Merc A-class concept 'realistic'

Mercedes’ Vision A concept is virtually identical to the final production version, expected next year, according to the company’s design director, Gorden Wagener.

“What you see is realistic,” he told Autocar. “Obviously the real thing is a five-door and we will make changes to the window line, headlights and grille, but that’s it.”

See pics of the Mercedes Vision A concept

Wagener also promised that the show car’s rakish roofline would stay virtually the same and said that while some of the concept’s more outlandish interior details would go, the basics — such as the large display screen and ‘jet turbine’ air vents — would remain.

Wagener also promised that build quality would be much improved over the current cars, promising that “the quality of materials and fit and finish will be above the current C-class”.

The A-class is likely to be the first production car to have the ability to download apps, so that buyers can upgrade infotainment technology during their ownership of the car.

The Vision A show car is powered by a 210bhp, four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with a new dual-clutch seven-speed gearbox. Merc technical boss Thomas Weber promised that all of the A-class’s petrol powerplants would be turbos from the new family of transverse engines, of differing capacities. The dual-clutch ’box will be an optional extra, with a manual as standard. There will be no conventional automatic gearbox option, and stop-start will be standard on all variants.

Weber also promised a hot AMG version, as previously revealed in Autocar. It’s likely to be powered by a more powerful version of the four-cylinder turbo and will probably be four-wheel drive, although Weber conceded that this was still being decided as it adds another 60kg to the weight.

Volvo rules out S-class rival

Volvo has no plans to build a rival for the Mercedes S-class, according to its boss Stefan Jacoby.

“It’s too early for us to enter that segment,” he said, “so it’s not in our mid or long-term plans. We won’t build anything larger than the [China-only] S80 L.”

Volvo's show car at last week's Shanghai motor show, Concept Universe, had been tipped to show a large new saloon, but instead it showcased a potential future Volvo design direction.

See pics of the Volvo Concept Universe

The big saloon was one of the most hotly debated cars at the show, thanks to controversial front-end styling that includes a major nod to classic Volvos, like the PV544. Design chief Peter Horbury admitted, “We’ll be discreetly asking people nearby during the show: ‘Do you think this could be a Volvo?’ We’ve been deliberately brave here.”

Volvo released few technical details about the show car, but it’s understood to be built according to the firm’s forthcoming Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA). Designed to support future models from the S40 right up to the Chinese-market S80 L, the new set-up is scheduled to be introduced at the Frankfurt show this coming autumn.

Jacoby also said Volvo is better off being wholly owned by Geely, instead of being part of a joint venture, such as those employed by many other European brands in China.

“There will always be different interests there,” he says. “We are in the same boat but we are also rowing in the same direction. As the Chinese partners expand, there could be problems for some of those OEMs in joint ventures.”

Volvo S60 gets 321bhp

Volvo announced at the New York motor show that its 2012 R-design Volvo S60 and XC60 versions will feature more power than the outgoing version when they go on sale at the end of summer in America.

The revised turbocharged T6 petrol engine for both models produces 321bhp and 354lb ft of torque – up by 21bhp and 29lb ft – with maximum torque delivered from 3000 revs.

See pics of the 2012 Volvo R-design S60 and XC60

Power is driven through all four wheels via the firm’s second-gen six-speed automatic gearbox, which has also been fettled with for less friction and smoother changes.

Other upgrades for the new hardcore 2012 versions include changes to the chassis, strut brace under the bonnet and ‘monotube’ dampers for the S60 R-Design, which replace the previous version’s twin-tube dampers. Suspension is also lowered for a more aggressive stance.

Volvo's North America chief Doug Speck said: “The jump in performance will re-define these two R-Design models. Along with styling and suspension features that set them apart from other versions, our two newest R-Design models will have a higher 'fun-to-drive' quotient. I see that as a positive thing, and so will car buyers.”

Prices for the revised R-design Volvo S60 start from $42,275 (£25,720), with the XC60 starting from $43,150 (26,250). No word has been given yet by Volvo of the more powerful engine's arrival to the UK market.

Mini to use Goodwood like JCW

The Goodwood name look set to become Mini’s flagship brand for high-end, customer-specified luxury versions, company sources have revealed.

