has released details on the upcoming before the vehicle gets an official unveil at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. The vehicle will bow with the same turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel engine found in the and , and Volkswagen projects the engine should help the oil-burning 2013 Beetle net 39 miles per gallon highway and 29 mpg city.
Those numbers aren’t quite as lofty as we’d expect, especially given how well our has performed with the same engine under the hood. While we’re still waiting on Environmental Protection Agency numbers, our guess is real-world drivers will see significantly better out of the latest diesel Bug, which, for what it’s worth, is the first oil-burning Beetle since 2006.
With 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, the vehicle shouldn’t be a slouch to drive, either. Buyers may choose either a six-speed manual or dual-clutch gearbox. Otherwise, the Beetle TDI remains aesthetically similar to its gasoline counterparts. Expect to see the vehicle hit the market in mid-2012 as a 2013 model. In the meantime, stay tuned for our Chicago Auto Show coverage and for the full press release.
Don’t believe anyone who tells you “they don’t build ‘em like they used to.” Not even us. Because they do, in fact, build them even better, with the benefit of a century’s worth of automotive development. Styling, however, is a matter of taste, and beauty is in the proverbial eye of the beholder. So you could certainly make the case that cars were more beautiful back in the day.
That, you see, is where the Huet Brothers come in. Several years ago, the Dutch fraternity rolled out the HB Special, a retro roadster based on a Triumph TR6, designed for use in classic rallies organized by the Huets but also available for sale in limited quantities. Now Tino and Paul are back with a fixed-roof coupedesign they’ve been working on.
Still in the development phase, the classically proportioned HB Coupe promises to offer the comforts and reliability of a modern car with the style and charm of a classic. Weighing in at little over 2,400 lbs, it packs a 3.0-liter inline-six of unspecified origin – presumably BMW – mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual clutch transmission. So equipped, the drivetrain is said to be good for 306 horsepower, an anticipated 4.3-second run to 62 mph and a 155 mph top end. A 2.0-liter, 204-horsepower diesel four (with six-speed manual or automatic) is also scheduled to be available for a 5.6-second sprint.
HB is also planning a more performance-oriented version as well as a racing model in the future, but the brothers are taking things one step at a time. In a novel approach to raising capital, HB is selling wristwatches and other gear to help get the project off the ground, and it has two timepieces currently on promotion in a group deal you can . There’s no word yet on pricing, so watch this space for more. In the meantime, you can scope out the video and details and the design renderings in the image gallery above.
Saying automotive journalists like diesel sedans is like arguing the color pink is going to do well with the 5-year-old-girl demographic this quarter. You’re not going to find too many dissenting voices. So, it should be no surprise that we love ourselves some BMW 335d. With plenty of power and impressive fuel economy, the outgoing diesel is a mechanical wonder child. And yet, thanks to the new F30-generation BMW 328i, with its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, there’s some competition for the title of most fuel efficient 3 Series.
Admittedly, the 328i’s numbers are a far cry from the 265 ponies and 425 lb-ft of torque cranked out by the diesel-fueled 3.0-liter inline six in the 335d. Even so, the 2012 328i is considerably lighter and more aerodynamic. It also boasts a next-generation transmission, which helps the car get to 60 mph one tenth of a second quicker than the old 335d. That’s surprising, but not nearly as surprising as the fact that the 328i manages 1 mpg better than the diesel in the combined cycle. According to the EPA’s just-released figures, the 328i nets 24 miles per gallon in the city and an impressive 36 mpg on the highway. The 335i? 23 mpg city and 36 highway.
We’ll give you a moment to pick up your jaw from the floor. Now all BMW needs to do, as Automobile points out, is drop a diesel four-cylinder behind the headlights of the to go after even bigger green credentials. Fingers crossed.
What happens when a meets an Alfa Romeo? The , that’s what happens. But as promising as Auburn Hills’ new economy sedan is, what we’re really looking forward to is what Ralph Gilles and company over at the SRT division can cook up. And the folks over at Motor Trend think they’ve got a pretty good idea of what to expect.
