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In the late ‘90s, Nissan brought a handful of automotive journalists into its California headquarters. The company was struggling, and it seemed as if the executives were looking for a magic solution. Frankly, it felt as if the company had gone insane. The car writers were unanimous in saying that Nissan was making some wonderful, powerful, sweet-handling cars. However, we added, the American public was hopelessly infatuated with giant sport/utility vehicles and pickups, and Nissan and its Infiniti brand had arrived too late to that party. The cynic in me wanted to say, “Check your water coolers. It appears as if they’re being spiked. And, if the coolers are clean, perhaps you should put everybody on Prozac or something.” The bottom line: The company lost its way and second-guessed itself almost to death. Fast-forward to the present. At its gleaming new headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, Nissan showed the media an impressive lineup of cars. No trucks or SUVs were present for this event. Today’s bad economy, the threat of rising gas prices, and looming fuel-economy rules have America’s love affair with big SUVs and pickups on the rocks. Meanwhile, over the past dozen years, Nissan...
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Suzuki is coming out swinging with its all-new Kizashi sedan , striking at the vital midsized sedan segment. Each Kizashi features all-wheel drive and is motivated by a strong 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180-185 horsepower, depending on transmission fitment. The Kizashi looks poised to compete on personality, feature equipment, and value, with prices starting at $19,000 and peaking at about $27,000, plus $735 in destination charges. Even the base Kizashi S is well equipped with front, side, rear side, and side-curtain airbags; dual-zone climate control; nine-speaker audio system; push-button keyless start; power windows, doors, and mirrors; stability control; and ambient lighting. Starting at $21,500, the Kizashi SE packs additional equipment, such as continuously variable transmission (CVT), 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, leather trim bits, and 17-inch aluminum wheels. Suzuki expects this will be the most popular version. For those who want a more sporting character, the GTS starts at $22,500 and ranges to $25,000 with all the goodies. The GTS is available with a choice of six-speed manual transmission or performance-tuned CVT with steering wheel paddle shifters. It...
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In a day for sketchy news, Volkswagen released this illustration depicting a new mid-sized sedan that will be production at its new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Although designed with a focus on the American market, this sedan is expected to be exported. Priced in the $20s, the car is a key part of VW’s ambitious goals to significantly increase global sales. Annual production for this model is forecasted to be about 100,000 units. Looking like a cross between the Jetta and Passat, it could be a replacement for either. VW hasn't released any details just yet. More information is expected to be trickled out in coming months. Given the struggling economy Stateside, the best news here is the ongoing investment that will create factory and supplier jobs, trickling further revenue into the nearby communities. The sedan goes on sale in the U.S. late 2011. Read our current Jetta and Passat CC reviews, and research Volkswagen in the new car buyer's guide .
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Findings from a federal investigation into the fatal car crash that led to Toyota recalling 3.8 million vehicles point to a possible link between floor mats and accelerator pedal design, according to the Los Angeles Times . The Times reports that analysis by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) “draws no conclusions” about the August accident that was the catalyst for the safety advisory and the automaker's largest-ever recall, but it does make key observations highlighted below. The report surfaced by the LA Times is an important milestone, but the investigation continues. The agency has not yet reviewed information stored on the electronic data recorder, which should provide further insight into the operating conditions at time of time at triple-digit speeds. That said, the findings thus far do paint clearer picture of the conditions that lead to this tragedy and even suggests a possible solution, should the pedal design be officially named a causal factor. What we know thus far: The Lexus ES 350 driven by an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer, with three family members as passengers, had been a dealer loaner. The Lexus was fitted with all-weather...
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The latest high-performance creation from Hennessey Peformance Engineering (HPE) is so quick that OnStar was alerted by a recent acceleration test. In a video , posted by AutoBlog , a Cadillac CTS-V700 billed as a “four-door ZR-1” ran the quarter-mile in 11.07 seconds at 128 mph. In doing so, the musclebound CTS-V pulled .99 g, enough to alert OnStar that something beyond the norm for a production car was going on. A great nod to the performance accomplishment, an OnStar operator calls the car after the run and the driver reports all is fine. (Learn how OnStar works .) The CTS-V700 with 20-inch drag radials claims a 10.9 second quarter-mile time at 129 mph. It blasts 0-60 mph in just 3.1 mph, reaching a 211 mph top speed. The V700 package includes: Four-inch cold-air induction system Supercharger pulley and snout upgrade Engine management software upgrade Long tube 1 7/8-inch stainless-steel headers Three-inch stainless mid pipes High-flow catalytic converters Intercooler heat exchanger system upgrade V700 camshaft upgrade V700 high-flow cylinder heads 160-degree thermostat Hennessey embroidered head rests Serial numbered dash and engine plaques Should that transformation sound too...
