Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Nissan to take on domestics with commercial truck in 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/27/nissan-to-take-on-domestics-with-commercial-truck-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/27/nissan-to-take-on-domestics-with-commercial-truck-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/27/nissan-to-take-on-domestics-with-commercial-truck-in-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Sensing the ripe market opportunity, Nissan will start producing various light-commercial and medium-duty trucks in 2010. The targeted segment is currently dominated by Ford and GM, where the miscellaneous cabs and frames are used to produce such vehicles as dump trucks, tow trucks, and school buses. Now, Nissan wants a piece of the pie. Larry Dominique, Nissan's VP of product planning, wouldn't disclose details right now, but he did say that a handful of new products will be needed to satisfy the new commercial truck dealers - and Nissan is more than willing to oblige. Joe Castelli, the former director of Ford's commercial trucks (and now a VP of commercial trucks at Nissan), said the Japanese automaker will be pulling from their global stable of commercial components (branded Atlas and Atleon in other markets) to quickly adapt them for the U.S. market. Nissan's official commercial truck plans will be announced in January at the Detroit Auto Show, and we'll be there to judge reactions.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

 

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]]>Commerical TrucksCommericalTrucksLight TrucksLightTrucksManufacturingNissanTruck2008-08-27T18:01:00+00:00<![CDATA[No Surprise: Lincoln green-lights the MKT]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/15/no-surprise-lincoln-green-lights-the-mkt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/15/no-surprise-lincoln-green-lights-the-mkt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/15/no-surprise-lincoln-green-lights-the-mkt/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lincoln MKT concept.

As reported earlier, Lincoln has given the MKT crossover the green-light, with the production version set to debut in Detroit this January and sales beginning sometime next year.

The MKT is built atop the same platform as the Ford Flex, but Lincoln insists that the two models won't share a single body panel. Power will be provided by either a 3.7-liter V6 or a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, equipped with direct-injection and a turbocharger, however a hybrid drivetrain will not be offered. A six-speed automatic gearbox, complete with paddle shifters, will be standard, along with seven-passenger seating, a power-folding third-row seat, heated and cooled, first- and second-row thrones and the SYNC in-car entertainment system. Options will include a new sat-nav, Sirius Travel Link, an auto-park feature (similar to that found on the Lexus LS460) and a Cross Traffic Alert system that alerts drivers to obstacles when backing out of a parking space.

Make the jump for the press release.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Lincoln MKT Concept - Live Reveal


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Gallery: Lincoln MKT Concept

Continue reading No Surprise: Lincoln green-lights the MKT

 

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]]>crossoverlincolnlincoln mktLincolnMktmkt2008-08-15T15:02:00+00:00<![CDATA[GM employees to get sneak peek at production Volt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/gm-employees-to-get-sneak-peek-at-production-volt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/gm-employees-to-get-sneak-peek-at-production-volt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/gm-employees-to-get-sneak-peek-at-production-volt/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Pending white collar cuts and dismal sales data have resulted in morale problems at General Motors. That's going to put a damper on the Detroit automaker's centennial celebration, so the General plans on showing employees a near-production-ready Chevy Volt to give workers hope. The (hopefully) game-changing extended range electric vehicle will be shown internally around the September 16th centennial, and employees who see the Volt will, of course, have to check their cameras and phones at the door. That doesn't mean the public won't soon get an eyeful of the car, as GM sources report that it'll be shown in production trim at this year's LA or Detroit Auto Show. Don't forget also that it's also been rumored that Volt could show up in Paris in October.

GM has 200 engineers and 50 designers working long hours to make the ER-EV happen by its late 2010 production target, and there are another 400 people working on components. GM is also constructing a new 530,000 sq-ft facility to build the Volt's 1.4L engine and working on getting incentives for the planned construction.

Gallery: Chevy Volt


[Source: Detroit News]

 

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]]>Chevy voltChevyVoltextended range electric vehicleExtendedRangeElectricVehicleGMvolt unveilingVoltUnveiling2008-07-30T10:31:00+00:00<![CDATA[$90m upgrade to Cobo being pushed as automakers drop out]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/27/90m-upgrade-to-cobo-being-pushed-as-automakers-drop-out/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/27/90m-upgrade-to-cobo-being-pushed-as-automakers-drop-out/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/27/90m-upgrade-to-cobo-being-pushed-as-automakers-drop-out/#commentsFiled under: ,



The North American International Auto Show is by far the largest auto show in North America, but the small, aging facility that houses the new car party is prompting automakers to ditch the event all-together. In response to news that Suzuki has joined Porsche in bowing out of the 2009 show, the city of Detroit is rushing a $90M plan to increase floor space by 80,000 sq. ft. The move is seen as a stop-gap measure, with other more grand plans still on the way at a later date. With far superior facilities in New York, Chicago, and LA, Detroit may not have long to act.