For the Dart SRT4, Dodge could go one of two ways: turbocharging the existing Tigershark 2.0-liter four, or shoehorning in the new . Since the latter would likely push the Dart SRT4’s price up beyond $30,000 and competitive levels, the smarter money’s on the former. But in order to compete with the likes of the and – and outshine the 285-horsepower it succeeds – we could be looking at nearly 300 horses under the hood.
Couple that with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (we’d still hope for a manual), upgraded rolling stock, brakes and suspension, and a more aggressive aero pack and we could be looking at one very mean pocket rocket indeed.
Business was a-boomin’ in the auto industry last year, and while a number of factors conspired to keep cars moving through dealerships, chief among them was discounts. How do we know that? This infographic contains part of the answer.
Compiled using data from car-shopping website , the infographic tells us which automakers gave the most discounts last year, where they were given, who got them, and more. Which automaker doled out the most discounts? , which CarWoo! says was selling its vehicles at a 17.7-percent discount in 2011. Which automaker also posted the largest percentage gain in sales last year? Jeep, whose sales compared to 2010.
and , which posted the second and third largest percent increases in sales last year, also make CarWoo!’s list by having offered high discounts of 11.7 and 12.1 percent in 2011.
Big savings didn’t always equal big sales, though. , for instance, is on record offering discounts of 12.2 percent in 2011, but still saw its sales fall 4.8 percent.
Check out the rest of what CarWoo!’s infographic has to say about savings .
The configurator for the 2013 Ford Escape is live – or rather, a survey masquerading as a configurator. On the introductory page of small print, there are three crucial bits wants you to know: that “the information on this site is for survey purposes only,” that “features and prices for the final 2013 Ford Escape will only become available when the vehicle goes on sale in 2012 and are subject to change,” and that “information on this site may change frequently, so don’t be surprised if things look different next time you visit.”
Once you get past all that you can do a little bit of configurating, from the $22,470* base to the $32,120* Titanium Escape with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost and all-wheel drive. Checking all five options boxes, the biggest price tag we could come up with was $36,595*, which got us treats like a full-leather interior, navigation and Class II trailer tow. Many have made comments on the styling of the new Escape, but we won’t be surprised if we see quite a few of these on the road.
CEO John Krafcik has confirmed that the Korean automaker will supply with transmissions for its new , according to Car and Driver. While the two automakers may seem like odd dance partners, the tie-up makes plenty of sense. Both companies use engines born out of the now-defunct Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance with . As a result, 2.0- and 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines found in the Dart share more than a few strands of DNA with the same displacement engines found under the hood of vehicles like the . Needless to say, it shouldn’t take too much effort to get the Hyundai gearbox and Chrysler engines to play nice.
We say “shouldn’t” because according to Car and Driver, the American manufacturer is reportedly having issues getting the transmission properly calibrated to obtain the lofty fuel economy numbers necessary to . Chrysler hasn’t confirmed the move as of yet, and Hyundai is keeping its lips sealed on which transmissions are headed to the Dart line. Even so, if Chrysler’s engineers are struggling over calibration, chances are it’s a six-speed automatic.
So… what about those lofty 40 miles per gallon claims claims Chrysler was bandying about at the Detroit Auto Show? C/D hypothesizes that figure may be reliant on a specific engine and transmission combination, be it turbocharged 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder and a dual-clutch gearbox or a 2.0 and a six-speed manual. Curiouser and curiouser.
has confirmed to Autoblog that the oil-burning 2013 TDI will make its public debut at the next month.
No specific details have been released at this time, but you can bet that the automaker’s slick 2.0-liter turbo-diesel four will be underhood. In the , and , the mill kicks out 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, and both six-speed manual and DSG transmissions will likely be available. This engine is already good for as high as 43 miles per gallon highway in the Passat (and we’ve routinely hit in our ), so we expect exceptional fuel economy out of the diesel Bug, as well.
What’s more, our understanding is that Volkswagen plans to offer the TDI engine in the upcoming Beetle Convertible, which will make it the very first clean diesel droptop available in the United States. Of course, we won’t know for sure until the roofless Bug debuts later this year, but still, it’s something to get excited about.
