Toyota and Lexus go Kamikaze on styling

Akio Toyoda ushered a new era at Toyota Motor Cooperation with development of more fun and engaging cars. This started of with the Legendary Lexus LFA with was brutal in a every way. Since then Toyota/ Lexus has been churning out cars such as ft 86 , 2012 Lexus GS ,2013 Toyota Avalon, 2013 Lexus es which have really good looking and fun.

But of late Toyata / lexus have gone overboard with their styling and this started with 2013 Toyota Mark X face lift  The problem with car is the front fascia and especially the lights. Their is a lack of natural lines with the headlamp which makes it look unappealing.

After that came the 2013 TOYOTA Crown Royal which is one Toyota’s oldest running nameplates. The problem with the Royal Crown is that they overdo the front grill. The grill looks like some after market modification that was put on , it does not bring about any sense  royalty whatsoever.

The mother of them all is the 2014 Lexus IS problems are every where. I like the new Lexus spindle grill , its  really great on the LS , GS , RX and HS. On the IS model it looks to aggressive due the shape of the front headlamps plus the Nike shaped LED strip of lights. If you really look carefully at the side skirt it gives an impression of a twisted steel bar , the problem is that they have created a seamless line that links the side skirt to back lights and the bumper. It is a continuous  line from the side skirt to the back lights and bumper which looks horrible and makes the bumper look so huge. They tried to hard to make that line look continuous .

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Look at the BMW 4-Series Coupe Concept really beautiful car with a perfect blend of natural and geometric shapes  ,I think the IS will have a face lift very soon whether or not BMW release 4 series plus the current 3 series looks much more better.

Toyota Prius+

Toyota has debuted the new Prius+ 7-seater hybrid MPV at the Geneva auto salon.

Despite bearing the name of Toyota’s star model, the Prius+ is a completely new vehicle “designed from the ground up” as the Japanese automaker puts it in the press release. It is a 5-door hatch MPV with a third row of (2) seats at the rear in a 50:50 split configuration.

Toyota will be using a lithium-ion battery pack in a non-plug-in hybrid for the first time in this Prius+, as opposed to the nickel-metal hydride pack of the standard Prius. Toyota did not release any specs on the model, so we are not sure what the new battery pack means in terms of range and performance. It is likely that the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive System (HSD) in this Prius+ features a close variation, if not being identical, to the one that goes into the Prius and Auris HSD models. That powertrain marries a 99 PS (73 kW / 98 bhp) 1.8-liter four-cylinder petrol unit to an electric motor that develops 81 PS (60 kW / 80 bhp).

The Prius+ will come with three drive modes: ECO which maximizes fuel-efficiency, EV which drives solely on electric power for zero emissions and POWER which is meant for performance.

Toyota will roll out the Prius+ in European markets beginning in early 2012.

Gumpert Tornante

German supercar manufacturer Gumpert teamed up with Italian coach builders Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera for the latest car in their lineup. In its base configuration, the Gumpert Tornante by Touring features a 700-PS (690-hp / 515-kW) biturbo V8 engine that is expected to power the car well past 300 km/h (186 mph).

A 1:1 scale model of the car is on display at the Gumpert platform at the Geneva Motor Show.

The car’s V8 is expected to be tuned even further for a Fast Touring model. The lightweight engine comes in at a scant 196 kg (432 lbs), and is mated to a six-speed TT40e semi-automatic gear box that may be controlled with paddle shifters. The two-seater will ride on aluminum or forged 19-inch wheels up front, and 20-inch wheels in back, all center locking, and wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.

In a press release, Gumpert also claims that “an alternative powered Tornante” will be introduced next year.

Designed by Touring Superleggera and constructed by Gumpert, the car was conceived out of a need for more interior space, something anyone who has ever squeezed into a Gumpert Apollo will understand. It features 200 liters (7 cubic feet) of cargo space, which is limited by the space required for the crash box, and is still 16 percent less than that offered by the Ferrari 458 Italia

“The new model should not only offer ample performance and superb dynamic properties and aerodynamics, but also adequate levels of comfort, interior space and ergonomics,” the company said in a press release. “The spirit of a true dream car, but with sufficient practical features to become a safe and usable sports car in today’s traffic.”

There is one drawback to the car: weight. With the extra 100mm in height, and 15mm in length, the car is expected to weigh 100-200kg more than the Gumpert Apollo. This puts the new car’s weight at 1,300-1,400kg, depending on the installed equipment.

Looks way better than the Gumpert Apollo.

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 has been revealed at a Geneva pre-show event.

It’s matter of looking now as we already now all there is to know about the car and its impressive construction.

The LP700-4 features a curb weight of just 1575 kg (3,472 pounds) due to its carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) monocoque structure which tips the scales at only 147.5 kilograms (324.5 lbs). The whole body-in-white weighs but 229.5 kilograms (505 lbs).

