Buick Riviera

The Buick Riviera concept was unveiled at the 2007 Shanghai Motor Show.

The gullwing Buick Riviera concept coupe was developed with global design input by the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) in China, a design and engineering joint venture between General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). The Riviera concept was engineered to accommodate a new hybrid system that will go into production at Shanghai GM.

To establish their styling direction for the concept, the Riviera's designers looked in part to Buick icons such as the original Y-Job Concept of 1938, the 1960s Le Sabre, Electra 225 and the Riviera coupes of the 1960s and '70s.

The Buick Riviera concept, features carbon fibre body panels, displaying a combination of positive and negative curves, strong front and rear identities and gullwing doors.

The Buick badge, hood strip, headlamps, side mirrors and rocker covers all have 'icy green' backlighting available at night, matched by backlit logo and exhausts at the rear.

Designers have incorporated several other design signatures from the original Riviera generation into the concept. They include the "double sweep spear" line along the bodyside and the flared tail design. The 'Shell Blue' exterior color was chosen to highlight the coupe's exterior curves.

The Riviera concept sits on 21-inch 10-spoke forged aluminum wheels, combining polished and satin finishes, with low-profile tires. Taking their cue from Formula One cars, the side mirrors are sweeping yet unobtrusive.

Inside the Riviera concept, the use of rich blue and subtle creams, representing earth and water themes, are conveyed through high-quality leather bucket seats, plush carpet and a luxurious padded steering wheel. Completing the organic feel, the roof comprises two shaded glass windows offering increased headroom natural light for occupants.

The three-dimensional speedometer, inspired by past classics but utterly modern in design, compliments the touchpad styled central console loosely modeled on a computer mouse. An LCD display screen crowns the central console.

Buick Lacrosse

If the car you see here looks somewhat familiar, it should. It appeared in concept form at last spring's Beijing Motor Show as the Buick Invicta concept. At the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the Invicta becomes the 2010 Buick LaCrosse. Like many recent examples, the Invicta was a less a concept than a very mildly disguised version of the upcoming production car. Just before the Christmas break, General Motors gave the media a preview of the new production LaCrosse in the design dome at the company's tech center in Warren, MI.

GM North America VP for Buick-Pontiac-GMC Susan Docherty, global mid-size car vehicle line executive Jim Federico, and Buick brand character chief designer Dave Lyon provided a run-down for us on the new LaCrosse. The mid-size Buick is the first North American market application of the revised Epsilon II architecture that debuted last summer as the basis of the Euro-only Opel Insignia. Follow the jump and we'll tell you all about it.
For 2010, the LaCrosse has departed from the rather uninspired car that's worn the badge for the last several years. The more upright, traditional sedan profile of the existing car has been abandoned in favor of the increasingly fashionable fastback look of other competing premium sedans like the Acura TL and Lexus GS. The profile and other design details draw heavily on recent concepts like the Velite and Riviera.

A combined team of designers from North America and China were responsible for shaping the LaCrosse. At the front, the waterfall grille is pure Buick with the hood cut-line following the top edge of the headlamp clusters. A pair of ridges flanking a slightly concave hood extend back from the corners of the grille and then flow up the A-pillars, over the roof and finally blend into the trunk-lid cut-line. The LaCrosse, of course, has the required Buick portholes even if they are fake. Interestingly, the design team opted to put them on top of the hood just inboard of the ridge rather than on the fenders as traditionally done. While this certainly makes them more discreet, one has to wonder why bother at all?

The contours along the flanks that were most clearly distilled in the 2007 Riviera concept are carried over fully formed on the sedan. A convex crease flows back and down from the trailing corner of the headlamp with a echoing concave crease coming up from the bottom corner of the wheel arch. The upper crease then cuts upward and over the rear wheel to create the signature Buick "sweep-spear." The spear then flows into the LED tail-lamp clusters that help to tie everything together at the rear.

One of the design elements that Lyon highlighted is the chrome trim pieces around the windows, lights and interior. The trim varies in width over its length, which Lyon described as giving an impression meant to evoke Chinese calligraphy. It's a subtle touch that helps provide visual interest without being too over the top.

