All-new Meriva

Vauxhall is planning to showcase their all-new Meriva plus their Ampera concept car, at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show. The compact all-new Meriva MPV has clever rear-hinged back FlexDoors which swing open towards the back of the car at an angle of nearly 90 degrees, making access really easy.

The all-new Meriva will also feature the Vauxhall FlexSpace adaptive seat system which offers a wide range of cabin configurations depending on the load you are carrying i.e. people , luggage etc. The seats do not have to be removed to offer a large amount of space and flexibility. Add to this the FlexRail storage system in the centre console and the new Meriva looks like it will be a family favourite. The car will be available in six powertrain outputs and will be launched in June.

Ampera

The Ampera is the Vauxhall concept car that showcases E-REV (extended-range electric vehicle) technology and the five-door, four-seat Vauxhall Ampera will go into production later this year. The E-REV propulsion system uses electricty as its primary source and is supplemented by a small engine to generate electricty for its motors when the primary electric power runs low.

Vauxhall will also be showing their new Corsa ecoFLEX which gains 20PS more power, returns 76.3 combined mpg and emits only 98g/km of CO2.

New Renault Wind

Renault will be unveiling their exciting new coupe-roadster, the Wind, at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show on March the 2nd. The Wind is a two-seater coupe roadster concept which has an electric roof that pivots open in just 12 seconds.

Renault Wind

The car is 3.83 metres in length but also promises as much luggage space with the roof up, as well as down, It is ideal for a driver who wants a nimble open-top car around town that is practical, yet fun to drive.

Audi e-tron

Audi is displaying a new compact sports car, with all-electric drive, at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The Audi e-tron is a two seater, aluminium and carbon fibre bodied sports car, that reaches 0-62mph in only 5.9 seconds and has a top speed of 124mph.

Powered by lithium-ion batteries, the car has an operating range of upto 155 miles and offers an extremely high torque from the electric motor called “torque vectoring”. The 37mph to 75mph is a mere 5.1 seconds.

Toyota FT-CH

Toyota has unveiled the FT-CH at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The CH stands for Compact Hybrid and could be compared to a mid-size Prius, however it is 22-inches longer and an inch narrower in width.

The FT-CH has been designed for maximum passenger comfort and interior roominess and continues the Toyota strategy to offer a wider range of hybrid choices to its customers. Toyota is also displaying the Prius PHV, FCHV- advanced fuel cell vehicle and the FT-EV II electric concept at the show as well.

Peugeot Lion

Peugeot is celebrating its 200th anniversary with the unveiling of a new styling direction and a new visual identity. The Lion badge has been updated and will be first seen on the launch of the new RCZ in the Spring of this year.

The new look that Peugeot is promising is best seen in the stunning new SR1 concept car which has a more extreme, stronger and pure expression of the “Peugeot Style” of tomorrow.

The SR1 has a 1.6-litre THP petrol engine at the front with a power output of 218bhp which is also combined with a rear electric motor developing 95bhp.

In electric only mode, the car becomes a Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV). The car in the combination however has a combined fuel cycle consumption of 57.5mpg and CO2 emissions of only 119g/km.  The combined maximum power output of 313bhp is driven by a four wheel drive system and the new SR1 will be officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March.  

Peugeot SR1

Honda P-NUT

Honda has unveiled a new Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT) design model at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2009. This new design concept car is ideal for use in cities and tight urban areas.

This small micro-car has a central diving position flanked by two rear seats and provides generous legroom for all its occupants. The rear seats also fold up and out of the way to increase storage capacity if required. The modular rear engine bay has also been designed for a number of powertrains including a conventional small combustion engine, a hybrid system or a battery-electric drivetrain.

There are currently no plans for production of this new concept car.

Volkswagen has released the details of its new Up! Lite concept car which follows on from the L 1 Concept which made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Up! Lite

The Up! Lite is capable of seating four adults and thanks to its hybrid drivetrain it can travel 115.7 miles on a single gallon of fuel, while emitting just 65g/km of CO2. Powering the Up! Lite is an 800cc two cylinder diesel engine combined with an electric motor. This allows the modest 65PS combination to take the Up! Lite from 0-62mph in 12.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 100mph.

The Up! Lite is constructed from a mix of lighweight materials including aluminium and carbonfibre to keep the weight to a minimum and is intended as a step towards a viable production car.