This is one of the dyno rooms at the AMG's headquarters in Affalterbach, Germany. Strapped to the stand on this particular occasion was the 6.3-liter V8 headed for duty in the upcoming SLS gullwing coupe. It's expected to generate 571-horsepower and 507 pound-feet of torque when it goes into production early next year.
According to our editor on the scene, AMG puts all of its engines through a test procedure that includes 800 hours of wide-open throttle operation, pausing only to sample the oil and change dynamometer operators every 20 hours. Yes, that's over a month of full throttle operation before the engine is signed off. That should make anyone who drives an AMG vehicle a little less squeamish about hitting the redline every once in awhile.
Pricing has been released on the 2010 Subaru Legacy. With a base price of $19,995, it comes in $800 cheaper that the 2009 model. The top-of-the-line 3.6R Limited model starts at $27,995.
BMW announced pricing for the 2010 X5 M and X6 M today, and as we expected they are sickenly expensive. As in, we'll never be able to afford them expensive.
The 2010 BMW X5 M will run you a cool $86,255 while the X6 M will command a slight premium of $89,725 for its oddness.
At this point we've seen the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG in the flesh, but never completely uncovered. These latest shots reveal more exterior detail than ever before and it's looking quite promising.
The shapes of the greenhouse and nose section are clearly visible now and they both show clear signs of the SLS's retro-inspired design. Smaller details like the headlights, drilled brake rotors and vents holes in the front quarter panels add a few more clues to the look of the final design.
#NYIAS Even this chocolatey brown 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster looked good under the Javits Center lights at the New York Auto Show. It looked so good, a Super Silver Nissan GT-R got kicked off the stage and onto the carpet. --Erin Riches, Senior Editor
#NYIAS Though the 2009 Nissan Nismo 370Z first saw the light of day (well, the first official light of day) at the Morrell Wine Bar, we couldn't resist the favorable lighting conditions in the Nissan booth today at New York's Javits Center. We've got video, too. --Erin Riches, Senior Editor
#NYIAS Don't get too excited, it will be awhile before the Mitsubishi i MiEV arrives at U.S. dealerships ready for public sale. At today's press conference in New York, Mitsubishi Motors North America President and CEO Shinichi Kurihara announced that Mitsubishi fully intends to develop its i MiEV electric car for world markets including the United States. Fleet sales of the i MiEV are expected to start in Japan this summer.
The i MiEV slated for Japan is slightly smaller than the vehicle on hand at today's show. A wider track is the main difference. Sources on hand at the show said Mitsubishi is also considering a gasoline version of the vehicle for the U.S. Could be an interesting alternative to the Smart. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
#NYIAS Mercedes gave a quick introduction to the Vision E250 Bluetec sedan yesterday in New York. We took a quick photo. By today, the diesel Benz concept was gone, already whisked off for the Shanghai auto show.
"Vision" is somewhat of a misnomer, because the E250 isn't really a concept. A version of this car, the E250 CDI, is already part of the 2010 E-Class lineup in Europe. But the "Bluetec" indicates the car now has an AdBlue urea tank in back, allowing it to meet Europe's more stringent EU 6 emission standard that goes into effect in 2014. Compared to the current EU 5 standard, this requires a significant cut in NOx emissions.The urea injections would also allow the Mercedes-Benz E250 to get 50-state certification here.
Who's going to buy a four-cylinder diesel E-Class? You are. Consider that the Vision E250 Bluetec has a 2.1-liter turbodiesel four (or 2.2 liters, according to Benz, but displacement is only 2,143cc) good for 204 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque from 1,600-1,800 rpm. That's not much less than the 210 hp and 400 lb-ft in our current E320 Bluetec, and the E250 would be cheaper, Mercedes officials tell us.
Estimated fuel economy ratings on the U.S. test cycle are an incredible 28 mpg city/39 mpg highway -- vastly better than the E320 Bluetec, rated at 23/32.
Mercedes has not yet made a decision about whether to import a production E250 Bluetec, but if it came here, it would replace the diesel E320. This diesel is also under consideration for the GLK. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
#NYIAS It has gullwing doors and "floating" seats inside, yet the Hyundai Nuvis has more production implications than you might think. As Hyundai continues to move upmarket with cars like its new Genesis sedan, the Nuvis could very well signal its intention to hit the sweet spot of the luxury crossover market currently dominated by the Lexus RX 350.
In the near term, it's the drivetrain of the Nuvis that shows some promise. It combines Hyundai's latest "Theta" four-cylinder gas engine with a 30kW electric motor to create what Hyundai calls Blue Drive.
It's a parallel hybrid system similar to that used in the Toyota Prius, so it can run on pure electric power or both gas and electric power together. For electric power, it uses a 270V lithium-polymer battery that Hyundai claims is superior to both nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion batteries because lithium polymer batteries are more durable and space-efficient.
We'll see if those claims hold up soon enough as Hyundai has announced that it will offer the Blue Drive system in the next-generation Sonata in the United States. No timetable was given, but expect to see more news on this front as early as next year. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
#NYIAS Forget what you've heard. The Hyundai Equus is coming to the U.S., and when it does it'll be powered by a 5.0-liter V8 backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission.
"You didn't hear it from me," a source close to the project told Inside Line today during the New York auto show. "But you wouldn't be far off if you said the car was coming to the United States. Our chairman wants it."
The full-size sedan, which packs the size and luxury to top the Hyundai lineup, should hit the states in "two or three years" according to our source, but the problem right now is price. In Korea the car starts at the equivalent of $96,000, and taking on the Benz S-Class in America is not what Hyundai has in mind. At least not yet.
Hyundai hopes to get the price down to near $50,000 in the States, where it would give Genesis sedan owners a car to move up into. In the meantime, Hyundai will be gauging the public's reaction to the car all week at the New York show.
We expect more than one show-goer to be asked, "What would you pay for this car?" by Hyundai officials as the company creates the business plan for its new Lexus fighter. -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
#NYIAS We have always thought that the standard GMC Yukon Hybrid was a little down market. Sure it carries a base price of nearly $51,000, but for that price you only get so much chrome for your dollar.
Thankfully, this year's New York auto show saw the introduction of the 2009 GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid. For a mere $59,185, you can ride high on chrome 22s and in ventilated leather seats while showing your commitment to conserving our natural resources. Now that's professional grade. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
#NYIAS Although it's true that the Dog Friendly Honda Element concept shown here in New York will be an option package for the 2010 Honda Element starting this fall, Honda hasn't yet finalized the package contents or the price. But we have photos of the cute doggy named Sam.
Here you can see Sam on the fold-out ramp for the cargo bay. It leads to an integrated pet bed with restraints designed by Takata, a longtime manufacturer of seatbelts for humans. A non-spillable water dish is included back here, and an auxiliary 12-volt fan keeps your Element from smelling like dog.
There's another set of restraints in the Element's second row intended for a smaller dog. The seat covers are machine-washable, with a doggy print. And the floor mats are heavy-duty rubber with a chew-bone pattern. We'd guess that Honda will let owners specify the restraint setup based on the size of their dog.
Honda doesn't have plans to expand the Dog Friendly option package to its other dog-friendly models (CR-V, Fit, Odyssey, Pilot). Though the Element is getting on in years, it's evidently a magnet for dog owners. Based on company research, 62 percent of Honda Element owners have pets. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
#NYIAS Can you tell this is the 2010 Land Rover Range Rover? If so, congratulations. You know way too much about Land Rovers.
Most of the changes are underneath the hood, as this refreshed Rover gets the same 5.0-liter V8 first shown in Jaguar's XF sedan and XK coupe. It's a modest upgrade for a vehicle that didn't really need it.
The interior gets a new digital gauge cluster, along with even more optional leather trim. For full details on this year's refresh of Land Rover's flagship, see our full story on the 2010 Land Rover Range Rover. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
#NYIAS Already on sale in Europe, the 2010 Volkswagen GTI hasn't yet made it to the U.S. You may not have even noticed, though, as the sixth-generation Golf looks almost unchanged compared to its predecessor.
Same look, same engines and typical Volkswagen attention to detail. And according to European Editor Alistair Weaver, surprisingly civilized, almost to a fault. Get the rest of the detail in our first drive report from Europe. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
#NYIAS An unassuming gray 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5i was on stage for Subaru's press conference today in New York, but a short while later a red Legacy GT found its way into the booth. For full details on the bigger, sedan-only 2010 Legacy, check our full story.
