Remember that goofy little utility truck Ford unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show in February? It's almost here, and Edmunds.com has just posted full pricing and options. Want a Dewalt tool link? How about doors that open 225 degrees? It's all there for the taking provided you can live with those odd headlights and even more bizarre profile.
Pricing and Options: 2010 Ford Transit Connect
In yesterday's press conference on the state of the domestic auto industry, President Obama gave Chrysler 30 days to finalize a deal with Fiat. With that in mind, Sergio Marchionne, Fiat's CEO, wasted no time and immediately flew to Detroit.
Chrysler released a statement late yesterday saying that it had "a framework agreement" in place with Fiat, so clearly there are still plenty of details left to iron out. With bankruptcy looming, we don't see how Chrysler will come out of the talks without a deal in place.
AutoObserver: Fiat's Marchionne Bound for Detroit
Kia used the Seoul auto show to unveil its first every production hybrid vehicle. The Kia Forte Hybrid, aimed at the South Korean automaker's home market, is slated to go on sale later this summer.
It combines a 1.6-liter liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) engine with a small electric motor-generator, a continuously variable transmission and what the company says will be the world's first lithium-polymer battery pack.
Green Car Advisor: Despite Economy, Kia Sticks to Schedule With Summer Launch of Next Hybrid
It's been all of a month now since the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO debuted at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show sporting a 365-horsepower, twin-turbo V6. Sure it might be hooked to an automatic, but the new SHO is still a formidable beast.
We can't help but wonder, however, if the Taurus might suffer the same fate as the new Mustang. That is, a high-powered muscle machine that gets lost in an economy that sees spending extra cash on horsepower as a frivolous waste of money.
2009 Chicago Auto Show: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO
Maybe you saw the Hyundai Genesis Coupe commercial that ran during the Super Bowl? That would be the one with the yellow coupe drifting all over Road Atlanta? Hyundai used a cut edited by Billy Corrigan, but it also offered viewers the chance to make their own version by going to its website.
Our in-house photography ace Scott Jacobs recently took a stab at a remake. What do think?
Yesterday we received full pricing on the 2010 Ford Mustang. Today, it's Hyundai's turn.
The 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is now up on Edmunds.com, so you can consider price points that range from $22,000 all the way to $31,000. There are only two port-installed options (floor mats, iPod connection), so the rest of the features are all connected to the various trim levels.
One trim level you won't see is the 2.0-liter R-Spec version that was introduced at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. Not sure what the official hold up is, but Hyundai announced a base price of $23,750 in Chicago so you can see where it fits in without much trouble.
The Corvette Stingray Concept, set to appear soon as Sideswipe in the second Transformers movie, was easily the talk of a relatively quiet Chicago Auto Show. The Stingray, which was inspired by the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray split window coupe and the 1959 Sting Ray race car, owned by GM styling king Bill Mitchell, was not actually designed for the movie though.
According to Ed Welburn, the current GM design chief, the mock-up for the concept was already sitting in design studio when he took Transformers director Michael Bay for a tour. While it will likely be remembered best as "the Transformer Corvette," the Stingray Concept is an homage to iconic GM design by GM designers taking their crack at reviving the good old days.
But unlike the Ford GT, VW New Beetle, Mini or Dodge Challenger, the Corvette Stingray Concept is less literal. What exactly makes this concept evocative of the 1959 racer and the 1963 production car? And where does it leave the past behind? And what is up with those four tailpipes, anyway?
Join up after the jump for answers to those and possibly other questions.
Continue reading Corvette Stingray Concept Styling Analysis.
#CAS09 Kia isn't shy about using self-effacing humor. At its 2009 Chicago Auto Show press conference, it openly admitted that the current Spectra doesn't attract many buyers on looks alone. "It's all about value, we know that," said Tom Loveless, VP of Sales.
Of course that didn't stop Tom from pitching style as a selling point with the new 2010 Kia Forte, the Spectra's slightly less generic-looking replacement.
Kia was also quick to point out something the Spectra never had much of either: power. The Forte's optional 173-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder makes it one of the most powerful cars in its class, and even the base 2.0-liter engine delivers a decent 156 hp.
No pricing was announced, but Loveless said the Forte will maintain the Spectra's position as one of the more affordable sedans in the segment. So yeah, they're not betting the house on styling just yet. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
Inside Line News: 2010 Kia Forte
#CAS09 Now we know what Ford does with the bodies. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit, Inside Line
#CAS09 During its press conference, Ford had the 2010 Harley-Davidson F-150 playing warm-up to the Transit Connect and the Taurus SHO.
But it's hard to ignore a huge truck with 22-inch wheels, copious badging and a shiny front grille. We weren't quite prepared for how flaky the metal-flake black cherry paint is in person. But overall it's a more tasteful-looking thing than some previous Harley editions.
The front seats are inspired by bikers' jackets says Ford and they're complete with epaulets with Harley-branded snaps and a zipper-closure map pocket. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit, Inside Line
Read Inside Line's full story on the 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150.
Mazda unveiled the mildly (very mildly) face-lifted new MX-5 Miata at last fall's Paris auto Show. Heck, we've already driven the new Miata. Still, the company has a history of doing Miata reveals at Chicago. So the company rolled a pack of old Miatas and concept-car Miatas to accompany the two new MX-5s on its stand.
Join us after the jump for a full rundown:
Continue reading 2009 Chicago Auto Show: Mazda Miata Fest.
This video is slight less exciting than watching a paperweight, but it is a pretty good walkaround of the new Chevy Spark through the eyes of its designer. Personally, I'd rather watch a wall, but that's just me. Enjoy.
--Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
So is the Stingray Concept hot or cold?--Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
--Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
#CAS09 There wasn't much to see at the debut of the 2010 Acura TSX V6. Its new 3.5-liter engine was not on display and even if the hood wasn't open, most of the engine is covered in black plastic anyway.
It's a serious engine, though, 280 hp from 3.5 liters, same one that's in the base TL. Putting that much power through the front wheels should make for some interesting steering feedback when you power out of corners, but the TL seems to handle it quite well.
Thankfully, this TSX gets an upgraded suspension that includes larger 18-inch wheels and tires. They're still of the all-season variety, but at least they look better. The lack of a manual transmission is another slight disappointment.
Expect to see the 2010 Acura TSX V6 in showrooms this summer, with a price that splits the difference between the current TSX and the base TL. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
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