Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, today unveiled two new concept cars that move the Swedish brand in an audacious new direction and mark the official launch of its global small-car strategy.

Today’s newly revealed 40 series concept models demonstrate for the first time how Volvo plans to expand into the large and lucrative global market for premium small cars with a range of vehicles that combine bold exterior and interior design with industry-leading connectivity, electrification and autonomous drive technologies.

The new concept cars will be the first built around Volvo’s new Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), which has been specially created for smaller cars and which has liberated the company’s designers and engineers to explore bold and daring new directions.

“Each member of our product family has its own distinct character, just like the members of a real family. CMA has helped us to capture something special, something youthful in our new concept cars. They have an energy, a disruptive and engaging urban character that makes them stand out among the crowd. This is the flavour of small Volvos to come,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President, Design, at Volvo Car Group.

Volvo’s small-car strategy is an essential element in its ongoing global operational and financial transformation. The Swedish company is currently implementing an ambitious revitalisation plan that will reposition the brand to compete with its global premium competitors within the next four years.

Volvo’s new global small-car range will include a pure-battery electric vehicle as well as Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain variants, in line with the company’s commitment to the electrification of its entire portfolio. Volvo plans to have sold a total of up to one million electrified cars by 2025 globally.

“By taking a modular approach to both vehicle architecture and powertrain development, we have succeeded in leap-frogging many of the players in the premium segment,” said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President, Research & Development. “Our new battery electric powertrain variant opens yet another exciting chapter in the unfolding Volvo story.”

On top of their daring exterior design and electrified powertrain options, the new cars will also offer a full range of innovative connectivity services, plus the world’s most advanced standard package of safety features and ground-breaking Scandinavian interior design.

“The new 40 series cars have the potential to improve our market penetration in an important growing segment,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President and Chief Executive of Volvo Cars. “An electric powertrain program, including both a new compact Twin Engine plug-in hybrid as well as a pure electric car, are central to the CMA architecture.” He added that the first new 40 series car is expected to go into production in 2017.

The announcement of Volvo’s new global small-car strategy comes on the back of a strong start to the year in terms of sales and profitability.

The company announced revenues for the first three months of the year rose 24 per cent year-on-year to SEK41.7bn, generating an operating profit of SEK3.1bn and an operating profit margin of 7.5 per cent. Global sales for the first quarter of 2016 increased 11.9 per cent to 120,591 cars. Volvo has a medium-term ambition to sell 800,000 cars a year, up from 503,000 in 2015.

The Volvo 850 was the car that changed everything – a front-wheel-drive Volvo with a five-cylinder transverse engine. It was the result of the Galaxy project, which got its name because it was aiming for the stars. The 850 series achieved great success in the field of motorsport, and was the first car from Volvo available with AWD.

The brand-new Volvo 850 GLT had its world premiere in the Stockholm Globe Arena on June 11 in 1991. The model was the result of one of Sweden's largest industrial investments and differed fundamentally from previous Volvo designs. It had front-wheel drive, a five-cylinder transverse engine and offered a whole new level of driving pleasure.

The new car was launched under the banner "A dynamic car with four world firsts". These new features were the transverse five-cylinder engine, the Delta-link rear axle designed in-house, the integrated side-impact protection system, SIPS, and the self-adjusting front seat belt.

Even though the design was reminiscent of the 700 series, the 850 was a completely new car. The work on developing the model began back in 1978. At a meeting held that year, it was decided that it was now time to think freely and aim for the stars. That's why the project was christened Galaxy.

Project Galaxy resulted in two model series – one Swedish and one Dutch. The underlying technology was developed jointly; after this the teams split up. The Dutch company Volvo Car B.V went on to develop what would become the 400 series, while Volvo Cars in Sweden developed the 850 series.

The first model to be presented was the 850 GLT, with its 20-valve naturally aspirated engine producing 170 hp. During the development phase, Volvo worked actively to make the 850 GLT a lively car that delivered great driving pleasure while achieving the correct intake and exhaust noise.

The next important 850 version was presented in February 1993 – the estate car. It boasted typical Volvo features such as the abruptly ending rear section for maximum load capacity. One new design feature, however, was the extended vertical tail lights that covered the entire D-post. During the development work, Chief Designer Jan Wilsgaard had a model on which the large tail lights could be removed and replaced for comparison. The estate version was subsequently awarded the prestigious Japanese distinction “1994 Good Design Grand Prize” as well as the Italian “Most beautiful estate”.

