Autoblog

Go figure. Nissan's playing the debut of the revised and now U.S.-bound Cube very, very close to the vest. We say this because there are photos of the new 370Z all over the place -- released by Nissan, no less. The Cube? Not so much. We posted leaked imagery, and were subsequently forced to pull them down, so we know they were accurate. (No worries, scraped copies of that post are all over the web. Click away.) Aside from that, the only other views of the redesigned Cube came courtesy of Tomica's new die-cast. So it was with excitement that we opened this new Cube teaser video released by Nissan (view after the jump), only to find that it shows absolutely nothing except the logo. We're waiting like everyone else for the car's debut next week at the LA Auto Show. In the interim, you can pass the time by reading our review of the current JDM model.



[Source: Nissan]

Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, has confirmed that the Lincoln MKT crossover is due to be reveal this January at the Detroit Auto Show, while a refreshed MKZ will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Show in November.

We already knew the Ford Flex-based CUV was headed to Detroit, with power provided by either a 3.7-liter or a 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6. Both six- and seven-passenger seating arrangements will be offered, along with Blind Spot Monitoring and a Cross Traffic Alert system which utilizes two sonar modules to notify drivers that a vehicle has moved into their blind spot by shining a light on the corresponding outside mirror. Sales are expected to begin later in 2009 and Ford is insistent that the MKT won't share any body panels with its platform sibling.

The facelifted MKZ sedan will sport the new split-wing grille originally found on the MKR concept. New taillights are also rumored to be part of the package and sales should begin later this year or early in 2009.


[Source: MotorTrend]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Cadillac CTS coupe.

This past Saturday in Monterey, Cadillac invited a select group of journalists to see the production version of the CTS coupe. Naturally, cameras weren't allowed inside the Caddy tent to keep images leaking out ahead of the coupe's official unveiling this November at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

However, a lack of pictures hasn't stopped InsideLine from going into detail about what the CTS coupe will look like when it rolls onto the stand in LA. According to the report, the coupe is virtually unchanged from its conceptual predecessor, with everything ahead of the A-pillars pulled directly from its sedan counterpart. The massive C-pillars have remained, along with the vertical taillights and steeply raked rear window. Thankfully, Cadillac saw fit to include a back-up camera to make up for the lack of rearward visibility.

Production will begin next summer at GM's Lansing Grand River plant, and while GM execs remain mum on engine choices, expect the same duo of V6s available on the sedan and sport wagon to carry over to the coupe, along with the CTS-V's 550 hp, supercharged 6.2-liter V8 later down the line.



[Source: InsideLine]

Click above image to enlarge

Note to the Lexus SC430: it is now beyond over for you. Infiniti, Nissan's BMW-hunting luxury brand, has unveiled the 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible, a retractable hardtop 4-seater that preserves the Coupe's good looks even with its 3-piece folding metal roof neatly tucked out of sight, as you can see here. Power from the 3.7L V6 will be in excess of 320 horses, and numerous comparos against the BMW 335i convertible are inevitable. You can practically hear the buff mags reserving track time as we speak. Sunny Los Angeles will be the venue for the car's formal unveiling in November, and likely a fertile ground for sales when the time comes.

[Source: Infiniti]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Ford Mustang at Road America.

You read that right folks. The 2010 Ford Mustang will make its official debut at the LA Auto Show on November 19th. According to a source speaking with InsideLine, the new 'Stang won't be shown in Detroit as originally rumored, conceivably as a response to the Camaro hype-machine we've had to endure over the last two weeks.

When the wraps are pulled off the 2010 Mustang, expect all-new front and rear fascias, including a new grille, headlamps and taillights, along with a tweaked hood and a few cues rumored to be pulled of the Guigiaro Mustang concept.

Speculation about powertrains has been running rampant for months, but a reworked V8 and V6 is part of the package, and possibly a new turbocharged, EcoBoost bent-six further down the line. Sales will begin late early next year.


[Source: InsideLine]

Click either image for a high-res gallery.

Over the past five years, Volkswagen has continued to tease us with sports car concepts that never seem to come to fruition. Back in 2003, VW unveiled the Concept R in Frankfurt to critical acclaim and two years later, the wraps came off the EcoRacer, proving that the automaker was still kicking around the idea of a lightweight, affordable roadster for the masses.

In the interim, VW had two similar concepts that never left the studio, but when the Los Angeles Auto Show rolls along later this year, a new mid-engine coupe will be revealed, and this one actually has a shot at production.

According to Autocar, this newest concept aims to be a budget alternative to the Lotus Elise, balancing performance and fuel economy in a low-cost package. Sources suggest that the coupe will feature either a 168 hp, 1.4-liter TSI gasoline engine or a 125 hp, 1.6-liter TDI mounted amidships and sending power to the rear wheels via a seven speed DSG gearbox. If and when the production version debuts in 2011, the coupe's curb weight is pegged at just over 2,200 pounds, allowing it to run to 60 in under seven seconds while still returning over 55 mpg.

If the project is given the green light, the same architecture that underpins the VW variant could form he basis for the oft-rumored and continually denied Audi R4. And with Porsche's stake in V-Dub, that means a 914 successor is just a badge and prayer away.



[Source: Autocar]

The crew at 7Tune got a hold of the latest issue of Best Car, and in addition to creating their own full size Z34 Nissan through the use of bondo and stickers, they've got more details on the next iteration of the Z car.

Due to go on sale later this year, likely after an official unveiling at the LA Auto Show, the 370Z will be packing the same 3.7-liter, VQ37HVR V6 found in the Infiniti G37, with output estimated at around 335 hp and 278 lb.-ft. of torque (JDM spec). Best Car spoke with the Z34's Chief of Production, Shinjiro Yukawa, and he revealed that a special edition model is being considered that would significantly raise the performance of the new Z by fitting a V8 underhood.

The new car will come in about 100 kg (220 pounds) lighter than the outgoing model, and equipped with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed sportshift-equipped automatic. Double wishbones will suspend things up front, while a multi-link arrangement will handle duties in the back. The top-spec S and ST versions are expected to roll on upgraded 19-inch wheels, while lower models make due with 18-inch hoops, and Brembo 6-piston front and 4-piston rear brakes will halt forward progress on the high-end models.

As expected, the headlamps will feature the same L-shaped design originally debuted on the new Maxima, while the A-pillar and roof treatment are rumored to ape the lines found on the R35 GT-R. Also expect upswept side windows and more bulbous fenders to round out the exterior makeover.

[Source: 7Tune]

Winding Road's man from Japan, Peter Nunn, supposedly has it on good authority that Nissan's new Z-car is headed to Los Angeles this November for its official unveiling. According to Nunn's source, the 370Z looks "fantastic," despite it being a more evolutionary design.

The really interesting tidbit from Nunn is that the new Z will be shorter than the outgoing model by around four inches. That might curtail speculation that the spy shots we've seen of a chopped 350Z was a new rear-wheel-drive model that could resurrect the Silvia nameplate. Too bad. But the 370Z will be sporting the 3.7-liter V6 found in the Infiniti G37 coupe, a slightly wider track and, hopefully, will shed a few pounds from the outgoing model.

[Source: Winding Road]

Click the image above for more high-res pics of the Subaru Impreza STI.

To all of you States-based Subie fans, November 15th is your day. At 10:35 AM, the new Impreza STI will supposedly make its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in U.S.-spec trim. The good news comes courtesy of an email received by a Subaru dealer and posted on NASIOC, although it's yet to be confirmed by any of our sources at Subaru. We'll be on hand to fondle the new STI if it does make its debut next week, so as always, watch this space.

[Source: NASIOC via Inside Line]