After weeks of rumors, the Ford Interceptor concept has finally been revealed. Set for an official unveil at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, this rear wheel drive sedan shares some of its hardware with the current Mustang. Could this be the next 300C? Find out more in our in-depth look the at the
Ford Interceptor concept
...
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Categories: Detroit Auto Show,Ford,Sedans
Chevrolet, in their best attempt to date, is again going after the Camry and Accord buyer with their new Malibu. If ever GM is going to make inroads with these folks, this new Malibu certainly has the visual appeal to do the job. I think it's the best looking Chevy sedan since the '55 model, and we know how much that model is revered.
It's powered by a 252-hp double-overhead-cam 3.6-liter V6, which is the same engine that's found on the upmarket version of the Saturn Aura...
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Categories: All Auto Shows,Chevrolet,Detroit Auto Show,Sedans
Jeep will show this Trailhawk concept at the upcoming Detroit auto show.
Think (sort of) a modern-day Jeepster. While the original Jeepsters were 2-door convertibles, whereas this is a 4-door is (sort of) T-Top. Still it evokes a number of the sensibilities that the old Jeepster possessed...
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Categories: All Auto Shows,Detroit Auto Show,Jeep,SUVs
Toyota feels that the "Prius" name is now so well established as a "hybrid brand," that they may well want to expand usage of that name to other Toyota hybrid models.
According to
Autoblog
, you can expect to see larger 2.5L and 3.0L hybrid Toyotas, all wearing the Prius name badge. I think it makes perfect marketing sense. Milk it till it hurts...
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Categories: Green Tech,Hybrids,Toyota,Trends
Looks like Nissan has another winner here, at least in terms of looks, with their new Rogue. It sort of reminds me of being a smaller and less extreme looking Murano. I predict this will be a big success for Nissan.
Aimed squarely at the CRV, Forester, RAV4, etc., the new Rogue will come with a 2.5L 170 hp 4-cylinder engine, a CVT, and will be available with yaw moment control AWD...
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Categories: All Auto Shows,Detroit Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Nissan,SUVs
Industry Insider: 12/28/06
A Saturn VUE Green Line recently was put into service as a taxi in New York City.This is the first GM vehicle to be approved by the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission since 1996 when GM discontinued the rear wheel drive Caprice. GM's goal is to show other taxi operators that the VUE Green Line is an affordable hybrid taxi vehicle.
 The VUE Hybrid vehicle , now in service, has received very favorable comments from the driver and customers, according to owner/operator Placida Robinson. The Hybrid VUE has a sunroof and premium stereo system...
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Categories: Auto Industry,Green Tech,SUVs,Saturn,Trends
__________________________
12/23/2006—
I
t's the Eve of the Eve,
We worked into the night.
A Clean WRX in the shop now,
Hitch and harness are tight.
The cart is awaiting,
All shiny and hip.
Ready for its carriage,
To start its maiden trip...
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Categories: Subaru
I happened to be watching one of the military channels on TV last night, and there was this program on about future military vehicles. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of the program, but it was fascinating.
Folks, the military have some pretty impressive all-terrain vehicles in the works. I'm not just talking about the US military as they were showing some vehicles developed in Europe as well, maybe even Asia...
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Categories: Auto Industry,SUVs,Trends,Trucks
It looks like the popular Chrysler 300 will be getting a slight face-and-tail-lift shortly. The DC boys are wise not to go
rad
with this update, as the basic car is great looking. This is clearly a case of: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Just a few tweaks here and there is all that's necessary.
Full story here
...
Categories: Chrysler,Future Vehicles,Sedans
Anybody who has followed the Dakar Rally knows that in the past that Mitsubishis have pretty much ruled the roost. I'm sure that this year Mitsubishi has no intention of reversing history here, as they've just presented their new-and-improved Mitsubishi's Dakar Rally Team to the press.
I've been following the Dakar for years. This event, in which cars, trucks—I mean really HUGE trucks!—and motorcycles compete (the Mitsubishis are considered "cars"); and the Isle of Man TT (
here
and
here
), arguably the most difficult and dangerous racing event in the world; are by far my two favorite TV motorsport events...
