Lamborghini Urus 2012

Lamborghini has taken the wraps off the Urus – a stunning new SUV that promises to secure the future of the company, just as the Cayenne did for Porsche.

It’s Lamborghini’s second-ever off-roader – after the 1986 LM002 – and will come with 600bhp, four-wheel drive and a £150,000 price tag. The car is expected to ride on Audi’s MLB architecture.

In terms of styling, the Urus echoes the canned Estoque saloon concept with an angular design. Bosses say it will be the world’s fastest-accelerating and best-handling SUV, although they have yet to confirm what engine will sit under the bonnet.

It could potentially use a modified version of the VW Group’s new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 or a 6.0-litre W12. Both of these engines are used in the latest Bentley Continental GT.

Whatever engine powers the production version, Lamborghini is targeting a 0-60mph time of around four seconds. And although the company says the top speed for an SUV is “not really relevant”, it’s likely to reach well over 180mph.

Like the Aventador, the Urus uses carbon fibre for its chassis and body, and the company claims it’s 100kg lighter than even an aluminium model would be.

Nods to practicality include a height-adjustable front spoiler to aid approach angles, although with its sporting dynamics, the car won’t offer Land Rover-style off-road ability.

The Urus – named after the ancestor of all domestic cattle – could be in showrooms by 2016 if feedback is positive.

BMW i8

First official pictures of the BMW i8 Spyder concept have been released, ahead of the car's debut at the Beijing Motor Show later this month. 

Like the i8 coupe, the Spyder is a plug-in hybrid using a 1.5-litre petrol engine with 220bhp to power the rear wheels and a 129bhp electric motor to drive the fronts. Expect to see a 0-62mph time of around five seconds. 

Aside from the lack of a roof, the i8 Spyder does boast a few visual differences to the coupe concept, including solid metal doors and roll-over hoops. 

There are a few technical changes too, such as a shorter wheelbase and overall length than the coupe. The hard top's back seats have also been ditched. 

The LifeDrive construction – which consists of a carbon fibre body and mainly aluminium chassis – ensures weight is kept to around 1,600kgs, despite the heavy batteries on board. 

When it makes production in 2014, BMW claims the i8 Spyder will return fuel economy of 94mpg and will be able to travel for around 17 miles on electric power alone. Expect it to have a price tag of around RM450,000 (£90,000).

Other i8 Link:

http://pauhatsu.blogspot.com/2011/07/pauhauto-bmw-i3-and-i8.html

Citroen DS9

These are the first pictures of the new Citroen DS9 – a flagship luxury car concept that has been spotted completely undisguised ahead of its debut at the Beijing Motor Show next month.

Spied on a photoshoot at the Place de la Concorde in Paris, the DS9 is charged with spearheading a new DS range specifically for China.

It follows on from the DS3 supermini and DS4 and DS5 crossovers, which have been designed for Europe. The DS9 is a large, luxurious Mercedes S-Class-sized four-door coupe.

It’s inspired by the C6-based Metropolis concept car, which was unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2010.

Inside, expect a spacious seating arrangement – wealthy Chinese often have chauffeurs and place great importance on the amount of rear legroom.

There is no word on how the DS9 will be powered, but the Metropolis concept used a 2.0-litre petrol V6 mated to an electric motor, delivering 460bhp and CO2 emissions of 70g/km.

We can expect the DS9 to offer a similar low-emission, four-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain.

The car will be built as part of Citroen’s joint venture with the Changan Automotive Group in Guangdong Province, and sold exclusively in China. There are no plans to bring it to the UK.