Buick has introduced a new concept car called Avenir, a word that means “future” in French. The Avenir will greet the public for the first time at this week’s Detroit Motor Show.
The Avenir previews what a Buick flagship sedan could look like. It stretches 204 inches long and 76 inches wide, dimensions that make it slightly bigger in both directions than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It wears an elegant design with a long hood, pronounced haunches and a tapered rear end that is inspired by historic Buick models like the Riviera. Similarly, the radiator grille pays homage to the Wildcat II concept that bowed in 1954.

With room for up to four passengers, the Avenir’s cockpit features a flowing design that Buick says is inspired by nature and the sea. Nearly all of the car’s functions are controlled via a 12-inch touch screen located on the center console, a setup that let designers create a simple, clutter-free dashboard accented by wood and gloss black trim. White leather upholstery provides a contrast with the dark trim.

Two additional screens integrated into the front seatbacks let the rear occupants enjoy individual entertainment. The concept packs OnStar with 4G LTE and a wireless charger for compatible mobile devices.

Technical details are vague at best but Buick says the Avenir is powered by a direct-injected V6 engine with a start/stop system and cylinder deactivation technology. The six-cylinder sends power to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission controlled by shift paddles.

Buick has not revealed what the avenir holds for its latest concept. If built, it could ride on the same platform as the Cadillac CT6 flagship that will be introduced in New York next April.

Fiat-owned Alfa Romeo will travel to the Detroit Motor Show to introduce the 2015 4C Spider.
As expected, the 4C Spider is essentially identical to the 4C Spider Concept that bowed last year at the Geneva Motor Show but it is equipped with an integrated roll bar and a removable roof panel crafted out of carbon fiber. The convertible tips the scale at 2,487 pounds – just 20 pounds more than the standard 4C – thanks in part to the use of 10-percent thinner glass and a windshield frame that is made out of carbon fiber.

While the 4C coupe was launched with oft-criticized headlights that give it a bug-like look, the Spider comes standard with more conventional-looking units that are similar to ones found on the concept. Interestingly, coupe buyers will be able to order their car with the more conventional units at no extra cost. New alloy wheel designs and a wide selection of exterior colors round out the updates.

The 4C Spider boasts a driver-focused cockpit with two bucket seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and a configurable thin-film transistor (TFT) screen that replaces the traditional instrument cluster. Manual steering comes standard and A/C is offered as a no-cost option.

Power for the 4C Spider comes from a turbocharged and direct-injected 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine borrowed from the 4C coupe. It sends 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque to the rear wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, enough to propel the 4C Spider from zero to 60 mph in roughly 4.1 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 160 mph. An Akrapovic exhaust system and Pirelli P Zero tires are available at an extra cost.

Buyers looking to race their 4C can order the optional Track Package. It brings high-performance shock absorbers, upgraded sway bars on both ends and a sprinkling of extra carbon fiber trim inside and out.

Following its debut in Detroit, the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider will arrive at dealerships across the nation next summer. Pricing information will be published in the weeks leading up to its on-sale date.

Volkswagen will travel to tomorrow’s Detroit Motor Show to introduce a new concept car called Cross Coupe GTE.
Careful observers will notice that the Cross Coupe GTE’s styling falls in line with the CrossBlue concept that was presented at the 2013 edition of the Detroit show and the CrossBlue Coupe concept that bowed in Los Angeles that same year. Built to preview the design language that will influence all of Volkswagen’s upcoming crossovers, the Cross Coupe features four LED headlights neatly integrated into a twin-slat radiator grille that stretches the entire width of the front fascia, a tall hood, a rakish C-pillar and thin trapezoidal tail lamps. 22-inch alloys tucked under pronounced wheel arches wrap up the muscular look.

The CrossBlue inspiration continues inside with a minimalist center console, a three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel and an uncluttered dashboard. The concept is equipped with an evolution of the fully configurable digital instrument cluster that is found in the third-gen Audi TT and the new-for-Europe Volkswagen Passat.

Built on Volkswagen’s modular MQB platform, the Cross Coupe GTE is powered by a fuel-sipping plug-in hybrid drivetrain made up of a 3.6-liter VR6 engine that generates 276 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque and two electric motors rated at 54 and 114 horsepower, respectively. The three power sources work with a six-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission to deliver a combined output of 355 horsepower and 280 lb-ft. of torque, allowing the Cross Coupe to reach 60 mph from a dead stop in 6.0 seconds and go on to a top speed of 130 mph.

The driver can select one of four available driving profiles called On-road, Off-road, Sport and Snow. Additionally, the hybrid drivetrain can be set to one of five modes called E-Mode, Hybrid, GTE, Off-road and Battery Hold / Battery Charge. E-Mode uses only the electricity stored in the lithium-ion battery pack to power the Cross Coupe for up to 20 miles, Hybrid makes optimal use of both power sources, GTE delivers the system’s full power output, Off-road increases traction and Battery Hold / Battery Charge refills the battery on the go.

Volkswagen has not commented on what the future holds for the Cross Coupe concept. The automaker has confirmed that it will start production of its long-awaited seven-seater crossover in late 2016 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, so it’s likely that a smaller five-seater model inspired by the Cross Coupe will arrive shortly after.

Land Rover is introducing a new diesel engine option for its Range Rover and Range Rover Sport luxury SUVs for the 2016 model year. Both diesel-powered models will be on display for the first time at the Detroit auto show.
The 2016 Range Rover HSE Td6 and Range Rover Sport HSE Td6 will use a version of Land Rover’s 3.0L turbocharged diesel V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rated at 254 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque, the V6 diesel promises significantly more low-end grunt than Land Rover’s standard supercharged gas V6.

