2011 Ford Mondeo

2011 Ford Mondeo

The Mondeo is the global equivalent of our Fusion, although the two don't share a platform just yet. The Mondeo gets a refreshed exterior for 2011 with extra emphasis on Ford's "kinetic" design language and LED lighting. The interior has also been given a once-over and we now find higher-quality materials and a redesigned center console. It's not a full redesign but the Mondeo has significantly improved Ford's worldwide appeal in the last decade and comprises an important part of the Blue Oval portfolio. Power-wise, the Mondeo can soon be ordered with the 1.6- and 2.0-liter versions of the direct-injected, turbocharged EcoBoost inline-fours. Ford hasn't confirmed powertrain selections for our next-generation Fusion but don't expect to see the Duratorq diesel series beneath the hood. Other key technological features include the PowerShift dual-clutch automatic transmission, Smart Regenerative Charging, and the Ford Eco Mode driver information system designed for efficient motoring. For the first time at Ford, an Active Grille Shutter system is coming into play, which electronically opens and closes vents in the front grille to reduce drag while in motion and hasten engine warm-ups.

2011 Ford Mondeo

2011 Ford Mondeo

 

2011 Citroen DS4

2011 Citroen DS4

Citroen brought back its famous DS nameplate last year with the introduction of the C3-based DS3. The DS3 will soon be joined by the 2011 DS4, which the French marque just revealed ahead of the Paris Motor Show.
Based on Citroën's C4, the DS4 represents a step up in luxury from the standard car. Like the DS3, it is aimed at premium compact five-door hatchbacks, such as the Audi A3. The styling is more refined than that of the standard C4, with taut, flowing lines. It also does away with much of the busy appearance we bemoaned on the DS3.
2011 Citroen Ds4 Instrument Panel
Like the DS3, the DS4 features LED daytime running lights. Unlike the DS3, which features them in a recessed vertical strip, the DS4's LEDs are integrated elegantly around the fog lights. The DS4 also sports a blacked-out B-pillar, a styling cue similar to the DS3's floating B-pillar. Hidden rear door handles help to enhance the smooth look of the DS4 and chrome trim completes the exterior.
The interior of the DS4 is just as elegant as the exterior, with high-quality, textured leather seats available in five colors, including several two-tone options. Citroen also gives buyers the option of having the dashboard and door panels wrapped in cowhide. Chrome accents around the gauges and air vents give the interior an even more upscale feel without being overwrought.
2011 Citroen Ds4 Seats
Unlike the DS3, which uses the same powertrains as the standard C3, Citroen will offer more powertrain options in the DS4. The C4 is available with four engines -- two diesel, one diesel with start-stop, and a gasoline engine -- based on region. The DS4 will be offered with a total of six engines: two diesels, one diesel with start-stop, and three gasoline engines. The range-topping gasoline engine is turbocharged 1.6-liter I-4 that puts out 200 horsepower, eclipsing the most powerful C4 engine by 80 horsepower. Another change from the C4 is that all DS4s are equipped with either six-speed manual or automatic transmissions, whereas the C4 can be had with a five-speed manual.
Citroen's DS lineup will likely be joined, and completed, with a DS5 in the near future.

2011 Citroen DS4

2011 Citroen DS4

2011 Citroen DS4

2011 Chevrolet Orlando

2011 Chevrolet Orlando

2011 Chevrolet Orlando

Talk about déjà vu. Two years after rolling out Chevy's Orlando concept en Paris, General Motors will unveil the production-ready 2011 Chevrolet Orlando crossover this September at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
Overall, the Orlando concept morphed into the production 2011 Orlando with few changes. The largest departure from the original show car lies at the nose, where the angular, chiseled lines of the original design were replaced with a softened snout. The angular, trapezoidal headlamps are gone, replaced with large, rounded assemblies that help flow into the front bumper's sweeping upper edge. In back, the narrow tail lamps grow to incorporate white turn signal lenses, while a lamp combining the fog tail lamp and back-up light is placed in the middle of the rear bumper fascia.
GM has yet to release photos of the production-spec interior, but we're not expecting a big break from the concept, which sported a rounded, dual-cockpit dashboard that gently flowed into the center stack, along with seating for seven spread across three rows. Interestingly, one conceptual cue -- a cubby and USB audio input hidden behind the front fascia of the audio system -- is reportedly making its way into production, and we wouldn't be surprised if the fold-flat nature of both the second- and third-row benches also becomes reality.
2011 Chevrolet Orlando Rear View
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The 2011 Orlando rides upon a stretched version of GM's front-wheel-drive global small car architecture, which also underpins the likes of the 2011 Cruze and the 2011 Volt plug-in hybrid. Buyers will have their choice of three different engines, including a 141-horsepower, 1.8-liter gasoline I-4, or a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel I-4 offered in both 131- and 163-horsepower forms. Transmissions choices will likely include six-speed automatic and manual options.
What's all this? Diesels and a manual? Yes, and if that doesn't tell you what markets the Orlando is targeting (hint: they're all in Europe), we don't know what will. GM had once pledged to sell (and build) the Orlando here in the United States, but apparently reversed course and proclaimed it to be a "global" offering that won't make it to North America. Still, we've heard some executives are pondering adding a small van to Chevrolet's U.S. portfolio.

