A year ago, General Motors filed for bankruptcy and installed a revolving door on the office of the CEO. Pontiac and Saturn are gone. Hummer is on its way to Chinese ownership. Saab remains in limbo and is likely to be liquidated soon.
A year ago, Nissan and Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn said, "In tough times, you have to look at and adjust your product-development programs, but you can't just stop. Because then, when things return to normal, you have nothing to come to market with. The one thing certain about the future is that people will continue to be driving cars." People are in fact still driving, and GM is preparing to roll out some quite interesting, relevant, and well-developed products.
Among other things, it is working hard to fill in the blanks in Buick's lineup as it also prepares to launch the much-ballyhooed and all-important Chevrolet Volt. Here's the skinny on the significant new products from The General that are just around the turn of a calendar's page.
The lights are back on and factory floors are buzzing. Hot metal is pouring out of car companies that are leaner, greener, and meaner than ever. We've driven many of their offerings and looked ahead a couple of years for the rest. What's next? It all starts right here with our 2012 Future Cars guide, an A-to-Z sampling of some of the most anticipated vehicles coming soon from the world's top automakers...
Volkswagen Group Chairman Ferdinand Piech loves extremes. He sells the world's fastest and most expensive "production" cars with Bugatti badges on them. He sells the quintessential "world" car in the form of the VW Golf. He expects to outsell Toyota worldwide by mid-decade.
Now, Piech's Volkswagen has combined state-of-the-art technology, from common rail diesel-supplemented plug-in hybrid power to carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer lightweight body material, to create the XL1. The concept consumes 0.9 liters of diesel fuel per 100 kilometers, the automaker says, which translates to an EPA fuel mileage figure of 261.3 mpg. That mileage equals 24 grams of CO2 per kilometer, VW says. Our CO2 converter converts 261.3 mpg to 0.30 pounds per mile. VW chose to unveil this car as part of an auto show in Qatar, the one part of the world where fuel efficiency isn't much of an issue.
All this tech is expensive and still pie-in-the-sky, of course, so don't expect this in your local VW dealership at Honda-competitive prices anytime soon.
The XL1's lightweight body is as big a deal as the powertrain. VW says it found a way to mass produce the carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) in "sufficient" volumes two years ago, and has improved the process since then. Total weight of the two-seat XL1 is 1,753 pounds, with 500 pounds of that accounting for the powertrain and another 507 pounds attributed to the body. Citing carbon fiber's use in Formula One cars (just about the last automotive frontier where VW Group isn't involved), Volkswagen says it provides for a high-strength monocoque in the XL1.
The car's A- and B-pillars, cant rails, and sills all are designed to absorb impact energy.
The 0.8-liter, two-cylinder TDI also has been designed for efficient mass production. It's half a VW European-market 1.6-liter common rail TDI as used in the Golf and Passat, and shares many of the four-cylinder's key features, including piston recesses for multiple injection and individual orientation for each of the injection jets. The two-banger gets its own crankshaft-turned-balancer shaft, and the engine is rated 47 horsepower. Exhaust gas recirculation, an oxidation catalytic converter, and a diesel particulate filter help the engine meet Euro-6 emissions standards, VW says. An externally driven electric water pump cools the TDI only when necessary.
When reports surfaced last April that the Renault-Nissan (R-N) would share technologies with Mercedes-Benz, the news was a bit surprising, especially considering that Daimler, the German giant behind Benz, has a checkered past in international alliances. (Namely its failed relationships with Mitsubishi and Chrysler.)
But this time it's going to be different, we're told, because bosses from the tri-nation partnership spent "a significant amount of time" working out details of exactly how each will benefit from the technology exchange, according to an insider.
Apart from rumors of a future Infiniti model employing a next-generation S-Class platform and a Nissan V-6/hybrid combination, some of the most exciting news focuses on a small Infiniti incorporating a Mercedes engine. Slated to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the new Infiniti coupe will employ a next-generation B-C-sized platform co-developed by Renault and Nissan that is also destined to form the basis of the next Nissan Tiida and Renault Megane. Taking on almost identical dimensions to that of the Mercedes CLC, the new luxury two-door will be powered by a Mercedes 1.8 liter, four-cylinder CGI turbo that generates 202 hp and emits 171g/km of CO2. This will be Infiniti's smallest luxury car to date.
