Autoblog

New York '08 Preview: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP packs 402 HP... and a third pedal!

Alex Nunez — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, GM, Pontiac

Click above for hi-res gallery of the Pontiac G8 GXP

The Northeast is the Pontiac division's largest market, and the brand -- which has played the stepchild in recent years, banished to the outer limits of exhibition halls -- is finally getting its own coming out party in New York next week. The resurgent Performance Division will flex its muscles at the Javits Center. Joining the 2010 G8 sport truck (and maybe another newcomer sporting the Arrowhead badge) is the highly-anticipated Pontiac G8 GXP.

The new Poncho flagship wears subtle visual tweaks including updated front and rear fascias plus the same 19" HSV wheels that were shown on the G8 concept. More importantly, the GXP packs GM's 6.2L LS3 V8 underhood. In this application (it's also in the Vette, where it makes even more power), the small-block punches out 402 horses and 400 lb-ft of torque rearward via a Tremec 6-speed manual gearbox or a HydraMatic 6L80 auto. (Add another 2 pound-feet of twist if you opt for the latter.) A fully-adjustable suspension helps keep the muscle sedan planted to the tarmac, and stopping power comes from the gang at Brembo. Look for an upgraded interior with glitzier trim and well-bolstered leather sport seats. A Pontiac stand littered with V8s? It's sure been a while. Welcome back to the party, guys. Let the wanton tire destruction begin!

We'll have plenty of live shots for you from the floor on Wednesday.

Gallery: 2008 Pontiac G8 GXP

[Source: GM]

Continue reading New York '08 Preview: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP packs 402 HP... and a third pedal!

New York '08 Preview: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP packs 402 HP... and a third pedal! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Suzuki Kizashi concepts in the round and on the road

Dan Roth — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:26:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, New York Auto Show, Sedan, Videos, Crossover, Suzuki, Tokyo Auto Salon

Click above to view videos

Suzuki is said to be unveiling the Kizashi 3 at next week's New York Auto Show, so we thought we'd refresh our memories about the Manga-styled Kizashi 1 and 2 concepts we saw at the Frankfurt Motor Show and Tokyo Motor Show. There's still no information about what powertrain (we've heard talk of a V8) or platform any car derived from the Kizashi concepts would ride upon, but we like where Suzuki's going with the idea. We expect that the Kizashi 3 may be nearly production-feasible, from what Suzuki has to say. Does this mean there's a sports sedan in the offing for Suzuki? Possibly. Or not. For a taste of what it might be like to see one of these cars actually out in the wild, we've turned up some videos of the concepts riding around in a digital world, posted after the jump.

Gallery: Suzuki Kizashi Concept

Gallery: Suzuki Kizashi 2 Concept

Continue reading VIDEO: Suzuki Kizashi concepts in the round and on the road

VIDEO: Suzuki Kizashi concepts in the round and on the road originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York '08 Preview: Pontiac Solstice Targa may appear

Chris Shunk — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:57:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Convertible, Coupe, GM, Pontiac

Back in October we told you that a targa Pontiac Solstice was on the way sometime in 2008, and now some sources are reporting that the removable top two-seater will be unveiled in New York in two weeks. The targa setup will consist of panels over the driver and passenger seats that can stow into the trunk of the two-seater. It's still unknown how many configurations the stowable top will have, but hard and soft-top variations are possible. Production on the targa Solstice will reportedly start in January of 2009, with 10,000 units per year planned.

We really enjoyed our time with the Solstice GXP last spring, but the soft top was way less than stellar, as anyone who has attempted to operate one will tell you. A targa roof could fix that problem while still delivering on the fashionable looks of the 2002 concept car. There is still no news concerning a Solstice coupe, but Maximum Bob wants one, and we're with him.

UPDATE: Source credit corrected.

[Source: The GM Source via Jalopnik]

New York '08 Preview: Pontiac Solstice Targa may appear originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 Honda Fit is a go for New York

Alex Nunez — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Budget, Hatchback, Honda

Click above for more high-res shots of the JDM Honda Fit

The 2009 Honda Fit is ready to make its big American debut, so it's packing its bags and heading to New York in search of fame and fortune (read: customers). The new car, which made its world debut last October at the Tokyo Motor Show, gets a pod-like, Priusy makeover that gives it interior space equal to that of a midsizer. While the Japanese version is available with 1.3L and 1.5L engines, we'd assume that the 1.5 i-VTEC will be the sole engine in the US. In Japanese trim, it's good for 118 horsepower (120 PS) -- a 9-horse bump over what the engine in the current car delivers. Even with that extra juice, the Japan-spec 1.5L Fit can achieve fuel economy of 46 mpg (19.6 km/l). Not shabby. We'll be on hand in NYC to bring you all the official details on the US-market car after the new Fit is driven onstage.

Gallery: 2008 Honda Fit (JDM)

[Source: Honda]

2009 Honda Fit is a go for New York originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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