July 1, 2009
Suzuki will expand its SX4 lineup with the addition of a Sportback model this fall. It's essentially a performance-oriented version of the current SX4 hatchback. It will feature a new 2.0-liter engine that bumps output to 150-hp and 140 pound-feet of torque.
Power will go to the front wheels through either a six-speed manual or Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The Sportback also gets a lower ride height, revised dampers, 17-inch wheels and revised front and rear fascias.
If you can't wait until the fall, Suzuki has also announced a new pre-paid gas promotion that runs through the rest of the summer. Custormers that buy a new Suzuki SX4 prior to Aug. 31st will get a debit card good for three months of free gas based on various national averages.
Suzuki
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig July 1, 2009, 11:09 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Crossovers, Hatchbacks, Suzuki
You probably don't remember much about the Jaguar S-Type R. It was Jag's answer to the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E55/63 AMG. It was fast and surprisingly nimble, but few took it seriously because, well, it didn't really look all that serious. It wasn't quite fast enough either.
This time around Jaguar has a much better chance of converting some BMW buyers into believers. Engineering Editor Jay Kavanagh is already convniced as he calls this new XF "one of the best sport sedans in the world today." A new 5.0-liter supercharged V8 is a big reason why, but there's more to it than just raw power. See what made Mr. Kavanagh such a fan in our latest full test of Jaguar latest XF.
Full Test: 2010 Jaguar XFR
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig July 1, 2009, 10:36 AM
- Categories: Jaguar, Luxury Cars, Sedans
GM announced its "Buy and Say Goodbye" incentive program yesterday in a bid to boost sales over the holiday weekend. The "buy" part is a new incentive that offers 0% financing for up to 72 months on select vehicles for qualified buyers. The "Say Goodbye" part is merely a reminder of how many vehicles GM makes that qualify for the new "cash for clunkers" program.
Normally such incentives exclude the vehicles we really want to get our hands on, but in this case the financing offer is good on the Pontiac G8 GXP. So in other words, if you're looking for yet another reason to convince the wife that you really need a 415-horsepower sedan with a six-speed manual, the government has finally done something to help.
GM: Buy and Say Goodbye
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig July 1, 2009, 10:03 AM
- Categories: Pontiac, Sedans
Like so many other states, California is in the midst of a budget crisis. Tax revenues are down and expenses are out of control. The legislators in Sacramento are looking at just about everything in attempt to balance the books, even their state-owned cars.
According to the Los Angeles Times, one budget proposal seeks to cut the monthly allowance for car expenses which currently stands at $350. "California taxpayers have spent $3.2 million during the last three years buying the cars, covering gas expenses and paying to repair the vehicles when they break down or are damaged in accidents," the article says.
A breakdown of the 10 most expensive state-owned vehicles shows that most of them are hybrids. So in an attempt to appear "green", California's state legislators have stuck taxpayers with the bill for vehicles that cost between $45-$50K. Must be nice.
L.A. Times: 11th-hour votes on state budget fail
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig July 1, 2009, 8:55 AM
- Categories: Hybrids
Official-looking photos of the upcoming 2010 BMW X1 have found their way to the internet and they do little to resolve the debate surrounding why this vehicle exists. Essentially a crossover version of the BMW X3, which is also a crossover, the X1 appears to have even less space and more tepid performance. Sound good to you?
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig July 1, 2009, 7:12 AM
- Categories: BMW, Crossovers, Future Vehicles, SUVs
June 30, 2009
Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we present "IL Track Tested." It's a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.
It was one of the original performance hatchbacks and it has survived for more than two decades in various states of tune. Offered for the first time as a sedan in 2006 as a 2007 model, the Honda Civic Si has been largely overshadowed by the more powerful sport sedans from Mitsubishi and Subaru.
Sure, they're faster, but they're also heavier and more expensive. The Civic Si remains one of the few lightweight performance cars that makes the best of a high-revving four-cylinder engine. In this case, it's a 197-horsepower 2.0-liter with dual overhead cams and Honda's i-VTEC system.
All Civics received a mild face-lift for 2009, but this Si is no faster, as all the upgrades were either cosmetic or electronic. Still, with a six-speed manual transmission, limited-slip differential and an 8,000 rpm redline, the Si remains a performance bargain for $23K. See what our test drivers thought of its track performance after the jump.
Continue reading...
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig June 30, 2009, 7:59 PM
- Categories: Honda, IL Track Tested, Sedans
Tony George will no longer serve as president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and his family's biz. This follows last month's report that George had been ousted from his position at an annual meeting, which his family wholeheartedly denied.
CFO Jeffrey Belskus is the new CEO of IMS Corp., and the current vice president and chief legal counsel W. Curtis Brighton is the new president and CEO of Hulman & Co. (the company that purchased the IMS back in 1945). The changes will take effect July 1.
Tony will remain on the Board of Directors for all the companies, and will now focus on his ownership of the Vision Racing IndyCar Series team.
Read the full press release after the jump.
Continue reading...
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- Posted by: Mike Lysaght June 30, 2009, 4:39 PM
- Categories: Motorsports
Audi has released its latest Multi-Media Interface (MMI), which is set to debut in the 2010 A3, TT and R8. The updated system gets an improved screen resolution and an "unmatched" route calculation thanks to a new processor clocked at 600MHz. The radio-navigation system, version E, will be able to read 32 gig SD memory cards.
