duramax diesel with 765 pound-feet of torque. Other features include retractable running boards for improved entry and exit and a custom designed rear cab for all outdoor gear storage.

The interior continues the outdoor theme with dark cocoa leather seats bearing camouflage piping and orange stitching.

Marketing manager of Chevrolet pickups Tony Truelove has said that, ”This truck is a celebration of the seven-year partnership between Chevrolet and Realtree. It’s only natural to combine the dependable, long-lasting Silverado HD with Realtree, the best gear for the outdoors.”

View the Chevy Silverado Realtree teaser video below:

Image source: autoguide

Team Sasol’s Mark Cronje and Robin Houghton made history this weekend as the first privateers to win the 2011 South African Driver’s and Co-Driver’s Rally Championship in 45 years. The rally proved to be a grueling battle, where the skills of the drivers and the performance of their vehicles were put to the ultimate test.

The last privateer team to win a South African National Rally Championship was in 1966, when driver François Tucker and co-driver Raggy Schjolberg drove their Volvo to a championship title.

The Sasol team set the pace in their Ford Fiesta S2000 throughout the 2011 rally championship, winning a hat-trick of events out of eight rallies.

After the victory Cronje stated that “It has always been my dream to win the National Rally Championship in the premier S2000 class, and today is a day that I will treasure forever. The determining factor of winning a rally is the commitment and understanding between the driver and the navigator, and we’re thrilled with this result.”

Conrad Rautenbach and Nicholas Klinger took second place with Enzo Kuun Guy Hodgson taking third.

Source: sasol.com

The show, which promises to be one of the largest of its kind in the world, will feature not just Bond’s famous cars but also his boats, motorbikes as well as the Bede Acrostar jet from Octopussy and the sledging cello case from The Living Daylights. 

Some of the vehicles that have been confirmed include: The 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger, 1977 Lotus Esprit S1 from The Spy Who Loved Me, 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III from Goldfinger and the 2002 Jaguar XKR with SFX weapons from Die Another Day. 

50 vehicles in total will be on display for a year from the 18th January 2012.

source: carmagazine