Volvo is following a trend by European automakers to bring their products further down market, with plans to introduce a new compact crossover based on the C30 hatchback. Likely to be called the XC30, this would be the fourth SUV/Crossover in the company’s lineup and slot in underneath the new XC60 model.

According to a report by CarsGuide, Volvo’s man in charge of corporate strategy, Lex Kerssemakers, commented that an expansion of the XC line was in order considering the core of Volvo’s business lies in the V and XC models. Kerssemakers then went on to say that with the proliferation of larger crossovers within the brand, the logical step would be to look down-market. Downsizing for Volvo is likely to stop there, however, says Kerssemakers, with no plans to take on the city car market with a competitor to Audi’s new A1.

The new XC30 model would compete with BMW’s upcoming X1 model and the rumored Audi Q3. It’s also likely that when the next generation of C30 models debuts, Volvo will offer a five-door version as well as the current 3-door. Volvo chose to go with a three-door because of the style, but now admits that with the five-door portion of the hatchback marketing being the largest area, the Swedish automaker will look to compete more readily by expanding its C30 product offerings.

[Source: CarsGuide]

Having just received its world premiere at the Geneva Auto Show, Nissan announced the Juke will be sold in the U.S. and will give the crossover a North American unveiling at a private event just ahead of the NY Auto Show.

Slotting in just underneath the Rogue in Nissan’s lineup, we’re excited to see if the European model’s GTDI (gasoline turbocharged direct injection) 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, which makes 188-hp and 177 ft-lbs of torque. We’re also interested to see what sort of design changes might be made to the admittedly odd looking ute.

Set to go on sale later this year, pricing has not yet been release yet, but we expect a sub $20,000 entry-level value, considering the price of the Rogue.

We’ll be sure to bring you full details and plenty of live photos on March 31st, on the eve of the NY Auto Show.

GALLERY: Nissan Juke Premiere in Geneva

GALLERY: Nissan Juke

Kia unveiled the third generation Sportage new styling and a longer, wider and lower body at the Geneva Auto Show.

The 2010 Kia Sportage takes many of its styling cues from the Kue concept model shown in Detroit in 2007.

For Europe, Kia will offer the Sportage with four engine options, two diesel and two gasoline. The new Sportage will be available at launch with a 2.0L gasoline engine rated1 at 161 hp and a 2.0L version of Kia’s next-generation “R” family diesel engines, producing 134 hp. By late 2010, Kia will begin offering a 138 hp 1.6L gasoline engine and a 113 hp 1.7L diesel plant, both with Start/Stop fuel saving technology

Gallery: 2010 Kia Sportage

Official release after the jump:

Mitsubishi displayed the new ASX at the Geneva Auto Show. Leaked photos made their way online last week but we’ve got live images of the crossover, expected in North America as the Outlander Sport.

Europeans will have the option of a 150-hp 1.8-liter turbo-diesel engine (the first with variable valve timing), and a 116-hp 1.6-liter gasoline engine for the ASX. The diesel model also gets a variable turbine geometry turbo, as well as a start-stop system, regenerative braking, low rolling resistance tires and electric power steering. Both versions will be available in front- and all-wheel drive.

The North American model, which will be known as the Outlander Sport, will likely debut at the New York Auto Show at the end of March.

Gallery: Mitsubishi ASX / Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

With Nissan set to introduce its new global small car at the Geneva Auto Show tomorrow and the press conference schedule a tight squeeze, the Japanese automaker decided that no formal debut of its new Juke crossover was necessary. As a result, we’ve been able to get a good look at this oddly styled model which Nissan has announced will be offered in North America later this year.

Slotting in underneath the Rogue in Nissan’s North American lineup, the Juke is aimed at winning-over small hatchback buyers with a smaller vehicle that has a more versatile platform.

As controversial as the styling is, we’re excited about this car mainly because of its engine. Nissan has announced that the Juke will come equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with direct-injection technology – GTDI (gasoline turbocharged direct injection) for short. It also gets variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust side of the engine. Power is rated at 188-hp and 177 ft-lbs of torque, but so far no fuel economy numbers are available. It should, however, undercut all other crossovers, so expect some impressive numbers. Plus, it should undercut the competition in price. With the Rogue currently sitting around the $20,000 mark, we’d have to think a smaller model would be even less.

Nissan’s press conference it set for tomorrow (March 2nd) and we’ll be sure to see if there’s any new news about the Juke then. Nissan has chosen the New York Auto Show at the end of the month to officially debut the U.S.-spec model on American soil.

