Honda says it remains committed to hybrids in Europe and will import a gasoline-electric hybrid version of its next Jazz subcompact in 2016, despite reducing its hybrid lineup in the region due to slow sales.... Read More »
Toyota plans a controlled rollout of its fuel cell car in Europe next summer as the automaker aims to replicate the first-mover success of its Prius hybrid and stir interest in the new technology.... Read More »
Renault has turned the new Espace into a crossover from a minivan as it seeks to revive the model's European sales and follow a market shift to more rugged-looking vehicles.... Read More »
Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann said the 910-hp Asterion LPI 910-4 plug-in hybrid supercar concept unveiled at the Paris auto show is a "ground-breaking, crucial step" for the VW-owned company.... Read More »
PAUL MCVEIGH: Plug-in hybrids are about to become a lot more common on Europe's roads as the region's mass-market brands start to introduce such cars in a bid to lower the average CO2 emissions of their new-car fleets ahead of tougher EU limits.... Read More »
LUCA CIFERRI: I was stunned to discover the weight figures for the Renault Eolab plug-in hybrid concept that debuts at this week's Paris auto show. A deeper investigation revealed some interesting calculations.... Read More »
The Pulsar marks Nissan's return to western Europe's mainstream compact segment that the automaker left after dropping the poor-selling Almera in 2006. The Pulsar is based on the joint Nissan-Renault CMF platform used by the Nissan X-Trail and Qashqai crossovers. Nissan is adding 80,000 units of annual capacity for the Pulsar at its factory in Barcelona, Spain. Pulsar sales start in October. Go to the Gallery »
BMW showcases the second-generation X6 coupe-styled crossover. The new X6 is slightly larger than its predecessor, with more luggage space. It will be built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, like the current model. Go to the Gallery »
Honda returns to the European subcompact crossover segment it quit in 2006 with the H-RV, which is based on the Vezel that launched in Japan at the end of last year. Honda is calling the Paris show car a prototype, but it's expected to change little in production form. Go to the Gallery »
The two-seat microcar is slightly wider than its predecessor but the length remains the same. The ForTwo will be powered by new three-cylinder engines co-developed by parent Mercedes-Benz and its partner, Renault. Go to the Gallery »
The ForFour is the first Smart four-seat model since the brand axed a previous ForFour after just two years of disappointing sales. The ForFour and ForTwo will go on sale in Europe starting on Nov. 22. Smart has no current plans to sell the ForFour in the U.S. because it isn't sure if there is a big enough market to warrant the cost of homologation. Go to the Gallery »
Fiat will join the expanding subcompact crossover segment with the 500X, a sibling to the Jeep Renegade. The 500X and Renegade will come off the same production line at Fiat's factory in Melfi, Italy. In Europe, the 500X will replace Fiat's slow-selling Sedici, which Suzuki built at its plant in Hungary. The 500X will appear in European dealerships by year-end and will arrive in the U.S. next spring. Go to the Gallery »
The brand, owned by India's Mahindra Group, previews a subcompact crossover with the XIV concept. A production version called the X100 will be launched next year. Go to the Gallery »
Renault launched its upscale Initiale Paris trim line on its Clio subcompact, which will go on sale shortly after the show. Renault joins Ford, with its Vignale top-end trim line, and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen, with its DS brand, in adding premium features to mianstream cars to attract affluent customers who find luxury brands too expensive. Go to the Gallery »
The TT Sportback concept could join the coupe and roadster versions of the compact TT sports car, along with a crossover variant that has already been previewed the Detroit and Beijing auto shows. Go to the Gallery »
The automaker's second plug-in hybrid after the Golf GTE, the Passat GTE is powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter gasoline engine and a 115 kW electric motor. It can cover a distance of up to 50km (31 miles) on electric power alone. The Passat GTE will arrive in European showrooms next October as a sedan and station wagon. Go to the Gallery »
A weight reduction of 100kg (220 pounds) puts the new roadster at a level comparable to the original model, which was launched in 1989. Global sales will start next year. The new MX-5 represents the first use of Mazda's Skyactiv drivetrain and chassis technologies on a rwd vehicle. Go to the Gallery »
The Corsa is still based on a shared platform with Fiat that stems from GM's failed alliance with the Italian automaker, but the platform has been heavily revised for the new car. Opel hopes that a fresh design, as well as new, more frugal engines, an improved interior, better connectivity and new safety systems will keep the Corsa competitive until the next generation of the car launches in 2018. Go to the Gallery »
The Kia Optima T-Hybrid (turbo hybrid) concept is powered by the model's existing 1.7-litre CRDi turbo-diesel engine, paired with a small electric motor, powered by a 48V lead-carbon battery. Go to the Gallery »
The Civic Type R is a high performance version of the European Civic hatchback. The Civic Type R's 280hp, 2.0-liter gasoline engine is more powerful than previous 201-hp Civic Type R. Go to the Gallery »
The five-door Vitara is the production model of the iV-4 concept first shown at last year's Frankfurt auto show. It will go on sale in Europe early next year. The Vitara has lost the boxy utilitarian design of previous models and now has slicker, more mainstream crossover styling. Go to the Gallery »
Toyota turned to its styling center in Europe to create the "emphatic new design language" displayed on the C-HR hybrid-powered crossover concept. Media reports say the production version of the concept will be called the Auris Cross and will slot in below Toyota's RAV4, which was once the top-selling compact SUV in Europe but now struggles against sleeker models such as the segment-leading Nissan Qashqai. Go to the Gallery »
The C4 Cactus Airflow 2L uses advanced technologies to reduce fuel consumption by up to 30 percent compared with the standard C4 Cactus. Go to the Gallery »
The Mulsanne Speed, a new flagship powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V-8 engine that generates 530 hp, accelerates from 0-100kph in 4.9 seconds (0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds) and has a top speed of 305kph (190 mph). Sales will start just after the Paris show. Go to the Gallery »
The Q80 Inspiration concept is a four-door fastback concept, which Infiniti says will be the basis for the brand's largest car. The production version will rival models such as the Porsche Panamera. Go to the Gallery »
Ferrari will build just 499 units of the 458 Speciale A convertible, its top-performing convertible variant in the mid-engined 458 Speciale sports car range.