Like the 2010 Outback, the 2010 Legacy should go on sale in August. It's rumored to start around $20,000 and we've been told it will definitely beat the 2009 Legacy's $20,795 base price.
Preliminary fuel economy estimates are 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway for a Legacy 2.5i (which has the 170-hp, 2.5-liter boxer-4) with the new six-speed manual gearbox driving all four wheels through the standard all-wheel-drive system. Choose the CVT and that goes up to 23/30.
Impressive figures for an AWD midsize sedan, but we'd rather have the Legacy GT, which has a 265-hp turbocharged boxer-4 and the six-speed gearbox. But it's only going to get 17/23. Same goes for the 256-hp, 3.6-liter H6 in the Legacy 3.6R (not shown today at Subaru's stand), which has a five-speed automatic only.
One other tidbit: There's no SI-Drive in U.S.-spec 2010 Legacy GTs, though the feature will carry on in Japanese- and European-market Legacys. "We felt it was important to simplify the car to make it more acceptable to more people," Dave Sullivan, product manager for the Legacy, Outback and Tribeca, told us.
#NYIAS Scheduled to go on sale in August, the 2010 Subaru Outback follows the lead of the 2010 Subaru Legacy and is much larger than any previous Outback. With the 2010 Legacy rumored to start around $20,000, look for Subaru's all-terrain wagon (and it will only be a wagon this time) to start a couple grand above that.
The turbo engine option is gone, so your choices consist of the 2.5-liter, normally aspirated boxer four-cylinder (170 horsepower at 5,600 rpm, 170 pound-feet at 4,000 rpm) and the Tribeca's 3.6-liter H6 (256 hp at 6,000 rpm, 247 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm).
All-wheel drive is standard, of course. Preliminary fuel economy estimates are 19 mpg city/ 27 mpg highway with the base four and the new six-speed manual transmission and 21/27 with the new "Lineartronic" continuously variable transmission. The CVT is manufactured in-house, but Subaru sources the chain from Luk, a German manufacturer that supplies Audi's CVT.
Unfortunately, Subaru won't be putting the six-speed manual and CVT into the Impreza and Forester for 2010. Company officials tell us the switch might not come until those models get full redesigns.
With the H6 engine and the carry-over five-speed automatic, you're looking at a predicted 17/23 rating.
Right now, it's good to be Mini. Last year the company sold over 50,000 cars in the U.S. and finished 2008 nearly 30 percent up. In fact, Jim McDowell, the company's VP, was in such good spirits last night, he wore this inspired and inspiring pin to BMW's annual media dinner. He even promised us one of our very own. -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
#NYIAS We didn't know it was going to show up, but calling the 2010 Kia Forte Koup a surprise is a bit of stretch. The production version of the Kia Forte sedan debuted in February and a concept version of the Koup was shown in New York at last year's show.
If anything, we're surprised how faithful the production Forte Koup is to the original concept, and that it kept its kooky Koup name. Strangely, the rear of the production model is actually more aggressive than the concept thanks to a finned diffuser that hugs a pair of chrome exhaust tips. Can't remember the last time that happened.
It's a nice-looking package though. At 176.4 inches long, 55.1 inches high, 69.5 inches wide and riding on a 104.3-inch wheelbase, the Koup is within an inch or so of the Honda Civic coupe. It even shares the Honda's front-end design to some degree, yet thankfully the Koup goes its own way toward the back.
#NYIAS After the release of a revealing teaser image last week, the unveiling of the Mitsubishi Outlander GT Prototype was hardly a surprise. It looked like an Outlander with an Evo front end and that's exactly what it is. That's not all, though.
After BMW officials waded through a grim economic status update, noting that the company will continue to maximize liquidity and cut costs through 2009, Ludwig Wilisch, head of the Motorsport division, got down to the business of introducing the 2010 BMW X6 M, which we've already written about in detail. The 2010 BMW X5 M was nowhere to be found; its official debut is two weeks from now in Shanghai.
The engine is the story on the X6 M, as the Motorsport engineers started with the block of the 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 engine in the current BMW 750i and made modifications from there. The turbos are twin-scroll on the M-tuned V8, and there's that innovative two-piece single exhaust manifold. Really, it's a completely different engine now, though it retains the reverse-flow design (with the turbos in the vee), which explains the 555 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque.
Still, says Wilisch, "our philosophy is that the chassis must always be faster than the engine -- a big challenge I can tell you, on an SAV."
To that end, the M engineers retuned the car's Active Roll Stabilization system and fitted stiffer rear axle mounts and upgraded control arm bushings. Plus, the BMW X6 M sits 0.4 inch lower than the normal X6.
Come fall 2009, we'll see how well the Motorsport engineers fared with this first-ever M-badged SUV. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
#NYIAS For more than a year, there have been unending rumors of an Infiniti-badged, Nissan GT-R-powered sedan. The car was said to be an all-wheel-drive flagship for the luxury brand, powered by the same twin-turbo V6 used in Nissan's supercar.
Then Infiniti showed the GT-R-powered Essence concept at the Geneva show, and the rumors fired up again. Word was that the sedan plan was dead and the new flagship was to be an Essense-like coupe with GT-R power.
Well, today Inside Line has learned that both plans have hit the trash can. Infiniti has decided that a high-powered flagship is just not what it needs right now. Not at a time when S-Class and 7 Series sales are way down.
"It's fair to say that there's nothing in the product plan for an Infiniti flagship right now," Brian Carolin, Nissan's Senior VP of Sales and Marketing, told IL. "It's just not a priority in today's climate."
"Our dealers would rather have something with more volume," he continued. Twelve months ago they would have said yes; now it's way down on their wish list." -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
#NYAIS I just spent a couple of hours crawling in and around a Mercedes SLS AMG prototype. The interior was finished, but the outside wore much of the same camouflage as the cars we've seen running around the Nurburgring for months (notice the black tape on the red car above). Photos were not allowed, nor could we open the hood or trunk, but everything else was fair game.
Now we've already published a number of stories on this car, so learning new info with such restrictions wasn't easy. Here's the new stuff we walked away with:
At $273,295, the Supersports is the most expensive Continental coupe by a wide margin. For the extra cash, you get unique bodywork, a 621-hp version of the standard twin-turbo W12 and carbon-fiber brake rotors.
Oh, and starting in 2010, the Supersports will be capable of running on ethanol. We hear it's finally going to catch on big next year. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
We all know that Nissan's next full-size pickup will use a Dodge Ram chassis and Hemi V8, but the name of the truck has been a well-kept secret. Rumors of a name change have run rampant, but today Inside Line has learned that the Titan name will live on.
According to Nissan's Senior VP of Sales and Marketing Brian Carolin, the company's future Dodge-based pickup will be called Titan when it hits dealers in 2011. "It will be called Titan, and our dealers are looking forward to the truck," Carolin told us on the floor of the New York auto show. "Their only concern about the vehicle is the future of Chrysler."-- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
#NYIAS Will GMC survive the General Motors gutting by the government? Who knows, but in the meantime it will carry on with the new 2010 GMC Terrain starting this summer.
A somewhat large compact SUV, the five-passenger Terrain benefits from the efficiency of GM's new direct-injection 2.4-liter engine. Combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Terrain is said to deliver 30 mpg. So if you don't want to drive a Camry or even a Malibu, but still need decent mileage on your commute, here's an SUV alternative.
Then again, if you want an SUV with guts, there's a "professional grade" V6 with 264 hp. And given the Terrain's size, that's probably the one worth having anyway. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
#NYIAS Good news from the Acura press conference in New York: Not only is the 2010 Acura ZDX vastly better-looking than the TL, it's also better-looking than the BMW X6 and, as crossover-ish SUVs go, it borders on downright attractive, assuming you're OK with the Acura corporate face.
The stance is lower than we'd expected -- the ZDX is more of a peer to the BMW 5 Series GT than the X6 or Infiniti FX35. The curvy character line down the length of the ZDX is also a welcome departure from the excessive straight edges on recent Acura sedans.
More product details, photos and video after the jump.
It might be a little premature to be looking past the Mercedes SLS AMG since it won't even hit the road for another year, but today, more than one AMG insider confirmed that a convertible version of the gullwinged supercar will follow it to the market. Of course, it won't have the dramatic gullwing doors of the coupe, but it will get a power-retracting soft top like the one Mercedes used on the SLR.
