August 25, 2008
Inside Line has tested the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V and its numbers are impressive. See the full test results here.
August 22, 2008
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The new Kia Forte appears to have success written all over it, that's assuming the car performs as good as it looks.
The car will be powered by two 1.6L engines, one gas the other diesel. The oil-burner is the more powerful in that it puts out 128 horsepower, and the gas model offers up 121 horsepower. A 2.0 engine will be offered later.
Full story here and here.
Here's Inside Line's take: Kia Unveils 2009 Forte in Korea
August 21, 2008
GM has released images and some info on the all-new Chevrolet Cruze. The car will officially debut in October at the Paris auto show.
The Cruze will be a world car, and as such, will be sold in Europe, North America and Asia. Here it will replace the Cobalt and will likely be badged as a 2011 model. The Cruze will be powered by 1.6 and 1.8L that produce 112hp and 140hp. Both engines feature variable valve timing on the inlet and exhaust sides which improve fuel economy as well as boost low-end performance. The turbodiesel is a 2.0L unit and develops 150hp. A five-speed manual will be standard and a new six-automatic will also be offered.
Here's Inside Line's take: 2008 Paris Auto Show: Chevrolet Cruze Goes for Bold, Not Evolutionary
August 11, 2008
The news of the Sable possibly being dropped is no surprise; same with the Taurus X. I must say, however, the Taurus X has had one of the shortest product lifespans of any recent vehicle that I can think of.
"The Taurus X doesn't really have much of a place anymore," said Erich Merkle of Crowe Chizek and Co.
"The Sable is a good enough car, but it doesn't really matter because they don't sell enough of them to make a difference."
July 15, 2008
July 14, 2008
Inside Line has learned that the next-generation Lexus SC430 and Toyota Avalon have been canceled. Sales on the SC430 are down 40 percent so far this year; and since Lexus is developing a production version of the LF-A super coupe, what's the point of keeping the SC430?
As to the Avalon, word is that Toyota may be developing a long-wheelbase version of the 2012 Camry. If that's the case there would be no need for the Avalon, it would certainly be cheaper for Toyota to offer a stretched Camry than a significantly different Avalon, which is based on the Camry anyway.
IL Insider: Toyota Cancels Next-Generation Lexus SC
July 8, 2008
The 2009 BMW 335d was announced at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, so the fact that our spies caught a nearly undisguised prototype testing in Death Valley was no surprise. Set for a fall debut, the 335d will not only showcase BMW's latest diesel technology, it will arrive wearing slightly revised bodywork as well. In fact, all 2009 BMW 3 Series models will get a mid-cycle refresh this fall which will include revised front and rear fascias and modestly upgraded interiors. Although the success of the 3 Series as a model line is virtually guaranteed, the 335d may have a tough time finding traction given the price of diesel fuel. We'll see in a matter of months.
June 9, 2008
We knew what to expect, but now the specifications for the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V are official. Its 6.2-liter supercharged V8 produces 556 horsepower at 6,100rpm and 551 pound-feet of torque at 3,800rpm. Cadillac claims the CTS-V sedan will go from 0-to-60mph in just 3.9 seconds and through the quarter mile in 12 seconds flat.
Top speed when equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission is limited to 175mph...
June 2, 2008
Hey Insiders,
Your votes have been tallied. See if your fellow readers agreed with your picks.
And the winners are...
Read the IL Readers' Most Wanted Results on Inside Line...
Ford's next US-spec Fiesta (a model name not used here since 1981) is going to be built in Mexico. The Fiesta will be built in a plant that used to build F-Series trucks. It will be available as both a sedan and hatchback, and will arrive as a 2010 model.
Here's Inside Line's take: Ford Fiesta Sedan and Hatchback To Be Built in Mexico
Here's AutoObserver's take: Ford Builds Fiesta Sedan, Hatchback in MexicoIt looks like the next Ford Fusion will be getting a smiley face, sort of...
May 16, 2008
In what is likely the last special edition model based on the current Legacy platform, Subaru has introduced the very special and very limited STI S402 for some very special Japanese customers.
Available in either sedan or wagon, Subaru has loaded up the Legacy GT with many STI performance parts, as well as some items that are exclusive to this vehicle. The end result being envy of just about every Subie driver worldwide.
One item that's exclusive to this model is that this is the first 2.5 Subaru that has a twin-scroll turbo (pictured)...
May 12, 2008
Inside Line put four V8-powered luxury sedans to the test. Jaguar XF Supercharged vs. Audi A6 4.2 vs. BMW 550i vs...
May 9, 2008
Who cares about the GT-R's scorching Nurburgring lap time? It only has two doors and all-wheel drive. It’s practically cheating. How about a good ol’ American sedan like a 2009 Cadillac CTS-V?..
April 30, 2008
We all knew that Chevy had a hit on their hand with the new Malibu. What we didn't know was how would the public react? Would it be just another failed attempt from a domestic automaker at winning back foreign car buyers? Or, is this baby the real deal?
Well, early results seem to indicate the latter, J.D...
April 25, 2008
Mazda has released some images and some info on the 2009 Mazda6. The American version is reportedly a bit larger than the global model and will be built in Flat Rock, MI. Base powerplant will be a 2.5L 4-cylinder, hooked up to either a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic. The upmarket V6 will be a 3.7L unit, and will come only with a 6-speed automatic with manumatic shifting...
April 20, 2008
Nissan's head honcho Carlos Ghosn was on hand here in Beijing to preside over the company's short but sweet press conference. Although Mr. Ghosn rode onto the stage in the Pivo 2 concept car, he only spent a minute or two talking about Nissan's electric vehicle plans.
