has dropped a few teasers of a new concept vehicle headed to this year’s Delhi Auto Expo, and the sneaky shots may hint at a successor to the well-worn Jimny/Samurai throne. Right now, the automaker doesn’t have a known replacement lined up for the pint-sized SUV.
The Samurai may have exited North America long ago, but its direct descendant, the Jimny, is still very much alive elsewhere. In fact, it has cultivated a decades-old reputation for being a tough-as-nails bruiser that’s as reliable as it is capable. We think Suzuki would do well to keep the model in its portfolio in the future, and now, new reports suggest the company could lift parts from the Swift drivetrain to build a low-cost Jimny successor.
Even so, assuming the teasers indicate a concept vehicle, it would likely be some time before we saw a production model frolicking about in the light of day. Early estimates would put a next-generation Samurai on stage at the Delhi Auto Expo in two years or so. Does that mean the U.S. will see the Samurai name return to its soil? With Suzuki’s floundering presence here in the states, that seems unlikely, but we would welcome a capable, low-dollar off roader to our shores any day. Head over to the page for a closer look.
The sport utility vehicle became an endangered species not long after fuel prices began to skyrocket. But while vehicle buyers changed their shopping habits, they didn’t actually stray that far from the SUV formula. Many of today’s hottest-selling vehicles are crossovers; essentially the same tall wagons as the SUV, but with a lighter unibody chassis.
Among other things, the CUV promised to deliver superior efficiency, and while some improvement has been evident, in many cases, the genre’s fuel savings have failed to impress. A good case in point is the . When Ford’s two-row CUV entered the market in 2007, it managed only 24 miles per gallon on the highway, and many buyers struggled to hit 20 mpg in mixed driving cycles. There were plenty of reasons for its unimpressive efficiency. Most crossovers remain substantially heavier than a comparable four-door sedan, and with plenty of frontal area, they don’t exactly slice through the wind. But perhaps the biggest issue has been unevolved powertrains.
thinks it has the answer to that problem in the form of its new EcoBoost 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Ford is using the compact, turbocharged mill in a variety of crossovers, including the 2012 Ford Edge, and we sampled a well-equipped Edge Limited to see how effective the Blue Oval’s engine downsizing strategy is going.
Our spy photographers have snapped a few shots of the upcoming and G65 AMG SUVs. The beasts are currently undergoing winter testing in Sweden, and from the looks of things, buyers will be able to chose between two brawny boxes when the vehicles receive an official debut next year. The G55 is likely to feature a 525 horsepower, twin-turbocharged 5.4-liter V8 engine along with the subtle grille and bumper updates we see here. The globe-crushing SUV will also likely receive larger, more capable brakes as well as an updated interior. Otherwise, we can expect the G’s sharp angles to soldier on in perpetuity.
If the G55 isn’t enough to make you giggle, is also planning an even more exclusive G65. That terror will come boasting a 6.0-liter, twin-turbo V12 engine good for 612 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque, though only 200 units will be produced. How’s that for maniacal? Word has it the AMG G twins will take a bow at either the 2012 Detroit Auto Show or the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March.
The is set to appear for the first time at the , but the Tri-Shield is giving us a sneak-peek via its Facebook page. We’ve already seen a close-up of a very , and Buick also of a water-front image.
Now Team Buick is unveiling a second panel, which shows the entire greenhouse plus a good portion of the side body panels. The Encore looks to be about the same size as the Chevrolet Equinox, but we don’t see a single panel shared with the BowTie-badged CUV. We still don’t have the first hint of any vehicle specs, but that should change as we get closer to the crossover’s January 10th reveal date.
Thailand’s worst flood in 50 years claimed the lives of 610 people and caused billions in damage, but with the waters slowly receding, the extent of the damage is coming into focus.
Among the tens of thousands of businesses affected by the disaster, hasn’t been spared – its factory was hit hard, and in an effort to assure that damaged vehicles never make it to consumers, the Japanese automaker has begun to scrap over 1,000 vehicles damaged during the flood.
Honda workers have begun disposing of row upon row of and subcompacts submerged during the flooding using construction equipment and vehicle crushers to demolish the 1,055 vehicles. The tragic yet oddly beautiful gallery above chronicles the aftermath and resulting destruction.
has been busily preparing its new , and the automaker just put the racer through its first shakedown tests in Turin, Italy. So far, the Lotus team is happy with the vehicle’s progress, but testing will continue in 2012 as the company prepares to take on the 2012 FIA World Championship. Don’t expect the to take on too many gravel stages, however. Lotus says the rally car will lock horns with competitors in the FIA GT Class on the asphalt events in Monte Carlo, Tour de Corse and San Remo.