Cost? We're almost afraid to ask, but it'll make the expected $250,000 price of the coupe look like Tic Tac money.
Look for it to top the Mercedes range in about two years. -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
#NYIAS The Scion iQ is the best and most interesting Scion concept we've seen since the original bbX.
Granted, you have to look past all the oversize fascias, skirts and "bubble flares" that Five Axis (a Huntington Beach, California-based aftermarket company specializing in Toyotas) has added to the New York showcar. But if you do that, there's a Toyota iQ underneath. And in marked contrast to the overgrown, current-generation Scion xB and the rather hideous Hako concept, the iQ takes the Scion brand back to where it started: small for small's sake and styling that's "with it" without pandering to perceived Generation-Y whims.
Mike Michels, communications director for Toyota, tells us the company will make a decision whether to import the Toyota iQ to the U.S. as the Scion iQ before the end of the 2009 calendar year. Since the iQ was designed for world consumption, minimal modifications will be necessary to meet U.S. crash standards.
Curiously, it might not be the entry-level car of the Scion family. "The point on this wouldn't be cheap, it would be cool," Michels told us. "I wouldn't say that it's even intended to be the least expensive car in the Scion lineup."
More photos and details after the jump. Update: Video added after the jump.
#NYIAS Does that whole Chrysler/Fiat merger seem unlikely to you? You're not alone, my friend -- and Chrysler knows it.
In order to instill a little confidence that Chrysler is working hard to make it happen, Vice Chairman Jim Press drove a Fiat 500 onto the show floor. Isn't it cute?
He then used the first 10 minutes of his speech to tell everyone how promising the merger looks. "This would be a great marriage with no overlap in our product portfolios," Press said.
He said it with conviction, but not many in attendance seemed to believe it. At least not yet. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
#NYIAS Funny how these things work. We don't really know what the 563-hp 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS "Gullwing" will look like or how much it will cost, exactly. But we know that its steering wheel has a diameter of exactly 14.4 inches, its glovebox can accommodate 3.7 liters of something and that the COMAND infotainment system's short-stroke buttons require only 4 newtons of force to operate.
Mercedes-Benz took a little break from the New York International Auto Show to give a group of journalists a sneak peek at the interior of the SLS "Gullwing," which should go on sale next spring. Don't look for it at the Javits Center, though. It's tucked away at an off-site location. And the body still wears some camo. We won't see the car in its full production glory until the Frankfurt show this fall.
#NYIAS If you're looking for a sign of life from Chrysler, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is as close as you're going to get. It looks even better in person that it does in pictures, and the interior is indeed a step above anything else Jeep has done before.
We asked Product Chief Frank Klegon why there's no third row, given the longer wheelbase of this Grand Cherokee. "Historically the Grand Cherokee has been a two-row SUV," he told us. "We wanted to keep its taut design intact." When we asked if the platform can be stretched any further, Klegon said, "Absolutely. Think of that as a little sneak peek."
Klegon said to expect this Grand Cherokee in the spring of 2010, so the stretched version isn't likely until late next year at the latest. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
#NYIAS The newly not-boring-looking 2010 Buick LaCrosse sedan will go on sale this summer for as little as $27,835 (including destination).
This will get you a CX-level Buick with front-wheel drive and the 255-hp 3.0-liter, direct-injection V6 bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission. The CXL model adds leather seats, 18-inch wheels (up from 17) and dual-zone climate control, among other little items for $30,395. The all-wheel-drive CXL (still with the 3.0-liter V6) adds $2,175 to the price tag. The top-of-the-line CXS, which is powered by a 280-hp 3.6-liter DI V6, starts at $33,765 and comes with heated and cooled seats and chrome-plated 18-inch wheels.
Those prices undercut the 2009 Lexus ES 350 which starts at $35,145, which is good because Buick's reputation still significantly undercuts Lexus'.
And yes, we do know what LaCrosse means to French Canadians.
#NYIAS We've already written an entertaining and detailed yarn on the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. Now, we've just seen the sedan in full glory under a zillion fluorescent lights in New York's Javits Center. Diane Reeves, the Grammy-winning jazz singer, paid tribute to the new E-Class with her song "Better Than Anything."
Apparently, the 2010 E-Class is better than anything except being in love, especially the E63 AMG with its 518 hp, 465 lb-ft of torque and claimed 4.5-second 0-60 time. Discuss.
Also, we now know that the E63 goes on sale in the fall of 2009, likely September. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
#NYIAS An all-new V6 engine, fully independent suspension and a slick new design define the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Crossover SUVs may be getting all the attention these days, but this Jeep stays true to the traditional SUV formula with serious off-road capability and more cargo room than before. There's no third-row seat, but extra room in the second row and a much improved interior should make this a more competitive Grand Cherokee than ever before. For more details, see our full story on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
#NYIAS You wouldn't want to be drinking a glass of really nice Cabernet and also trying to understand the mass dampers on the 2009 Nissan Nismo 370Z. But tonight at Manhattan's Morrell Wine Bar in Rockefeller Plaza, the new Nismo Z and the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster were just there to hang out. Well, they weren't in the bar, but out on the sidewalk -- the better to be noticed by passers-by.
This is really their official 2009 New York Auto Show introduction. They'll be at the company's booth tomorrow, but there won't be a press conference.
We've written detailed stories on both the 2009 Nismo 370Z and 2010 370Z Roadster, so you know they're going on sale in June and July, respectively. In between sips of wine too rich for our blood, we took a few more photos.
Notably, Nissan's head of design, Shiro Nakamura, was on hand to toast the debut of the roadster and the Nismo Z. Although both trace their basic lines to NNA designer Randy Rodriguez, final design work on these two was completed in Japan. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
#NYIAS For a vehicle that many thought was completely unnecessary, the Range Rover Sport has done quite well for Land Rover. And there's no reason that success won't continue with the 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport as it gets a new set of engines and enough minor upgrades to keep it fresh against new competition. Most importantly, Land Rover didn't fuss with the Sport's distinctive styling. For more details, see our full story on this hot rod Range Rover.
#NYIAS The name change says "all-new," but this is really a heavily revised version of the current LR3. An all-new 5.0-liter V8 is the big news for the 2010 Land Rover LR4. First introduced in Jaguar's latest sedans, the new V8 produces 375 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque. A revised suspension, new brakes and minor styling upgrades are also part of the 2010 LR4. For a more detailed description, see our full story.
#NYIAS Don't feel left out if you don't notice the changes to the 2010 Land Rover Range Rover. Like the Range Rover itself, the upgrades are subtle. In fact, the biggest news is under the hood, so even Land Rover purists would have a tough time spotting the differences.
Like the rest of Land Rover's 2010 lineup, this new Range Rover gets the same 5.0-liter V8s first introduced in the latest Jaguar coupes and sedans. Available in both standard and supercharged versions, the newly modernized eight-cylinder provides Land Rover's top-range model with the kind of horsepower and refinement you expect for the big money it commands. See our full story for the rest of the details.
#NYIAS General Motors and Segway are set to announce in a few hours their collaboration on a two-seat, two-wheel electric mobility pod called Project P.U.M.A.
It's called the P.U.M.A. because that stands for Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility and also because that's a cool name. And by putting "Project" with it GM makes it sound roughly as significant as the Manhattan Project. Incidentally, Manhattan (and the Manhattans of the third world) is just the kind of place GM and Segway see something like this pod making sense.
Of course, Toyota and Suzuki have shown their own electro-nubbins over the years and haven't gotten far with the projects. You might also think of the GM/Segway as half of a GEM Peapod neighborhood electric vehicle or a Nissan Pivo (but without all the smoldering sex appeal or the robotic buddy).
The two companies are only 18 months into the project and the vehicle doesn't even have body work yet. We've included an illustration on one proposed body. Anyway, the companies see the P.U.M.A. or whatever it ends up being called (if anything at all) as a low environmental impact way to relieve some of the congestion of the increasingly crowded cities of the future.
This is professional-grade styling taken to the extreme, or at least taken to the point of not looking anything like its Chevrolet counterpart. The 2010 GMC Terrain is the functional equivalent of the Chevrolet Equinox, but a few extra standard features and a more recognizable exterior should help it stand out a little as it tries to compete with the likes of the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano.
