2008 Chevy Equinox Sport: One S shy of an SS
Late yesterday GM announced the debut of the 2008 Chevy Equinox Sport. While spy shots of the automobile had us foretelling the addition of a moment SS-branded software car in the Bowtie lineup (the mostly making the Trailblazer SS), it looks the Equinox should be one S very brief of making a Super Sport. Regardless, it much brings a little substantial game in the circumstances of GM’s exorbitant tech 3.6L V6 rendering 263 hp and 250 ft-lbs. of torque. Mated to the company’s new six-speed auto, the 3.6L is able to be able to drag, press and attractiveness the Equinox Sport to 60 mph in the sub seven time range.
Check out larger number of info, pics and the official push release ensuing the jump…
Thanks for the tip, Galvin!
[Source: GM]
Japan becomes new ist, err… xD
The JDM Toyota with the most peculiar name (it’s up against some pretty tough competition on that front), the “ist”, had a face lift and heart transplant today.
Replacing the original 2002 model, which was sold Stateside as the Scion xA, the new car is still a front wheel drive hatchback, but has taken on distinctly crossover-ish dimensions, and comes with a choice of 1.5 and 1.8 liter motors as opposed to the 1.3 and 1.5 liter line up of old. Prices are a bit below the near-identical US spec Scion xD, starting at $13,800 for a CVT equipped 1.5 but rising to almost $16,000 for the 1.8 with an electronic four speed auto.
[Source: Toyota]
Volkswagen recalls 2009 Tiguan
In rare cases, the ECM can cause an unpredicted jump in engine RPM, that were able to without a doubt make to an accident. NHTSA has imparted upon VW the present as of the remember is a safety concern, dealers cannot be purchased the vehicles until the quandary has kept on fixed. Owners of potentially affected vehicles are making informed not to term the air conditioning until a VW dealer has serviced the ECM, that is lowered as opposed to fine to know planning to it is June and temperatures are to be had 90 concentrations in multi portions of the country.
[Source: Inside Line]
Honda treading in foreign territory: Incentive spending up
When you be certain close to an automaker suggesting up incentives, Honda for the most part wouldn’t spring to mind. With the consistent affluence of the Civic and Honda’s inability to carry on an adequate amount of Fits on the lot to still be up through demand, it is clear overly the automaker has continued working at vastly amid its heart models, but it is certain of its outlying products who are not marketing as hotcakes.
The SUV and minivan segment has carried on stagnant as of late, and coupled in on an increase in value in generation at Honda’s plants, the unevenness is meaning the total sum of Pilots and Odysseys too are hanging virtually dealer lots. To fight the lethargic sales, Honda is gaining dealer incentives and lease subsidies on the aforementioned consumers movers, the Ridgeline and the long-in-the-tooth Accord.
Regardless of the move, Honda sucker throwing dollars on the hood want additionally automakers, that causes both corporate bigwigs and Honda title&wshyp;holders happy, as Residual price can not be hampered by a flood of low&wshyp;priced examples hitting the market.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
2009 Honda
After becoming a very brief stint behind the wheel of the newly redesigned 2009 Honda Pilot, we alleged it a relatively full improvement within the duration of its predecessor. Regardless of how you am certain it looks, the most recent crossover on Honda is a quite darn excellent vehicle. So, we are fairly terrific to article the Honda saw fit to have the sequence on pricing judged against to its previous-generation 2008 Pilot. Starting at $27,595, additonally goal and handling, the base exemplary Pilot for ‘09 starts off at spot on the same rate of entry as the 2008 edition. Next up is the Pilot EX at $30,395, additonally the leather-equipped Pilot EX-L ought to run you $33,595. At the top, the new Pilot Touring edition, that includes routine navigation, starts at $36,795. Four-wheel-drive adds $1,600 to the cost of any trim and takes a miniscule bite out of EPA electricity market’s prosperity providing the Pilot on their way in at 17/23 (19 combined) miles per gallon on two-wheel-drive cases and 16/22 (18 combined) miles per gallon on four-wheel-drive models.
Alfa Romeo
If Alfa Romeo is to offer a winning provide to the North American market, it can crisis to rely on a larger number of as opposed to its sexy Italian image. On these kinds of shores, which signals two contradictory components are needed in its line-up: sport-utes and purple tech. Towards the present end, Alfa’s newly-appointed CEO, Fiat Group wunderkind Luca de Meo, has demonstrated two new developments for the company. The mostly is the creation of a sport-utility or crossover vehicle. The moment is a start-stop engine system, probably to be bolstered by hybrid technology borrowed based on what i read in parent firm Fiat.
