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VIDEO: 2010 Cadillac SRX in detail Filed under: Videos, Crossovers/CUVs, Cadillac 
Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Cadillac SRX
The current Cadillac SRX is a competent vehicle, although it hasn't come close to selling as many units as the Lexus RX350, let alone the Acura MDX. GM is looking to change that with the thoroughly revised 2010 Cadillac SRX. Gone are the station wagon looks and rear wheel drive, and in its place is a new front drive platform and sheetmetal that looks the part of a true crossover contender. General Motors has ditched its larger powertrains for an efficient 3.0L, direct injected V6 and a 300 horsepower, 2.8L turbocharged unit that have the potential to quell fears that the new 2010 model will be lacking in the performance department. We had the chance to speak with Cadillac Marketing Director Steve Shannon to get an in-depth tour of the new SRX, and you can get the inside story in the video after the jump.
Continue reading VIDEO: 2010 Cadillac SRX in detail VIDEO: 2010 Cadillac SRX in detail originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
By The Numbers - 2008: Phew! Glad That's Over Edition Filed under: By the Numbers  We didn't know sales for the U.S. auto industry in 2008 would be this bad when the year began, but it sure ended on a fitting note. Over the past six months or so we've seen the U.S. auto sales market nearly collapse and almost take our own domestic auto industry with it.
Nevertheless, there were a couple of standouts. Both MINI and Subaru somehow managed to post sales gains in 2008 compared to the previous year. The success of MINI is likely due to production capacity more than popularity, but we have no explanation for Subaru other than its sales staff is more persuasive than at your average car dealership.
As for the big dogs, despite the whole lot of them being hit equally hard over the past few months, Japanese automakers had a stronger first half of 2008. As such, their year-end sales data looks better than the domestics with Toyota being the worst performing Japanese automaker at -15.4% and Honda fairing the best with a drop of just 7.91%. In comparison, Ford Motor Company (-20.7%) and General Motors (-22.9%) were equally unimpressive while the Chrysler Group hemorrhaged sales and finished down a full 30%.
As for the rest of the auto industry, it's all their below and it isn't pretty.
| BY THE NUMBERS - 2008 |
| Brand | Vol. % Change | Total Sales 2008 | Total Sales 2007 | DSR % Change | Daily Avg. 2008 | Daily Avg. 2007 |
Acura
|
-19.8%
|
144,504
|
180,104
|
-20%
|
469
|
587
|
| Audi |
-6.1% |
87,760 |
93,506 |
-6.4% |
285 |
305 |
| BMW |
-15.2% |
249,113 |
293,795 |
-15.5% |
809 |
957 |
| Buick |
-26.2% |
137,197 |
185,791 |
-26.4% |
445 |
605 |
| Cadillac |
-24.9% |
161,159 |
214,726 |
-25.2% |
523 |
699 |
| Chevrolet |
-20.5% |
1,801,131 |
2,265,641 |
-20.8% |
5,848 |
7,380 |
| Chrysler |
-38.3% |
335,108 |
543,011 |
-38.5% |
1,088 |
1,769 |
| Dodge |
-25.9% |
784,113 |
1,058,402 |
-26.2% |
2,546 |
3,448 |
| Ford |
-19.7% |
1,687,731 |
2,101,244 |
-19.9% |
5,480 |
6,844 |
| GMC |
-25.5% |
376,996 |
505,746 |
-25.7% |
1,224 |
1,647 |
| Honda |
-6.4% |
1,284,261 |
1,371,438 |
-6.7% |
4,170 |
4,467 |
| HUMMER |
-50.9% |
27,485 |
55,986 |
-51% |
89 |
182 |
| Hyundai |
NA |
|
|
|
|
|
| Infiniti |
-11% |
112,989 |
127,038 |
-11.3% |
367 |
414 |
| Jeep |
-29.7% |
333,901 |
475,237 |
-30% |
1,084 |
1,548 |
| Kia |
-10.5% |
273,397 |
305,473 |
-10.8% |
888 |
995 |
| Lexus |
-21% |
260,087 |
329,177 |
-21.2% |
844 |
1,072 |
| Lincoln |
-18.4% |
107,295 |
131,487 |
-18.7% |
348 |
428 |
| Mazda |
-10.9% |
263,949 |
296,110 |
-11.2% |
857 |
965 |
| Mercedes-Benz |
-11.2% |
225,128 |
253,433 |
-11.5% |
731 |
826 |
| Mercury |
-28.6% |
120,248 |
168,422 |
-28.8% |
390 |
549 |
| MINI |
28.6% |
54,077 |
42,045 |
