Chevrolet Tahoe Z71 (2015)

Chevrolet introduces the 2015 Suburban and Tahoe – all-new versions of the industry’s best-selling duo of full-size SUVs. They offer more functionality, greater refinement, new safety features and an increased range of advanced technologies to appeal to two distinct customer groups who want the unique combination of features only Tahoe and Suburban provide.

All-new styling advances the Tahoe and Suburban’s design, which contributes to a quieter ride. A more-efficient, direct-injected EcoTec3 powertrain coupled with improved aerodynamics help offer greater estimated highway fuel economy based on GM testing while preserving overall performance and capability. Official EPA estimates are not yet available. 

“There are several new features and enhancements at the core of the all-new 2015 Suburban and Tahoe that will extend the legacy Chevrolet has built as the segment leader,” said Tim Mahoney, Chevrolet global chief marketing officer. “Customers will experience greater refinement, efficiency and safety with the same capability that has made Chevrolet the go-to brand for full-size SUVs.” 

With more than 117,000 sold in 2012 and sales up more than 16 percent for the first six months of 2013 over last year. Chevrolet’s full-size SUVs continue to play an important role in the brand’s success and General Motors’ profitability. Introduced in 1935, the Suburban is the segment’s founder and the industry’s oldest continuously available nameplate, while Tahoe is the segment’s sales leader.

Honda Civic Sport (2015)

Ahead of the 2014 Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris, Honda has released images and details of several enhancements across the 2015 Civic model range and the launch of the new Civic Sport derivative.

Both the Civic and Civic Tourer benefit from a new front exterior design, providing a new sporty outlook for the model featuring new headlamps with integrated daytime running lights and a new sleek front bumper. The Civic hatchback also features a new rear bumper, side skirts, a rear spoiler finished in black, and LED rear combination lamps.

In-keeping with these premium enhancements on the outside, the 2015 models also receive a specification upgrade inside; with new seat fabrics and stitching on the headrests, new door trims with chrome door handles and a control panel finished in a metallic black.

These aesthetic enhancements combine nicely with the class-leading interior space for which the range is renowned. The Civic’s 477-litre and Civic Tourer’s 624-litre trunk capacity remain the best in their respective segments.

The 2015 Civic range will also premiere the all-new Honda Connect in-car audio and information system. Honda Connect offers convenience and connectivity whilst on the road, with key features including; AM/FM, DAB and Internet Radio, Bluetooth connectivity, internet browsing, satellite navigation* and rear-view parking camera.

The system runs Android 4.0.4 and features the familiar pinch, swipe and tap functionality of a smartphone on a seven inch display screen. 

Skoda Fabia (2015)

ŠKODA’s Head Designer Jozef Kabaň speaks about the demands on form and function of the new ŠKODA Fabia.

​​Question: A few months ago, the ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ design study gave us a first glimpse of the future ŠKODA design language. In what way does the new ŠKODA Fabia reflect this development?

Jozef Kabaň: We have demonstrated with the ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ design study how ŠKODA is able to combine great functionality with an expressive, emotional and more sharply defined design. This new design direction is the next step in the development of our brand and the new ŠKODA Fabia is the first model to communicate this design language. Drawing on elements of the ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ design study, the Fabia is more expressive, more dynamic and sportier.

Question: Why more emotions?

Jozef Kabaň: Demands on a car brand and its design develop over time. In recent years, ŠKODA has made a name for itself by producing cars with great functionality and above-average interior space. We sense that now is the right time to create a stronger connection between the functionality of our cars and an expressive and emotional design. You could say, that we are taking steps back to our roots. ŠKODA has a tradition of building design-oriented cars which are full of emotion, such as the legendary ŠKODA Popular Monte Carlo in the 1930s. We want to live up to these standards today. 

Question: Does more emotion come at the expense of the new Fabia’s practical features?

Volkswagen Polo GTI (2015)

GTI – three letters that stand for two icons of the automobile world: the Golf GTI and the Polo GTI. Often copied, never equalled. The originals come from Volkswagen. The German manufacturer launched the latest version of the Golf GTI in 2013, and now, in a world premiere at the Mondial de l`Automobile in Paris (2–19 October), comes the launch of its compact but powerful brother, the Polo GTI. With the Paris debut Volkswagen is continuing the tradition of the ultra-sporty Polo which began almost 30 years ago with the legendary Polo G40 in 1985 and which is now culminating in the fourth generation of the Polo GTI. Power is supplied by a new 1.8 TSI engine, which at precisely 141 kW / 192 PS is 12 PS more powerful than its predecessor (1.4 TSI) and comes close to achieving the performance levels of the most powerful series Polo of all time, the Polo R WRC – the road-going version of the Polo that won the World Rally Championship for Volkswagen Motorsport at the first time of asking in 2013.

GTI on a par with the R WRC. With a top speed of 236 km/h the new Polo GTI only falls 7 km/h short of the 162 kW / 220 PS Polo R WRC, which is sold out. With both transmission variants, the new Polo GTI accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, just a whisker short of the figure for the Polo R WRC: 0.3 seconds, to be precise. Yet the figures for the new Polo GTI's fuel consumption show just how amazingly efficient it is: 5.6 l/100 km (equivalent to 129 g/km CO2) in conjunction with the 7-speed DSG, and 6.0 litres (139 g/km CO2) with the 6-speed manual variant. And here the Polo R WRC (7.5 l/100 km) is finally overtaken by the new Polo GTI.