Power comes from a 6.5 liter V12 with an ouput of 700 PS (690 bhp / 515 kW) and 690 Nm (509 lb-ft) of torque. Gearbox is a 7-speed independent shift rod transmission (with dual synchronizers) supplied by Graziano Trasmissioni Group with 50 millisecond shift times. The LP700-4 Aventador also features a Haldex all-wheel drive system.

All those mechanics are good for a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph).

Finish options will include the Arancio Argos orange paint in a pearl effect and bi-color interiors with Alcantara.

The first customers will take delivery of the new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 in late summer 2011. Pricing is as follows:

UK: GBP 201.900,00 (suggested retail price taxes excluded)
Europe: € 255.000 (suggested retail price taxes excluded)
USA: 379.700 USD (suggested retail price – GGT included)
China: RMB 6.270.000,00 (suggested retail price taxes included)
Japan: YEN 39.690.000,00 (suggested retail price taxes included)

Panamera S Hybrid

Porsche has taken the wraps off the new Panamera S Hybrid at the Geneva Motor Show.

Like the Cayenne S Hybrid, the Panamera has a 328 hp (245 kW / 333 PS) supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine and a 46 hp (35 kW / 47 PS) electric motor. This gives the car a combined output of 380 PS (279 kW / 375 hp) and 428 lb-ft (580 Nm) of torque, which enables it to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in six seconds and hit a top speed of 270 km/h (168 mph).

More importantly, the Panamera S Hybrid has an average fuel consumption of 6.8 l/100 km (41.5 mpg imp / 34.6 mpg US) and CO2 emissions of 159 g/km. While these figures are impressive, it is worth noting that the car can only travel up to two kilometers (1.24 miles) on electricity alone.

Design wise, nothing much changes but the new model is outfitted with additional standard equipment including an adaptive air suspension, a rear wiper, and a revised infotainment system which displays “relevant information about the vehicle’s specific hybrid driving status.”

Brabus 700 Biturbo

The Brabus 700 Biturbo, based on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, has hit the floor at the Geneva auto show today.

Engineers at the German tuner have devised their own twin-turbo system to fit to the SLS’s V8 engine to achieve an output of 700 PS (514 kW / 690 bhp) and 850 Nm (626 lb-ft) of torque. The B63 bi-turbo system features a left-turning charger attached to the left side of the engine, as opposed to most right-charging, right-side fitted twin-turbochargers. This type of fitting allows for improved gas flow and dynamics.

Brabus also provides an intercooling system, performance exhaust manifold, sport air filter system, does an ECU remap and fits its own forged pistons that reduce the compression ratio to 9.0:1.

The new performance exhaust system is also a Brabus in-house creation made of ultra-light titanium and features four slanted tailpipes 84 mm in diameter.

Final performance figures: 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) is 3.7 seconds, 200 km/h (124 mph) is reached in 10.2 seconds and top speed is 340 km/h (213 mph).

A wide-body kit (WIDESTAR) is fitted that widens the SLS at the rear axle by 20 mm. There’s also a front spoiler, rear spoiler lip on the trunk lid and a rear diffuser. Gills are fitted to the front fender with blue-illuminated Brabus lettering.

Wheels are Brabus’s own 9.5J x 20-inch rims, with 275/30 ZR 20 tires, for the front axle, and 11J x 21-inchers wrapped in 295/25 ZR 21 tires at the back. Tires are supplied by Pirelli or Yokohama.

A Bilstein suspension kit lowers the SLS by 30 mm while Brabus sport stabilizers are added to the front and rear axles for improved stability.

On the inside is a new sport steering wheel, a 400 km/h (250 mph) speedometer, matte or shining carbon-fiber trims in a variety of colors, as well as matte anodized aluminum pedals and foot rest.

Toyota FT-86 II

Toyota has unveiled their concept version of the sports car they have jointly designed with Subaru. The rear-wheel drive Toyota FT-86 II Concept is a preview of the model expected to hit the European market in 2012.

On display now at the Geneva Motor Show, the car has a short rear end, similar to the classic 2000 GT, and a low front end that looks like an evolution of the FT-HS concept seen at the 2010 NAIAS. It’s lengthier hood is also reminiscent of the Toyota Supra Mark III, and combines with the other design elements to create a modern Batmobile look.

This is not a bad thing at all. The car looks sophisticated from the side, aggressive at the front and modern at the back, and Toyota says that it is quite close to the final look of the production model. The concept measures 4,235mm long, over a 2,570mm wheelbase, and is 1,795mm wide by 1,270mm high. That translates to a car that is as wide as the current Subaru Impreza STI, but is 200mm shorter in height, and 350mm shorter in length.

As expected, the car uses a boxer engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The car’s rear set cabin and mid-front engine position have helped to achieve better balance and a lower center of gravity, according to the automaker. Engine specifications were not revealed.