Lotus began working on its rally fighter in July, 2011, which is a pretty quick turn around for the vehicle’s first shakedown run.
But the Exige R-GT Rally Car isn’t the only tasty piece of news from the company. Lotus also fired up the company’s IndyCar engine for the first time as well. for the full press release.
Drivers in Japan have once again taken to the track in an effort to wring maximum mileage from their hybrids. According to AutoWeek, the resumed this year after a two-year hiatus.
Toyota officials said they have no plans to bring the hybrid competition to the U.S., but played up their .
Dealerships fielded teams at Fuji Speedway in Oyama, Japan, for a national championship race held on December 7. Puttering around the Formula 1 track at Fuji, at least one team managed an astounding 80 miles per gallon in their hypermiling efforts, according to the report.
But is it really racing when the drivers are attempting to maintain an average speed of 37 miles per hour and coasting up hills? We will give them credit though – at least they do turn both left and right.
is running deeper and deeper into social media, its latest reach-out to frienders and lurkers being a video contest called . More than 190 films from filmmakers in 32 countries have been submitted for the chance to have their effort aired during the 2012 Super Bowl.
On top of that, Chevrolet has partnered with to let you – that’s right, you – help decide which clip will reach the end zone. But wait, there’s more: by voting and scribbling an answer to the question, “If you could drive to any destination in your home country, where would you go?”, you’ll get the chance to win up to $10,000.
The contest is open to “eligible fans” from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Mexico, the UK and U.S. So head on over to the link to get watching and ranking, and remembering which hidden locale in your homeland most calls to you.
But before you do that, be sure to check out the high-res gallery of stills from some of the submitted vids (pictured above is from “Generations”), and then head on to watch one of them, “Spy Thriller,” and to read all about the contest.
sent Calvin Klein model Lara Stone out with a 2013 SL, and put photographer Alex Prager in charge of documenting the platform-heeled, Arcadian shenanigans. The project is called the 2012 Fashion Collaboration, Icons of Style, and will be shown in its entirety at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, February 9-15, 2012. Meant to be a modern take on film noir and, apparently, Storm Catchers, Stone uses the SL to outrun a tornado.
of the photo above, and for a behind-the-scenes video and more details on both models – the car and the woman – and Alex Prager.
shows off SL’s new curves with supermodel Lara Stone
Unlike most cities, Japan’s capital city plays host to two major automotive exhibitions: the and the . While these terms may be interchangeable when it comes to European expos, in Tokyo, they connote two different shows altogether. The first is the Motor Show, where new concepts and production models are unveiled by the world’s automakers. The Auto Salon is more of a tuner expo along the lines of the show in Las Vegas. So after made its long-anticipated splash at the Tokyo Motor Show with its new , now it’s heading to the Salon with some modified versions.
First up is a version of the , packing some prototype carbon-fiber components, suspension upgrades, Brembo brakes and more. Subaru has also teamed up again with aftermarket tuner Prova (which shares its name with the traditional license plates carried by prototypes in italy) for a BRZ Black Edition. And you can bet there will be a handful or two of other tuners eager to show what they can do with the new rear-drive sports coupe, as well.
Subaru itself will also be showcasing an upgraded called the G4 STI with all manner of performance enhancements, and will, at long last, announce its return to a number of different motorsport disciplines. The Super GT300-spec BRZ, , will be displayed alongside the Legacy-based racer it replaces. But there will also be a WRX STI that’s slated to be fielded at the Nürburgring 24, and Subaru will also be announcing its return to professional rally competition, though not the World Rally Championship series it left years ago, it will contest the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Follow the jump for the full press release.
Despite major improvements, public perception still lingers that most American luxury sedans don’t quite approach the level of refinement and equipment offered by their imported competitors. And so it follows that models fall shy of and , especially because their pricing is less dear. But the latest announcement from Auburn Hills aims to close that perception – and pricing – gap ever so gently.
