Car Talk → 2022

[LTAWACS]

Im really dissapointed at Honda. Here is their latest crap. The 2011 CR-Z. It looks okay but its a heavy, slow, fake hybrid.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/11/detroit-2010-honda-cr-z-promises-to-bring-driving-joy-to-the-hy/

Looks like someone punched a current Prius to give it this large, bulbous nose. Ugh.

[Urbannizer]

2011 Lincoln MKX- They got rid of those wrap-around tailights.

The really story is not the exterior - it's the interior. Specifically, the MKX is the first vehicle getting Ford's all new Minority Report-inspired (no, really) MyFord Touch system. Although in this application the futuristic navigation, entertainment, climate and phone system is called MyLincoln Touch. Hey, what's in a name.

There's more inside to greet you than just MyLincoln Touch, as the MKX features vastly improved materials than not only the previous car, but all other Lincolns. We touched, we felt and please trust us - the MKX is an nice, upscale place to be. Also, they've banished buttons. Literally, there aren't any on the center stack. Instead you're treated to a series of touch sensitive sliders. George Takei would be stoked. The best part: all this inner goodness will soon be making its way across the Lincoln lineup.

http://www.autoblog....ylincoln-touch/

Edited January 12, 2010 by Urbannizer

[Urbannizer]

Cadillac XTS- The DTS replacement, the production version will look almost identical to the concept. It will be here by early 2012 or late 2011.

For the past decade, Cadillac has been transforming itself from a brand that built big, floaty old-school luxury cars for old-school customers into something much more contemporary to compete with the best premium brands from Europe. Unfortunately for GM, the process has been only partially successful. The Escalade has been a huge sales success for the brand and the CTS has achieved both critical and commercial acclaim. The STS and the first generation SRX, however, never quite struck a chord with the market and the DTS is just old.

A new SRX debuted last year, but now it's time to flesh out the rest of the lineup. It's time to spread that goodness to both a smaller and larger sedan. Last August we saw styling concepts of both those cars, dubbed the ATS and XTS during a visit to the GM design studios. GM isn't publicly showing the 3 series-sized ATS just yet, but the XTS is debuting today at the Detroit Auto Show. The XTS Platinum concept is a preview of Cadillac's new flagship that's expected to start production in early 2012

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/12/detroit-2010-cadillac-xts-platinum-concept-ready-to-replace-sts/

[LTAWACS]

I LOVE that Caddy... Nice...

[Urbannizer]

^ It will be Cadllac's 7-Series. The ATS, which will come before the XTS will be Cadillac's 3-Series, and the CTS will be the 5-Series.

Another coupe may join Cadillac as well. The Converj Concept, which is the same as the Volt.

Edited January 13, 2010 by Urbannizer

[LTAWACS]

^ It will be Cadllac's 7-Series. The ATS, which will come before the XTS will be Cadillac's 3-Series, and the CTS will be the 5-Series.

Another coupe may join Cadillac as well. The Converj Concept, which is the same as the Volt.

I wonder what kind of powerplants will be offered. V12?

[mkultra25]

I see that the Houston Auto Show coming up at the end of this month has cut back this year from a full week spanning two weekends to five days and a single weekend. Not too surprising given the state of the industry and the economy, and most of the other major auto shows have implemented similar cutbacks. It'll be interesting to see how many exhibitors decide to sit this one out.

[Urbannizer]

^It seems that every car show so far has had less new vehicles/concepts than last.

[Urbannizer]

Audi E-Tron Concept - This E-Tron concept is different from the other that was at the LA Auto Show last month. It will be the Audi R4, which will arrive in 2012.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/latest-audi-e-tron-concept-best-preview-of-upcoming-r4-model.html

[LTAWACS]

Holy carp! NICE.

[Urbannizer]

2011 Mini Countryman

We know that because of 2009 and all the economic misery it entailed, Mini decided to delay the launch of the Countryman, at least here in the U.S. Meaning that you're going to have to either wait until October, or move to Europe to get your hands on one.

[sevfiv]

The Minis are cute but I keep randomly reading about awful service and maintenance issues.

Also, I happen to have a rental right now - a Dodge Nitro - and it is what I would imagine it would be like if a toaster was blown up to the size of an SUV and made drivable..

[LTAWACS]

The Minis are cute but I keep randomly reading about awful service and maintenance issues.

Also, I happen to have a rental right now - a Dodge Nitro - and it is what I would imagine it would be like if a toaster was blown up to the size of an SUV and made drivable..

I suggest getting an F-250.

[Urbannizer]

2010 Mazda 5 - Mazda wants you and your car to smile ;D

Cribbing heavily from recent show cars like the Nagare and Furai, the new 5 sports swoopy character lines along its flanks, and adopts the now-familiar and familial smiley face up front. Besides an all-new body, the 2011 Mazda5 will also get the company's "i-stop" start-stop technology for its new direct-injection engine, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 15 percent according to Mazda. Mazda says the Nagare-inspired styling actually serves to reduce drag and maintain a good balance of downforce before and after, but we're pretty sure people will just think its a bit overstyled.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/20/all-new-2011-mazda5-coming-to-geneva/

[sevfiv]

I suggest getting an F-250.

