2011 Infiniti Etherea Concept

Enlarge Photo

The relationship between automakers Renault-Nissan and Mercedes-Benz has transitioned from “we’re just friends” to “we’re involved,” following the announcement that Infiniti will build an upcoming luxury compact on a platform supplied by Mercedes Benz. The compact crossover will be based on the Infiniti Etherea concept, and will use Mercedes’ modular front architecture (MFA) platform, which underpins the new Mercedes B-Class.

Per Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, the announcement marks an “expansion of cooperation” between the automakers, who had previously agreed to cooperate on electric versions of the future Smart Fortwo and Renault Twingo, and on a compact van using a Renault platform. All joint efforts are based on “practical projects,” which makes the friends-with-benefits relationship between Mercedes-Benz and Renault much less restrictive (and more likely to succeed).

Infiniti needs a compact offering to challenge the market dominance of the BMW 1-Series and the Audi A3 in Europe. The new Infiniti model will launch in 2014, with both gas and diesel engine offerings (at least in Europe). It will draw heavily from the Etherea concept, and Infiniti believes the car could someday account for as much as 40 percent of Infiniti’s sales in the European market.

A strong Japanese Yen has cut into Infiniti’s profits in Europe and America, so it’s likely the new model will be built in Europe to reduce production and distribution costs. If that happens, the crossover would become the first Japanese luxury brand model to be built outside of Japan.

Automotive News (subscription required) via Motor Authority

2011 Infiniti Etherea Concept

Enlarge Photo

The relationship between automakers Renault-Nissan and Mercedes-Benz has transitioned from “we’re just friends” to “we’re involved,” following the announcement that Infiniti will build an upcoming luxury compact on a platform supplied by Mercedes Benz. The compact crossover will be based on the Infiniti Etherea concept, and will use Mercedes’ modular front architecture (MFA) platform, which underpins the new Mercedes B-Class.

Per Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, the announcement marks an “expansion of cooperation” between the automakers, who had previously agreed to cooperate on electric versions of the future Smart Fortwo and Renault Twingo, and on a compact van using a Renault platform. All joint efforts are based on “practical projects,” which makes the friends-with-benefits relationship between Mercedes-Benz and Renault much less restrictive (and more likely to succeed).

Infiniti needs a compact offering to challenge the market dominance of the BMW 1-Series and the Audi A3 in Europe. The new Infiniti model will launch in 2014, with both gas and diesel engine offerings (at least in Europe). It will draw heavily from the Etherea concept, and Infiniti believes the car could someday account for as much as 40 percent of Infiniti’s sales in the European market.

A strong Japanese Yen has cut into Infiniti’s profits in Europe and America, so it’s likely the new model will be built in Europe to reduce production and distribution costs. If that happens, the crossover would become the first Japanese luxury brand model to be built outside of Japan.

Automotive News (subscription required) via Motor Authority

2011 Infiniti Etherea Concept

Enlarge Photo

The relationship between automakers Renault-Nissan and Mercedes-Benz has transitioned from “we’re just friends” to “we’re involved,” following the announcement that Infiniti will build an upcoming luxury compact on a platform supplied by Mercedes Benz. The compact crossover will be based on the Infiniti Etherea concept, and will use Mercedes’ modular front architecture (MFA) platform, which underpins the new Mercedes B-Class.

Per Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, the announcement marks an “expansion of cooperation” between the automakers, who had previously agreed to cooperate on electric versions of the future Smart Fortwo and Renault Twingo, and on a compact van using a Renault platform. All joint efforts are based on “practical projects,” which makes the friends-with-benefits relationship between Mercedes-Benz and Renault much less restrictive (and more likely to succeed).

Infiniti needs a compact offering to challenge the market dominance of the BMW 1-Series and the Audi A3 in Europe. The new Infiniti model will launch in 2014, with both gas and diesel engine offerings (at least in Europe). It will draw heavily from the Etherea concept, and Infiniti believes the car could someday account for as much as 40 percent of Infiniti’s sales in the European market.

A strong Japanese Yen has cut into Infiniti’s profits in Europe and America, so it’s likely the new model will be built in Europe to reduce production and distribution costs. If that happens, the crossover would become the first Japanese luxury brand model to be built outside of Japan.

Automotive News (subscription required) via Motor Authority

2011 Infiniti Etherea Concept

Enlarge Photo

The relationship between automakers Renault-Nissan and Mercedes-Benz has transitioned from “we’re just friends” to “we’re involved,” following the announcement that Infiniti will build an upcoming luxury compact on a platform supplied by Mercedes Benz. The compact crossover will be based on the Infiniti Etherea concept, and will use Mercedes’ modular front architecture (MFA) platform, which underpins the new Mercedes B-Class.

