2012 Citroen Numero 9 (0)

Following on from DS3, DS4 and DS5, Citroën Numéro 9 Concept takes a fresh look at the DS line with a new take on the prestigious shooting brake design. Subtly combining the proportions of a coupé with those of an estate, Citroën Numéro 9 hints at exceptional driving sensations, with its taut lines, long bonnet and ultra-low stance (1.27m tall) on 21-inch wheels. It also promises unique onboard comfort with its generous proportions (4.93m long and 1.94m wide, with a 3m wheelbase) providing plenty of room for rear occupants. The three glass areas in the roof also create a welcoming, friendly cabin ambience.

Citroën Numéro 9 Concept evolves the design cues of the current DS line, introducing the new front-end identity of future models, along with an original light signature. The grille is sculpted in 3 dimensions and flows into the full-LED headlights, which end in daytime-running lights. Condensing the distinctive forms of the DS line, the concept also features a floating roof, underlined by chrome trim with discreet DS markings, and glazed side surfaces flowing into the rear window. A sophisticated use of body colours and materials includes deep black bodywork with subtle hints of violet. The finish, named 'Whisper', is a perfect match for the warmer shade of the 'Californian' chrome finish.

The 'Créative Technologie' used by Citroën Numéro 9 combines comfort, safety and respect for the environment, while also delivering enjoyable driving sensations for all occupants. The advanced drivetrain combines a conventional petrol or diesel engine (depending on the market) with an electric motor on the rear axle that develops 70hp and torque of 200Nm. The electric motor is powered by lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged in just 3½ hours from a normal domestic socket. The model on display at the Beijing Motor Show is fitted with a 1.6 THP petrol engine developing 225hp (165kW) and 275Nm of torque.

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2012 Toyota Camry (0)

The all-new Camry Hybrid debuts a highly revised version of the brand's Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain, including a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The 2012 Camry Hybrid LE, with EPA-estimated 43 mpg city/39 mpg highway/41 mpg combined, yields a more-than-30 percent boost in fuel economy in the EPA city and combined driving cycles, compared to the previous generation, thanks largely to the new hybrid powertrain, but also due to lighter vehicle weight and optimized aerodynamics. Through its unique transaxle, the Hybrid Synergy Drive system combines output from the four-cylinder engine with a small high-torque electric motor. The system produces a combined 200 horsepower and varies power between the gas engine and electric motor, or combines both, as needed.

The new 2.5-liter engine, like the 2.4-liter it replaces, uses the Atkinson cycle (delayed intake-valve closing for an expansion ratio greater than compression ratio) to achieve maximum efficiency. The Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) system on the intake camshaft enhances torque, which is greater than with the previous engine. An electric water pump, a roller-rocker type valvetrain and a variable-output oil pump help to reduce internal friction, boosting economy. A new water-cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system helps to ensure the lowest possible emissions at all vehicle speeds and helps increase fuel efficiency. By cooling and controlling exhaust gas injected into each cylinder, the system eliminates the need to richen the air-fuel mixture to control cylinder temperatures.

The 2012 Camry Hybrid meets AT-PZEV (Advanced Technology Partial-credit Zero Emissions Vehicle) standards. New sound absorbing materials in the engine compartment, along with more linear control over engine speed, give the 2012 Camry Hybrid a more pleasing sound under acceleration. Because there are situations in which the gas engine in the Toyota Camry Hybrid shuts off, air conditioning and power steering systems are driven electrically. New efficiency measures in the Hybrid Synergy Drive system include reducing internal losses in the transaxle, improving motor-voltage control, and optimizing the regenerative braking. The proven nickel-metal-hydride battery, located in the luggage compartment behind the rear seats, now features enhanced air-cooling. Its more compact size, along with moving the DC/DC converter to the engine compartment, results in a trunk that is 2.1-cubic feet larger than in the previous-generation Camry Hybrid.

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2012 Honda Odyssey (0)

Class-leading achievements include the highest EPA highway fuel economy rating for an eight-passenger minivan of 28 mpg for Honda Odyssey Touring. Plus, all Odyssey models achieve the best possible safety ratings from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with a TOP SAFETY PICK, an achievement that no other currently-tested minivan can match.

Designed and built in the United States, the five available models consist of the Honda Odyssey LX, EX, EX-L, Touring and Touring Elite, with each providing a unique combination of features, value, luxury and in-vehicle entertainment technology. Changes for 2012 include the addition of select features to the Odyssey EX that were previously exclusive to the Odyssey EX-L. For 2012, the Odyssey EX now includes Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, the intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) with an 8-inch TFT screen, a 2-GB CD Library and a USB Audio Interface. The 2012 Odyssey Touring receives an exclusive exterior color, White Diamond Pearl, replacing Taffeta White on the prior model.

The Honda Odyssey body uses a tapered cabin design with a signature "lightning bolt" character line to create a dynamic and distinctive appearance. Additionally, the styling cue creates a relatively large third-row window that enhances the outward perspective for third-row passengers. Engineered for a quiet interior, the Odyssey's highly-rigid body with 59 percent high-strength steel (an exceptional amount by industry standards) helps enhance the effectiveness of the vehicle's sound-deadening material to isolate road noise. The high-strength steel also helps to reduce body weight for better fuel economy and optimize body rigidity for agile handling.

