VIDEO: Bertone Mantide Presentation at Shanghai Auto Show

We've pretty much summed up our feelings about John Castriota's Corvette ZR1-based Bertone Mantide in our previous post here, so we're not going to get into the design discussion again. Just hit the jump to watch to watch the coupe's presentation from the Shanghai Auto Show earlier this month, and don't forget to lower the volume of your speakers because you're probably going to get as annoyed as we did the music background.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Honda Accord SR-9 Study Unveiled in Shanghai, Looks Better than Acura TSX

One of the new models at the Shanghai Auto Show that managed to momentarily escape our attention is the Honda Accord SR-9 concept study that was designed in cooperation with the firm's Chinese joint venture, Guangzhou Honda. Compared to the European-spec Accord and the North American market Acura TSX (they are the same cars), the Accord SR-9 features a newly designed front bumper with concave surfaces and a restyled grille with honeycomb inserts.

The show car also featured a set of side skirts and beefier seven-spoke alloy wheels. Even though the styling mods are minimal, the tweaked fascia would be a welcome change for both the European-market Accord and the Acura TSX.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Shanghai Clone Wars: Landwind X8 vs Mitsubishi Outlander

There are clones and there are clones. While some come pretty close such as Lifan Motors' effort to give birth to a five-door MINI Cooper, other like Jiangling Motors's Landwind X8 that made its debut at the Shanghai Show this week, is a dead ringer for Mitsubishi's Outlander. For those of you with a weak memory, China's Landwind became known for being the first Chinese automaker to enter the European market with the SUV that spectacularly failed a crash test carried out by the ADAC, Germany's largest auto club.

And it's not only the exterior design of the Outlander that has been copied, it's also the interior as the X8 gets the same exact dashboard styling with the deep set instrument panel featuring the two circular tube-like structures.

But you still haven't heard the best part of the story; according to the Landwind, the X8 will be offered with two engines: a common-rail turbo diesel from Italy's VM Motori that develops 140HP and 350Nm of torque and -get this- a Mitshubishi sourced, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with 150HP!

Sales of the Landwind X8 are to start in China during the second half of the year.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Mitsubishi Outlander SUV

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Landwind X8 SUV

Shanghai Clone Wars: Great Wall Florid Bonds Scion xA with Toyota Yaris

One of the most eye-popping examples of car-cloning at this year's Shanghai Auto Show is the Florid hatchback from China's Great Wall Motors. What's surprising about the Florid is the fact that it actually copies the design of two vehicles, bonding in a uniquely Chinese way, the body of a Scion xA to the front end of a current generation Toyota Yaris. Inside, the Chinese automaker preferred to keep things simple, maintaining the original Scion xA's dashboard layout.

The driving force behind the Yaris and xA "inspired" subcompact hatch is a Great Wall Motors developed 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 87 horsepower and a maximum torque of 115Nm. For the 2009MY - or so to say, Great Wall Motors extened the Florid's range with the introduction of more powerfull 1.5-liter engine with 105HP.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

2006 Scion xA

VIDEO: 2010 Audi Q7 Facelift in Motion

The hard-working folks from Ingolstadt have released the first official videos of the facelifted Q7 SUV that made its world premiere at this week's Shanghai Auto Show. Hallmark features of the 2010MY Q7 include a series of not so noticeable cosmetic updates here and there along with a new energy recovery system that helps reduce fuel consumption and a revised version of the 4.2-liter V8 TDI diesel engine that now churns out 340HP. Hit the jump to watch the refreshed Q7 in action.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Hyundai Sonata EF Facelift Unveiled at Shanghai Auto Show

There are many good reasons why numerous Chinese automakers turn to European studios when it comes to designing cars - Hyundai's new mid-size sedan that is codenamed for the time being BT01, is one of them. The BT01, which is in fact a redesigned version of the previous generation Sonata (EF), is the very first model to be independently styled by Hyundai's Chinese joint venture, Beijing Hyundai Motor Company (BHMC).

On the outside, the rhinoplasty surgeons of Hyundai's Chinese arm gave the Sonata EF a new face job with 'startling' headlamps and a massive chromed grilled. At the rear end, changes include a newly designed bumper and restyled tail lamps that now extend onto the boot.

Inside, Hyundai's designers opted for a two-tone color scheme while seat materials, interior trim and colors were also updated as was the backlighting of the central gauge cluster that was changed from the original green in favor of red which is said to be more popular with Chinese drivers. Other improvements over the outgoing model include a new DVD/GPS Navigation unit located in the centre stack.

Power for the BT01 is supplied by a 2.0-liter Beta engine that is hooked up to either a 5-speed manual gearbox or an optional four-speed automatic transmission .

Hyundai said that the BT01 will go on sale in China this summer at which time its official name and pricing will be announced. The BT01 will be sold alongside the recently facelifted, domestic market version of the Sonata NF.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Buick Business Hybrid Concept breaks cover in Shanghai - Details and Photo Gallery

General Motors surprised us at the Shanghai Auto Show with the unveiling of a brand-new concept vehicle bearing the Buick logo. The Business Hybrid Concept that was designed and developed in China by GM's Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), is a proposal for a full-size minivan that can accommodate a total of six-passengers in three rows of individual seats. The concept measures 5.278mm (207-in.) in length and rides on 3.198mm (129-in.) wheelbase.

The long minivan combines styling cues from Buick's own 2010 LaCrosse and the Riviera Concept that was unwrapped at the 2007 Shanghai Show with elements found on the latest Opel prototypes and especially the Meriva Concept's so-called dynamic "wave" in the rear window line that supposedly provides a better view for rear passengers. A unique feature of the concept are the power sliding rear doors with no B-pillar that help ease entrance and egress.

"The Business Concept Vehicle has a grand presence and makes a strong statement when it pulls up to the front of any establishment," said Ed Welburn, GM Vice President of Global Design. "The Chinese market and business person have some unique requirements. Our team has responded with an elegant solution to their business and personal needs."

Inside, the Buick Business Concept boasts a futuristic-looking dashboard with a three-dimensional instrument cluster that reaches across the entire width of the front panel and features a multi-layer information display. The vehicle's console can be moved up and down the two rows of rear seats while Buick claims that the second row of captain's chairs slide on hidden rails and swivel 225 degrees, enabling them to be adjusted to an infinite combination of orientations. Overall, the cabin's design is sleek and contemporary.

According to GM, PATAC designed the Buick Business Concept Vehicle to accommodate the firm's next-generation Hybrid System, which will be introduced in China in the near future. This new system that is said to build upon the belt-alternator-starter hybrid technology currently available in the Chinese-market Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid.

The next-generation GM Hybrid System will utilize an advanced lithium-ion battery that will help improve fuel economy by up to 20 percent compared to the current hybrid systems.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com