Hot Cars

Peugeot Epure

Peugeot calls it a concept but let’s not kid ourselves: this is the 207CC. A successor to the 206CC, the car that brought folding metal hardtops to the woman in the street, next spring’s production CC will look almost identical to the Epure. But don’t expect to find the concept’s engine under the showroom CC’s nose: the Epure employs hydrogen power.

There are no major surprises in the Epure’s design except that it appears far easier on the eye than the old hunchbacked 206CC. There’s more than a hint of Tigra to the aggressive cab-forward stance too.

Inside there’s seating for two adults up front and a couple of circus midgets in the back. The ambience is very pimp’s pad: white leather covers everything from the seats and dashboard to the steering column. But while numerous cows have been slaughtered to clothe the cabin, Peugeot hasn’t forgotten the Epure’s ecological heart. It has dotted flourishes of ‘absinth green’ around the interior, and claims the seat perforations are supposed to look like little bubbles of oxygen.

Under the curvy bonnet lies PSA’s new experimental fuel cell engine, designed with the help of the French Atomic Commission. Peugeot has shown fuel cell cars before but this one’s powerplant is smaller, more powerful and more fuel efficient.

The 207’s front-mounted Genpac fuel cell consists of two modules each containing a stack of thin plates and electrode membranes. In the rear, under the boot floor are five 3kg cylinders of hydrogen which is mixed with oxygen from the atmosphere in the fuel cell. The result is a displacement of electrons and protons that produces heat, water and of course, electricity, which drives the car’s electric motor. Peugeot’s figures say the understandably tubby 1550kg tin-top ambles to 62mph in a slothful 15.0sec before running out of steam at just 81mph.

As well as showing off the compact new powerplant Peugeot chose the 207CC to house it to show that fuel cell cars don’t have to be purely functional. But without the necessary infrastructure, fuel cells won’t be appearing any time in the next ten years. PSA’s mid-term solution is diesel-electric hybrids but even those won’t be available until at least 2010.

Forget the chrome embellishments, dubious leather trim and Buck Rogers powertrain and this is the 207CC that will be in UK showrooms next spring.

Expect it to cost between £15K and £17K depending on spec, top money buying a fully loaded car powered by the 150bhp turbocharged four under the nose of the 207 GT warm hatch.

Alfa Romeo 8C Competitzione

The production version of the Alfa Romeo 8C Competitzione makes its debut in a couple of weeks at the Paris auto show. Photos and details are out on the web for all to see. The car is driven by a Maserati-sourced aluminum 4.7L V8 making 450 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of twist. A six-speed gearbox with paddle shifters channels power to the rear wheels and can also be operated in full automatic mode. Like the engine, the car’s suspension is also a refugee from Maserati.

The New Delphi Grundig S1010 USB

Delphi is expanding its successful S family with a highly connectable and high quality new model: the Delphi Grundig S1010 USB. Based on the S1000 MP3, the S1010 USB features a USB port, thereby offering the option of connecting a portable MP3 player, for example, an iPod®. Thanks to the 80 centimetre USB cable connection, the digital device can be placed individually, for example, in the glove box.

Furthermore, a connected MP3 player can also be conveniently operated directly via the control buttons of the new S1010 USB. This provides you with full access to your digital music collection, even during driving.

Of course, the S1010 USB also boasts excellent qualities as a conventional 1 DIN RDS/EON tuner with integrated CD/MP3 drive. With a total output power of 4 _ 45 watts and preset sound settings (DSP: Digital Sound Processing) the Delphi Grundig S1010 USB ensures the right sound, regardless of your preferred musical style. Be it classical, pop or rock music. The simple operating principle enables you to quickly get the sound you want.

Thanks to two line-out connections, the sound of the S1010 USB can also be enhanced via external amplifiers. A total of 36 station presets (18 VHF, 12 MW, 6 LW) offer sufficient capacity to store all your favourite stations.

The removable flip-down control panel impresses not only through its clear layout and excellent tactile qualities, but also coordinates with any vehicle interior thanks to its multicolour design concept.

Concealed behind the control panel together with the CD drive is the digital heart of the Delphi Grundig S1010 USB. The high-quality unit plays back all the current CDs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs in audio and MP3 formats. Up to 11 hours of music pleasure can thus be enjoyed. The question is how to keep an overview of so many tracks? No problem, thanks to the Top Control function you can return to the first track on an MP3 CD from within any other track at the press of a button.

Furthermore, the Delphi Grundig S1010 USB can be expanded by an external hard drive player – such as the Delphi Grundig HDD30 – via an
AUX IN connection. This provides a further 30 gigabytes of memory for your digital music collection.

