Brillance EV Concept

Chinese automaker Brilliance is showing off a new concept electric car that's currently on display at the Shanghai Motor Show. A large battery pack using lithium ion technology is reportedly capable of providing a range of around 93 miles (150 kilometers). The Chinese automaker claims that this battery can be hooked to a 220V charger that can use a "Quick Charge" feature to replenish the pack to about 80 percent in just 30 minutes.

Driving the rear wheels is a 47kW permanent magnet electric motor that puts out about 90 lb-ft of torque (120 NM) and is capable of revving to 10,000 RPM. But wait, there's more! A second electric motor powers the front wheels at speeds of around 25 miles per hour for city use. Top speed with both motors engaged is around 80 mph.

On the exterior front, this new EV concept may be vaguely inspired by the VW Space Up! concept from a few years back, but we don't think it's particularly egregious. Dual power-operated clamshell-ish doors allow access into an interior cabin that rather well done in clean-looking white materials. A fully electronic dash sits behind a yoke-style steering wheel. Have a look for yourself in our full gallery below.

Kia Forte 2010

Vehicle Summary:
The Forte is Kia's new entry in the compact-car segment, replacing the Spectra when it hits dealerships in summer 2009. Offered in LX, EX and SX trim levels, the Forte is available with a choice of four-cylinder engines and comes standard with numerous safety features, including an electronic stability system. Competitors include the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla.

Vehicle Overview:
The Forte is Kia's new entry in the compact-car segment, replacing the Spectra when it hits dealerships in summer 2009. Offered in LX, EX and SX trim levels, the Forte is available with a choice of four-cylinder engines and comes standard with numerous safety features, including an electronic stability system. Competitors include the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla.

Exterior:
The Forte sports crisp styling that gives the sedan an athletic shape. You don't have to look too closely to find resemblances to other small cars. The front end, for instance, looks similar to a Honda Civic coupe, and the Forte's taillights remind me of the Mitsubishi Lancer's.

The base LX sedan has standard 15-inch steel wheels, while the midlevel EX model gets 16-inch alloy rims. The performance-oriented SX trim, which features a sport suspension, has 17-inch alloy wheels and a rear spoiler. A sunroof is optional.

Interior:
The five-seat cabin features mostly good materials and panel fit. Some of the elements, like the available steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls, have a high-end feel that you don't see in every compact car. The audio system's display has attractive red graphics.

The front bucket seats are finished in cloth, and leather upholstery is optional. The backseat is quite spacious for a compact car and can comfortably accommodate taller passengers. The 14.7-cubic-foot trunk is sizable for this class, and it can be expanded by folding the 60/40-split backseat. The release levers for that function are in the trunk.

The base LX trim goes without niceties like air conditioning, cruise control, and power windows and locks, but that should help keep its starting price low. The EX has all those features plus remote keyless entry, map lights and steering-wheel audio controls. The SX adds a telescoping steering wheel and cloth seats with red stitching.

Under the Hood:
LX and EX models are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 156 horsepower. Choosing the SX trim brings a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that generates 173 hp. Both engines are offered with a manual transmission — a five-speed for the base engine and a six-speed for the SX trim — or an automatic.

Safety:
Standard features include all-disc antilock brakes, side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags, an electronic stability system and active head restraints for the front seats.

GMC Terrain 2010

Vehicle Summary:
GMC's twin to the Chevrolet Equinox, the Terrain, is all-new for 2010. The five-seat crossover comes in front- or all-wheel drive with a four-cylinder or V-6. With front-wheel drive and the four-cylinder, GMC expects EPA highway gas mileage to end up around 30 mpg. Major competitors include the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

Vehicle Overview:
GMC's twin to the Chevrolet Equinox, the Terrain, is all-new for 2010. The five-seat crossover comes in front- or all-wheel drive with a four-cylinder or V-6. With front-wheel drive and the four-cylinder, GMC expects EPA highway gas mileage to end up around 30 mpg. Major competitors include the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

Trim levels include the base SLE and uplevel SLT. Characteristic of a crossover, the Terrain has a four-wheel-independent suspension and car-based frame — a design that emphasizes ride comfort and fuel efficiency over off-road capabilities and towing.