Whereas in the past, the Pentastar automaker may have tried to sell the buying public on terms like “Corinthian leather” to sell their luxury automobiles, today, all it has to do is call up its friends (read: corporate overlords) in Italy to get some top-quality Potrona Frau leather (usually found in and top-of-the-line Alfa Romeo models) and hand-sanded wood trim sent over. The new-for-2012 Luxury Series is visually distinguished as well by “platinum-chrome” trim on the grille, door mirrors and handles, plus 20-inch polished wheels and all the bells and whistles Chrysler can muster. Starting at $40,125, it’s also a good bit less expensive than other luxury cars its size cars with similar trappings.
Couple that with what Chrysler claims is the first eight-speed automatic transmission offered on a domestic luxury sedan and available all-wheel drive, and the 300 Luxury Series could just make luxury import buyers swing by their local Chrysler dealership for a closer look. Short of that, have a look at the high-res images in the gallery and the press release after the jump for a closer look.
We see the form versus function fight played out on a daily basis in the automotive realm. Designers, engineers and accountants lock horns on every model that ever makes its way to the street in order to come up with a suitable compromise that will successfully appease their respective masters. More often than not, a vehicle’s more stylish aspects are left by the wayside as aerodynamics, packaging and economics hammer automotive forms into the same uninspired mold. Anyone who remembers the muscular form of the concept need only look to the limp lines of the production model to see the process in action.
It’s something special when an automaker cries “Damn the torpedoes!” and drives an undiluted concept design off of the auto show stage and straight into production. Pupils dilate, cheeks flush and hearts flutter with primordial do-want. Such is the case with the . In an era when most automakers wouldn’t waste firing a single synapse on the personal utility segment, has kicked open the doors on an arena long thought forgotten. With its heart-stopping styling, powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine and surprising off-road chops, the Evoque is exactly what we’ve been missing from this segment. But who’s going to buy it?
If you went to the movies over the holiday, chances are pretty good you saw the latest box-office-topping Tom Cruise vehicle. We’re not talking about the globetrotting explosion-fest it came wrapped up in, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol; we’re speaking of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car that (along with seemingly every other model in Munich’s arsenal).
But the Vision EfficientDynamics coupe isn’t just a flight of fancy for the world’s auto show circuit or for Cruise’s Ethan Hunt character – it’s set for production , albeit . Snapped undergoing testing through a chain-link fence, the extended-range plug-insupercar looks ready for the street, if only we could peel away the Van Gogh camouflage. This 2+2 is widely expected to deliver a 0-62 mph time of 4.8 seconds, and we’re expecting the lightweight flyer to lose the unique lower glass door panels of the 2009 show car (a design change hinted at by this prototype’s swirly coverup).
Speaking of the doors, they also look to be more conventional in size and possibly operation – the concept car featured elongated butterfly doors that afforded accesses to both the front and rear seats. The prototype seen here would appear to have more conventionally sized apertures. We’re guessing that mundane real-world considerations like crash-worthiness and ease of operation had something to do with the transition. Another likely concession to the realities of production auto-making appear to be a pair of rather ungainly bumper-level nacelles in the rear fascia that weren’t present on the show car. We’re not sure if these are merely reflectors, actual taillights or if they’re simply clever camouflage, but we’re hoping for the latter.
While the concept was powered by both an electric drivetrain and a small diesel generator, our spies suggest that the production car may switch over to a more conventional turbocharged four-cylinder range-extender. Whether it burns gas or oil, however, the i8 is sure to be one of the most radical cars on the road… and it’s likely to carry an exotic price tag to match.
Art cars are becoming de rigeur once again, but while most automakers getting in on the action contract painters of some sort or another to spruce up their products, Renault has gone in a slightly different direction for its latest project.
To celebrate the arrival of its new Twingo hatchback, the French automaker has brought in a musician, a chef, a fashion designer and a product designer to give their take on the Twingo’s interior.
Pop singer Nicola Roberts installed a mobile recording studio and a dressing trailer’s worth of equipment in hers. Fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac turned his rolling canvas into a stately presidential city car. Designer Nils Holger Moormann made his Twingo into a mobile “reading room.” And chef Davide Scabin drew inspiration from pasta in his interpretation.
Intriguing ideas, all, if a tad impractical. But the photos speak for themselves, so check ‘em out in our high-res image gallery and follow the jump for the full press release.
bet big on the combination of light dutypickup trucks and boosted V6 power, and it appears the gamble has paid off. The Detroit News reports that Ford has already reached 100,000 F-150 sales in 2011, just as the automaker .