In addition to the moves outlined above, Mercedes wants access to R-N's electric vehicle know-how as well as its extensive global infrastructure investment. Another facet of the R-N portfolio that Mercedes plans to tap into is the alliance's low-cost, high-quality small-car lineup -- including its 1.2-to-1.6-liter 3- and 4-cylinder gas engines, a segment that the German manufacturer believes will expand in the near future.
Meanwhile, R-N wants to get its hands on Mercedes' high-quality, fuel-efficient 4- and 6-cylinder engines, most notably the powerplants that include the 1.8-liter CGI turbo, and the 3.0- and 3.5-liter V-6 units. R-N also wants to source Bluetec V-6 diesel engines to power its luxury Infiniti lineup, creating a double-pronged gas-hybrid and diesel lineup for Europe. R-N believes that only by employing the cleaner Mercedes engines can it meet the 120g/km CO2 emissions regulations coming into force in 2015.
The past year turned out to be a mixed bag for the Asian automakers doing business in the U.S. market. Hyundai, Kia, and Subaru were the big winners, with all three posting not just market share gains, but absolute sales gains in a year in which the entire new car market shrank by about 25%. On the the other side of the ledger, Toyota posted its first loss ever, thought it managed to hold off surging Volkswagen to retain its crown as the world's biggest automaker only to be forced to stop sales and production of most of its lineup in late January due to faulty accelerator pedals. Rival Honda saw its Prius-fighting Insight hybrid flounder while Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn continues to be under pressure (the Ghosn that could do no wrong is now just a distant memory).
So what does the future hold for the Asian giants? And what of the likes of Suzuki and long-struggling Mitsubishi? The future of the former (and the fate of the Swift subcompact) rests on the success of the Kizashi sedan, while the latter has some plans in the works as well. Here's a quick look at a few of the top vehicles coming from Asia's automotive giants in the near future.
Lately, the three German luxury brands have been carving niches out of niches, but that hasn't stopped them from paying attention to their core products. BMW just redesinged the 5 and 7 Series with a new 3 Series on the way. Mercedes-Benz has a brand new E-Class sedan and coupe on its hands, with wagon and convertible variants en route. And Audi is in the midst of revising its entire lineup. Read on to find out more about what's in store from Ingolstadt, Munich, and Stuttgart.
WHAT: 2012 BMW 3 SERIES WHEN: EARLY 2011
When the next-generation BMW 3 Series arrives sometime in 2011, one of the big changes besides the updated sheetmetal (don't expect a radical change like there was from the E46 to the current E90) will be the new single-turbo inline-six that replaces the current model's twin-turbo unit. First seen in the 5 Series Gran Turismo, this mill makes the same 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque, but over a wider RPM range while meeting the upcoming Euro6 and U.S. SULEV emissions standards. A naturally-aspirated I-6 should also be available and there are even rumors of an I-4. The arrival of the new 3 Series will also bring about the end of the V-8-powered M3, as the next one is expected to go back to an I-6 powerplant.
Nearly every reviewer noted that the 2009 Hyundai Genesis has styling that takes no chances and is conservative, if not downright bland. “In contrast to the advanced engineering in the Genesis, the styling is more cautious,” said Car and Driver. Several of the reviews also pointed to the tasteful but derivative nature of the design. Edmunds said, “This Hyundai looks and feels very much like a top-line Lexus,” and Automobile assessed the Genesis’s overall effect as “at worst benign, the car assuming a kind of generic upscale visage.” Car and Driver best summed up all the cues, pointing to “a bit of S-Class in the headlights, a hint of Lexus GS in the hood, some 5-series in the taillights, and a BMW- or Nissan-like kink in the C-pillars.”..
