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We don’t know if these images from World Car Fans are official sketches, but they look pretty darn certifiably real to us. The concept, rumored to be coming to the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, is supposedly a lightly disguised production version of the Euro Spec 5 door Lancer Ralliart. The car will undoubtedly be powered by the same 240 hp turbocharged four banger we get here in the states with the all wheel drive gadgetry and active yaw controllers thrown in for good measure. We’ll look for more info as this develops. [Carscoop]

The final concept of Chrysler’s trio for the 2008 Detroit Auto Show is the Jeep Renegade Concept. We actually find this one the most interesting, both in terms of design and feasibility. The Renegade features all-aluminum construction to keep its weight down, as well as what appears to be a parallel hybrid drivetrain consisting of the same 40-mile lithium-ion battery pack used in the Chrysler ecoVoyager Concept sharing duties with a small-displacement BLUETEC diesel engine. Jeep claims the Renegade would be good for more than 110 miles per gallon, which we think is probably accurate. Hopefully we’ll begin seeing fuel economy numbers like that when lithium-ion battery packs become more prevalent, as well as diesel engines for that matter.

The Renegade’s design is typical Jeep, focusing on adventure in all weather conditions. The speedster windshield and roll bar add some sportiness to the aesthetics, while the lower-door openings and hosable interior show it’s a true Jeep with a trail-busting attitude. The lack of any front overhang and the vertical headlights give the front end an aerodynamic yet rugged look that we think works well Jeep’s trademark seven-slot grille.

That’s the last of Chrysler’s concept trio that we were given a sneak peak of today, though all will be present and accounted for in January at the Detroit Auto Show. We’re not sure yet what the company plans to show in terms of production cars, redesigns and refreshes, but when we find out you’ll be the first to know.

[Source: Jeep]

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Auto Show, Peugeot

Peugeot Flux concept.

We can’t imagine the thrill Mihai Panaitescu felt creep us his spine when he walked into the hall in Frankfurt and saw his design rendered in full form for the world to see. The winner of Peugeot’s 4th annual design competition not only had the opportunity to see his creation brought to life, but he’ll have the opportunity to drive the Flux in the virtual realm once it’s included into the fourth iteration of Project Gothem Racing.

You can read through Peugeot’s original press release on the Flux here, and check out our live gallery below to see Mr. Panaitescu’s pride and joy in real life.

Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Coupes

 Artega GT.

We’re a pretty jaded bunch here at Autoblog HQ, so when it comes to a new automotive offering, the cynics among us have a tendency to dismiss some vehicles as unworthy of our attention, let alone affection. The Artega GT is the exception to the rule.

Designed by Henrik Fisker of Aston Martin fame, the Artega GT has proven that automotive perfection is still attainable in a world rife with mediocrity. The exterior styling speaks for itself, so we’ll let you peruse our gallery to draw your own conclusions. Its small footprint (74 inches wide and 157 inches long) combined with a midship drivetrain will surely prove worthy when the going gets twisty. And with a DSG-controlled, VW-sourced 3.6-liter V6 sitting behind the driver, it’s pure engineering perfection. Inside, the Paragon-styled interior gets a host of high-class touches, particularly the combination tach/speedo setup and minimalist switchgear.

If we had the talent, motivation and funding to design our own ideal ride, the Artega GT would be it. Thankfully, it’s been slated for production and beginning next spring drivers in Europe can pony up the €70,000 cost of entry for one of the most inspiring bespoke coupes to come to market in a decade.

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Safety

Modern cars are incorporating a variety of safety systems designed to help drivers avoid accidents and then, if an accident is unavoidable, to minimize the risk of injury. Until now, most of these have operated largely independently of each other, but Continental Automotive Systems (and its competitors) is trying to change that. At the Chicago Auto Show, Conti had a BMW 3-series equipped with its experimental Active Passive Integration Approach (APIA). APIA ties together the various safety systems to try and achieve a result greater than the sum of the parts.

Continental combined the radar inputs from the adaptive cruise control system and added a laser speed detector, the hydraulic control unit for the stability control, and then tied it all together with the air bag, seat belt tensioning, seat controls and window controls. The system detects the speed of the vehicle ahead and determines how fast you’re closing in. The system has various stages of operation depending on how quickly you approach the vehicle in front of you. There’s more about how the system works after the jump along with a video from Continental.

[Source: Continental Automotive Systems]Continue reading Chicago Auto Show: Continental auto safety - Active Passive Integration