2011 Chevrolet Orlando

2011 Chevrolet Orlando

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback

In typical GM fashion, the Cruze hatchback shown in Paris is technically a show car, but is really little more than a gussied-up version of the upcoming production model. It's a safe bet that styling will remain unchanged, with the only likely styling changes applied to the blue headlights, LED fog lamps, and blue-painted brake calipers.
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback Rear Three Quarters View
Chevrolet designed the Cruze hatchback to retain the same stance as its sedan sibling. To make that task simpler, it looks as though each body panel forward of the B-pillar is identical to the sedan -- and that's not a bad thing.
Aft of the B-pillar, the roofline mimics that of the sedan, but it subtly transforms into a rakish hatch. From the side, the Cruze hatchback looks extremely similar to its cousin, the Opel Astra four-door hatchback, also based on GM's Delta platform. The Cruze hatchback even carries over the roof spoiler-mounted, high-center brake light of the four-door Astra hatchback.
2011 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback Side View
GM doesn't give any indication of what lies under the hood of the Cruze hatchback, but the sedan's European powertrains will likely carry over. This means buyers will have a selection of fuel-efficient gasoline and diesel engines mated to a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
Although it's not the production car, the Cruze hatchback show car is an extremely good indication of what we can expect to see launch in Europe early in 2011. GM hopes to capitalize on the Cruze sedan's success across the continent with the hatch -- a safe bet, seeing as roughly 65 percent of all compacts sold in the market are hatchbacks.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback

2011 BMW X3

2011 BMW X3

Talk about déjà vu. Two years after rolling out Chevy's Orlando concept en Paris, General Motors will unveil the production-ready 2011 Chevrolet Orlando crossover this September at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
Overall, the Orlando concept morphed into the production 2011 Orlando with few changes. The largest departure from the original show car lies at the nose, where the angular, chiseled lines of the original design were replaced with a softened snout. The angular, trapezoidal headlamps are gone, replaced with large, rounded assemblies that help flow into the front bumper's sweeping upper edge. In back, the narrow tail lamps grow to incorporate white turn signal lenses, while a lamp combining the fog tail lamp and back-up light is placed in the middle of the rear bumper fascia.
GM has yet to release photos of the production-spec interior, but we're not expecting a big break from the concept, which sported a rounded, dual-cockpit dashboard that gently flowed into the center stack, along with seating for seven spread across three rows. Interestingly, one conceptual cue -- a cubby and USB audio input hidden behind the front fascia of the audio system -- is reportedly making its way into production, and we wouldn't be surprised if the fold-flat nature of both the second- and third-row benches also becomes reality.
2011 Chevrolet Orlando Rear View
The 2011 Orlando rides upon a stretched version of GM's front-wheel-drive global small car architecture, which also underpins the likes of the 2011 Cruze and the 2011 Volt plug-in hybrid. Buyers will have their choice of three different engines, including a 141-horsepower, 1.8-liter gasoline I-4, or a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel I-4 offered in both 131- and 163-horsepower forms. Transmissions choices will likely include six-speed automatic and manual options.
What's all this? Diesels and a manual? Yes, and if that doesn't tell you what markets the Orlando is targeting (hint: they're all in Europe), we don't know what will. GM had once pledged to sell (and build) the Orlando here in the United States, but apparently reversed course and proclaimed it to be a "global" offering that won't make it to North America. Still, we've heard some executives are pondering adding a small van to Chevrolet's U.S. portfolio.

2011 BMW X3

2011 BMW X3

2011 BMW X3