#NYIAS This is it, the most powerful SUV BMW has ever built. Actually, the 2010 BMW X6 M is officially called a Sport Activity Coupe, but we know better than to fall for that nomenclature.
We also know that it has a ton of motor thanks to a more powerful version of the twin turbo 4.4-liter V8 offered in the standard X6. Does 555-horsepower interest you? Check out our full story for the rest of the specs on this rival to the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S.
Ford has an idea what a family version of its Transit Connect utility van might look like. It's called the Ford Transit Connect Family One Concept and it will be shown at the 2009 New York Auto Show next week.
This is how we envisioned such a vehicle. So what do think?
Sure, it's a camouflaged car running the 'Ring, but Suzuki released it to the media to remind everybody that plans for an all-new midsize "sport sedan" are still in the works. And nothing says sporty like the Nurburgring.
You might remember talk of this sedan from a few months back. Shown in concept form as the Kizashi 3 at last year's New York Show, Suzuki cancelled plans to unveil the production version to conserve cash. Well, the car is still on track for production and Suzuki says it expects to have it on dealer lots by the end of this year. Expect to see an official debut within the next six months.
#nyias A couple teaser images have been released on the Mitsubishi Outlander GT Prototype that will appear at the 2009 New York Auto Show next week. Although blurred for effect, it obvious that the new Outlander model will get a front-end design similar to the Lancer Evolution sedan. Mitsubishi also says to expect more power from this Outlander's 3.0-liter V6 along with increased efficiency and a revised all-wheel drive system.
It was only yesterday that Autoblog published spy photos of the Hyundai Nuvis concept. Now, in an apparent attempt to shape the story a little, Hyundai has released this teaser image of the crossover concept. Hyundai doesn't mention the gullwing doors, or anything else for that matter, so we'll have to wait until next week to get the full scoop.
The two-door vehicle looks a bit like the old Izusu Vehicross, although there are also some similarities to the HED-6 (above) shown at the Geneva Auto Show. The gullwing doors are clearly for show, but we hear Hyundai does plan to produce a production version of the New York concept vehicle sometime next year.
It used to be that Mercedes-Benz' AMG department could be counted on to produce the most American-style muscle cars of all the hot Euro sedans.
They were regularly out-handled by their direct competitors, but they usually upped the ante in the engine bay. AMG was a super power in the horsepower wars.
For the 2010 E-Class AMG, which will be unveiled at New York's auto show in April, the company has focused more on handling prowess than ever before and -- gasp! -- the car comes into the hotrod sedan market at a power deficit compared to the supercharged 556-hp Cadillac CTS-V. The new 2010 model uses the SL63's 6.2-liter 518 horsepower V8 along with its Speeshift seven-speed shiftable automatic.
After numerous rumors and Photoshop renderings, the first official pics of the 2010 Subaru Legacy are now public. It's only mildly redesigned, but considerably bigger than before. It gets more powerful engines, increased refinement and possibly even a lower price.
After dropping teaser shots a couple of weeks ago, Acura has now confirmed the name for the new crossover it will unveil at the 2009 New York Auto Show: ZDX. Acura is still calling it a prototype, but given that it goes on sale this fall there won't be too many changes.
"The ZDX prototype is unlike anything you have ever seen before from Acura," said Jeff Conrad, vice president, Acura sales. "The prototype showcases a new level of luxury, style and refinement for Acura and speaks volumes towards our commitment to advancing the brand."
Long rumored and somewhat grudgingly anticipated, the 2010 BMW X6 M will finally make its world debut at the 2009 New York Auto Show in April.
No BMW SUV has ever officially carried a Motorsport badge and many of the engineers within the company thought that was a good thing. "The Motorsport badge is reserved for our sportiest vehicles, and that doesn't include SUVs," they would say.
Apparently those guys got fired because BMW officially announced the imminent debut of the high-performance X6. Other than noting that the X6 M "will utilize several new engine, drivetrain, and suspension technologies," BMW didn't disclose any details. Look for more info April 4.
Rabbit fans, you are too few. At least, that's how Volkswagen is feeling these days according to Automotive News.
The redesigned Golf which is already on sale in Europe, will come to America under the same name this fall, a reversal of the reversal instituted just a few years ago. No particular reason was given other than the fact that the U.S. was the only market that didn't use Golf.
More importantly, the Golf will offer Volkswagen's excellent 50-state legal, 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder engine that's currently offered in the Jetta TDI. Golf TDI, yep that sounds pretty good.
More from Mazda at the 2009 New York Auto Show. This one doesn't even count as a North American premiere, however, as the 2010 Mazda CX-7 made its first appearance at the hugely prominent Canadian auto show last month.
Most of the changes for this CX-7 are cosmetic. Both the interior and exterior have been refreshed along with the addition of a few safety enhancements. There is some real news under the hood though as the CX-7 adds a normally-aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder to options list. Hooked to a five-speed automatic transmission, it should provide considerably better mileage than the somewhat thirsty turbocharged motor in the current model.
Mazda announced this morning that it will use the 2009 New York Auto Show to unveil the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3. No big news here really as this hopped up hatchback already appeared at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show as the Mazda MPS.
Most of the changes to the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 are cosmetic as it continues to use the same turbocharged, direct injection 2.3-liter as before. Final horsepower numbers haven't been released yet, but don't expect them to vary much from the current setup.
Mazda released this photo and a brief description of the mildly revised 2010 CX-9 this morning.
According to the teaser release, the CX-9 "receives an exterior and interior facelift, added options and reinforced safety features, while further improving Zoom-Zoom driving characteristics."
We're not sure what that last part entails, but we'll be sure to get clarification when the 2010 CX-9 makes its debut at the 2009 New York Auto Show next month.
Looks like we're going to have to wait to see the tD coupe. Scion just announced that its 2009 New York Auto Show press conference will feature a micro sub-compact concept car. Man that sounds small.
The description can only mean one thing: the iQ, Toyota's answer to the Smart Fortwo. Already on sale in Europe and Japan, the iQ seats four in a pinch and measures just under ten feet long. Sounds like a tough sell in the U.S., but Scion seems like the right brand to give it a try.
What's a Scion tD? Allow us to explain. Scion is on the press conference schedule for the 2009 New York Auto Show. And with the way things are going in the industry these days, even Toyota isn't going to pay up to have a press conference for the xB 11.0 Special Edition.
No, a full blown press conference is more likely reserved for an all-new model. But which one?
Well, current Scion VP Jack Hollis told Automotive News last month, "Within the next two years, we will have a replacement tC" coupe.
The time frame seems a little long, but we went digging anyways. The U.S. Patent and Trademark website makes things easy, and when you're looking for the next-generation tC it doesn't take much imagination to figure out where Scion might be going with the naming convention.
Sure enough, we found a Toyota trademark for the name "tD". Does it guarantee that's the name? Nope. Does it sound considerably more marketable than tB? Yep.
The only question left now is what kind of coupe it'll be. Let's hope it takes after the Fuse, and not the Hako.
Earlier today, Acura released an odd-looking teaser shot of the crossover it will unveil at the 2009 New York Auto Show. Shortly thereafter, a member of the Acurazine fansite found a few more, slightly more revealing photos.
So now we have multiple angles of the shadowy crossover, most of which seem to indicate that Acura is getting ready to build a vehicle similar to the BMW X6. With that in mind, the darkly-lit photos make a little more sense.
We expect to see this sporty crossover arrive with the same 3.7-liter V6 used in the all-wheel drive TL sedan, so it should match up well with BMW's six-cylinder X6 and Infiniti's FX35. Look for full details in a few weeks when it makes an official world debut at the 2009 New York Auto Show.
Remember the red ("Redline") 2007 Nissan Nismo 350Z that debuted at the 2007 New York Auto Show? It was serial number 0000 out of the 1,500 Nismo 350Zs planned for North American import. We later tested this very same car.
Well, we've learned that Nismo 350Z number 0000 met its fate in the crusher. We met Joe Nagy, an engineer at Nissan's Arizona technical center. He helped build this particular Nismo Z for the New York show and he watched it being crushed.
Okay, now before you get all goofy, these images are photo-illustrations from the Japanese auto rag Best Car via NASIOC, so take that for what it's worth... Actually, I think they're probably pretty close--but know that they are not the real deal.
It turns out that there have been a couple of recent news leaks on the all-new Legacy, one that originated from a dealer (here and here), and one coming from Canada on the north-of-the-border-spec version.
