Swiss coachbuilder Rinspeed has debuted a fully autonomous concept car based on the Tesla Model S called XchangE at this year’s edition of the Geneva Motor Show.

Rinspeed designed the XchangE to showcase the work and leisure opportunities created by autonomous cars. The concept boasts a highly versatile cabin with business class-like front seats that can swivel around to face the rear occupants. In a novel touch, a steer-by-wire system with no mechanical link to the front wheels allows the steering wheel to be moved to the center of the dashboard when not in use, providing extra space inside the cabin.

The XchangE features a state-of-the-art scalable infotainment system that provides protection against hacker attacks. The software allows passengers to read, listen to music, surf the web, play games, watch movies or hold a meeting while cruising at 75 mph. The car can be fitted with a built-in espresso machine located between the front seats.

The finishing touch in the cockpit is a Carl F. Bucherer wristwatch mounted in a transparent globe above the steering column. An electric motor winds the watch up by spinning the globe when the car is not moving, creating what Rinspeed bills as the world’s most expensive watch winder.

Outside, the XchangE is standard Model S fare save for visual upgrades such as Rinspeed-specific bumpers on both ends, yellow trim, 20-inch alloy wheels and a Plexiglas roof. The coachbuilder has not provided any technical specifications but the XchangE is presumably powered by a stock Model S drivetrain equipped with an 85 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack.

Suzuki has traveled to the 84th annual Geneva Motor Show to unveil the new Celerio, a pocket-sized hatchback designed to replace the Alto.

Stretching 141 inches long, 62 inches wide and 61 inches tall, the Celerio features sharp, simple front end with a two-slat radiator grille, a bulged hood and angular headlights. Out back, an upright hatch frees improves visibility and maximizes cargo space.

Suzuki has not put any effort into masking the Celerio’s entry-level positioning and the base models features a minimalist dashboard crafted from a selection of hard plastics. The instrument cluster is limited to two analog gauges and a host of warning lights, while well-equipped models benefit from a multi-function steering wheel and faux-wood trim on the center console.

The tiny Celerio offers seating for up to four passengers, and the rear seats fold flat when extra cargo is needed.

Power is expected to come from a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine that sends 68 horsepower and 66 lb-ft. of torque to the front wheels via either a manual or an automatic gearbox. A frugal diesel engine might be added to the lineup later in the production run.

The Celerio will begin to arrive in showrooms across Europe next summer. Pricing information will be published closer to its on-sale date.

Live images by Ronan Glon.

South Korea’s Ssangyong Motor has presented a new concept car dubbed XLV that at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The crossover’s name stands for eXciting smart Lifestyle Vehicle.

With the XLV, SsangYong confirms it is ready to expand its presence in Europe by reaching out to a more mainstream audience. While many of the company’s previous vehicles have been rudimentary at best, the four-door XLV wears a modern and fluid design that clearly draws inspiration from popular premium crossovers.

The XLV stretches 174 inches long, 72 inches wide and 62 inches tall, dimensions that enable it to offer space for up to seven passengers in an odd 2+2+2+1 configuration. SsangYong explains the lone seventh seat is designed to slide between the second and third rows. Passenger access is facilitated by rear-hinged rear doors that open at a wide angle.

Power comes from a gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain consisting of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine and a small electric motor linked to a lithium-ion battery pack mounted under the floor. Power is presumably sent to all four wheels.

The XLV is said to announce SsangYong’s future design language but at the time of writing it is not certain whether or not the concept will directly spawn a production vehicle. SsangYong has debuted several futuristic-looking concepts at major European auto shows over the past couple of years and, to date, none have been added to the automaker’s lineup.

Live images by Ronan Glon.

Citroën has unveiled the C5 CrossTourer at the Geneva Motor Show. The C5 CrossTourer is billed as a more affordable alternative to premium wagons like the Audi A4 allroad.

The CrossTourer stands out from the regular-production C5 Tourer station wagon thanks to plastic cladding on the wheel arches, faux brushed aluminum trim on both bumpers, flat gray roof rails, a slightly raised ground clearance and model-specific 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the C5 CrossTourer gains power-adjustable leather-upholstered seats with a massage function on the driver’s side, dual-zone climate control, a rear-view camera and touch screen-based navigation system. Imitation brushed aluminum trim on the steering wheel, the dashboard and the shift lever creates a premium ambiance.

Buyers are asked to choose from a wide array of diesel-burning four-cylinder engines ranging from 115 to 200 horsepower. The four-bangers send power to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual or a semi-automatic gearbox.

All-wheel drive isn’t offered, but the wagon can get over rough terrain with ease thanks to an optional Hydractive III+ hydraulic suspension that makes it possible to raise the ground clearance by about 2.3 inches while driving at up to 6 mph and by roughly 1.5 inches at up to 25 mph.

The 2014 Citroën C5 CrossTourer will go on sale across Europe next summer with a base price of €31,950 (approximately $43,900), positioning it near the bottom of the C5 Tourer lineup.

Live images by Ronan Glon.

Mercedes-Benz’s commercial vehicles division has lifted the veil off of the all-new 2014 V-Class, a mid-size van that slots between the Renault-based Citan and the full-size Sprinter.

Designed to replace the existing Viano, the V-Class adopts a dynamic exterior design that is heavily inspired by recent members of the Mercedes lineup including the CLA-Class and the redesigned E-Class. The front fascia features familiar elongated headlamps and a twin-slat radiator grille while the rear end gains a large window and short tail lamps.

The V-Class follows the van industry’s shifts towards more car-like interiors with a curved dash, analog gauges, circular air vents and a touch screen mounted on top of the center stack. Both six- and eight-seater variants are offered, and buyers have access to a mile-long list of extra-cost add-ons to customize their van’s cabin.

As expected, the V-Class ditches the current Viano’s six-cylinder engines in favor of a smaller 2.1-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine available with 136, 163 or 190 horsepower. Front-wheel drive will be the only configuration offered at launch, but an all-wheel drive setup is expected to join the lineup later in the production run.

All V-Class vans come standard with Crosswind Assist and Attention Assist, and the list of options includes a 360-degree camera, active parking assistance systems and a seven-speed automatic transmission.

The new V-Class is scheduled to go on sale across Germany next May with a base price of €42,900 ($58,000) before taxes are factored in. Whether or not the van has been earmarked for the United States, where the market for compact front-wheel drive commercial vehicles is steadily growing, is not known.

Work Van
A cargo-hauling variant of the V-Class with welded-in rear windows, steel wheels and black plastic bumpers is expected to go on sale before the end of the year. Likely called Vito, it will feature a considerably less upscale cockpit and retail for significantly less.