“The “look” of a Peugeot is fundamental to the personality of the Marque’s models. It was at the initiative of Paul Bouvot, then Stylistic Director, and Gérard Welter, that the shape of the front headlamps of the 504 would evoke the feline look now characteristic of Peugeots.

“This visual signature is an essential feature of the Peugeot style, as is the dynamism that Gérard Welter gave to each of the models designed while he was in charge. This dynamism found echoes in the 205, marketed with the famous slogan “a manufacturer draws its claws”, and in the most prestigious saloons such as the 607 or the 5 by Peugeot concept car, presented at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and the forerunner of a forthcoming production car.

“Veritable image creators that fire the enthusiasm of visitors to motor shows, concept cars offer stylists once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to express themselves technically and aesthetically.
By exploring new technological territory (Oxia), introducing new concepts (20coeur), or revealing the lines of a future model ‘5 by Peugeot’, concept cars are never far removed from a future reality.

“Developed at the initiative of Jean-Pierre Ploué and Gilles Vidal, the BB1 and SR1 convey strong messages for the future. The BB1 opens up new avenues in terms of urban mobility, (2.5 m, four seats, zero emissions), emphasising Peugeot’s unique innovative abilities. The SR1 for its part lifts the veil on the Peugeots of tomorrow, with an emblematic and inspiring body shape, the roadster.

“Peugeot has initiated successful styling collaborations that gave rise in the 1930s to superb 302 roadsters and coupés, highly regarded by discerning car lovers. The Peugeot style also drew inspiration from the Turin based coachbuilder Pininfarina. The arrival of the 403 in 1955 marked the beginning of collaboration with Pininfarina. This collaboration proved particularly prolific and gave rise to several of the Marque’s finest designs: the 504 coupé, 306 cabriolet and 406 coupé.

“Concept cars pave the way for future production models. For example the 20coeur, a stylistic blueprint for the future 206, immediately won admirers at the 1998 Geneva Motor Show and gave rise to the 206 CC. In Geneva in 2010, the ‘5 by Peugeot’ concept car with its pure and elegant lines prefigures the Marque’s ambitions in the segment of prestigious large saloons.

“Peugeot’s ability to propose an integral mobility offer with cars, scooters and bicycles is unique in the world. This strength gives Peugeot a head start.
Peugeot is diversifying its response to the challenge of the environment. As well as continuous improvements to the efficiency of naturally aspirated engines, supporting Peugeot’s leadership in low emission vehicles (50 % of cars sold in Europe emit less than 130 g of CO2/km), the Marque is exploring new avenues for the future.”

Koenigsegg CCX or next Saab?

To be fair, at under 100,000 units per year, Saab on its own is not a big manufacturer. It may even produce fewer cars than Rover did before BMW offloaded them. However, it still represents a very odd business plan. Koenigsegg produced only double figures last year, and while they do make great cars, they certainly don’t have the experience of a a mass producer.

Here’s a little taster how we think things could go..

Good

• Saab’s products are refined. Build quality improves, performance improves.
• Key partnership(s) forged with another mass producer, ensuring lower cost development and access to latest drivetrains.
• Reputation for solidity and quirkiness restored.
• Saab fleet buyers get free Koenigsegg

Bad/Ugly

• No alliance is forged, Saab products grow older.
• Sales dwindle.
• Saab kills Koenigsegg’s cash position. Both companies suffer.

Apparently, as part of the proposed sale, GM will continue to provide Saab with ‘architecture’ and powertrain technology during a ‘defined time period’. Saab plans to produce its next generation 9-5 models in its production facility in Trollhättan, Sweden.

“The proposed agreement will enable us to maximize the brand’s potential through an exciting new product line-up with a distinctly Swedish character.  Today’s announcement is great news for Saab’s current and future customers, dealers, suppliers and employees around the globe, said Jan Åke Jonsson, Managing Director of Saab Automobile AB.

We sincerely hope all goes well and we see some great Saab products in the future.

Volvo – The Game: the exciting new challenge for everyone who enjoys racing games is being released today. It features all of Volvo’s racing legends over the years and also introduces a new star: the Volvo S60 Concept. Just download the game, select your favourite Volvo and test your skills on one of the two highly authentic tracks. The game has been developed together with SimBin Studios.