First shown at the 2008 New York Auto Show, the Kia Koup was a Spectra-based two-door with obvious production intentions. Now Kia World, an apparent alternate universe where the Korean brand rules with an inexpensive, but heavily-warranteed fist, has procured photos of an actual prototype.
As expected, the production prototype looks very similar to the show car. It retains the unique rear window line that defined the concept and looks to be about the same size as well. A boring set of production wheels and tires is the most obvious change and we would bet there's not a turbocharger on the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder under the hood. ,
Look for the production version this new Spectra-based coupe in showrooms late this year.
Few automakers had a positive 2008, but Scion didn't suffer as much as most. Its market share actually increased by one-tenth of a point last year and although overall sales were down 12.5%, the industry as a whole averaged an 18% drop.
Of course, Scion would love a little help in 2009. Jack Hollis, Vice President of Scion, told AutoObserver, "A fourth product would be fantastic," he said. "It's our company's belief we need to expand our lineup."
So what product might that be? Scion has shown several concepts over the last couple of years. There was last year's horrific Hako concept and the considerably more palatable Fuse coupe of 2006. Both concepts made their debuts at the New York Auto Show, so don't be surprised to see another, more production-ready concept at this year's show in April.
Now that the 2009 Nissan 370Z is on dealer lots, the company has confirmed the reveal of the 2010 Nissan 370Z Convertible at the 2009 New York Auto Show. Nissan has traditionally used New York for major reveals and with the demise of this year's Tokyo Auto Show there weren't too many choices left.
Don't expect anything ground breaking like a retractable hardtop as that option has been reserved for the Infiniti G37 Convertible. Good thing too, as all that hardware simply adds weight and the 370Z isn't exactly a Lotus to begin with. Expect to see the same 3.7-liter V6 as the coupe along with two trim levels and a choice of manual or automatic transmissions.
According to Japan's Nikkei business daily, Suzuki has postponed its upcoming midsize sedan. Originally planned for a 2010 release, the new four-door is delayed indefinitely as the Japanese car company deals with the worldwide automotive meltdown.
Previewed by the Kizashi 3 concept shown in New York last year, the new four-door was designed to push Suzuki into the same arena as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Not exactly an easy segment, but Suzuki promised a V6 as big as 3.6-liters and possibly even all-wheel drive. Combined with a promising exterior shape, the new family sedan seemed like a solid entry for the company known more for its low-end econoboxes.
Ah... the perfect blog entry for the weekend: that being one about the all-new Nissan 370Z convertible!
Inside Line has images and some info on this much anticipated car. Fans of the current model will feel right at home with this new one, as the apple has not fallen far from the tree so to speak, ether visually or mechanically. It's just more of the same--only much more and much better.
As you would expect by the name change, the VQ engine has been upped to 3.7 liters. Quite likely it shares the same state of tune of that found in the Infiniti G37. It's also available with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed automatic. Unlike its Infiniti cousin, which comes in either RWD or AWD, this car (as in the past) will be RWD only.
The car will make its official debut next spring at the NY auto show.
The South Korean-designed Chevy Beat may be coming Stateside. Originally intended for Asia and Latin America, the soaring fuel prices that have sparked the rapidly changing Americans' vehicle tastes have GM rethinking their plans.
"Everything is under review," said GM spokesman Dee Allen. While the automaker's executives continually review their lineup, this examination might lead to bigger changes, he said. "Obviously, the market has been changing rather rapidly."
The Beat is smaller than the current Chevy Aveo, and is roughly the size of a Smart.
The Ford Transit Connect Taxi is one of Ford's more recent "Better Ideas." No, make that one of its "Best" ideas, as this vehicle is perfectly suited to the chore of carting people around urban areas. The 2.0-liter gas engine gets 19 mpg, which is roughly 30 percent better than the Crown Vics that are the staple of most taxi fleets. Better still, it has a 90 percent improvement in emissions over most current taxis. I would also hope it's considering a clean diesel option for this vehicle...
Now that all the "new" news has been laid out on the table, we can go through and sort out the winners and losers. To help with that task AutoObserver has already cast its votes.
So, do you agree or disagree with AO's choices? Or can you do better?
Tucked in a far corner of the New York auto show is this rare Chrysler Thunderbolt. It's an early concept car from an era when life-size concept cars were not common. Alex Tremulis was one of the designers, notable because he was responsible for the Tucker -- there are clearly similarities. Tremulis also worked with American Bantam and Crosley earlier...
Now that lithium-ion batteries exist, manufacturers are willing to take the risk of actually letting people drive all-electric cars. Forty Subaru R1e hatchbacks are motoring around Tokyo as we speak, as part of a partnership with the Tokyo Electric Power Company. Today in New York, Subaru announced it's giving two of these tiny, electric-powered subcompacts to the New York Power Authority.
Obviously, this is not a money-making venture, and so Subaru didn't even bother to change the front fascia on the R1e, even though it's the memorable snout from the last of the previous-generation Imprezas. Actually, the company didn't even bother to make a left-hand-drive version.
"If there's a poster child for the old school of Kia, it's got to be the Kia Optima," Communications Director Alex Fedorak admitted. "But as Edmunds.com put it, 'When it comes to design, the Optima looks like it was styled by the witness protection program.'" (Credit for this now famous turn of phrase goes to Edmunds Automotive Editor James Riswick.)
Cadillac used to be known for firsts. The first production V8, the first electric starter and the first automatic transmission in a luxury car. Then things got quiet for the next 50 or 60 years. The innovation has returned, however, in the way of the first fully functioning LED headlights on a production vehicle...
With the unveiling of the Kizashi 3 concept car, the Kizashi period at Suzuki is finally nearing an end. Sort of.
The whole thing started at Frankfurt with the unveiling of the Kizashi concept -- a not-at-all-unpleasant-looking red four-door hatchback. This was followed (predictably) by the largely pointless and fussy-looking four-door hatch Kizashi 2 concept at the Tokyo auto show...
Not much to report from the Mini press conference today at the New York auto show. Jim McDowell, vice president of Mini USA, got up and gave a nice little spiel on Mini's long history of racing and briefly went over the Mini Challenge racecar on display. He then moved on to the new John Cooper Works Clubman, a slick-looking variation of the standard Clubman that's just now trickling into dealers. The fact that Mini doesn't feel the need to use big flashy intros and overly ambitious language to describe its cars reflects its confidence in the product and its continued popularity...
Kia wants to be the sporty half of the Hyundai-Kia alliance, but that just hasn't come through in any of the brand's production cars. That might change if the Kia Koup concept goes into production, and it almost certainly will: "This is a production-ready design that could find its way into the Kia lineup and perhaps sooner than one might think," said Tom Kearns, chief designer for Kia Motors America (and owner of a '71 Porsche 911 S). When we do see it, expect "Spectra" to be part of its name, as the Koup is built on the company's front-drive, C-segment platform.
It comes straight out of Kia's new Irvine design studio, so it's no surprise to see styling cues borrowed from cars like the Honda Civic coupe and Scion tC. There's also some early '80s Lotus Esprit in there, as the lead designer, Kurt Kahl, bought one just before starting in on this 10-month project. The very angular look of the wedge-shaped coupe is quite intentional. As Hyundai goes for more organic designs (i.e., Genesis coupe), Kia will use harder lines to differentiate itself.
By now you know that today's the day Hyundai introduced the much-anticipated Genesis coupe at the 2008 New York Auto Show. The official announcement is that the rear-wheel-drive 2+2 will be available in three flavors: Base, SE with a turbo four-cylinder and SE with V6 power.
But we've also learned that Hyundai is thinking about a fourth model called the Spec R. (Maybe it's still working on the name.) It'll be a tuner special with the SE's four-cylinder turbo power, six-speed manual transmission and Brembo brakes, but little else...
The 2009 Nissan Maxima had the distinction of being only the third vehicle shown today that had been tuned on the Nurburgring. It's the default indicator of a performance car these days and given that "the four-door sports car is back," according to Nissan, we should have expected the reference.
What we didn't expect was Nissan's other announcement. After extolling the virtues of the Maxima's 290-horsepower V6, Al Castignetti, general manager of Nissan North America, went to the green card. He talked about the need for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles that younger buyers could embrace with enthusiasm...
