Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Opel / Vauxhall Insignia

The first official look at the Opel Insignia's interior leaves us with the impression that Opel / Vauxhall's new sedan is going to be a nice place in which to log some miles. Put simply, the cockpit is identical to the one first shown in the slick-looking Opel GTC concept that debuted last year. Simple, attractive gauges are joined by amber lighting and a nice blend of plastics, brightwork, and other trim to create a driver-focused cockpit meant to be as usable as it is attractive. One of the little elements that's kind of cool is how the gauge lighting shifts from white to red when the car is put into sport mode. Expect even more info on the Insignia and plenty of closer looks at the cabin when the car debuts in London next month at the British International Motor Show. If you can't make it to London, just exercise a little patience, cross those fingers, and wait. This car will likely come Stateside as the next Saturn Aura at some point in the future. GM's official PR is pasted after the jump.


[Source: GM]

Move along, hardly anything to see here. Still, it's always interesting to chart the changes. KGP photographers demonstrated the importance of keeping the glovebox stocked with trailmix, which allows these sharp shooters to outlast their quarry driving around in preproduction mules of upcoming models. Mazda's new 6 has already had its exterior snapped (see gallery below), but the interior has also received some attention. A new steering wheel is the most noticeable change compared to the already-revealed European model, though the instruments are also tweaked and the start button has been relocated closer to the shifter. Hopefully we'll meet the new 2009 Mazda6 in person in just a couple weeks at the 2008 New York Auto Show, because if not, we'll have to wait until at least the end of year at the next LA Auto Show.


[Source: Inside Line]

Click above for a gallery of the leaked Challenger images so far

Some official photos of the Dodge Challenger's interior have been posted on Allpar's forums, and our spirits have been buoyed. It's always hard to get a read on the real-world look and feel of the interior plastics, but from what we can make out amidst the dither, all is not lost when it comes to the Challenger's front office. In these pictures, the interior looks very presentable, though it seems to be pretty standard LX fare. The SRT8 models get nicely trimmed seats, with contrasting french stitching on the deep bolsters, suede inserts to grip your backside, and a nice splash of orange to set off the SRT logo. Lesser Challengers will obviously not get quite the full boat luxe treatment that the SRT gets, with its MyGig, bespoke gauges, and leather adornments, but just what will get pulled out remains to be seen. The Mustang and Camaro might have more exciting designs, but the ergonomics and controls in the revived Dodge ponycar look well thought out. We've breathed a half-sigh of relief after our last round of interior spy shots, which left some of us certain that the Challenger's interior was going to be bested by what came in the unlamented K-Cars. Thanks for the tip, indymcsc!

[Source: Allpar]

Interior design is one area where GM is lagging behind its European and Japanese rivals, but there's hope just beyond the horizon. Fully aware of its shortcomings, GM has put a new, more focused emphasis on improving the style and quality of its vehicles' interiors and a handful of official computer-generated concept renderings reveal that there's some very innovative thinking going down in Detroit.

The soon-to-be released Cadillac CTS is one such car that has shown what can be done. Its new interior shows a level of craftsmanship and style that not so long ago was limited to the domain of significantly more expensive imports. If all goes to plan, you won't have to shell out big bucks to enjoy a car with a nice cabin, either. These new concept sketches show several interior design elements, one specific to the Chevy and Pontiac brands as well as designs for GM's SUV and trucks.

[Source: Cheers and Gears]

Click on the image above to see the high-resolution image

The 2008 Accord represents the biggest launch Honda has undertaken since the Civic in 2006, and everything from quality to design has to be just right for the Accord to maintain its lofty position in the midsize sedans pecking order. We've been looking forward to a production-ready view of the Accord's interior, and now we've found it. The scribes over at The Mags Report have a few pics from inside the Accord's cabin, and since the 2003 Accord has a great interior, Honda didn't have to start fresh. Instead, the designers came up with a different interpretation of what already works. The center console is now wider, and buttons appear to be a little larger. Vehicle information has been moved from above the navigation screen to below it, which should make external temperature and HVAC info easier to read. Center vents are also moved below the navigation screen, which helps make the Accord interior look less vertical. Honda also included some tasteful bright work, which further contrasts the two-tone interior.

While the exterior spy shots we've seen from the Accord look a bit dull, Honda appears to have taken a less conservative approach on the inside. Quality materials and well-placed controls never look bad together, but the 2003 interior may look a little classier than what we'll be getting shortly. Let us know what you think after the jump. To see more pics of the Accord from the inside, click the read link below.

[Source: The Mags Report]

A keen Autoblog reader has spotted the 2008 Honda Accord in an empty parking lot in Columbus, Ohio, and was kind enough to send us the pic he snapped of the car's interior. As the new Accord's official debut looms closer, more and more undisguised cars have been turning up, but this is really the first time we've gotten a good look at the new car's interior.