The long-awaited super-luxury ‘Mini Inspired by Goodwood’ was unveiled at the recent Shanghai show, a venue that reflects the likely importance of the Chinese market as a sales destination for the car.

The Goodwood badge is set to be used on other luxurious Minis in the same way that the John Cooper Works badge represents its high-performance models.

Limited to a run of 1000, the Goodwood will go on sale from spring 2012 and will, say BMW sources, cost 47,000 euro in mainland Europe, which is expected to translate to around £42,000.

The Goodwood comes in a single specification in either the Rolls shade of Diamond Black metallic or Mini’s Reef Blue metallic. Oddly, the cars will not be individually numbered but instead have a console plaque with the legend ‘One of 1000’.

Read more on the Rolls-Royce Mini

Mini says the Goodwood has been designed “in close collaboration” with the Rolls design team at the Goodwood factory and reflects “typical British understatement”. Overseen by Rolls-Royce designer Alan Sheppard, the Goodwood interior uses the same materials and suppliers as the interiors of Rolls’ own cars.

The entire dashboard, centre console and seats are finished in Rolls Cornsilk leather and the dash’s wood veneers come from Rolls. The Rolls-Royce typeface is also used on the instruments.

Under the skin, the Goodwood gets the 1.6-litre, twin-scroll turbocharged, 181bhp Cooper S engine and either a six-speed manual or a six-speed auto ’box. Adaptive xenon lights and a Harman Kardon hi-fi are standard.

Vauxhall Astra GTC unveiled - Frankfurt motor show 2011

Vauxhall’s new Astra GTC has kept the sharp styling of the GTC Paris concept, judging by these official renderings of the final production car.

Order books for the three-door model will open on June 7, when Vauxhall will also confirm full pricing and technical details of the GTC line-up.

See official renderings of the new Vauxhall Astra GTC

Renderings of the VXR version of the GTC were leaked earlier this year, and the standard car shares much of the visual impact of Vauxhall’s new “halo model”.

They include sharp creases that emerge from the door handles and run across three different panels to the edge of the tail-lights, and a particularly complex tailgate shape.

Read Autocar's scoop on the new Vauxhall Astra VXR

While the near-300bhp VXR version will be launched at the Geneva motor show next year, the standard GTC only has to wait until Frankfurt in September for its show debut.

It’s likely the engine range of the GTC will mirror its more conservative five-door sibling. But the chassis will be significantly modified, benefiting from the HiPerstrut front suspension of the VXR. Lotus is rumoured to be involved in the GTC’s chassis development, too.

MG Motor

An all-new sports car, a crossover, a replacement for the MG ZT/Rover 75 and a hybrid are among many models that Shanghai Automotive (SAIC) is developing for the reborn MG marque.

There are also new engine ranges on the way, including downsized, turbocharged petrol engines co-developed with GM, as well as new 2.0 and 2.4-litre four-cylinder units. SAIC is also debating whether to offer an MG version of the electric city car revealed at the Beijing motor show last spring.

See Autocar's renderings of the MG sports car and crossover

That decision depends in part on government incentives and the roll-out of infrastructure. But a hybrid version of the MG 6 is definitely on; it will appear towards the end of 2013 following a facelift.

The two-seat sports car, which is very likely to be rear-wheel drive, is not scheduled to appear until 2016.

Read Autocar's first drive of the MG 3

SAIC’s product planning boss, Liu Tao, admits that the firm has not yet devised a way of being able to offer the model because it has no suitable platforms. But SAIC recognises that a sports car is very important to the MG marque and says it will work hard to provide the model.

The MG SUV, which is unrelated to the Roewe W5 launched at the show, is a monocoque crossover aimed at the Nissan Qashqai. Codenamed AS21, it is due in 2014 and will come with a 2.0 petrol turbo and a dual-clutch transmission. No diesel version is currently planned, despite European market tastes.

Read Autocar's scoop on the new MG sports car

A year later the MG 7/Roewe 750 replacement will appear, some 15 years after the debut of the Rover 75 on which both cars are based. A coupé-like four-door, this model will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and a 1.9-litre diesel, both with dual-clutch transmissions.

Most of these new models will be designed and engineered in Longbridge in the UK, and Anting in China, and some could be assembled in Birmingham as well.