the 2010 5-Series sedan and wagon bear the hallmarks of an older school of BMW styling-one that's being left behind. With elaborate curves and sculpturing on the body sides, the 5-Series looks disjointed and complicated from some angles. It's far from the conservative streak seen in BMWs past, and it's been controversial on this car and on others sharing its theme: the 7-Series, the 6-Series, and the first-generation Z4. Wagons look a bit more balanced. Edmunds deems the 2010 BMW 5-Series a "wolf in a flamboyant sheep's clothing." Car and Driver says, "Styling doesn't appeal to all," and calls it "somewhat controversial." According to Cars.com, "The 5 Series' design was a radical departure for BMW when it debuted in 2003, but its... Read the BMW 5-Series Review
The 2010 Lexus RX 350 represents the next generation of the RX Lexus lineup, but the styling hasn't changed too drastically. Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show that the exterior of the 2010 Lexus RX 350 still carves the same conservative, middle-of-the-road profile that Lexus is known for. Some reviewers aren't very impressed; Jalopnik says that Lexus "managed to take a boring but tidy SUV and crank the snooze up to 11." Others, however, appreciate the broad appeal of the Lexus RX 350. The latest Lexus design language, which they have christened "L-finesse," works well on the Lexus RX 350, according to Cars.com. "L-finesse models have a clean, uncluttered look that's accented by sharp, angular design elements, such as the... Read the Lexus RX 350 Review
When the roads freeze, YouTube quickly buzzes with videos of vehicular mayhem as careless drivers ignore warning signs and common sense, becoming mere participants in zero-friction physics experiments as their cars slowly pirouette into one another. Clearly, icy roads and cars don't mix.
Unless your name is Juha Kankkunen, your car is a lightly modified BentleyContinental Supersports, and your road is a 10.2-mile long stretch of frozen Baltic Sea. Then, you set a world ice speed record of -- get this -- 205.48 mph.
How did Bentley do it? Well, first you start with the Bentley Continental Supersports, complete with its 6.0-liter V-12 putting out more than 600 horsepower to all four wheels. Add some Pirelli winter tires, a sturdy roll cage to the convertible body, a rear parachute, fill the tank with E85 ethanol just to make it all seem "green," and your car is ready to rumble.
Then, recruit Kankkunen, a man who knows driving on slick surfaces not because he's from Finland -- although that certainly helps -- but because he was World Rally Champion four times over and has numerous other accolades, including holding the world ice speed record.
Finally, you carve a track out of a stretch of frozen Baltic sea and invite along the Finnish Traffic Police and Guinness out to make sure you're not cheating the numbers.
The resulting time is really nothing short of amazing when you think about it. Sure, cars have gone faster on deserts and salt. But this is ice people. Way slicker. Throw in crosswinds, snow flurries and maybe even a moose or two (this is Finland after all), and you have a pretty perilous record attempt.
Bentley will be celebrating its achievement with a limited-edition "extreme" version of the Continental Supersports, which it will unveil at the Geneva motor show on March 1. If you're one of the lucky 100 people to get one, just do us one favor: Don't try to break the record, okay?
Once a year, Americans celebrate their love of capitalism with a three-hour long festival of new television commercials. Conveniently broken up by a football game, the ad-fest usually features a bunch of high-concept spots by carmakers, since they're one of the few companies able to afford the $100,000-per-second advertising fee.
By this time, you've no doubt seen and Facebooked Volkswagen's excellent ad for the 2012 Passat, starring a pint-sized Darth Vader. Also making waves isChrysler's excellent spot for the 200, which is as much a commercial for Detroit and American pride as it is for the car. But lost in the shuffle were two ads from European luxury car manufacturers, both of which try to change preconceived notions.
First, there's the "Release the Hounds" ad for the 2012 Audi A8. It plays offAudi's theme of "new luxury," that is, don't get suckered into buying an old-timeyBenz when you could have a snazzy new Audi instead. It features a couple of guys breaking out of "luxury prison," and eventually getting into getaway cars. One older gent hops into the back seat of an S-Class Benz, the younger, hipper guy gets into a black A8. Guess who gets away? But I got the same impression from this as I did from the "Goodnight Moon" ad from a couple weeks ago. Audi's cars are better than this.
Sure, the ad has a couple of amusing gags -- "release the hounds" unleashes a bunch of afghans, and Kenny G puts the rioting prisoners to sleep -- but the commercial doesn't really say anything about the car. Why is Audi, a company with roots dating back to the 1920s, "new" luxury? The ad doesn't really say what sets this big, German luxury sedan apart from other big, German luxury sedans. Except that it's the preferred choice of savvy minimum-security prison escapees.
BMW does a much better job with its ad for the diesel-powered 335d. The ad opens to a montage of diesel cliches: a smelly gas pump; black smoke belching from exhaust pipes (and a trucker's mouth); an old Mercedes-Benz 300D rattling to pieces; and a soot-encrusted Volvo wagon struggling up a hill. Then a bright blue BMW 335d bursts through the haze -- literally -- blasting past the onlookers and stunning them with its performance and cleanliness.
