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NAIAS 2012 Earns Highest Attendance Since 2005

By on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 | No Comments

North American International Auto Show 2012 seemed more going on this year. According to some automotive enthusiasts, this year event in Detroit earned more attention, more buzz and more enthusiasm. More than 40 products were unveiling; including some highly anticipated new models like Acura’s NSX, Cadillac ATS and Ford Fusion 2013.

Now, the show has been closed for next year and those observations proved to be true. The 2012 NAIAS was the best attended since 2005; more than 770.932 people walking through the doors to see the development of the auto industry. We have to tell you that more than 92.000 people entered the show in the first day.

Bill Perkins, the chairperson of NAIAS was still pleased at the result although it is not a record. He said that Detroit is still the center of North American car industry and people appreciated it by visiting the annual show. They who came to the show are not only coming from America but also auto enthusiasts from all over the world above this planet.

Based on Perkins, the NAIAS 2012 has given an economic impact of some $400 million for the city of Detroit and South Eastern Michigan and this number is more than Super Bowl. The high attendance numbers have helped to add a bit of luster to the NAIAS, Detroit status as one of the big auto events in the world along with the likes of Frankfurt Auto Show, Geneva Auto Show, Paris Auto Show, Tokyo Auto Show and Beijing Auto Show.

NAIAS is able to reach the same position like those events because of the number of worldwide product unveilings in Detroit this year. According to the NAIAS’s vice chairperson, Jim Seavitt, NAIAS remains an important part of the automakers’ global product launch strategies. This year event will be one of triggers to improve the desire of auto industry post-crisis.

Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept

By on Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 | No Comments

For the 21st century, the iconic car belongs to Volkswagen, Beetle, has been redefined. Now, the legendary German’s compact sedan has been reinvented further as a concept car. E-Bugster is the name of the pure electric car. E-Bugster is the combination of two words, which are E for Electric and Bug. The car is not a convertible; it is a sport car with speedster profile of dramatic, low roofline and shallow windows.

Volkswagen E-Bugster concept uses an electric motor that has capability to bring 114 horsepower and 199 lbs.-ft. of torque. A lithium-ion battery is given and it can push the car to travel over 100 miles without producing any emission. The weight of the battery is 695 pounds, put under the rear seat and the trunk floor. Volkswagen calls the electric drive unit in the E-Bugster as Blue e-motion. According to rumors, this technology will be used by the German automaker for all cars they produce, including Golf Blue e-motion.

The design of the E-Bugster is unique and it is different from the current Beetle. This car is flat in the up-front and distinctive wide windshield is placed. There are also LED running lights like what we can see on Beetle but with a distinctive graphic on both side of the lower air intake that available in the front bumper. The LED graphic is reflected by reflectors in the rear bumper.

The unique features can be found in the E-Bugster are not only outside because inside, Volkswagen puts sports EV-specific gauges. Traditional tachometer usually seen in all Volkswagen cars will be replaced with an energy saving display. Other instruments in the central console of the Volkswagen E-Bugster include driving range indicator, battery charge stats display and battery regeneration display. Some pictures of the Volkswagen E-Bugster have been catch by some media and the German automaker brings the concept car to the Detroit Auto Show 2012.

Smart For-Us Concept

By on Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 | No Comments

Last month, Smart designers decided to tease eco-friendly car enthusiasts by publishing some sketches of a new electric vehicle concept they have created named For-us. From the sketches, we saw that the façade of the electric car look like their current model, Fourtwo. But, it is given mini cargo bed like belongs to Subaru Brat in the rear side which makes it appears unique. Smart is planning to bring the concept of the For-Us concept to this week Detroit at the North American International Auto Show 2012.

Smart For-Us concept is little bit bigger than the existing Fourtwo. It is 613 mm longer and 50 mm wider than the Fourtwo. Smart puts 50 mm higher suspension to accommodate light multi-terrain uses. It is supported by off-road tires from Michelin. For-Us structures an electric drive system like what will be brought by fourtwo electric. 55kW magneto-electric motor becomes the heart and it is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack 17.6 kW of capacity. Smart claims that the motor has ability to bring 130 newton maters or 95.88 pound-feet of torque. The battery must be charged for eight hours from empty.

Other features that can be found in the For-Us include a console-mounted smartphone holder works with a connected rearview camera and a powered withdrawing tailboard gives easy access to the 3-foot cargo bed. The bed is specially designed for a couple of Smart E-bikes to the battery docking station. The two bikes functions as range-extenders. Some analysts believed that the For-Us will attract the attention of the eco-friendly car. Unfortunately, Smart still do not want to explain completely about the details of the concept, including how much the price will be charged. There is no word from the electric carmaker about when this electric pick-up will be started to produce. We just can wait until Smart announces officially about it.

Nissan Evalia MUV for Indian Market

By on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 | No Comments

Nissan Evalia MUV was unveiled for the first time at the Geneva Auto Show 2007. Nissan purposed this car for both cargo carrier and passenger. The Japanese automaker had a minor presence in the small van market and they addressed the problem by creating and releasing the Evalia MUV. Nissan seems realize that India offers potential market for such type of car, so they bring the Evalia MUV to the Delhi Auto Show 2012 and they would take the country as first location to market the vehicle.

Nissan Evalia MUV was designed in both petrol and diesel variants. The petrol version is powered by HR16 1.6-liter engine. This engine, according to Nissan, produces power of 108PS and generates 153Nm or torque. The diesel type would be powered by 1.5–liter dCi engine, which could deliver 86PS and 200Nm of torque. Both engine types are supported by a five-speed manual transmission as standard.

The length of the car is 4400mm and the width is 1695mm. Even the size of the Nissan Evalia MUV is quite large but it boasts high enough mileage. It spends a liter of fuel for 20km city road and 23 km when it is driven in the highway. Because the Evalia is aimed for both passengers and cargo, so Nissan creates a spacious interior. There are enough legrooms that would be very useful for tall people. Even the seven seats are occupied but the cargo space is still enough to accept two large suitcases. If the rear seats are folded, the cargo space will be enough for five suitcases.

Safety features on the Nissan Evalia MUV include central lock, foglights, ABS, rear parking sensors, EBD feature and electronic stability control. Nissan Evalia will be launched officially at the Delhi Auto Show 2012 and there will be one variant there priced at Rs. 11 lakh.

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