For people in the Detroit area, the Cobo expansion has been a hot topic of conversation, but one that typically doesn't get beyond the talking stage. If area executives continue to try to one-up each other, argue and get nothing done, more automakers are likely to bow out in the future.

[Source: Detroit News]

 

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]]>auto showAutoShowChryslerCobo HallCoboHallFordGMNAIAS2008-06-27T17:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[Suzuki bows out of 2009 Detroit Auto Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/26/suzuki-bows-out-of-2009-detroit-auto-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/26/suzuki-bows-out-of-2009-detroit-auto-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/26/suzuki-bows-out-of-2009-detroit-auto-show/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Porsche and Suzuki rarely come up in the same breath, but here is something they both share: neither will be in Cobo Hall when the Detroit Auto Show opens in January. Joining the Stuttgart sportscar/SUV/SUS maker in skipping the show, Suzuki has said that they are pulling out for a slightly different reason. Whereas Porsche had said that Detroit wasn't a very important market for them, Suzuki is saying they didn't like the space they were offered. Here, Suzuki is hitting closer to what many people feel is the real problem with Cobo, there just isn't enough room. It's a fine hall with a storied past, and as a journalist it's nice to be able to get to any press conference within a minute from the media center, but it's not very big compared to the other halls around the world. With a name like "2009 North American International Auto Show" it needs more square-footage. It's still the most important auto show in the country, if not the world, and maybe losing Suzuki and Porsche don't hurt it too much, but this move by Suzuki could be marking a trend that can only be stopped with a major expansion. Back in January, we mentioned that a plan is being formulated to expand Cobo Hall, but the project is still in the financing stage as far as we know. Hopefully something can be done before long to save this great show's reputation.

[Source: Detroit News]

 

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]]>cobo hallCoboHalldetroit auto showDetroitAutoShow2008-06-26T13:33:00+00:00<![CDATA[Lexus considering two dedicated hybrid models]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/22/lexus-considering-two-dedicated-hybrid-models/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/22/lexus-considering-two-dedicated-hybrid-models/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/22/lexus-considering-two-dedicated-hybrid-models/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



We've known for quite some time that Toyota would be introducing the world to its third-generation Prius hybrid sedan at next year's Detroit Auto Show. Expected to be powered by a revised and enlarged 1.8-liter engine and electric motors, the new model aims to continue Toyota's hybrid dominance, at least for the next few model years. We also expect Lexus to get its own more luxurious version of the Prius, and Inside Line is reporting that it will come in calender year 2010 and could be the first Toyota-made hybrid with lithium ion batteries. What's more, Lexus is said to be considering a second hybrid-only model to be based on Toyota's midsize sedan architecture, as is the current RX, which is available in both standard and hybrid guises. Rumor is that the second dedicated hybrid model might be a crossover utility vehicle, the current darling of the it's-not-a-station-wagon set. We'll surely hear more about this new model before its expected introduction in 2011.

[Source: Inside Line]

 

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]]>hybrid crossoverhybrid cuvhybrid-crossoverhybrid-cuvHybridCrossoverHybridCuvlexuslexus crossoverlexus cuvlexus hybridlexus-crossoverlexus-cuvlexus-hybridLexusCrossoverLexusCuvLexusHybrid2008-05-22T12:34:00+00:00<![CDATA[Next-gen Prius coming in January with more power, efficiency]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/29/next-gen-prius-coming-in-january-with-more-power-efficiency/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/29/next-gen-prius-coming-in-january-with-more-power-efficiency/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/29/next-gen-prius-coming-in-january-with-more-power-efficiency/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The current Prius is baked from a refined recipe that results in a roomy, practical and efficient vehicle lurking under an eco-statement exterior, or at least we thought so. Five years on, it's still the most popular way to conspicuously consume under the guise of saving the planet. Toyota hasn't been resting on the success of its green badge of targeted consumerism, so we're going to see a new Prius at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in January, according to Toyota President Watanabe. The 3rd-generation Prius will grow in size, and engine displacement will be bumped to 1.8 liters to increase performance. Despite the increase in size and sprightliness, weight will reportedly hold steady. Further changes are in store after the launch, with plug-in and Li-Ion updates to come.