For me, this ad worked for two reasons. First, it actually says something about why this BMW diesel is different. By showcasing performance, BMW effectively changes the diesel association from the old smoke-belchers to a sleek high-performance machine. Second, conspicuously absent from the spot are fuel economy numbers. This isn't about saving fuel, it's about entertaining driving, one of BMW's core strengths. With its clear message and strong imagery, it's a much better ad. Hopefully, Audi was watching.
Buick unveiled its eAssist mild hybrid technology on the 2012 LaCrosse at theLos Angeles Auto Show last year. Now, the company will unveil a similar system for the smaller, hot-selling Regal sedan.
If you're thinking that eAssist is Buick's answer to full-hybrid systems fromInfiniti, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus, think again. Even Buick only refers to its system as a hybrid in passing, preferring to refer to eAssist as "light electrification."
While eAssist is the base drivetrain in all LaCrosse models, it's an optional drivetrain in the Regal, slotting above the base model, but below the turbo.
Like the system in the LaCrosse, the Regal's eAssist uses a small 15-kilowatt motor/generator mounted on the block of the 182-hp 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine. It's connected to the engine through a belt drive system. Unable to move the car on its own, it instead lets the engine shut down during coasting maneuvers and at a stop.
The motor uses a 0.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack in the trunk to restart the Regal, and it also keeps the engine spinning when the fuel is switched off during coasting so that the car doesn't bog down suddenly.
The six-speed automatic has also been redesigned and reprogrammed to integrate more smoothly with the on-again, off-again engine. The assist from the electric motor means that the gearing can be taller, which helps highway fuel efficiency. The clutches have also been reworked, and the transmission now has an electrically driven pump to keep it primed when the engine is off.
Right now, Buick is claiming that it will improve the Regal's fuel economy up to 25 percent, from its current 19 city/30 highway to 26 city and 37 highway. That's not world beating, but it's pretty darn good for a premium sedan that still has about 200 net horsepower. It's also better than its closest competitor, the AcuraTSX, by a healthy margin.
Since its introduction, the BMW X6 has been one of those vehicles that makes you cock your head like a confused collie whenever you see it.
BMW says it's sporty, but even though it'spretty quick, its Suburban-size width and 2.5 tons of weight fight you around every corner. The X6's crazy roofline means that cargo space is pretty poor for a vehicle this size, and panel vans have better visibility. Even though it's a crossover, the suspension tuning is exclusively for on-road use, so forget about being the coolest guy at the campground. It's massive, but passenger space is laughably small, with only two seats in front, and the rear bench split by a center console.
It's also really expensive.
BMW is attempting to make the X6 slightly less useless by adding a center position to the rear seating area so you can take a very skinny fifth person with you.The option -- accommodating an extra person will cost you more money -- will eliminate the center console between the two outboard positions for an additional passenger spot and three-point seatbelt. It will only be available on the X6 xDrive35i, xDrive50i and M models; ActiveHybrids will remain slaves to the four-passenger style.
BMW also dressed up the interior a little bit more, with three new leather colors, the full suite of ConnectedDrive smartphone integration, and paddle shifters for the eight-speed automatic transmission.
Still, you have to ask yourself: The BMW X5 weighs the same, looks better, is just as quick, you can see out of it, carry more people, and pay less money. It even comes in a relatively thrifty diesel version
It turns out thatPorsches won't say "Made in China" anytime soon. Nor will they say "Made in U.S.A." either. Mere days after telling German magazine Focus that Porschemay consider building an Audi-based small crossover in China or the U.S., Porsche president Matthius Muller is backpedaling.
Muller told China's First Financial Daily that Porsche has no plans to build a vehicle in China, or anywhere else for that matter. While acknowledging that Porsche may have to consider expanding production elsewhere in the future as demand rises, Muller says that for now all Porsches will be built in Germany.
Furthermore, Muller says that Porsche has no plans to build a small crossover based of an Audi platform. What's interesting about this is that he didn't deny that Porsche is working on a small crossover, just that it wouldn't be built on an Audi platform.
So what does it all mean? It means that trying to determine future plans of automakers is a tricky business. Did Muller leak info on future production plans before they were finalized, and then have to recant? Was he spitballing with a German news magazine, and see that spitball turn into something real in the media? Was he just blowing smoke to confuse everyone? Who knows. It'll certainly get cleared up next week. Or the week after that. Or the week after that, or the week after that….
