News From The 2002 Paris Auto Show

Dodge Razor To Be Built?
Chrysler's popular Razor concept vehicle may be in for a reprieve. Dodge unveiled the retro-styled roadster at the Detroit auto show last January, but despite strong public response, it had looked like Chrysler wouldn't put the orange coupe into production. Well, speaking at a preview for the Paris auto show, the carmaker's chief executive officer, Dieter Zetsche, suggested that Chrysler is having second thoughts. "Razor is not in the front position to go into production," Zetsche said, quickly adding that, "this is not a 'no.'"

Kia Gets Funky
Kia unveiled its KCV-II car that's aimed at young buyers that like to have fun. The concept has a flexible seating system and an open pickup bed. The car was designed in Kia's European design studio in Frankfurt, Germany, after an in-house competition took place among the staff. The KCV-II is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 and has full-time all-wheel drive. It is built on a new platform, code-named KM, that will be used for future Kias, such as a conventional SUV and a lifestyle version like the KCV-II. With this concept, Kia also wants to show that it will introduce a tire-pressure warning system, active headrests and emergency brake assist in its production models.

Mitsubishi Rallies A Concept
Mitsubishi showed its Pajero Evolution, the first rally car based on a concept car. The Pajero Evo was unveiled in Frankfurt last year. It will be ready to race the 2003 season and will debut in the 2002 UAE Desert Rally in Dubai Oct. 29 through Nov. 2. Of course, the Evolution will also participate in the Rally Paris-Dakar in January. The new car has better weight distribution and a lower center of gravity than its predecessor, achieved by placing the tuned 24-valve 3.5-liter V6 about 4 in. lower and 12 in. farther back in the chassis. The Evolution is the first Pajero with a sequential 6-speed manual gearbox. The car also features a system to adjust tire pressure from the passenger seat.

GM Debuts Its Hy-Wire Act
General Motors took the unusual step of introducing one of its more unusual concept vehicles in Paris. Hy-Wire is short for "hydrogen" and "by-wire." The first part of the name refers to the vehicle's hydrogen-powered fuel cell, the second part to the drive-by-wire system that replaces conventional mechanical controls. There are no pedals in the surprisingly spacious cabin, just a video game-style controller that puts steering, braking, shifting and throttle controls at the driver's fingertips. And the controls can be moved to allow for both righthand and lefthand drive. All mechanical systems are located beneath the cabin floor in a chassis that is no more than 11 in. thick. With this novel GM idea, car bodies could conceivably be quickly swapped, allowing an owner to drive a coupe one day, an SUV the next. "This is a true reinvention of the automobile," declared the carmaker's technology chief, Larry Burns. GM officials insist they are serious about putting Hy-Wire and other fuel cell vehicles into production, but likely not until late in the decade.

Opel Diesel Screamer
The Opel ECO Speedster is a 2-seat terror designed to demonstrate that diesels can inspire a little excitement. The concept vehicle is a closed-top version of the current, open-air roadster, the Opel Speedster. The ECO Speedster version features a 112-hp turbodiesel that gets close to 95 miles per gallon--while also delivering a top speed of nearly 160 mph.

Renault Bubbles Ellypse
Renault showed a concept, the Ellypse, which it calls "a bubble of optimism in the automotive world." Renault's lofty statements about the Ellypse's purpose explain that "aggressiveness is banished from the smooth yet friendly" design, and the interior "radiates soothing vibes." The rounded hatchback was designed for easy disassembly at the end of the car's life. Renault says the concept's diesel powerplant further contributes to environmental goals because of its low fuel consumption and the use of a unique 4-way catalytic converter that processes carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, unburnt hydrocarbons and particulates.

printerisõbralik versioon esita küsimus