QOROS AT THE 83RD GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW 2013

Qoros 3 Sedan

• Global debut of the Qoros brand
• World premiere of the first production model – the compact Qoros 3 Sedan
• World premieres of two concept studies that preview future models and technology developments
• Unique eight-inch capacitive touchscreen infotainment system to be fitted as standard
• Focus on quality, design, safety and needs of modern metropolitan customers
• Engineered to achieve top scores in Chinese and European crash tests

At its global debut at the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show, new automotive brand, Qoros, presents the world premiere of its first series production vehicle, an elegant compact (C-segment) car with the official international model designation, the Qoros 3 Sedan.

In addition, two concept studies provide a clear indication of the new manufacturer's future model family expansion plans.

With the brand starting from a clean-sheet, Qoros vehicles are elegantly styled and focus on quality and value, and on meeting the lifestyle needs and expectations of modern, metropolitan, ‘always-connected’ target customers in China and Europe.

The Qoros 3 Sedan, which is entering a pre-production development phase after two summers and two winters of extensive testing at key locations around the world, is due to be launched in China in the second half of 2013, with first European sales following later in the year. The launch of further Qoros models is then planned at intervals of approximately six months.

To be produced in a new assembly plant in Changshu, China, the new range of Qoros models is being designed and engineered by an international team of experienced specialists and new, young automotive talent, and has been developed with the support of internationally-renowned suppliers such as Magna Steyr, TRW, Continental, Bosch, Getrag, Benteler, Lear, Microsoft, Harman, Neusoft-Alpine and Iconmobile.

Rapid expansion of the model range will be achieved thanks to an innovative modular vehicle architecture developed in-house at Qoros. The clean, elegant styling direction – drawing heavily on contemporary European themes – has been developed to give all Qoros models an unmistakable brand identity.

Designed to offer generous space and a high-quality interior finish, Qoros models will also feature an infotainment system which is unique in the automotive field. Featuring an eight-inch capacitive touchscreen, the system was developed in-house by Qoros with displays designed for minimal driver distraction, replacing the array of switches and buttons that blight many modern car interiors. The system features an advanced navigation system, extensive social networking connectivity and the ability for drivers to monitor their car’s health and, for example, to book dealer service appointments.

Qoros aims to achieve top scores on both European and Chinese crash tests for all its models.

Founded in 2007, Qoros is an equal joint venture partnership between Chery Automobile, China's biggest independent automotive manufacturer, and Israel Corporation, a global industrial holding company.

Qoros is headquartered in Changshu, a region of great importance to China's rapidly expanding automotive industry, where construction of its all-new, highly-efficient and environmentally-sustainable production facility is nearing completion. “The factory has an initial annual production capacity of 150,000 units, with potential for expansion to 450,000 units,” explains Alexander Wortberg, Qoros’ Director of Production (formerly of BMW).

Qoros operates an engineering centre in Shanghai, which is also the base for many commercial and purchasing functions, with further operations in Munich (Germany) and Graz (Austria).

Qoros 3 Sedan

World premiere for the Qoros 3 Sedan: elegant design, class-leading interior space, generous specification, high safety standards

Qoros’ elegant sedan for the compact segment introduces a distinctive brand identity which will be applied across all future models. The Qoros 3 Sedan has an elegant profile thanks to its long wheelbase, short overhangs, a coupé-like silhouette and a roof line which flows smoothly into the strong rear quarters. At 4 ,615 mm long and 1,839 mm wide, the sedan is relatively large for the compact segment, and endows it with a powerful overall appearance and unusually generous interior space.

Two efficient four-cylinder 1.6-litre gasoline engines will be available at the launch of the Qoros 3 Sedan in China, both of which feature VVT (variable valve timing). The naturally-aspirated unit delivers an output of 93 kW (126 bhp) and 155 Nm maximum torque. The turbocharged version offers 115 kW (156 bhp) and 210 Nm maximum torque. Both engines are combined with a six-speed manual transmission as standard, with an optional six-speed dual clutch transmission available for both. A stop-start system will be available from launch.

With the support of AVL, Qoros is also developing a three-cylinder 1.2-litre turbocharged engine and an all-new four-cylinder 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, both with GDI (gasoline direct injection).

The advanced eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system is a standard feature of all Qoros 3 Sedan model variants.

Qoros 3 Cross Hybrid Concept

Qoros 3 Cross Hybrid Concept: versatile driving pleasure with innovative hybrid drive technology

Alongside the first production model from Qoros, the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show also sees the unveiling of the Qoros 3 Cross Hybrid Concept, a crossover model that features a compact hatchback body and an advanced hybrid drivetrain.

It presents the application of signature styling themes introduced on the Qoros 3 Sedan to possible future compact hatchback and crossover models. Striking new styling features emphasise the robust, versatile character of the crossover’s attributes.

