You may have seen the Range Rover Evoque Convertible, but Volkswagen is taking the convertible crossover to a smaller scale with the VW T-Cross Breeze concept, which debuts at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show this week. It rides on a sub-compact VW Polo platform. It sits higher, has all-wheel-drive capability, and the soft drop-top lets the environment in.
The Breeze concept heralds in a much needed rejuvenation of the crossover lineup at Volkswagen. The Tiguan will be the first production crossover to get a redesign. It will go on sale in Europe this spring, and will follow in other markets after that. An all-new midsize crossover will be next. The next Touareg will join the lineup after that. Volkswagen is planning two more crossovers below the Tiguan. There will be Golf-based and Polo-based models.
The Breeze is one concept of what is possible on the Polo sub-compact platform. It is powered by a 1.0-liter turbocharged engine that is good for 110 PS and 129 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm.
The Breeze has an all-new interior design language. The company says that it is “crisp and expensive” in appearance. You be the judge.
The T-Cross Breeze may never see production and may never reach the American shores. The company will judge the critic’s and public’s reaction and proceed as it sees fit. While we wait for the verdict, take a look at the Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE concept from last year.
Honda has been on a tear recently with the release of the all-new Civic sedan and Civic coupe. The next Civic on the agenda is the much-anticipated hatchback, which finally greeted the world in “prototype” form at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. The use of quotation marks is due to Honda’s history of showing concept vehicles that very closely resemble the final production version. Of course, there will be some minor alterations to the images shown here, but don’t expect many. Except for the yellow brake calipers and accent trim pieces, this is pretty much the undisguised Civic hatchback.
What hasn’t been announced yet are specs, but there shouldn’t be any surprises if we take a look at the already released sedan and coupe. There are two new engines available in the next-gen Civics so far: a 2.0L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder that puts out 158 horsepower and a 1.5L turbo-4 with 16.5 psi of boost good for 174 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. A CVT will be the most common transmission across the lineup while a 6-speed is available if paired to the 2.0L. We know… it makes no sense to us either. Also missing are details on the upcoming Civic Si. Even the body style in which it will be offered is a mystery, but don’t be surprised if the hatchback serves as the backdrop to the boy racer Civic.
The hatchback will be produced At Honda’s UK manufacturing facility and exported to the United States, with the European launch scheduled for early 2017. As of the time of this writing, there’s no word on when the vehicle will appear stateside. Until we bring you video of the Civic hatchback, check out the sedan in all its 4-door glory.
Per standard operating procedure, the Europeans will get another hot hatch most North Americans will never get to encounter face-to-face. Debuting at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, the latest offender is the Ford Fiesta ST200. Thankfully, there’s not too much to be sad about, as the ST200 only gets 12 more lb-ft of torque than does “our” Fiesta ST, and no additional horsepower (197 hp). Still, that’s 17 more ponies than the standard Fiesta ST sold in Europe, and good enough for a claimed 0-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds from the 1.6L EcoBoost engine. The ST200 also gets a shorter final drive ration of 4.06 versus the stock 3.82. In case you were wondering, the standard Euro-spec Fiesta ST with its 180 hp takes 0.2 seconds longer to reach 60 mph than does the ST200.
Available only in exclusive Storm Grey paint, the ST200 is another example of automobiles (and trucks) trending towards flatter, pastel-ier paint schemes. Just check out video of the Tacoma TRD Pro for another example. Other enhancements to the ST200 include grey Recaro racing seats with silver accent stitching, red brake calipers, matte black 17″ wheels, and ST200 badging. According to Ford, there’s little to no chance the ST200 will ever make its way across the pond. Heck, forget the whole ST200 package, we’d happily settle for the 3-door variant the Europeans get.
There is a trend a brewing. Many automakers are building luxurious and sporty large sedans to compete on the global stage. The Phideon is Volkswagen’s take on this trend. This week is the sedan’s global debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. If you are excited about it for the American market – don’t be. It’s slated only for the Chinese market.