The 850 series was soon expanded with various engine options. The model that would achieve most attention was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1994. With its distinctive yellow colour, the T-5R really stood out like an exclamation mark on wheels. This special model was intended to be manufactured in a run of 2,500 cars. The turbocharged engine with intercooler produced 240 hp and 330 Nm of torque. The equipment on the car included special spoilers, a square exhaust pipe and 17” Titan alloy wheels. The yellow cars sold out in a couple of weeks, and so the same number of black cars were produced, finally followed by a run of 2,500 dark green T-5Rs.

1994 was also the year when Volvo returned to the racetrack – and did so in an extremely eye-catching way. When two 850s drove up to the starting line for the season premiere at the Thruxton track in southern England, they were the estate version! Competing with a “van” in Europe’s most prestigious standard car series, the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) attracted an enormous amount of attention. Volvo invested heavily alongside Tom Walkinshaw Racing, with the two cars being driven by the Swede Rickard Rydell and the Dutch driver Jan Lammers. In 1995, estate cars were practically made illegal by rule changes and Volvo switched to the saloon model. That season Rickard Rydell came in third place overall in the championship.

Right from the outset, the press called the Volvo 850 “the world’s safest car”, and in 1995 it introduced another world first in terms of safety. At this point, the Volvo 850 became the first mass-produced car to come with side-impact airbags.

The 850 AWD – the company's first four-wheel-drive car – was a pioneer for Volvo when it was launched in 1996. The 850 All Wheel Drive had four-wheel drive engaged at all times – a viscous coupling automatically distributed the power between the front and rear wheels. If one of the rear wheels started to spin, the electronic TRACS anti-spin system automatically distributed the power between the front wheels to the one with the best grip. The 850 AWD was powered by a newly developed engine with light pressure turbo boost producing 193 hp, and was a predecessor to Volvo's four-wheel-drive XC models.

1996 was the final year the 850 was in production. When the models underwent a major upgrade in 1997, the designations were changed to S70 for the saloon models and V70 for the estate version. A total of 1,360,522 cars were built in model versions originating from the 850 series. 

Renault Sport have unveiled a new concept car on the streets of Monaco’s famous Grand Prix circuit today driven by Renault Sport Formula One Team’s Kevin Magnussen.  The Clio R.S.16 is the highest performance Renault Sport road-going vehicle ever and its reveal in 2016 celebrates both 40 years of Renault Sport and Renault’s return to Formula One as a constructor.

Developed in record time

“Our aim was to produce a concept car with genuinely outstanding performance credentials,” notes Patrice Ratti, Managing Director of Renault Sport Cars, leader of the project which particularly inspired the development team’s specialists. “On paper, producing a Clio R.S. powered by our most potent engine – namely the 275-horsepower two-litre power unit which delivers peak torque of 360Nm – was an extremely appealing idea, but we had to make sure it was feasible.”

Thanks to new working procedures involving teams from the worlds of motorsport and road cars, the development of the highest-performance road-going Renault Sport car ever took just five months from start to finish.

A variety of technical challenges

Finding the ideal way to house the engine, transmission and cooling system of the Mégane R.S. 275 Trophy-R was a significant challenge. The exhaust system was also revised as a function of the engine’s potential, while the suspension was engineered to match the car’s outstanding performance characteristics. Careful attention was paid to the sound produced by the car, too, and an Akrapovič twin exhaust system was selected.

Performance-led design

The design and development team dealt successfully with the constraints inherent in the Clio R.S. 16 project (body widened by 60mm, 19-inch wheels and optimisation of the engine cooling system) to produce an expressive, sporty stance. The result is enhanced by an LED R.S. VISION chequered-pattern lighting signature featuring exclusive multi-faceted reflector technology.

Renault Sport’s trademark Liquid Yellow has been combined with gloss black details to mirror the livery of Renault Sport Formula One Team’s R.S.16 F1 single-seaters.

After today’s first public airing in the streets of Monaco, the car’s next official appearance will be the Goodwood Festival of Speed on June 23-26.

Hyundai Motor America today announced pricing for the all-new 2017 Elantra Eco, which comes well-equipped with a new fuel-efficient turbocharged powertrain, advanced safety features and user-friendly technology for $20,650. Assembled in Montgomery at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, the new Elantra Eco arrives in dealerships this month, joining the rest of the 2017 Hyundai Elantra trims including the value-packed SE and the premium-appointed Limited.