The nameplate will also move beyond a single model and become a sub-brand during the reign of Prius the III. More body styles are coming, and if you think the Prius is a roachy-looking thing, the concept hints Toyota has given us are possibly even weirder. The sub-1,000 pound 1/X might offer a glimpse at another type of Prius, though more realistically, the sad-eyed Hybrid X vannish concept suggests the way things are headed without the ridiculous pronunciation of its featherweight companion. If things go according to Toyota's plan for world domination, the Prius will become one of the pillars upon which the marque is built, next to the Corolla and Camry institutions.

Gallery: 2007 Toyota Prius Touring


[Source: Auto Observer]

 

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]]>2009 detroit2009 toyota prius2009Detroit2009ToyotaPriusbreakingdetroit auto showDetroitAutoShowli-ionli-ion hybridsli-ion priusli-ionbatteryLi-ionHybridsLi-ionPriuslithium ionlithium ion batterylithium ion priusLithiumIonLithiumIonBatteryLithiumIonPriusnew priusnew toyota priusNewPriusNewToyotaPriusnorth american inter...NorthAmericanInter...plug inplug in priusplug-inplug-in hybridplug-inhybridPlugInPlugInPriuspluginstoyota priusToyotaPrius2008-04-29T11:29:00+00:00<![CDATA[Spy Shots: 2010 Ford Taurus... finally]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/09/spy-shots-2010-ford-taurus-finally/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/09/spy-shots-2010-ford-taurus-finally/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/09/spy-shots-2010-ford-taurus-finally/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Around 2 AM EST on Monday night, one of our readers sent us a tip about a photo making the rounds on two Taurus-specific forums. We followed both links and came across the spy shot you see above - now rumored to be the 2010 Ford Taurus. Big deal, right? It was, but not for the reasons you think. While we like spy pics as much as the next pistonhead, we have a policy against posting photos taken inside an automaker's design studio. Unlike the shots snapped by Frau Priddy and the crew at KGP, our legal department insists that anything taken on automaker property is illegal to distribute. So after the picture began circulating on several smaller sites, we held off on publishing it... until now. With sites like MotorTrend and InsideLine throwing caution to the wind, despite Ford's attempt to quell the photo's circulation, we feel compelled to bring it to you in all its grainy majesty - until FoMoCo's legal department starts pounding on our virtual door.

With that out of the way, all of us around the Autoblog offices are split about the design direction this one particular exercise (we're sure there's at least a dozen) is taking. The front end is far more dynamic than the current Taurus, with swept-back headlamps, a pointed fascia and the best application of the three-bar grille we've seen yet -- even if it does ape the last generation Lexus IS. The profile is handsome and distinctly Mondeo, a model that may, or may not, underpin the next Taurus. And if there's an SHO variant packing Ford's new turbocharged, EcoBoost V6, we're sure Mr. Neff will have his dirty little way with it when its officially uncloaked (possibly) in Detroit.

 

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]]>20102010 ford taurus2010 ford taurus spy2010FordTaurus2010FordTaurusSpybreakingfordspy shotsSpyShotstaurus2008-04-09T20:04:00+00:00<![CDATA[Lexus execs spills the beans: GS F model, 1-series fighter, hybrid galore]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/07/lexus-execs-spills-the-beans-gs-f-model-1-series-fighter-hybr/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/07/lexus-execs-spills-the-beans-gs-f-model-1-series-fighter-hybr/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/07/lexus-execs-spills-the-beans-gs-f-model-1-series-fighter-hybr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lexus LF-A Roadster concept.

Lexus Australia's chief executive, John Roca, gave up a number of product details to The Australian in an interview this past weekend, including the addition of an "F" variant of the GS sedan and possibly a full-size LS limo. Both models are aimed to attack luxury stalwarts Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz by offering a number of high-performance variants and also developing a new model that would slot in below the IS sedan to take on the BMW 1-series and the Audi A3. That model is still a few years away, but it will be an integral part of Lexus' commitment to reach one million global sales in the next two to three years.

The other element includes offering hybrid versions of every vehicle it sells, plus the introduction of a hybrid-only model that will be unveiled in concept form this January at the Detroit Auto Show. Toyota's luxury arm plans to release a redesigned five-seater RX next year, based off the LF-Xh concept that bowed in Tokyo, although there's no word on the rumored seven-seat variant due out before the end of the decade.