Stay tuned for the full scoop live from the Chicago show next month.
There’s seldom anything particularly exciting or glamorous about a minivan. But that doesn’t mean their producers can’t keep trying. Enter the new 2012 Renault Scenic, and its big brother, the Grand Scenic.
Being European MPVs as opposed to American minivans, the Scenic – and even the larger, seven-passenger Grand Scenic – are typically smaller than the big family-haulers we’re used to on this side of the Atlantic. But with facelift Renault has just given the line, they’re also considerably sleeker-looking than the vehicles we’re used to seeing lined up outside the local elementary school.
That much comes down to the new lights and bumpers front and rear, elements that Renault has packaged with an upgraded interior and a raft of new engines and technologies that set the new Scenic range apart from the one it replaces. A pair of low-emission engines – a 115-horsepower, 1.2-liter turbo and 110-hp, 1.5-liter diesel – join a range of powertrains topped by a 140hp 2.0 mated to a CVT and a 160hp diesel paired with a six-speed manual.
The Scenic family is also the first to incorporate Renault’s new lane-departure system and hill-start assist, with a special Bose model (similar to the one ) topping the spec sheet. The new Scenic debuts at the Brussels Motor Show this week before hitting showrooms in 40 countries around the world.
Saying the Toyota 2000GT holds a special place in our hearts is akin to calling oxygen and water kind of important to our survival. The long-nose two-door was envisioned as a suitable competitor to the likes of the European sports cars rolling out Italy and the UK at the time, and in many ways, the was far superior. Built at a time when Japan Inc. wasn’t exactly known for beautiful automobile designs, the 2000GT may have been influenced by European cars of its day, but it has stood the test of time as one of the country’s all-time design greats. The low-volume coupe is a piece of automotive legend, which is exactly why choosing to use a 2000GT as a platform for an electric conversion strikes us equal parts blasphemous and awesome. But that’s exactly what Japan’s Crazy Car Project has done.
The engineers behind the exercise ditched the standard 2.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine in favor of a 161-horsepower electric motor. A 35kWh lithium-ion battery provides the system with power, and the hood has been covered with photovoltaic cells to help keep the car going. Likewise, the back glass is covered in a transparent solar panel. All told, the system can propel the vehicle to around 124 mph.
Inside, the 2000GT SEV features a modernized interior with plenty of tech-laden gadgets. The vehicle was built in cooperation with Toyota and debuted at the . Let’s hope they started with a real basket case, eh? to see a video of the car in action.
Motor Trend reports has confirmed that its next-generation will bow at the 2012 New York Auto Show. The third-generation Santa Fe is expected to hit dealer lots by the end of the year as a 2013 model. Hyundai hasn’t disclosed exactly what we can expect from the vehicle when it arrives, though spy shots suggest a vehicle more in-line with the automaker’s current design language. MT believes the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe will continue on with the same powertrain options found in the current vehicle, which means buyers can look forward to a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine or a 3.5-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Hyundai may squeeze a bit more performance or fuel efficiency out of those engines, however. Some reports have also suggested the 2013 Santa Fe may bow with a new turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood as well. That engine is currently found in the likes of the where it produces 274 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque.
Finally, our intelligence still suggests that Hyundai will eventually market ae as the de-facto replacement for the slow-selling , but it isn’t clear whether that vehicle (or strategy) will be disclosed in New York.
has released the official EPA fuel economy figures for its , and as anticipated, the new compact crossover has achieved an all-important best-in-class designation. The front-wheel-drive, six-speed manual-equipped CX-5 is rated at 26 miles per gallon city and 35 mpg, thanks to Mazda’s efficient Skyactiv direct-injection 2.0-liter inline-four. In fact, Mazda claims the CX-5 actually gets the best fuel economy rating of any SUV (read: crossover) sold in America, full stop.
CX-5 models equipped with front-wheel drive and Mazda’s new Skyactiv six-speed automatic transmission are good for 26/32 miles per gallon city/highway. And while those highway numbers match up with the four-cylinder , the Mazda’s 26 mpg city rating bests the Chevy by a whopping four mpg. All-wheel-drive CX-5s are rated at 25/31 mpg city/highway. for Mazda’s official release.
