Jaguar C-XF concept car

The striking Jaguar C-XF concept car, which will make its public debut at the Detroit Auto Show 2007. The new concept signals the onset of a new era for Jaguar.

"The C-XF - and the future generations of sports saloons it signals - reaffirms the direction Jaguar is taking," says Bibiana Boerio, Managing Director of Jaguar Cars. "When we launched the new XK sports car series, we talked about a product-led transformation of the company. We promised that new Jaguars would be beautiful, fast, glamorous and evocative. The new XK delivered on that promise and the C-XF proves that these same values and more are coming in Jaguar saloon cars."

The Jaguar C-XF (Concept-XF) is a concept car which indicates a new design direction for Jaguar cars. To be revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan the C-XF concept is a preview of the XF.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY"One thing should be abundantly clear whenever people are discussing Jaguar design," asserts Director of Design Ian Callum. "Jaguars should be seen as modern cars and in the future people will appreciate them for that."

EXTERIOR STYLING

The C-XF's colour palette is deliberately monochromatic, mixing a one-off exterior paint - Metashine silver - with areas of brightwork in either chrome or aluminium finishes. Additionally, white ceramic is used to indicate areas of dynamic air flow or heat exchange - in this case the side power vents and tailpipes.

INTERIOR DESIGN

Design Director Ian Callum describes the cabin of the C-XF concept car as "one of the most exciting interiors Jaguar has ever done".

INNOVATION

"C-XF is a showcase for innovative technology, some of which will feature in one way or another on the next generation of Jaguar cars," says Ian Callum. "Every Jaguar interior should have a sense of fun, but we also recognise that technology should only be there when you want to use it. Yes, there is a sense of theatre about the innovations we have chosen to highlight on the C-XF, but there is also an organised simplicity that brings order and structure to every system."

POWERTRAIN

"The new wiring loom is a designer's dream," says Julian Thomson. "We thought we would always have to live with the plethora of wires that runs around an engine bay. Now every wire is housed within a visually stunning harness that looks as if it is literally strapping the engine down, holding all that power in place."

Volvo XC60 Concept

The new Volvo XC60 is stepping boldly into what is currently the automotive world's fastest-growing segment – dressed in a thrilling blend of muscular XC capability and the sporty charisma of a coupe.


“This is not only the safest Volvo ever. If you ask me, it’s also the most stunning. Not a bad combination, is it?” says Volvo Cars President and CEO Fredrik Arp. The new XC60 has its international debut at the Geneva Motor Show today, with the first cars reaching dealers in Europe in autumn 2008.


The ‘Small Premium Utility’ segment is growing quickly. Within the next few years, buyers will have at least 10 crossover models to choose between. By 2009, this segment is expected to expand by 75 percent to 443,000 cars.

World’s Most Expensive Cars

What is the most expensive car in the world? The 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe was sold for $8,700,000 in 1987. However, that car and many alike will not be included in this list because it is not available on the market today. It is hard to imagine someone would actually spend 8 million dollars on a car instead of using it for something more productive. However, if you have the money and the opportunity, you will definitely spend a small fraction of it to place a few of these supercars in your garage. Here is the 10 most expensive cars available on the market.

1.Bugatti Veyron $1,192,057. This is by far the most expensive street legal car available on the market today. It is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. It claims to be the fastest car with a top speed of 253 mph+. However, the title for the fastest car goes to the SSC Ultimate Aero which exceed 253 mph pushing this car to 2nd place for the fastest car.

2.Pagani Zonda C12 F $667,321 Produced by a small independent company in Italy, the Pagani Zonda C12 F is the 8th fastest car in the world. It promises to delivery a top speed of 215 mph+ and it an reach 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.

3.SSC Ultimate Aero $654,400 Don’t let the price tag fool you, the 3rd most expensive car is actually fastest street legal car in the world with a top speed of 257 mph+ and reaching 0-60 in 2.7 seconds. This baby cost nearly half as much as the Bugatti Veyron, yet has enough power to top the most expensive car in a speed race. It is estimated that only 25 of this exact model will ever be produced.

4.LeBlanc Mirabeau $645,084 Doesn’t this look like a race car? Yet, with $645k, you can get this car and legally drive to your local supermarket and buy groceries. It has a top speed of 229 mph+ and although it was intentionally made for racing, it may be bought and show off to your neighbors.

5.Saleen S7 Twin Turbo $555,000 The first true American production certified supercar, this cowboy is rank #4 for the fastest car in the world. It has a top speed of 248 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. If you are a true American patriot, you can be proud to show off this car.

6.Koenigsegg CCX $545,568 Swedish made, the Koenigsegg is fighting hard to become the fastest car in the world. Currently the 3rd fastest car in the world with a top speed of 250 mph+, the car manufacture Koenigsegg is not giving up and will continue to try and produce the fastest car.