GALLERY: Nissan Juke

MINI was supposed to introduce its new Countryman at the Geneva Auto Show but leaked photos of the crossover forced the company to release pictures and details in January.

Today, at the Geneva Auto Show, MINI had the Cooper  and Cooper S Countryman models on display as it prepares for the official unveiling tomorrow.

We’ve got pictures of the Countryman, beneath a pair of oversized hats that will will later be lowered to cover the crossover until the unveiling tomorrow.

We already know the MINI Countryman will come standard with four seats arranged around a front-to-back center rail. An optional three-seat bench will be available at no additional cost. MINI says the Countryman has a storage capacity of 12.2 to 41.0 cubic feet, depending on how the seats are set up.

The Cooper S version (the white model in the photos) will have a 184hp turbocharged 1.6L engine with direct fuel injection and fully variable valve arrangement.

We’ll have more when MINI takes the hats off of the Countryman tomorrow.

Gallery: 2011 MINI Countryman

Images and details of the new Mitsubishi ASX (to be called the Outlander Sport in North America) have leaked online before the car’s Geneva Auto Show debut next week. Several images of the Japanese version of the car have already appeared online (with the ASX called the RVR in Japan), but these photos clearly show a European model.

In Europe, the ASX will be offered with both a 150-hp 1.8-liter turbo-diesel engine (the first with variable valve timing), and a 116-hp 1.6-liter gasoline engine. The diesel model also gets a variable turbine geometry turbo, as well as a start-stop system, regenerative braking, low rolling resistance tires and electric power steering. Both the gasoline and diesel engines will be offered with either front-drive or all-wheel drive.

These ASX photos give us an even closer look at what the North American spec Outlander Sport will look like when it reaches out shores – likely debuting at the New York Auto Show at the end of March. At that time, we expect Mitsubishi to announce the engine for North America will be the company’s 168-hp, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, although we’re hoping for something a bit more exciting.

We’ll bring you more on this car with full coverage of the Geneva Auto Show starting March 1st.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: Mitsubishi ASX

[Source: Minkara via Peter McMutry Car Blogs]

Land Rover will debut its newest and smallest model at the Paris Auto Show later this year based on the LRX concept first shown at the Detroit Auto Show back in 2008. Originally thought to be a 2011 model, Automotive News is reporting that it will arrive in late 2011, likely as a 2012 model year vehicle.

According to an older press release released by the automaker the upcoming LRX (if that is in fact its name), will be, “the smallest, lightest and most efficient vehicle the company has ever produced.”

While on one at Land Rover has confirmed as much, it is expected to be a full hybrid model, possibly using a diesel engine when it launches for the U.S. market. Diesel hybrids aren’t offered much because of the expense involve in both hybrid and diesel technology, but its likely that Land Rover sees its customers as the sort who could afford to pay extra for impressive fuel economy.

It’s also not clear if the LRX will be a fully off-road capable SUV or use a car-like crossover platform.

[Source: Automotive News via Autoblog]

The marketing experts behind the MINI brand have stuck again with another commercial that you’ll want to watch. In fact, you’ll probably watch it a few times and search for the song on iTunes to download for your iPod. Yup, it’s cool.

The video doesn’t really tell you anything about the car, but it’s plenty of fun to watch, highlighting the car’s functionality (able to hold dozens of pineapples), to its passenger room (with space for baby seats). Plus, there’s plenty of active shots of off-roading from dirt to snow, to highlight the new ALL4 all-wheel drive system, as well as some more accurate video of urban settings – considering most MINIs (or any crossover for that matter), isn’t likely to see more than a puddle.

Toyota, a company that is notoriously good at keeping its vehicles secret until the very last minute, has apparently let down its guard, with a few pictures of the facelifted 2011 RAV4 finding their way onto the net. With a new grille and headlights, the cute-ute gets a little less cute a it more muscular. Toyota is reported to also deliver a more premium interior for the entry-level crossover.

In addition to these upgrades, expect modifications to the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine in improve fuel economy.

While this is a European-spec vehicle, we do expect to see the new exterior design make its way to North American in the near future. There’s no word on what sort of updates will be made to the rest of the car.

We’ll be sure to bring you more on the updated RAV4 with live coverage of the Geneva Auto Show (where it’s set to debut) starting March 2nd. Toyota is also set to showcase the FT-86 Concept, as well as a redesigned Auris and the plug-in Prius hybrid.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: 2011 Toyota RAV4 Euro-Spec

[Source: Carscoop]