28.2% |
176 |
137 |
| Mitsubishi |
-24.6% |
97,257 |
128,993 |
-24.8% |
316 |
420 |
| Nissan |
-10.9% |
838,361 |
941,200 |
-11.2% |
2,722 |
3,066 |
| Pontiac |
-25.3% |
267,348 |
358,022 |
-25.6% |
868 |
1,166 |
| Porsche |
-25% |
26,035 |
34,693 |
-25.2% |
85 |
113 |
| Saab |
-34.7% |
21,368 |
32,711 |
-34.9% |
69 |
107 |
| Saturn |
-21.7% |
188,004 |
240,091 |
-21.9% |
610 |
782 |
| Subaru |
0.3% |
187,699 |
187,208 |
-0.06 |
609 |
610 |
| Suzuki |
NA |
|
|
|
|
|
| Toyota |
-14.6% |
1,957,575 |
2,291,648 |
-14.9% |
6,356 |
7,464 |
| Volkswagen |
-3.2% |
223,128 |
230,572 |
-3.5% |
724 |
751 |
| Volvo |
-31.2% |
73,102 |
106,213 |
-31.4% |
237 |
346 |
| COMPANIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BMW Group |
-9.7%
|
303,190
|
335,840
|
-10%
|
984
|
1,094
|
| Chrysler LLC |
-30% |
1,453,122 |
2,076,650 |
-30.3% |
4,717 |
6,764 |
| FoMoCo |
-20.7% |
1,988,376 |
2,507,366 |
-30% |
6,456 |
8,167 |
| General Motors |
-22.9% |
2,980,688 |
3,866,620 |
-23.2% |
9,678 |
12,594 |
| Honda America |
-7.91%
|
1,428,765
|
1,551,542
|
-8.21%
|
4,369
|
5,054
|
| Nissan NA |
-10.9% |
951,350 |
1,068,238 |
-11.2% |
3,081 |
3,480 |
| Toyota Mo Co |
-15.4%
|
2,217,662 |
2,620,825 |
-15.7% |
7,200 |
8,537 |
2008 had 308 selling days versus 307 selling days for 2007By The Numbers - 2008: Phew! Glad That's Over Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Leakage: Euro-spec 2009 Honda Insight Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrids/Alternative, Euro, Green, Honda 
Click above for a gallery of the Euro-spec 2009 Honda Insight
We're still six days away from the official unveiling of the 2009 Honda Insight at the Detroit Auto Show, but the crew at Carscoop just couldn't wait to release images of the European-spec hybrid ahead of its debut.
The Euro model shown here won't differ too much from the U.S. version (we like our steering wheels on the right-hand side), but the stylistic differences between the production version and its conceptual predecessor are obvious at first glance. As we've seen before, the front fascia carries over largely unchanged, although the technorific LED headlamps, deeply recessed fog lamps/air intakes and gaudy brightwork are all left on the designer's desk. The side mirrors have grown in proportion to the door handles, and the C-pillar is noticeably thicker than the concept that bowed in Paris. The rear has also been smoothed over, with the Prius-esque (or is that CRX-inspired?) hatch losing a bit of glass, along with the contoured cut-out for the license plate, which is now mounted lower on the bumper, with a prominent "H" badge floating on a body-colored panel.
Although the interior hasn't been revealed in full, we get a brief glimpse of the central-mounted tach, "eco" gauges and second tier speedo, which benefits from a backlight that transitions from green to blue when the driver mashes the accelerator and unleashes the full fury of the small-displacement engine through the CVT gearbox.
Sales will begin in the U.S. and abroad this spring, with a starting price rumored to hover around $20,000.
[Source: Carscoop]Leakage: Euro-spec 2009 Honda Insight originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
1,000 hp, twin-supercharged Dodge Challenger by RDP Motorsport Filed under: Aftermarket, Sports/GTs, Dodge 
Click above to enlarge
Excessive power is just enough, right? If you abide by that rule of thumb, perhaps you'd be interested in RDP Motorsport's latest offering, which trumps the Challenger's SRT8's 6.1L Hemi and its 425 horsepower with a stroked version displacing a classic 440 cubic inches. That block is topped with a duo of superchargers that offer an astounding 1,000 horsepower. Oh yeah, it's also boosted with two nitrous kits. That's enough grunt to catapult the portly Challenger down the 1/4 mile in the nines, and if that's not fast enough for you, we suggest therapy.
