New estates of the art

With a big focus on MPVs and Crossovers, we can forget about estate cars. Here is some news about new estate models on the way.

New Volvo V90

The eagerly awaited Volvo V90 was revealed today in Sweden yesterday. The stylish and versatile V90 is the latest in the premium car maker’s top-of-the-line 90 series, sitting alongside the award-winning XC90 SUV and the recently launched S90 premium saloon.

New-Volvo-

Building on Volvo Cars’ indisputable heritage in the estate segment, which began more than 60 years ago with the Volvo Duett, the new V90 takes the premium estate a clear step forward in terms of aesthetics, materials and finish, while living up to the ultimately practical nature of any true estate.

“We have a very strong position in the estate segment,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President and Chief Executive of Volvo Cars. “In many people’s minds we are known as the definitive estate brand. While the Volvo brand today stands for more than estates, we are proud to carry forward this rich heritage with the V90.”

The new V90 is the third car unveiled in Volvo’s top-of-the-line 90 series, all of which are built on the company’s specially designed and fully modular Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), which has opened up a range of new opportunities in terms of how Volvos can be designed, built and equipped.

“The modern premium estate is all about the intriguing combination of a luxurious experience with the functional origins of the estate silhouette. The sophisticated ambience of our new Volvo interiors is combined with a great cargo space, providing the right kind of functionality – whether through connectivity or cargo and storage solutions,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President for Design at Volvo Cars.

Skoda Fabia Estate Scout Line

Another that will be shown at the Geneva Motor Show coincides with Skoda is expanding their ScoutLine range. Alongside the Rapid Spaceback ScoutLine, there is now the Skoda Fabia Estate ScoutLine – with its unique off-road look and attractive, practical equipment features.

New Skoda Fabia Combi Scoutline

Three petrol engines with 55 kW (75 hp), 66 kW (90 hp) and 81 kW (110 hp) and three diesel engines with 55 kW (75 hp), 66 kW (90 hp) and 77 kW (105 hp) are available.

New Kia Optima Sportswagon

The all-new Kia Optima Sportswagon, Kia’s first ever D-segment tourer, will make its global premiere at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show early next month.

New-Kia-Optima-Sportswagon

Inspired by the 2015 SportSpace concept – shown for the first time at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show – the Optima Sportswagon offers the striking exterior design and high quality interior of the 2016 Optima saloon, with the added practicality and appeal of a tourer bodystyle.

Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer, Kia Motors Europe, commented: “The Optima has come to define Kia globally, and is credited with kick-starting the brand’s design-led transformation. The SportSpace concept from 2015 was a clear intention of where we wanted to take the Optima next, and the Sportswagon adds an extra level of style and practicality to the well-received saloon.”

Cole added: “This is an important product for Kia in Europe, and it will increase our presence in this hugely important segment. In Europe, two thirds of all sales in the D-segment, and three quarters of all fleet sales in this class, are made up of tourers, so the Optima Sportswagon will play a critical role in attracting new private and corporate buyers to the brand. This is an important conquest product for Kia.”

The Optima Sportswagon will be available with a choice of efficient and responsive petrol and diesel powertrains, including a high-powered GT model. The Optima Sportswagon is equipped with a range of innovative safety assistance and infotainment features, ensuring maximum occupant safety, comfort and enjoyment.

The Optima Sportswagon is due to go on sale across Europe towards the end of this year.

New Opel Astra Sports Tourer

The British built Opel Astra Sports Tourer further extends the dynamic lines of the five-door. The slightly arched sloping roofline gives the Sports Tourer a longer appearance, an effect that is further enhanced by the divided C-pillar. The rear view combines high functionality with elegant design. The Sports Tourer has a stable, robust and safe stance, the muscular rear-wheel arch contours and the divided rear light clusters add to this impression.

New-Opel-Astra-Sports-Tourer

The latest generation Sports Tourer has almost the same dimensions as the outgoing model with a length of 4,702 mm, a width of 1,871 mm (with exterior mirrors folded in) and a height of 1,510 mm – however, it offers much more space for passengers and luggage. The driver can enjoy 26 mm of additional headroom, passengers in the rear have 28 mm more legroom, providing more space and comfort. The Sports Tourer’s total cargo capacity is now 1,630 litres, thanks to more efficient packaging.

