Skoda has previewed a sporty GT version of the Chinese version of the Kamiq compact SUV. The new China-only model looks to follow in the footsteps of the larger Kodiaq GT, revealed a year ago in Guangzhou, in adopting a sloping coupé-style roofline, flared wheel arches, a subtle rear spoiler and reshaped bumpers. Skoda has not previewed the car’s interior, but says it offers “a blend of rugged SUV looks and sporty dynamics”. The brand has also confirmed that performance-inspired front seats, decorative trim elements and exclusive material choices will be unique to the GT. The Kamiq GT was previewed earlier this year with the Vision GT concept, which Skoda claimed to be “perfectly tailored to the needs of Chinese customers with compact proportions, generous space and elegantly dynamic design”. Styling elements that look to be carried through to production include a bespoke alloy wheel design, chrome front winglets and chunky black lower trim. The new model is based on the standard version of the Chinese Kamiq, which is built on Skoda’s older PQ platform and unrelated to the small SUV of the same name sold in Europe. Powertrain details are unconfirmed, but the 148bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit available on European models is likely to be an option. Expect a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox to feature as standard. The Kamiq GT will be Skoda’s fifth SUV to go on sale in China, joining the standard Kamiq, Karoq, Kodiaq and Kodiaq GT in dealerships around the country, where the brand has achieved notable sales success since its Chinese launch in 2007. It is unlikely the model will be sold outside China, but Skoda is understood to be monitoring market response to the new Kodiaq GT, to determine its viability for a European or US launch. Skoda will reveal the Kamiq GT on 4 November at an event in
Origin: Sketches show sporty Skoda Kamiq GT for China
sporty
Alpine boss: future models must be lightweight, sporty
More Alpine models will be developed in order to grow the marque into a bona fide brand, but only if they remain true to its core values of being lightweight and sporty, according to the firm’s CEO, Thierry Bollore. Speaking at the Frankfurt motor show, Bollore did not put a timeline on plans, but he said: “Yes, there will be other cars.” “I will not offer details today,” he said, “but we have been honoured and excited by the success of the A110, especially as it is sold in the premium sports market. “The feedback from customers means we want to enrich the offering to other areas in that sector, but only if the concepts we come up with remain true to the unique Alpine tradition of being lightweight and sporty and having some kind of competition angle.” Rumours following the launch of the reborn A110 in 2017 suggested that the brand was looking to develop open-top and more powerful versions of the sports car, as well as creating a family of SUVs in order to generate significant profits in the manner that Porsche achieves with the Macan and Cayenne. However, more recently it was reported that those plans were put on hold as parent company Renault evaluated whether the capital required to develop the vehicles was best spent at a time of significant challenges. In particular, it was said to be concerned about developing all-new models to sell over the next 10 years, lest their appeal be dented by the shift towards
Origin: Alpine boss: future models must be lightweight, sporty
New Kia Xceed crossover makes debut as sporty SUV
Kia will exploit another crossover niche as it opens the order books for the Xceed, the fourth model in the Ceed range. It is set to include a full line-up of petrol and diesel engines and, later on, a plug-in hybrid variant. The two-wheel-drive Xceed is said to marry hatchback-style driving dynamics with the practicality of a small SUV, wrapped up in a sportily styled body with a bespoke design. It’s expected to start from around £19,000, with the similarly conceived Ford Focus Active lined up as its closest competitor. The technical base for the Xceed is the five-door hatchback and it shares that car’s 2650mm wheelbase. Kia says only the front doors are carried over and rest of the body is new, including the windscreen and sloping roofline. The new body is 85mm longer and 26mm wider than the hatch, thanks to extended front and rear overhangs that increase the length of the Xceed to 4395mm. Kia hopes these dimensions will put the Xceed in a different class from big-selling small SUVs like the Nissan Juke and its larger sibling, the Qashqai. Kia, of course, has to position the Xceed between its £15k Stonic small SUV and the £19k Sportage family SUV. “There is growing desire for cars which offer more emotion and dynamism than an SUV, yet these customers don’t want to lose the practicality offered by a larger car,” said Kia Motors Europe chief operating officer Emilio Herrera. To give the Xceed a little more rough ground-covering ability and raise the driving position to improve visibility and in/out access for the driver, the ride height is pushed up by 42mm to create 174mm of ground clearance. This also raises the Xceed’s roofline to 1490mm – just a few millimetres lower than successful small SUVs such as the Fiat 500X and Audi Q2. With the higher ride height and the dynamic handling target, Kia has re-engineered the suspension using some unique components and a bespoke set-up. Kia said the target was to deliver “a mature ride and engaging handling character in all conditions”. The front axle features new hydraulic rebound stoppers, the front springs are softened by 7% and the rear springs by 4%. The steering is carried over from the hatch, but is retuned to give quicker initial response and a slightly lighter feel. Kia claims the retuned steering, together with the chassis changes, endow the high-riding Xceed with similar handling dynamics and roll control as the Ceed hatch. Refinement, meanwhile, is said to have been improved by a new dynamic damper for the rear cross-member. Kia says that the interior “carries over the cabin architecture of its Ceed stablemates” with an optional upgrade to a fully digital 12.3in instrument cluster – a first for Kia. Five engines will be on offer – three petrols and two diesels, all taken from the rest of the Ceed range. The range starts with a three-cylinder turbo 119bhp 1.0 petrol and moves up to a four-cylinder turbo 138bhp 1.4. A 201bhp 1.6 from the Ceed GT is available in other markets but Autocar understands this isn’t destined for the UK. The diesels are both 1.6 capacity in outputs of either 114bhp or 134bhp. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic optional on all engines except the 1.0. Plug-in hybrid and 48V mild-hybrid versions will be launched in early 2020. First deliveries for the new model are expected in