This outrageous pony car was recently unveiled at the PRI Show in Florida and is definitely a bit overkill for most people's needs. So, while the Australian company will be happy to replicate this powertrain combination for you for a price, it's good to know that RDP will work with you to design pretty much whatever you need on a custom basis. Check out the video after the break for more.
[Source: RDP Motorsport via Challenger Blog via Motor Authority]Continue reading 1,000 hp, twin-supercharged Dodge Challenger by RDP Motorsport 1,000 hp, twin-supercharged Dodge Challenger by RDP Motorsport originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Detroit restaurant offers cheaper eats for domestic owners Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Marketing/Advertising, Humor 
We'll have to make sure to rent a Mopar when we're in Detroit for the North American International Auto Show next week. Tribute Restaurant in nearby Farmington Hills is running a special promotion to honor folks who buy American. Food is half off for anyone driving a Chrysler product or who works for Chrysler the week of the show, January 11-17. But don't think the folks at The Tribute are just fans of the Pentastar.
The promotion kicked off on January 4, with Ford being the honored marque through January 10, while GM owners will get their discount during the week of January 18-24. The final week of the month (Jan. 25-31), everybody can get in on the special deal. All American cars will be featured that week and the discount will even be extended to automotive suppliers and dealers. The discounts apply to just the food portion of your bill at dinner or Sunday brunch and reservations are recommended.
[Source: MSNBC]Detroit restaurant offers cheaper eats for domestic owners originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Alonso escapes Kenyan plane crash unhurt Filed under: Motorsports, Renault 
Perhaps Fernando Alonso should stick to the ground. After all, he's considered to be one of, if not the, best drivers in all of Formula 1, which many consider to be the pinnacle of motorsports. Sure, F1 racing isn't necessarily the safest career choice in the world, but it may seem like the more responsible play after Alonso's private plane suffered a mild crash in Kenya on Sunday. Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper says that Alonso's plane wing had a minor run-in with an airport terminal building as it was readying for takeoff, but there were no injuries reported.
According to reports, the Spanish driver was in Kenya to take part in a New Year's party that was hosted by Flavio Briatore, the managing director for Renault's Formula 1 efforts (sounds suspiciously like your New Year's too, eh?). It seems that while the accident wasn't particularly serious, Alonso, his wife and his brother-in-law needed to postpone their return home until Monday.
Side note: After commenting on this crash, Alonso's manager is again quoted as suggesting that his client has a longstanding interest in getting a shot at the driver's seat for Ferrari, yet Alonso is contracted with Renault through 2010. Hat tip to reader Dan!
[Source: Yahoo Eurosport UK - Photo: Mark McArdle CC 2.0]Alonso escapes Kenyan plane crash unhurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
By The Numbers - December 2008: I Want My Mommy Edition Filed under: By the Numbers The U.S. auto industry hasn't experienced a worse year of sales in recent memory, so it's fitting that 2008 should close with December sales data that's no better than the previous disappointing months.
The only green you'll see below is next to MINI, which beat out December 2007 sales by only four vehicles. Every other automaker and its brands sold fewer cars this past month than the year prior.
Santa apparently wasn't putting Accords and Camrys under anyone's tree, as Toyota and Honda sales fell sharply, off 36.7% and 34.7%, respectively. General Motors (-31.4%) and Ford Motor Company (-32.4%) fared about the same, but the Chrysler Group took an unprecedented hit on the chin for a full-line automaker. It's December 2008 sales were down a full 53% versus last year. Chrysler brand sales alone were down an incredible 59.8% compared to 12/07. This means that HUMMER, for the first time in a long time, was not this month's Biggest Loser, managing to unload enough H3s to see sales fall by "only" 59.3%.
Props are also awarded to Audi (-9.3%), Lincoln (-10%), Subaru (-7.7%) and Volkswagen (-14.4%) who finished the year strong... well, as strong as could be expected.