“Now entering its sixth-generation, the Elantra model has always been synonymous with value in the highly competitive compact car segment,” said Mike Evanoff, manager, product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “With the new Elantra we not only focused key development objectives on performance, ride quality and efficiency, but committed ourselves to delivering a compelling value proposition at all price points. The Eco is an all-new trim for Elantra that offers consumers enhanced fuel efficiency with a 1.4-liter turbocharged and direct injected powertrain combined with standard high-demand features such as Blind Spot Detection and our 7-inch display audio system with Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ support.”

2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA TRIM & PRICING BREAKDOWN

The 2017 Elantra is offered in three distinct trim levels to meet the needs of varying consumer preferences:

• SE: Well-equipped model with popular options and technology
• Eco: Fuel-efficient turbo model
• Limited: Premium model with leather, advanced safety technology and features

 A Sport model will appear later in the year and push the dynamics and fun-to-drive factor of Elantra to all-new levels.

Freight charges for the 2017 Elantra are $835 and not included in the prices above.

<<Click here for more information on the 2017 Elantra’s packaging and pricing>>

Exclusive to the Elantra Eco is an all-new efficient 1.4-liter Kappa turbocharged GDI 4-cylinder producing 128 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and a robust 156 lb-ft. of torque at a low 1,400 ~ 3,700 rpm. This engine is mated to a new seven-speed EcoShift® dual-clutch transmission providing dynamic and efficient driving performance through its optimized gear-ratios and seamless shifting. With this innovative powertrain, the Elantra Eco delivers an impressive 35 mpg combined, 32 city and 40 mpg highway on regular unleaded gasoline and could result in an average annual fuel cost of just $950 (source: fueleconomy.gov).

An integrated cylinder head and exhaust manifold help to improve fuel economy at higher engine speeds, while an optimized straight intake port increases tumble flow for fast combustion, suppressing knock tendency to further enhance efficiency. In addition, all Elantras are equipped with a new Drive Mode Select feature that adjusts both powertrain performance and steering effort, allowing the driver to customize the driving character by selecting from three modes: Eco, Normal or Sport, simply by touching a button on the center console.

The Elantra Eco shares the same bold aerodynamic design and signature hexagonal grille with the rest of the Hyundai Elantra line-up, but distinguishes itself with an “Eco” badge and unique 15-inch alloy wheels. Standard vertical LED daytime running lights add a distinctive front light signature along with thoughtful door handle welcome lights for improved visibility at night. The Eco also includes Elantra’s segment-exclusive hands-free Smart Trunk, allowing drivers to conveniently open the trunk if their hands are full by simply approaching the rear of the vehicle with the key fob in a purse or pocket. An audible beep will sound three times, and the trunk will automatically open, making it easy to place items in the cargo area.

The 2017 Elantra also offers additional advanced safety technologies available on the Limited trim with Ultimate package which includes Automatic Emergency Braking with class-exclusive Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist System and High Beam Assist.

BMW i Vision Future Interaction Concept

Vehicles with highly automated driving are an important milestone on the road to Vision Zero, the idea of accident-free individual mobility. This increases the aspirations of drivers for the user friendliness of vehicles, for the presentation of information and for digital networking of the information. Occupants are increasingly also wanting to communicate with the outside world supported by unrestricted quality and in the scope they are normally accustomed to. At the CES 2016, the BMW Group is using the Concept Car BMW i Vision Future Interaction to show what the user interface of the future might look like - including support from high-resolution vehicle displays where the content responds to the situation. In order to make the interaction of the passengers with the vehicle as intuitive as possible, all functions are controlled using touch-sensitive surfaces, gestures and voice.

Interior compartment responds flexibly to the demands of the future

The Vision Car is based on the BMW i8 Concept Spyder. The interior has a thoroughbred, sporty and flexible profile. On the one hand, it supports the driver in manual driving mode with a clearly defined focus. On the other hand, when the vehicle is in its highly automated mode, the interior provides an opportunity to relax in the innovatively designed seats and to make proactive use of the time gained through the expanded content available on the central information display. Just as the vehicle adjusts automatically to drive mode and the surrounding environment, the digital content is optimally presented at any given time. Drivers look at data such as the charge status of the vehicle batteries or the routes offered before commencing the journey on their smart phone, smart watch or Mobility Mirror. These are then automatically transferred to the appropriate menus, map displays and driver information on the panorama display in the BMW i Vision Future Interaction. The transition from mobile device to display in the vehicle takes place seamlessly.

