Geneva 2008: the car leaves the earth
Март 16, 2008 – 06:13International the motor-show of 2008 was clearly found out by aspiration of designers to master new elements
Concept car Ford Verve has reached to the conveyor practically without changes and was embodied in serial car Ford Fiesta. Already estimate its advantages inhabitants of the countries of Europe can by the end of this year. A photo: Ford Motor Company Still cars more recently floating and flying to cinema seemed no more than imagination of directors. But the seventy eighth Geneva motor show (Geneva International Motor Show) became acknowledgement of that people do not lose hope to collect the car, capable to submit both water, and air elements. Their diligence are how much successful, visitors of the Swiss motor show could estimate.Holiday, which always with you260 exhibitors have taken places in seven huge pavilions which total area makes 82 000 m ². So to get acquainted with each debutant of all for some days it has appeared under force not to everyone. Novelties it is presented really much, and small cars of an economy class, elite auto, off-road cars, pickups, minibuses, motorcycles. To one of the most promising premieres of a motor show became new Ford Fiesta. For the first time for long time company Ford has created the international model which will be issued both for the countries of Europe, and for the USA, Australia, the countries of Asia and Africa. Bright, compact, economic, it will make a competition new three-door Chevrolet Aveo and Mazda 2. Half a year back on the Frankfurt motor show the admired sights was caught by concept car Ford Verve. In the company, most likely, have decided to forge iron while hotly and have embodied a plan in serial auto. In spite of the fact that the manufacturer has not risked to give to a novelty a new name, in essence it Verve - aggressive, athletic a hatchback of a vanguard exterior. And to anybody will not come any more in a head to name its exclusively “female” auto.Comparison of the serial car with concept allows to note the minimum changes in body forms. Wheels and a trapezoid lattice of a radiator that has gone to the car only on advantage have decreased. It is necessary to learn artful French screwed-up - the “cat’s” headlights reach for forward racks, as on cars Peugeot or Citroën. The interior serial auto has a little become simpler, but from chrome all as is a lot of details. The considerable attention is given also to safety issues. So, on new Fiesta it will be possible even to order a pillow of safety for knees - in this class similar “whims” are not accepted.But the debutant has also an obvious minus. Fiesta cannot brag of capacity, the most powerful version while pulls only on 115 “horsies” is at the newest 1,6-litre petrol motor Duratec. Other offered engines are more modest - from a 68-strong diesel engine to 90-strong petrol. In the countries of Europe manufacture Ford Fiesta will begin in the end of a year, and here the rests should wait - their turn will come per 2009-2010.
New Fiesta promises to become the best seller in the class. A photo: Ford Motor Company
Small and “green”Unlike the American motor shows where mainly dimensional cars are traditionally presented, on Old World motor shows - whether it be Frankfurt or Geneva - the attention is accented on cars tiny. The reason is simple - Europeans prefer a compact class, a midget car both to park easier, and to “support” easier. So Geneva-2008 became variations on the set tendencies of the European automobile fashion.Deification of diminutiveness became car - in another way and you will not name - from French company Lumeneo. Actually, and «car» - definition incorrect, on the substance of Smera is something an average between a motorcycle and the car, lenght 2450 mm and width 800 mm. From a motorcycle it is distinguished by presence of four wheels and the closed cabin. But the unusual device enters into turns as the present motorcycle, that is with an inclination. In movement Smera everyone is resulted by two electromotors, capacity in twenty horsepowers. They eat from lithium batteries at which full gymnastics Smera can pass 150 km. Like, 40 “horsies” are very little, but at such modest characteristics Smera is capable to be dispersed to 100 km/h of all for 8 seconds. An absolute maximum which will be possible to squeeze out of this remains, - 130 km/h. On assurances of the manufacturer, each 100 km of a way will manage to the driver of all in 0,7 euros. The price for the new city car is not declared yet, but in 2009 is planned to let out at least 250 pieces. The obvious minus of this car consists that the driver inevitably will appear before a choice - whether to translate the passenger or small cargo. And for suffering claustrophobia Lumeneo Smera - a variant improper.
The quantity of “green” cars only increases every year. It is more than half of world autopremieres are compact city cars with fuel alternative to gasoline, mainly electric. Business has reached that, as superpenalties try to be entered in world process in every way. To support prestige of this or that car including a class “lux”, in the conditions of an increasing competition, it became possible only by means of new technologies. So, company Bently Motors representing in Geneva magnificent Bentley Brooklands, offers the technology which use will allow to lower by 2021 emission of carbonic gas of this car about 400 g/km as now, to 120. Reduction of emission of carbonic gas will be reached at the expense of biofuel of new generation.
Has drawn attention and the debutant from Japan: on the European market leaves new Honda Accord. Outwardly it not too differs from present unless there were the new headlights, new radiator a lattice, a bumper began to look more rough, wings became exaggerated. Behind change the luggage carrier cover, a bumper and lanterns have undergone. For the first time on serial car Honda there will be a diesel engine i-DTEC the second generation, equipped with the filter of firm particles, multistage injection and system recycle the fulfilled gases. Diesel engine less dangerous to environment will have capacity of 148 h.p. and twisting moment of 350 Nanometers.
