Ford Escort Mk3 Rs1600i Turbo Rear Drivers Panel Top/cap on 2040-parts.com

Fiat 500 Abarth show debut

By Jonny Smith Motor Shows 06 March 2008 16:05 What’s new on Fiat's Geneva Motor Show stand? Amongst the kinky white boots and retro chandeliers Fiat rolled out their eco-loving theme across the whole range with three uncloakings: the fresh Fiorino, 500 Aria concept and Panda Aria prototype. The 500 Aria showcased a Euro 5 friendly 98g/km diesel 1.3 16v Multijet engine with a Stop&Start system (better for emissions, better for premature starter motor wear) and predominantly recycled interior materials.

Concept Car of the Week: Volkswagen Microbus (2001)

The turn of the millennium seemed to induce a feeling of nostalgia among car manufacturers and with it a plethora of heritage/retro designs, including the new Mini, new Ford Mustang and Nissan Z. Following the runaway success of its New Beetle, which probably started the trend, VW asked itself whether it could enjoy the same success with a modern interpretation of the legendary T1 Microbus. Designed at the surf-central design studio in Simi Valley, California, the Microbus Concept took ample inspiration from its distant ancestor, but was modernized in every way.

Jaguar Crossover could be the Q-Type or XQ

The fastest growing segment in the car market is the Crossover / SUV, especially the more compact crossovers. So if Jaguar are going to compete in the big league they’re going to have to tap in to Land Rover’s expertise at some point and come up with their own Crossover (NOT a Jaguar SUV, as Ian Callum made clear). That could perhaps be getting closer with the news that Jaguar has registered both the Q-Type and XQ monikers after Pistonheads played Sherlock and dug the details out from the bowels of the European Union trademark database.