Operation-wise, the driver and passenger can scroll vertically, horizontally and now even along the route. The "optical parking assistant" feature is also new, which displays the distance the front and rear is from an object on top of the standard Audi-o bleeps.
The system is estimated to start at $3,200, and you can check out the full release here.
BMW has improved its navigation "Search" feature to provide online access to up-to-date fuel prices, weather forecasts and, for those looking for a constant reminder of how much money they're losing, the major stock indices as well.
New and existing nav subscribers will have to purchase the optional BMW Assist Convenience Plan on BMW Assist and BMW Navigation system-equipped 2009 and 2010 models to get the service.
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- Posted by: Mike Lysaght June 30, 2009, 3:51 PM
- Categories: Audi, BMW, Car Tech, Luxury Cars
The General Motors bankruptcy proceedings are wrapping up today and the judge is expected to let this one sail through much like Chyrsler's reorganization. GM will be split into an "old" company saddled with all the problems, and a "new" GM that will emerge with few brands and none of the legacy issues that have plagued the company for decades.
Sounds great right? Well, maybe not. Bill Visnic of AutoObserver breaks down what's left of the "good" GM and doesn't find much to get excited about. Although Chevrolet looks like it can become a strong brand, Buick and GMC are big question marks. Even Cadillac has a tough road ahead gives its limited lineup and dependence on large cars and SUVs. Kind of makes you wonder if this whole government sponsored bankruptcy thing is really doing us any favors.
AutoObserver: "Good" GM: Maybe Not All That Good
Do you find that the standard Lamborghini Gallardo LP-560-4 has too short a name? Or too many driven wheels? Is it too common? Does it not have enough Balboni?
Well friend, has your ship ever come in! Lamborghini just announced a special-edition Gallardo, called the LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni. Let's break that down for you.
The "550" stands for the horsepower output of the 'boni's 5.2-liter V10 engine. Yes, that's 10 fewer than the Gallardo LP 560-4.
The "2" means that unlike other Gallardos, this Balboni edition has but two driven wheels (that would be the rear ones, if you were wondering). Lamborghini says, "...controlled oversteer is no problem." Indeed, it's typically the other variety of oversteer that concerns us.
The "Valentino Balboni" stands for Valentino Balboni. Balboni is the legendary Lamborghini test driver that's been with the company since old man Lamborghini hired him in 1967. (He's the one on the left in the picture above.)
What else do you want to know? The suspension was modified for duty in the Balboni. There will be only 250 constructed. The suggested retail price in the U.S. is $219,800. All Balboni's come with the white-and-gold stripes as seen here, regardless of which of the eight body colors one chooses. The interior has more leather than a standard Gallardo and with the white stripes in the seats looks a bit like a 2010 Mustang GT. We presume that was unintentional.
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund June 30, 2009, 1:32 PM
- Categories: Lamborghini
It's been in the works since the day Obama took office and now it's official. California can now set its own standards for vehicle emissions, a change that effectively allows the state to regulate fuel mileage.
Several states have already said they will follow California's lead in this area, so the new rules are expected to become a national standard in the near future.
EPA Grants California GHG Waiver
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig June 30, 2009, 10:39 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Green Tech
Looks like Consumer Reports has finally caught up with reality. In its latest review of the 2010 Honda Insight, the magazine takes the car to task calling it a, "noisy, stiff-riding car with clumsy handling." First time in a hybrid CR?
As much as we appreciate the technology offered by vehicles like the Prius and the Insight, we've always considered them a huge compromise. You don't get that kind of mileage without giving up a few things, it's not a free ride. Unfortunately, many of the things hybrids ditch in the name of mileage are the very things that make driving enjoyable. Looks like CR isn't ready to make the trade just yet.
IL News: Consumer Reports Spanks 2010 Honda Insight for "Disappointing" Flaws
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig June 30, 2009, 10:01 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Green Tech, Hatchbacks, Honda, Hybrids
This is one new problem GM is more than happy to discuss. Yesterday, officials told Inside Line news that demand for the Camaro has outstripped supply, forcing the company to work overtime at its Oshawa production plant.
According to GM, SS models account for about 70% of its current orders. Black is also the most popular color as 25% of all models are ordered that way. "We think this may stem from the SEMA Black Concept, which was the most popular GM car at SEMA last year," Chevrolet spokesman Adam Denison told Inside Line.
IL News: Hot Transformers Movie Means Wait List for 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
If Hyundai eventually fails in the U.S. market, it won't be for any lack of trying. The company that brought you the 100,000-mile warranty and job-loss protection is now taking the incentives game one step further with guaranteed gas.
Buy any new Hyundai (Genesis models excluded) and the company will lock in your gas at $1.49 for the first year of ownership. Owners will get a gas card that only charges them the set rate and Hyundai will pay the rest. We're guessing it'll go over a little better than Hummer's attempt last year.
IL News: Gambling on Higher Gas Prices, Hyundai Rolls Out Gas Guarantee Program
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig June 30, 2009, 8:14 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Hyundai, Trends
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.
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