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Categories: Mitsubishi,Motorsports
Looking virtually identical to the Roller 100EX concept shown on last year's show circuit, this new production-ready Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe will be introduced at the Detroit auto show.
I gotta admit, in a market niche where "image is everything," nobody does it better than Rolls-Royce. As great as the Maybach may be, it's strictly minor league in the head-turning department, when compared to the new Phantom or this new Rolls ragtop.
Here's
Inside Line's
take:
Revealed: Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe
Categories: Convertibles,Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,Rolls-Royce
We couldn't let the year end without some more talk of more auto brand alliances, now could we? Well, that's what's happening—and Wagoner, Ghosn and Kerkorian are nowhere to be seen!
No, this time it's with Ford's Alan Mulally and Toyota's Chairman Fujio Cho. Mulally apparently flew to Tokyo last week to meet with Cho to discuss ways in which the two companies might collaborate on advanced powertrain technologies and other issues. So, here we go again...
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Categories: Auto Industry,Ford,Toyota
GM's Bob Lutz, a man never shy about voicing his thoughts, takes on the proposed new (tougher!) fuel regulations. Lutz suggests these new fuel rules will put the domestics at a disadvantage, and will aid the imports, especially the Japanese brands.
A few Lutzisms...
"For one thing, it puts us, the domestic manufacturers, at odds with the desires of most of our customers, namely larger vehicles...
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Categories: Auto Industry,Automaker Feedback,General Motors
In an effort to ward off a potential future financial crisis in China, that country has just announced some controls over their booming economy, part which is the auto industry.
Full story here.
Categories: Auto Industry,Trends
According to
The Hollywood Extra
the mystery car (
Mystery car spotted in LA
) is not a Honda HR-V, but rather the new Honda Crossroad. Not sure if it's to replace the HR-V (or Element), or as to whether it's strictly a JDM-model. In any event, it appears the mystery is solved.
In a
related story
, this is not the first time Honda has used the "Crossroad" name...
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Categories: Future Vehicles,Honda,Land Rover,SUVs
Found this spy shot over on
thehollywoodextrablogspot.com
. It appears to be the next European Accord, which in turn means our Acura TSX. Rumors have it that it will have Acura's SH-AWD when it arrives here. That being the case, a battle royal will be shaping up between this car, the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT spec.B, and the Audi A4...
Categories: Acura,Future Vehicles,Honda,Spy Photos
Toyota plans on teasing us at the upcoming NAIAS with its FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept, which could hint at what the next Supra might be like.
It's got a tweaked 3.5L V6, much like that found in the Lexus GS 450h. Unlike the 292-hp Lexus, this hybrid powertrain is tuned to put out 400 ponies.
One more thing: The thought of a hybrid-powered sports car doesn't even seem strange anymore...
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Categories: All Auto Shows,Coupes,Detroit Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Sports Cars,Toyota
Illustrations: Mark Hsieh
Ho! Ho! Ho! Here's your
Straightline
Christmas present for you to drool over (or get sick over, depending on your perspective)!
Is Mercedes-Benz about to go through a styling upheaval, much like what BMW and others have gone through?..
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Categories: Future Vehicles,Mercedes-Benz,Sports Cars
Yep, dirty old coal can be made into a liquid fuel (it's already being done in many places), and most important—it can be made to be a
clean fuel as well. No one expects it to replace oil, but it could take a lot of pressure off that industry and those looking for alternative fuel sources. There are also some benefits with liquid coal over biofuels in terms of availability and efficiency, plus there are enough coal reserves to last at least another century.
Full story here...
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Categories: Auto Industry,Green Tech,Trends
When the Lincoln MKR concept is unwrapped at the Detroit Auto Show on January 7th, it will foretell the future look and powertrain of Lincoln.
Read the Inside Line sneek peak of the Lincoln MKR concept.
Categories: Detroit Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Lincoln,Sedans
