During the 2008 Beijing Auto Show, Buick unveiled its new concept car called Invicta. The Invicta is said to be inspired by the Riviera concept shown last year. That name — which is Latin-speak for “invincible” — was last seen in the Buick lineup in the late 1950s.

Invicta carries multiple design cues from previous Buick concept efforts, now the design language on the Invicta is pure Buick, shield-shaped waterfall grille to the vent ports, which have been moved from the fenders onto the hood. The 4-door sedan has sharp, yet flowing character lines, including one that describes the classic Buick sweep spear cue on the car's flanks. The high beltline and low greenhouse give the Invicta a muscular stance. A glass roof helps to open up the greenhouse, and premium touches in the cabin include seam stitching on the instrument soft-touch feel panel pad, steering wheel and door panels. Buttons, switches and pulls are also designed to upscale tactile standards, and LED accent lighting adds to the experience.

Invicta concept will let you also experience riding on a 114.5-in. wheelbase, the Invicta concept is powered by a turbocharged direct-injected 2.0-liter four making 250 bhp and 220 lb.-ft. of torque. It is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The 5-passenger Invicta measures 194.2 in. in overall length, rides on 20-in. wheels and tires and has a fully independent suspension with 4-wheel disc brakes. The Invicta name was originally introduced by Buick in 1959 and used until the 1962 model year.

Mitsubishi plans to expand reach with the i-MiEV, set to arrive at dealerships by 2010.

The i-MiEV comes from the Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (MiEV) clan, a name given to the automaker’s alternative propulsion technologies. Other watchers in the industry predicted that the cute little electric car with the top speed of about 80 mph and a maximum travel of 100 miles will not make it into the real automotive realm. But the Japanese automaker proved them wrong.

Mitsubishi will also expand mid-sized platform cars and will include an SUV based pickup. The automaker also plans to make the i-MiEV global by reaching Europe and North America not just Japan.


The two-seater i-MiEV, which is designed for urban use, is Mitsubishi’s effort to combat global warming issues. The automaker will zero in on smaller and low impact sport utilities as well as core technologies stressing the development of clean diesel engines and the high-efficiency automated manual transmission Twin Clutch SST (Sport Shift Transmission), according to the Green Car Congress.

In the Western European market, the Japanese automaker will respond to stringent mileage standards by improving environmental awareness and tightening CO2 emissions. This will be done by introducing environmental technologies and compact vehicles. Additionally, to improve sales in the burgeoning Central European market, the automaker will concentrate on sport utilities.

In North America, Mitsubishi said that it will primarily be working on improving the brand image in the mid- to long term and working with its dealers. What’s more, the concentration for its US-based production facility will be continued efforts at overall cost cuts, including fixed costs, and by intensifying export prospects.

In Brazil, Mitsubishi will endeavor to raise sales by satisfying its lineup of full-range flexible fuel vehicles (FFV). FFV range covers 0-100 percent petrol or bioethanol-compatible vehicles.

The i-Blue is powered by hydrogen, which experts are claiming to be the future of green vehicles. Using hydrogen as fuel means that it does not produce any amounts of greenhouse gas. According to The Auto Channel, the i-Blue Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle was developed at the automaker's Design and Technical Center located in Chiba, Japan. The automaker's development of the hydrogen-powered vehicle signals its active participation in the race to become the first automaker to mass produce hydrogen-powered vehicles.

The first two generations of the i-Blue were based on SUV platforms. The use of said platform enables the designers of the concept vehicle to have ample room to stow the components used by a hydrogen-powered vehicle. The unveiled i-Blue on the other hand has been developed using a crossover platform. This means that the automaker has overcome the need for a larger space to stow the needed components for the vehicle to run on hydrogen.

The third-generation i-Blue is powered by a fuel cell stack and an electric engine capable of producing 100 kW. Maximum speed of the vehicle is placed at a hundred miles per hour. A full tank of compressed hydrogen can power the vehicle for up to 370 miles.

The Hyundai I-Blue is a four-seat vehicle and one of its most striking features are the space age bucket seats, front and rear in the fuel cell crossover. The cockpit design is sure to gain many fans as the vehicle was designed for comfort along with its zero emissions capabilities.

The use of a crossover platform on the third-generation i-Blue also changed the position of the fuel cell stack. In the second generation i-Blue which is built around a Hyundai Tucson, the fuel cell stack is placed in the engine compartment. In the new i-Blue, the fuel cell stack is placed underneath the floor. This placement of the said component allows the new i-Blue to have a 50:50 weight distribution.

The said distribution is ideal so that the vehicle will have better agility. That means it can be easily driven as it responds better to handling than the old Tucson-based i-Blue.

At motors shows like the North American International Auto Show, automakers either showcase concept vehicles which are equipped with high technology features or design concepts which may be used by latter models. Lincoln unveiled the MKT concept at the ongoing NAIAS.


What powers the MKT concept vehicle is a 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine which is turbocharged. This is what Ford has been tinkering with in the past as part of its dedication to create more eco-friendly engines. According to the automaker, the engine used by the MKT concept produces power equivalent to that produced by a much larger V8 with the same fuel efficiency as an ordinary V6 engine. The engine is complemented with an advanced engine technology which includes electric power steering, aerodynamic enhancements, advanced transmission, and weight reduction.

Along with the unveiling of the MKT concept, Ford announced that they will be using the MKT's engine on half a million units of Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles within the next five years. These engines though will only be available in North America.

Mark Fields, the president of the Americas at Ford, had this to say: "EcoBoost engines can deliver better fuel economy and performance on a full range of vehicles, from small cars to large trucks. The Lincoln MKT concept offers the comfort of a luxury sedan, the spaciousness and flexibility of a full-size utility and the performance of a sporty roadster - executed with new technologies and materials that make it as environmentally friendly as it is elegant. The Lincoln MKT concept is understated but powerful - inside, outside and under the hood."

The space inside the Lincoln MKT is one of its best points of interest. As Americans favor vehicles with large interiors, it is not surprising that Lincoln's MKT was designed with enough space. Peter Horbury, the executive director of Design of The Americas at Ford, said: "We envisioned this concept as a modern grand tourer, really a Learjet of the road. With the Lincoln MKT concept, you find a premium utility that could as easily accommodate a businessperson slipping into the back seat on the way to his or her next meeting in the chaos of Manhattan as a family packed up for a weekend getaway to the coast."