Motor Authority - blog Tag: Bologna Motor Show

Mazda used last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show to debut the new 2010 Mazda3 Sedan, and then followed it with the reveal of the Hatchback model at the Bologna Motor Show just one month later. The carmaker’s North American chief Jim O'Sullivan revealed in January that the car’s U.S. launch is “on track” for March this year, and today the car was priced to start at $15,045, a rise of $355 over the outgoing car.

Mazda plans to launch both the Sedan and Hatchback models simultaneously but isn’t predicting sales to top last year’s levels, which peaked at 100,000 units. Canada and Mexico will see the cars... Mazda used last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show to debut the new 2010 Mazda3 Sedan, and then followed it with the reveal of the Hatchback model at the Bologna Motor Show just one month later. The carmaker’s North American chief Jim O'Sullivan revealed in January that the car’s U.S. launch is “on track” for March this year, and today the car was priced to start at $15,045, a rise of $355 over the outgoing car. Mazda plans to launch both the Sedan and Hatchback models simultaneously but isn’t predicting sales to top last year’s levels, which peaked at 100,000 units. Canada and Mexico will see the cars arrive in dealerships later this month. The most popular spec car, the 2.0L Mazda3 i Touring with the automatic transmission, starts at $18,350. Stepping up to the sport model costs $19,540 for the four-door, or $20,030 for the hatch. A technology package is also available, which includes advanced keyless entry, push-button start, a compact full-color navigation system, satellite radio with six months of free service and a perimeter alarm for $1,195. There is one more variant of the new Mazda3 that is yet to be fully revealed. The car is the high-performance Mazdaspeed (MPS) model, which is expected to make its world debut at March’s Geneva Motor Show. As for the standard Sedan and Hatchback models, both cars will come with two different engine options: a 148hp (110kW) 2.0L four-cylinder with 135lb-ft (183Nm) of torque and a 167hp (124kW) 2.5L unit with 168lb-ft (227Nm) of torque. For European markets, a newly developed 2.2L turbodiesel engine will also be available. This engine, which was just launched in the Mazda6 overseas, will output 182hp (136kW) and 295lb-ft (400Nm) of torque while delivering fuel economy figures of around 42mpg (5.6L/100km).2010 Mazda3 Sedan2010 Mazda3 Hatchback Read More

For more than a year now, Mercedes' parent company Daimler has pursued a copyright infringement case against Chinese carmaker Shuanghuan for its Bubble, a blatant knock-off of the Smart ForTwo minicar. A recent holding in a Milanese court has put the German company on the back foot, however, and reports now indicate it is considering settlement to avoid paying huge sums in damages.

The doubt that has crept into Daimler's outlook on the matter comes courtesy of an Italian court's holding on a similar case between BMW and Shuanghuan on the distribution of the CEO, an SUV that bears a striking resemblance to the first-gen BMW X5, essentially... For more than a year now, Mercedes' parent company Daimler has pursued a copyright infringement case against Chinese carmaker Shuanghuan for its Bubble, a blatant knock-off of the Smart ForTwo minicar. A recent holding in a Milanese court has put the German company on the back foot, however, and reports now indicate it is considering settlement to avoid paying huge sums in damages. The doubt that has crept into Daimler's outlook on the matter comes courtesy of an Italian court's holding on a similar case between BMW and Shuanghuan on the distribution of the CEO, an SUV that bears a striking resemblance to the first-gen BMW X5, essentially allowing Shuanghuan to sell the cars with impunity, and potentially opening BMW to liability for lost sales due to the lawsuit. The CEO/X5 lawsuit garnered global attention when it broke in 2007, in part because of Shuanghuan's open stance on the matter, essentially saying that copy cars are legal. "Noble and CEO cars, approved by the Chinese government, are legal products," said a company spokesperson. A Munich court even banned the CEO entirely. In December, 2007, Shuanghuan flouted the ongoing injunction against the Bubble in Italy by displaying the car at the Bologna Motor Show. At the time, things looked bleak for Shuanghuan and the move was viewed as a stunt. In retrospect, it may have been a shrewd business move. Daimler's ForTwo/Bubble suit is before a court in Milan, the same city where the CEO/X5 lawsuit was decided, and so it has been forced to reconsider the strength of its position. What had initially appeared to be a clear-cut case of copyright infringement has now turned about and become a clear loser. The Milan court's ruling in the case of the Shuanghuan CEO held that it would be impossible for consumers to mistake the Chinese clones for BMW products, reports Automotive News Europe, and that the significant price difference prohibited any real damage to BMW's copyright or trademark, despite the obvious similarity in design. Read More

