Browse by Tags
All Tags » Sneak peek ( RSS)
-
|
Ford will debut the 2009 Focus coupe in an “American Idol” music video on Wednesday, revealing a modest update inspired by customer feedback, including new front and rear fascias, and a new roof-line spoiler. The SES series also gets standard 17-inch aluminum wheels on the SES series. These changes will further differentiate the Focus coupe from the sedan. To better target the young Millennials demographic drawn to the coupe, the design team made the two-door’s appearance sportier, notably toning down the Bic-shaver grille and removing chromed front-fender vents. Fog lamps are now standard. The result is a less flashy appearance. For 2009, the Focus SES coupe features more horsepower (up three to 143) and a throatier sound, thanks to a new sport-tuned exhaust. The SES coupe with a four-speed automatic transmission will have a new 4.2:1 final drive ratio to deliver better off-the-line acceleration. Also available is a super-clean, 130-horsepower Duratec 20E engine that qualifies Focus as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV). Both engines deliver 24 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, according to EPA ratings. Electronic stability control (ESC) is now available. The 2009 Focus Coupe, available...
|
-
|
General Motors announced a new partnership with Mascoma Corp. to develop cellulosic ethanol from non-grain sources. As an investor, GM will aid in the development of renewable fuel for the more than 7 million flex-fuel vehicles on U.S. roads, including 3 million GM cars and trucks. In January, GM announced a partnership with Coskata Inc., a start-up with promising thermo-chemical technology for creating ethanol from practically any renewable source, including garbage, old tires, and plant waste. ( Photo shows the 2009 Buick Lucerne, the first flex-fuel capable Buick passenger car.) Mascoma uses a single-step biochemical conversion that convert biomass cellulose into ethanol. Their process lowers costs by limiting additives and enzymes used in other biochemical processes. Based in Boston, privately held Mascoma is using proprietary microorganisms developed at the company's laboratories in the process. In addition to funds from GM, Mascoma has received a $26 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. GM looks to be smartly positioning itself as an automaker and fuel creator, while further the corporation’s environmental initiatives. In addition, through its investments, GM...
|
-
|
Suzuki will pack its 2009 SX4 sport sedan and SX4 Crossover hatchback with a standard, integrated navigation system, making it the only new vehicle under $16,000 to include navigation as a standard feature. Navigation systems are increasingly common as options on an expanding range of vehicle, although the cost typically associated with them is in $1500-$2000 territory. This GPS system is sourced from segment leader Garmin, and it will offer premium services through Microsoft Network, including real-time traffic, weather forecasts, local event listings, and a gas station finder capable of locating the lowest priced fuel in town. Distinguishing its points of interest (POI) functionality, the SX4 system will feature a number of lifestyle-oriented, Suzuki-recommended destinations and landmarks, such as hip music venues, popular surf spots, interesting road trip attractions, and other activity-focused destinations. Referred to as the Suzuki T.R.I.P. (Travel, Real-time traffic, Information and Play), the navigation system has a flip-up 4.3-inch touch screen display and Bluetooth hands-free calling technology that can receive and audibly play text messages. This system should add high-tech...
|
-
|
Audi will freshen its entry-level five-door hatchback model for the 2009 model year, with exterior and interior updates. Although Audi has released only this teaser image, we can see the exterior is distinguished with a revised front end. The new hood and fenders are more expressively styled, and the bumper and large single-frame radiator grille have been modified. Daytime running lights are standard features, and the optional bi-xenon headlamps incorporate LEDs. Not shown are new door handles and wheels. The rear features a modified bumper and lights, with fiber-optic light strips. Inside the car, the updates center around a more premium look to controls and switches, as well as an updated instrument panel. The 2.0-liter, 200-horsepower turbo four and 3.2-liter, 250-horsepower V-6 carry over. The 2.0 TFSI engine is supplied as standard with six-speed manual transmission, and the 3.2 is available exclusively with the six-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission, now also available for all engine versions. The independent suspension is an enhanced with an available adaptive-action shock absorber control system. The driver can choose between "Normal" and "Sport" programs...
|
-
|
Last fall, Hot Wheels announced its first-ever Designer's Challenge, inviting designers from leading automotive manufacturers the chance to design and create an original Hot Wheels vehicle. Proving that car enthusiasts never truly grow up, several automakers submitted their own designs for potential immortalization at 1/64th scale. The selected designs will be the basis of a new 40th-anniversary Designer's Challenge product line. Honda R&D Americas designed this sharp car, creatively named the Honda Racer. The key element to the design of the entire car is that the body is in the shape of the Honda "H" emblem. The exterior shape resembles an imaginative side-by-side racecar of 1960s vintage that encloses a driver and a navigator. The general shape, styling and paint scheme is further inspired by Honda's early participation in Formula 1 racing and its 1967 RA 273 race car. The white and red paint scheme, the open cockpits, large exhaust system, and open wheels are all elements inspired by the historic Honda race car. A powerful Honda V-10 VTEC engine sits between the piloting team. If brought up to scale, this engine would displace 2.0 liters per cylinder. Other...