Whether you think it's massively cool or just as far down on the ugly spectrum, the Scion Hako coupe concept was one of the most unusual and interesting-looking cars unveiled at New York's Javits Center today.
Actually, Jack Hollis, Scion vice president, is kind of hoping you won't like it. "If you think it's ugly, great. That's perfect. As you know, polarizing style fits in well with our lineup."
And now it can be revealed. The new black is, um, black.
Chrome wheels have been over for many years, if not forever. (Are you listening, GM?) Even sporty matte anthracite rims are looking a little dated these days. What you need, you man, are jet-black wheels -- glossy painted black wheels...
Honda didn’t feel the need to make a fuss over the debut of the 2009 Fit today. No flashy displays, no weird dancers, not even throbbing music accompanied its unveil. Instead, Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda, pretty much got up and read the press kit off a teleprompter. More room, more power, cleaner emissions, blah, blah, blah...
When three new cars are introduced simultaneously, one of them is bound to get overlooked. Today, it was the 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP that got the cold shoulder as the oddball Sport Truck and low-slung Solstice Coupe sucked up most of the crowd's attention. It's a shame really, as the G8 GXP is the one car out of the three that has the best chance of reviving Pontiac's performance reputation. It's the only G8 that will offer a manual transmission, an announcement that drew unsolicited applause from the crowd, and its 402-horsepower LS3 V8 should deliver low 13-second quarter-mile times...
"We're creating a new global American car company that does one thing well," said Chrysler Vice Chairman and President Jim Press to the gathering at the Dodge stand. "It puts customers first."
Statements like that always sound good, but the company's effort to drive the point home during the unveiling of the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T and SE felt a bit forced.
In an ideal world, the new version of every sports sedan would be lighter and more powerful than the generation it replaces. But we're realists. We'll take one or the other.
What we generally do not like is when the new version of a sports sedan is heavier and less powerful...
So what do you think? Should they call it the 2010 Pontiac G8 Curtis? That's what 50 Cent (real name: Curtis Jackson) suggested today at the world debut of Pontiac's truckified version of the G8 sedan. It's called the Sport Truck for now, but Pontiac is running an online contest at www.pontiac.com/namethatcar to find a new label for its "segment-bending" G8...
It makes sense that Pontiac should produce a coupe version of the Solstice. It was a sketch of a coupe that designer Franz von Holzhausen sent to Bob Lutz when the then-new product honcho solicited design ideas for a Pontiac two-seater.
The coupe looked better back then and it still looks better now as the company works toward getting it into Pontiac dealers early next year. Much of the character of the original coupe concept has been retained, including the odd but interestingly shaped backlight...
If Bluetec was upstaged by Sheryl Crow last night, Mercedes-Benz officials were resolutely on-message today. At no point was diesel ever not part of the discussion at this morning's press conference at New York's Javits Center. "At Mercedes we believe that Bluetec and soon Bluetec hybrids will keep the luxury SUV alive and kicking," Ernst Lieb, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, told the crowd.
Accordingly, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class has license to get a little more adventurous with its styling. "The updated M-Class appears even more confident," Lieb noted, pointing out the larger, more unsettling front fascia on the 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML320 Bluetec next to him.
On the way up to the stage, we passed by a 2009 Mercedes ML63 AMG, which takes the aggression even further.
Speaking at the breakfast kicking off New York auto show press days, Bob Nardelli, president and CEO of Chrysler LLC, offered no news but worked hard to sound like a car guy, and to reassure us that private equity CAN be interested in building a car company back to greatness.
Nardelli asserted how excited everyone at Chrysler is to come to work every day. And with Tom Lasorda's manufacturing expertise and Jim Press' way with dealers, "We have both the supply side and the demand side covered."
Selected quotes:
"Being private makes us fast, agile and flexible. It's a quick yes or a quick no, never a slow maybe."
"When you adopt the attitude of an entrepreneur, there are no days off."
"We're like a $60 billion start-up company."
"Our brands will become stronger as they become more differentiated, and build on their histories."
"The New Chrysler will get engineering innovations to market quicker than anyone else."
Oh the irony... Buick, at a New York auto show press presentation, showed a sketch of a new Invicta concept that will be introduced—not at New York—but rather at the Beijing Motor Show next month! This is just one more example of how important Buick sees the Chinese market.
For those too young to remember, Invicta was a model line that Buick introduced on their mega-fin 1959 models, and is shown to the right...
Subaru has brought over from Japan its tiny R1e, "e" meaning electric, as in "all-electric" power. Subaru and the New York Power Authority will be testing a pair of these cars this summer.
The vehicle uses a quick-charge lithium-ion battery, and has a range of 50 miles. Top speed is 65 mph...
On the eve of the 2008 New York Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz revealed its three 50-state-legal Bluetec diesel trucks at an event that could only be described as, well, loud.
Sure the three V6-diesel-powered trucks (GL, ML and R) were in attendance. But really, they were the sideshow. On center stage was Sheryl Crow and her acoustic guitar...
Just before the New York auto show officially gets under way, Grammy award-winning rap artist Common makes an appearance at a special Sirius Satellite Radio party. Hosted by Lincoln at the Sirius studios in New York, the event showcases the new Travel Link navigation system that includes weather, traffic, ski conditions and a new interface for the radio functions. It will soon show up in Ford and Lincoln products. But this event is really just a party, so there's little talk of sales numbers or future products -- instead, a Common performance...
Images of the new 2009 Nissan Maxima have hit the Net, ahead of its New York Show debut. The new model has shed much of the former models awkward styling details in favor of a more conventional look. No doubt the headlights will raise doubts among those with conservative tastes, but I like them. The grille hints somewhat of the also-new Infiniti FX, which was just introduced at Geneva...
Although its official unveil is scheduled for the 2008 New York Auto Show later this week, photos of the 2009 Hyundai Genesis Coupe have already leaked out. No big surprises here as it looks much like the Genesis coupe concept shown at the Los Angeles auto show late last year. Look for full details in our show coverage from New York starting Wednesday.
Pontiac will show a hot-rod G8 GXP powered by a version of the 6.2L Corvette LS3 engine, and putting out 430 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque.
All this power is harnessed by either a 6-speed automatic or a Tremec TR6060 6-speed manual. The GXP will ride on 245/40R19 performance tires and 19-inch polished aluminum wheels. Brembo brakes are part of the package...
That's right, this truck is at the moment unnamed—but you, dear viewer, can name it here! The El-Camino-like vehicle is based on the G8 sedan, which means lots of fun, along with a bit work capability.
As you might expect, this 2010 Holden VE-based Ute funster is powered by a big honkin' Gen-IV 6.0L V8 putting out 361 hp. A 5.4 sec 0-60 is expected when it hits the streets in 2009...
Just a quick tease here as to some of what GM is planning on showing at NewYork next week:
• Pontiac will debut 3 new production models
• Saab's 9-x BioHybrid will make its North American debut.
• Buick reportedly to have some surprises—one of which is that their news will also be available in Chinese on the GM media site. Now that may not mean much to those not in the auto news business, but it just goes to show just how important Buick has become to China, and vice-versa. But you already knew that, right?
Now that Geneva has been pretty much covered, it's on to the New York show, which opens on March 21...
And as such, here's the latest rendering of the Suzuki Kizashi 3 concept. Suzuki has stated that they are looking to offer something that could compete with mid-sized sedans, and this is it—or at least is close to what we might see in showrooms in the not too distant future.
The front end styling is toned down quite a bit from earlier Kizashi concepts, but still, the visual link is strong...
For the first time anywhere, at least anywhere in terms of car shows, the New York Auto Show gives motorheads a chance to show their rides on a "Virtual Garage."
From the press release:
Show Launches First-of-its-kind Virtual Garage for Car Fans
The New York International Auto Show's Virtual Garage section of it its website launched today and is designed to give car enthusiasts around the world the chance to show-off images and videos of their own cars.
Virtual Garage members will be able to upload photos and video of their vehicles, enter their mini-bio and check-out other members’ cars and trucks, and email each other. All the vehicles are cross referenced so that, for example, a Mercedes or Ford owner can see which members have similar vehicles listed on the site.
“The beauty of the site is that it allows car enthusiasts to stay in touch with each other, and us, year round,"said show director Candida Romanelli...