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class got a facelift for the 2012 model year, but now we're seeing what those changes mean for the high-horsepower AMG version. These images leaked onto the web, and Car and Driver is saying that they're not "product correct," meaning that the final version of the car will look slightly different.
No matter, it's still plenty to go on. Not surprisingly, the AMG version sports similar styling tweaks as the less enthusiastic models. The headlights, hood, front fenders, grille and bumper have all been revised, giving the car a cleaner and more modern look. Under the new aluminum hood is the same naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 engine, with output of 451 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque; a Development Package ups horsepower to 481, and removes the 155-mph speed limiter, allowing the C63 AMG to top out at 174 mph.
What's particularly newsworthy is the new transmission. The new C63 AMG will use the new seven-speed SpeedshiftMCT automatic. Instead of a torque converter, the new automatic uses a clutch pack, which AMG says makes for quicker and smoother shifts.
Personally, I'm a little torn on the engine choice. On one hand, the new twin-turbo V-8 that's in the CLS63 AMG puts out more power, which is rarely a bad thing. However, the big 6.2-liter V-8 has one of the most glorious engine sounds I've ever heard. Besides, it's not like the current car is slow or anything.
Official pics will be available as the Geneva show approaches in the beginning of March.
Now Cadillac is getting into the blackout paint luxury car meme with its Black Diamond Edition CTS-V. Available in all versions of the CTS-V -- sedan, coupe and wagon -- the Black Diamond package consists primarily of a special, proprietary black paint called SpectraFlair. What makes it special is the three-coat process, which uses aluminum flakes encapsulated in magnesium fluoride to give it the diamond effect. Judging strictly from the pictures and video that GM released, the result is bass-boat levels of metal flake in the black paint.
Also part of the package is a set of 19-inch Satin Graphite wheels, with yellowBrembo brake calipers behind them. Inside are Midnight Sapele wood accents and Recaro seats with tan microfiber suede inserts that help break up what would otherwise be an oppressively black interior.
The drivetrain is unchanged, so each CTS-V Black Diamond Edition comes with the same supercharged 6.2-liter 556-hp V-8 engine, coupled to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic with paddle shifters. The Black Diamond treatment will be available beginning in March, and costs $4,850 over the base price of a CTS-V. That's a pretty big chunk of change, but like the Black EditionPorsches that have come online recently, I have no doubt that they will sell like crazy.
Earlier this year,Cadillac dropped the 2.8-liter turbocharged V-6 engine option from itsSRX crossover. There was some curiosity about the move, since the 2.8-liter six offered much improved performance compared to the 3.0-liter V-6 that is currently standard equipment in the SRX.
Well, wonder no more.GM Inside News (GMI) reports that its sources are saying that the 2012 CadillacSRX will get an upgraded version of the company's excellent 3.6-liter V-6.
Known as the "LFX," not much is known about the updated engine, but GMI says a power bump is likely over the 304-hp the direct-injection V-6 currently puts out in the CTS. Furthermore, the 3.6-liter engine will be the only engine available in the SRX in the U.S., although the 3.0-liter may soldier on in foreign markets.
Other upgrades for the 2012 model year include a heated steering wheel.
Infiniti made some pretty bold claims when it unveiled the 2012 MHybrid at the LosAngelesAuto Show last year. The breakdown was something like this: Lots of horsepower, lots of performance, not a lot of fuel consumed in the process.
Well, the numbers are in, and it turns out thatInfiniti wasn't blowing smoke about its green-performance sedan so to speak. Thehybrid version of Infiniti'sdefacto flagship sedan turned in very respectable 27 mpg on the EPA's city cycle, and 32 mpg on the highway.
Those numbers by themselves aren't really remarkable. After all, there are plenty of other hybrids and diesels that best the M Hybrid's mileage handily. However, none of them do it while delivering 360 net horsepower from its V-6 engine and electric motor.
The Infinitihybrid system sandwiches an electric motor between the gas engine and the seven-speed transmission. Using two clutches it phases in the electric motor as needed. The space-saving design means it's easily adaptable to otherdrivetrains, and the position of the electric motor means you can move on pure electric power up to 62 mph. We haven't driven the M Hybrid yet, but Infinitipromises handling that's on-par with the rest of its M lineup. Of course, it's a good bet that those numbers will be pure fantasy if you really drive the M Hybridlike a sport sedan, but still, it's nice to know that you'll sip gas like a diesel on your way back from hooning around your favorite mountain roads.
