Continue reading Toyota Tundra production begins

Toyota Tundra production begins originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

GM announced today that its Opel Astra will receive a design refresh and updated power plant options. The new 2007 Astra will debut at the Bologna Motor Show (December 7-16, 2006), and will be available at dealerships starting in February. Engine choices will vary from either a 1.3-liter diesel four or a 1.4-liter gas engine, both producing 90 HP, to an available 240 HP, 2.0-liter turbo gasoline engine. The brutish 2.0-liter turbo will only be available in the spicy Astra OPC, but a 'milder' 200 HP version is available in more standard configurations.

Perhaps this news is indication that GM is preparing the Astra to be ported over to the North American market as a Saturn. We certainly wouldn't object to another 240 HP plus compact to toss around. With the next generation Vue set to unveil in LA, the Ion is the only legacy Saturn remaining. The people at GM seem too smart to pull a Ford and stick us with the same Ion for another few years.

You can read the press release and catch more photos after the jump.

Continue reading GM Makes Fresh 2007 Astra

GM Makes Fresh 2007 Astra originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Nov 2006 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dual-clutch transmissions are viewed as an improvement over current automatic and auto-manual transmission technologies. Here in the US, we tend to look at the use of the technology by VW as a performance enhancement, primarily. It is a marriage of the directness of a manual transmission with the ease of use of an automatic, while providing quicker shifting than is humanly possible. BorgWarner, the supplier of the dual cluch technology for VW's DSG transmission, is setting its sights on the low-cost market as a way to offer automatic shifting in the 600cc to 1.0-liter segment. Currently, CVT and low-cost automatics are being used in this segment, and dual-clutch technology can offer improved performance and fuel economy over standard automatic transmissions and lower cost than CVTs with less mechanical complexity.

According to CSM Worldwide, an automotive market consultantcy, manufacturers pay anywhere from €300 to €400 ($381 to $509) a unit for low-cost, four-speed automatics. CVTs can cost up to €1,400 ($1780), but dual-clutch transmissions offer a nice middle ground at about €950 ($1208).

While some of us still prefer to row our own gearboxes, technologies like dual-clutch offer a better compromise so that others who are not comfortable with selecting their own gear ratios can experience improved performance and fuel economy. Few would argue that a standard slushbox is a better alternative, especially in smaller displacement engines.

[Source: Automotive News (Sub. req)]

Low-cost dual-clutch tranny, on the way originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Oct 2006 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ah, the trials of being a tuner, especially one that creates its own line of body enhancements. When Volvo gave the XC90 a face-lift for 2007, Heico Sportiv had to respond to the updated Swedish SUV with a new kit in which to wrap it. The biggest improvement is the use of a material called PU-RIM plastic. This material is touted as 'brakeproof', which should be translated breakproof to us. Regardless, the front and rear enhancements are three-piece designs and give the XC90 a more butch appearance. The front skirt includes cut outs for fog lights, which can be upgraded to cornering lamps. There is even an optional dual exit exhaust that can be added to complement the rear apron.

Heico can also outfit your XC90 (or any other late model Volvo) with performance parts to go with that body kit, including ECU upgrades, suspension packages, and brakes kits. If you want, you can also get the aluminum door pins or other interior goodies so that your investment in Heico parts doesn't go unappreciated inside the cabin.

Heico hops up the new 2007 Volvo XC90 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Oct 2006 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We can hear Carlos now, "We don't need no stinking kei cars!" According to Japan Today, Ghosn et all don't see a need to build or design their own kei cars. Instead of going through the hassle of building their own tiny car for the markets that consume them, Nissan will still prefer to sell another OEM's product as their own. Nissan currently sells two kei cars designed by Suzuki and Mitsubishi, the Moco and Otti respectively.

Obviously, kei cars, or keijid?sha, are popular in Japan. Mitsubishi and Suzuki already produce very respectable kei car designs, why would Nissan even bother when it can focus its design and manufacturing energies on what the rest of the world scrambles for, like compacts? We've never known Ghosn for doing something that wasn't absolutely necessary.

