Hyundai Sonata

The international debut of the new Hyundai Sonata coincided with the North American market introduction of the Tuscan and of the expression ‘fluidic sculpture', which the company is using to describe the new design language of these and forthcoming vehicles from the Korean brand.

The new Sonata follows its predecessor in targeting the Toyota Camry and US market Honda Accord, but differs markedly in having ‘fluidic sculpture': a far more expressive and curvaceous aesthetic. Central to this are the two single sweeping lines that define the top of the DLO and run from the headlamp through the shallow upper shoulder to the rear, a theme reminiscent but distinct from the Mercedes Benz CLS. The lower line innovates in having a chrome seam running from the headlamp through the hood shut line and along the base of the DLO. This sits above an unusually shallow shoulder which itself is defined by a sharp bone line that fades out in the C-pillar. Below this is a similarly sharp bone line that sweeps up from behind the front wheel and takes over from the upper bone line to form a broader shoulder as it runs into the rear. Between these bone lines is a mix of concave and convex surfaces that were impressively well resolved and continued around the front and rear of the car also.

The interior also has some of the ‘fluidic sculpture' of the exterior, notably in the center stack. The use of more matt finish wood appliqué and vertical vanes to air vents are also nice elegant touches, but otherwise the design is quite orthodox.

This new Sonata is a very attractive and distinctive, and a design that despite its complex surfacing has impressive levels of surface refinement. But what we think is most significant is that it shows Hyundai's new found conviction in taking its own route. Whilst its predecessor was a handsomely conservative and quite derivative design, here is a handsomely expressive design with will not be mistaken for any other car on the road.

Honda P-NUT concept

This design is dominated by its mono-space theme that tapers in plan forwards to reflect its arrow-head three seat configuration. Look inside and the rational for the seating layout is the same as the McLaren F1 that pioneered it: to allow seating for more than two in a short length by putting the passengers' legs and feet to the sides of the driver, while the driver's legs and feet sit between the front wheels. But what you also see when you look inside the P-NUT is a very crude model and a design that appears little developed: there was scant detailing and negligible use of color or materials.

The exterior perhaps also suffers from an apparently rushed and/or under-resourced design process, but there is an appealing uniqueness to the concept, some great details and some impressive resolution also.

The front face is perhaps the least comfortable aspect with an overly literal ‘mean face'. This is made of a low set mouth/grille glazing element (that augments forward visibility) connected to the lamps. Just above the DRG is a visually weak point where the tapering A-pillars form two sharp corners with no supporting ‘mass'. But the dramatic tapering A-pillars is unique and also creates a broad front shoulder that tapers rearwards, which lends an appealing robustness to this small car. The shoulder surface is near horizontal with a sharp crease delineating the sheer body-side that on closer inspection has some subtle surfacing and plan shape. The body side's relationship with the shoulder is complemented by a similar relationship with the rocker that also borrows thinking from last year's Honda FC Sport show car in tapering under the car. At the rear there are hints of the fantastic Honda Bulldog concept from 2001 with an upright narrow rear aspect flanked by deep section shoulders.

The P-NUT is a fun little concept, but like previous Honda concepts from the Southern California studio, we can't help but wish it was a little less superficial in its thinking and execution.

World premiere in Geneva: The legendary Scirocco is back

Wolfsburg, Geneva, March 2008. It is back: 34 years after the world premiere of the first Scirocco at the Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen is now presenting the Scirocco of the new era in the same venue. Now as before, the coupé embodies the fascinating strategy of putting a sports car on wheels that is fit for use every day of the year at absolutely affordable prices. That is precisely what the new Scirocco does: high-class technologies merge with low costs of ownership, dynamic driving characteristics merge with a high level of comfort, and a surprisingly spacious interior merges with an uncompromisingly sporty design.

Volkswagen Chief Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn: “In the Scirocco we will be bringing the kind of sports car into the showroom that people dream of. Yet it is a dream that an exceptionally large number of car drivers will be able to afford – despite all of the high-end technologies we have implemented.” The Scirocco will already be entering the market across Europe in late summer, and other countries will follow over the course of the next year.

Avant garde design of the Scirocco
A calling card of the ambitious global concept is the new sports car’s avant-garde design. The fact being that the lines of the Scirocco study presented in August 2006 have been transferred to the production car nearly unchanged. This includes the long wagon/coupé roof whose form here is unique, and which pays tribute to the C-pillar design of the first Scirocco, the car’s athletic side profile, its distinctive engine hood and the entire rear end with its extremely broad shoulder sections. Only the design of the radiator grille has been changed for a more stylish and timeless solution.