The development of advanced engineering innovations is a core strategic activity for Qoros and the Cross Hybrid concept features an advanced hybrid drive system. A three-cylinder turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine is installed transversely at the front, an electric motor above the rear axle, and a second electric motor – the Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) – is mounted between the petrol engine and the transmission. The interaction of the two drive units and the ISG creates an innovative all-wheel driving experience.

Intelligent control software ensures seamless transition between petrol-engine front-wheel drive, electric motor rear-wheel drive, and an all-wheel drive mode, depending on the most efficient mode to respond to the driver’s inputs and the prevailing road conditions.

Qoros 3 Estate Concept

Qoros 3 Estate Concept: modern functionality with clever details

The Qoros 3 Estate Concept showcases a vision of a future variant with a bodystyle that is especially popular among European motorists and is geared towards the travel needs of modern families, providing generous and highly versatile interior space.

Using the same platform and distinctive clean, elegant styling of the Qoros 3 Sedan, it features a sympathetically elongated roofline and a large tailgate. The signature horizontal styling themes emphasise the long body profile and the large side windows give the five-door estate body an athletically-pleasing, stretched look.

The Qoros 3 Estate Concept features an intelligently designed interior that provides an incredibly versatile and adaptable space that allows luggage capacity to be adapted to meet the needs and lifestyles of European consumers. The rear seats fold to leave a flat load floor, and also incorporate a ski hatch.

A great deal of thought has been given to the development of a wide range of storage compartments and attachment fittings that optimise the functionality of the cabin for both everyday trips and long-distance travel.

The Qoros brand: international, independent committed to quality

With a business model founded on complete operational independence Qoros started from a clean sheet and recruited experts from around the world with experience within and beyond the automotive industry in order to achieve European standards of quality.

Qoros is committed to delivering products with high levels of safety, elegant design and well-connected in-car services tailored to the values and lifestyle of young professional metropolitan customers.

As its name implies, the Qoros brand will stand first and foremost for an uncompromising commitment to product and service quality. This will be delivered by a team working efficiently together like a well-orchestrated chorus.

Images : QOROS 3 SEDAN


Images : QOROS 3 CROSS Hybrid Concept


Images : QOROS 3 ESTATE Concept


[Source : NEWSPRESS]

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GLORIA: IED CONCEPT FOR ALFA ROMEO

ALFA ROMEO - GLORIA Concept

At the 83rd Geneva Motor Show, the European Design Institute (IED) of Turin is presenting the world première of ‘Gloria’, the concept by the Master in Transportation Design in collaboration with the Alfa Romeo Style Centre. The prototype represents the sports spirit and Italian style of a brand with powerful international appeal, whose products have brought the beauty of Italian design into the wider world. It was 1966 when the Spider Duetto in the film The Graduate reinforced the mythical image of the car manufacturer in the United States. Today, the ‘Gloria’ concept is intended as another international challenge, again looking overseas, to the American and Asian markets.


The European Design Institute of Turin, thanks to the support of and vicinity to the Fiat-Chrysler EMEA Design Center, has had the opportunity of ‘training’ its young car designers on the subject of: “conceiving an Alfa Romeo saloon to communicate to the American and Asian markets”. In effect, the saloon remains a symbol of elegance and prestige for these markets, associated with the idea of comfortable space both at the front and the rear, expressed by the length of the model. In particular, the Alfa Romeo Style Centre participated with passion in the various phases of the project: from the product brief to the brand’s historic collection, and from the first style proposals up to the development, in clay, of the model in 1:1 scale.

“We asked the students in the Master programme to give us their completely independent interpretation of a new Alfa Romeo saloon,” states Lorenzo Ramaciotti, Head of Fiat & Chrysler Design. “During development, we commented, discussed and guided the projects in order to get the most from their spontaneous expressions of creativity. The result was stimulating and marked by professional and creative excellence.”

4700 mm long, 1920 mm wide, 1320 mm high and with a wheelbase of 2900 mm, ‘ Gloria’ is a sports saloon with decisive lines that run down the side to the rear end. It would be propelled by a state-of-the-art V6 or V8 biturbo engine on the road. The bonnet powerfully evokes the Alfa Romeo shield through the lines of the car, which highlight the three-dimensional aspects of its form. The leather strips at the front recall the memorable leather straps for the luggage compartments of the brand’s historic cars.

‘Gloria’ springs from the work of twenty students on the Master programme (2011/2012 academic year) from both Italy and other countries and cultures. The concept is the result of a process that simulated a real work situation: from the brief of the Alfa Romeo Style Centre and the style research up to the twenty design proposals developed in 1:4-scale clay models. From all the models, the one that corresponded most closely to the initial brief provided by Alfa Romeo was chosen. The entire class of students, divided into groups but highly involved and motivated, then worked on the final project in full scale.

