Volvo: Swedish luxury – reconstructing luxury

Quiet beauty, rather than flashy bling. That is the essence of Swedish luxury. Designer entrepreneur and trend analyst Mathilda Tham jumps in a Volvo S80 Executive to go looking for the roots of Swedish style – and ends up in nature and tranquillity.

Luxury, throughout history, has stood for that which is rare and precious. In Western affluent society, with its abundance of consumer goods, it follows that commodities without a price tag, such as the experience of simplicity, silence, time, care and trust have become the new luxury.

These values are firmly rooted in the Swedish heritage – the quiet beauty of the landscape, the care about the environment and the attention to functional detail. Swedish luxury is quiet, simple, with a fine eye for exquisite details and intelligent functionality, following the ethos that ‘true beauty comes from the inside’. It offers an alternative to the flashy ‘bling’ culture prominent in recent years and targets an audience with a confident, conscious and intelligent perspective, a customer that seeks a car that signals good taste.

Honda Debuts All-New FCX Clarity Advanced Fuel Cell Vehicle

Honda today unveiled the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show, announcing plans to begin limited retail marketing of the vehicle in summer 2008.

The FCX Clarity is a next-generation, zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle based on the entirely-new Honda V Flow fuel cell platform, and powered by the highly compact, efficient and powerful Honda V Flow fuel cell stack. Featuring tremendous improvements to driving range, power, weight and efficiency – and boasting a low-slung, dynamic and sophisticated appearance, previously unachievable in a fuel cell vehicle – the FCX Clarity marks the significant progress Honda continues to make in advancing the real-world performance and appeal of the hydrogen-powered fuel cell car.

“The FCX Clarity is a shining symbol of the progress we’ve made with fuel cell vehicles and of our belief in the promise of this technology,” said Tetsuo Iwamura, American Honda president and CEO. “Step by step, with continuous effort, commitment and focus, we are working to overcome obstacles to the mass-market potential of zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell automobiles.”

Mitsubishi Offers “Factory Custom” Eclipse For 2008

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is offering customers the opportunity to buy a “factory custom” version of its popular Eclipse Coupe models for 2008. The Eclipse Special Edition, available as a limited-production option for both the 4-cylinder and the V-6 engines, combines a specially developed aerodynamic body package with a unique exterior graphic treatment and additional handling-enhancement features.

All Eclipse models for 2008 gain a standard Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that can alert the driver to the potentially hazardous condition of having too-low air pressure in one or more tires. The SE models also have Active Stability Control (ASC).

The 2008 Eclipse SE has an aggressive street rally appearance with its chin spoiler, large bold rear wing, alloy fuel door and eye-catching graphics. Inside, the SE models have an unique interior color combination and aluminum scuff plates. The 4-cylinder SE gain 18-inch alloy wheels, which are also newly standard on all GT models for 2008 (Sword Silver finish on SE). The SE model also adds a number of other accessories, including a rear cargo net, cargo cover and wheel locks.

Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro

Audi is introducing a new vehicle segment with its presentation of the Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show (14 – 24 November 2007).

The two-door, four-seater car measures 4.62 metres in length and combines the genes of a typical dynamic soft-top convertible from Audi with the all-round qualities of a fully fledged SUV. The muscular, powerful, but also elegant lines make no secret of this vehicle’s potential. The 240 bhp three-litre TDI engine with ultra-low emission technology delivers sporty driving dynamics with exhaust emissions on the level of the EU 6 limits. The quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system and high-tech chassis with electric ride height adjustment are a recipe for driving pleasure on all terrain and in any curve radius.