Stay tuned for later today when we publish the annual By the Numbers - 2008: Phew! Glad That's Over Edition.
| BY THE NUMBERS - December 2008 |
| Brand | Vol. % Change | Total Sales 12/08 | Total Sales 12/07 | DSR % Change | Daily Avg. 12/08 | Daily Avg. 12/07 |
Acura
|
-39.3% |
10,680 |
17,582 |
-39.3% |
411 |
676 |
| Audi |
-9.3% |
7,712 |
8,504 |
-9.3% |
297 |
327 |
| BMW |
-40.2% |
18,060 |
30,199 |
-40.2% |
695 |
1,162 |
| Buick |
-38.1% |
8,909 |
14,400 |
-38.1% |
343 |
554 |
| Cadillac |
-38.3% |
13,235 |
21,436 |
-38.3% |
509 |
824 |
| Chevrolet |
-25.8% |
137,691 |
185,626 |
-25.8% |
5,296 |
7,139 |
| Chrysler |
-59.8% |
19,453 |
48,384 |
-59.8% |
748 |
1,861 |
| Dodge |
-51.9% |
47,269 |
98,235 |
-51.9% |
1,818 |
3,778 |
| Ford |
-33% |
116,188 |
173,648 |
-33% |
4,469 |
6,679 |
| GMC |
-34.5% |
29,783 |
45,503 |
-34.5% |
1,146 |
1,750 |
| Honda |
-34% |
75,405 |
114,210 |
-34% |
2,900 |
4,393 |
| HUMMER |
-59.3% |
2,170 |
5,333 |
-59.3% |
83 |
205 |
| Hyundai |
NA |
|
|
|
|
|
| Infiniti |
-34.6% |
8,273 |
12,655 |
-34.6% |
318 |
487 |
| Jeep |
-48.5% |
23,091 |
44,804 |
-48.5% |
888 |
1,723 |
| Kia |
-39.2% |
14,644 |
24,068 |
-39.2% |
563 |
926 |
| Lexus |
-32.4% |
23,362 |
34,555 |
-32.4% |
899 |
1,329 |
| Lincoln |
-10% |
9,053 |
10,065 |
-10% |
348 |
387 |
| Mazda |
-27.9% |
17,965 |
24,933 |
-27.9% |
691 |
959 |
| Mercedes-Benz |
-32.1% |
18,507 |
27,269 |
-32.1% |
711 |
1,049 |
| Mercury |
-29.8% |
8,873 |
12,631 |
-29.8% |
341 |
486 |
| MINI |
0.1% |
3,566 |
3,562 |
0.1% |
137 |
137 |
| Mitsubishi |
-22.6% |
4,570 |
5,904 |
-22.6% |
176 |
227 |
| Nissan |
-30% |
53,829 |
76,900 |
-30% |
2,070 |
2,958 |
| Pontiac |
-45.5% |
16,466 |
30,211 |
-45.5% |
633 |
1,162 |
| Porsche |
-25.5% |
2,154 |
2,891 |
-25.5% |
82 |
111 |
| Saab |
-57% |
1,179 |
2,748 |
-57% |
45 |
106 |
| Saturn |
-30.9% |
12,570 |
18,196 |
-30.9% |
483 |
700 |
| Subaru |
-7.7% |
17,287 |
18,739 |
-7.7% |
664 |
721 |
| Suzuki |
NA |
|
|
|
|
|
| Toyota |
-37.5% |
118,587 |
189,844 |
-37.5% |
4,561 |
7,302 |
| Volkswagen |
-14.4% |
17,577 |
20,543 |
-14.4% |
676 |
790 |
| Volvo |
-47% |
4,953 |
9,341 |
-47% |
191 |
359 |
| COMPANIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BMW Group |
-35.9%
|
21,626
|
33,761
|
-35.9%
|
832
|
1,299
|
| Chrysler LLC |
-53% |
89,813 |
191,423 |
-53% |
3,454 |
7,362 |
| FoMoCo |
-32.4% |
139,067 |
205,685 |
-32.4% |
5,349 |
7,911 |
| General Motors |
-31.4% |
221,983 |
323,453 |
-31.4% |
8,538 |
12,441 |
| Honda America |
-34.7%
|
86,085
|
131,792
|
-34.7%
|
3,311
|
5,069
|
| Nissan NA |
-30.1% |
62,102 |
89,555 |
-30.1% |
2,389 |
3,444 |
| Toyota Mo Co |
-36.7%
|
141,949 |
224,399 |
-36.7% |
5,460 |
8,631 |
December 2008 had 26 selling days versus 26 selling days for December 2007.By The Numbers - December 2008: I Want My Mommy Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Brand new 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT on sale, just $35k! Filed under: Car Buying, Coupes, Etc., Pontiac  Click above for a gallery of the 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT that time forgot
So you're a Pontiac diehard, but you don't need the space of the G8 GT GXP and the Solstice GXP is just a bit too "me too." So what's a Big Chief enthusiast to do? Well, if you've got $35,000 kicking around in your automotive slush fund, how about a brand-new, never-titled 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT? The mid-engined, V6 Fiero that General Motors should have been building the whole time, but only got around to developing just before they sent they took the plastic-bodied model out back? Yes, that GT.
