Jeep Renegade

Of the three concepts unveiled on the Chrysler stand the one most likely to see a production line is the Jeep Renegade. Whether it does so with its current tree hugger-pleasing power source is unlikely, but stranger things have happened.
Socket to ’em
Outdoor enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that Jeep has plumped for a hybrid diesel electric engine in the Renegade. A 200kW electric engine over each axle makes it genuine four-wheel drive and a 1.5-litre diesel engine cuts in when required to give extra boost. The combination gives a 400-mile range, meaning it’s unlikely you’ll be left stranded on a rain-lashed hillside looking for somewhere to plug it in. And unlike some of its pure electric concepts, it’s much less likely you’ll run out of gas entirely.
Jeep has concentrated on paring weight from the Volkswagen Polo-sized two-seater by using composite bodywork and giving it a stripped-out cabin. The overall result is an impressive claimed fuel return of 110mpg. The car’s a proper fun machine too, with no roof, a speedster windscreen and drainage holes in the floor so you can hose it out if you really go off-road.
Buggy off
A healthy dose of the classic 1960s beach buggy including a beefy rollover bar and ‘doors’ with see-through panels in them combine with the seven-slot grille and round headlights to make the Renegade look the part. And according to sources within Chrysler it could end up in production as a ‘baby’ Wrangler, aimed at drivers who want a fun and relatively affordable car for off-roading. Prices would start at around £16,000 putting it in similar territory to the Patriot.
If you think that’s unlikely, remember this is the second buggy-style concept that Jeep has done in recent years. The wild 2005 Hurricane concept trod similar ground, albeit with twin engines rather than the Renegade’s more fashionable planet-saving power plant.

Mercedes McLaren SLR speedster (2009)

CAR Online has scooped the farewell edition of the SLR – a speedster version of Mercedes and McLaren's outrageous supercar. Our spy photos and video conclusively reveal the chop-top SLR that's somehow even more shocking than the and Just look at those mini windscreen lips and imagine the speed at which flies will be rammed into your throat at 200mph. Utter madness. Our new spy photos of the aero-screened machine turned up today and the camouflage seems pretty pointless to us; this is clearly an open ‘speedster’ style SLR. Just check out the amusing third headlamp camo detail. Yes, it's pretty difficult do disguise a 200+mph windscreen-less hypercar! Indeed. The SLR’s lines are unmistakable despite the loss of the windscreen. The rear deck features twin roll hoops and double-humps – reminiscent of Mercedes’ classic ‘Silver Arrows’ racers. It’s not known what it’ll be called, but it's internally codenamed Z119. What is certain is that it will be the most expensive SLR ever built, with a price tag in the region of €750,000 (£600,000). Yikes. That’s a huge amount of cash. What does it buy you? Quite simply it’s a windscreen-less SLR. The existing models already use rigid carbonfibre so removing the windscreen is a relatively simple job for the engineers at McLaren's HQ in Woking where the SLR is assembled. Numbers will be limited – it's thought that only 75 of these radical speedster SLRs will ever be built.

BMW tii models

BMW chief Norbert Reithofer has confirmed to CAR Online that a range of tii performance options will be launched soon on the company's smaller models. He has finally ruled out a rumoured M1 version of the 1-series and said the tii spec would be the most performance-oriented model, claiming the the twin-turbo 135i was quite fast enough (it does 0-62mph in 5.3sec, after all).The tii concept shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show points accurately to the approach BMW is developing: performance kits for the 1-series coupe and hatchback, an aero package, carbonfibre details, fatter wheels and tyres, sports seats and instruments. There's even talk of a new M-style steering wheel with integrated LED rev counter.A tii for the massesBMW is the past master at offering huge choice in spec and trim; subtle nuance of alloy wheel size here, and Sport spec there is the stuff of workplace car park folklore. The tii spec will slot above today's M sport spec in the multi-faceted pecking order.However, BMW plans for the tii models to be proper performance cars in the longer run. For instance, the next-gen 1-series, dubbed F20 and due in late 2011, will offer a tii version with a downsized twin-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine and a radically lighter body and chassis, we hear.The 3-series tiiWe'll see the facelifted 3-series this summer - with mild revisions to the lights and bonnet - but there is likely to be a tii model, too. Expect the brakes from the M3, 19in wheels, sports suspension and a new twin-clutch transmission. Again, though, a harder core tii is likely with the next 3-series, codenamed F30 and due in late 2011.