The Phideon is entering the premium sedan (or saloon) segment in China to compete against the likes of the 2016 Cadillac CT6, the 2016 Lincoln Continental, and many others. However, there is one major difference in strategy and execution. The Phideon is a China-only car, while the Cadillac and the Lincoln will be available on multiple continents, including the United States. Volkswagen is focusing this car on China specifically.
Interestingly, the design and positioning of the car is similar. It’s a large and luxurious sedan with turbocharged V6 power and all-wheel-drive. Volkswagen’s new flagship for China is company’s first car built on the Modular Longitudinal Matrix (MLB) platform. [Side note: the platform has nothing to do with Major League Baseball.] The name, Phideon, is inspired by the Roman goddess of fidelity – Fides.
The car was developed and designed in Germany, and it highlights the company’s dedication to the growing market in China.
Although, the Phideon may remind you of the previous generation Phaeton, Volkswagen says the Phideon will “never ever come to the United States.” Still, a sedan similar to it could be possible, since it is using a modular and flexible platform and chassis.
The Phideon will be offered in two variations. The base model will have a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that is combined with front-wheel-drive. The upgrade will consist of a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with 300 PS and 347 lb-ft of torque. This engine will be hooked up to the company’s 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system. An electric hybrid model is expected in the future. These options are very similar to the way the Cadillac CT6 can be configured, although the Caddy V6 produces 404 horsepower.
Volkswagen did not provide any interior images as of this writing, but the Phideon’s interior is designed and executed with two purposes in mind. The company says that this saloon can accommodate an engaged driver or a chauffeur-driven passenger. The car does have five seating positions, not four.
The Phideon comes with the latest generation of the air suspension, and loaded up with features, such as: heads up display, night vision camera system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, MirrorLink, adaptive cruise control. park assist, lane-keep assist, and more.
Should Volkswagen bring a flagship sedan above the Passat to the United States? Let us know what you think in the comments.
In the meantime, here is our first drive review of the 2016 VW Passat.
The Geneva Motor Show is known for big and grand announcements from the auto industry and Bugatti’s global debut of their Chiron qualifies as something special, indeed. As the world’s first production car with 1,479 horsepower, the Chiron achieves its hypercar status without the help of electric motors. Something the McLaren P1, Porsche 918, or LaFerrari cannot claim. The Chiron relies solely on the “old-fashioned” 8.0-liter W16 quad-turbocharged engine. Torque is a mind-blowing 1,180 lb-ft between 2,000 and 6,000 rpm. Could the new Bugatti Chiron be set to crush speed records set by the Veyron?
“If we went with hybrid, we would have added additional weight. We would have experienced package constraints, too, because this car doesn’t have any areas where you can put additional stuff, so the styling would need to change,” Wolfgang Durheimer, Bugatti’s CEO explained. “We will dramatically raise the bar in terms of top speed, we will dramatically increase the power by 25 percent, the aerodynamics are better, the road holding is better. We didn’t need a hybrid.”
Bugatti reports the Chiron can go from zero to 62 mph (0 – 100 km/h) in 2.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 261 mph (420 km/h) when the 8.0-liter, quad-turbo W16 engine is uncorked.
If you want one, get in line fast. Bugatti says more than one-third of the production quota of 500 units has already been spoken for. The base price of the Chiron starts at $2.6 million (€2.4 million).
In this ‘everything you ever wanted to know’ TFLcar video with chief designer of the Bugatti Chiron, learn more how “form follows performance” influenced this hypercar’s development.
Slotting comfortably in between the C300 and AMG C63 is Mercedes-AMG’s latest creation, the C43 coupe. Looking every bit the part of sinister sports coupe as its big brother, the C43 has a modified C300 chassis with a sport suspension featuring 3-stage adaptive variable damping, larger brakes, and sport-tuned steering.
Connections to the road come via 225/45-18 tires up front and 245/40-18s in the back. Glossy black 18-inch wheels are standard, with 19-inchers optional. Spectators can also tell the AMG C43 apart from a C300 by its diamond-mesh grill, rear lip spoiler, and optional carbon fiber trim pieces.