[Source: Japan Today via Winding Road]

Nissan vows not to make its own Kei cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Oct 2006 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With a release date set all the way for 2009, you will be certain to see hundreds of spy shots of the upcoming Porsche Panamera. At least this mule is painted in a different color than the last one. The four-door coupe, with the name that makes us hunger for sandwiches, will be flogged and tweaked until it's near perfect in Porsche's mission to provide rapid and luxurious transport for three lucky occupants and one privileged driver. We expect the Panamera will be available with engine choices that range from the 3.5-liter V6 in the Cayenne all the way to the 700hp V10 used in the Carrera GT, as well as include a V6 gas-electric hybrid co-developed with VW.

By 2009, we the range of this new 'crossover' segment will include the Aston Martin Rapide, Audi A7 and others. Like we said, expect to see more photos of this wildly anticipated offering from Porsche.

[Source: WorldCarFans]

More Porsche Panamera Spy Shots originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Oct 2006 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It is the supreme testament to the capabilities of the Caterham CSR260 that it captured the track record on Top Gear's test track. The unsuspecting CSR260 lapped TG's test track faster than a Koenigsegg CCX, a Pagani Zonda F, a Maserati MC12, or even an Enzo. If this isn't an advertisement for the less-is-more philosophy of Colin Chapman, we don't know what is. The real cool bit is you can watch the fast Caterham do its business in real time at Dunlop's Injection.tv by clicking the Read link. Check it out, it's the best 1 minute 17.4 seconds you'll spend today.

[Source: Dunlop via Pistonheads]

Watch the Caterham CSR260 take the top spot on Stig's track originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Oct 2006 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Every year, the Edmunds staff creates a list of Most Wanted vehicles. Typically, at the top of the list sits what the staff proclaims as "Most Significant Vehicle of the Year." For 2007, this honor is bestowed upon the 2007 Toyota Tundra. Now, look past the whole list, which can be found after the jump, and check out the site's analysis of Toyota's full-size truck evolution. There is no question that the Tundra is aimed squarely at the Big Three's domination of the full size market, especially in comparison to the current Tundra, and dare we even bring up the long dead T100.

It's hard to argue with Edmunds' conclusion, the new Tundra might turn out to be the most significant vehicle of 2007. Not that it's anything special in and of itself, but because everyone will be watching how the market reacts to it. For the first time, an 'outsider' is bringing a full-line full-size truck, complete with three cab options, 3 bed options, and 3 engines (Sorry Nissan, the Titan didn't come to play). Detroit will be watching, Wall Street will be watching, the media will be watching, as will consumers themselves. Could Toyota unseat one of the major players in this segment, like it did to Ford and the Taurus? Time will only tell.

Maybe Edmunds is right on this one, but we must take umbrage with the Infiniti G35 Coupe being the most wanted Coupe Under $40,000. They need to raise that price point to $45,000 and throw out the Infiniti for the BMW 335i Coupe, but we digress.

Continue reading Toyota Tundra named Most Significant Vehicle of 2007 by Edmunds

Toyota Tundra named Most Significant Vehicle of 2007 by Edmunds originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Oct 2006 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With the bitter end of production of the MG/Rover K-series engine, there was a gaping vacancy left under the hood of the run-of-the-mill Caterham Seven in the UK. Starting in 2007, it's getting a new engine for its 50th birthday. The new powerplant will be Ford's Sigma engine, displacing 1.6-liter in this application. Ford uses this motor in a variety of compact vehicles, such as the Fiesta and Focus, but Caterham's engines will be tuned to produce 120 bhp or 140 bhp. The Roadsport 120 will be fitted with the 120 bhp engine. With the Seven's weight just over 1200 lbs, the 120 bhp engine will allow the car to run 0-60 in 5.9 seconds. The Roadsport 140 will shave almost a full second off the 0-60 at an estimated 5.0 seconds. For the die-hard Seven buyers, the Superlight 140 is lightened 50kg or 110 lbs, which allows it to do 0-60 in about 4.7 seconds with the same engine. The relatively flat torque curve of the Ford Sigma gives just a little bit more performance than the previous K-series motor.

All models will begin production in November, with deliveries to begin at the start of 2007. There will be a more an even more powerful motor available in the second quarter of 2007, so our UK readers will have something to look out for.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Caterham Seven receives Ford power on 50th birthday originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Oct 2006 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The wait may finally be over. At SEMA next week, Jeep will be showing a concept Wrangler Unlimited dubbed 50 JK. The Mopar Skunkwerks team beefed up this hardtop four-door Wrangler concept with a four-inch lift, 35-inch tires, and Dana 44 axles. The real beef comes from a new Cummings 4.2-liter V6 diesel under the carbon-fiber hood. The concept will also feature GPS and a full saddle leather interior.

