2010 Chrysler Delta Concept Cars at the Detroit Auto Show ready for production

As you know, Fiat-Chrysler alliance will produce a series of models developed by a manufacturer that will be marketed with the logo of other brands belonging to the consortium. To illustrate some of the changes that took place in the Fiat-Chrysler alliance, the Americans from Chrysler unveiled a Lancia Delta with a Chrysler logo. The compact Delta was present at the Detroit Auto Show with a changed front grille, along with Chrysler logo located inside and outside.

2010 Chrysler Delta Concept Cars at the Detroit Auto Show

As a strange by product of the Chrysler/Fiat tie-in, a Lancia Delta wearing Chrysler badges appeared at the Detroit Auto Show’s Chrysler exhibit. There was no press release about the car. What’s more, Chrysler spokesmen seemed as surprised as we were. Let’s assume this was merely an exercise to see how the public would react.

Lancia debuted the new Delta, and this Chrysler concept cars apparently exists to demonstrate to the public that Chrysler now has foreign fingers in its pie. Powertrain? No details available, although twin exhaust tips in the rear suggest it has an engine. In Europe, the Delta is available with a choice of five powerplants; gasoline units are 1.4- and 1.8-liter turbo fours and there are also 1.6-, 1.9-, and 2.0-liter diesel inline-fours. Brembo brakes do this car’s stopping, and it wears 225/45-17 Goodyear Excellence rubber.

The only difference between this and the Delta sold in Russia, Turkey and the U.K. is the grille and Chrysler's name on the back end. Surprisingly, the exterior design fits well within the current state of Chrysler products and easily outshines most of what's on dealer lots right now. The interior looks a little disjointed for American tastes, however.

While there are a number of engines for the Delta overseas, it would likely get one of the new four- or six-cylinder engines Chrysler unveiled last week.

Although Chrysler Delta will not be sold too soon on the market in the United States of America, it exemplifies the changes that take place in the ranges of the two manufacturers in the alliance. We can expect the Dodge models to receive the logo of Alfa Romeo when Dodge will be sold in the US, and Dodge models receive similar treatment in Europe.

2010 Chrysler Delta Concept Cars apparently exist to demonstrate to the public that Chrysler now has foreign fingers in its pie. Although twin exhaust tips in the rear suggest it has an engine. In Europe, the Delta is available with a choice of five powerplants. Chrysler could learn from the Delta’s sumptuous interior. Tan leather seats are trimmed with fat black piping and the black leather covered dash is stitched with contrasting tan thread to match the seats.

Chrysler could learn from the Delta’s sumptuous interior. Tan leather seats are trimmed with fat black piping, and the black leather-covered dash is stitched with contrasting tan thread to match the seats. A panoramic full-length glass roof, navigation system, and automatic climate control attest to the luxurious trappings available on the car in Europe. 

Although the interior looks like a lovely place to pass the miles, we think the car just looks awkward, with more of a goofy French style than the sensuous shapes we expect from Italians.

2010 Honda Cars Civic Hybrid 1.3-liter 4-cylinder Engine with IMA

Looks like a Civic, drives like a Civic, but achieves better gas mileage than a regular Civic. In a nutshell, that's the Civic hybrid, one of the best cars for highway commuters according to Forbes Magazine. Honda's second generation hybrid Civic offers improved city fuel economy, and an incredibly better body design with softer, sleeker design cues. And within 2 - 3 years, the Civic hybrid will make another upgrade, when it switches from NiMH battery technology to lithium-ion technology, which could provide Civic hybrid-like performance, but at a cheaper cost. And, despite some complaints over mileage, particularly in city traffic, most Civic hybrid owners are very happy with the gas mileage of their hybrid Civics.

2010 Honda Cars Civic Hybrid

The 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid does just what it's designed to do: carry you and yours all over town with superb fuel efficiency. The four-door 2010 Civic Hybrid uses a blend of gasoline and electric power to achieve a real-world 45 mpg, but hardly anyone will know you're driving a hybrid. It's the hybrid for people who don't need to show off their green credentials. At a base price of $23,800, the Civic Hybrid competes with the Volkswagen Jetta TDI clean diesel sedan, the Honda Civic GX natural-gas vehicle, and the all-new 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid hatchback.

It takes a trained eye to tell the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid apart from other Civics. Along with the other Civic four-door sedans, it got a new grille and lights last year; otherwise, it's unchanged for 2010. The Hybrid's minor exterior tweaks include different wheels, clear turn-signal lenses, turn indicators built into the side-view mirror housings, and a small trunk-lid spoiler. Inside, it sports blue lighting and a wonderfully rich blue cloth interior and blue vinyl dash cap.

The 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid with advanced Integrated Motor Assist IMA® hybrid technology achieves an EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy of 40/45 miles per gallon and includes Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and an available leather-trimmed interior with heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and heated side mirrors. 