Naturally, no conversation about Lexus would be complete without some mention of a two-door, coupe/convertible version of the IS, a model that's been sorely lacking from the Lexus lineup, plus, the LF-A supercar, which should finally come to market in 2011, but may only be available in left-hand drive.

Gallery: Lexus LF-Xh concept


Gallery: Lexus LF-A Roadster


Gallery: Lexus LF-A Concept


[Source: The Australian via Motor Authority]

 

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]]>2009 lexus rx2009LexusRx2010 lexus rx2010LexusRxgsgs fgs-fGsFlexuslexus gs flexus gs-flexus is convertiblelexus is coupelexus lf-alexus lf-xhlexus rxLexusGs-fLexusGsFLexusIsConvertibleLexusIsCoupeLexusLf-aLexusLf-xhLexusRxlf-alf-xhrx2008-04-07T09:26:00+00:00<![CDATA[REPORT: Land Rover to build the LRX]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/19/report-land-rover-to-build-the-lrx/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/19/report-land-rover-to-build-the-lrx/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/19/report-land-rover-to-build-the-lrx/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Click above for high-res gallery of the Land Rover LRX from Geneva

We've big fans of the Land Rover LRX concept's styling, which looked as good in black (unveiled in Geneva) as it did in the original white (unveiled in Detroit). So we're suitably pleased by reports that Land Rover is preparing to build the vehicle, which could get the nameplate Freelander Sport in keeping with the nomenclature already set in place by the Range Rover Sport.

The production LRX would target the likes of the upcoming BMW X1 and Audi Q5 (and potentially the Porsche Roxster), while offering a range of eco-friendly engine options that help Land Rover reduce its overall environmental impact. Such powertrain possibilities could include a 2.2-liter diesel and 3.2-liter gasoline inline-six with the potential for start-stop technology and even a hybrid system. Although the Freelander Sport would be oriented towards on-road driving dynamics, we wouldn't expect it to compromise the brand's legendary off-road prowess as much as recent offerings from Jeep. Reports place the production LRX on the road as early as 2010, and we hope much of the show car's dramatic styling would remain in place as the Land Rover rides the rocky road from concept to production.

Gallery: Land Rover LRX Concept - Black & Silver


Gallery: Land Rover LRX Concept - White


[Source: Auto Express]

 

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]]>detroit lrxDetroitLrxgeneva lrxGenevaLrxland roverland rover freelander sportland rover lrxLandRoverLandRoverFreelanderSportLandRoverLrxproduction lrxProductionLrx2008-03-19T09:27:00+00:00<![CDATA[Audi R8 V12 TDI has a "50/50" shot at production, gets driven]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/14/audi-r8-v12-tdi-has-a-50-50-shot-at-production-gets-driven/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/14/audi-r8-v12-tdi-has-a-50-50-shot-at-production-gets-driven/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/14/audi-r8-v12-tdi-has-a-50-50-shot-at-production-gets-driven/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Autoweek and Fourtitude were able to enjoy some seat time in the Audi R8 V12 TDI LeMans concept before its official unveiling in Geneva last week. Their drive was short (about an hour with a 50 mph speed limit imposed by Audi's boffins), but their time at the airport adjacent to Sebring International Raceway has made an impression.

The crimson beast we saw in Geneva was the same concept that was displayed in Detroit, simply sporting a new paint job, but spending quality time with the R8 V12 TDI revealed a few interesting tidbits about the concept. First, the firewall behind the driver and passenger had to be extended by some six-inches to accommodate the oilburner and although claimed torque output is somewhere in the 737 lb.-ft. range, the few journos asked to take part only got to experience 442 lb.-ft. of twist - a good thing considering that the transmission mated to the engine is an A4 case with modified internals.

While the performance was impressive, the short gearing and shorter redline (not disclosed) seemed to make all that grunt superfluous in first and second, but Audi is expecting the R8 V12 TDI to return around 24 mpg and meet the 2014 Euro 6 emissions standards if, and when, it goes on sale.

While the Autoweek piece only provided the "50/50" quote in the title, the Fourtitude article is far more entertaining and informative -- well worth a read.

