Autoblog

Click the Denki Cube for a high res gallery

By mid-2009, Nissan plans to cover the entire gamut of the automotive spectrum, ranging from the compact Cube to the supercar-fighting GT-R. That's the word from Nissan this morning as they announced that the new Cube will come to the US market next year to fill the void left behind by the dearly departed first gen Scion xB. For now, Nissan is only showing off the current gen Cube that's available in Japan along with the Denki Cube. The Denki is the lithium ion battery-powered version that Nissan is testing and hopes to bring to market early in the next decade. The batteries are a new laminated lithium type that are stashed under the floor and rear seats. Nissan has a joint venture with NEC to supply batteries for the new energy storage system.



[Source: Nissan]

Click for a high res gallery of the latest 612 Scaglietti

Ferrari previously announced their One to One personalization program back at the Geneva Motor Show a few weeks ago and now it's coming to North America. One to One is for those who just can't settle for an "off the rack" Ferrari, as if there is such a thing, yet the program allows purchasers of the new 2008 612 Scaglietti to have their new toys tailored to their whims.

Beginning with the Park Avenue store in New York this week customers can work with a specialist to select the materials and accessories they want in their 612 to create a truly bespoke Italian exotic. Once the desired combinations have been chosen, the cars will be assembled in a dedicated corner of the Maranello factory. Along with the usual shrieking V-12, the latest edition of the 612 includes Ferrari's new electrochromic roof and SuperFast electro-hydraulic shifted gearbox. If you have to ask the cost... just peruse the gallery and drool.


[Source: Ferrari]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Pontiac Solstice Coupe

For those who can't stand the nightmare contraption that is the Solstice top, Pontiac now has an answer for you. Behold the Solstice Coupe. Those who want some fresh air without the hassle of the Solstice soft top can partake in this car's removable roof panel of the targa variety. The new coupe has looks derived from the original coupe concept that debuted at the same time as the roadster in 2002. While the roof panel doesn't fit in the car when removed, there's no need to be concerned (too much) about getting caught in the rain. A soft roof cover can be stashed in the back and put in place in case of a sudden downpour. The hard roof panel has a magnesium frame around the SMC plastic shell and weighs just 31 lbs. Aside from the top, the coupe is pretty much mechanically the same as the roadster. It gets the same 2.4L normally aspirated and 2.0L turbo direct-injected four-cylinder engines with five speed transmissions of the self-shifting or manual kind. If you're hankering for this hard-top Solstice, you'll have to wait alongside the Camaro fans until early in 2009 to get one.


[Source: General Motors]

Click image for a high-res gallery of the Nissan Denki Cube concept

We've known for several weeks now that Nissan was planning to show off an all-electric car based on the JDM Nissan Cube at this week's New York Auto Show. The Denki (meaning electric) Cube has of course spilled out onto the interwebs in advance of it's official unveiling tomorrow at the Javits Center. Looking much like the battery pack that will power it, the Denki Cube should appeal to fans of the now-departed first-gen Scion xB. The basic Cube has been dressed up inside and out to better shout out about its high tech power supply. Nissan has a lithium battery joint venture in Japan with NEC that will likely be the source of the energy storage systems. Stay tuned for more details tomorrow!


[Source: SuperNissans via AutoblogGreen]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Pontiac G8 ST

After more than two decades, the ghost of the El Camino has finally risen from the grave, at least for U.S. drivers. It never actually went away in Australia. Now that the Pontiac G8 has ushered in a new era of affordable rear-wheel-drive performance at General Motors, the car-based pickup truck, or Ute as they are called Down Under, is coming back. Rumors have been flying for months about a G8 Ute and GM even showed the GMC Denali XT concept at the Chicago Auto Show last month – a four-door ute with a two-mode hybrid power-train that may or may not see production.

What we will definitely see in showrooms late next year is the Pontiac G8 Sport Truck. The G8 Ute gets a 6-foot 2-inch long cargo bed behind its two-passenger cab. Compared to the sedan, the pickup has a four-inch longer wheelbase plus two more inches hanging behind the rear axle. The box that's unified with the passenger compartment comes with a color matched soft tonneau cover to enclose the 42.7 cubic feet contained within the composite bed. That's nearly double the volume of the late and unlamented Chevy SSR. The G8 can haul almost 1,100 lbs and tow 3,500 lbs, that latter figure also 1,000 lbs more than the SSR.