Inside the LaCrosse gets a multi-layered look with trim that flows from the doors into the dashboard. Unlike many previous attempts by GM to get this appearance, the pre-production car we saw at least had the door panes and IP properly aligned. Hopefully production samples will exhibit similar attention to detail. A floating pod containing various accessory controls sits above the center console that sweeps downward and back between the front seats.

The instrument panel of the LaCrosse (and other Epsilon II variants) has been pushed up and away from the front row occupants, an approach meant to enhance the feeling of roominess. In lower light conditions, the various cavities in the interior are bathed in a soft blue-green ambient lighting similar in style although not as abundant as the Riviera concept. The LaCrosse is also available with a heads-up display system for the first time.

When equipped with the optional rear seat entertainment system, a pair of LCD screens are actually integrated into the front seat backs. The screens flip upward to a position behind the head rests. This provides a better viewing angle for rear seat passengers while leaving the roof free for a larger moonroof.

Under the hood, the LaCrosse gets a choice of two direct-injected V6 engines. The CX and CXL models get the new 3.0L (below, left) that debuts this year putting out 255 hp and 211 lb-ft of torque. The top CXS model gets the existing 3.6L (below, right) with 280 hp and 261 lb-ft of twist.

The platform that underpins all of this is the new global mid-size architecture, also known as Epsilon II. The hardware is an evolution of the greasy bits under the existing Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura and was first seen under the new Opel/Vauxhall Insignia. Like the 2010 Cadillac SRX, which shares some of this hardware, the LaCrosse defaults to front-wheel drive, but a Haldex all-wheel-drive system is optional. The AWD system can send up to 85% of the drive torque to the rear axle.

The Epsilon II platform team is lead by Federico and based out of GM's European engineering headquarters in Russelsheim, Germany. Reducing noise, vibration and harshness was one of the big motivations in the new architecture, and a 20% stiffer body structure was a big part of that. So was acoustic laminated glass all around and triple seal doors to keep out ambient noise. The powertrain is now mounted on a six-point cradle compared to the four-point unit on the old car.

The LaCrosse also now gets electronic stability control as standard equipment, which includes trailer stabilization functionality. This is the first GM car to get trailer stabilization in the U.S. market and is among the first, if not the first, passenger car with this feature. The system works by detecting when a trailer is starting to sway back and forth and applying the brakes to one side of the car and then the other to balance it out and bring things back under control. Similar systems are now available on the 2009 Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram.

Visually the LaCrosse looks smaller than its predecessor, an illusion caused by the fastback roofline. However, it's actually almost the same size, with a wheelbase 1.2 inches longer and body that's one inch shorter. It also sits 1.4 inches taller. Unfortunately, where the LaCrosse really differs dimensionally is bulk. All that new equipment, stiffer structure and glass adds mass, about 500 lbs worth in this case.

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse is scheduled to start production in summer 2009 at GM's Fairfax KA assembly plant alongside the Chevy Malibu and Saturn Aura. We'll hopefully be spending some time behind the wheel of one, so keep your eyes on Autoblog for driving impressions of Buick's newest player in the luxury sedan segment.

Nissan Sunny N14

Nissan Sunny N14


Nissan Sunny N14

Nissan Sunny N14

Nissan Sky Line

Between 1969 and 1974, and again between 1989 and 2002, Nissan produced a high performance version of its Skyline range called the Nissan Skyline GT-R.
This car proved to be iconic for Nissan and achieved much fame and success on road and track.

They called it GODZILLA!!

The Nissan GT-R is a sports car created by Nissan and inspired from the Nissan Skyline platform. Nissan GTR was released in Japan on December 6th, 2007,
the United States on July 7, 2008, and the rest of the world in March of 2009. The Nissan GT-R is the latest flagship car of Nissan Motors, replacing its predecessor
the Nissan Skyline GT-R

Nissan skyline 2011

Nissan skyline 2011

Nissan skyline 2011

Nissan skyline 2011

Nissan GTR R35

The 2012 Nissan GT-R Spec M is being seen by everyone now, it seems! I'm half expecting to spy on at my local grocery store this week! Of course, the actual likelihood of that happening is slim to none, as there are so many different grocery stores in my city it's doubtful the GT-R Spec M driver would choose to shop at mine. All jokes aside, here's more spy photography of the 2012 Spec M in all of its beautiful Godzilla glory. The vehicle really does look fantastic. I think Nissan has gone an exceptional route with the small stylistic changes they've provided the already beautiful GT-R.