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The new Renault Espace has a sleeker appearance than previous generations and a number of crossover-like styling cues, including a higher seating position. Go to the Gallery »
The third-generation Audi TT Roadster will make its debut at the Paris auto show in October. When it arrives in the U.S. market in fall 2015 as a 2016 model, the convertible will be available in 227-hp TT and 306-hp TTS variants.
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The second-generation Mercedes-AMG C63 and C63 S debut at the 2014 Paris motor show in October. The high-performance car builder, which has dropped "Benz" from its name to further differentiate itself from the standard Mercedes-Benz lineup, says the 2015 C63 and C63 S sedans will receive similar power but even greater levels of torque than the company’s recently unveiled Mercedes-AMG GT and GT S -- with which it effectively shares its engine -- when it goes on sale in North America in early 2015.
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Ford's new Mondeo will be offered with a range of new equipment and powertrains, including a hybrid unit, when it goes on sale later this year. Go to the Gallery »
The C1 Urban Ride concept, which has chunky crossover looks and is 15mm higher than the current model, could preview a mini SUV for Citroen.
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The Peugeot Quartz is a powerful hybrid SUV/crossover concept based on the same EMP2 platform that underpins the automaker’s new 308. Go to the Gallery »
Renault says its Eolab car showcases an environmental concept with nearly 100 technological innovations designed to deliver ultra-low fuel consumption of one liter per hundred kilometers.
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Jaguar is re-entering the compact luxury segment with the XE -- complete with new engines, new technology and a new modular aluminum-based architecture. Go to the Gallery »
The seven-seat Discovery Sport is the first vehicle in a new family of Land Rovers aimed at buyers in the middle of the luxury market. It will replace the LR2 in the Land Rover lineup and go on sale in early 2015 in the United States with a base price of $38,920, including shipping.
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The next-generation Kia Sorento crossover will be longer, lower and have more interior space. The mid-sized crossover’s new sheet metal borrows the longer hood and wider D-pillars featured on the Cross GT concept shown in 2013 at the Chicago Auto Show. It goes on sale in the United States in the first half of 2015. Go to the Gallery »
The Volvo XC90 has new styling, new safety technologies, more fuel-efficient engines and a more premium interior than the current car. Go to the Gallery »
Hyundai has given its new i20 subcompact a sleeker, sportier design to help the car compete better against rivals such as the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo.
