Concepts

Honda debuted a CR-V concept today at the Orange County International Auto Show in Anaheim, but don't expect gullwing doors, cameras instead of rear view mirrors, or some new, revolutionary electric power train. This CR-V is a preview of the 2012 model update, the production version of which Honda will show off in November.

The concept reveals new styling, and Honda says the new CR-V will have more cabin space, a redesigned interior, and better fuel economy than the current model.

The redesign gives the CR-V a much more modern look than the previous generation, which has gone for five years without a significant update. The headlights are integrated with the grille, and a skid-plate-looking piece rises up from under the front of the car. … Read more

At this point, Fisker Automotive has been showing off various incarnations of the Karma series hybrid sedan at various auto shows for about four years now. It's practically done at this point. Not wanting to show up at the 2011 International Auto Show in Frankfurt with the same song and dance, the automaker slapped a hatchback onto its mustachioed Karma and dubbed it the Fisker Surf.

This week, the Surf shows off its shooting brake design in a B-roll video released on the Web by Fisker. Check it out below. There's no music, but if you crank your … Read more

Hyundai i30 The previous generation i30 made its way to the U.S. market as an Elantra hatchback variant, so there's a chance that the newly announced i30 could also wear the Elantra Touring badge.

Jaguar C-X16 concept Easily one of the best looking concepts at the show, this small grand tourer features a powerful gasoline engine that is supplemented with an electric motor that supplies an instant power boost at the touch of a button.

Volkswagen Nils concept The VW Nils has a tailpipe emission of nil, as it's powered by a small electric engine. There's … Read more

The Car Tech team has been at the 2011 International Motor Show in Frankfurt, and in our first day of coverage we've seen a mini electric car from Audi, a stylish SUV from Maserati, and a futuristic concept from Ford. Here's a rundown of the big stories of the day:

Audi Urban Concept Spyder Audi's little electric car explores extreme ideas in future urban transportation.

Mini Cooper Coupe Mini adds to its repertoire of fun, small cars with the smallest yet. This Coupe only has two seats.

BMW i8 plug-in hybrid concept BMW kicks off its new … Read more

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class concept that debuted last Spring at the New York Auto Show was a hit with showgoers, and now its infotainment system is getting a close up. Mercedes released a video demoing its infotainment system, and it could provide clues to what the future of connectivity in Mercedes-Benz vehicles will look like.

In most next-generation infotainment systems, smartphones are seamlessly integrated with the vehicle electronics. In the A Class concept, they're literally inserted into the console like a DVD or coin-operated washing machine. When connected, the smartphone provides Internet access and makes the approved social media and … Read more

As it struggles to reinvent its brand from safety stalwart to naughty luxury carmaker, Volvo is exploring its artsy side by documenting the construction of its next concept vehicle, the Concept You, in a series of photos on Tumblr. Yes, Volvo has a Tumblr account.

The Swedish auto manufacturer plans to reveal the Concept You next week at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show. The days are counting down to the big debut, and to build buzz, Volvo is releasing videos and photos of the vehicle online.

Although no finished images of the Concept You have been leaked, stumbled-upon images and … Read more

Russian automaker Yo-Auto's concept for the upcoming 2011 Frankfurt auto show features a sleek design that will likely never see a public road. It has small digital cameras in place of side mirrors. Like most concepts, it's probably motivated by some bombastically improbable hybrid power train that gets a million miles per gallon. It's certainly not what I think of when I hear the words "Russian automobile." However, none of that is what's piqued my interest in this Yo-Mobile concept. I'm interested in the doors.

Yes, the doors, which, as you'll see … Read more

The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is due for a visual refresh at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show. But rather than wait a few weeks for a peek at the refresh, why not have a nice long look at this batch of "fresh pictures from Korea" unleashed onto the Internet by a source on a Genesis Coupe enthusiast site.

The blurry camera phone pictures reveal that the Coupe's face has been nipped and tucked to resemble that of the upcoming Veloster sporty hatchback. The massive hexagonal grille is certainly more aggressive than the current models, and the hood gains … Read more

In 2015, the Defender will be 25 years old, so Land Rover designers are putting down their tea and getting to work on an update. The company will show a concept for a new Defender model at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show. With only four years until the production version is due, the blokes at Land Rover will barely have time for a biscuit.

The DC100 concept appears as a two-door, with rounded edges and grille that lose the welded sheet-metal hard edges of the current model. The wheels chosen for the concept look designed to appeal to first-world consumers rather than military buyers from countries created last week.

But Land Rover's long timeline for the Defender update shows a very careful approach. If the public derides this one, there is still plenty of space on the drawing board. And Land Rover says it will pay close attention to customer input as it finalizes the design. … Read more