We've been patiently waiting for any hint that DaimlerChrysler will actually put a small diesel into the new Wrangler. There is something magical about a smaller factory off-road vehicle with a diesel engine, straight axles, and the option to remove the top and fold down the front window. If we lived in other parts of the world, this would be a fantasy already fulfilled. Now, with this concept rendering staring us in the face, the dream is finally going to come true for us in the U.S. The quesiton is, how long before we can walk down to a Jeep dealer with our check books out and get a stump-pulling diesel Wrangler of our own?

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

DCX showing 4.2-liter Cummins diesel in concept Jeep at SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Oct 2006 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When VW teamed up the HPA Motorsports last year to create the Passat R GT concept, the automaker from Wolfsburg caused us to stand up and pay attention. What is this, a Passat from VW with street cred? No way! Now we see VW testing this Passat R36 variant at the Nürburgring, and it's hard not to get excited that it is finally giving its midsize sedan some desperately needed edge. With a 280-horsepower V6 powering all four wheels, this Passat will certainly have edge. All we can do now is hope that one day we'll see this high performance Passat on our shores. Follow the Read link for more images, including shots of a wagon version being tested.

Spy Shots: VW Passat R36 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Oct 2006 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

More pics of entrants after the jump

The major auto shows always have a lot of eye candy for the enthusiast, but few things spark the imagination like extreme and impractical concept cars. The concepts at Tokyo always seem like they jumped right out of an anime. In Europe, the designers tend to go for more sex appeal than anything else, and in the US, we almost always display some kind of reckless, overpowered death trap. We're speaking of the pure concept variety, of course. There is one exception; at the Los Angeles Auto Show you can always find concepts that represent the unique culture of Southern California. Take the Hummer 02 concept above for example. Where else but LA (except maybe Tokyo) would a designer unveil a Hummer concept that is said to turn carbon dioxide into oxygen?

These concepts are fueled by the Design Challenge that has been an annual occurence the past three years. The focus this year is to create a vehicle that is aware of its environmental footprint. Many of the vehicles feature some degree of transformation ability, as well as recyclable components.

Follow the jump for more drawings and panel illustrations of the concepts in 'action.' Some of the concepts are cool, others are strange, but none of them have any shred of feasibility. That just makes them all the more interesting. Thanks to Mike Reed for the tip.

Continue reading L.A. Auto Show Design Challenge entrants

L.A. Auto Show Design Challenge entrants originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Oct 2006 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The runaway success of Scion is generally considered to be a boon for Toyota. The flip side of this success is how Toyota dealers will handle both brands doing extremely well. According to an article in Automotive News, many dealers are suffering more growing pains than the Seavers because of the success of their Scion and Toyota brands. Scion's dealership plan was and will continue to be dependent on an existing Toyota mother-dealership, with most Scion retail space set aside in a dedicated corner of the showroom. This arrangement is meant to provide an easy way for repeat Scion customers to transition into a Toyota, and both dealers and the company find this to be advantageous to maintain.

This combination is forcing many dealers to be creative. For instance, Michael's Toyota-Scion in Bellevue, Washington had to convert two service stalls to dedicated Scion retail space before they eventually bought a vacant grocery store to create a new location for both brands. Lewis Toyota-Scion in Topeka, Kansas is taking a different tact by possibly relocated its truck inventory and sales to a separate dealership location, leaving Scion and Toyota cars together.

We can be sure Toyota dealers will happily continue to expand and play Monopoly with their real estate holdings as long as Toyota continues to grow in the United States. It is a pretty safe bet that it will and with the potential of new Scion models in the pipeline, the youth oriented brand may also get another shot in the arm.