Per Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, the announcement marks an “expansion of cooperation” between the automakers, who had previously agreed to cooperate on electric versions of the future Smart Fortwo and Renault Twingo, and on a compact van using a Renault platform. All joint efforts are based on “practical projects,” which makes the friends-with-benefits relationship between Mercedes-Benz and Renault much less restrictive (and more likely to succeed).

Infiniti needs a compact offering to challenge the market dominance of the BMW 1-Series and the Audi A3 in Europe. The new Infiniti model will launch in 2014, with both gas and diesel engine offerings (at least in Europe). It will draw heavily from the Etherea concept, and Infiniti believes the car could someday account for as much as 40 percent of Infiniti’s sales in the European market.

A strong Japanese Yen has cut into Infiniti’s profits in Europe and America, so it’s likely the new model will be built in Europe to reduce production and distribution costs. If that happens, the crossover would become the first Japanese luxury brand model to be built outside of Japan.

Automotive News (subscription required) via Motor Authority

The new brand identity that French automaker talks about is based on the different stages of life with the Renault Captur Concept being the second stage and this identity seems to be as odd as it sounds. The first stage, “falling in love” was displayed in the DeZir Concept that debuted at the 2010 Paris show last year and the new Captur crossover is said to depict two people exploring the world around them. Leave it to the French to think that life begins with falling in love – for most people in the world it begins with being born and growing up but to each his (or her) own, right?

The Renault Captur Concept is a compact sport ute with an advanced 4 wheel drive system powered by a 1.6L twin turbocharged diesel engine producing 160 horsepower, mated to a twin-clutch gearbox. The Captur includes a removable top for the freedom of a convertible with the off-road ability of a modern SUV, all while exposing the carbon fiber framework when the sporty crossover is topless. The ultra-futuristic interior (shown in the gallery below) only seats two people in the standard format but there are additional seats that stow into the sides of the vehicle when you need to move more than two people. Also, the interesting rear area lined with elastic cords (bright orange bungee cords?) allow for a storage area with existing tie-downs or the elastic cords can also serve as a hammock according to the automaker.

This CUV concept doesn’t look like something that will actually see production but it is being used to show off a pair of modern technologies with the first being the 4 wheel drive system. Using a variety of sensors, the 4WD system monitors which wheels are getting the most grip and when the system detects that one of the two axles is getting less grip – it quickly transfers some-to-all engine torque to the axle that is getting the best traction via a mechanical locking differential. The other new technology being shown off by the Renault Captur is a frontward-facing camera that broadcasts images onto a screen on the dash so help enhance what is in front of the vehicle. They don’t go into much detail but it sounds like this could be some sort of night vision or other gadgetry that the US government wouldn’t permit in a production vehicle – even if Renault sold new vehicles here.

If nothing else, the Renault Captur shows off the sleek lines that debuted in the Renault DeZir Concept and like that compact sports car, the Captur is intended to show the future of the Renault brand. Check out the gallery below for a closer look at the new Renault Captur Concept!

Paris 2010: Renault Dezir concept is wild, twisted beauty

Don’t let anyone tell you that Renault can’t do a concept car. The French manufacturer pulled the sheets back on its all-electric Dezir at this year’s Paris Motor Show, and the concept is as sexy as it is absurd. Designers took a stab in an all-new direction with a pair of reverse-hinged butterfly doors that are the epitome of awesome. Likewise, the ultra-wide stance and aluminum sideblades are our kind of flashy. As you might expect, this concept makes use of a fittingly-futuristic powertrain. Renault says that under all of that curvy sheet metal there’s a full EV drivetrain on hand.

Surprisingly enough, there isn’t supercar-rivaling power on hand, though. The company puts the Dezir final horsepower figure at around 150 ponies and 166 pound-feet of torque – not exactly e-tron rivaling numbers. Even so, the concept is said to be able to dart to around 60 mph in just shy of five seconds. Check it out in our high-res image galleries below.

Renault Twizy Z.E. Concept

Renault will produce in Spain Twizy ZE concept car based on the electric car. Renault has a huge program, it will in 2011 to market a complete a series of zero-emission vehicles, but this car is only one of them.

Twizy Z.E. Concept

Twizy Z.E. Concept is an all-electric vehicle aimed primarily at busy city dwellers who need to pick their way through the urban jungle. Every day, they juggle work commitments with a busy social life, so efficiency, speed and simplicity are key.

Twizy Z.E. Concept

 The ultra-compact dimensions of Twizy Z.E. Concept (2.30m in length, and just 1.13m wide) ensure that it is nimble enough for urban use. The four-wheel arrangement, open bodywork and a seat format which puts the driver and passenger behind one another express Twizy Z.E. Concept’s distinctive character.