|
-
|
A sign of its commitment in China, Buick chose the 2008 Beijing Auto Show to unveil its Invicta concept car. This mid-sized sedan reveals the design direction for Buick’s next-generation vehicles for the United States and China, and the Invicta is expected to replace the LaCrosse later this year. The Invicta styling evolved from the well-received 2004 Velite convertible and 2007 Riviera coupe concepts, and it was designed collaboratively by GM centers in Warren, Michigan, and Shanghai, China. The name harks back to 1959, when it was first introduced in North America on a production vehicle. Invicta is Latin for “invincible.” The sleek exterior has a coupe-like profile in vogue with premium models, like the Mercedes-Benz CLS, accented with crisp lines and chrome highlights. The sheetmetal wraps tautly around the wheel arches stuffed with 20-inch wheels giving it a muscular, modern appearance. This is heightened by short overhangs and a sense of motion evoked by the wrap-around headlamps and aggressively raked windshield. The reborn Buick-signature portholes are placed on the hood, rather than on the fenders. Beneath the relatively flat hood is a turbocharged 250-horsepower four-cylinder...
|
-
|
At the 2008 Beijing Auto Show, Audi took the wraps off the latest SUV to join its swelling ranks, the Q5. Slotting below the three-row Q7 in the range, the Q5 enters the luxury crossover vehicle market for 2009, boasting two inches in length and width over the popular BMW X3. It will be offered in the United States with a 3.2L, 265-hp V-6 FSI direct injection with all-wheel drive and a six-speed Tiptronic transmission. The exterior design has a premium yet friendly feel that reminds of the Volkswagen Tiguan, wrapped in Q7 elegance, and finished by the distinct brand-signature trapezoidal grille. Bi-xenon headlamps are available, and LED taillights are standard. Audi brags about the 0.33 drag coefficient—low for an SUV. Thankfully, it appears the Q5 has bucked the recent trend for short side glass and large C-pillars conspiring to reduce outward visibility. The interior balances luxury with versatility. The cabin materials count aluminum, woods, chrome, leather, and Alcantara, as well as a large selection of optional design packages. The instrument cluster has a display screen, and there is large, central monitor. A navigation system with real-time traffic ability is available. The infotainment...
|
-
|
Motorists continue to clamor for GPS-based navigation services, as sales of in-car and portable devices soar. GM’s OnStar telematics division has been competing in this space with a “ turn-by-turn ” service, allowing drivers to request directions from a human advisor that are then downloaded to the vehicle and read aloud automatically along the route. OnStar bills it as “the simplest navigation system.” Well, now OnStar is moving to compete more directly with traditional touch-screen systems with two new services. The first is OnStar Destination Download, which enables OnStar subscribers with screen-based infotainment systems to input their destination while on the go at the press of a button. The second service, OnStar eNav, allows subscribers with a “turn-by-turn” capable vehicle to find and save destinations on MapQuest.com and have those destinations sent to their vehicle. Subscribers simply press their vehicle's OnStar phone button to access voice-guided commands through which they can select their route. OnStar eNav will be available retroactively on 2.7 million current “turn-by-turn” capable GM vehicles. Later this year eNav will also combine with OnStar Destination Download...
|
-
|
Scion has released the pricing for the 2009 xB and tC rather early, though no major changes are scheduled for either vehicle. The xB carries over with only a change in exterior color; Stingray Metallic replaces Nautical Blue Metallic. The base price for the ‘09 xB is $15,750 when equipped with a five-speed manual transmission and $16,700 for the four-speed automatic. Prices for both configurations represent an increase of $100. The 2009 tC also carries over with one change--updated seat fabric. Prices for both the automatic and manual transmission remain the same as the 2008 models. The tC equipped with a five-speed manual transmission has a base price of $17,000, while the four-speed automatic transmission model carries an MSRP of $17,800. Both vehicles add $620 for delivery charges. Research the Scion xB and tC , and read our 2008 Scion xB and 2008 Scion tC reviews.
|
-
|
Nary a blockbuster film makes it to the big screen without a sponsored, automotive tie-in. When Marvel super hero Iron Man takes to the screen on May 2, his marketing sidekick will be an Audi R8 . This pairs the brilliant, high-tech-driven Tony Stark played by Robert Downey Jr. with an exotic, high-tech coupe. No word if the R8 can fire repulsor beams from its four grille rings. Downey Jr. said in an official release, "I grew up with the Audi mystique. This carmaker has always been right in the forefront when it comes to technology, performance, innovation, and safety. I see Tony and myself as worthy ambassadors for Audi -- we're genuine fans of the make." If you watch the Iron Man movie trailer , you can see perhaps the cast had other feelings about a Cobra replica. There will be other Audis in the film, such as an S5 driven by Virginia "Pepper" Potts, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. If you’re like Downey Jr., a fan of Audi and Iron Man, then it is worth flying over to a micro-site dedicated to the film. (Warning: you must turn off your pop-up blocker to visit.) It features technophile, billionaire Tony Stark's top-secret workshop. Two perspectives are available...