Evidently thinking ahead, some enterprising chap found a fire-engine red example and promptly mothballed it. Quite likely the only "brand new" Fiero on the planet (GT or otherwise), this time warp rear-driver has just 221 miles on it, and is still on MSO. Heck, we're willing to be that the cassette player has never even seen a copy of White Snake's Greatest Hits!
If you're interested, the optimistically-priced but irreplacable Fiero can be found at Hinton Chevrolet-Buick in Lynden, Washington. Thanks for the tip, Farris!
[Source: Autotrader]
Brand new 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT on sale, just $35k! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Opinion: What should happen to Saturn, Vauxhall and Opel during GM's reorganization? Filed under: Euro, Plants/Manufacturing, Marketing/Advertising, GM, Saturn, Opel, Vauxhall, UK 
Amidst all the recent bailout talk, one question being asked is what role GM's Opel division will serve in a new-and-hopefully-improved General Motors. More succinctly, will Vauxhall and Saturn soldier on unchanged or will they simply fade into automotive landscape? Automotive News seems to think the question of Opel and how it relates to Vauxhall and Saturn is so important that it's worth devoting three separate editorials to the issue, with varying levels of clarity.Continue reading Opinion: What should happen to Saturn, Vauxhall and Opel during GM's reorganization? Opinion: What should happen to Saturn, Vauxhall and Opel during GM's reorganization? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
REPORT: Dongfeng to launch coupe in 2009 Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupes, China  Dongfeng began as one of Chairman Mao's pet projects in 1968, but lately, the Chinese automaker has been feeling left behind, despite being one of the largest carmakers in the pentad of China's auto industry. According to reports, Dongfeng intends to change that by introducing a new sport coupe of its own, with sales beginning sometime in 2009. While the pignosed monstrosity on the right isn't necessarily the final design, it's an enduring tribute to the first-generation Hyundai Tiburon after ransacking the Pep Boys' "shiny crap" aisle. At least there will be rockin' tunes supplied by that bitchin' concertina built into the hatchback. To be fair, what we've seen so far is a concept, so we'd expect an actual production car -- rumored to be aimed at the premium buyer and powered by Mitsubishi -- to be toned down. Here's hoping.
[Source: China Car Times]REPORT: Dongfeng to launch coupe in 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Burned Rubber: Kumho delays holiday bonuses indefinitely Filed under: Trends, Earnings/Financials 
Rubber factory workers in South Korea haven't had a very happy holiday season this year, and they can blame it on the negative traits of the trickle-down effect.
Because Hyundai/Kia has been hit as hard as any other automaker in this economic crisis, business has been down for the country's second-largest tire maker, Kumho, as well. Due to the resulting dearth in liquidity, Kumho Tire Co. has just announced that it is unable to pay its workers their annual bonus. At 2.5 million won ($1,883) per worker and 3000 workers waiting for their cash, that's a lot of money, and Kumho says they don't have it... and don't know when they will.
Looks like it's tire-swings all around for Junior next Christmas, too...
[Source: TradingMarkets.com]Burned Rubber: Kumho delays holiday bonuses indefinitely originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Audi R8 V10 will be all LED, all the time Filed under: Sports/GTs, Green, Safety, Tech, Supercars, Audi 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi R8 V10
The Audi R8 claimed a number of world firsts - that is, walking away with magazine awards and journalists' hearts the world over. The Audi R8 V10 is about to claim a world first in technology: it will be the first car to offer high and low beam LED headlights as standard equipment. (Note: The 2009 Cadillac Escalade Platinum was the first vehicle in the world to offer all-LED headlamps.) You can buy the package as an option on the regular R8, so it's only fitting that the bigger and more expensive beast gets more tricks.