The Civic Hybrid is certified by the California Air Resource Board (CARB) as an Advanced-Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV). A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is standard equipment.

The Civic Hybrid can deactivate all four of its cylinders and operate using only the electric motor in certain low-speed cruising situations. Power for the Civic Hybrid is provided by a 1.3-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and a 15 kilowatt electric motor, producing a combined 110-horsepower @ 6000 rpm and combined 123 lb-ft. of torque @ 1000-2500 rpm.

Speaking of technology, the second generation hybrid Civic also increased its horsepower, which when combined with a continuous variable transmission, provides a smooth, yet powerful ride. Ultimately, the Civic hybrid significantly reduces fuel consumption without losing any performance.

The 2010 Honda Civic lineup has its bases covered with technologically advanced Civic Sedan and Coupe models, a Civic Hybrid, a high-performance Civic Si and a dedicated natural gas-powered Civic GX. All Civics were recently enhanced inside and out for the 2009 model year with new exterior styling, colors and increased availability of tech-friendly features. For 2010, the entire range of Civics remains largely unchanged.

The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System, available on Civic EX, EX-L, Si and Hybrid models, has a 6.5-inch motorized display that opens and closes for access to the internal single-disc CD player, and a digital audio-card reader that can play MP3 and Windows Media® Audio (WMA) files from CompactFlash® cards (via a PC card adapter).

The navigation system features more than 7 million points of interest and the voice activation can control the navigation menus and the audio system, along with entering city and street names. 

The system includes Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, a wireless telephone interface that works with compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile telephones for hands-free operation via steering wheel-mounted controls.

2010 LUXGEN Cars New Luxgen7 SUV 2.2-litre Turbocharged

2010 Luxgen7 SUV is model that’s on sale in its home market and if it proves successful, could eventually make its way to the UK and other European countries. It is Taiwan’s first passenger automobile brand Luxgen. The Taiwanese auto brand, Luxgen, has lifted off the covers from its second model, the very new Luxgen7 SUV that according to the maker, “represents a milestone in vehicle design.” The company’s first model was called the LUXGEN7 MPV and received tremendous response in sales and became the first automobile ever to win the prestigious Taiwan Excellence Award. Now with Luxgen7 SUV, the company seems to be scripting another success story.

2010 LUXGEN Cars New Luxgen7 SUV

The 2010 Luxgen7 SUV represents a milestone in vehicle design. The distinctive wing shaped chrome nose trim and cascading grille express both power and confidence and upward sweeping beltlines convey a sense of dynamics motion as well. Measuring at 4.8 meters long, 1.93 meters wide and 1.76 meters in height, the LUXGEN7 SUV is also among the largest in its segment while maintaining elegant and svelte proportions.

LUXGEN7 SUV is also the only one in its segment to feature the intelligent power actuated tailgate as standard equipment. Another exclusive feature in the car is the anti-theft sport seat. The company explains the working in the following statement: “When drivers press the button on the anti-theft seat for three seconds before locking the doors with the remote control, the anti-theft system will activate by sliding itself forward and leaning against the steering wheel to deny unauthorized access of the vehicle.”

The Luxgen7 SUV powered by a newly developed 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 175HP at 6,000rpm and 28kgm of torque spanning from 2,500 to 4,000rpm. The petrol unit is coupled to an also new 5-speed automatic transmission equipped with manual shifting function and what Luxgen describes as “intelligent Transmission Control Module with 10 built-in operation modes.” The automatic transmission was developed by Japan’s Aisin.

The Luxgen7 SUV interior design uses the premium leather seat with airline first class style surrounding head restraints together with the available heating, ventilation, electronic and lumbar support adjustment functions to ensure utmost comfort anytime. In addition, the Hi-end Clarion audio system and JBL speakers provide premium sound quality and surreal vocal reproduction to music lovers.

In the interior, the luxury Luxgen7 SUV features Hi-end Clarion audio system with JBL speakers, GPS navigation, four advanced visual assistance systems including Eagle View and many more. In the security system, however, there is SRS airbags, ABS Antilock Braking System, BAS Braking assistance System and EBD Electronic Brake Distribution. The potential buyers have to shell out somewhere between US$25,831 to 35,386 to own a Luxgen7 SUV.

Inside the Luxgen7 SUV you will find premium leather seat available with heating, ventilation, electronic massage and lumbar support adjustment, as well as Hi-end Clarion audio system and JBL speakers. The safety features dual front SRS airbags, Antilock Braking System, Braking Assistance System, and Electronic Brake Distribution system. Furthermore, dual side protection airbags, dual side curtain airbags, Electronic Stability Control, and Traction Control System are also available options.

In addition, the SUV also gets an intelligent 3-mode 4WD system that can actively split engine torque between the front and rear axles based on the road condition and driver input. In Taiwan market, the Luxgen7 SUV is available in five trim levels at prices ranging from NTD 838,000 ($25,831 U.S.) to NTD 1,148,000 ($35,386 U.S.).