7.Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren $457,250 A GT supercar, the SLR McLaren is the fastest automatic transmission car in the world with a top speed of 207 mph+ and reaching 60 mph in 3.8 seconds from stand still point.

8.Porsche Carrera GT $440,000 A supercar with dynamic stability control and a top speed of 209 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. The Porsche Carrera GT applies the absolute calibers of a true racing car to offer an unprecedented driving feeling on the road.

9.Maybach 62 $385,250 The first 4-doors sedan to make the list, the Maybach 62 includes many luxurious features and it was made for comfort rather than speed.

10.Maybach 57 S $367,000 High-end luxury saloon with sporty handling and top performance technology.

2010 Saturn Aura

The 2010 Saturn Aura should retain the current car’s basic underskin design, though much hardware will be new and/or improved. Rear-seat side airbags are a possible new safety option. No radical changes loom for power trains, either, though the dated 3.5-liter pushrod V6 will likely be retired, while tweaks should extract somewhat more muscle from today’s twincam 3.6-liter V6 and 2.4-liter “Ecotec” four-cylinder. There’s talk the Aura Green Line will become a “strong hybrid” by switching to GM’s new Two-Mode drive that allows running solely on electricity up to around 30 mph, though this probably won’t happen before 2011 at the earliest. A plug-in hybrid option is also possible, depending on how soon GM partners can deliver the required lithium-ion batteries.


The Aura came to market fairly late in its Euro parent’s life cycle, so the early E2 redesign could prove a fortuitously timed sales booster for what is already a very appealing Honda Accord/Toyota Camry alternative. European sources expect their new Insignia to be a much sportier drive than the outgoing Vectra, and we hope that’s true for the 2010 Saturn Aura. That would certainly fit well with the Euro-flavored products that GM is counting on to expand Saturn’s presence in the automotive firmament.

2010 Toyota iQ

The 2010 Toyota iQ uses a new, dedicated architecture and differs from the Smart in many ways despite a similar phone-booth silhouette and wheels way out at the corners.

Where the German-brand mini drives its rear wheels with a small 3-cylinder engine mounted in back, the iQ has an up-front engine and front-wheel drive. The Toyota is also larger than the Smart, standing some 10 inches longer, nearly five inches wider, and 2.4 inches lower on a 4.7-inch-longer wheelbase. These larger dimensions combine with several packaging innovations to make the iQ a nominal four-passenger runabout versus the two-seat Smart. Toyota says the interior furnishes “3+1” accommodation, with room for one adult behind the front passenger and a second rear seat that can carry a small child or be folded up for cargo.


Toyota has yet to disclose full specifications, but says the iQ will initially offer a choice of two gasoline engines, likely a 3- and 4-cylinder, and a small diesel.


A gas/electric option a la Toyota’s Prius hybrid is expected around 2010 or ’11. For the U.S., however, a 2010 Toyota iQ would likely use the 1.5-liter 4-cylinder gas engine that powers Toyota’s larger Yaris subcompact, if only because the two models have similar-size engine bays. Transmission? We’d look for a Smart-like 5-speed automated manual to maximize fuel economy and to please mostly shift-averse Americans.

2010 Toyota Prius

The 2010 Toyota Prius is said to be a slightly scaled-up version of today's sloped-roof 4-door hatchback sedan. One company source describes it as "Prius-esque, but a bit bigger and more solid-looking." And hold onto your credit cards: A second Prius model is expected to appear after the new hatchback goes on sale, likely within 12 months. It's rumored to be a "wagon" or "minivan" style that could resemble the recent Hybrid X concept and will be about the same size as the hatchback.

The 2010 Toyota Prius gets a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine of similar design to the current 1.5-liter unit. An apparent response to some customers' request for zippier performance, the replacement engine makes 98 horsepower versus 75. Combined gas/electric horsepower is said to be 134, up from 110. There's been no carping about Prius' electric Hybrid Synergy Drive, but we understand Toyota has re-engineered the system to be lighter, more compact, and more powerful despite launching the new model with conventional NiMH batteries. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) will remain mandatory, but will doubtless be re-engineered, too.

2010 Toyota Supra 21st century sports car

Toyota's "21st century sports car" concept has gossips talking about a new Supra. Is that big sports coupe about to be reborn as a mean-and-green hybrid? Right now, the odds are better than even.
The FT-HS uses a carbon-fiber beam to divide the cockpit left and right. Toyota says it enhances structural rigidity, but it also lends what designers call a "skeletal" appearance. Another novelty is a power-operated carbon/Kevlar roof panel that pivots to stow in the rear-seat area. Nodding to Ferrari and Porsche are a see-through hood panel to show off the front-mounted engine and a rear spoiler that powers up at higher speeds to enhance stability. The spoiler idea would almost certainly survive on a new Supra, but the other features seem questionable because of cost and/or practicality. We'll see what Toyota delivers.