Official: Citroen DS High Rider Concept Interior

The French carmaker has released new images and details of the Citroen DS High Rider interior. Citroen released today the first images of the interior of DS High Rider concept presented in Geneva in March and expected to anticipate the future design guidelines of DS4 and also of the C4.

The interior door panels are trimmed with a graduated grey to gold shading that’s supposed to match the golden tone of the DS High Rider Concept car’s golden exterior paintwork. You can also spot a colour screen in the centre console and the ‘Hybrid’ badge just below the gear stick.

The concept’s interior offers a clear contrast, as its dark-shaded roof lining meets the vehicle’s large panoramic windscreen. The luxurious details are complemented by a set of bespoke badging: the dashboard features embossed DS initials, while the seats use chrome DS inserts.

On the instrument panel, seats and door panels the automaker uses full-grain leather, chrome detailing around the dials, steering wheel, air vents, gear knob and center console, plus various golden and grey accents.





Press Release

STEP INSIDE CITROËN'S DS HIGH RIDER

Citroën has revealed the interior of the DS High Rider concept - which was originally showcased at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. In line with the car's distinctive exterior styling, DS High Rider's cockpit exudes strength, dynamism and refinement, with the utmost care and precision applied to even the smallest details. The ergonomic design of the controls, the quality of the carefully selected materials and the prestigious atmosphere on board convey status, elegance and the promise of luxurious comfort.

With a clear contrast between DS High Rider's large panoramic windscreen and its dark-shaded roof lining, the cabin is an exclusive environment with an emphasis on sporting luxury - also evidenced by the extensive application of leather and chrome detailing.

The instrument panel, seats and door panels are all finished in a quality, full-grain leather with clearly defined over-stitching and a ‘bracelet' design on the seats. The DS initials are also subtly embossed into the leatherwork of the dashboard.

Completing the dynamic ambience of the interior, chrome detailing is used around the dials, steering wheel, air vents, gear stick and the arch that connects the instrument panel to the console. Chrome ‘DS' inserts also feature, positioned just below the headrests on each of the front seats.

Mirroring the golden tone of the DS High Rider's bodywork, the interior door panels are trimmed with a graduated grey to gold shading that required the careful application of specific varnishes to achieve the gilded, metallic look.

DS High Rider's technology can be glimpsed in the controls mounted on the sculpted steering wheel, the colour screen in the centre console and the ‘Hybrid' badge just below the gear stick - which asserts the model's ecologically sensitive drivetrain.

Geneva Motor Show: New Opel Meriva MPV Spotted

True, GM's European arm has officially revealed the new Opel Meriva but we couldn't pass the opportunity to share with you these 'real-life' photographs of the small MPV that was bagged by our man with the long lens in Germany. You can read the full story on the 2010 Meriva here, but as a reminder, Opel's Citroen C3 Picasso rival that features rear-hinged back doors will make its first public outing at the Geneva Motor Show in March.


At launch, it will be marketed with six engines offering a power bandwidth from 75 HP to 140 HP and a choice of 5 and 6-speed manual transmissions (depending on the engine) as well as a 6-speed automatic gearbox


According to Opel, fuel consumption has been reduced by an average of 15 percent compared with the current generation Meriva.


Designed and developed at Opel's engineering center in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the new Meriva will be built at GM's plant in Zaragoza, Spain and is scheduled to go on sale across Europe this summer.



Source:carscoop

Geneva Preview:Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera

This is a rendering of the upcoming Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera by graphic artist Jon Sibal. The rendering.
The debut for the new Lamborghini is set for the 2010 Geneva Auto Show in March.


The new Lamborghini will have the same LP560 gear box, a weight reduction of 70 Kg , and a power increase of 10HP, giving the LP570-4 Superleggera a 2.35 power to weight ratio. 0 to 60 is in 3.5 seconds.


Distinguishing the Superleggera will be the Italian flag colored stripes on the side of the car, as seen in the image here.


