Nother CarGuy

VinFast, Vietnam’s first volume automaker, has come to the 2018 Paris Motor Show with two brand new models that are supposed to capture the country’s natural beauty with their design. The LUX A2.0 sedan and LUX SA2.0 SUV will be sold worldwide as premium products, and will be manufactured at an all-new state-of-the-art 335-hectare plant in Hai Phong, northern Vietnam. Deliveries will commence locally in June of 2019. Visually, both vehicles sport a chrome V emblem at the center of their grille, plus a horizontal chrome stripe that merges with the LED daytime running lights. The sedan is defined by its long bonnet, stretched out roofline, elongated C-pillar and overall balanced proportions. The SUV on the other hand is more muscular, featuring flowing lines and a contrasting matte black surround for the headlights, fog lights and air intakes. This, by the way, is a seven-seater SUV, making it a really practical choice for families. Inside, we’re treated to a very clean ...

Renault has lifted the veils off its latest and last EZ-branded concept car, the autonomous, all-electric EZ-Ultimo. Designed to offer “upscale ride-hailing for all,” the new study is described by Renault as an individual mobile lounge. Renault wants you to think of it as the extension of the premium experience offered by a hotel, resort or airline company. The robo-vehicle concept relies on flexibility: it can be used on demand, for a single trip, for an hour or for a day. Therefore, it is suitable for a private trip in a city, a premium tourist experience, or a business journey service. The thing to remember is that the EZ-Ultimo can adapt to the actual service provider. The concept is inspired by contemporary architecture and French style, with the passenger space designed like a personal lounge fitted with all the comfort and features needed for relaxation or concentration. Access to the cabin is provided by a wide automatic opening door, and passengers are welcome...

The A35 hot hatch represents the entry-point to Mercedes-AMG’s family of potent vehicles. It’s also the most powerful derivative of the new A-Class lineup, at least until the A45 arrives with some 100 PS (99 hp / 74 kW) more, a further upgraded chassis and a more aggressive body kit. Brought to the 2018 Paris Auto Show for its world premiere, the Mercedes-AMG A35 is a proper rival to the likes of the Audi S3 Sportback and Volkswagen Golf R. Power is provided by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 306 PS (301 hp / 225 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive system are standard fit, giving the new A35 a 0-100km/h (62 mph) in 4.7 seconds, while top speed is electronically capped at 250 km/h (155 mph). The chassis has been upgraded with additional braces and an aluminum plate to increase torsional stiffness up front while AMG has also installed their own steering knuckle, among other goodies....

BMW’s all-new G20 3-Series has some pretty big shoes to fill, as the previous-generation F30 model was one of the most dynamic and best-selling cars in its segment. The new 3-Series goes on sale in March of 2019, priced from $40,200 in the U.S and £33,610 in the UK, where the entry-level model will be a 320d, as opposed to the 330i that opens up the range in America. First things first though, let’s talk size. The new 3er is 85 mm (3.34 in) longer than its predecessor, measuring 4,709 mm (185.7 inches) in length. It’s also wider by 16 mm (now 1,827 mm / 71.9 in) and just 1 mm taller. Meanwhile, its wheelbase has grown by 41 mm to 2,851 mm (112.2 inches) – the largest in its class. Visually, the G20 is also more imposing than the F30, thanks in part to the four contour lines leading to the massive kidney grille, as well as the character lines that rise to the rear and wheel arches. From launch, customers will be able to choose between two non-metallic colors and ten metallic...

Mercedes-Benz’s compact vehicle family has just gotten bigger, with the introduction of the all-new B-Class. Unveiled at the 2018 Paris Auto Show, the German firm’s rival to the likes of the BMW 2-Series Active/Gran Tourer carries Mercedes’ latest design language and looks more mature than the car it replaces. Said to have been designed to “stand out visually from the world of minivans”, it has shorter overhangs, a lowered roofline, more muscular body and, of course, redesigned front and rear ends. These features are joined by the optional LED headlights with LED DRLs, a large roof spoiler and wheel choices that span between 16 and 19 inches. Thanks to the new design, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz B-Class has best-in-class airflow, claims the automaker, with aerodynamics engineers said to have reduce wind noise too, thanks to some extensive detail work. Once inside, drivers will sit 90 mm (3.5 in) higher than in the latest A-Class. This results in good all-round visibility, e...