Origin: New Kia Xceed crossover makes debut as sporty SUV
Three sporty sedans with up to $5000 off the bottom line
Unhaggle has the scoop on tempting deals on the Lexus IS, Mercedes-Benz CLA and Infiniti Q50.Handout / Lexus / Mercedes-Benz / Infiniti Every month, Graeme Fletcher combines manufacturers’ incentives from Unhaggle.com with resale value, dependability and overall ratings to find you the best deal for your money in new cars. This week, we look at sports sedans with all-wheel-drive. The hot deals are on the 2019 Infiniti Q50T Luxe, Lexus IS 300 and Mercedes-Benz CLA 250. 2019 Infiniti Q50 2019 Infiniti Q50 Handout / Infiniti Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price: $44,995 Manufacturer Incentive*: $4,000 Unhaggle Savings: $500 Total Savings: $4,500 Mandatory Fees (Freight, Govt. Fees): $2,185 Total Before Tax: $42,680 — lick here for exclusive local pricing The 2019 Infiniti Q50 model range has been streamlined — the 2.0L four-cylinder engine and hybrid model have been dropped. A well-equipped cabin supports the Q’s avant-garde looks with a dual-screen infotainment system dominating the centre stack. The eight-inch upper screen is accessed through steering wheel-mounted controls or central controller and looks after the driving information and navigation. The lower seven-inch screen is touch-sensitive and takes care of the infotainment and phone functions. It works nicely, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are conspicuous by their absence. The other letdown is the leatherette wrapping the power seats — it’s not great vinyl. The Q’s backseat has enough space for two adults to ride with headroom to spare and it has a roomy 382-litre trunk. While forward collision warning with auto braking is standard the rest of the desirable safety equipment is bundled up in the all-encompassing Sensory, ProAssist, ProActive package. It adds a whopping $7,800 to the Luxe’s sticker, which is regressive thinking and well behind the times. All Q50s get a derivative of Infiniti’s 3.0L twin-turbo V6. In the case of the Luxe it produces 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm (the same V6 produces 400 hp and 350 lb.-ft. of torque in the Red Sport 400!). The grunt reaches the road through a slick seven-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode and a good all-wheel-drive system. By monitoring an array of inputs the AWD system sends up to 50 percent of drive forward when needed. Once up to speed it reverts to rear-drive for fuel economy considerations. The combination delivers a 5.8 second run to 100 kilometres an hour and a posted average fuel economy of 10.8 litres per 100 kilometres. The Q50’s fun side is found in the quick steering, sporty suspension and P225/50R18 tires. The combination keeps the body flat through corners, which inspires driver confidence. It also hangs in well beyond expected limits. The Infiniti Q50T Luxe arrives with a generous combined Unhaggle discount of $4,500. It leaves a sticker of $42,680 after it’s applied. 2019 Lexus IS300 2019 Lexus IS 300 Handout / Lexus Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price: $43,550 Manufacturer Incentive*: $2,212 Unhaggle Savings: $1,500 Total Savings: $3,712 Mandatory Fees (Freight, Govt. Fees): $2,215 Total Before Tax: $42,053 — lick here for exclusive local pricing The 2019 Lexus IS carries over. The confusion is found in the naming of the IS 300. The IS 300 rear drive model has a 2.0L turbo four while the IS 300 with all-wheel-drive featured here gets a 3.5L V6. The cabin is marked by its quality — the fit and finish is as good as anything offered. However, while IS 300 has many high-end amenities, including eight-way power front seats, a seven-inch infotainment system and an audio package with 10 speakers, many of the desirable features are missing. The notables include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a heated steering wheel. Finally, the NuLuxe vinyl upholstery is not up to much. Move rearward and there is room for two adults as long as the front seats are not moved all the way back and a 306L trunk. The IS 300 arrives with rain-sensing wipers and the Lexus Safety System+ as standard fare. The latter includes pre-collision with auto braking, dynamic cruise control, lane departure warning with keep assist and auto high beams. Unfortunately, to get blind spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert requires the $1,950 Premium package. As mentioned, the IS 300 with all-wheel-drive is powered by a 3.5L V6. It twists out 290 hp and 236 lb.-ft. of torque and drives all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. On dry roads the AWD system sends 30% of the power to the front wheels and 70% to the rear wheels. When the need arises it can send up to 50% of the power forward to help prevent wheelspin. It is seamless in operation under all driving conditions. The combination delivers a run to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and a posted average fuel economy of 10.9 L/100 km. The IS 300 AWD blends ride comfort with agility nicely. The suspension cushions a rough road while keeping the body flat when pushed through a fast on-ramp. The steering
Origin: Three sporty sedans with up to $5000 off the bottom line
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