Forward momentum is provided by a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 making 362 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 384 lb-ft of torque as low as 2,000 rpm. The car’s sole transmission will be a 9-speed automatic capable of rev-matching downshifts. According to AMG, the C43 should be able to produce a 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds. Traction will be aided by M-B’s 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, which is able to send 69 percent of available torque to the rear tires.
2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43
Inside, buyers of the C43 get red seatbelts, sport seats with red stitching, and aluminum trim as a hint to passengers of what their car can do. Other standard items include heated seats, Burmester audio system, blind-spot monitoring, rear-view camera, and LED lamps at all four corners. Optional safety features include a head-up display, auto high-beams, and adaptive headlamps. An 8.4-inch infotainment screen and 360-degree-view camera are also optional. Look for the AMG C43 to go on sale this fall as a 2017 model. Until we can get our hands one, check out this SL63 AMG Roadster… a 557 hp monster.
In this week’s Motor Mountain USA (#MMUSA) episode, the destination is the summit of the Woodall Mountain in Mississippi, which has a peak elevation of 806 feet. This is the highest natural point in the state of Mississippi and the road leading up to the peak is all dirt — just the way we like it.
Originally known as Yow Hill, this peak was re-christened Woodall Mountain in 1878 after Zephaniah Woodall, who was the sheriff of Tishomingo County. Today’s visitors to Tishomingo State Park discover the same timeless natural beauty that hasn’t lost its charm over the centuries. Tishomingo offers a unique landscape of massive rock formations and fern-filled crevices found nowhere else in Mississippi.
This trip is also about involving you in the adventure. TFLcar has commissioned 50 commemorative silver belt buckles, one for each state. We will leave a belt buckle somewhere in the state and tell you the GPS coordinates so you can find it. The first person to find it keeps it. In return, we ask you to send us a picture of yourself with the belt buckle. You can tweet to us @TFLcar, Facebook us at TFLcar, use the #MMUSA, or #MotorMountainUSA hashtag, email roman@tflcar.com, or all of the above.
One of the best ways of experiencing America first hand is hitting the open road with the windows down and top off in a 2015 Jeep Rubicon Wrangler Rubicon Hard Rock. The Motor Mountain USA (#MMUSA) team embarks upon an epic road trip by visiting the highest drivable roads of every state in the USA. Along the way, Nathan, Roman, Andre and Emme will visit locales less traveled and uniquely American attractions that make the United States one of the world’s favorite tourist destinations.
Watch the video below to learn exactly where the buckle is hidden.
Gold Mine Hill is a difficult section of the Switzerland Trail west of Boulder, Colorado that often has travelers seeking an alternative route. TFL often uses this short, steep, technical ascent to test a vehicle’s traction control and true off-road capabilities. In this episode of DiffLock, Tommy’s ’95 Jeep Wrangler is challenged by the latest iteration of Toyota’s 4Runner TRD Pro. Can a Jeep with 20-year old technology conquer Gold Mine Hill with the same verve as a 4Runner with a modern traction control system.
The Jeep Wrangler YJ features a wider track, angled grille, and a modernized interior compared to the CJ series. While it did share the open-body profile of the CJs, it shared few parts with its predecessor. Despite the bold move of replacing the round headlights with square-shaped headlamps, the Wrangler, square headlamps or not, was the modern embodiment of classic Jeep brand style and off-road capability.
The Toyota 4Runner is built with simplicity and off-road ability in mind. The engine is designed to run on third-world gas with wet spark plugs and infrequent oil changes for hundreds of thousands of miles. It’s a vehicle that can be driven to Chile and back without a hiccup. All of the components on the TRD Pro are there solely to increase off-road prowess. It sits more than an inch higher than other 4Runners, which allows for more wheel articulation. Its part-time 4WD system is boosted by an electronic-locking rear differential, Crawl Control, and Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select system that adjusts wheel slip via the stability control system.
Each episode of the DiffLock video web-series highlights affordable off-road adventures and modifications that will help almost anyone who wants to get into off-roading on a budget.