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If you’re looking for great fuel economy, you have lots of choices. There’s a cornucopia of small cars on the market and, if you need more space, there are some larger hybrid vehicles that still turn in impressive numbers at the pumps. But let’s say you want more. How about a good-sized vehicle with wonderful road feel and driving fun? That car is the Volkswagen Jetta TDI clean diesel sedan. If you haven’t been around diesels lately, you might still think they’re the smoky, stinky, slow models that have been around for a couple of decades. But you’d be wrong. Today’s diesel has been to the gym, quit smoking and—with an impressive 31mpg city/40 mpg EPA fuel economy rating—doesn’t drink much either. The Jetta TDI gives you a choice of either sedan or wagon (or SportWagen), and both are handsome vehicles. Our four-door sedan looked very German in its reflex silver metallic. While our TDI sedan test car was thrifty on fuel, there was nothing low-rent about its interior. Like all modern Volkswagens, the design is clean and efficient, and the quality of the materials sets the standard for its class. The best part of the Jetta TDI experience, though, was in the driving. Start up was smooth...
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Infiniti will launch its first hybrid vehicle when a gasoline-electric M sedan joins the range for the 2012 model year. The redesigned M line goes on sale in spring 2010, with a choice of V-6 and V-8 engines. When it hits the market a year later, the hybrid version will use a 3.5-liter V-6 with an electric motor acting largely in an assistance role. The combination promises improved fuel economy and performance, in the spirit of current Lexus LS600h and Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid. The Infiniti M Hybrid will be able to operate solely on electric power in certain conditions. It will use a laminated lithium-ion battery pack. Infiniti claims it will be the same size as other packs, though boast twice the power and better reliability. More details will be released closer to production. Late to the game, trailing Lexus and Mercedes-Benz by years, Infiniti will still likely beat other lux brands to market with a hybrid. See our sneak peek of the 2011 Infiniti M35 and M56 .
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Hyundai continues to sing the Blues as it applies fuel-saving tweaks to the Accent line, as it has done with the Elantra . For the 2010 model year, all Accents benefit from aerodynamic enhancements, reduced engine friction, a “smart” alternator management system, optimized thermostat, and low-rolling resistance tires. As a result, fuel economy is improved across the board by 1 mpg in the city and highway. The base model is now the Accent Blue. As with the Elantra Blue , this car receives further enhancements to make it the thriftiest of the line. Here, the Accent has a lowered ride height and revised gear ratios. These tweaks help to achieve 27 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. Turns out, the better-equipped GS three-door hatchback matches those numbers with an automatic transmission, but it trails 1 mpg in the combined figures due to rounding. Pricing for the Blue starts at just $10,000. It is a fairly bare-bones car, with even air conditioning being optional. The GS would have broader appeal without true mileage compromises. It is more comfortably equipped with an auto tranny, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, rear wiper, and additional convenience features. It is made even more appealing...
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Automotive enthusiasts openly wept when it became clear that the Holden-sourced G8 sedan would be a casualty in the shuttering of the Pontiac brand . General Motors had teased with world that it would live on as a Chevrolet, then it shattered dreams by declaring the G8 as gone for good. Well, true believers, the G8 will live on as the Chevrolet Caprice. Technically, the Caprice is actually a long-wheelbase model based on the Holden Statesman, stretching 118.5 inches hub to hub. The larger car enables enough rear legroom to accommodate a divider—an essential to protect officers from fiesty suspects. To be sold strictly as a police-spec vehicle, this will be the coolest Caprice in that moniker’s history. The initial powertrain will be a 6.0-liter, 355-horsepower V-8 with 384 lbs.-ft. of torque paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. Chevrolet boasts 0-60 mph times under six seconds, ensuring The Man can outgun most roadway hooligans. This potent engine will be joined by a more fuel-efficient V-6 the following year. The Caprice is given the full cop treatment, bumper to bumper, with all the electrical hookups and convenience features needed by a modern police force. Yes, enthusiasts...
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Nissan has freshened the Altima for 2010, giving the popular, well-regarded coupe and sedan a midlife update. Most noticeable, the Altima has a new hood, grille, front bumper, and wheels. Inside, the Altima has new upholstery, trim, and revised option packages. Stability control is standard on all models. The infotainment factor is turned up to 11 for the new year, with an available premium Bose audio system. This new stereo boasts nine speakers, 4.3-inch screen, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free phone operation, XM satellite radio, and a rearview camera. Also available is a hard-drive-based navigation system with a 6.5-inch screen, Zagat ratings, XM NavTraffic and NavWeather, Bluetooth streaming audio, DVD player, and 9.3 gigs for music storage. What hasn’t changed is the base price, which remains at $19,900 for the 2.5 S sedan. The coupe climbs several hundred dollars to $22,440. 2010 Nissan Altima suggested retail prices 2010 Altima Sedan Engine/Transmission M.S.R.P. Altima Sedan 2.5 S 2.5L I4 CVT $19,900 Altima Sedan 2.5 S 2.5L I4 CVT $21,840 Altima Sedan 3.5 SR 3.5L V6 CVT $24,520 2010 Altima Coupe Engine/Transmission M.S.R.P. Altima Coupe 2.5 S 2.5L I4 6MT $22,440 Altima Coupe...