Cramped quarters at Toyota dealerships for Scion originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Oct 2006 06:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Airbags and ABS under fire originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Oct 2006 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: The Bat Car

eBay Find of the Day: The Bat Car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Oct 2006 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Last chance to see Audi R8 in U.S. for a while originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Oct 2006 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Allpar.com has posted some great spy shots of the revised Dodge Sprinter. The Mercedes-built van has been a quiet success for DaimlerChrysler in the U.S., and DCX may be looking to expand its place in the market. The passenger version shown in these photos may indicate a new focus for the Sprinter van product, as well. With a little investment, the Sprinter could become an even better people moving tool for organizations like churches, schools, and maybe even some families, supplanting the age-old Ford E-Series Econoline and similar offerings from General Motors.

The current generation van can be configured as a people mover, but the revisions to the rear window glass and some packaging changes could indicate that Dodge is ready to go after some of the full-size van market. The Sprinter offers better fuel economy, more space, and an overall better packaging proposition than most full-size vans. It has been an expensive vehicle in the past, and previously the inventory mix heavily favored commercial customers, so it will be interesting to see if Dodge goes in this direction and reaches for the non-commercial consumer.

Thanks to David for the tip!

[Source: Allpar.com]

Spy Shots: Dodge Sprinter originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Popular Mechanics acquired an inside perspective on the upcoming Audi A5 coupe and convertible that we've heard talk of for some time. At an informal dinner in the heart of French-Canada, or more exactly Montreal, Popular Mechanics operatives questioned Audi of America's Executive Vice President, John De Nysschen, about the new model. de Nysschen outlined how the A5 would be positioned above the A4 Cabriolet in Audi's line and the A5 Cabriolet would eventually replace the drop-top A4.

This would place the A5 between the BMW 3-Series and 6-Series, and aim it squarely at the Mercedes-Benz CLK. When the car is launched in the spring of 07 (that's soon) in Europe, it will be offered with Audi's increasingly ubiquitous 4.2-liter V8. Transmission choices will include a six-speed manual, a six-speed automatic, and a new version of the DSG gearbox. Perhaps we will even see a seven-speed second-generation DSG in the new car.

The key difference between the new A5 and the rest of Audi's lineup is that the engine will now be placed behind the front axle. In today's Audi's the engine hangs in front of the front axle, and obviously bringing the engine back will help with mass centralization and front-rear weight balance. We can safely assume the new drivetrain will include Audi's revised Quattro with more rear wheel bias, which will complement the new engine placement.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

Related Posts:

• Spy Shots: Audi A5 coupe
• Spy Shots: Audi A5 taking form?
• Audi readies pair of ragtops

New details on the Audi A5 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You can always count on Bob Lutz to provide a wealth of future product tidbits at his press conferences. Spy shots posted on LLN confirm Bob's comments about new Hummer models. This H3 captured is both longer than a standard H3 and is camouflaged in the rear. A close inspection reveals the tent work that is hiding the back of the truck sags aft of the B-pillar, indicating without a doubt there's a bed back there.

This is obviously the SUT version of the H3, but we're still looking for the H3T concept to make it to production as a dedicated truck, one we'd gladly choose over a Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon. Lutz did hint that this was a possibility, so we're keeping our fingers crossed.

[Source: LLN]

Spy Shots: HUMMER H3 SUT originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bed extenders are nothing new. From the Nissan Frontier crew cab to Ford's own Explorer Sport Trac and the previous generation SuperCrew F-150, the movable metal cage that is the typical bed extender has been the solution to add a few inches of utility to short-bed pick-up trucks. It's too bad that when they're not extending the bed, they're in the way of cargo you might want to haul with the tailgate up. For its new 2008 SuperDuty line of trucks, Ford is offering a well designed solution to the aggravation of the current flip-like-Wilson metal cage bed extenders. The industry-unique stowable extender made from blow-molded polypropylene can withstand up to 1,000 pounds of static pressure. It is split into two separate sections that can be stowed in the sides of the bed, and is clamped together in the middle when it needs to be used.

After the jump you will see photos of the extender in action, as well as a photo of the optional Tailgate Step, which is integrated into the tailgate (look closely at the top of the tailgate and you'll see the panel behind which it's hidden). The Tailgate Step and bed extender are examples of how Ford hopes to differentiate its heavy duty pick-ups to better meet the needs of its customers. While Ford may wish to differentiate itself with these unique features, we hope they disseminate across the segment as standard fare over the next few years.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading A closer look at the Ford F-450 bed extender

A closer look at the Ford F-450 bed extender originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.