After a run of success with unorthodox SUV styling, especially in the Juke subcompact crossover SUV, Nissan has apparently decided to mine this vein as the company’s new signature.
The result, shown at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, is the Gripz Concept, a sleek crossover SUV that seeks to chisel another niche into the Nissan’s already-packed line of SUVs. “We want to redefine the crossover segment,” explained Giovanny Arroba, Creative Design Manager for Nissan Design Europe, the London studio responsible for the concept.
Citing the Juke as a prior success in this this effort, he said, “This is a very important segment for us, and we wanted to see how far we could push it.”
Far enough to ruffle enthusiasts’ feathers, who fear that the Gripz could be approved for production at a time when the 370Z may be dropped from the line, prompting them to view the Gripz as the Z-car’s replacement. Arroba insists that the Gripz stands on its own and is unrelated to other product decisions, but the company made enough attempts to link the Gripz to the Z that suspicions remain that Nissan
General Motors is looking to boost sales by offering steep discounts to a vast new buying pool: families of U.S. dealership employees.
Toyota Motor Corp. is going big at the Tokyo Motor Show this month, with an eclectic display parading everything from a snappy compact sports car and futuristic hydrogen vehicle to a whacked-out retro concept and pocket-sized humanoid robot.
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Audi
“Tivoli is the biggest thing to happen to 
Prestige car manufacturers are trading body blows among their top-segment models, with each ladling on more lavish content and more cutting-edge technology with each new introduction.
Peugeot
Minis have not been that mini for some time now. Similarly, the firm’s description of its new Clubman as a “shooting brake” also feels like poetic license. Nonetheless, it’s designed for everyday and long-distance usage and looks both practical and comfortable for those purposes.
The Bloodhound team will aim to set a new land speed record of 800 mph (1,287 km/h) on October 15, 2016, it has been revealed. It will then aim for the 1,000 mph (1,600 km/h) barrier in 2017. But before then, members of the public are being invited to see the impressive, almost-complete Bloodhound Supersonic Car (SSC) at its world debut in London. Gizmag was invited along, and was left suitably awe-struck at the raw power and engineering on show.
A real automotive rarity went under the hammer at Bonhams over the weekend with the only known 1905 Woods Queen Victoria Brougham selling for DKK632,500 (US$94,548). Part of the Frederiksen auction at Ebeltoft, Denmark on September 26, the electric vehicle acts as a window into the early days of motor cars when new technologies fought for supremacy on the roads and in the show rooms.
Volkswagen and its subsidiary Audi may currently be in Frankfurt showcasing their wares, but the attention of the boardrooms of both companies is likely to be elsewhere. The US EPA has issued Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. with a notice of violation (NOV) of the Clean Air Act by running software in their vehicles that turns full emissions controls on only when undergoing official emissions testing.
Volkswagen has used the Frankfurt Motor Show to take the wraps off an all-new Tiguan. Having sold over 2.6 million examples of the original VW hasn’t messed with the formula too much, instead taking an evolutionary approach to its styling, as well as offering up a concept Hybrid.
Hyundai has showcased its new N sub-brand at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The carmaker says its N cars will focus on performance, with new powertrains and lightweight materials. Its first models include the Generation i20 WRC rally car, and the RM15 and N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concepts.
Boutique German sports car maker Artega has partnered with auto electronics manufacturer Paragon for its latest creation – the all-electric, rear-wheel drive Scalo. Unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, the two-seater Artega Scalo harbors some interesting tech both inside and out, including an adjustable rear spoiler and a curved OLED display in the center console.
In 2013, Jaguar took the wraps of its C-X17 concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Now, at the same venue, the same design team has turned that concept into the Jaguar 2017 F-Pace. Combining the sportscar performance of a traditional Jaguar with more room and family-friendly features, the luxury five-seater SUV derived from the F-Type launched not only into the showrooms, but into the Guinness Book of Records.
Audi might have committed to an all-electric SUV at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but it hasn’t forgotten fans of high-performance gasoline cars either. Sitting alongside the e-tron quattro on Audi’s stand is the new S4, packing a turbocharged V6 engine into a body so understated that it could just be the perfect sports sedan for the man with nothing to prove.
The Frankfurt Motor Show has played host to some fascinating SUVs and while there’s been some sporty examples, few can match the out-and-out high-riding sports car stylings of Nissan’s Gripz Concept. Inspired by classic rally cars, the Gripz is Nissan’s attempt to create a dual-personality crossover that can be practical during the week and rough it on the weekend
Having revealed its Vision Gran Turismo in digital form a couple of weeks ago, Bugatti has rolled out the real thing at the Frankfurt Motor Show. While the show car on display at IFA won’t be going anywhere under its own steam, the carbon-fiber racer does serve as a design language stepping stone between the Veyron and Bugatti’s next super sports car offering.
When you think of electric car manufacturers, Thunder Power doesn’t exactly spring to mind. But the Taiwanese electronics company has used the Frankfurt Motor Show to unveil a new fully electric car with a claimed range of 650 km.