Renault is in the midst of a big push for a much more premium motoring feel with its vehicles. This means plusher interiors, swoopier lines, bigger wheels, and much stronger visual presence on the road.

Slathered in purple paint, the car pictured above is the sixth example of Renault chief designer Laurens van den Acker’s ‘Circle of Life’ design series, which began in 2010,  and is believed to preview the next-gen Renault Espace.

Up front, the Initiale is classic Renault. The rest of the lines diverge a bit from the norm. The rear doors, for instance, are rear hinging suicide style doors. These fancy rear doors, however, aren’t likely to be included in the production model. The concept also features a high belt like and a long, thin greenhouse.

Intriguingly, the designer carried the honeycomb-like air intake grille pattern down the side of the car at the bottom of the doors. It is also repeated in the rear beneath the hatch and also hinted at in the spokes of the rims.

According to an Autocar report, Renault says the Initiale concept displays its vision of premium motoring, which is expected to hit the road in 2014.

We’ll be live in Frankfurt reporting on the official reveal of the Initiale and much more so be sure to check back next week for our coverage.<![CDATA[
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Automakers seem to be in love with Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT). The simple units are becoming a widespread replacement for traditional automatic transmissions, as they save on weight and mechanical complexity.

CVT are rather simple. They operate on a V-belt, which wraps around two cone-shaped pulleys. As the belt moves up or down a pulley, the gear ratio changes, which changes the speed of the drive wheels. This is just like a normal automatic but without any gears at all.

A team of Dutch inventors have invented a new variable transmission system that could very well supplant CVT altogether. It’s called Controlled Rotation System (CRS) and, as you can see in the video below, uses two variable discs to drive a belt.

The diameter of the disc is increased and decreased by a digitally-operated hydraulic pump, according to a Motor Authority report.

Originally designed to do away with chains and gears for bicycles, the inventers say they have modified the system to work in cars, suggesting the CRS is ideal for EVs. With a CRS transmission, an EV electric motor would be allowed to spin at a constant speed while on and rely solely on the CRS to change vehicle speed, thereby reducing wear.

What benefits does a CRS have over a CVT or traditional automatic? The Dutch team insists the system is more efficient, as it creates no friction, requiring no lubrication  and therefore requires no maintenance.

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Bugatti has published a dark teaser image that previews a limited-edition Veyron scheduled to bow next week at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The yet-unnamed car will be the second in a series of six limited-edition models designed to pay homage to the legends behind the Bugatti firm.  Who it will honor is not currently known, but it will undoubtedly feature a bespoke paint job and a matching interior.

Like all 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse models, the limited-edition car will be powered by a quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 engine that sends 1,200 horsepower and 1,106 lb-ft. of torque to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.  The sprint from zero to 62 takes merely 2.4 seconds and maximum velocity is reached at 255 mph.

Bugatti will hand-build just three examples of the limited-edition Veyron.  Pricing information is not available but full set of details will emerge in the coming days.

Unveiled in Pebble Beach last month, the first car in Bugatti’s legends series honored pilot Jean-Pierre Wimillie with blue clear-coated carbon fiber and light Wimille Bleu paintwork finish. That blue on blue color scheme was applied to the car’s interior.<![CDATA[
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The first Jaguar crossover is just days away from being formally revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but two images have already leaked online.

Posted earlier today to Carscoops, the images show off a blue vehicle that looks rather like a Jaguar XF with a lift kit. We’re expecting it to be much more than that when it’s actually unveiled on Monday.  

Called the C-X17 – a name that follows Jaguar’s concept car nomenclature tradition – the new utility-type vehicle won’t possess any off road ability like sister brand Land Rover’s offerings. Instead, it will be a more style and luxury-oriented model tasked with expanding Jaguar’s lineup. The C-X17′s production nameplate isn’t known.

The C-X17 also represents the expansion of Jaguar’s scalable architecture, which is set to underpin a wide range of the automaker’s upcoming models including its new compact sedan range. 

Although not much is currently known about the C-X17, we should learn more later when it is officially unveiled at about 5:00 p.m. in Europe on Monday, September 9. 

Jaguar dealers globally have long clamored for an SUV or a crossover, but the automaker’s management has had its hands full reinvigorating the brand’s passenger car lineup.