Gallery: Audi R8 TDI Le Mans


Gallery: Audi R8 V12 TDI Concept


[Sources: Autoweek, Fourtitude]

 

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]]>2008-03-14T20:04:00+00:00<![CDATA[Detroit '09 Preview: Lexus-branded Prius to debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/26/detroit-09-preview-lexus-branded-prius-to-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/26/detroit-09-preview-lexus-branded-prius-to-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/26/detroit-09-preview-lexus-branded-prius-to-debut/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last month, we brought you the words of Toyota president Katsuaki Watanabe who announced that at next year's NAIAS in Detroit, his company would be unveiling a pair of dedicated hybrid models: a replacement for the lamentably iconic current Toyota Prius, and a dedicated luxury hybrid from Lexus. The latter would be the first standalone hybrid model from the luxury brand, which until now has made a name for itself producing gasoline/electric versions of its standard models.

Emerging reports now suggest that the Lexus hybrid Watanabe-san alluded to in Detroit will actually be a rebadged luxury version of the next-gen Prius, taking on a "lifestyle wagon" design based on the more basic Toyota. While the notion of a lightweight Prius being laden down with Lexus-grade luxury equipment may seem at odds, somehow we doubt the Hollywood crowd will be bothered.

[Source: Motor Trend]

 

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]]>detroit lexus prius hybridDetroitLexusPriusHybridlexus hybridlexus priusLexusHybridLexusPriustoyota priusToyotaPrius2008-02-26T11:33:00+00:00<![CDATA[GM considers sharing E-Flex among brands, sky is blue]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/11/gm-considers-sharing-e-flex-among-brands-sky-is-blue/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/11/gm-considers-sharing-e-flex-among-brands-sky-is-blue/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/11/gm-considers-sharing-e-flex-among-brands-sky-is-blue/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Click image for a gallery of the Saturn Flextreme

At its annual dealer meeting in San Francisco, what's described as having been a "passing remark" seems to be generating some buzz. Automotive News reports that a GM spokesperson said that the Chevy Volt's underlying technology could make its way into offerings from the automaker's other brands. While the report describes an excited dealer's reaction, the idea of shared E-Flex itself is hardly surprising. For instance, we've seen E-Flex concepts for Saturn/Opel (Flextreme) and Cadillac (Provoq) already, and sharing the tech makes sense when you consider that consumer interest will probably be high whenever the Volt is ultimately produced, and spreading the wealth gives GM multiple avenues (and price points) at which it can cash in on the investment. The General already shares engines and platforms among its brands, so why not E-Flex? It seems like such a natural thing to do, maybe that's why the comment about sharing it was made in passing to begin with. The General's been telegraphing this move through the concepts it's released over the last year.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

 

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]]>e-flexflextremeprovoqvolt2008-02-11T08:02:00+00:00<![CDATA[Crash Landing: 2009 Honda Pilot design deemed boring]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/29/crash-landing-2009-honda-pilot-design-deemed-boring/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/29/crash-landing-2009-honda-pilot-design-deemed-boring/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/29/crash-landing-2009-honda-pilot-design-deemed-boring/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


click above to view more high-res pics of the Honda Pilot Prototype

We were there when Honda trotted out its Pilot Prototype in Detroit, and our snoozy first impression is apparently what the public at large is feeling, too. Sales of the current Pilot have dropped off by nearly 25 percent, so Honda's feeling the pressure with this redesign. It doesn't bode well, then, that the Pilot's new duds leave the buying public unmoved. CNW Research polled several hundred drivers from LA, Chicago and Detroit, and many respondents found the 2009 Pilot a yawn to behold. Nothing about the newly-squared off exterior struck a chord, which is unusual for a new design. Usually, something distinctive garners attention, but the exterior design only earned a 7.5 point score on CNW's 12-point scale, off at least a point and a half from what most new vehicles do. We found the Pilot's freshening a little boring, but mainly the headlights leave us very unnerved, like trying to stare down a bird of prey.

[Source: Inside Line]

Gallery: 2008 Detroit: Honda Pilot Prototype

 

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]]>2009auto showAutoShowconceptdesigndetroithondahonda pilotHondaPilotnaiaspilotshow2008-01-29T08:22:00+00:00<![CDATA[Want a Volt in 2010? Then take $40,000 to your nearest Chevy dealer]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/27/want-a-volt-in-2010-then-take-40-000-to-your-nearest-chevy-dea/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/27/want-a-volt-in-2010-then-take-40-000-to-your-nearest-chevy-dea/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/27/want-a-volt-in-2010-then-take-40-000-to-your-nearest-chevy-dea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


click above for more high-res images of the Chevy Volt Concept

Wired magazine got in the queue for some face time with Bob Lutz at the Detroit Auto Show, and came back with a quote that's raised a few brows. When asked what the target market for the car would be, Lutz said "I don't know. You'd like to have it at about $30,000 for the customer, but what I'm hearing from the team is we're not going to get there.... [I]f it costs closer to 40 than 30, well, that's too bad."