One person who will definitely play Volvo – The Game is Swedish racing star Robert Dahlgren. He has achieved immense success for Volvo in the STCC – the Swedish Touring Car Championship – since 2004. His current racing car is a Volvo C30.
Like most other professional racing drivers, Robert Dahlgren uses virtual racing games to train when the racing season comes to an end. “Playing racing games helps me train my ability to concentrate and to maintain my level of concentration over many laps,” says Robert Dahlgren.

Volvo – The Game features six different cars and the race is run on two authentically reproduced racing tracks.
The six racing cars are the stars. The lead roles are played by the Volvo S60 Concept, the Volvo C30 that is currently competing in the STCC, the previous Volvo S60 that also competed in the STCC, the Volvo S40 that notched up many notable successes in the BTCC (the British Touring Car Championship), the Volvo 850- the estate car that became a legend in the BTCC – and finally a true racing classic from the past, a Volvo 240 Turbo Group A.

The two tracks are the Gothenburg Eco Drive Arena in Göteborg, Sweden and Chayka outside Kiev in the Ukraine. Volvo – The Game is the only virtual racing game in the world to feature the Ukrainian racing track.

STCC game inspired
The idea behind Volvo – The Game was born in autumn 2008 when the STCC game was released. The STCC game inspired Pontus Berger, who at the time worked with licensing issues at Volvo Cars. He contacted SimBin. His question was simple: “Can you make a PC-based racing game that has broad public appeal, features only Volvo models and introduces our new concept car, the Volvo S60 Concept?”

A team of 15-20 people worked together to create Volvo – The Game. The aim was to make it as realistic as possible. The game developers have invested huge numbers of hours in getting all the details exactly right. Just “building” a car for a racing game takes about one month.
True to form, the six cars each have different driving characteristics. It’s almost like getting behind the wheel, which is rather unusual in car games. The classic Volvo 240 Turbo Group A, for instance, has entirely different driving characteristics compared with the latest newcomer, the Volvo S60 Concept.
In order to recreate the older cars’ interiors as authentically as possible, the designers visited the Volvo Museum to study the former racing legends.

“In terms of audio quality we’re also remarkably close to reality. One example is the S40. For that car we pulled one of the race cars out of hibernation last autumn and gave it a thorough full-speed workout, recording the engine sound straight from the racing track,” explains Magnus Ling Executive Vice President at SimBin.
The two racing tracks have been reproduced with faithful detail and immense precision. It takes about 1000 hours to create a virtual racing track. Even the kerbs alongside the track have to be of exactly the right height. Many of the people playing the game are experts – and they are very particular about the tiniest details.

Robert Dahlgren is convinced that his own Volvo C30 will be the best car in the game. But he will of course be testing them all, and one of the contenders seems to be exerting a particular attraction.
“How cool is it going to be to race the Volvo 240 on the Gothenburg track! When I was growing up, all my friends were driving 240s. But not me. I was out competing. Now I finally get the chance,” says an eager Robert Dahlgren.

Authentic feel
The aim of the game is to reach out to a broad public. A seven-year-old can have fun with it but in order to truly get the most out of the game’s many advanced features, players really should be a few years older.
For the most authentic feel, Volvo – The Game should be played with a steering wheel and pedals connected to the computer. However, it is also possible to operate the car via the PC’s keyboard or with a game-pad. The game offers a choice of skill levels: “novice with all the driver assistance technology activated such as ABS brakes, “semi-pro”, and finally “pro” where there is no assistance whatsoever.

It is possible to select the Volvo of your choice, compete against your own best times and have the track all to yourself. Or you can compete against up to eleven computer-controlled competitors. There are several alternative settings for graphics and sound. For instance, the star, the Volvo S60 Concept, will be available in two versions – “natural” and racing.

Every pillar is about six inches across and whilst steps have been taken to reduce the visual impact of the oversize features, you still get the sense the window apertures were carved out of a block of metal. The original concept of a car that let the people see the man at the top has been almost entirely replaced by a new meaning – showing the people the President-in-kind: the car that carries him. The thick glass and small windows mean it’s almost impossible to see the President.

The photos released to the World seem to carry a few deliberate tweaks to mislead. The glass may not be translucent when in use and certain elements of the photos are falsehoods. The mutant tyres are badged ‘Goodyear Regional RHS‘ which is an unremarkable truck tyre; the truth is more likely to be a complex run-flat, bullet proof, non-pneumatic tyre.

This latest incarnation marks 100 years for the American prestige brand. Some of the photos here reveal just how much has changed – from the image of the President on tour to the visual implications of security over time.