Car Knowledge

Always an extravagant and extrovert firm, Citroen plan to make their mark on the Paris Motor show with an all new  crossover vehicle with a mid-sized ‘Allroad’ style vehicle.

It can be viewed as Citroen’s elegant crossover and their uniquely French answer to the 4×4 question as it has the aggressive modern 4×4 stance with extensive body bumpers, and huge wheels.

It is clear that the Hypnos is not fully intended to be a thorough bread 4×4 as it is supposed to be a of a coupe with the subtle style of a saloon and the stance of an 4×4.

It will be powered by a hybrid engine power in the shape of an electric-drive rear axle and also has a 197bhp diesel engine up front driving the front wheels and so the four-wheel drive option is only for the occasional off road venture that should be done with some caution.

Citroen claims this concept can average 60+mpg and 120g/km of CO2, which are figures that bode very well in the highly competitive crossover sector.

There is the common joke that “you’ll need sunglasses before you step in” in regards to the interior as it uses a crazy blend of psychedelic colours and shapes and as you can see form this official photograph you can infer the Citroen’s though process.

At present the interior is at a raw concept stage but notably it was created by young British designer Leanne Early and it seems to be the future design cue of the French marque.

The production version would use a version of Citroen’s PF3 platform which is the mid-size architecture used for the C5 although carknowledge is looking forward to reviewing the production version which we will bring as soon as it rolls out of the plant.

Subaru will reveal the latest development of their Forester 2.0D and the Impreza 2.0D are both equipped with the new boxer diesel engine at the forthcoming Paris motor show.

The Boxer diesel is a 4-cylinder, horizontally opposed turbo diesel engine, or boxer and in 2 litre form produces 147 hp in the Forester and 150 hp in the Impreza with a healthy 258 lb-ft of torque.

It will be twinned with a new 6-speed, manual transmission, which the manufacturer says will increase fuel efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions and as a result no other 4×4 can better the 44.8 mpg Combined and 167 g/km of the Forester 2.0D X.

As the world’s first horizontally-opposed diesel engine for a passenger car it has so far won widespread praise for its refinement, smoothness, sharp throttle-response and outstanding fuel economy as it has featured in both the current Legacy and Outback.

Its exceptional compactness, light weight and a low centre-of-gravity which aids handling and responsiveness.

Also on show will be the Subaru Impreza WRX2008 replica plus the Subaru R1e and G4e electric cars as well as a display showcasing the original Subaru 360 minicar as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.

The new Forester Boxer Diesel goes on sale in the UK in late September and the Impreza Boxer Diesel in January 2009 although no dates have been put forth for the release date in America.

The Mazda Kiyora has been designed to be a lightweight, next generation, urban compact concept car that will be unveiled at the 2008 Paris International Motor Show which opens on Thursday, 2nd October.

Kiyora is an extension of the nagare (or “flow”) design language and this is a true first as it is the only compact vehicle Mazda have designed with this philosophy.

Mazda says the Kiyora rides upon an all-new lightweight platform designed to “pursue enhanced driving pleasure” which fits in with the cars title as Kiyora (means ‘clean and pure’ in Japanese) and represents the harmony between driving pleasure and environmental and safety features which brings the car in line with another Mazda slogan “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom”.

The concept of “Kiyora” was used to help designers to imagine a city car cutting cleanly through an urban landscape and that is why water has been used as the mainstay of the design theme hence the strong flowing lines and harmonic form.

It is also equipped with Mazda’s next generation 4 cylinder direct injection engine and also utilizes the company’s unique Smart Idle Stop System, which helps the car to achieve excellent fuel economy and low CO2 emissions so its technological advancement is not only skin deep.

Also on the Mazda section of the Paris Motorshow is the arrival of the eagerly anticipated Mazda Mx-5, as the all conquering roadster has had a recent facelift and coupled with the Mazda 6 will be featuring the all new 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine which should prove to be a huge hit in both cars.