Nissan GTR R35

Now, for the drag race no one saw coming. What would you think if I told you that a Nissan GT-R and a 1972 Datsun 1200 were going to race? You'd laugh at the thought of the Datsun slowly pushing through the smoke left in the GT-R's wake, right? What if I then told you that the Datsun was an all electric modification? More humor. What if, I then told you that the Datsun wins?

Nissan GTR R35

I hate showing GT-Rs losing (and thankfully, those videos are so few and far between that I never really have to) but this one is too cool to pass up. Of course, the '72 Datsun 1200 in question (affectionately called White Zombie) is no normal Datsun. This 1200 runs off an all electric drive-train which delivers an immediate 772 pounds of torque. That's right, 772 pounds of torque delivered to all 4 wheels the second the accelerator is hit. That power makes this Datsun the fastest electric car on Earth. This incredible vehicle uses a cavalcade of batteries to power the vehicle for as much as 100 miles of driving, or if you're more interested in speed than conservation, 1/4 mile of all-out hauling ass. The EV Datsun 1200 hits 0-60 in 1.8 seconds and finishes a 1/4 mile run at a very very respectable 10.4 seconds. Not even the monster that is Godzilla can top this thing. The stats are impressive, but it's even more fun to watch. If you don't get a sick laugh watching a '72 Datsun 1200 run a 10 second 1/4 mile, you probably don't have a car-loving soul.

Nissan GTR R35

Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

The Nissan Juke is a mini-crossover released by the Japanese car manufacturer Nissan during 2010.^[1] The production version made its debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March,^[2] and was introduced to North America at the 2010 New York International Auto Show.^[2]

On 11 February 2009 Nissan announced that the model would go into production at the Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd (NMUK) plant in Washington, UK, during 2010 following its appearance as the Nissan Qazana concept car at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.^[3] The Washington plant manufactures for the European market, while Nissan's facility in Oppama, Japan, produces the vehicle for all other countries and is the sole supplier of the all-wheel drive variant.^[4] The car was launched in the UK on 24 September 2010.

Nissan Juke

In Japan, where the car was launched on 9 June 2010, orders totalled 10,943 units in its first month, surpassing Nissan's monthly target of 1,300 by a wide margin.^[5] By 5 October 2010, Japanese sales had increased to 20,000 while European and US figures also exceeded expectations with orders for 30,000 and 17,500 cars taken for the respective markets.

Design

The Juke was designed at Nissan Design Europe in London and refined at Nissan's Design Centre in Japan.^[1] It is based on the Nissan B platform.^[7]

The car's profile is dominated by the prominent wheel arches and the body's high waistline, which combine to give an impression of strength and which contrast with the slim side windows. Echoing a style first seen on the Maxima, Nissan's high performance electric coupé concept shown at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show, the glasshouse resembles a crash helmet visor. A coupé-like appearance is achieved by the rear door handles being located near the C-pillars, within the window frame. The sport motif continues inside with the red- or grey-painted centre console bearing similarity to a motorcycle fuel tank.^[1]

Nissan Juke

The front end features a stacked array of lights. Running lamps and indicators are mounted atop the front wings, their lenses visible from inside the cabin as an aid to manoeuvring. Below them, under the lower edges of an expansive, curved grille, the main headlamps are intended to be reminiscent of those fitted to rally cars during the 1960s and 1970s. Where fitted, fog lamps are situated on a third level within the sump guard at the bottom.^[1]

Common to all but base models is Nissan's Integrated Control System, dubbed I-CON: a command module that sits in the lower dashboard, which manages both the climate control and the vehicle's drive mode (Normal, Sport or Eco). Its display and nomenclature change according to the function selected.

Land Rover

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Official Photos

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Front Top View

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Front Light View

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door First Image

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Side View

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Luxury Cars

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Interior View

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door unveiled

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Rear Angle View

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Official Photos

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Rear Side View

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Picture Gallery

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Seat Photo

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Side Studio View

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Sills Image

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Rear Light View

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 5-Door Exotic Sports Car