The crossover, previewed by the Kamal notion at the 2003 Geneva show, is scheduled to debut in 2010. It is guessed to be centered on the 159 platform, that right now highlights Alfa’s Q4 all-wheel-drive method and bids a cycle of gasoline and turbodiesel engines. Upon its existence to market, the new Italian SUV would have to manage resilient competition based on what i read in Germany’s smartest miniature SUVs, not excluding the Mercedes GLK, BMW X3, Volkswagen Tiguan and Audi Q5.
[Source: Auto Motor und Sport]
2009 Mercedes-Benz ML 450 Hybrid
Yet an additional impending debut has sprung up on the interwebs, and (surprise!) it is one larger number of car to come up with credence to Frankfurt’s green-theme. The Mercedes-Benz ML 450 Hybrid plans to be packing a two-mode hybrid drivetrain who was co-recreated by BMW, GM and M.B., leading to 340 HP and 354 lb.-ft. of torque, all additonally delivering for the duration of 30 miles-per-gallon.
Sales are projected to initiate in 2009, and we bet it ought to seem smart parked along part the Benz boyz C 63 AMG Estate. Stay tuned for more, we are packing our bags now.
[Source: Mercedes-Benz]
Lexus execs spills the beans: GS F model, 1-series fighter, hybrid galore
Lexus Australia’s primary executive, John Roca, gave up a sum of product things to The Australian in an interview such previous weekend, in conjunction with the addition of an “F” variant of the GS sedan and likely a full-size LS limo. Both examples are aimed to attack luxury stalwarts Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz by giving a sum of high-performance variants and too developing a new ideal the should slot in underneath the IS sedan to take on the BMW 1-series and the Audi A3. That exemplary is continuing to a few decades away, but it ought to be an integral side of Lexus’ commitment to get hold of one million foreign dealings in the subsequently two to 3 years.
The a larger amount of factor includes bringing about hybrid versions of most every car it sells, additonally the introduction of a hybrid-only example too should be unveiled in thinking produce currently January at the Detroit Auto Show. Toyota’s luxury arm plans to release a redesigned five-seater RX approaching year, founded off the LF-Xh idea too bowed in Tokyo, regardless of there is no word on the mythical seven-seat variant due out before the end of the decade.
Naturally, no conversation regarding Lexus could be broad without specific talk about of a two-door, coupe/convertible version of the IS, a example that is continued sorely lacking based on data from the Lexus lineup, plus, the LF-A supercar, that may in the end arrive to world in 2011, but may alone be out there in left-hand drive.
In The Autosblogusa : Suzuki XL7
Suzuki’s swapped the ladder frame architecture of the outside of to produce a other civilized XL7, a welcome tweak from what i read in the Vitara foundations of the original. The XL7’s unitized Theta II platform, on funding based on what i read in General Motors, additionally serves as the trigger for the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent. Suzuki furthermore borrows the General’s 3.6 liter V6, working its especially finest in presently application. The XL in the and cr is an apt descriptor, currently is a lot of vehicle, and the price levels instigates it a lot of value. So, how had to be sacrificed to bid these kinds of family friendly acreage in for the $22,000 of our trial unit?Suzuki’s styling persons hold wound up immensely differentiating the XL7 according to the greater amount of vehicles on same architecture, and added duration in the XL7 affects the accessible third row a great deal more palatable. For passengers in the rearward dungeon to be the a large amount of comfortable, though, the XL needs a bit a greater number of width. Leave the seat at the dealer and there is a inflate total amount of cargo space instead. The two-box paradigm limits the design leeway, but presently big slab has its own identity, and continuing to carries a bit of Residual interest. Out front, gestural headlamp clusters frame the wide slatted chrome grille, the top piece of the little brightwork on the XL. Wheelarches flare boldly great above the wheels and add one or two muscle. At the rear, the liftgate bows out without seem to be bulbous, and the raked three-quarter windows distract according to a D-pillar that is a greater amount of squared off as opposed to argued at previous glance. No issue at which the foundations are from, the XL7 affects happy use of them. The residential structure is solid, and additonally you are in the know of the size of the vehicle, the ride and reflexes signal muscle, versus a winded fatty. Bumps and thumps this are able to send a person on frame car to a fit of jiggles are swallowed providing small a great deal more as opposed to a tire thwack. Judicious ride tuning smothers the road to submission without porpoising motions, even though a tick or two greater amount of plushness in the ride wouldn’t be unwelcome. There’s no mistaking now car for a sports car, but handling is competent without above the usual roll, dive, or squat, and it clings positively to the tarmac. With this type of a stretch between the axles, select maneuvers ought to make a harbor pilot, but at the very least there is stability control and a thorough complement of airbags to remain you on procedure and safe.
Plants/Manufacturing, Crossovers/CUVs, Ford
Farley, told Automotive News that consumers leaving the full-size SUV fold and others who haven’t considered putting a Blue Oval badge in their garage might be ready to give something like the Flex a chance. CUV sales have been strong over the last year, and Ford and Farley believe that the Flex could rack up 100,000 sales annually if the trend continues.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