Sleeker than the 911 Cabriolet and more potent than the 718 Boxster, the 911 Speedster follows in a grand tradition of chopped-down, open-cockpit Elfens. The manufacturer first showcased the new concept with a throwback livery at its Zuffenhausen home in Stuttgart this past June, before taking it on tour around the world. And to coincide with its production announcement, Porsche is showcasing it again – this time in Guards Red – at the Paris show. The crimson paintjob is drawn from the 1988 original, as the car also features 21-inch cross-spoke alloys and a black leather interior. Otherwise it looks pretty much like the one we already saw, right down to the chopped windscreen and double-bubble rear cowling – which is no bad thing, considering how striking it is. The finished product will be produced by Porsche Exclusive in a limited run of 1,948 examples, referring to the year in which the company was founded. It’ll feature a lightweight tonneau cover with Tenax butto...

Renault has kicked off the 2018 Paris Auto Show premieres with the K-ZE Concept that will lead to an all-electric small crossover for the masses next year. The study looks like a futuristic Renault Kwid, and it’s apparently based on the same platform, but the French automaker didn’t say more about its underpinnings. While the ‘K’ could come from ‘Kwid’, the ‘ZE’ moniker is a clear reference to its electric powertrain, said to be capable of providing it with a total driving range of 250 km (150 mi) as per NEDC standards. When the battery runs out of juice, it can be charged with either domestic plugs, or using the public infrastructure. Some of the features that equip the Renault K-ZE are the infotainment system that provides access to connected services, navigation system, reversing camera and others, and the rear parking sensors, according to the French firm. The production version of the city car concept will hit the market in 2019, and will be launched at first in C...

Infiniti has unveiled a working prototype of their Project Black S concept. Originally unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, the updated concept was jointly developed by Infiniti and the Renault Sport Formula One Team. As a result, the car is an “engineering testbed” that explores how Renault’s dual-hybrid powertrain technology could be used in a road-going model. The concept is based on the Q60 Red Sport 400 and features a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine that produces 400 hp (298 kW / 405 PS) and 350 lb-ft (475 Nm) of torque. It is backed up by a hybrid system which has a 4.4 kWh lithium-ion battery and three electric motor generator units. Billed as “energy harvesting systems,” the motors generate electricity under acceleration and braking. The electricity is used to spool up the e-turbos and power an electric motor that is integrated into the rear axle. The latter produces 160 hp (120 kW / 163 PS) and it helps the concept to produce a combined maximum output of a 563 hp...

Skoda has finally unveiled the Kodiaq RS, a performance-oriented SUV that can seat as many as seven people. Aside from showing off the vehicle at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, the Czech automaker is also quite ready for us to know just how quick their sporty, yet highly practical SUV really is. The new Kodiaq RS is powered by a 2.0-liter TDI biturbo, with 240 PS (237 HP) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque. It’s Skoda’s most powerful diesel engine ever, and it works together with a 7-speed DSG automatic and an all-wheel drive system. On a straight line, the Kodiaq RS can go from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7 seconds flat, before maxing out at 220 km/h (136 mph). However, when compared to the flagship version of the VW Tiguan Allspace, which is equipped with the very same engine, the Skoda is slower to 100 km/h by 0.3 seconds and has a lower top speed by 8 km/h (5 mph). Yet, you won’t be forgetting this isn’t your regular Kodiaq, especially since the RS comes with Skoda’s co...

Skoda has lifted the veils off its Vision RS concept at the Paris Auto Show during a preview event that also showcased the new Kodiaq RS. The compact study previews both the styling language of future RS models as well as one of those models from the compact class — rumored to be a larger successor to the current Rapid. The five-door hatchback concept is 4,356-mm long, 1,431-mm high, 1,810-mm wide, and has a 2,650-mm wheelbase. It’s a practical car with a 430-liter boot and space for four passengers — although the production model will likely accommodate five occupants. Design-wise, the Vision RS sports crisp edges and precise lines, as well as several motorsport-inspired features. At the front, highlights include the sculpted bonnet that features the Skoda logo made of illuminated crystal glass, the new radiator grille with high-gloss black carbon fiber slats (also illuminated), the angular LED headlights consisting of four glass stones, the carbon fiber spoiler, and...