Automotive News Europe - March 2, 2009 - 18

PAGE 18 · www.autonewseurope.com March 2, 2009 Geneva auto show Renault Renault will unveil the third generation of the Scenic medium minivan – which has defined the segment since its unveiling in 1996. Based on the same platform that underpins the new Megane, the redesigned Scenic also comes in a stretched-wheelbase version, Grand Scenic. Although the front fascia styling evokes the new Laguna and Megane sedans, the design of the Scenic is more of a mild restyle of the current model. The new Scenic grows by 180 mm in length while the Grand Scenic will be 150mm longer than its predecessor.The Grand Scenic can seat seven people. That moves it closer to the Renault Espace large minivan, for which no successor has been planned. The Grand Scenic goes on sale at the end of March, while the Scenic arrives at dealerships two months later. Renault also will unveil a wagon version of the recently redesigned Megane, tentatively bearing the name Estate. Wim Oude Weernink Peugeot joins crossover fray In an attempt to broaden its offerings in the lower-medium segment, Peugeot will debut a 308-derived crossover model. The crossover is called the 3008 because it is a different model from Peugeot’s mainstream range. It is based on the PSA/Peugeot-Citroen medium-sized platform and has styling reminiscent of the 308 wagon, but with a taller ride height. Functionality and intelligent packaging are keywords of the 3008, which will have a dual-rear hatch for better access. The 3008 will come with standard frontwheel drive, but have an enhanced traction control system. In combination with special tires, this system offers mild off-road capabilities. It also has an electronic compensation system between the left and rear shock Rinspeed Swiss concept car builder Rinspeed will unveil a zero-emissions car with a body that adapts to suit the number of occupants inside. The iChange can transform from a single-seat car into a vehicle with room for three with the press of a button. The car has no doors. Instead, the roof panel pops up to allow access for occupants. The iChange is barely one meter in height. Rinspeed partnered with engineering firm Esoro to create the car, which weighs 1,050kg. The electric motor, powered by lithium-ion batteries, is able to propel the car to a top speed of 220kph, with a 0-100kph acceleration of just more than four seconds. Siemens supplied the motorgenerator, electronics and battery connection interface. Touches include the use of an Apple iPhone to control important vehicle functions. The project took six months to complete. iChange Mark Rechtin 3008 absorbers, to improve stability. Starting in 2011, the 3008 will come with Peugeot’s diesel hybrid-4 system, which has an electric motor fitted to propel the rear wheels. The 3008 will go on sale in April. The company hopes to sell 100,000 units annually, although that target was announced before the current economic crisis. Wim Oude Weernink Tougher Saab 9-3X to arrive in September Saab will debut the 9-3X, which features additional off-road capabilities compared with the standard 9-3 wagon from which this model is derived. For the 9-3X, Saab will offer a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, which can also use E85, a blend of ethanol and gasoline. Alternatively, the car will be equipped with a 1.9-liter 180hp turbodiesel engine that emits less than 145 grams per kilometer of CO2. The 9-3X gasoline-powered variant comes with all-wheel drive as standard and a suspension setting that is 35mm higher than the 9-3 wagon. The diesel version comes only with front-wheel drive and a 20mm higher suspension than the wagon. Both gasoline and diesel versions are available with manual or automatic transmission. Roof rails are standard and the lower part of the bodywork has been Skoda Get ready for lots of “abominable Skoda” jokes. Skoda describes its Yeti small SUV as a practical solution for customers who want a compact car that is robust, safe and has universal appeal. The Yeti will be built on the Octavia Scout platform, but use some parts from the Fabia small car. It will come in two- and all-wheel drive. The small SUV segment is a new one for Skoda. The Yeti might be the flagship for the Scout trim level, which usually includes all-wheel drive and SUV-style cladding. The Yeti will compete with the Kia Soul and Nissan Qashqai when it goes on sale in September. The Yeti is based on the same-named design study unveiled in 2005. Skoda also will debut a GreenLine version of its Octavia lower-medium car. GreenLine is the badge Skoda uses for its most fuel-efficient cars. The Octavia GreenLine has fuel consumption of 4.4 liters per 100km and CO2 emissions of 116 grams per kilometer. John Revill & Lyle Frink 9-3X clad with grey composite wheel arches, rocker panels and bumpers. The car’s equipment is equivalent to the Aero trim level. Production of the 9-3X is planned to start in September. Wim Oude Weernink Polo sets new green target of 87g/km Exeo ST Exeo The redesigned Polo, Volkswagen’s second-best selling model, will be one of Geneva’s most important debuts. The original Polo was launched in 1975, a year after the original Golf. The new Polo will be the model’s fifth generation. The Polo features a strong focus on fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions, with gasoline turbocharged engines downsized to 1.2- and 1.0-liter capacities. VW sources say the new Polo BlueMotion diesel variant will emit 87 grams per kilometer of CO2, down from 99g/km in the current Polo BlueMotion. Such a ratio will make the Polo BlueMotion’s CO2 emissions one better than the tiny Smart ForTwo. The Polo initially comes as a three- and five-door hatchback, followed by an SUV-like variant to succeed today’s Cross Polo. In the future, VW will also introduce an all-new Polo variant, a small minivan to rival the Opel/Vauxhall Meriva, at an undisclosed future date. However, only the five-door Polo will be introduced at the Geneva show. The redesigned Polo goes on sale in Europe starting in late summer. In 2010, Volkswagen wants to introduce the Polo to the US because it believes customers there will be increasingly keen to buy fuel-efficient small cars. Wim Oude Weernink Seat The Spanish carmaker’s upper-medium Exeo sedan launched at last year’s Paris auto show will get a wagon sibling in Geneva. This gives Seat a more comprehensive lineup for its entry into the segment. The Exeo ST wagon goes on sale in the third quarter. The Exeo sedan is arriving at European dealerships now. The Exeo sedan and wagon both borrow heavily from the 2000-2007 version of the Audi A4. Seat says the original A4 design has been upgraded with more than 500 details. The changes include a Seat front-end design as well as a carryover of the A4 cabriolet’s dashboard. The car also will have the latest A4 suspension and its engine technology, which meets Euro 5 emissions standards. The Exeo comes with three gasoline engines of 102hp, 150hp and 200hp, plus two diesels of 143hp and 170hp with diesel particulate filters. Seat expects to sell 50,000 units per year of the combined Exeo wagon and sedan. That would be a marked improvement over the Toledo lower-medium sedan, which sold only 4,280 units in 2008. Wim Oude Weernink Toyota Toyota will unveil a production version of the redesigned Corolla Verso medium minivan, which originally launched in Verso 2004. The new version, based on the new Avensis platform, will do without the “Corolla” part of its name, and simply be called Verso. Its wheelbase grows by 20mm, and has 70mm more overall length. Luca Ciferri & Wim Oude Weernink Polo e Computer illustration: Christian Schult

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Automotive News Europe - March 2, 2009

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