The issue is the timeline. His engineering team said that if they had more time they could cost-optimize the car, but Lutz doesn't want to wait for that. As for the recent go-round about when the Volt would appear, November 2010 is such a firm deadline in his mind that when it comes to the internal team, his only question is: "What is there about November 2010 that you don't understand?"

Lutz must know how important it will be to price this car competitively. A $40,000 Volt before you start checking options boxes will do a lot to keep people looking elsewhere for green options. For Lutz, though, the Volt -- like the moon landing -- is much about prestige, saying, "If it doesn't work, it's not fatal. But if it does work, it will be sensational." It is also just as much about a return to the kind of design and technological form that the marque hasn't seen in a long time. "GM's credibility is rapidly returning and it's beginning to be reflected in the marketplace.," Lutz said, "[b]ut there is no doubt you'd like to be able to leapfrog Toyota and come out with a car they aren't ready to do. There's nothing magic about the technology. Two or three years after the Volt is introduced, everybody will have something like it. We'd just like to be first for once."

Gallery: Chevy Volt


[Source: Wired]

Continue reading Want a Volt in 2010? Then take $40,000 to your nearest Chevy dealer

 

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]]>bob lutzBobLutzchevrolet voltChevroletVoltchevy voltChevyVoltdetroit auto showDetroitAutoShowlutznaiasvolt2008-01-27T11:27:00+00:00<![CDATA[Size matters when it comes to pickup logos]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/24/size-matters-when-it-comes-to-pickup-logos/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/24/size-matters-when-it-comes-to-pickup-logos/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/24/size-matters-when-it-comes-to-pickup-logos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Some crowds are worried about speed, some about interior volume, some about the number of cupholders. The pickup truck crowd has a tendency to be concerned with size, so the automakers give them what they want. And in this case, it's bigger and bigger logos. Kicking Tires took the real estate measurements of the logos on half-ton pickups at the Detroit Auto Show (and a Hummer, just for good... measure), and ranked them from smallest to the most grandiose. The logo on the new Dodge Ram is 250% larger than before, and it only came in fifth. Click the link to find out who's got the biggest, and let the bragging begin.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

 

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]]>brandingdetroit auto showDetroitAutoShowlogosnaiaspickup trucksPickupTrucks2008-01-24T19:59:00+00:00<![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #85]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/24/autoblog-podcast-85/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/24/autoblog-podcast-85/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/24/autoblog-podcast-85/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Episode 85 of the Autoblog Podcast finds us reminiscing about the North American International Auto Show that recently invaded Detroit. It was perhaps not as thrilling as past shows, but the new F-150 and Ram hauled and herded some excitement into Cobo. Both pickups are newly spiffed and bristling with new features and engineering. While the trucks are no doubt big news, the CTS Coupe stokes our fires far more. We hope to see it visited by the V-series gnomes, too.

There were a passel of diesels at the show, too. Audi's V12 TDI R8 concept was filled with design gumdrops for us to chew on, besides the 12-pot 500-hp diesel that returns mileage in the 20s. BMW had its 335d and some X5 alphabet soup thing, and Honda showed its clean diesel. Beyond oil burners, we took an IRL look at the Hyundais Genesis and found it surprising beyond what pictures convey. The Lancer Ralliart turned out to be a charmer, while we question the very existence of VW's Passat CC, and Fisker's bestickered Karma was certainly software-worthy vaporware. Mazda had the best car in the show with its racy Furai, and the Lincoln MKT threatens Cadillac not one whit. Ford's Verve is a bright spot, though, and it can't get here fast enough. We had a lot more to say, but ran out of time to say it this time around. Watch this space for more, but for now, enjoy all 33 minutes of #85.

