This week it’s all about concepts.
Ahead of September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, big name manufacturers have been keen to generate a bit of buzz by unveiling their latest concepts. So let’s take a closer look…
Kia Niro Concept
Gullwing doors, fluorescent trim and chunky wheels housed inside large wheelarches – the Kia Niro is a compact and mean-looking crossover concept car that looks to have taken inspiration from Nissan’s popular SUV, the Juke.
Inside? Well, it’s all minimal, with a sleek trim and all switches and dials kept to an absolute minimum – and no technical details have yet emerged about the ‘innovative new powertrain’ that Kia has said the Niro will showcase.
Unfortunately Kia don’t have plans to build a production version of the Niro, but say that it’ll be used to gauge customer reaction and help design future Kia cars.
Volvo Concept Coupe
A Volvo that’s all about style? That’s what the Volvo Concept Coupe is all about.
Designed by Volvo’s newest styling chief, Thomas Ingenlath (who’s previously worked with Volkswagen and Skoda), the Volvo Concept Coupe demonstrates the power and flexibility of their new multi-million dollar in-house modular platform: Scalable Product Architecture (SPA).
The concept shows the new direction (we hope!) Ingenlath will be taking with future Volvos and inside showcases an ultra-modern interior with a hand-cut crystal gear lever, large touch-screen display in the centre console and brushed gunmetal and leather dash.
Under the bonnet, it’s able to deliver a performance that’s on a par to a V8 by utilising one of Volvo’s new Drive-E, 4-cylinder petrol engines and hybrid systems.
But will it be built?
Don’t count on it.
2013 Ford S-Max Concept
Ford has unveiled their new, economic and sporty MPV, the S-Max concept.
In terms of style, with its sweeping, bullet-like appearance, the S-Max looks closely related to the Fiesta ST Mountune, a sportier, edgier Fiesta that’s due to be released later in the year.
And it’s full of features.
The S-Max boasts on-board wifi, tablet docking in the rear of the front seat headrests, heart rate and glucose monitoring technology as well having Ford’s new 1.5 litre ‘Ecoboost’ petrol engine under the bonnet – an engine that’s set to replace the 1.6 litre version.
The car also features ‘car-to-car communications’, which is one of the latest technologies to be taken up by car manufacturers. Cars with this on board will be able to share information with one another about road accidents, the weather and the traffic, in the hope of increasing road safety and improving traffic flow.
We’re not entirely sure how the production version of the S-Max will differ from the concept that’ll appear at the Frankfurt motor show, but what’s important is that it will undergo production, with a release scheduled for early 2015.
