AutoDesign - The new automobile design by Ford

Ford has been trying hard to gain back market share in the industry. It has currently developed 2 new cars to replace its ageing SUV, the Ford Escape and the long-gone MPV, the Ford Galaxy. The replacement for the 2 cars are the Ford Edge and the Ford S-Max respectively. From initial pictures, both cars look great and should allow Ford to at least re-gain its footing in the industry.


Ford Edge, the new SUV by Ford


The Ford S-Max, a sporty-looking 7 seater family car.


The schematic of the interior of the S-Max.

The Ford S-Max, a 7 seater MPV to replace the obsolete Galaxy looks promising and provides a really good sporty alternative to the Honda Odyssey and the Mitsubishi Grandis. However the MPV market in the US is pretty congested with Chrysler Voyager, Nissan Sienna and the Kia Carnival. On the other hand, Ford has also complemented the S-Max with a mini-sized version, called the C-Max which should be suitable for the European markets, putting it against the Renault Espace and Scenic.

AutoDesign - Italian design by Lancia

Lancia, one of the world's most revered brands of automobiles. Yes that statement is true, but it is a nearly unknown brand now in Asia and North America. Lancia is an illustrious brand owned by the mighty Fiat Group and the Lancia Delta was one of the world's best rally cars ever made, and recently Lancia was also the official car of the Pope (that was until a German became the Pope...). Anyway back to the main point, Lancia's model range includes a city car, a mini MPV, 2 saloons, one station wagon and a large family MPV. Its lack of models recently was due to the financial woes of parent Fiat Group. However, with things looking to be back on track for the Fiat Group, Lancia will be set to move forward in the future.


The Lancia Musa - one of the most beautiful Mini MPVs.


The Lancia Thesis - launched in 2001 and the ex-official car for the Pope.

AutoDesign - Lifestyle Mini Concepts

Mini, perhaps the hippest car company in the world has launched 3 concept cars in major auto shows in Frankfurt, Tokyo and recently Detroit. With the success of the Mini cars worldwide, the Mini Concept Detroit shows a long-wheelbase Mini designed for the young and active. With roof racks, active storage utility boxes, this Mini Concept creates a new dimension in space for the urban active and is meant for snowboarders and skiers with the user-friendly roof rack that can slide to fit the load size. On top of that, clip on storage enables owners to add extra storage after a day in the mountains. All this truly shows how Mini designers have come up with suprisingly good ideas. With parent company BMW keen to capitalize on the 'hip' factor, Mini could well produce this car, making it into reality.


Skis being attached to the versatile Mini roof rack. Note the opening in the roof at the back, allowing taller loads to be accomodated.


A clip on storage utility box for that extra gears to be carried.


Ambient lighting makes the Mini interior looks 'cooler'. Definitely a superb interior to drive in.

AutoNews - Porsche unleashes 2 Turbo Cars

Porsche has released the latest incarnation of the 911 Turbo, one of the most-loved variant of the 911 with a wider body and track. In addition, with the Cayenne reaching its mid-life crisis, it has added a new model range - the Turbo S.


The new Porsche 911 Turbo incorporates the flat-6 cylinder 3.6 liter engine of the 911 with the addition of 2 turbochargers. This allows the new Turbo to generate up to 480bhp at 6,000rpm. With the optional Tiptronic S transmission, the new 911 Turbo launches from 0-60mph at just a mere 3.4 seconds. This represents a 1.2 seconds decrease in acceleration time compared to the Carrera S.


On top of the more powerful engine, the car gains a rear spoiler and wing which extends a helping hand when the car drives at a speed of up to 75mph and retracts back at around 37mph. The car also gains a wider stance to house the all wheel drive system in the Turbo. All this design additions create a facade of power to the new 911 Turbo which would go on again to reign as one of the best supercars.


The latest Cayenne variant is also the most expensive Cayenne made by Porsche. By increasing the power output of the Cayenne's 4.5 litre V8 engine from 450bhp to 520bhp, it has made the Cayenne faster. Final 0-60mph time of the Cayenne Turbo S is now 4.8sec, up from 5.2sec of the Cayenne Turbo.

AutoTech - Night View Assist

Xenon lamps are now out, and infra red is now in! The new S-Class has this new technology called Night View Assist, utilizing an infra red camera to display the road conditions in front of you, illuminating it as if the main beam is on. This technology is a first and would increase the driver's view forward by up to 500 feet. For a start, this technology is only available in the 2007 S Class and would soon filter down the lesser models.


Schematic of the Night View Assist in the new Mercedes S Class

Remember that the Active Suspension System (ABC), Park Distance Control (PDC), Distance Control (Distronic) were all premier innovations in the outgoing S Class before reaching the masses. The automobile's most famous innovation to date, the Anti-Lock Braking System was also a pionner invention placed on the road in the 1978 S Class. It just shows how the technologies in the S Class in the one to watch.

AutoDesign - Lexus showcases 2007 ES Series

It has been a busy year for Lexus. First they launched the new IS, then the new LS and now they have released pictures of the new ES. This is not including the GS Series launched last year as well as the new hybrid engines for the GS and the RX. From the way it looks, it seems Lexus is on an all-out offensive to aid Toyota to be the world's number one automaker. The new ES has moved upscale again in this new reincarnation with the design based on the more expensive Toyota Mark X while the previous one was based on the mass market Camry.


While the side profile looks bulging, the front design has incorporated Lexus new grille, which has been put into place across all range.


The interior is where it scores greatly especially with the metallic finish gauges that looks almost similar to the one on the Aston Martin and that's saying something!

AutoDesign - GM Daewoo launches mid-size saloon

General Motors which controls Korean-car maker Daewoo has launched a new mid-size saloon to go head-to-head with the Hyundai Sonata, and from initial press pictures the car looks promising with a relatively good design, albeit a bit on the conservative side. The rear of the car seems to be the most handsome view with lots of neat detailing, but while trying to ape BMW's eyebrow headlamps, the front of the cars seems to have failed.
Inside the car, the interior looks acceptable but whether quality would meet standards set by Toyota remains to be seen. Overall, as a package, this car would most probably be a low-end competitor to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Moreover it has to be contented to remain second fiddle to the Hyundai Sonata (since that car seems better than this!)


Rearlights and overall rear design looks good!


Front eyebrow lamp looks like the BMW 5 Series' but without the striking good looks of the latter.

AutoDesign - BMW M Z4 Coupe

Its predecessor was ugly, but since tha launch of the Z4 roadster in 2001, millions of fans around the world have fell in love with this car. Beautifully crafted like a piece of sculpture, Christopher Bangle's 'flame-surfacing' design was extremely successful in this car. Now, as a refresh, BMW introduced the BMW Z4 Coupe 'concept' last year in 2005 and introduced the M Z4 Roadster recently. With the Z4 Coupe going into production as well, it is to be expected that the M Z4 Coupe comes out. After all, the BMW M division is known to favour coupes over other cars due to the better rigidity that it gives the road-going trak cars. The new M Z4 Coupe styling is nearly unchanged from its normal brethren except for its re-designed hood with a middle bulge as well as a more aggressive looking lower air intake and bumper.


The BMW Z4 Coupe


Its Motorsport brethren, the BMW M Z4 Coupe