The LP570-4 Superleggera will be offered in 6 colors.

• Orange

• Lime green

• Yellow

• Black

• White

• Grey

Exclusive white & Italian flag bordered “Superleggera” stripping on the side.
The green, orange, and yellow Superleggera’s will have extensive carbon fiber black interiors with the stitching matching the cars exterior while the grey, white, and black Superleggera’s will be the same but with grey stitching.
Here are the different color version of the rendering reflecting the color options for the LP570-4 Superleggerra.


via: jonsibal

2011 Opel Meriva AKA Vauxhall Meriva Unveiled

• Unique-in-class FlexDoors offer unrivalled occupant access and convenience

• FlexRail and FlexSpace features bring new levels of cabin versatility to class

• Fuel consumption reduced by 15% vs current range; ecoFLEX version to be offered

Luton – These are the first official pictures of Vauxhall’s new Meriva, which is set to turn the conventional concept of family-car usability on its head with a combination of clever, rear-hinged back doors which radically improve access/egress, and a raft of unique cabin features that boost interior versatility.
The new Meriva, which will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year, is the first Vauxhall to feature FlexDoors, showcased in 2008’s Meriva design concept.
FlexDoors are rear-hinged back doors which swing open towards the back of the car at an angle of nearly 90 degrees, vastly improving the ease with which occupants enter and leave the cabin. Rather than having to step back, or to one side, as one would using a normal front-hinged door, the FlexDoor allows unimpeded forward access/egress to and from the cabin, enhanced further by the Meriva’s exceptionally high roof line.


For parents with children, there are further benefits. Due to the larger door opening and free space around the B-pillar, parents can lift small children forwards in to rear-mounted, second-stage child seats without having to contort themselves around a door. And with both the front and rear doors open (the fronts open at a similar angle to the rear FlexDoors) a ‘parent-friendly’ zone is created with no door barrier between front and rear occupants.
Crucially, the FlexDoors can only be opened by occupants while the car is stationary, an automatic lock engaging as soon as the car pulls away.
While the concept of two rear-hinged back doors is not new in the motor industry, the Meriva’s FlexDoor system is the first time it has been used on a family car in recent years. But unlike other rear-hinged door applications (Rolls Royce Phantom/Ghost and Mazda RX8), the Meriva benefits from front and rear doors that open independently, and does not require rear passengers to sit behind the door opening.


Class-leading in-cabin flexibility
Once inside the new Meriva, buyers benefit from two further groundbreaking innovations. The FlexRail adopts a completely fresh approach to the design of a car’s centre console, and provides owners with a variety of modular storage and comfort solutions that fix on to an ingenious dual-rail base. The new Meriva’s storage bin and cubby count has also increased, meaning that owners now benefit from one of the most practical cabins in class.
In addition, the current Meriva’s much-praised FlexSpace system has evolved with even greater practicality. Now more intuitive to use, the new Meriva’s FlexSpace allows easier fold-down of the rear seats, while moving the rear seats to create more boot, leg or shoulder room is simpler than ever.
The new Meriva’s seat comfort has also advanced, with the adoption of front seat technology from the Insignia and Astra. Like these cars, the Meriva offers the biggest range of seat adjustment in class, extending to 240mm in length and 65mm in height.


New Meriva adopts design language from Insignia and new Astra
The current Meriva effectively created the compact monocab sector when it was launched in 2003, but since then Vauxhall’s design language has evolved steadily, with big strides being made with the European Car of the Year-winning Insignia and more recently with the launch of the all-new Astra.
No surprise, then, that the new Meriva has adopted a more expressive and dynamic silhouette to its basic cab-forward monocab design. Like the Insignia and Astra, a ‘blade’ features down the side of the body, complementing a window line with a distinct ‘wave’ accentuating the FlexDoors, allowing panoramic views for rear passengers.
The design theme continues in the Meriva’s cabin, with cues taken from the Insignia and Astra enhancing the perceived quality of the materials.