SEAT will be expanding its recently launched Ibiza line-up for the Paris Motor Show, with two radically different models in the form of the awesome Cupra R and the ultra-green Ecomotive.

Both with be significant additions to the new Ibiza range – as they become the fastest and greenest versions of the supermini range.

The Cupra has a 180 bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine, which has both a turbocharger and a supercharger that is beneficial to both power delivery and fuel efficiency although its revolutionary pedigree does not stop here as it is accompanied with a seven-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) transmission as well as an F1-style steering wheel shift-paddles to complete the racing experience.

The Cupra is based on the SportCoupé (SC) three-door body shape but has many revisions to entice, such as: a new front bumper and air intakes surrounding the grille, 17” alloy wheels, a rear diffuser, sports seats and track-inspired aluminium pedals.

SEAT’s Design Director Luc Donckerwolke who also designed the Lamborghini Gallardo and Murcielago indicates that the visual highlights are both subtle yet distinctive.

The Ecomotive performs in a rather different manner in which it should be measured in mpg rather than mph, and which with an official carbon dioxide emissions figure of just 99 g/km it is currently the joint lowest figure of any internal combustion engined-car available in the UK today which means for the genuine motorist free road tax.

Although no prices have yet been given all current Ibiza Ecomotive models are available with 0% finance for three years and with road tax exemption and 74.mpg fuel economy its makes perfect sense.

In the oil rich states of the Middle East it is little surprise that for the second consecutive year, the Chevrolet Corvette has muscled it way through the field of challengers to be bestowed with the Middle East Car magazine’s ‘2008 Muscle Car of the Year’ finishing ahead of the Dodge Charger, and Ford Mustang.

Phillip Moore the Publishing Director of Middle East Car magazine explained the reason for the triumph as the Corvette 2008 is “saucy, powerful, and thrilling to drive” as well as having reasonable maintenance costs.

It represents great value and is currently available in three different models: Coupe, Convertible and the top of the line Z06.

The full blooded Z06 has a monstrously powerful 7.0 LS7 V8 engine which produces 505 hp at 6300 rpm meaning a 0-60mph time of just 3.7 seconds, although this is likely to be blown out of the water by the much anticipated all-new, supercharged ZR1 model is also set to join the range in Q1 of 2009 and at 638 hp ZR1 it will be the most powerful Corvette in history.

However chevy are aware that not all its custom comes form the oil rich middle east and so it seems as though the US car giant will place a greater emphasis on smaller cars and crossovers given the current directives and economic climate.

The tiny Toyota iQ and the rugged, mean looking Urban Cruiser are both being showcased in their final form at the October Paris Motor Show in final production trim.

The iQ is the world’s smallest premium four seater and has been described as the new mini, with a verve and a swagger that obliterates the aging smart cars.

The car also has the same presence and safety attributes of bigger cars and produces just a mere 99g/km of CO2.

The iQ will offer 360° protection to all occupants with high levels of active and passive safety as well as a revolutionary new safety feature in the form of the world’s first curtain shield airbags installed behind the rear seats.

Although the problem is highlighted during our test drive as David balks: “squeezing my 6-foot-3 frame behind the thick, sporty steering wheel of the 2009 Toyota iQ, I immediately notice just how spacious the cabin feels. Only when you’re standing outside the Toyota iQ do you realize how short it is, less than 10 feet long from the tip of the front bumper to the end of the back bumper.”

It will be powered by three-cylinder gasoline engine is the base unit, a four-cylinder micro-hybrid is the mid-range and a four-cylinder diesel tops the line.

Toyota is also proud to present the 1.4-litre D-4D diesel All Wheel Drive (AWD) Toyota Urban Cruiser.

It has a very masculine, rugged exterior design, high level of safety equipment and CO2 emissions level of only 133g/km for the AWD version which is very competitive for the soft 4×4’s of today and with its mix of fun, practicality and durability will be a huge development for the sector.