The first image and info on the 2009 Acura TSX was released last week, and now, thanks to widespread leaks on numerous webpages, we can bring you the full specs on the Acura’s entry-level sedan. Unfortunately, the new info doesn’t give Acura fans much to get excited about as the TSX will continue to use a 2.4-liter four-cylinder hooked to either a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual.
The basic dimensions of the car are up slightly in all directions and the suspension still consists of dual wishbones up front and a multilink setup in back. New two-stage dampers are the only major change...
Acura has just released an official photo of their new 2009 TSX. As you can see, and like the just announced RL, the styling is evolutionary in nature. So no surprises here—an speaking of surprises, are there any under the skin or inside? Don't know yet, as Acura hasn't tipped their hand here yet. Expect to see it debut at the New York auto show next month.
The New York Auto Show, the last big show of the North American continent, will have Suzuki showing their latest version of the Kizashi concept, but this time with a V8 possibly stuffed under the hood.
According to Motor Authority, who is reporting this story, Suzuki has green-lighted the earlier shown Kizashi concept. Perhaps better stated the car has been slated for further development, ultimately meaning it's headed for production, in which a V8 could well be part of the package.
Not sure if this image is the real deal or just a Photoshop effort, but either way, it gives you a pretty good idea as to what to expect. It's a Holden Crewman Ute, that has been GMC-ized. The concept will be on display at the New York Auto Show, so says GM's Bob Lutz.
“It is very tough looking, with a sport-utility look that is very low, very aggressive looking, a blend between a sport utility and the classic Australian four-door Ute,” states Lutz...
It's no secret that the Detroit auto show leaves something to be desired. Cobo Hall is old—and more important is really showing its age. The area hotels and restaurants could be better, as well. Auto journalists and industry types have complained about this for some time now. And most recently Porsche stated that they would no longer display at the Detroit show, as they sell few vehicle in Michigan.
Other factors coming into play are the other major U.S. auto shows, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, are making headway in terms of prestige. Each of these other shows out-Detroit in any number of ways. Even so, Detroit seems to holding its own, at least for the short term.
Here are the latest spy photos of the 2009 Hyundai Genesis. After the unveiling of the concept at the 2007 New York Auto Show, work on the production cars is in full swing. We showed you spy video of similar prototypes weeks ago and these new shots don't appear to reveal anything new. Expect to see the final version of this rear wheel drive luxury sedan early next year with sales beginning in the fall of 2008...
While at the NY auto show last week I checked out the all-new Lexus LX 570. As you can gather by the name, the new Lexus SUV now uses the same engine (and 6-speed transmission) from the just released Toyota Tundra. Unlike the Tundra, it has permanent 4WD (with a high and low speed transfer case).
Upon first glance, it looks like Lexus is offering a "low-rider" SUV, as it appears to sit awfully close to the ground...
It was the North American debut of the 2008 Suzuki SX4 sedan (originally introduced at the Beijing Auto Show), but what Suzuki officials really wanted to talk about was the Swift. Marketing VP Gene Brown mentioned it at least 15 times during his presentation. "It delivers sports car excitement to the subcompact segment in Japan and Europe," he said. Really, it was kind of a tease, given that most people in the Javits Center audience will never get to drive the current-gen Swift.
The Swift is of course the subcompact hatch on which the SX4 is based, and it has been well received by the overseas press, including enthusiast-oriented books like Evo. We talked about the Swift with Suzuki's president of automotive operations, Koichi Suzuki, and he admitted it may have been a miscalculation on the company's part not to bring the current-gen Swift to the U.S. -- focus groups evidently deemed it too small. The next-gen Swift will come here in 2010, says Mr. Suzuki, and it will likely have a 1.5-liter engine.
But back to the SX4 sedan. It's 15 inches longer than the SX4 hatchback (same wheelbase), but we think it will be the better drive. It weighs 110 lbs less than the hatch, you see, because it's front-wheel-drive instead of all-wheel-drive. Suspension tuning is slightly different as well, and the sedan has a 10mm lower ride height. "It's equal to the European Swift when it comes to steering and yaw response," Brown boasted.
Big news from Kia today was limited to a production announcement for the 2009 Kia Soul crossover. Kia first unveiled the concept at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show in silver paint, and it showed up in New York dressed in Storm Trooper white.
Still no full spec list available, although Kia has confirmed it'll be front-wheel drive with a 2.0-liter inline-4 mated to a five-speed automatic transmission.
Inside, the five-passenger Soul gets a standard list of amenities and flat-folding rear seats to maximize cargo volume...
Last night Nissan invited all who matter to the Morrell Wine Bar just across the street from the world famous ice skating rink at Rockefeller center. The promise was cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a first in-person look at the 2007 Nissan Nismo 350Z. The thing is, it was raining. And somebody thought a Nismo 350Z covered in clear plastic is better than a wet Nismo 350Z...
The Pininfarina-designed GranTurismo is the first Maserati in a depressingly long time that one could legitimately call sexy. It looks good even in the dark blue paint Maserati showed it with here at New York. In case you needed proof of how far Maserati has come since the darkest days of the 1980s, have a look at the photos above and below. --Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
I just went to the New York auto show exhibitor web site (link here), as I was curious as to whether Isuzu (you remember them don't you?) had anything new to show. Well, not only did they not have any new models on tap to help bolster its case for staying alive here—they didn't even have a display! That's right there is no official Isuzu presence at this year's show.
Prediction: Isuzu will announce before the end of the year that it will be pulling out of the U.S...
Undeniably, the Hyundai Concept Genesis looked good in the early photos. The specs looked good, too -- a 4.6-liter V8 with over 300 hp, rear-wheel drive and a fully independent five-link suspension. This just isn't the usual Hyundai hardware.
After seeing the actual car at the Javits Center, in all its full-size dimensions, we're still impressed. Concept Genesis is definitely a conservative take on a luxury sedan, but it's a luxury sedan nonetheless. The production version goes on sale in the second quarter of 2008.
Exterior styling is a compromise of current trends in the luxury-sedan market. From the front, we see Lexus LS shapes.
So here they are, the first non-press, non-photoshopped pictures of the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX sedan. And what do you know, it looks just as nondescript sitting on a show stage as it does getting the full treatment on a photo shoot. Previous photos have shown a hatchback that resembles a mildly massaged Mazda 3, but looking at this sedan from behind we can't help but see a little Toyota Yaris sedan in its lines. The former is probably a good thing; the latter is most certainly not.
Here's what we managed to learn from today's press conference:
The following is the press release put out by Freedom From Oil:
Climate Change Activists Arrested for Dropping 20-foot Banner Challenging Toyota's Eco Hypocrisy at NY Auto Show
Freedom From Oil campaign challenges automakers to stop impeding environmental progress in the courts and fill America’s streets with fuel-efficient fleets.
On the heels of the Supreme Court’s monumental decision this week to allow the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from tailpipes, Freedom from Oil activists at the New York Auto Show unfurled a dramatic 20-foot banner inside the front entrance to the Javits Convention Center challenging Toyota to become a true environmental leader. The banner subverts Toyota’s current Tundra advertising blitz with a picture of the truck driving over a globe with the tagline, “Toyota: The Truck That’s Changing the Climate.”
The banner was front and center at the entrance of the Javits center for 35 minutes before police arrested the two Freedom From Oil climbers.
Said Mike Hudema, co-director of the Freedom from Oil campaign for Global Exchange: “Toyota can’t have it both ways; Toyota can’t call itself an environmental leader while fighting legislation to curb greenhouse gas pollution and accelerating into the truck market.”
There is nearly universal acknowledgement from the world’s leading scientists, governments, business leaders and citizens that global warming is a serious threat to our future, that it is being caused by human activity, and that we must act now to curb it. The Freedom from Oil campaign asserts that a true environmental leader would: drop the Pavley Lawsuit and let Californians breathe cleaner air; stop lobbying efforts against fuel-economy standards; lead the way in reducing GHG emissions; and make a concrete production commitment and set a timeline for putting Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles onto the roads as soon as possible...
One person's ugly is another person's art. Despite the beating the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX has taken in the forums, the company went right ahead with its plans in New York -- cocktails and hors d'oeuvres served with a side of cars in Exit Art, one of Midtown Manhattan's alternative art spaces. The controversial blue WRX hatchback was there of course (along with the '08 Tribeca), but we gave our time to the non-turbo red sedan, a 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i which hasn't received much attention to date.