Overall EcoBoost models accounted for 40 percent of all sales, which is impressive considering that the boosted mill comes with a $895 price premium compared to the very capable 5.0-liter V8. Still more impressive is the fact that Ford also sold plenty of 3.7-liter V6 models as well, and the overall take rate of V6 engines is over 50 percent on the year. Ford hasn’t sold this many V6-powered F-150 models since Doc Brown turned a into a time machine (1985).
With V6-powered F-150 models selling this well, we’re expecting General Motors and to follow suit with their own six-cylinder offerings. It seems truck buyers would be more than okay with the decision.
Four of ‘ full-size truck plants, three of them in the U.S., will go intermittently silent for a total of 21 weeks in order to retool for 2013 model year production. The and plants have both been in the news lately as recipients of multi-million dollar investments for just this purpose.
Fort Wayne will shut down for nine weeks over the course of 10 months, from January to October of 2012, while Flint will stop production for seven weeks from June to November, and the Arlington, Texas facility will be quiet from June to December for five weeks. The Mexico plant in Silao will find out its shut-down schedule next year. GM has been stockpiling a 90-day supply of its and pickups to make up for the loss of production.
When the 2013 models arrive, we can expect a new forced-induction V6, the continuation of the 5.3- and 6.0-liter V8s, and the 6.2-liter V8 going into the heavy-duty versions exclusively.
2012 will be the first year that the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will be held on an entirely paved road, and while many who have long been involved with the event are bemoaning the loss of the gravel sections, the full tarmac course has peaked interest in the race. In fact, event organizers are considering adding a second race day for 2013. This time last year only 46 racers has expressed interest in participating in the event, but that number is already up to 170 for next year’s race.
“The interest is astronomical compared to last year,” says Tom Osborne, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb board chairman. “We’re seeing all kinds of unique new cars.” Osborne says that the race will likely have to hold a qualifying for 2012 to limit the number of entries into each class.
While you can count us in the group that will miss the gravel, we’re duly excited to see what sort of new cars show up to Pikes Peak in the next several years.
makes a whole mess of different crossovers, and not just the ones we get here in North America. Overseas, the Japanese automaker has even more, like the Qashqai, the Koleos (sold by sister-company Renault) and the vehicle you see here, the X-Trail.
Not to be confused with the , the X-Trail is a small but rugged-looking little ute built atop the same platform that underpins the and the . Though its not exactly what you’d call cheap, it is more affordable than most other crossovers on the market overseas, but Nissan is now bridging that gap by offering a new premium version called the Platinum edition.
The special model is visually distinguished by the extra protection plates on the bumpers front and rear, and the chrome side steps and door moldings. Inside the Platinum gets leather trim and motorized, heated front seats, touch-screen infotainment system and a back-up camera displayed in the rearview mirror.
A 2.0-liter diesel pulls all those luxury touches along with 170 horsepower, in a package limited to 200 examples selling for about £30,000 (depending on whether you take the automatic or manual transmission option). That’s nearly $47k at current exchange rates, and includes the UK’s relatively high Value-Added Tax.
We like us some matte finish here at Autoblog, but we have to admit that the usual smattering of matte black vinyl wraps leave us a bit in the dark. That’s why our eyes pop just a little wider when we see a car that cuts the glare but keeps the palette. That’s also why the storied brands of the Fiat group are getting top marks in our books these days.
At the 2010 , the group’s top brand showed off a with regenerative braking and a delicious matte green finish. The following year at the same venue, Alfa Romeo lifted the veil on the tempting in a beautiful shade of matte red. And at the Bologna Motor Show earlier this month, their sister brand showcased this special in matte blue.
The car in question is a unique GranTurismo S Limited Edition exclusive to the Italian market, limited to only twelve examples to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification. It also packs carbon spoilers front and rear, as well as carbon side mirrors and door handles, with matte black side skirts and headlamps, and black 20-inch rims with polished aluminum brake calipers. Check it out in the press release and the high-res images in the gallery for a closer look.
hits the matte with exclusive GranTurismo S Limited Edition
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation concerning sedans from the 2003 and 2004 model year. The government organization has reportedly received 43 complaints about inaccurate fuel gauge readings, and in 26 of these cases, the improperly calibrated fuel gauges have led to instances of engine stalling.
According to the NHTSA report, “The complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most received within the past year.” This investigation will encompass approximately 8,100 M45 models.
Speaking to Inside Line, an Infiniti spokesperson says that the automaker is aware of the NHTSA investigation and will “work to address any issues that arise from it.” to read the official NHTSA statement.