With a length of 4.26 meters, the Scirocco is on par with the Golf. However, it is built significantly lower to the ground (1.40 meter) and is nearly as wide as the Passat (1.81 meter). Four adults can be seated with plenty of space inside. Once they are all aboard, the Scirocco provides 292 liters of cargo capacity; when the two seatbacks of the rear individual sport seats are folded down, capacity increases to a considerable 755 liters. This contemporary Scirocco demonstrates unfettered everyday utility, and it can be clearly recommended as a sports car for every day of the year.

Avant-garde technology of the Scirocco
Providing for ample power on the Scirocco – which comes with ESP and sport chassis as standard equipment – are four TDI and TSI engines, all of them charged and therefore just
as torque-strong as they are economical and low in emissions. The three TSIs (gasoline direct-injection) output 90 kW / 122 PS, 118 kW / 160 PS and 147 kW / 200 PS. The Scirocco’s common rail engine (TDI) develops a power of 103 kW / 140 PS.

Further high-tech elements of the Scirocco: a 7-speed DSG and an “adaptive chassis control system”. Meanwhile, a large panorama vent sunroof – extending from the A pillars to the B pillars – provides for plenty of light in the interior. At the press of a button the transparent panorama roof is raised up to 39 millimeters. When the sun is too intense, a sunshade may be moved into place. But that is seldom likely to be necessary, since the glass of the panorama vent roof reflects 99 percent of UV radiation, 97 percent of infrared radiation (heat) and 80 percent of visible light.

The new Scirocco is one of the most attractive sports cars in the world when it comes to pricing. Nonetheless, the standard equipment package is super. Always there, for example, are 17-inch alloy wheels, height adjustable driver and front passenger seats and steering wheel, leather parking brake grip, sport seats, split folding rear seats, power windows, air conditioning, ESP, braking assistant, six airbags, speed-dependent power steering, and of course a sport chassis.

TECHART wins sport auto Tuner Grand Prix 2008

The sport auto Tuner Grand Prix in Hockenheim is the world’s biggest performance competition in the car tuning industry. With driver Jörg Hardt at the wheel, TECHART won the 2008 competition with its 700 PS / 515 kW TECHART GTstreet RS, produced in small series based on the Porsche GT2.

With a lap time of 1.06,811 minutes for the short course of the Hockenheim circuit, the TECHART driver Jörg Hardt won the GT class . TECHART’s overall victory at the sport auto Tuner Grand Prix 2008 again demonstrated the company’s unique positioning on the car enhancement market.

The specialists from Leonberg-Höfingen were able to draw on more than 20 years of experience when preparing the vehicle and modifying the Porsche vehicles from Zuffenhausen. In order to participate in the sport auto Tuner Grand Prix 2008, the black/white TECHART GTstreet RS was required to obtain certification to prove the vehicle’s road-worthiness. It was also required to meet the specific requirements set by editors of the sport auto magazine.

In addition to its powerful TECHART biturbo engine, with an output of 700 hp / 515 kW at 7,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 860 Nm at 4,500 revs, the height-adjustable sports suspension and tires were crucial to securing success in this competition.

The TECHART sports suspension was developed in combination with the TECHART engineers and with vehicle experts from Bilstein so as to be specially adapted to the short course at the Hockenheim circuit. Jörg Hardt, who is one of the most successful drivers in the Porsche Carrera Cup, was very enthusiastic about the vehicle: “The car was prepared to perfection”.

In addition to its overall victory, TECHART Automobildesign also clocked up an additional success in the Cabrio category: Jörg Hardt drove the 580 PS / 441 kW TECHART GTstreet Cabriolet to success in the Cabriolet class with a lap time of 1:10,382 minutes.

Given the tropical temperatures of the Whitsun weekend at the Hockenheim motodrome, it was crucial to use the perfect kind of tire. TECHART’s technology partner, Michelin, contributed its high performance tires Michelin Sport Cup Plus to it.
The light single-component TECHART formula III light metal wheel rims, sized 8.5Jx20 at the front and 12Jx20 at the back, were fitted with Michelin tires in the size 245/30 ZR 20 for the front axle and 315/25 ZR 20 for the back.