Innovative instruments, panorama displays, 3D views

The BMW i Vision Future Interaction has a Head-Up Display, an instrument cluster with three-dimensional display, and a 21-inch panorama display which extends over almost the entire passenger side.

The driver receives key drive information on the high-resolution Head-Up Display, which reflects the most important data such as speed, speed limits or navigation information within the field of vision on the front windscreen. The instrument cluster is located directly behind the steering wheel and information is shown here in three-dimensional display (autostereoscopically). As well as the usual information about speed, consumption and range, the driver is also provided with information here about vehicles on the road ahead or oncoming vehicles which are not yet in his or her field of vision. The driver is consequently able to respond at an early stage to all conceivable traffic situations. This also applies during highly automated driving. If the driver needs to take over command of the vehicle, the system provides an appropriate alert. The technology acts predictively so that the driver has at least five to seven seconds to respond.

Information prepared to suit the situation

The central panorama display is the most striking interaction element of the BMW i Vision Future Interaction. It extends from the centre console across the entire passenger side and appears to flow harmoniously out of the dashboard panel. The display height of eleven centimetres means that the dashboard panel is not higher than in the BMW i8 and it permits an optimum view to the front of the vehicle. The high-resolution panorama display in the BMW i Vision Future Interaction is almost 40 centimetres wide while the screen diagonal is 21 inches.

When the driver gets into the vehicle, this panorama seamlessly displays the content which is provided by the vision of the Open Mobility Cloud from BMW and it can also be seen automatically using the BMW Connected App on a smart phone or other digital end devices. The display adjusts automatically, in response to the drive mode of the BMW i Vision Future Interaction. In future, for example, the system could switch automatically from pure audio to video transmission during phone conversations, if vehicles are driving in fully automated mode. Drivers and passengers also have the option of unrestricted access to Web content, mails or audiovisual offerings.

While the driver remains active at the steering wheel, information in reduced scope is displayed on the large panorama display in order to minimise distraction and maintain the focus entirely on what is happening on the road.

The number of control elements is reduced to a minimum in the BMW i Vision Future Interaction. The most important of these elements - the drive mode selector switch - is located on the left-hand side of the steering wheel. This is used to select between the three drive modes. The "Pure Drive" mode meets the typical BMW high aspiration for sheer driving pleasure at all times. Assistance systems are used passively here and they only give warning alerts without actually intervening in the control of the vehicle. The "Assist" setting provides optimum networking with the surrounding environment. The best route is calculated in real time and fed into the navigation system. The vehicle supports the driving performance of the driver and intervenes actively if there is danger of an event such as a shunt accident, or if an obstacle on the road appears to be a safety risk. When the vehicle is in "Auto Mode", the vehicle itself takes over control of sideways and forward orientation, accelerates independently, brakes and steers - without the driver having to intervene at all. In the near future, this could already be permitted on certain approved stretches of road, for examples sections of German motorways or in Car Pool Lanes in the USA.

The BMW i Vision Future Interaction proactively gives drivers an alert if they are in a zone for highly automated driving. The driver can then change the drive mode as appropriate. The steering wheel is illuminated in blue in the highly automated drive mode. The colour scheme therefore provides a visual cue that the driver is in this drive mode. If the vehicle leaves the approved lane for highly automated driving and has to take control of the steering wheel again, a red light signal conveys this requirement. The BMW i Vision Future Interaction is therefore already providing an indication today of what the control functions might look like in the future in highly automated vehicles.

Interaction with AirTouch, sensitive surfaces and voice

The development engineers are using new human-machine interfaces to control and select the content on the large panorama display, and this offers a large number of new options for interaction. One of them is AirTouch, gesture control for all communication, information and entertainment functions in the vehicle. It allows the big screen to be operated like a touchscreen - without actually having to touch it.

Sensors are installed in the area of the dashboard panel which responds to hand movements. A movement of the hand can be used to go to a position on the panorama display and the selected icon is highlighted visually. If the hand is moved forward (push gesture), the icon is activated or the menu displays the next level.

AirTouch has a second option for carrying out this confirm action. An AirTouch switch is located on the steering wheel which briefly illuminates if a menu or icon can be activated. A tap is sufficient to select the desired program in this way or to select a preset. There is also a similar button for the passenger located on the side panel. This enables passengers to use one hand to navigate through the menu and very quickly confirm inputs with the other hand.