Typically, Bose sound systems are found in higher-end automobiles. The Renault Koleos stands as a new exception to that convention, however. Because while the Korean-made crossover is a distinctly more budget-oriented proposition than its costlier counterparts, the top-of-the-line model with the Bose sound system is one of the most popular.
In fact a good 30 percent of previous-generation Koleos buyers opted for the Bose Edition – numbers that Renault couldn’t ignore ignore. And so – with the new model now hitting dealers across Europe – the French automaker has rolled out a new Bose Edition.
Naturally, the luxed-up crossover comes with a Bose sound system configured specifically for this vehicle’s cabin space. But Renault is also packaging it with extra touches like aluminum-finish mirror caps, tinted rear windows, 17-inch alloys and black lacquer trim inside… and, of course, the requisite badging to let everyone know that the driver has a good ear for finer acoustics.
Buyers can choose between all-wheel drive or front, and between automatic or manual six-speed transmissions, coupled to a 150-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo diesel. Follow the jump for the full specs in the press release.
has made it a point to emphasize – surprise – the . Now, at the , the Swedish automaker has showed off the XC60 Plug-In Gasoline HybridConcept, a way to gauge American reaction to the idea of a plug-in CUV from Volvo. Why? Because this concept is headed to the U.S. and Chinese markets – in a different guise and with a lot of changes – within “a couple of years.” That means something like 2014-2015. Volvo’s first PHEV here could be an model, or perhaps an , said Volvo CEO and President Stefan Jacoby. For now, Jacoby tells Autoblog that the XC60 PHEV shows the direction Volvo is headed.
Here are the numbers: a 35-mile all-electric range, a recharging time of just 3.5 hours from a 220V outlet (7.5 hours from a more common 110V). Volvo estimates U.S. fuel economy of 105 miles per gallon equivalent and 50 mpg when the battery runs dry. 0-60 is reached in 5.8 seconds on the way to a 130-mph top speed. Oh, and there are eight gears in the auto transmission.
Gasoline is burned in a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that is turbocharged and direct-injected and has stop-start technology. This 280-horsepower powerplant moves the front wheels, and a 70-hp electric motor propels the back wheels (this is known as a through-the-road hybrid). The XC60 PHEV has a 12-kWh lithium-ion battery, but just 66 percent of that (8 kWh) is used. The driver can select three modes – Pure, Hybrid and Power – depending on which type of fuel economy and performance is desired. Details of this technology can be found after the jump, and images of the XC60 test bed are available in our galleries.
In true fashion, we’re once again presented with a “concept” car that’s only a set of wheels and a de-Bedazzling away from being production-ready. What you’re looking at here is the concept that previews the next-generation that will be dropping later this year, ready to compete with a full slate of redesigned mid-size sedans.
Honda has once again taken a conservative approach to design, and while it’s certainly handsome (except for those gaudy air intakes that flank both sides of the front fascia), we can’t help but think that it already looks one or two generations old. (2009 Kia Optima, anyone?) We’ll have to wait until we see the car in its production spec before making final judgments, but with sexy new mid-size offerings like the , and , the Accord doesn’t look to be gunning for shoppers who want a whole lot of style with their substance.
Substance, though, it definitely has. The base engine is a new Earth Dreams 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder with direct injection, putting 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque to the ground via a continuously variable transmission. Honda will continue to offer a V6 in the Accord – a dying trend in this segment – measuring 3.5 liters, mated to either a manual or automatic transmission, both with six gears.
The Accord Hybrid will use an all-new two-motor plug-in hybrid system with three drive modes – all-electric, gasoline-electric and “direct-drive.”
What’s really interesting, though, is that the 2013 model marks the return of the Accord Hybrid – a vehicle that died after the 2007 model year. This time, however, the Accord will use an all-new two-motor plug-in hybrid system with three drive modes – all-electric, gasoline-electric and “direct-drive” – with a 6-kWh lithium-ion battery and a 120-kilowatt electric motor mated to a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle inline four-cylinder engine. Honda says that the Accord Plug-In will have a pure electric range of 10-15 miles with a top speed of 62 miles per hour, and that recharging the battery will take less than four hours with a 120-volt charger, or less than 1.5 hours with a 240-volt setup. Not bad, Honda.