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It used to be that manufacturers boasted more horsepower with each new model year, and larger size every redesign. Times have changed, and the common message for 2010 is fuel economy. Hyundai promised a year ago that they would focus their engineering muscle on boosting fuel economy. The Elantra Blue edition leads this effort, with Blue variants and hybrids expected to follow from the company’s other product lines. The Elantra Blue evolves the 2009 Elantra GLS manual into a greener machine, with fuel economy boosted two mile per gallon for both the city and highway EPA ratings through several tweaks. The Elantra Blue has a smarter alternator management system, lower friction engine components, revised transmission gear ratios, improved lock-up torque converter, and thriftier engine calibration than the previous GLS. It also adds an upshift indicator and the all-important “Blue” badging. The fuel economy is now rated at 26 mpg city, 35 mpg highway. The Blue is the new entry point into the Elantra line, starting at just $14,145 (plus $720 destination charge). Despite the budget price, it has a healthy features roster that includes power heated mirrors, power door locks, power windows...
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The Lexus ES 350 sedan is treated to a midlife freshening for the 2010 model year, with an updated exterior, interior refinements, and a new telematics system, Enform with Safety Connect. The base price has been increased $330 to $34,800, plus a hefty $875 destination fee. The 2010 model is distinguished by a revised front grille, grille surround, chrome body side molding, front bumper, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. In addition, the head lights, lower valence with foglamps, and tail lamps were updated, as well. The standard 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels now have a split five-spoke design. The near-lux sedan is available in four new, less-than-intuitively named exterior colors: Truffle Mica, Peridot Mica, Satin Cashmere Metallic and Cerulean Blue Metallic. Inside, ES 350 receives revised steering wheel controls, new trim choices, and driver's seat memory. A revised center console offers more storage volume than before. In addition, rear coat hooks and an Eco Drive indicator are standard. The premium audio system has been updated, with Bluetooth streaming audio capability and a USB port, in addition to the auxiliary port. When an iPod is connected through the USB port, information...
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Not much in the way of new product. Remember, the company is rapidly reinventing itself, now that it has purged billions in so-called bad assets and almost 800 dealerships , leaving a leaner Chrysler Group to develop a revised product portfolio with its new corporate partner Fiat. (Read: " Like a Phoenix, New Chrysler Group LLC Rises .") For the imminent future, there simply isn’t much happening. The products are largely in a holding pattern for another model year. However, if you look closely, there are numerous refinements that should make the vehicles more satisfying to own than before, though not the kind of breakthrough changes that are likely to spark showroom traffic. Below are the highlights of the Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep product updates for the 2010 model year. We have already blogged on the notable update to Dodge Caliber’s interior . Most other vehicles that receive any update for the new model year are given a light touch. The one exception is the 2010 Dodge Ram heavy-duty pickups to be offered for the first time in a true crew-cab configuration, complimenting the regular and mega cab. All heavy-duty trucks are distinguished from their light-duty brethren by...
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Ahead of its official debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, the all-new Saab 9-5 sedan has made its virtual debut. The current model was launched in 1997, making it at least twice as old as most European competitors. Needless to say, the 2011 9-5 promises to make a significant step forward and help set the tone for the brand’s new owners . The new design builds on the recent Aero X concept vehicle and draws inspiration from the company’s aviation heritage. Most distinct is the wrap-around windshield appearance, aided by blacked-out pillars. Jet-fighter influence can be seen in the heads-up display at altimeter-style speedometer gauge. (There is also a traditional speedo dial surrounding this curiosity.) The cockpit moves into the 21st century with an available eight-inch navigation system, harman/kardon surround sound audio system, 10-gig hard drive for multimedia, and USB ports for connecting devices. Rear passengers can have their own audio controls and fold-out screens for viewing DVDs. Dual-zone air conditioning up front and twin vents at the rear with an independent temperature control should keep everyone comfortable. Other technology notables including adaptive Xenon headlamps...
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Days after the 2011 Infiniti M made its virtual debut at the 59th Annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Nissan’s luxury division has announced the pricing for the last model year of the current M. (Read: “ Sneak Peek: 2011 Infiniti M .”) The outgoing 2010 M is currently on sale, starting at $45,800. Again, it is available in a choice of 303-horsepower V-6 and 325-horsepower V-8 engines and in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, as well with a selection of available premium, technology and sport packages. To keep things simple, Infiniti has held the line on prices - no changes from 2009 . $45,800 M35 $47,950 M35x AWD $52,150 M45 $54,650 M45x AWD For 2010, the Infiniti Mobile Entertainment System Package is now included only as part of the Premium Package (M45), instead of as a stand-alone option. In addition, all models offer revised exterior and interior color selections and combinations. Read our Infiniti M review .
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