The new Honda Fit Twist was developed by local automobile R&D team in Brazil, launched at the 2012 Sao Paulo International Motor Show. Honda's release insists the Fit Twist is a Brazilian-market exclusive with a starting price of $28,600.

“While maintaining the ease of use and driving comfort of the original Fit, the ‘FIT twist’ offers a sportier vehicle image with a bold design realized through adoption of an exclusive front grill and roof rails as well as an exclusive seat surface material,” Honda said in a statement.

Designed exclusively for Brazil, the Honda Fit Twist features a matte aluminum finish, a faux skidplate, bigger 16-inch alloy wheels, ovoid fog lamps with bright surrounds, a revised grille, likely faux air intakes, mirror caps and clear tail lamp fixtures.

Honda hasn't released technical specs on the Fit Twist, so expect choices to include a 1.4-liter or 1.5-liter, 16-valve I-4 that produces 100 hp (75 kW) and a 1.5-liter with 115 hp (86 kW), along with a manual or an automatic transmission driving the front wheels.

A Honda spokesman told autoreviewblog.net: “People here in Brazil like cars that are a bit tougher. We've made it tougher and sportier so it's aimed at younger customers.”

[alert style="green"] Honda Fit Twist photos [/alert]

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The Renault DCross concept based on the Dacia Duster and is aimed at primarily at the Brazilian market has been launched at the 2012 Sao Paulo Auto Show.

"In Brazil customers love the rough image of the Duster, so this takes that to the maximum. It's been 100 per cent developed by Brazilian designers in our studio here in Sao Paulo," Olivier Murguet, CEO of Renault Brazil, told us.

Finished in lurid green paint, the concept is easily distinguished from the Duster with its new front grille, a spare wheel on the roof, chrome alloy wheels and headlight design.

"We never do anything without having a good idea of where we're going. This is a vision of the future," Murguet revealed.

[alert style="green"] Renault DCross photos [/alert]

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This is the 2013 Volkswagen Taigun, an mini SUV concept debuts at the Sao Paulo Auto Show. Though introduced in Brazil, Volkswgen Taigun will be launched globally, where it will compete with the likes of Nissan Juke , Skoda Yeti and Vauxhall Mokka.

“If I make a concept, my aim is always to put it into production - it’s not just a dream,” Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, head of product development at VW, told us.

Called the Taigun, the compact four seater market currently hovers around the $25,000 mark, Volkswagen thinks has huge potential in the booming South American market.

Built on a slightly stretched version of the ‘New Small Family’ platform, the Volkswagen Taigun has the same wheelbase as a Volkswagen Polo, 1728mm in width and 1570mm in height. As a concept it weighs 985 kg (2,172 pounds) and it carries with it a cargo space of 280 liters.

On the inside there's space for five passengers and been inspired by the latest smart phones, thin horizontal aluminium look facia forms the basis of the dashboard, a grab handle for the front passenger, door trims housing large stowage bins and a turbo boost pressure gauge.

Power for the Taigun comes from the same turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder direct-injection gasoline engine, produces 109bhp and 175 Nm of torque to propel the 985kg Taigun from 0-100km/h in 9.2 seconds and to a top speed of 185 km/h. Power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox , the Volkswagen Taigun will accelerate from 0-62 mph in 9.2 seconds, delivering fuel economy of 50 mpg approximately.

[alert style="green"] 2013 Volkswagen Taigun photos [/alert]

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Nissan has just revealed the EXTREM Concept at the 2012 Sao Paulo Auto Show in Brazil, which it nicknamed "Baby Beast" — as a "new urban compact sports car." The Nissan Extrem, the Japanese automaker's first concept car to target the Brazil market.

Called the EXTREM Concept, it's built on the Micra platform and was designed by a team at Nissan Design America in San Diego, California.

“We have created EXTREM to show how serious we are about Brazil. The Nissan EXTREM is provocative, energetic and engaging and it reflects the passion, innovation and excitement we put into all our cars,” said Christian Meunier, President of Nissan Brazil.

Finished in Solar Cortex paint, aluminium skid plate, six-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels round out the package, the contrasting matte finish of the roof and see-through A-pillars.

The Nissan EXTREM would be powered by the automaker's turbocharged and direct-injected 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine produces 98bhp with the powertrain in the Nissan DeltaWing Le Mans race car.

[alert style="green"] Nissan EXTREM Concept photos [/alert]

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