Audi trumpets the inclusion as an energy-saving measure - LEDs use a quarter of the energy of halogen headlights, and that number will only get better as LEDs evolve. You probably never thought you could know so much about LEDs, but there's an exhaustive press release after the jump, and for dessert, a high-res gallery of photos below.
[Source: AutoblogGreen]Continue reading Audi R8 V10 will be all LED, all the time Audi R8 V10 will be all LED, all the time originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Isuzu to cease passenger vehicle sales in America at month's end Filed under: SUVs, Trucks/Pickups, Isuzu 
Isuzu will cease selling passenger vehicles in America on January 31. In a news blurb that's about as abbreviated as the company's product lineup, Kelley Blue Book reports that the troubled Japanese automaker will stop selling its Ascender SUV and i-Series pickups at the end of the month, both badge-engineered versions of General Motors trucks. Isuzu sales have been winding down for some time now (it sold just over 7000 units last year), and the move had been expected as the plant that underpins the Ascender (shared with the Chevrolet Traiblazer, GMC Envoy, and Saab 9-7X) shuttered just before the holidays.
For all of you little Troopers, Hombres, and Amigos that remain brand loyalists, Isuzu has stated that it will continue to offer parts and service to owners, including honoring warranty claims.
[Source: Kelley Blue Book]
Isuzu to cease passenger vehicle sales in America at month's end originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Spy Shots: BMW 5-Series Touring Filed under: Spy Photos, Wagons/Estates, BMW  Who needs a 5-Series PAS when you've got one of these? The next BMW 5-Series Touring is out testing, and despite the fact that it looks as long as a football field and it's buried under cladding, it doesn't look awkward or ungainly - something that cannot exactly be said for the coming Mercedes E-Class wagon.
The BMW wagon isn't expected to debut until the latter portion of 2010, but there are hints that the car will get the 400 hp, twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 - perhaps for an M Touring assault on Mercedes' E63 AMG wagon? The family carrier is also hinted to offer turbodiesels and three transmission options: 8-speed automatic, 7-speed DKG, and 6-speed manual.
[Source: Global Motors]Spy Shots: BMW 5-Series Touring originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
VIDEO: BMW gives sneak preview of new X6 M Filed under: Videos, Crossovers/CUVs, BMW 
The BMW X6 remains something of an enigma, specifically, why does it exist? Nonetheless, it does and BMW is working on additional variants including a two-mode hybrid for release later this year and an M version. We don't have much detail yet on the X6 M, but BMW has put a video up on YouTube with Bernd Limmer from M GmbH demonstrating a prototype. The X6 M will evidently have a higher output version of the current twin turbo V8, probably hitting the magic 500 hp mark. The xDrive all-wheel-drive system is also being re-jiggered to send more torque to the rear axle. That should help reduce the understeer that the nose heavy V8 X6's are prone to. So far there is no word on when we will see the X6 M in the flesh, but either the Geneva Motor Show in March or Frankfurt Motor Show in September seem's likely. Follow the jump to see the X6 M for yourself in high-res video. Thanks to xeyad for the tip!
[Source: YouTube]Continue reading VIDEO: BMW gives sneak preview of new X6 M VIDEO: BMW gives sneak preview of new X6 M originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Splinter Update: Students making progress on wooden supercar Filed under: Etc., Green, Supercars, Cadillac, Chevrolet 
Click above for new high-res renderings of the Splinter Wooden Supercar
The world's greenest supercar project is progressing nicely. The last time we checked in with Joe Harmon and his team of woodsmen craftsmen from North Carolina State University, the all-wooden car's hand-laid bodywork had been mated with the chassis, which was awaiting installation of the twin-supercharged, 32-valve Cadillac-sourced V8 engine and six-speed rear-mounted transaxle from a modern Chevrolet Corvette. Those 600 ponies will be funneled to the rear wheels, which have center hubs made from pressed and laminated wood, naturally. Even the transverse leaf springs are made from orange osage wood.
Work on the project has slowed so Harmon and his colleagues can finish school, but the Splinter continues to garner attention having appeared in a flattering piece published by Automobile Magazine. While we wait for Team Splinter to graduate and finish the car once and for all, take a look at these new high-res renderings of the arts and crafts supercar.