The model in this image was said to have been an EX four-cylinder and from what we can gather, the new Accord's interior isn't a marked leap over the model it replaces. The cabin features an identical curved edge running along the bottom of the dash, while the center console and layout of the air-conditioning ports are almost the same as the outgoing '07 model.

According to spy photographers who have seen the car, the 2008 model is slightly larger than the current car, so hopefully that translates into more room in the cabin, but we'll have to wait until its official reveal later this year to find out.

A big thank you to Nima for sending in the pic.

You can check out more spy shots of the new Accord here.

The Hyundai Genesis is one of many highly anticipated vehicles for calendar year 2008, with high-end features like RWD and powerful V6 and V8 engines at a Hyundai price. One area of intrigue for the Genesis is the production interior, and the folks over at KGP snapped some very clear shots that leave little to the imagination. The most interesting item in the picture looks like the Audi MMI control with navigation buttons around a joy stick. The interface actually looks a bit classier than that of the much pricier German luxury car, and we're hoping it works much more like the Audi interface than iDrive.

The center console looks very Infiniti M45-like, with a chunky appearance and a sloping line with a protruding lip that separates the navigation screen from the rest of the controls. The shift lever has a manual mode, which is almost a forgotten technology in the age of the paddle shifter. The steering wheel is adorned in both leather and a wood-like substance, and it appears to have very simple redundant controls, plus a button for hands-free calling.

The interior wars are heating up much like the wonderful battle for powertrain supremacy, and customers again are the winners. While the Genesis interior may not look as nice as that of the 2008 CTS, try to remember that we're talking about a Hyundai. The folks from South Korea have come a long way in a very short period of time.

[Source: Inside Line]

The 2008 Mustang that appears in August will be full o' beans. Soybeans. Ford has teamed with automotive supplier Lear Corporation on the creation of soy-based seat foam. Car seats currently contain roughly petroleum-based foam, and the new soy-based variety will substitute nearly a quarter of that mass with renewable content, as well as lower the amount of C0² emitted during the creation of the foam. Ford's been playing around with soy ever since with Model T, which contained 60 pounds of beans in its paint and molded plastic parts. This is the kind of environmental tech we can get behind -- and sit on -- without reservation. We do wonder, however, what it will do to that new car smell. This isn't the only "green" material Ford's using with regard to seating accommodations in '08 models, either. The new Escape's seat upholstery is made of eco-friendly recycled materials. For Ford's full press release on the new soy foam seats, click the image above or the "Read" link below to see it at AutoblogGreen.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

When did the day come that interiors designed by our own domestic automakers were being celebrated as the best in the biz? After decades of dull designs, cheap materials and poor fit and finish, that day would be today. Ward's Auto has released the results of its 2007 Interior of the Year Competition, in which both its own editors and members of the auto industry at large choose the best inner sanctums in seven vehicle classes ranging from Economy-Priced Car to Premium-Priced Truck. Shocker: Domestics cleaned up, being awarded 11 out of 14 class awards between the editors' choices and the popular vote (and that's not including the Volvo S80's editor award for Premium-Priced Car). The Saturn Aura and Chevy Silverado, in particular, were singled out for their fine furnishings by both judging bodies in their respective classes, just like they were in the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards last January.

Ward's also awarded prized for Best Brand Expression to the Jeep Wrangler, Best Interior Trim to the Infiniti G35, Best Cup Holder to the Chrysler Sebring and Best Overall Comfort to the Lexus LS 460L. Check out all the award winners after the jump, and pontificate on the state of affairs that led us to this day when domestic interiors are getting props aplenty.

[Source: The Auto Channel]

KGP Photographers have managed to snag an excellent spy shot revealing the production interior of the upcoming Jaguar XF sedan, aka Jaguar's Hail Mary pass, that's based on the C-XF (see gallery below).

Somehow the new interior manages to capture that old-world Jag style and combine it with modern design details. The dash is dominated by a horizontal band that's accented on the bottom by a strip of real wood trim. Above the wood we find the large, touchscreen navigation system flanked by a pair of large vents. The center console turns up and meets the horizontal cross section abruptly with a panel that appears to be trimmed in satin nickel that contains the CD player and HVAC controls. The driver's hand is obscuring what may be an iDrive-like controller, and there doesn't appear to be a proper "stick" popping up at all, which makes us wonder how you'll shift the XF out of Park. Once you're in Drive, however, those paddles on the steering wheel should make for some quick shifts.

The design overall certainly doesn't look ground breaking, just traditionally modern with its use of light beige leather, wood and satin nickel trim. Click the Read link to view the entire picture and make your own judgment.

[Source: LLN]