“The possibility of developing a concept car in collaboration with the Alfa Romeo Style that we were offered was a great opportunity to demonstrate that the IED is, first of all, an Italian school that aims to generate beauty,” states César Mendoza, Director of IED, Turin. “What better brand than Alfa Romeo to teach our students how form and volume can convey strong emotions, fuelling the desire to design a car? The passion that the brand evokes had a powerful impact on the students and teaching staff, allowing them to push themselves within tight deadlines to achieve the final delivery of a project which was unquestionably complex. Today, the European Design Institute is proud to represent Italian teaching excellence internationally.”

The ‘Master of Arts in Transportation Design - work experience’ is a highly specialised educational course, which prepares skilled automotive  professionals who can tackle the world of work thanks to an ongoing relationship with style centres and companies. In fact, the model was created thanks to the contribution of Cecomp, 2013 main sponsor and an important enterprise in the area which has collaborated with the Institute in prototyping processes for many years.

Having reached its tenth attendance at Geneva, for 2013 the European Design Institute offers the possibility of experiencing at the stand the integration of the full-scale model with augmented reality. The concept will be reproduced on the iPad in a virtual environment, where it will be possible to interact with it, choosing between five models of rims and five body colours to try out, replacing the real ones. The five rims are the result of a teaching project developed in collaboration with OZ Racing who, as sponsor of the Gloria’s 20" rims, asked the Master students to design a series of proposals. Five of these were selected for the virtual interactivity. The five rims will also feature in a kind of talent contest that IED and OZ Racing will launch at the stand via the app and on the web to decide the winning project, with the most interesting design.

[Source : ALFA ROMEO]

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WORLD PREMIERE : 2 MITSUBISHI CONCEPT MODELS AT 2013 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW

Mitsubishi Concept CA-MiEV – The Suburban EV

TOKYO : February 13, 2013 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will give the MITSUBISHI Concept GR-HEV^*1 and MITSUBISHI Concept CA-MiEV^*2 concept models their global debut at the 83rd Geneva International Motor Show which runs from March 5 through March 17 (opening to the general public on March 7). The two show models highlight MMC's next-generation advanced technologies.

Mitsubishi Concept GR-HEV – The Sport Utility Hybrid Truck

The MITSUBISHI Concept GR-HEV is a concept for a sport utility truck (SUT) which delivers high environmental and driving performance using a FR^*3 diesel-hybrid system (under development) in a pickup truck, one of the most popular vehicle categories in emerging economies. Combining a high fuel-efficiency clean diesel engine with a high-output motor and battery, the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) system achieves on-road CO2 emission levels of below 149 g/km to give it environmental performance among the best in its class. The concept also uses a next-generation 4WD system which incorporates the Super Select 4WD honed in the Pajero series and Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) vehicle dynamics integrated control systems to deliver high stability traction and driving performance under all road conditions.

The MITSUBISHI Concept CA-MiEV gives an indication of the shape MMC, which launched the i-MiEV - the world's first mass produced electric vehicle - in 2009, believes EVs will take in the near future. This concept model incorporates next-generation EV technologies under development at the company, such as high-energy density batteries and high-efficiency EV systems (motor, inverter, regenerative braking and wireless charging system). Together with a lightweight and aerodynamic body it achieves a cruising range of 300 km.

With its advanced technologies embodied in the two concept models making their world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, MMC will continues to pursue further progress both in emerging markets and in environmental technologies, two major keys to the growth of the company's business.

*1 : Grand Runner
*2 : Compact and Advanced technology
*3 : Front engine, rear-wheel drive

[Source : MITSUBISHI]

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THE NEW SEAT LEON SC – THE DYNAMIC DESIGN ICON

2013 SEAT LEON SC

• Stunning design with striking proportions
• Wheelbase shortened by 35 mm compared to five-door Leon, for even greater agility
• Surprising practicality: rear headroom and boot space remain the same as those of five-door Leon
• Efficient and powerful TSI and TDI engines
• Amazingly high quality craftsmanship, inside and out
• Due to debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show

MARTORELL : February 13, 2013 - The Leon SC – Sports Coupé – is a striking three-door hatchback that is the perfect embodiment of the SEAT design language. Without compromising everyday usability, it becomes the most sporting model in the SEAT range, blending stunning looks with a functional interior – a compelling mix of excellent workmanship and premium materials, with plenty of room for all occupants. At 380 litres, even the luggage compartment is as generously proportioned as that of the five-door variant.

“The new Leon SC is the design icon of the model line-up. It conveys perfectly the core values of the SEAT brand – design and dynamics, technology and quality, all at a fair price,” says James Muir, President of SEAT S.A.