Advanced chassis and more efficient powertrains
With a longer wheelbase and wider front and rear tracks, buyers will see a marked improvement in the new Meriva’s ride and handling qualities.
They’ll also see a reduction in running costs, since the engine line-up – which features six turbocharged units and power outputs from 75 to 140PS – benefits from an average fuel consumption/CO2 reduction of 15 per cent, or -25g/km across the range. A high mpg/low CO2 ecoFLEX model will also be available.
More information will be available closer to the Meriva’s debut at Geneva.



Source:Vauxhall

Geneva Debut: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 SV

According to the latest rumors hardcore version of LP560-4 will be called exactly LP570-4 SV, less weight, but only 10 hp more, interior will be stripped down similar way as old SL version of Gallardo. Reworked front suspension and CC brakes are expected also. Car will feature new front spoiler with similar style as LP670-4 SV and big wing like Supertrofeo G. That is all, nothing revolutionary expected. Dealers and VIP customers will be able to see this car during presentation event next January, public unveiling at Geneva auto show, first cars coming to the customers starting from next May.


While a 10-horsepower boost may not seem worthy of all the hype on its own, a large drop in weight would justify quite a bit of attention. It is important to note that the Gallardo Superleggera, also introduced in Geneva, featured a similar power increase and weighed 100 kilograms (220.5 lbs) less than the Gallardo.


This resulted in a car that handled totally different compared to the regular Gallardo 5.2 model, and with the purpose build high rear wing it looked as fast as it would go ... sadly when the LP560-4 took over the Superleggera production was halted.


But this isn’t the complete story! This SV-version will not be the last version in the Gallardo LP560-4 series, a fifth and final hardcore rearwheel drive version will come later next year or early 2011 to keep production running until 2012 when the Gallardo successor is expected.
Source: teamspeed and lambocars via worldcarfans

Rumored: 2013 Nissan GT-R hybrid

Earlier reports suggested that Nissan was working on a high-performance SUV using the GT-R drivetrain. This car, which would wear an Infiniti badge in the States, would be Nissan's answer to the Porsche Cayenne (which is Porsche's best-selling model), the BMW X5 and X6. Another rumor hinted at a four-door GT-R-powered sedan badged as an Infiniti that would go head to head against the BMW M5 and Porsche Panamera. As far as we know, both of those projects have been shelved in favor of the GT-R hybrid.


The Essence showcar's hybrid system consisted of the G37's 3.7-liter V6, whose output was raised to 440 horsepower with the help of twin turbochargers. This was combined with a 160-hp electric motor, bringing the grand total to 600 hp. For the GT-R, Nissan would go with the 3.8-liter twin turbocharged V6 (VR38DETT) with the same electric motor used for the Essence. The target output would also be 600 hp (440 hp from the gasoline engine and 160 from the electric motor). That means the hybrid GT-R would boast more than 100 hp more than the current GT-R, while fuel economy would improve to roughly 25-30 mpg. And because it's a GT-R, we're also told that all-wheel drive will still be part of the package.


It's no secret that Nissan targeted the performance of the Porsche 911 Turbo when it developed the GT-R. A quick look at the car's specifications will reveal just how similar the cars are, from their twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engines' output, all-wheel-drive layout and of course, lap times around the Nürburgring. GT-R Chief Vehicle Engineer and Chief Product Specialist Kazutoshi Mizuno even went as far as saying he intends the "GT-R to maintain a life cycle of six to seven years as it evolves gradually during those years, similar to how Porsche cars evolve."


With all that power comes great fiscal responsibility, so what would a GT-R hybrid cost? IL guesses $100,000 could be the price of entry, though Nissan could be looking for a little more coin than that. After all the GT-R Spec-V was rumored to cost quite a bit more and if you add a hybrid powertrain to Spec-V weight loss techniques, we could be looking at one very expensive green machine.


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