The menus in AirTouch are not in the form of lists but appear as large tiles. Four of these tiles are located beside each other on the display. The system provides car occupants with context-sensitive option menus - for example, if music is currently running on a streaming service, buttons are displayed on one of the tiles that allow you to go forward or backwards to titles, stop playing or start again. The intelligent menu control of AirTouch reduces selection steps. AirTouch recognises which control steps are necessary next and shows these in the display. This allows the driver to concentrate on what is happening on the road or offers additional convenient control options if the vehicle is driving in highly automated mode.

Touch-sensitive surfaces in the wide and generously proportioned central console offer an additional control element. A sensitive control surface is provided beneath the leather upholstery which can be used by the driver or passenger in order to navigate through the menus or option lists by tapping, swiping or sliding movements - as in a smart phone or tablet. The entertainment and information systems in the BMW i Vision Future Interaction can also be conducted by spoken control commands, in other words by recognition of natural language.

The character of the interior changes depending on the drive mode

If the driver changes to highly automated mode, the colour of the steering wheel is not the only thing that changes. When the vehicle takes over control, lots of additional space suddenly becomes available for the people inside. The steering wheel moves forward by several centimetres and this opens up more space. At the same time, the contoured, sculpted sports seat changes its character. Elements in the side upholstery give the seats a lounge profile which enables the driver to turn more to the right in order to look at the panorama display in a more relaxed position. The new freedom of movement is also supported by an extended headrest and the generously dimensioned central armrest.

The objective is to enable drivers to make relaxed and effective use of the freedoms offered by highly automated driving - and when drivers want to take the wheel themselves and enjoy sporty driving fun, the ideal enablers typical of BMW are provided in the ergonomic design of the seat and steering wheel. This extends through to support from vehicle technology which shows information like the ideal line or braking points on a selected stretch of road in the BMW Head-Up Display.

Open sportiness of the BMW i Vision Future Interaction

The athletic design of the BMW i Vision Future Interaction reveals the qualities of an open two-seater which unites dynamic driving, efficiency and visual elegance with a rather special aesthetic appeal. The Concept Car combines intelligent lightweight construction with the advanced drive technology of BMW eDrive. It is finished in the exterior colour of E-Copper Orange, with highlights being accented in Frozen Grey (kidney-shaped grille, tank cover and front and rear sills), and in high-gloss black below the entrance.

The BMW i Vision Future Interaction uses innovative LifeDrive architecture which is structured with separate function units that operate independently of each other. The Life Module made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) forms the very lightweight passenger cell. Meanwhile the Drive Modules, which are primarily manufactured from aluminium - drive train, chassis and safety structure - take over the functions relevant for driving. The characteristic binary division of the LifeDrive concept is also reflected in the design and deliberately emphasises the basic elements. Highly expressive surfaces and precise lines create a harmonious transition from one module to another.

The headlamps designed with BMW laser light technology are a defining element at the front. They are configured in the u-shaped design of BMW i. The flat engine bonnet is styled with a V that opens up to the windscreen. It forms the starting point for the typical Black Belt, which continues on the rear cover and constitutes a characteristic feature of the BMW i models. The side view is defined by the short overhangs typical of BMW vehicles. They combine with the wedge shape of the sills to generate the athletic character - contours and lines create a sense of strong forward motion even when the vehicle is at rest. Similar to the front, the rear of the vehicle is flat, while a powerful rear diffusor, air vents in a three-dimensional design and the u-shaped tail lamps with LED technology give the impression of exceptional breadth to the BMW i Vision Future Interaction and define its sporting aspirations.

A top priority for designers was to integrate the architecture of the large panorama display into the basic concept of the interior design and to accommodate elements in the surface structure which are typical for BMW i vehicles. The instrument dashboard therefore has a structure which is comprised of overlaid pentagons and hexagons. This design is a hallmark of BMW i and is simultaneously a symbol for the seamless networking of the BMW i Vision Future Interaction.

The interior compartment is styled with a mix of colour and material made up of plastic, carbon and leather, which creates an aura of high quality, emotionality and thoroughbred pedigree. The seats are upholstered in leather amido and textile, and a leather core made of natural leather. The same leather is also used on the dashboard, combined with a monofilament technical textile which also provides the floor covering for the BMW i Vision Future Interaction. Dark leather amido is combined with semi-aniline leather in Ice Grey to cover the central console. Buttons on the steering wheel made of polished aluminium emphasise the high-tech character of the BMW i Vision Future Interaction.