Moreover, the diesel mill achieves peak torque at just 1,750rpm, making it ideally suited for towing and off-road duties.

That low-end oomph is reflected in the SUVs’ performance figures. The Range Rover Sport HSE Td6 takes just 7.1 second to hit 60 — compared to 6.9 second for its gas counterpart — while the Range Rover HSE Td6 hits the same mark in 7.4 second, or 0.3 seconds slower than the gas Range Rover.

Although performance figures are similar across the two engine lines, fuel economy is a different story. Whereas the gas-powered Range Rover models can only muster about 17mpg in the city and 23mpg on the highway — netting a combined rating of 18mpg — the Td6 models are good for 22mpg in the city and 28mpg on the highway, resulting in a combined rating of 25mpg.

Thanks to that boost in economy, both diesel models boast a range of nearly 660 miles.

Like most larger diesel-powered vehicles, the Range Rover Td6 and Range Rover Sport Td6 will require Diesel Exhaust Fluid to reduce NOx emissions. In the case of both models, the DEF reservoir will be located underhood and will have enough capacity to go 10,000 miles between refills.

In order to reduce the typical diesel clatter as much as possible, the 3.0L V6 utilizes a two-stage injection process and sits on dual-isolation engine mounts. Land Rover also enhanced the bulkhead area and added an acoustic lament to the windshield to cut down on engine noise.

Pricing for the new diesel option hasn’t been announced, but the 2016 Range Rover HSE Td6 and Range Rover Sport Td6 are scheduled to arrive in Land Rover showrooms this fall. Land Rover says diesel technology will be available across its lineup in the coming years, so keep and eye out for more oil-burning Landies.

Honda has committed to putting the world’s first predictive cruise control system on the market.

Called i-ACC (for Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control), the technology is able to predict when other drivers cut into your lane. The system differs from traditional adaptive cruise control systems in that it keeps an eye on cars in neighboring lanes and their movements, using its camera and radar and a specially developed algorithm. When a car cuts into your lane, the system will apply the brakes gradually, responding up to five seconds earlier than current adaptive cruise control systems.

Current systems are designed primarily to keep a pre-determined distance in front, so when cars cut in unexpectedly the braking can be harsh.

European market Honda CR-Vs will be the first cars to adopt i-ACC. In that region, drivers often travel between the UK, which drives on the left, and the rest of Europe, which drives on the right. The technology is smart enough to recognize which country you are in and adapt accordingly, monitoring the lanes that cars are more likely to merge from.

European Honda CR-Vs also receive a new 1.6L i-DTEC diesel engine and a 9-speed automatic transmission. i-ACC will be available on 2015 model year cars, solely on the Executive trim level.

Now that cars can predict lane cutting, all we need is an A.I. that can experience road rage.

Smack dab in the midst of the madness that is the Tokyo Auto Salon, CES and the upcoming Detroit Auto Show, Honda has quietly released a new three-row hybrid model called the Jade in its home market.

Surprisingly, the Jade actually debuted in China in 2013, modeled closely after the Concept S shown at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show. The Jade is a five-door wagon that is approximate in shape and size to the Toyota Prius v, except that on the inside it utilizes a unique 2+2+2 seating configuration. That’s two rows of two buckets each, with some rather luxurious-looking armrests in the middle section, and a two-butt bench in the rearmost row.

Power comes from Honda’s i-DCD hybrid-electric drivetrain, which consists of a 108hp 1.5L Atkinson cycle DOHC i-VTEC engine, a 30hp electric motor and a 7-speed dual clutch transmission sandwiched between the two. It’s the same powertrain that propels the Japan-market Fit Hybrid and recently launched Grace hybrid sedan. The Chinese-market version, on the other hand, uses a 1.8L petrol engine instead.

Styling is actually rather sleek, more cohesive than the Prius v and what one imagines a Civic Wagon would look like if that variant hadn’t vanished after 1991. The Jade also comes with a full suite of the Honda Sensing safety package that includes technologies such as collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, suppression of road departure and false starts, and sign recognition.

The Jade goes on sale in Japan on February 13. Honda has not indicated whether the Jade will be offered in North America.

A report coming out of England indicates that Renault is considering launching a retro-inspired city car that would slot between the new third-generation Twingo and the Clio. The Paris-based automaker is in the early stages of building a prototype that will help it decide whether or not to move forward with the project.
The yet-unnamed hatchback will feature roughly the same silhouette as the first-generation Renault 5 (pictured), a small city-friendly car built from 1972 to 1985 and briefly sold as the LeCar in the United States. Stretching about 149 inches long, it will feature four doors, blacked out door pillars and short overhangs on both ends.

The retro-inspired treatment will be toned down on the inside, where the car will be fitted with high-tech equipment such as a fully digital dashboard made up of two seven-inch LCD screens located directly behind the steering wheel and a pair of massive 15.9-inch screens that will replace the rest of the dash. The infotainment system is being designed to work with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Power for the 1,830-pound car will come from an evolution of the 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine that currently powers the aforementioned Twingo. A more expensive plug-in hybrid model capable of returning up to 111 mpg in a mixed cycle could join the lineup later in the production run.

The project is still at the embryonic stage of development. If given the green light for production, Renault’s upcoming 5-inspired city car isn’t expected to land in showrooms until 2018 at the earliest.