Exterior:
GM says it sought to provide a "confident and strong stance" with the Terrain's styling. To that end, the crossover has oversized fenders and liberal bumper cladding, both of which set the Terrain apart from its Equinox sibling. GM says that beyond the windshield, the two don't share any major body panels.

The fog lights sit within vertical housings, and the large grille wears plenty of chrome. The rear's stacked appearance recalls a number of models, from the Buick Rendezvous SUV to the Toyota Sienna minivan. A backup camera is standard, and a power liftgate is optional.

Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard with the four-cylinder engine; V-6 models have 18-inch alloys, with 19-inchers optional. At 185.3 inches long and 72.8 inches wide, the Terrain has a larger footprint than the Escape, RAV4 and CR-V. Its turning circle, at 40 feet with 17- or 18-inch wheels, trails that group by at least 2 feet. With 19-inch wheels, the Terrain's turning circle is an even wider 42.6 feet.

Interior:
The cabin bears far more resemblance to the Equinox than does the exterior, with an upward-tilted panel housing the air-conditioning and stereo controls. The dashboard features angular styling and two-tone plastics. Standard equipment includes keyless entry, power height adjustment for the driver's seat, and a six-speaker stereo with a USB port for MP3 players. An eight-way power driver's seat, heated leather upholstery, a moonroof and a navigation system are optional.

Like the Equinox, the Terrain's second-row seat adjusts fore and aft. There's a plastic floor panel behind the seat that can be folded down to create a gap-free cargo floor. With the second row down, maximum cargo volume totals 63.9 cubic feet — not quite as good as the Escape, and about 10 cubic feet short of the RAV4 and CR-V.

Under the Hood:
Both the four-cylinder and the V-6 employ direct-injection technology. The four-cylinder displaces 2.4 liters and makes 182 horsepower; the V-6 displaces 3.0 liters and makes 264 hp. An "Eco" mode, activated by a dashboard button, alters drivetrain calibrations in the four-cylinder to maximize fuel efficiency. GM says Eco mode helps the Terrain achieve its highway mileage figures.

When properly equipped, maximum towing capacity with the four-cylinder is 1,500 pounds. With the V-6, it rises to 3,500 pounds.

Safety:
Six airbags, including side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for both rows, are standard. So are four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system.

Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire

The Bleu Centenaire is a special model to celebrate 100 years of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S, the company originally started by Ettore Bugatti in 1909 in Molsheim, France. This model carries the traditional two-tone look of the Veyron, but does so with a combination of 'Sprintblue' Matte and 'Sprintblue' Gloss, creating an entirely unique look. The roof trim, exterior mirrors and the front and side intake grilles have been recreated with polished, anodized aluminum. The Bleu Centenaire also receives exclusive aluminum wheels and red brake calipers.

This highly exclusive Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire will run you roughly 1.7 million U.S. if you want to pick this up for your collection, but if we were betting men (which we are), we'd say that it'll likely land in some Arab Sheik's collection somewhere in the United Arab Emirates never to be seen again.

Bugatti Press Release:

Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. presents the Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire at the 2009 Geneve Motor Show, a special commission honouring the 100th anniversary of the company, thus initiating a range of worldwide activities celebrating the creation of this mythic brand a hundred years ago. In addition Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport is shown for the first time to a wider public in Europe.

Hundred years of Bugatti

In 1909 Ettore Bugatti started his business in the Alsacian town of Molsheim, France. The name of the company: "Ettore Bugatti Automobiles i.Els.". And although the name has changed into "Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.", the site and the philosophy of the brand have been preserved. In 2006 the first model under the "new management" was launched, precisely 50 years after the last car of the original company left the gates of the Molsheim factory. The Bugatti Veyron has only been on the market for three years, but has already reached the status of being an undisputed part of automotive history, with 250 cars ordered to date, and nearly 200 cars delivered. This means that there are only 50 Veyrons to be sold until the limit of 300 units will be reached.

The Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire

Building on the marque's core values of « Art - Forme - Technique » , Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. has created the Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire, a unique model to celebrate the hundred year old history of the company. This special model takes up the traditional Bugatti two-tone-specification, but portrays it in one rather than two colours: in the most known light shaded Bugatti blue. The Centenaire's unique combination of a « sprintblue matt » and « sprintblue gloss » hence offers a new impression of the two-tone-scheme known so far with parts of the engine also covered in this traditional Bugatti Blue.

The roof-trim-stripes and the exterior rearview mirrors are of polished, anodised aluminium. A special wheel design has been added - enhanced by a bright red brake-capillar. The grills at the front and at the side air intakes are in « mirror shine ».

The interior of the Centenaire is fitted in a special «snowbeige» leather with quilting on the seats. The central console is covered in the same leather. New LED lights, Park Distance Control and a rearview camera have become part of the standard equipment for all Bugatti Veyrons from this year onwards. The Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire shares all performance characteristics of other Veyron models performance-, acceleration- and deceleration characteristics which have been highly praised ever since the Bugatti Veyron first appeared on the scene. The car will cost 1,35 Million Euro exclusive taxes and transportation.

"Audi Q7" 2010

Vehicle Summary:
The relatively new Q7 SUV gets a mid-cycle refresh for 2010. The Q7 was Audi's first foray into the SUV segment, but since its debut the automaker has added the Q5, a smaller and less expensive SUV.

Vehicle Overview:
The relatively new Q7 SUV gets a mid-cycle refresh for 2010. The Q7 was Audi's first foray into the SUV segment, but since its debut the automaker has added the Q5, a smaller and less expensive SUV.

The Q7 comes in five-, six- or seven-seat configurations, and can be equipped with a V-6, a V-8 or a new diesel powertrain. The Q7 competes with the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class and Acura MDX. New Q7s hit dealerships in the fall of 2009.

Exterior:
The Q7 gets redesigned headlamp jewelry, with added U-shaped LED daytime running lights and an optional cornering lighting system. The front turn-signal indicators and rear taillamps now feature LEDs. The front and rear bumpers, grille and side mirrors are also revised.

The Q7 has a 118.2-inch wheelbase and is 200.2 inches long. A powered liftgate is available. Wheels of 18-, 19-, 20- or 21-inches can be had on various trim levels.

Interior:
The new Q7 gets a few significant interior updates, including a revised instrument cluster, new ambient interior lighting and a wood trim option.

The Q7 comes with five seating positions standard and can fit six or seven with an optional third row seat, both rear rows fold flat to provide additional storage space. Cloth upholstery is standard, but leather seating surfaces are optional.

Audi has updated its MMI infotainment system, making it easier to use. The system now features enhanced voice-activation, so you can speak commands such as "I need gas" or "I need coffee," and the computer will map your closest options for you.

Other features that can be had on the Q7 include a TV tuner, a powered rear cargo cover and a 14-speaker stereo system. The Q7 has 71.87 cubic feet of cargo space when the second-row seats are folded down.

Under the Hood:
The Q7's mechanical pieces are mostly carried over from last year. There are two gasoline engines: a 280-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 with 266 pounds-feet of torque, and a 350-hp, 4.2-liter V-8 with 325 pounds-feet of torque.

A new clean-diesel powertrain is offered for 2010. The 225-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 with 406 pounds-feet of torque is estimated to return 17/25 mpg city/highway.

All powertrains work with a six-speed automatic transmission and feature permanent all-wheel drive. Options include an adjustable air suspension and carbon-fiber brakes.

Safety:
The Q7 has standard side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags for all three rows and an electronic stability system. Optional safety equipment includes a rearview camera, radar-supported adaptive cruise control and a lane assistance program that ensures the Q7 stays in its lane.