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Fiat is touting the 500X's Italian styling as a standout feature that will help the car win sales in the booming but hotly contested subcompact crossover segment.... Read More »
Infiniti will launch a production version of its Q80 Inspiration concept sedan within three to five years to rival models such as the Porsche Panamera and help boost the brand's image and sales in Europe.... Read More »
VW Group premiered four plug-in hybrids in Paris. The VW Passat GTE and Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid production cars as well as the Lamborghini Asterion and XL Sport concepts are aimed at helping VW meet tougher CO2 targets.... Read More »
Supercars such as a new 900hp Lamborghini and the Ferrari 458 Speciale A will line up alongside fuel-efficient plug-in hybrids such as the VW Passat GTE at the Paris auto show. The Mercedes-AMG GT and Jaguar XE will also debut.... Read More »
Opel hopes its heavily reworked Corsa will remain the automaker's best seller in Europe. CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann said new driver assistance and infotainment systems will help maintain the car's success.... Read More »
Self-driving vehicles and smartphone integration will be among the top features at Europe's biggest auto show this year as executives focus on something that's become increasingly hard to come by: buyers.... Read More »
DOUGLAS A. BOLDUC: A year ago Carlos Tavares was unemployed, Andy Palmer was Nissan's planning chief and Jean-Marc Gales was leading supplier group CLEPA. All three are now CEOs ready to stand in the spotlight at the Paris auto show this week.... Read More »
Ferrari will unveil the top-performing convertible version of the mid-engine 458 Speciale sports car range in Paris. The automaker will build just 499 examples of the 458 Speciale A, which has the company's most powerful naturally aspirated engine.... Read More »
Renault will launch its upscale Initiale Paris trim line on its Clio subcompact. Renault, Ford and PSA are upgrading their models in Europe by adding premium features in a bid to attract affluent customers who find luxury brands too expensive.... Read More »
The Fiat 500X is unlikely to cannibalize sales from its sister model, the Jeep Renegade, industry watchers say. The 500X is a "cute, urban vehicle with off-road capabilities," while the Renegade is the "rugged" off-roader, one analyst said.... Read More »
Renault says the Eolab concept previews fuel-saving technologies that will appear on its production cars before 2020. The Eolab's fuel economy rivals the VW XL1, promoted as a "1-liter" car because it uses 1 liter of fuel per 100km.... Read More »
Renault's big, boxy Espace large minivan will be transformed into a sleek-looking crossover that's more in line with what European customers want. Renault released photos but provided few details about the next-generation Espace Thursday.... Read More »
The new Ford Mondeo will get more powerful engines, a more diverse powertrain lineup and more advanced features to better compete against the VW Passat in Europe's midsize segment.... Read More »
Audi says the softtop on its new TT Roadster is lighter and opens faster than on the model it will replace. Audi revealed a photo of the cabriolet Wednesday ahead of its public debut at the Paris auto show next week.... Read More »
Toyota turned to its styling center in southern France to create the C-HR concept that will be displayed in Paris next week. Toyota says the hybrid crossover hints at what it intends to bring to the compact SUV segment.... Read More »
French automakers will focus on ultra fuel-efficient concepts at the Paris auto show while their rivals showcase sporty cars such as the Mercedes-AMG GT, Jaguar XE and Mazda MX-5.... Read More »
Mini will unveil its first five-door hatchback in Paris as the BMW subsidiary seeks to attract new customers and those looking for something bigger than the current three-door Mini.... Read More »
Toyota will unveil the C-HR concept at the Paris auto show. The concept previews a potential new entry in Europe's booming crossover segment.... Read More »
SsangYong will preview two subcompact SUV concepts in Paris next month, ahead of the launch of a production model, the X100, next year. SsangYong is the latest automaker to join the fast-growing small SUV segment.... Read More »
Honda has released pictures of its near-production next-generation Jazz subcompact, which show a bigger, sportier-looking model than the current car. The Jazz is Honda's No. 3-selling model in Europe after the Civic and CR-V.... Read More »
Honda is reviving the HR-V name for its new subcompact SUV as it seeks to attract new and younger buyers to the brand. The HR-V is the European version of the Vezel.... Read More »
Land Rover unveiled the Discovery Sport, the first vehicle in a new family of Land Rovers aimed at buyers in the middle of the luxury market.... Read More »
Suzuki is giving is new Vitara a more mainstream look to broaden the subcompact SUV's appeal. The five-door Vitara will go on sale in Europe early next year.... Read More »
Kia unveiled its redesigned Sorento, saying it aims to sell 270,000 units of the SUV globally next year as the automaker seeks to maintain its momentum in the U.S., Europe and other key markets.... Read More »
Skoda has released images of its new Fabia subcompact, which will launch in Europe early next year after debuting at the Paris auto show in October.... Read More »
Hyundai has given its new i20 subcompact a sleeker, sportier design to help the car compete better against rivals such as the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo.... Read More »
Skoda has given its Fabia subcompact a more dynamic, sharper and sportier design. The latest-generation Fabia will debut at the Paris auto show in October.... Read More »
Smart took the wraps off a four-seat model that it hopes will give the small-car brand a more solid foundation. The new ForFour was unveiled alongside the latest version of the ForTwo two-seater, currently the brand's only model.... Read More »
The new-generation Smart ForFour and ForTwo will be unveiled today. The arrival of the ForFour gives the Daimler subsidiary a second model in its European portfolio for the first time since 2006.... Read More »
Nissan has priced its Pulsar compact hatchback to undercut equivalent versions of the Ford Focus and VW Golf, the segment's top-selling models.... Read More »
Opel/Vauxhall unveiled the first images of the upcoming Corsa subcompact, hoping the same design cues sported by most other new Opels will rejuvenate sales of the key model.... Read More »
Renault Eolab's funny numbers I was stunned to discover the weight figures for the Renault Eolab plug-in hybrid concept that debuts at this week's Par Sept. 30, 5:37 am U.S. ET