The interior offers multiple modes for accommodating child seats, adult passengers and cargo, along with offering a comprehensive range of in-vehicle entertainment technology. To fulfill its design goal to be the ultimate family vehicle, the interior provides three rows of comfort-oriented seating with generous sedan-like legroom in each row; along with providing up to five Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) positions for child seats (the Odyssey LX has four LATCH positions). The passenger volume measures 172.6 cu-ft. (Odyssey LX and EX) and the cargo volume ranges between 38.4 cu-ft. cargo volume (all seats up) to 148.5 cu-ft. depending on the seating configurations. A 4x8 sheet of plywood can fit inside the Odyssey's cargo bay with the second-row seats removed, and 10-foot-long 2x4 studs can fit inside the vehicle with the available front console removed.

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2011 Audi R8 GT (0)

The design of the Audi R8 GT is the expression of concentrated power - a beautiful, technical sculpture measuring 4.43 meters (14.53 ft) long, 1.93 meters (6.33 ft) wide and only 1.24 meters (4.04 ft) high. The exterior underwent numerous modifications that further sharpened the appearance. Many of them also reduce the weight and enhance the aerodynamics. The Audi R8 GT produces even more downforce when driven fast than the production model - without any increase in the Cd value (0.36) or frontal area (1.99 m2) (21.42 sq ft). The frame of the single-frame grille, its struts and the slats in the air intakes are finished in matt titanium gray; the grille is painted matt black. The splitter under the bumper has a double lip and is made of carbon. Slender, curved flics at the corners of the nose increase the downforce on the front axle and are also made of a carbon fiber composite.

One highlight of the Audi R8 GT are the standard LED headlights, which use light-emitting diodes for all functions. They produce bright, homogeneous light, have a long service life and low energy consumption. The headlights also have an attractive and distinctive appearance. The daytime running lights each comprise 24 LEDs and appear as a continuous band. The reflectors are reminiscent of open mussel shells. The defining element of the side view are the sideblades, which direct air to the engine and in the Audi R8 GT are also made of matte carbon. The same material is used for the reduced-size housing of the side mirrors, which are mounted on an aluminum base. The 19-inch wheels feature an exclusive five twin-spoke Y design in a titanium-look finish. The front fenders sport "GT" badges.

The modifications to the rear of the car are particularly apparent, beginning with the fixed wing of matte carbon. The ventilation louvers on both sides of the rear hatch and the CFRP bumper, which integrates the large, round tailpipes and vents for the wheel wells, have been redesigned. The larger diffuser is made of carbon fiber composite; the license plate bezel and the wide slats at the rear are in matte titanium gray. The tail lights, which also use LED technology, have dark housings with panes of clear glass. Audi offers the R8 GT in a choice of four body colors: Samoa Orange metallic, Suzuka Gray metallic, Ice Silver metallic and Phantom Black pearl effect.

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2012 Audi A6 (0)

Audi has created an intelligent combination of various materials, rendering the body of the new Audi A6 extremely light, safe, and stiff. Thanks to its composite steel-aluminum construction, the body weighs approximately 15 percent less than a conventional steel construction, earning the sedan with the four rings a top ranking among the competition. Providing 130 kW (177 hp) of power, the Audi A6 2.0 TDI tips the scales at just 1,575 kilograms (3,472.28 lb), not including the driver.

Aluminum components make up more than 20 percent of the body. The strut mounts at the front of the car are castings; the struts in the engine compartment and the crossmembers behind the bumpers are sections made of this lightweight material. All add-on parts, such as the front fenders, the engine hood, the rear hatch and the doors, but also the bulkhead and the crossmember in the luggage compartment, are made of aluminum panels.

High-end steels also play a key role in the new Audi A6. The best of these are the hot-shaped steels, which get their extreme tensile strength from a temperature increase during the shaping process. These steels are found in some areas of the passenger cell and at its transition to the front end of the car. In many areas, tailored blanks are used. These are panels of various thicknesses that are thicker and stronger in areas subjected to higher loads.

The new Audi A6 sedan is extraordinarily quiet. Thanks to a sophisticated aeroacoustics system and extensive insulation, the noise level in the interior remains very low even at high speeds on the highway. The excellent vibrational comfort is the result of painstaking tuning of all components, systematic hydraulic damping in the axle and drivetrain bearings, and the extremely stiff body.

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2012 Toyota Yaris (0)

The Toyota Yaris Hybrid introduces the first downsizing of Toyota's HSD technology. The new powertrain has been optimised for installation within the vehicle's compact, extremely efficient packaging design, without detriment to either system quality and performance, or passenger accommodation and loadspace. The downsized full hybrid system combines a new, 1.5 litre petrol engine with a lighter, more compact electric motor, transaxle, inverter and battery pack. Total system weight is 42 kg less than that of the Auris Hybrid, making the new powertrain 20% lighter.

The 1.5 litre Atkinson Cycle petrol engine is 16.5 kg lighter and 10% shorter than the 1.8 litre unit of existing Toyota HSD powertrains. When used in combination with a cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system, an Atkinson cycle engine offers significant gains in fuel efficiency and the reduction of emissions.In the Atkinson cycle, compression and expansion are asymmetrical, and the valves close late, delaying compression. This creates a high expansion ratio for less compression, converting combustion energy to engine power more effectively. Though more fuel efficient, an Atkinson cycle engine is marginally less powerful than the more common, Otto cycle unit. However, it is supported by an electric motor in Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive®, boosting total system power under acceleration.

The use of a smaller E-CVT electric continuously variable transmission and a more compact electric motor effects a 6% reduction in the length of the Yaris Hybrid's transaxle, and an 11 kg weight saving over that of the Auris Hybrid.

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