Oh no! That would be completely unfunctional for me.

[Subdude]

2010 Mazda 5 - Mazda wants you and your car to smile ;D

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/20/all-new-2011-mazda5-coming-to-geneva/

Euro version. I have a hard time imagining that would do well in America.

[Urbannizer]

^Mazda5's have been sold in the U.S since 2005. I don't know how well they are doing here though.

[Urbannizer]

Alfa Romeo's U.S Return Delayed Indefinitely

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has cast dark clouds over hope that Alfa Romeo will return to the U.S. in the near future. According to UK-based Telegraph, Alfa's return has been postponed indefinitely while the brand sorts out its troubles at home.

European Alfa sales have fallen dramatically in recent times, with a slow-to-evolve lineup plagued with old platforms and designs. Fiat execs are currently mulling over what direction to take with the brand, while sister brand Lancia seems destined to join with Chrysler.

http://wot.motortrend.com/6613733/auto-news/report-alfa-romeos-us-return-delayed-indefinitely-could-be-canceled/index.html

[Subdude]

Alfa Romeo's U.S Return Delayed Indefinitely

http://wot.motortrend.com/6613733/auto-news/report-alfa-romeos-us-return-delayed-indefinitely-could-be-canceled/index.html

Nice looking cars with a poor rep for quality. I think Fiat was kidding itself that they could succeed with Alfa in America. Even more delusional is trying to sell Lancias as Chrysler. Did you see the "Chrysler Lancia"?

[Urbannizer]

^ Yeah I saw. Lancias are ugly if they sell that here, they should replace it with the PT Cruiser.

[HoustonMidtown]

Toyota is going to stop building/selling 8 models affected by the recent recalls:

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2010/01/toyota-to-stop-selling-building-recalled-models.html

[Urbannizer]

Saab Lives, will be sold to Spker

What a long, strange trip it's been. Every thriller must have an endgame, although whether the guy gets the girl in the end or just plain "gets it" is often in doubt right until the final frame. This afternoon, after a most improbable and tortured saga, GM has finally agreed to sell Saab to Spyker Cars.

The tiny Dutch supercar manufacturer and its backers have outlasted all comers, including everyone from Koenigsegg to investment consortium Merbanco to a joint bid by Genii Capital and Formula One mastermind Bernie Ecclestone. More significantly, they've endured GM and its negotiators, submitting and re-submitting a series of bids to finally bring together the winning package.

Complete details of the transaction have yet to be fully disclosed, but it's understood to include Spyker giving GM $74 million up front, along with allowing The General to pocket a further $326 million in preferred shares from the new Spyker-owned entity. The deal requires that the Swedish government agree to guarantee a 400 million-euro loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB), a step that is expected to be consummated in February.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/26/breaking-gm-reaches-agreement-to-saab-to-spyker/

Edited January 27, 2010 by Urbannizer

[jmancuso]

i usually dont care for those boxy cars like the scion b or nissan cube but that gmc granite is pretty sharp.

[barracuda]

Toyota is going to stop building/selling 8 models affected by the recent recalls:

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2010/01/toyota-to-stop-selling-building-recalled-models.html

It would seem that being the world's largest automaker means your quality goes down. Way down.

Edited January 27, 2010 by barracuda

[LTAWACS]

It would seem that being the world's largest automaker means your quality goes down. Way down.

Not necessarily true.

[barracuda]

Not necessarily true.

But true in this case.

A decade ago, Toyota exemplified reliability. Now, they seem to have trouble building a car where the most basic feature -- acceleration -- works as intended. And it's not unusual that quality suffers in the chase for growth.

[LTAWACS]

But true in this case.

A decade ago, Toyota exemplified reliability. Now, they seem to have trouble building a car where the most basic feature -- acceleration -- works as intended. And it's not unusual that quality suffers in the chase for growth.

I would be interested to see how Toyota's (or other large scale manufacturer of cars) quality breaks down by region.

[Urbannizer]

2010 Fiat 500

Coming to Chrysler dealers later this year.

[20thStDad]

^Nice toy. Will they make one for people who have driver's licenses?

[Urbannizer]

2011 Kia Sportage - Japenese Automakers Honda and Toyota better watch out!

As evident from the pictures, the all-new Kia Sportage crossover marks a dramatic shift in design direction for the brand’s popular compact SUV. Like all new Kia vehicles so far, the new Sportage received a distinctive family face with “Schreyer” grille and Sorento-inspired daytime running lights. The combination of high beltline and narrow glasshouse makes it look fantastic, while its plastic body cladding boasts an off-roading appearance. The new model looks eye-pleasing, but Kia claims that Sportage also offers vastly improved ride quality thanks to a brand-new platform with longer wheelbase. In terms of size, the model is longer, lower and wider than its predecessor and offers more passenger room. The boot space has also increased significantly, according to Kia. Kia has yet to release more details, but you can expect to see a 2.0L and 2.4L four-cylinder gasoline engines fitted under the hood of North American Sportage. The 2011 Kia Sportage is set to hit Kia Dealers within a few months.

http://www.kia-world.net/index.php/2010/02/03/new-kia-sportage-images/ Edited February 4, 2010 by Urbannizer