Naturally, Honda will pack the 2013 Accord with all of its latest safety technologies, including lane departure warning, forward collision warning, blind-spot detection and a multi-angle rear-view camera. We expect to see the production car debut in the not-too-distant future (, perhaps?) with the 2013 model officially hitting dealerships this fall. The Accord Plug-In will arrive a little later, in winter. Hungry for more details? to read Honda’s official press blast.
Sure, the refreshed 2013 now looks more aggressive, but the real story is under the hood, with new powertrains that pack more punch and a few more gears, as well. The V6 Genesis Coupe now features direct injection, while the turbocharged four has a new turbo and intercooler setup. Both models are available with eight-speed automatics and get slightly better fuel economy, as well.
The 3.8-liter V6 in the Genesis Coupe now makes 348 horsepower and 296 pound-feet of torque, up from 306 and 266, respectively. The 2.0T model gains even more, going from 201 horses to 274, with torque improving from 223 lb-ft to 275. (All numbers cited are with premium fuel.) Both cars retain their six-speed manuals, but now have a Hyundai-developed eight-speed with paddle-shifters as the automatic option. Despite the new automatic, fuel economy goes up by just a single digit. More importantly, says the new V6 is good for a 0-to-60 time in the low five-second range.
There’s plenty more to this mid-lifecycle revision, including seven new exterior colors and some new hues for the interior, which has also been improved. Other hardware upgrades include a re-calibrated, quicker steering rack, front strut camber adjustment, and revised damper settings. The Genesis Coupe also gets the .
It’s pretty clear from the extent of this refresh that Hyundai is playing to win in the suddenly revved-up sports coupe segment. Just a few years back, several automakers had written off these enthusiast-focused models, but with new introductions like the and this much more capable Genesis Coupe, things are looking good for lovers of affordable performance cars. for the full press release.
It’s no secret that has had a rough couple of years. After an extremely successful launch in the late 1980s, Honda’s luxury marque truly hit high gear in the mid 2000s with such successful models as the sedan and crossover. And then things went south with a fury that sent the automaker reeling into regroup mode.
The brand’s stumbling blocks were many and diverse – from the styling of the redesigned 2009 TL and , which we’ll charitably describe as divisive, to the scrapped plans for a V8-powered rear-wheel-drive replacement – but the net result was a precipitous drop in sales. Clearly, a new strategy was in order.
Enter the upcoming ILX sedan. While Acura isn’t calling its new compact luxury sedan a replacement for the TSX, we’re inclined to think the automaker doesn’t need four sedans, and the TSX is within spitting distance size-wise to its higher-priced sibling. Don’t be fooled by the ‘concept’ label, either – the ILX will be coming to a showroom near you in the spring of 2012 almost exactly as you see it here.
As you can see, the ILX is a mix of bold creases and flat surfaces, and it’s what we’d consider a much-toned-down version of Acura’s previous styling direction. Let’s all be thankful of that. There’s a shield-shaped grille up front, but it’s not nearly as prominently displayed as on models like the TL and TSX, instead blending in more seamlessly with the rest of the car’s overall design. Also note the boldly upswept character line highlighting the rear doors and quarters.
Three powertrain options will be available: a base 2.0-liter four cylinder mated to an automatic gearbox, a 2.4-liter four with an exclusive six-speed manual transmission and, finally, Acura’s first hybrid drivetrain, which will be very similar to the one seen in the . Expect a 1.5-liter engine with Honda’s well-known IMA electric motor assist and a CVT transmission.
The Acura ILX is based on the same platform that underpins the Honda Civic, but, having seen the ILX sedan in person, we can tell you it doesn’t share any styling features with Honda’s compact. And that is a very good thing, as Acura needs its ILX to be seen as a premium product. To that end, there will be a number of high-tech options inside, including a Technology Package, Pandora internet radio and integrated text messaging functionality.
