Spyshots: V40 is looking very good and very Volvo

 These spyshots of the upcoming Volvo V40 is so distinctly Volvo that I guessed it was from Gothenburg even before I read the headline.

The strong shoulder line, distinctive rear lamps and sloping window lines is a clear link to current Volvo cars.

Not much is known about this species but researchers expect more spyshots and teasers to come our way in the next week.

More pictures after the jump

Toyota preparing future low-cost hybrid concept

Geneva is where car companies usually go wild with their concepts, coming up with submarine cars, titanium bits, carbon chassis, foldable truck, glowing tyres, that sort of thing but Toyota is going the opposite direction - they are showing off a concept for low cost hybrid cars for the city...

typical Toyota eh, thinking practical, thinking real world... it will be called by the innocuous sounding codename of FT-Bh,  of which FT probably means Future Toyota while Bh could mean anything really...

Toyota says the concept will showcase total vehicle approach to reducing emissions in an affordable city car, in my mind this means the total carbon footprint of the vehicle throughout its entire life cycel from production to use to end of life recycling.

Right now no one takes into account the amount of carbon released in the production of Hybrid cars, its a lot considering the amount of electronics and high-technology solutions on the cars and this could easily offset the limited advantage of the slight improvement in fuel economy.

I hope Toyota's FT-Bh will be made out of recycled plastic bottles and costs next to nothing to make and sell for the price of a small bike and run on sunshine and a bit of water mixed with fresh air.... now that would be something else



PRESS RELEASE


FUTURE HYBRIDS, FUN AND MORE FROM TOYOTA AT GENEVA
First reveal of the production-ready Yaris Hybrid, Europe's first full hybrid supermini at the Geneva motor show
First European appearance of the production-ready GT 86
World debut for the FT-Bh concept, showcasing a "total vehicle" approach to reducing emissions in an affordable city car
European premiere for the NS4 and FCV-R concepts, exploring next-generation plug-in hybrid and fuel cell vehicle design
Toyota diji concept shown in Europe for the first time, taking vehicle personalisation to a new level
The rejuvenation of Toyota can be witnessed "in the metal" at the Geneva motor show, with a display of future showroom and concept models, shown in Europe for the first time.

Yaris Hybrid

Yaris Hybrid will be shown for the first time in its production-ready form, ahead of going sale in June this year. Powered by a re-engineered Hybrid Synergy Drive, it will be Europe's first full hybrid supermini, opening up the technology to a new customer group. It will deliver quiet, smooth performance with the lowest emissions in its segment, while maintaining the small-but-spacious quality for which Yaris is renowned.

GT 86

GT 86, Toyota's all-new sports coupe, arrives in Geneva on a wave of enthusiastic advance media acclaim and public interest. Due to reach the road this summer, GT 86 rediscovers the pure passion and excitement of sports car driving, at an affordable price.

FT-Bh concept

Geneva marks the world debut of the FT-Bh concept, an ultra-lightweight, full hybrid city car study, designed to achieve low emissions within an economically viable production framework. The team that produced FT-Bh purposely avoided expensive materials and complex manufacturing processes, working instead only with those that are already commonplace in the auto industry.

NS4 and FCV-R concepts

Toyota's NS4 and FCV-R concepts are also being shown in Europe for the first time. NS4 is a next-generation plug-in hybrid vehicle, designed to address customer demand for added value from hybrid motoring, together with advanced design and a more involving drive. FCV-R represents Toyota's next step towards mass production of hydrogen-powered vehicles, paving the way for the launch of a saloon-type fuel cell vehicle by 2015.

Toyota diji

The Toyota diji concept – previously shown at last year's Tokyo motor show as the Fun-Vii – is all about personalisation. The entire body, inside and out, serves as a display, with the driver being able to change colour and content at will. The process of displaying images or information is as simple as downloading an app. The car can also link to nearby vehicles and infrastructure to create an even more connected driving experience.

Press conference

Toyota will host a press conference on its stand at the Geneva motor show at 10.15am on Tuesday, 6 Mach.

First track day for 2012 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

Flying Lizard, Paul Miller and Falken Tire became the first teams to take the all-new 2012 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR race machines on track as they were wheeled out at Sebring in preparation of the 12 -Hours of Sebring next month.

The new car is wider, runs wider rear tyres and bigger front wheels and needed extra wide bodywork to cover the rubber.

Various aero tricks have also been added to the car including new ducting routes, cooling channels and various downforce enhancement devices are visible.

We think it looks mean and ready to eat the competition. Press release and more pictures after the jump.

Facelifted Innova now in showrooms

Popular IMV people carrier refreshed with new and improved features

• TOYOTA INNOVA 2.0G A/T : RM110,600
• TOYOTA INNOVA 2.0E A/T : RM102,500
• TOYOTA INNOVA 2.0E M/T : RM 97,500
• New grille design more angular, in line with new Toyota design vocabulary
• Improved instrument presentation
• Four-spoke steering wheel
• Darker coloured trim for seats
• Horizontal separation of dashboard with different colours to better define the cabin 

The Toyota Innova is a hardworking model from the IMV family that also includes the Hilux, Fortuner and Avanza and as mid life approaches, it gets a timely refresher to bring the model up to date with the rest of the family.