Volkswagen has unveiled the first ever Golf to be factory-fitted with a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) system at this week’s Bologna Motor Show in Italy. Using a simple switchover system, the Golf ‘BiFuel’ is capable of being driven with either regular petrol or LPG depending on the user's preference, and according to its creators the combination of petrol and LPG greatly reduces the car's environmental impact, cutting CO2 emissions by more than 10%.

In LPG mode, the 96hp (72 kW) 1.6L four-cylinder engine of the Golf BiFuel averages 25.5mpg (9.2L/100km ) and 149g/km of CO2. In petrol mode, the Golf BiFuel averages 33mpg... Volkswagen has unveiled the first ever Golf to be factory-fitted with a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) system at this week’s Bologna Motor Show in Italy. Using a simple switchover system, the Golf ‘BiFuel’ is capable of being driven with either regular petrol or LPG depending on the user's preference, and according to its creators the combination of petrol and LPG greatly reduces the car's environmental impact, cutting CO2 emissions by more than 10%. In LPG mode, the 96hp (72 kW) 1.6L four-cylinder engine of the Golf BiFuel averages 25.5mpg (9.2L/100km ) and 149g/km of CO2. In petrol mode, the Golf BiFuel averages 33mpg (7.1L/100km) and 169g/km of CO2. This means that the 41-liter LPG tank and the 55-liter petrol tank together propel the car to a theoretical range of greater than 683 miles (1,100km). In pure LPG mode, the car’s range is about 260 miles (420km). While many companies offer aftermarket LPG systems for a range of cars, the system in the Golf BiFuel offers significant advantages to non-OEM systems. One advantage is that the Golf Bifuel, with both of its fuel tanks, has been crash tested as a single car so it has a greater guarantee of safety. Also, the engine in the Golf BiFuel has been specially configured for LPG operation, and so it is more durable than engines originally tuned as petrol only. For other dual-fuel VW cars, check out our previous story on the VW Passat concept that uses both petrol and natural gas.VW Passat EcoFuel Concept2009 Volkswagen Golf BiFuel Read More

The Passat CC made its debut early this year, bringing the four-door coupe profile to a popularly affordable price point for the first time. Now the company has unveiled its Individual package for the CC at the Bologna Motor Show, offering a new dimension of luxury and appearance upgrades to the car.

Three previous VW models have received the Individual treatment, including the Eos, Passat sedan and Touareg. The primary upgrades to the CC include new 19in wheels and a new exterior color choice for the outside, and new materials and color options inside as well.

The new color for the exterior paint is called 'Moonlight Blue', a pearlescent... The Passat CC made its debut early this year, bringing the four-door coupe profile to a popularly affordable price point for the first time. Now the company has unveiled its Individual package for the CC at the Bologna Motor Show, offering a new dimension of luxury and appearance upgrades to the car. Three previous VW models have received the Individual treatment, including the Eos, Passat sedan and Touareg. The primary upgrades to the CC include new 19in wheels and a new exterior color choice for the outside, and new materials and color options inside as well. The new color for the exterior paint is called 'Moonlight Blue', a pearlescent hue, and along with the new 19in variant of the 'Chicago Black' alloy wheels and a front fender bearing the Individual logo, mark out the extent of the changes to the car's outward appearance. Inside, the CC Individual gets standard two-tone leather seating in 'nougat' color. The leather is a soft type called 'cool leather' and features perforations for better climate regulation. Black nappa leather covers the outer seat surfaces, and the same black-and-nougat color scheme is carried across the door panels, front center armrest, steering wheel and gear selector. Other interior tweaks for the Individual include ambiance lighting at the door and footwell areas, and more chrome accents on the door handles, window lift and locking switches. Door sill plates bear the Volkswagen Individual signature logo at all four portals, though only the front sills are accented with white lighting. The car will enter production soon, though VW has not yet named a specific date.Volkswagen Passat CC Individual Read More

Bologna, Italy's late-season car show, has played host to a surprising number of new models this year. The latest, Maserati's MC Sport Line, is an option package designed to give the company's cars a decidedly motorsports-inspired look and handling treatment.