We’ll have live photos of the new ILX Concept shortly, but in the meantime, be sure to check these stock photos released by Acura, along with the press release that’s pasted .
We got our first look at the RS in the flesh today, unveiled alongside two concepts – the and – at the . As much as , this version looks to hit the enthusiast bull’s-eye.
While GM didn’t offer any more details about the car than , we did get to see the upgraded interior, and it looks great. The special RS sport seats, thicker sport steering wheel, aluminum pedals and the MyLink infotainment system give this version of the Sonic a distinct personality, and we’re hoping the four-wheel discs, stiffer suspension and retuned (read: louder) exhaust seal the deal.
The Sonic RS also wears a slightly different front fascia with a new grille and fog lamps, but the change in appearance isn’t all that drastic, as the base Sonic is already pretty aggressive. Other exterior kit that’s exclusive to the RS includes a new spoiler and rocker moldings, a chrome exhaust tip, and a new five-spoke wheel design (though the wheels are still 17-inchers).
While there’s no power upgrade in the RS, . An automatic will also be available, and Chevy says both transmissions will have different gearing in the RS, which should turn the fun dial up another notch.
Of course there’s always the possibility that Chevy could really turn up the wick, drop a turbo 2.0-liter Ecotec under the hood and slap an SS badge on the hatch. Maybe at next year’s Detroit show. Click to read the full release.
Sonic RS is the hot hatch enthusiasts have been waiting for
just pulled the covers off its new compact sedan, the . We’re impressed. With an official base price of $15,995, the Dart (pardon us, please, just this once) seems to be a bulls eye to the heart of the small car segment in the United States.
We’re eager to spend a few minutes behind the wheel of this Italian/American conglomeration, since its specifications appear to put it at the forefront of a hotly contested segment. For starters, there’s a very impressive available seven-inch TFT display to replace the standard analog gauges, which is paired with an 8.4-inch touch screen panel at the center of the dash. The digital cluster is customizable by the driver with two different base display options, along with nine more menu functions.
As far as styling goes, nobody is going to confuse the Dart with the on which it’s based. There’s the expected crosshair front grille, though it’s smaller and better integrated with the overall flowing design ethos. Such impressions are helped by the massaging done to Fiat’s platform; the Dart is stretched in all directions compared to its Alfa-badged sibling.
That enlarged platform means the Dart is rather well-endowed when it comes to interior space with a total of 97.2 cubic feet. Dodge has managed to squeeze in 35.3 inches of rear legroom, which it says is more than the mid-size sedan. Buyers looking to customize their rides will be pleased to see 14 available interior and trim combinations.
Power will come from one of three powerplants, two of which are naturally aspirated – a 2.0-liter Tigershark inline-four producing 160 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.4-liter Tigershark four with 184 hp and 171 lb-ft. Naturally, our attention is focused on the 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir four with 160 horses and 184 lb-ft, which we suspect will be the most fuel efficient engine of the three. Transmissions at launch will all have six speeds: one manual, one automatic and a dual-clutch gearbox with the turbo mill. A is in the works for 2013.
Check out the complete press release , and there’s a full gallery of live images from the unveiling along with the stock shots.
When the original debuted in 2009 as a 2010 model, it was rated at 41 miles per gallon in the city, making it the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan in North America. aims to re-capture that same magic with the 2013 Fusion Hybrid, which makes its debut today at the in Detroit.
Final EPA numbers have not been released just yet, but Ford’s preliminary data suggests that the 2013 Fusion Hybrid will be capable of achieving 47 mpg in the city, along with an immensely respectable 44 mpg highway. That’s better than the mid-size hybrid offerings from , and . Power comes from a new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, rated at 180 horsepower and 130 pound-feet of torque in this application. Power is sent to the front wheels via an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission.
But that’s just half of the Fusion Hybrid story. It’s easily one of the prettiest cars in the class, combining elements of the concept along with design cues that look like they were swiped from the Aston Martin team (it’s all in that fascia). Click through our attached high-res image gallery above to see a new batch of Fusion Hybrid photos live from the floor.
