Autoblog

VW to replace unloved five-cylinder base engine with turbo four

Chris Shunk — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:31:00 EST

The 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine under the hood of many Volkswagen models has never been a favorite of ours, and it appears VW may finally be over it as well. Car and Driver reports that a pair of VW sources have indicated that the 2.5 will be replaced with a 1.8-liter turbo four.

The smaller, boosted engine would reportedly be based off the tried-and-true 2.0-liter turbo that we've come to know and respect. The 1.8 is already part of VW's European engine lineup, and it pumps out a middling 158 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy should be improved compared to the 2.5, which returns a respectable 33 miles per gallon on the highway in a manual-equipped Jetta, but nothing like the 40 mpg numbers achieved by competitors like the Hyundai Elantra and Ford Focus.

C/D claims that the move to the 1.8 could also have something to do with manufacturing efficiencies. Since the 1.8 and 2.0 are from the same engine factory, VW could build both models at the same facility.

VW to replace unloved five-cylinder base engine with turbo four originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5S

Dan Roth — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Coupe, Nissan

2008 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5S - Click above for high-res image gallery

Coldest day of the year. Single-digit, negative windchill cold. The rented Sony Digital Beta machine almost fits into the trunk of the newly minted Nissan Altima Coupe. The speakers for the Bose stereo hang down too low and block what could have been a glove-tight fit. Time for plan B. While the boffins at the video equipment rental house are watching from the window, I back the car into the middle of the parking lot to swing that big coupe door out as wide as it'll go. Okay, does the front seat lie flat? No... damn. The back seats do fold down and the front headrest is removable. Hmm. Front passenger seat slid all the way forward and reclined all the way back gives me *just* enough room to cram the big broadcast unit into the car where it has a cozy space to rest. That'll learn ya to buy a coupe. Expect scenes like this to be oft-repeated if you carry more than a messenger bag with your car.

Let's get this out of the way; the Altima Coupe is not a poor man's anything. Its looks certainly set expectations. There's plenty of Infiniti G37 in the lines of the Altima Coupe, but it can stand on its own considerable merits without basking in the halo of some other cousin with totally unrelated architecture. The 2.5S Coupe is more 912 than 911, more 318 than 335, which is not an entirely bad thing. It's shorter, lower and lighter than the sedan, and the happy vibes are served up in big portions.

Gallery: Review: 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5S

Continue reading Review: 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5S

Review: 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5S originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York Auto Show: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX takes the stage

Eric Bryant — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:49:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Wagon, Hatchback, Subaru

UPDATE: Video of the WRX live reveal added after the jump

click the above image to view over 100 high-res shots of the 2008 Subaru Impreza

In what was surely one of the most anticipated debuts here at the New York Auto Show, Subaru took the wrapper off its new WRX while reminding us just how excited we should be about its revised sport compact.

We covered the key points of the overall Impreza refresh in our previous post, so we'll mostly stick to the WRX-specific details here. The intake manifold, turbocharger, and top-mounted intercooler are new. Peak power is unchanged, but peak torque now hits 800 RPM sooner, so it should be a bit more forgiving of improper gear selection. If you select the five-door, the boxer will breathe through a single exhaust tip, while the sedan gets twin outlets. Weight, meanwhile, is down by 50 lbs.

Outside, the sedan gets a discrete spoiler, while the hatch will wear an underbody diffuser. Both models will roll on 17x7" wheels shod in 205-section all-session rubber. A stability control system is available, should tail-out driving not be in the cards.

For those interested in WRC, Impreza will be campaigning the five-door version of its rallying rocketship.

Hit the high-res gallery for over 100 still shots of the 2008 Subaru Impreza, check out the official specs after the jump, and click-through to the Autoblog New York Auto Show megapost to see everything else that's been going on here at the Javits convention center.

Gallery: 2008 Subaru Impreza

Continue reading New York Auto Show: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX takes the stage

New York Auto Show: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX takes the stage originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York Auto Show: Subaru's bigger Impreza makes its impression upon NYC [VIDEO]

Eric Bryant — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:06:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Wagon, Hatchback, Subaru

UPDATE: Video of the live reveal added after the jump!

click above image to view 90 high-res shots of the 2008 Subaru Impreza

After running a few executives across the podium at its press intro, Subaru finally got down to business and pulled the sheet from its refreshed Impreza 2.5i.

The four-door sedan version is exclusive to the US, and is about a half-foot longer than the five-door hatch shown here. Both models are 4.5" wider than the outgoing version, and carry the widened grille and new logo that are supposed to pay homage to Subaru's aircraft heritage. It looks better in person than in photos, but we're not yet ready to commit to, you know, actually liking it. Inside, the Impreza has a roomy feel, but the overall quality left us feeling a bit unsatisfied.

Don't look for significant increases in power under the hood; in fact, the naturally-aspirated 2.5L flat-four is actually down a few ponies at the peak, with a bit more torque and improvements in emissions and fuel economy as a consolation prize. It's still backed by a five-speed manual or four-speed auto. Those in the snow belt, take note - Subaru's commitment to safety is followed-through via the inclusion of the new stability control system, and of course Symmetrical All Wheel Drive is standard.

Keep an eye out for our post on the WRX version coming shortly.

Check out the 2008 Impreza in our photo gallery, the official press release after the jump, and of course there's a detailed list of our other coverage available in our New York Auto Show megapost.

Gallery: 2008 Subaru Impreza

Continue reading New York Auto Show: Subaru's bigger Impreza makes its impression upon NYC [VIDEO]

New York Auto Show: Subaru's bigger Impreza makes its impression upon NYC [VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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