Exclusive roadster KTM X-Bow Dallara will be let out by the limited series in hundred copies. A photo: KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG
Sports Interest of public to powerful sports cars is how much great, it was possible to judge on those crowds that gathered at stands. Austrian company KTM has brought supereasy roadster X-BOW. Thanks to the 240-strong TFSI-unit from company Audi, the roadster in weight in 750 kg is dispersed to hundred all for 3,9 seconds and develops the maximum speed to 310 km/h. The power transmission is carried out by means of six-step mechanics and sports block differential on a back drive. Germans bragged Artega GT, drawn known of automobile designer Henrikom Fiskerom (Henrik Fisker). Last year in Geneva only “naked” body without interiors has been shown. Today the car has received 3,6-litre engine Volkswagen which develops capacity of 300 h.p. Also disperses the car to “hundred” less than for 5 seconds. Its maximum speed makes 270 km/h. Is evident “old-fashioned” Alfa Romeo 8C Spider. Designers managed to combine a corporate style of the Italian mark with retro elements. Under an elegant cowl with an aquiline nose it is located 4,6-litre V8 the motor by capacity of 450 h.p.Let’s not fly up, so we will swim for a while!Nevertheless on similar “shows” the attention of spectators is arrested by not so much serial models, how many magnificent concept cars, futuristic imaginations of designers and engineers.
Swiss company Rinspeed has surprised visitors with an amphibian - the car which is capable to plunge under water. To develop the car-submarine founders have borrowed idea from cinema - in a film about James Bonde «the Spy who loved me», hero Roger Moore (Roger George Moore) operates “natatorial” Lotus Esprit. Rinspeed sQuba on the example has proved, that it not a fantasy, and a reality. The car is capable to “dive” of depth to ten metres. Certainly, it has demanded from founders of certain innovations. So, necessary ease of an amphibian is given by a body, practically have completely executed from carbon. Internal furnish of salon have made of a material to which stay in salty sea water will not do much harm. At immersing the driver and the passenger use oxygen masks and points. Overland sQuba moves at the expense of the electric motor, in water other two electric motors actuating screws of an amphibian, and two more, which help to operate the car in water join.
Today car-amphibian Rinspeed sQuba only the concept car. But, probably, in the future such cars become the habitual phenomenon. A photo: RINSPEED
With water elements were inspired and in company Audi which represented in Geneva concept Q7 Coastline. Outwardly the car a little than differs from the serial version. The most interesting in the car is a salon. Inside Q7 Coastline is a present yacht on wheels. The interior is executed mainly in pearl-white colour. Seats are fitted by a white velvet and a skin with a brown edging. The handle of a gear change reminds the lever which operates a motor boat course more. Support sea subjects and inserts from a nut interline interval in doors, on the handle of a transmission and armrests. Developers and without “deck” - an equal trunk floor have not managed and backs of developing seats are finished by a dark oak.
Most likely, the water elements do not involve Italians, their looks are directed to the sky. This year Italdesign Giugiaro marks the fortieth anniversary concept car Quaranta, strict and which smooth lines do its similar to a fuselage of the military plane. The car is equipped by 6-cylinder hybrid engine Toyota which disperses it to 250 km/h. Additional energy concept scoops from the huge solar battery located on a roof.
Design studio Pininfarina and at all aspires precisely in space. The brilliant smooth body concept Sintesi, reminding “plate” of newcomers, embodies representations of designers about future cars. This four-door sports hatchback is set in motion by the hydrogen unit Quadrivium Fuel Cells developed with the assistance of company Nuvera.
The such designers of company Renault imagine the future of popular model Megane. A photo: Peter Keil/RENAULT s.a.s
Company Renault has shown the two-door version of popular model Megane similar in a profile on a drop of water which gradually extends to a roof and comes to an end with the big roundish luggage carrier. The doors opening upwards, are finished by aluminium. When concept car doors are opened, Renault Megane Coupe resembles whether “dragonfly” on wheels, whether on auto with wings of a bird. The car interior is executed in bright red colour with prevalence of the varnished surfaces. Under a cowl at Megane Coupe the petrol two-litre motor by capacity in 200 “horsies” is established. At such capacity appetite at it quite moderate, average expense of gasoline - 6,5 litres on 100 km. Time of dispersal to “hundred” with six-step mechanics makes 7,2 seconds.
Did not remain without attention and futuristic Mazda Taiki, continuing the concept of such models as Mazda Nagare, Ryuga and Hakaze. At data creation concept designers made a start from idea of dynamics and plasticity of lines. This idea has found the embodiment in wavy details of a body. Under a covering concept the 1,6-litre rotorno-piston unit with system of direct injection which is completed by a box the automatic machine and system of a back drive disappears. Concept Mazda Taiki it is created only for the purposes of working out of new technological elements of a body and alternative power units.
Many premieres expected visitors in a segment of crossovers - all-wheel drive cars of the raised passableness. French Renault has presented Koleos, Volvo - XC60, Korean Kia has exposed in Geneva at once three conceptual off-road cars - Soul Diva, Soul Burner and Soul Searcher. A hit among new crossovers promises to become compact Urban Cruiser from Toyota.
Japanese concept Mazda Taiki bravely tries to reconcile redundancy of forms with the severe truth of aerodynamics and it is set in motion by new and rather economic updating rotor engine Vankelja. A photo: Mazda Motor Europe GmbH
Today in Geneva displays of an automobile fashion - pret-and-port and come to the end from-kutjur. On number of premieres it was hardly probable not the most rough. But anything so testifies to uncertainty of the future, as surplus of forecasts.
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