As a further highlight, the Delphi Grundig S1010 USB is supplied with a cheque-card sized remote control with which the main functions of the new car audio unit can be conveniently operated from anywhere in the vehicle.

Nissan And Marc Ecko Drive Into the Future Together

The Nissan division of Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) and lifestyle fashion visionary Marc Ecko, announced a unique strategic partnership blending the world of fashion and automotive design. The announcement was made at the MAGIC men’s apparel and accessories trade show in Las Vegas and the partnership will allow each brand to retain their individuality while expanding their audience and reach.

“Both the Nissan Pathfinder and Nissan Armada are known for their power, style and energy, which is also characteristic of Marc Ecko’s creative artistry and compelling vision,” said Jan Thompson, vice president of marketing, NNA. “His design will bring together two great brands that already have an established relationship with street culture, making it a natural and ideal fit.”

To celebrate the partnership, Mr. Ecko will modify two of Nissan’s most popular SUVs – the Nissan Pathfinder and Nissan Armada – giving each a hip, new design inspired by his *ecko unltd. and Cut & Sew clothing lines. The two one-of-a-kind vehicles will be displayed at events across the country following a special unveiling in October in New York.

“Side by side, these two vehicles share a design heritage, yet each has its own distinct character,” said Mr. Ecko. “My goal is to take that character to the next level and to express the vehicles’ individuality through bold, original design and superior execution.”

The ecko unltd. Nissan Pathfinder

Bearing in mind ecko unltd.’s street-smart swagger, the Nissan Pathfinder customized by Marc Ecko takes a vehicle that loves to get a little dirty and gives it an “old school” twist.

The exterior - Smoothed wheel wells, a modified grill highlighted by the Nissan badge, and a custom black and grey camouflage paint job offset by safety orange detailing.

The interior - Driver and passenger seats are given a 1960s redesign, with Eames-inspired molded wood backs and seamless black leather; safety orange is once again introduced through a glossy center console and accent molding, while extra touches include a matching wood steering wheel and a hand molded fiberglass subwoofer enclosure.

2007 Outback Is An Intelligent Drive (AU)

Subaru’s 2007 All-Wheel Drive Outback range adds value, practicality and features, including the revolutionary Subaru Intelligent-Drive system in 3.0 litre models.

All 2007 Model Year Outback will be on sale from Friday 8th September 2006.

Specification is enhanced in every Outback, yet pricing reduces by up to 4.3 per cent on some models, with the 3.0R rising just 1.07 per cent - making Australia’s original cross-over vehicle a must-see on the list of prospective wagon buyers.

True to its recreational roots, Outback gets a reversible, washable cargo floor, while interiors are enhanced across the range, including telescopic steering wheels and six-stack in-dash CD players.

The innovative Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) system on 3.0 litre Outbacks offers optimum power delivery and drivability across the operating range.

Every Outback again shares the same outstanding five star Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) crashworthiness rating, for occupant safety.

Other Outback developments for 2007 include:

- HID self-levelling high and low-beam Bi-Xenon headlights on 3.0 litre Outbacks
- Telescopic steering wheels for every Outback
- Power driver’s seat with dual memory function and dual zone air conditioning with rear air vents for 3.0R variants
- Steering column Sportshift paddle controls on automatic 3.0 litre versions, plus audio, cruise, Information and SI-Drive controls
- 17-inch alloy wheels for all Outbacks
- Brake Assist for all Outback variants
- Washable reversible cargo floor
Exterior and Interior refinements across the range

Suzuki SX4 Sedan Uncovered

The Suzuki SX4 sedan caught in the wild completely uncovered, probably during the shooting of a commercial or something. The front end retains the five-door SX4’s sporty face but looks less rugged than its baby SUV brother. The car retains the SX4’s quirky quarter window ahead of the A-pillar, but the rest of the car looks all new.

The sedan’s profile looks similar to that of the first generation Prius due to its rather short rear deck lid. The wheels are sporty looking five-spoke alloys and fill the wells quite nicely. No word on whether the SX4 sedan will also get Suzuki’s intelligent all-wheel drive as standard equipment, optional hardware or not at all. An all-wheel drive car in this segment, however, would stand out in a growing crowd of small car offerings.

The introduction of the SX4 in the U.S. and the impending arrival of this sedan version couldn’t be better timed for Suzuki. At a time when fuel prices have the buying public spooked, miserly small cars and CUVs are the fastest growing segments. The SX4 and SX4 sedan will give Suzuki two vehicles that should go over very well with a growing audience of cost-, fuel- and style-conscious consumers.