ALBUM: Isuzu D-Max launched in Thailand

Isuzu may have officially ended their equity marriage to General Motors but these photos show that the new D-Max is a close cousin of the Chevrolet Colorado, in fact it was developed together with the American brand pick-up truck.

These are the launch pictures in Thailand recently. This is one of the biggest engineering project undertaken by GM Thailand.

More photos after the jump

ALBUM: 2012 Chevrolet Colorado

2012 Chevrolet Colorado – HIGHLIGHTS

Overview

· GM Thailand’s largest-ever engineering and manufacturing program

· Total global program costs were $2 billion, including a $500 million investment to prepare GM Thailand’s Rayong manufacturing facility for Colorado production

Latest pictures of 2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

It does look to the world as if the new B-Class looks like the old B-Class, oh well, anyway these are the latest pictures issued by Stuttgart.

I do like the interior design, especially the new natural-looking matte-finish wood. It also looks like Mercedes-Benz is beginnning to behave like the company that used to make cars that felt like bank vaults.

More photos after the jump

2012 Volvo XC90 unveiled

It would take a real Volvo fan to spot the changes to the 2012 XC90 but then again, it is such a successful design that any major change to the face may lose it fans....just ask Michael Jackson.

Minor tweaks are made to the usual suspects such as lamp cluster design and bumpers with the mandatory redesign of the side garnish.

Interior is updated with new colours and more equipment, which is quite an accomplishment since the original was very highly specified

The truth is Volvo has to make the XC90 last at least three more years as the replacement is slotted for 2015, by which time the model would be 13-years old. a dinosaur in automotive terms

To see more photos, please follow the jump

Malaysian Camry to get more bling?

The US Camry has traditionally been a very sober car with hardly any chrome outside or shiny wood in the cabin but Asians like their wood glossy and seem to enjoy rubbing chrome trim on weekends and that is why we get a slightly different variant of the cars offered to the US market.

These pictures come from Toyota Ukraine and on the surface of it, it may look  like a completely different Camry but a closer inspection of the roofline and glasshouse (two things that are way too expensive to change willy nilly) will show that they are actually the same car launched in the US recently but with a very different nose and tail.

For the rest of the difference and to view the full gallery, follow the jump

CAUGHT: Chevy Colorado sans camo

From these photos it seems that someone responsible for testing the Chevrolet Colorado took it to a shopping complex and figured it's safe to leave unattended.

Well, it was not stolen but pictures of it are now here...

So after a few teases with various finish, garnish and trim, we finally see teh COlorado as its maker intended it...

See the full gallery after the jump

Hybrid News: Audi A8 hybrid gets 2.0 turbo engine

Rumours of two-litre engines finding home in a E-segment limousine have been making its round over the last four or five years and now it is reality with the 2.0-turbo Audi A8 hybrid.

The blown engine drives the wheels together with an electric motor that is sandwiched between the engine and transmission.

In concept the parallel hybrid drive system is similar to Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) but how it actually works may not be the same.

The specifications and details are after the jump

Camry is official Daytona 500 pace car

Keen to pull itself away from the unkermobile image, Toyota has turned the 2012 Camry into the pace car for one of the most iconic motorsports event, the Daytona 500.

No detail on the specs and such but they did give us three nice hi-res pictures, follow the jump to see the photos and read the Press Release

GALLERY: New Camry and Camry Hybrid revealed

These are the first pictures of the Camry in nature, It is a conventional looking car that will appeal to its traditional buyers but how would it fare with younger buyers?

Does the Camry want to remain as Unkermobile?

Follow the jump to see the whole gallery and read the full specs after the photos and commentaries

REVEALED: Production version of VW Up bares all before Frankfurt

Production car retains most of the concept's look and feel

The production version of VW Up, Wolfburg's interpretation of the K-car is  looking very good with clean lines, nice proportions and the usual neat detailing that the VAG group is well known for

This is the concept version and in my opinion the production car is more pleasing to look at.

For more photos and our thoughts on the Up, please follow the jump

FIRST PICS: Interior of the next-gen B-Class shows its gone upmarket

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class has given many people the chance to get into the habit of buying brand new Mercs and the company is keen to give this baby MPV more exclusivity and this is evident from these photos of the interior.

The round air-cond vents and curves on the dashboard brings it in line with the next generation of Mercedes-Benz interiors.

See the full gallery after the jump

Lexus GS in full glory at Pebble Beach

Edgier styling and more masculine and sporty image indicate Lexus's seriousness to move into Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5-series.

 Finally the GS has lost its soft curves and are now taking on a more edgy look, and I mean that literally. Just look at the sharp creases and pointy parts on the car.

The GS is also looking more planted and confident, thanks to those full-fitting wheels and the 10-spoke cart-wheel design gives the GS added visual strength.

To read the rest of our design review and see the complete album, please follow the jump

SCOOP: LExus GS350 unveiled ahead of Frankfurt

This picture set of bare Lexus GS350 came on the web courtesy of some guy in China...

The change is certainly dramatic, the GS is now more aggressively styled and promises sharper driving dynamics... But I think the rear end is boring...I bet many people who see it on the road would think it's a Camry..

Oh well...
more pictures after the jump