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]]>audibmwdetroitdetroit auto showDetroitAutoShowdieselford verveFordVervegenesishyundailincolnmazda furaiMazdaFurainaiasr82008-01-24T16:21:00+00:00<![CDATA[2009 Chevy Camaro a no-show at auto shows]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/2009-chevy-camaro-a-no-show-at-auto-shows/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/2009-chevy-camaro-a-no-show-at-auto-shows/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/2009-chevy-camaro-a-no-show-at-auto-shows/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



We've seen the Camaro coupe and convertible concepts over the past two years at venues like the Detroit and Chicago auto shows. A stunning yellow Camaro also had the starring role on the biggest Hollywood blockbuster of 2007. We're even getting "spy shots" of the production Camaro taken by General Motors engineers that are posted on the GM Fast Lane blog. What we won't see any time soon is a production Camaro being unveiled during 2008. Kicking Tires quotes Chevy execs as saying that the company wants to avoid overexposure when production is still a year away. The General also wants to get the concept car to less prominent show sites like Houston and Cleveland, and there aren't many hand-made models to spread out across the country.

Since this is the third year in a row that at least one Camaro concept has been shown at the Detroit show, the crowd gathering around the Mustang fighter has gotten decidedly smaller. We're thinking the reason for that is because the public is now ready for the production model, but since a salable model is still a year away, the General is smart to hold off until the iconic pony car is closer to dealer lots. Besides, if we get a new picture from GM every week or two, it'll more than curb our cravings for bow-tie pony power for the time being.

Gallery: 2009 Chevy Camaro - front


Gallery: Pre Production Camaro High Res



[Source: Kicking Tires]

 

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]]>BumblbeeCamaro ConceptCamaro convertibleCamaroConceptCamaroConvertibleChevroletChicago Auto ShowChicagoAutoShowDetroit Auto ShowDetroitAutoShowGMTransformers2008-01-22T07:55:00+00:00<![CDATA[Detroit 2008: BMW's twin-turbo 4.4L V8]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/21/detroit-2008-bmws-twin-turbo-4-4l-v8/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/21/detroit-2008-bmws-twin-turbo-4-4l-v8/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/21/detroit-2008-bmws-twin-turbo-4-4l-v8/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



BMW's twin-turbo 3.0L inline-six has been a rousing success, with nothing less than a Wards 10 Best Engines award sitting in its trophy case. The praise is understandable and well-deserved, as the engine uses a combination of forced induction and direct injection to serve up a torque curve that's far beefier and flatter than what should be expected from a engine of its size. So what next for the propeller brand? Simple -- take similar technology, add it to the company's 4.4L V8 and toss in a dash of unconventional packaging to make everything fit.

BMW put its latest jewel on display at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, and we snapped some shots of it to give you an idea of why this engine is so special. We've included those photos in one of our galleries, and below the fold, we've thrown in a few observations.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: BMW 4.4L V8 twin-turbo

Continue reading Detroit 2008: BMW's twin-turbo 4.4L V8

 

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]]>BMWdirect injectionturbotwin-turboV8X5X62008-01-21T13:29:00+00:00<![CDATA[Due to CAFE, Lutz declares RWD Impala and Monaro dead]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/20/due-to-cafe-lutz-declares-rwd-impala-and-monaro-dead/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/20/due-to-cafe-lutz-declares-rwd-impala-and-monaro-dead/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/20/due-to-cafe-lutz-declares-rwd-impala-and-monaro-dead/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



It's finally (semi) official: RWD cars like a new Pontiac GTO (and Holden Monaro) and Impala are "gone for now." Bob Lutz has been making noises about it for a while, and every announcement gets more and more certain that the front wheels will be pulling more GM cars.

Just a month ago, Lutz told Forbes "That's where the internal debate [on the Impala] is now -- no firm decision at this point, but my guess is that we will come down on the side of the front-drive car." By the time of last week's Detroit Auto Show, Lutz was telling GoAuto "I think the (Monaro/Pontiac GTO) is gone for now.... [T]hat's not the end of the market where we want to stimulate demand. We have to find ways to stimulate demand and desirability in cars that will get us closer to the 35 MPG average."

How will that be done? Perhaps by using the Alpha midsize platform and making CUV's. However, the Alpha still hasn't been signed off on, and won't be until GM figures out what -- and how many -- standards it will need to adhere to when the CAFE tug-of-war ends.

[Source: GoAuto]

 

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]]>bob lutzBobLutzchevrolet impalaChevroletImpalachevy impalaChevyImpalagmholden monaroHoldenMonarolutzpontiac gtoPontiacGtorwd2008-01-20T11:29:00+00:00