Suzuki's Jazz rival splashes

Another quirky Suzuki is on the way – the Splash – a small car with a big interior. The five-door is a rival for petite but practical hatches like Honda's Jazz.
Unveiled at the Paris show, the Splash will go on UK sale at the end of 2007. At 3.8m-long, the five-door is not that much longer than a Ford Ka. But a tall roof ensures higher mounted seats and reasonable legroom, aided by a long wheelbase thanks to those pushed out wheels. The Splash is spun off the front-drive Swift platform. The concept car runs an all-new 1.2-litre petrol engine, which insiders claim returns around 75mpg, hooked up to a four-speed automatic 'box. With such miserly consumption, a diesel Splash is looking unlikely in the UK. Some of the more fanciful touches – 18inch alloys, LED lamps, side cameras, fancy tailpipes, lashings of chrome – will be toned down on the production car. But the architecture is pretty faithful to the finished model's. The interior is very simple, with the single speedo containing info about fuel consumption and other on-board diagnostics. Suzuki's answer to BMW's iDrive – a menu screen operated by a ball-shaped control – also makes an appearance.

Acura Advanced Sports Car

Honda has given a huge hint about its NSX supercar replacement with this Advanced Sports Car Concept. Honda president Takeo Fukui unveiled the supercar in Detroit, and revealed key details of the production car. It will run a V10 engine, mounted in the nose, and turning all four wheels. 'My passion is performance,' said Fukui. 'And our direction is clear: we plan to make advances in technology, design and performance with this car.' Click 'next' for more.
Design: Corvette meets Cadillac
The ASC was designed by Honda's Los Angeles studio. The stylists have clearly been studying America's supercar icon, because the front end screams of the Corvette. And the crisp creases and sheer surfaces are reminiscent of Cadillac's stillborn supercar, the 2002 Cien. 'Our intention was to design an exotic sports car that gracefully combines advanced technology and strong emotion,' said Jon Ikeda, principal designer, Acura Design Center. 'The technical, machined surfaces and keen-edge design are balanced with sweeping curves and dramatic lines, all of which results in the ultimate exotic sports car.' The horizontal light bar which dominates the rear is a nod back to the original NSX. It rolls on 19-inch wheels up front, 20s at the back. Overall length is 4.6m-long – around 0.5m longer than a 911.

Renault Laguna Coupe

Critics of the new dull-looking new Laguna - and there have been a few - can seek solace in the new two-door coupé version unveiled today in Frankfurt. It's a far sleeker affair, although a concept. And we all know what happens to sexy concepts before they reach the high street. We just have to hope the officials who vouch it won't change much for production aren't just toeing the company line. This isn't no sports coupé designed to trade off Renault's reputation in F1. Think of it as the company's answer to its domestic rival Peugeot's 407 Coupé. Click 'Next' to read the full story.
I like the look of it... what's different from the saloon?
Every body panel is different, and there are some lush design details on this show special. It's the first Renault with LED headlamps and Renault boss Carlos Ghosn made the typical concept car usual claim that its interior was made using craftmanship from luxury watches. Back in the real world, this concept car does provide numerous clues to the production car. For starters, it ushers in the company's new V6 turbodiesel, a 3.0-litre cranking out 265bhp. There will also be Nissan's 3.5-litre V6, plus more wallet-friendly 2.0-litres in both petrol (205bhp) and diesel (180bhp) guise. All will drive the front wheels.

Kia Koup

Kia’s Koup. If you saw this compact coupe concept without its badges and had to guess who made it, there’s no way your first guess would be Kia. Its lines are simple and sporty, not a million miles from a Ford Puma. But it actually looks like our from the front, and has hints of along the flanks.
But however it looks the Kia Koup should be fun. It’s powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre direct-injection engine producing 290bhp and has a tasty torque curve delivering 289lb ft from 2000rpm all the way to 4000rpm.
The interior is deliberately futuristic. Tom Kearns, chief designer of KMA says: ‘Kia strives to appeal to the emotional side of car enthusiasts who seek adventure and want to take a leap into the future with style and advanced technology. The Koup effectively delivers (that).’
Some US commentators thought the exterior design too understated. We’re told it’s close to production (the interior architecture certainly looks it), so go on Kia, make it happen –and bring it to the UK!

Kia Kee

Just the one: this is a key car for Kia. But whatever bad jokes we make the Korean manufacturer openly admits to this play on words. Why? Because this 2+2 coupe previews Kia’s design language for the next decade. The Kee’s design was overseen by Peter Schreyer, the man behind the original Audi TT, and Kia’s coupe just betters the current TT in all its dimensions. It’s 147mm longer, 37mm lower and 18mm wider. The Kee is powered by a 2.7-litre V6, and the 197bhp output is exactly the same as the base TT’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. This car is so close to the TT's recipe, it makes you wonder...
A coincidence?
Not a bit of it. The coupe market has grown massively since the first TT, and not only is Kia looking to capitalise on such growth, but it wants the Kee to emulate the success that Audi has had with the TT. And it wasn’t just sales of the TT that did Audi favours either. The TT helped make the Audi brand what it is today. That’s what the Kee could do for Kia, what Peugeot hope the 308 RC Z will do for them, and what the Tango roadster would have done for Seat had that car been put into production. Kia wishes to be viewed, in the company’s own words, as ‘exciting, appealing, creative, aspirational, with products that are beautiful and yet functional, purposeful and realistic’. Thus Kia needs the Kee: it’s a great-looking little 2+2.