Power outputs of 70 kW/95 hp to 147 kW/200 hp are delivered by the range of highly efficient diesel and petrol engines (fuel consumption and CO2 emissions combined: 6.2-3.4 l/100 km; 142-89 g/km).

Depending on the model and trim level, the Astra Sports Tourer is up to 190 kg lighter than its predecessor. The completely new vehicle architecture plays a major role in the weight reduction. Every component was checked for compact design and lightweight materials. The body shell weight alone was reduced by around 85 kilograms.

New Audi S4 Avant

Audi is expanding the A4 family with new models of the high-performance Audi S4 and S4 Avant, featuring a newly developed V6 engine will go on sale in Ireland in August. It is promising a sporty, lightweight and powerful new S4 Avant are advancing to the peak of the competitive field with strong performance and exemplary efficiency.

New-Audi-A4-Avant.

The strong heart of the new S4 Avant is a newly conceptualised 3.0 TFSI engine. The turbo V6 engine produces a hefty torque of 500 Nm and accelerates the Audi S4 from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. In the NEDC cycle, Audi quotes that the S4 Saloon only consumes 7.4 litres of fuel per 100 km, which it says equates to less than 170 grams CO2 per kilometre and an annual road tax bill of €570.

Audi says that the quattro permanent all-wheel drive makes a large contribution to the sporty handling of the S4 Avant. In normal driving, it distributes engine forces with a slight emphasis of the rear wheels – if necessary the majority of forces can be directed to the axle with better traction. The optional sport differential actively distributes torque between the rear wheels.

The appearance of the new S4 models is sporty but not ostentatious. The bumper, air inlets and side sills feature distinctive contours. The exterior mirror housings shine with an aluminium look. The rear bumper integrates a black honeycomb grille, aluminium diffuser trim and four tailpipes. An intelligent combination of materials makes the bodies very torsionally stiff, safe and lightweight.

Audi promises extensive standard equipment including LED headlights, LED tail lights with dynamic turn signal, 18‑inch wheels with S-specific design, front sport seats upholstered in an Alcantara/leather combination and a leather-trimmed 3‑spoke sport steering wheel with multifunction plus.

New Renault Talisman Estate

Hot on the heels of the new D-segment Talisman saloon, Renault revealed details of the stylish and capacious estate version which is set to go on sale in mainland Europe in the summer. Unfortunately, there are no current plans for Talisman or Talisman Estate to be produced in right hand drive and sold here.

New-Renault-Megan-Sport-Tourer

Both models debuted at the IAA in Frankfurt last September. The Talisman Estate competes in a sector of the European market where 54 per cent of sales are taken by estate models.

The Talisman Estate maintains all the style and panache of the saloon, but supplements this with a vast load area with a maximum capacity of almost 1,700 litres. A low sill and wide opening plus ‘Easy Estate’ seats which can be folded in an instant via two boot-mounted levers make loading simple, convenient and quick. A powered tailgate operated by the movement of a foot beneath the rear bumper ensures that owners do not need to put down their packages to gain access to the car.

To prove that the Talisman Estate is not just a carry-all car, it comes with a raft of features designed to deliver driving enjoyment and enhance the safety, comfort and convenience of all on board. It is available with a choice of five highly-efficient TCe petrol and dCi diesel engines; offers 4Control, four-wheel steering, active damping and Multi-Sense technologies; and provides the highest levels of connectivity, infotainment and driver assistance through the R-Link 2 multimedia tablet, BOSE Surround Sound and electronic accident avoidance features.
Both the Renault Talisman Saloon and Estate offers the same range of engines as the saloon. There are Energy TCe 150 and 200 petrol units and Energy dCi 110, 130 and 160 turbodiesels. EDC dual-clutch automatic transmission is available with the TCe 200 and dCi 130 power units and is standard with the twin turbo dCi 160.

Posted in Marques, News, Renault