The production version of the C-X17 could bow as soon as the Geneva Motor Show next March.<![CDATA[
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German BMW tuner Alpina has unveiled the 2014 D3 Bi-Turbo ahead of its scheduled debut at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

Available as a wagon and a sedan, the 3-Series-based D3 Bi-Turbo is powered by an upgraded version of the diesel-burning 3.0-liter straight-six found under the hood of the 330d.  Linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission manufactured by ZF, the six-cylinder sends 345 horsepower and 516 lb-ft. of torque to the rear wheels, enough to propel the D3 from zero to 62 mph in 4.6 seconds and on to a top speed of about 170 mph.  A limited-slip differential and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive technology are available at an extra cost.

When drive conservatively, the D3 returns up to 44 mpg in a mixed European cycle.

Outside, Alpina’s latest sedan receives an aggressive front bumper characterized by a big air dam and a lip spoiler adorned with Alpina-specific decals.  Wide multi-spoke alloy wheels mounted on low-profile tires help give the car a race-bred appearance.

Following its debut in Frankfurt, the Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo will go on sale in select European countries later this year.  Pricing information will be available closer to its launch.<![CDATA[
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Originally slated to greet the world for the first time at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet has instead leaked out today in a small batch of exterior and interior photos.

As expected, the new A3 Cabriolet is a careful evolution of its predecessor.  The images (leaked by Autofilou) reveal that changes to the drop-top include crisper lines adorning the flanks, Audi’s hexagonal grille up front and more angular headlamps that resemble those on the 2014 A4 and the latest A6.

Like the A3 hatchback and the new A3 Sedan, the cabriolet will gain a significant upgrade in technology, adopting the same general MMI system used in Audi’s A6 and A8 models.  That means a familiar touchwheel located in the center console accompanied by a new touchpad that allows drivers to “write” characters with the swipe of a finger. �

Mechanically, the A3 will be launched with an assortment of four-cylinder engines: the entry-level offering will be a 120-horsepower 1.4-liter TFSI, next up will be a 177-horsepower 1.8-liter TFSI and diesel fans will get a 2.0-liter TDI rated at 138 ponies.  Start/stop technology will be standard across the lineup to help curb emissions.

A full set of details about the next A3 Convertible will emerge in the coming days.  Audi has not announced if it has earmarked the car for the United States market. 

In addition to the A3 Convertible, Audi will unveil the potent Sport quattro concept and the facelifted variant of its range-topping A8 and S8 sedans in Frankfurt.  Stay tuned to Leftlane for live images straight from the show.<![CDATA[
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Jeep has announced it will introduce a limited edition of its Wrangler SUV at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. Aptly named Polar, the special edition Wrangler is designed for winter’s tough driving conditions.

Based on the Sahara model, the Wrangler Polar features a unique Hydro Blue paint job (Billet Silver Metallic and Bright White can also be ordered), 18-inch gloss black wheels, a body-colored hardtop and special badging with the coordinates 78° S and 106° E (the locations of Vostok in Antarctica where temperatures have dipped to -128 degrees). The Wrangler Polar can be had in two- and four-door configurations.

The interior of the Polar features black leather seats with Pearl White accent stitching. The Polar also sports Pearl White accents and “Polar” logos throughout.

The Wrangler Polar will be motivated by a 200 horsepower, 339 lb-ft of torque version of Jeep’s 2.8-liter CRD turbo diesel engine. The Polar comes standard with four-wheel drive and a Trac-Lok anti-spin rear differential.

The 2014 Jeep Wrangler Polar, which will only be sold in the European market, is scheduled to arrive in showrooms during the first quarter of 2014.

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Lamborghini’s Gallardo successor has finally broken cover while undergoing shakedown testing in central Europe. Believed to be called the Cabrera, we could see a concept previewing the supercar as soon as next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

Although Lamborghini engineers were trying to slip under the radar by testing the Cabrera under the cloak of nightfall, our fast-thinking spies turned up their flashes and grabbed some quality images of the upcoming supercar.

The Cabrera remains covered by camouflage, but it’s clear that Lamborghini’s entry-level model will borrow styling cues from the company’s Aventador flagship. The Cabrera will also adopt the Aventador’s use of lightweight composites – such as carbon fiber and aluminum – which should result in a significant weight loss compared to the outgoing Gallardo.

The Cabrera will retain the Gallardo’s V10 engine, but power should increase to 600 horsepower. The Cabrera will be offered exclusively with an automatic transmission.

Look for the Lamborghini Cabrera to land sometime during 2014.

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