“The story of the new Leon is very closely tied to the sheer fun of driving – without the driver having to sacrifice a high level of everyday usability. We have remained true to this successful principle for the Leon SC, too, and have refined it ever further in all key areas,” he adds.

The new SEAT Leon SC is packed with technology, including state-of-the-art infotainment, intelligent driver assistance systems, systematic weight reduction measures, the latest generation of engines, and a chassis tuned to strike the perfect balance between comfortable day-to-day use and engaging driving dynamics.

All engines feature direct injection with turbocharging, and combine outstanding efficiency with exceptional refinement. The TSI and TDI units, ranging from 1.2- to 2.0-litre, cover a performance spectrum of 105 PS to 184 PS. Every one combines power with cost effectiveness, with the cleanest 1.6-litre TDI emitting less than 100 g/km CO2.

Just like the five-door Leon, the Leon SC is offered in S, SE and FR specifications in the UK.

“With its slightly shortened wheelbase, the Leon SC is the sportiest and most emotional member of the Leon family. It has the feel of a sports coupé, yet boasts an astonishing degree of functionality,” says Dr. Matthias Rabe, Vice President of Research and Development at SEAT S.A.

“Through a great deal of fine tuning, we have been able to combine strong sporting character and precision handling with a considerable increase in comfort and convenience. The Leon SC is a further example of how SEAT uses the technologies of the Volkswagen Group to develop cars that are uniquely SEAT,” he concludes.

The design: a powerful look

With its perfectly balanced proportions, the new SEAT Leon SC cuts a fine figure from the very first glance. The relationship between its length, height and width, plus its short overhangs, convey its dynamics even at a standstill. Inspired by the design language developed through the IBE, IBL and IBX concept vehicles, the three-door compact car is the dynamic interpretation of the SEAT design language.

“We have given the three-door Leon SC a highly distinctive character – just deleting two doors would not have been enough for us. That is why we opted for the shorter wheelbase – although it is only 35 millimetres, the visual effect is very powerful. The result is a big difference in the expression of dynamics,” says Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, Head of SEAT Design. “The SEAT design language has been perfected in the new Leon. This is most evident in the characteristic lines. It is a car that has personality.”

Compared with the five-door Leon, the wheelbase of the new Leon SC is shorter by 35 millimetres. At the same time, the distinctive window graphic, which sees the lower rear edge pulled downward, has the visual effect of stretching the car’s 4.23-metre overall length. This gives the Leon SC a look that is sporty and powerful, yet very compact. All the exterior lines have a surface treatment that works in three dimensions, making the design even more distinctive and generating a fine interplay between light and shade.

The side profile of the new SEAT Leon SC displays a balanced relationship between metal and glass surfaces – vertically, this is around one-third glass to two-thirds body surface. This emphasises solidity and underscores the car’s muscular stance. The characteristic, interrupted ‘Línea Dinámica’ runs rearward over the wheel arches, while the precisely sculpted ‘blisters’ on the sides are not completely straight, running instead in a very slight arc to increase surface tension. The expansive rear windscreen, with its coupé-like sweep, is 19 degrees more inclined compared with the five-door and has the form of an up-turned, stylised pentagon. It marks a further characteristic feature of the new SEAT Leon SC.

The drive: efficient and powerful

The new SEAT Leon SC is launched with a series of powerful and efficient TDI and TSI engines, all of which feature direct injection and turbocharging and are set up for rapid warm-up and low internal friction.

At the most economical end of the spectrum, the 1.6 TDI equipped with Start/Stop System and Energy Recovery has an average fuel consumption of just 74.3 mpg, equating to a CO2 figure of just 99 g/km. The 2.0 TDI, which drives the Leon SC with a powerful 150 PS and 320 Nm, can travel an impressive 68.9 miles on a gallon of fuel* and emits just 106 g/km. 

The Leon SC petrol engine range begins with the 1.2 TSI 105 PS, which with a combined fuel economy rating of 57.6mpg is extremely efficient. Moving upwards, the fizzy 1.4 TSI engine generates 140 PS and delivers 250 Nm of torque, and with Start/Stop and Energy Recovery as standard it consumes at a rate of just 54.3 mpg combined, which equals a CO2 rating of just 119 g/km – below the significant 120 g/km mark that’s so important for fleet customers.

The peak of the petrol line-up initially is the 1.8 TSI, delivering 180 PS and 250 Nm.

Depending on the engine variant, power transmission is handled by a manual five- or six-speed gearbox, or by the compact and lightweight DSG dual-clutch automatic. It changes its six or seven gears at astonishing speeds and is exceptionally efficient. A freewheeling function is integrated into some versions to reduce fuel consumption even further.

The SEAT Leon SC will be officially unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

*Official EU combined mpg rating

Images : 2013 SEAT LEON SC


[Source : SEAT]

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