Most of the press conference was dedicated to the introduction of the latest Nissan Teana...
For all the hype surrounding the introduction of the Buick Invicta concept, it’s not getting much attention in Beijing. There’s rarely much of a crowd around it despite the fact that this concept was developed with input from both U.S. and Chinese designers.
Rumors suggest the Invicta is a preview of the next Buick LaCrosse. We can barely remember what the current LaCrosse looks like, so anything that resembles the Invicta should be an improvement. Although this concept has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder under the hood, expect a more traditional V6 when it arrives in production form sometime next year. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
April 17, 2008
We've added a Pontiac G8 to our long-term fleet.
A full-size, rear-wheel-drive, V8-powered American sedan is always welcome in our garage.
We opted for the G8 GT which packs a 6.0-liter engine capable of 361 horsepower.
Read the Introduction on Inside Line...
April 1, 2008
Edmunds.com is conducting another consumer comparison test.
We want you to test-drive these 2008 economy sedans:
Honda Civic, Mazda MAZDA3, Mitsubishi Lancer, Toyota Corolla
Just like our last consumer test, we will send you to Willow Springs Raceway in California where you'll get to test the cars in a number of situations.
All you have to do is write an essay telling us why we should choose you. Make it good because competition will be stiff...
March 20, 2008
Lightly refreshed for the 2009 model year, the Kia Optima was the other Kia off to the side at this morning's unveiling of the Koup concept.
"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.)
March 19, 2008
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...
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...
March 18, 2008
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...
March 15, 2008
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...
March 6, 2008
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...
March 5, 2008
We breezed through the Infiniti stand today in Geneva and found the 2009 Infiniti FX50 on a turntable with a companion. The lighting was more favorable, so we took a photo. Here you can see the oversize rear spoiler and the unusual right angle in the hatch.
There was also a cutaway of the new 5.0-liter V8 engine.
March 4, 2008
Although the official debut of the 2009 Acura TSX will happen at the 2008 New York Auto Show in a couple weeks, the European Honda Accord unveiled today in Geneva is a pretty good sneak peek. Its exterior is virtually identical as it uses the same shield grille up front and a sharply creased rear end. Inside, it’s all Accord though as the cabin looks identical to our larger U.S.-market version.
Like our TSX, the European Accord will offer a 197-hp 2.4-liter engine, but it also marks the introduction of Honda’s latest i-DTEC diesel engine...
February 29, 2008
The always the much anticipated Consumer Reports 2008 Annual Auto Issue is about to hit the news stands, and this year there are some surprises.
Hyundai has two top picks: The Elantra SE ousted last year's winner, the Honda Civic, as the best small sedan. Their Santa Fe also took top honors in the mid-size SUV category. Last year the Toyota Highlander hybrid won this class...
February 27, 2008
We’ve seen the Mazda 6 that the rest of the world will get before, now the check out the 2009 Mazda 6 that’s headed for the U.S. Caught during a logistical swap in the Detroit area, this Mazda 6 looks like a full production spec model right down to its odd looking headlights. The rear end isn’t so bad, although it looks as though it uses a pair of exhaust “covers” like the Lexus IS-F. Hopefully we’re wrong on that one...
February 21, 2008
After the reveal of the Audi RS6 Avant, we figured it was only a matter of time before the sedan version would show up. Good thing it has too, as the chances of us getting the Avant in the U.S. are slim. Now that the existence of the RS6 sedan has been confirmed, expect to see it either late this year or in early 2009...
February 13, 2008
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...
February 11, 2008
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.
Here's Inside Line's take: Official Photo: 2009 Acura TSX
UPDATE: Honda also releases info and images of the Euro-Accord. Images and link after the jump.
January 16, 2008
It’s been rumored for years, but these are the first conclusive spy photos of the smaller Rolls Royce sedan codenamed RR4. Tucked in between a couple next-generation BMW 7 Series mules, the RR4 prototype has a unique front fascia that is clearly influenced by the larger Phantom sedan. When the mule pulled out for a test drive, its overall size suggested that it was riding on the same chassis as its 7 Series companions. At the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Rolls Royce CEO Ian Robertson confirmed that the RR4 will go on sale in 2010 and feature a newly developed engine.
January 14, 2008
Geely Automobile is ambitious. The Chinese company produced 2 million cars in 2006 and aims to produce 20 million cars in 2015. It's not quite ready to sell in the U.S. but the company says it is inevitable...
BMW announced pricing of the 2008 M3 Coupe and Sedan and 1 Series Convertible this morning at the Detroit auto show.
The M3 coupe will start at $57,275 and the sedan at $54,575.
Launching in 128i and 135i guises, the 1 Series Convertible will start at $33,875 and $39,875, respectively.
They arrive at dealers in March of this year...
January 13, 2008
After hearing "go time" in one promo video after another, we were mildly pumped to see Mitsubishi's two world debuts. Then its CEO came out and started to go over sales numbers. Apparently, in Japan "go time" translates into something like 9 percent annual growth on an adjusted sales weighted basis
It didn't matter, though. We were waiting to see the introduction of the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart and it wasn't a disappointment...
December 6, 2007
After snagging numerous spy photos and videos over the last year, we finally got our hands on these pictures of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V completely uncovered. They reveal a completely revised front end, well integrated hood bulge and a set of massive rotors that look more than capable of hauling it all to a stop. We won’t get the rest of the details until the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January, but these spy shots should hold you over for now.