The Splinter is one of those rare projects that's truly inspiring, and Harmon seeks to prove that wood is anything but an outdated material with no place - outside the dashes of expensive luxury cars, of course - in modern automobiles. Point taken.
[Sources: Joe Harmon Design, Automobile Magazine]Splinter Update: Students making progress on wooden supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Ford Focus SES Coupe Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Coupes, Economy, Ford 
Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2009 Ford Focus SES Coupe
It's been just over a year since we reviewed our last Focus, a 2008 SES Coupe, and we were willing to bet the farm back then that its new design wouldn't go over well with buyers. But $4/gallon gas and the unexpected popularity of Ford's SYNC system have contributed to Focus sales rising 15.7% year-over-year through November. So what the Hell do we know?
Apparently something, as Ford has tweaked the Focus Coupe for 2009 despite its sales success. While the Focus sedan remains largely the same except for a new, top-level SEL model and the availability of electronic stability control, the '09 Coupe both looks and drives different than its predecessor. Ford recently dropped off a 2009 Focus SES Coupe for us to play with, so follow the jump to see if this year's version is any better than the last.
Photos Copyright (C)2008 John Neff / Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Ford Focus SES Coupe In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Ford Focus SES Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Germans? Delay? VW postpones Chattanooga groundbreaking ceremony Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Volkswagen  When building a new factory, especially one as large and complex as an auto manufacturing plant, there are plenty of elements that can throw things off schedule. Scheduling itself, however, is rarely the problem, especially for a German company. But that's the reason why Volkswagen has delayed the groundbreaking ceremony for its new plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. According to VW spokespersons, the ceremony is being delayed until March due to several members of the company's management board in Wolfsburg wanting to be present, but can't make it any earlier. (And it's not even Oktoberfest yet!)
However, Volkswagen insists that construction of the $1 billion plant is progressing as planned. This also includes the city's preparations for hosting the factory, refurbishing office buildings downtown, the opening of a new school for the German-speaking children of VW employees, stores and restaurants to cater to the workforce, as well as space for the vendors and suppliers who are expected to come to town to support the factory. In the words of the director of the local development organization, "We're so fortunate that, given the economy and that kind of thing, we have robust employers in downtown." Indeed.
[Source: msnbc.com]Germans? Delay? VW postpones Chattanooga groundbreaking ceremony originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
REPORT: Suzuki's Kizashi program stillborn 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the (apparently D.O.A.) Suzuki Kizashi
We're going to have to get used to feigning shock when new models are scrapped seemingly just weeks away from production. If the reports are true, Suzuki's long-awaited Kizashi sedan is to be the latest victim in this growing syndrome. We've already seen a number of prototypes running around in what looks like full-production sheetmetal, but now we're hearing that the car's 2010 launch may have been scuttled wholesale - yet another victim of the deteriorating global economy.
Over the last year, Suzuki has made some very public overtures to the family sedan segment with its lauded string of Kizashi concept cars, but warning signs for the model's viability began to emerge in September when Suzuki CEO Osamu Suzuki hinted to Reuters that the car could still be nixed.
In North America, at least, Suzuki has yet to kick its reputation as the redheaded stepchild of Asia's automakers (an unfortunate mantle it inherited when Isuzu pulled out of the passenger car market), despite building some compelling products like the SX4 Crossover. If reports of the Kizashi's death are true, we can't see Suzuki climbing off the bottom rung anytime soon.
[Source: Reuters, IndiaInfoOnline]
REPORT: Suzuki's Kizashi program stillborn originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
Tata Motors sales plunge by nearly half Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Etc., Earnings/Financials, India, Tata 
Even when you (intend to) make the cheapest brand-new car in the world, you can't escape an economic downturn. Global jitters and year-end hemming and hawing have conspired to slice Tata's December sales figures nearly in half compared to a year ago. December is a traditionally slow month for auto sales as buyers try to put off expenditures until the next year (when incentives are more attractive on existing stock), but even accounting for the bargain hunters, this is a major drop.
Everyone, everywhere is down, and Tata Motors stock has taken a beating thanks to the economy and costly external issues like plant troubles. That said, recent interest rate cuts have buoyed company shares in hopes that the Nano (not to mention Saint CarBuyer) will soon arrive, and if nothing else, they still have the Indica's longevity to celebrate.
[Source: Reuters]Tata Motors sales plunge by nearly half originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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