|
-
|
The portable navigation device (PND) market has been white-hot this past year, seeing sales skyrocket through the holiday season. Segment leaders Garmin, TomTom, and Magellan own more than 80 percent of the market, leaving a growing list of new-comers to vie for the remainder and whittle away at the leading triumvirate’s dominance. Consequently, these pocket-sized GPS devices have seen rapid evolution in the past 12 months, with new features and lower prices continuing to attract consumer interest. One of the most anticipated new devices has just arrived: the Dash Express, an Internet-connected PND with some clever talents. Most notably, the Dash Driver Network that allows users to share real-time traffic data with other Dash owners. So, if a Dash device passes down the road ahead of you, your device can receive and display the very latest traffic flow information. Any one who lives around a congested major city knows that the radio broadcasted traffic updates may come every 10 minutes, but the information can be old, inaccurate, or come too late. The same limitations hold true for most GPS traffic services, which typically rely on the same information sources. However, with Dash Driver...
|
-
|
Scion proved its hip to be square with its original xB, being affordable, frugal, and urban chic. Nissan has been watching the success of that enthusiast-rallying box from afar, while offering its own successful take in Japan, the Cube. Over the past few years, the Cube has made token appearances at international auto shows with side comments made by officials about consideration for the United States. Well, that trend has extended now to New York, with the announcement that we can expect the next-generation Cube to reach our shores. The Denki Cube concept on display at the NY auto show gives Americans a close look at an asymmetrical design that looks like it popped right out of an iMac computer. The word “Denki” is Japanese for “electric,” hinting at the electric powertrain demonstrated in this show model. To spark conversation about its future alternative-vehicle strategy, Nissan replaced the Cube’s standard 1.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor and laminated lithium-ion batteries located under the floor and seats. The laminated structure and unique material technology offer more power, energy and battery stability, as well as compact size and packaging flexibility...
|
-
|
Looking for the next big thing, Scion unveiled its Hako Coupe concept at the New York International Auto Show last week. Taking its name from the Japanese word for box, the Hako recasts the xB with a blend of Japanese aesthetic and vintage American car design. It seems that just as American youths covet all things JDM (Japanese domestic market), a rising trend in the East is to emulate classic American cars. Put it all in a blender, flick on a CAD workstation, and out comes the Hako. From the side, the chopped top and long hood the Hako looks like it escaped central casting for “Japanese Graffitti.” For now, the Hako is all about the appearance and seeking consumer feedback on whether the brand pursue a model in this direction. Presumably, it would be developed off the xB platform, sharing the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Inside, the Hako makes interesting use of video monitors, with two on the front passenger dash for mobile entertainment controlled with a large roller ball. Screens located on each door and on each side of the rear seating area project images from cameras mounted beneath the A-pillars for viewing, saving, and editing. Think of it as a replay mode for a road trip...
|
-
|
At the New York International Auto Show, Dodge unveiled the Challenger R/T and Challenger V6, filling out the line-up started with the SRT8 shown last month in Chicago . All three variants look remarkably faithful to the 1970 original, with a little extra heft around the bumpers for essential crash protection. Indeed, the Challenger is a muscle-car enthusiast’s fantasy come to life, with the heritage and silhouette that has filled decades of dreams, concours events, and Barrett-Jackson auctions. Mopar enthusiasts will be able to recapture the glory of the good ol’ days with truly modern performance, reliability, and safety. Dodge expects the R/T to be the volume model, with its 5.7-liter Hemi V-8. Although the name is familiar, the engine is enhanced over that found in the current Charger R/T, climbing in horsepower and yet also gaining five percent in fuel economy. With the five-speed automatic transmission, the 5.7L produces 370 horsepower. Go for the six-speed manual and you could boast 375 horsepower with 404 lb.-ft. of torque. In either configuration, Dodge promises the coupe can run 0-60 mph in under six seconds. (For those keeping score, the official word on the 425-hp SRT8 is...
|
-
|
Honda unveiled the all-new 2009 Honda Fit at the New York International Auto Show, revealing a model that has evolved from the first-generation car without changing the successful formula. During the press days, Honda remained tight-lipped on technical details, especially for a car that is already on sale in overseas markets. What we do know is that the ’09 Fit is incrementally longer and wider than the outgoing model, with the base of the windshield moved five inches forward—increasing the interior space. This change allows for larger glass sail panels in the forked base of the A-pillars, enhancing visibility. Less obvious changes include a focus on improved structure for occupant safety, adapting the much-touted Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) design approach. The fancy acronym boils down to a dedicated, computer-engineered structure that addresses common collision parameters and smartly controls forces to best protect passengers. Good stuff. In addition, the Fit includes active head restraints, side and side-curtain airbags, and anti-lock brakes. Electronic stability control is available. Comfort is improved by addressing driver leg room and offering a tilt/telescope steering...
|
More Posts Next page »
|