Initially, we were struck by how conservative the regular-strength Impreza sedan looked. Its unscooped hood is almost featureless, and its tail is stubby. Still, there's evidence of a BMW 3 Series-inspired character line down the side, and it's all the more pronounced in this BMW-flavor shade of red. Then again, we also see VW Jetta cues, which is not good.
Now that the launch of the updated 3 Series convertible is complete, BMW is turning its refresh efforts to its 2008 5 Series lineup.
Like the 3 Series upgrades, the 525i sedan becomes the 528i, producing 230 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque. In turn, the 530i is moving up to the 535i with a twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder rated at 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. The 550i keeps its 4.8-liter V8...
After today's Jeep press conference, we got a couple minutes in the '08 Grand Cherokee's upgraded interior. It definitely looks better than last year's model, thanks to the padded vinyl on the center armrest and the smoother plastic on the console. But the dash is still hard plastic of questionable stock. Overall, an average interior for the midsize SUV class...
Mercedes went with the ol' Mission Impossible theme for this year's press conference at the 2007 New York Auto Show. It had sizzling fuses, explosions and showers of sparks, and there was even a car there too. It's called the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series and it's only a light bar and a few stickers removed from the official Formula 1 Safety Car. We've never been big fans of the CLK's styling, but we'll admit to liking this AMG version. Never underestimate the power of some carbon-fiber wheel flares and the right wheels and tires. — Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor
We thought Saab heritage died with the 9-2X. And again with the 9-7X. Now it happens a third time with this DUB Edition 9-7X. And make no mistake it's a violent death, replete with blinding sparkly black paint, chrome 24s and a sky-high rump. There's only one appealing upgrade, although it's no less blasphemous in a Saab: This 9-7X has a GM-sourced, 400-horse 6.0-liter V8.
Appropriately, DUB's information placard reads as an epitaph: "Saab was founded by 16 aircraft engineers and their spirit lives on in the 2007 9-7X Aero Concept." --Erin Riches, Senior Content Editor
They're calling it a concept, but the Infiniti EX is already poised to become the 2009 Infiniti EX35 when it goes into production near the end of this year.
We know the EX concept uses the same FM platform as Infiniti's G, M and FX models, but Infiniti hasn't said anything about future powertrain options except for a V6 engine and five-speed automatic. Two new technologies make their world debut in the EX concept, and Infiniti confirms they'll make production in the future Infiniti EX35. The new Around View Monitor (AVM) system uses front, side and rear-mounted cameras to minimize blind spots during parking, while the Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system uses Infiniti's Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system to assist drivers if the vehicle accidentally begins to drift from its lane...
Volvo took the wraps off its redesigned XC70 wagon over mocktails in Geneva, but since the U.S. is the biggest market for this crossover wagon, the company made a fuss over it once again here in New York. We didn't get much new information about it. In short, it's roomier than the old XC70, loaded with high-end safety features, and equipped with a standard 3.2-liter normally aspirated inline-6 rated for 235 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.
Still, no word on when or if we'll get the new T6 power plant, which is a 2.8-liter turbo inline-6 based on the same architecture as the 3.2L. Contrary to what we reported earlier, it uses a single, twin-scroll turbocharger (rather than two turbos), which helps it to 285 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.
Communications Director Geno Effler did offer some insight into Volvo's decision not to offer the T6 in U.S.-spec XC70s initially. "Once you reach that 50K threshold, price becomes less of a factor. Under that in the $40,000, $30,000 range, people are a little more price-sensitive." Translation: The 2008 Volvo XC70 should be priced very close to the current model when it goes on sale this fall. — Erin Riches, Senior Content Editor
As the dude sitting next to us at the press conference said, "For 2008 the Subaru crossover SUV goes from B9 to benign." Out goes the alphanumeric portion of the name along with the urinal-shaped front grille. In comes styling so utterly inoffensive as to be offensive. But Subaru says that it is "tired of being the best-kept secret in the industry." And the company reckons that less odd-looking vehicles might accomplish this. So all of the sheetmetal from the A-pillars forward is new, including a grille so much more traditional that it simultaneously looks like many other vehicle grilles and yet no vehicle in particular...
A cold, heavy rain was falling in New York when it was time for the Jeep press conference. However, seeing as how the 2008 Jeep Liberty is "trail-rated," this was no cause to move the festivities inside. Especially, since the only projected casualties were a couple hundred wet, whiny journalists.
In between bouts of whining, we were lucky enough to witness a volcanic eruption, likely the first ever recorded in midtown Manhattan. Needless to say, an '08 Liberty Limited was spewed forth during the explosion.
As we noted in our full article, the Sky Slider roof option is the most interesting feature on the redesigned Liberty. And Jeep went ahead with its demo of this scrolling canvas top -- a wacky Jeep staffer popped up with an umbrella once the roof was fully open.
Move over BMW 335i, the 2008 Infiniti G37 is looking to steal your thunder.
Longer, wider, yet shorter than the G35, the updated G37 coupe gets a 3.7-liter V6 engine that makes 330 horsepower compared to the BMW's 300-hp 3.0-liter. Although official numbers haven't yet been released, Infiniti says the new V6 is targeting a 40 percent improvement in emissions and a 10 percent improvement in fuel economy. The current G35 carries a 19/26 mpg EPA rating with a manual transmission...
We've already given you our first report on how the 2008 Volvo C30 drives, and today at New York's Javits Center, Volvo released specifics on how much it will cost. Trim levels are a bit oddball -- C30 1.0 and C30 2.0. Starting at $22,700 (not including a $695 destination charge), the 1.0 comes with 17-inch wheels, a cloth interior, a 160-watt stereo with an iPod jack and full power accessories. Stepping up to the 2.0 raises you to $25,700 while adding 18-inch wheels, a 10-speaker Dynaudio system with Dolby ProLogic II and 650 watts, and a full body kit...
At the unveiling of the Ford Flex seven-passenger people mover, Ford's head of the Americas Mark Fields tore off his shirt, tie and coat (they were apparently fastened only by Velcro at the seams) to reveal his rippled, waxed, oiled and bronzed torso. Grunting loudly, Fields leaned forward in a crab like pose. Pointing at the Flex he screamed, veins bulging, "Crossover this, you, you little...girls!"
Possibly none of that happened--except the reveal of the worst-kept secret at the New York show. And Fields might well have a waxed torso, but we have no confirmation of this...
"Now that car is on the right Trax." Yes, that little zinger was actually said with a straight face by the Tony Robbins look-alike who introduced the Chevrolet Trax concept. Maybe it was lightly cladded dancers who had joined him onstage, but the massive-jawed MC could barely contain his excitement throughout the press conference at today's New York auto show.
It may have been the smallest of the three superminis Chevrolet unveiled here in New York, but the Chevrolet Beat is a concept that "pushes the excitement way out there," said Angelo Fraboni, unofficial MC of the GM press conference. We also heard it described as a "micro import tuner" and "urban grunge." Grunge... that's what the kids liked -- in 1992. Then we watched the dance troupe kick it to a club remix of Sean Paul...
What do blonde triplets, foam balls and Bob Lutz have in common? They were all present at the wildly hip, super jammin', totally hot Chevrolet press conference this morning where Chevy unveiled its trio of minicar concepts amid a group of provocative young dancers.
First to shed its cover was the Chevrolet Groove concept, which Chevy says is inspired by a "half-solider, half-modern " military helmet.
Lead designer on the Groove was Jawook Koo from the GM Design Center in Inchon, South Korea...
The new Bentley Brooklands made its official debut at last month's Geneva auto show, but that didn't stop the Bentley folks from throwing a party in its honor for the North American debut here at the 2007 New York Auto Show.
Bentley took over the Central Park Boathouse on Tuesday evening, shuttling guests into the closed park by Arnage from the corner of 75th Street and 5th Avenue.
Bentley board member in charge of sales and marketing, Stuart McCullough, took a break from hobnobbing with guests to toast the new Brooklands and its 530-hp V8. McCullough said that in the approximately four weeks since the Geneva show, nearly all of the 550 Brooklands scheduled for the first year of production have already been claimed...
Of all the people who might be expected to bolt a conspicuously large wing to the tail of an S2000, perhaps the least likely would be Honda itself. But there it sat in all its Smurf-blue glory at a small event on the eve of the New York auto show's opening day. It is the 2008 S2000 CR and its rear wing is in fact conspicuously large. Honda says that the special-edition S2000 contains no fluff — even the wing is functional...