Not that Maserati is by any means unfamiliar with the race track - quite the contrary - but its road-going vehicles tend to err on the comfortably luxurious side of the performance spectrum, making the MC Sport Line a standout package. The car on show at Bologna is the already very capable GranTurismo S, and once treated with the MC Sport Line package, the car's styling truly matches... Bologna, Italy's late-season car show, has played host to a surprising number of new models this year. The latest, Maserati's MC Sport Line, is an option package designed to give the company's cars a decidedly motorsports-inspired look and handling treatment. Not that Maserati is by any means unfamiliar with the race track - quite the contrary - but its road-going vehicles tend to err on the comfortably luxurious side of the performance spectrum, making the MC Sport Line a standout package. The car on show at Bologna is the already very capable GranTurismo S, and once treated with the MC Sport Line package, the car's styling truly matches its performance. Extensive use of carbon fiber, the standard material of high-end race cars, is one of the package's hallmarks. The high-contrast monochromatic styling also mimics the high-performance MC Corse racing concept shown at Paris in October. With upgraded, track-tested aerodynamics thanks to new carbon fiber front and rear spoilers, the GranTurismo MC Sport Line Concept optimizes down force for high-speed driving. New side skirts and a central panel finished in matte black give the car a more aggressive look from the side, as do carbon fiber mirror housings and door handles. Black 20in wheels complete the track-day look, while inside the carbon fiber theme is carried forward via the door sills, which bear the MC Sport Line logo. The steering wheel rim, door panels, dashboard and center stack are also all finished in carbon fiber. The package isn't solely about looks, however, with upgraded, stiffer springs, shocks and anti-roll bars all around. A 10mm lower ride height lowers the roll center and center of gravity for further improved handling, and the new suspension is synchronized with Maserati's unique Stability Program software, allowing more freedom to the driver. All of these features can be had together or separately, as suits the taste of the individual Maserati owner.Maserati GranTurismo S MC Sport Line Concept Read More

Volkswagen has released a sedan variant of its previous Passat TSI EcoFuel wagon concept, showcasing the vehicle at this week's Bologna Motor Show. Capable of using either petrol or natural gas for power, the EcoFuel vehicles are powered by a 1.4L TSI engine with around 150hp (112kW). The engine features both a supercharger and a turbocharger operating sequentially to provide relatively high power outputs from its small capacity.

In order to allow the engine to cope with the additional loading encountered through the burning of natural gas rather than gasoline, significant changes have been made. The valves, piston rings and the pistons... Volkswagen has released a sedan variant of its previous Passat TSI EcoFuel wagon concept, showcasing the vehicle at this week's Bologna Motor Show. Capable of using either petrol or natural gas for power, the EcoFuel vehicles are powered by a 1.4L TSI engine with around 150hp (112kW). The engine features both a supercharger and a turbocharger operating sequentially to provide relatively high power outputs from its small capacity. In order to allow the engine to cope with the additional loading encountered through the burning of natural gas rather than gasoline, significant changes have been made. The valves, piston rings and the pistons themselves are all uprated to cope, while the turbocharger has also been replaced with a smaller unit. Controlling the switch between conventional fuel and natural gas is a new engine management computer. The natural gas is stored in a trio of tanks with a combined capacity of 22kg mounted beneath the trunk. This is supplemented by a 31L tank for conventional petrol. Between the two tanks, the Passat TSI EcoFuel is afforded a theoretical range of around 500 miles (800km). The car has a top speed of 130mph and the capability to accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 9.8 seconds, making it viable for everyday use. In normal conditions the vehicle consumes 4.5kg of natural gas every 100km. With a DSG dual-clutch gearbox in place, the Passat EcoFuel will emit less than 120g of CO2/km, about the same as a much smaller compact hatch. VW is yet to announce any production plans for its EcoFuel technology, but given its excellent fuel-economy the wait shouldn't be long.VW Passat EcoFuel Concept Read More