Autoshow Season - Ford vehicles at NAIAS
Ford will be announcing at the NAIAS a series of production and concept vehicles that show a decent cross section of the Ford portfolio.
Interesting is how we are now beginning to see (with the exception of the Mustang, which has it's own, stand-alone look) the beginnings of a corporate face across both cars and trucks - if this group is any indication.
First off, is the Ford Reflex small car concept. This car combines the muscular shape of the Iosis concept Ford showed late last year as their new European look with the tri-bar grill treatment that we first saw on the Ford 427 concept and, in production form, on the Ford Fusion.
Next up is the production Ford Edge utility vehicle. Based on the same stretched Mazda6 chassis as the Fusion, the Edge is a cross-over with no false off-road intentions. It also caries the Fusion's tri-bar grill and sleek lines.
Ford also is taking the wraps off the F-250 Super Chief concept. They claim that it is inspired by classic American locomotives, specifically the...you guessed it...Super Chief. Most important, this appears to be a preview of how Ford will incorporate the tri-bar grill into the truck line. Look for something similar when the F-series is next freshened.
Finally, Ford will be showing production versions of the Mustang GT500 coupe and convertible. No tri-bar grill here, but the Mustang is enough of a styling icon to stand alone without the corporate face.
Finally, Ford gets that a 'look' that ties all its vehicles together is a worthy goal. Now if someone could just get that memo to Chevrolet.
Interesting is how we are now beginning to see (with the exception of the Mustang, which has it's own, stand-alone look) the beginnings of a corporate face across both cars and trucks - if this group is any indication.
First off, is the Ford Reflex small car concept. This car combines the muscular shape of the Iosis concept Ford showed late last year as their new European look with the tri-bar grill treatment that we first saw on the Ford 427 concept and, in production form, on the Ford Fusion.
Next up is the production Ford Edge utility vehicle. Based on the same stretched Mazda6 chassis as the Fusion, the Edge is a cross-over with no false off-road intentions. It also caries the Fusion's tri-bar grill and sleek lines.
Ford also is taking the wraps off the F-250 Super Chief concept. They claim that it is inspired by classic American locomotives, specifically the...you guessed it...Super Chief. Most important, this appears to be a preview of how Ford will incorporate the tri-bar grill into the truck line. Look for something similar when the F-series is next freshened.
Finally, Ford will be showing production versions of the Mustang GT500 coupe and convertible. No tri-bar grill here, but the Mustang is enough of a styling icon to stand alone without the corporate face.Finally, Ford gets that a 'look' that ties all its vehicles together is a worthy goal. Now if someone could just get that memo to Chevrolet.
Autoshow Season - 2007 Jeep Wrangler
Wow, this All Cars, All the Time blog is an impressive place. In this case, it appears that he might just have more mag subscriptions than the Library of Congress.Here are some scans from the latest Automobile and MPH magazines of the all-new Jeep Wrangler 2-door (4-door is on the way).
Nice update, Jeep.
All Cars, All the Time
Autoshow Season - Chrysler Aspen
What do you get when you cross the looks of the Chrysler Town and Country with a Dodge Durango...All Cars, All the Time knows - you have this pre-NAIAS shot of the upcoming Chrysler Aspen SUV.
I'm left somewhat underwhelmed.
All Cars, All the Time
I'm left somewhat underwhelmed.
All Cars, All the Time
Autoshow Season - Oops! Road and Track 'accidentally' unveil the new Camaro concept for GM
Just a few weeks ago, GM threatened legal action to get several photos of the upcoming Camaro concept taken off web sites.Well, now, let's see if they go after Road and Track for accidentally pulling the trigger on their online coverage of the Camaro concept before GM got a chance to unveil the car officially next week at the NAIAS.
There is an accompanying video that mentions that the Camaro is on the upcoming Zeta chassis (like the next GTO) as well as that the engine would be the 6.0l 400hp V-8 (no real surprises there).
Looks sweet to me.
R&T : World Exclusive: Chevrolet Camaro Concept Video (1/2006)
Allpar.com spy photos of the next Chrysler minivan
Allpar.com has a spy photo, courteous of Brenda Priddy, of the next Dodge Caravan undergoing testing.
Expect, big-brother of Caliber styling with an attempt to get back on top of the minivan feature wars with available all-wheel drive, enhanced stow-and-go seating, a diaper changing table, rear windows that roll down as well as what are sure to be a few surprises.
Allpar.com conjectures that the delay getting the minivans to market has been to tone down the styling (perhaps the flop of the Nissan Quest might have had something to do with this). Unfortunately, it appears that DCX has decided that Mercedes is the high-style company and boxy and in-your-face is the look for the 'lesser' brands.
Oh how I miss the high-style days of the Dodge and Chrysler of the 90's.
2005 Chrysler minivan information
Expect, big-brother of Caliber styling with an attempt to get back on top of the minivan feature wars with available all-wheel drive, enhanced stow-and-go seating, a diaper changing table, rear windows that roll down as well as what are sure to be a few surprises.
Allpar.com conjectures that the delay getting the minivans to market has been to tone down the styling (perhaps the flop of the Nissan Quest might have had something to do with this). Unfortunately, it appears that DCX has decided that Mercedes is the high-style company and boxy and in-your-face is the look for the 'lesser' brands.
Oh how I miss the high-style days of the Dodge and Chrysler of the 90's.
2005 Chrysler minivan information
Autoshow Season - Lamborghini Miura
Autoblog.com is showing pictures of the Lamborghini Miura concept that will be shown at the NAIAS.
Expected to be an ultra-performance car in the same vein as the Ferrari Enzo and Porsche Carrera GT, however there is no expected on-sale date or available price or performance figures. Expect more details when the car debuts next week.
Lamborghini Miura in the flesh - Autoblog
Expected to be an ultra-performance car in the same vein as the Ferrari Enzo and Porsche Carrera GT, however there is no expected on-sale date or available price or performance figures. Expect more details when the car debuts next week.
Lamborghini Miura in the flesh - Autoblog
It's official, Chrysler to build minivans for VW
It had been rumored for a while now that VW and Chrysler group were in talks for VW to get a version of the Chrysler minivan for its own use.
As you may recall, VW has had a hit-or-miss history with small vans in the US market - starting with what could be argued was the real original mini-van, the VW bus/vanagon through lean times that saw Euro-style vans with less power and more cumbersome form factors trying to compete with the powerful and nimble offerings from the likes of Chrysler, Toyota, and Honda.
The last stab VW was set to take was a retro-styled van in the vein of the classic VW Vanagon. However, not too long ago, VW realized that a retro vehicle would not have made financial sense as it would have only played well in the US market.
So, without an alternative to bringing over the next Eurovan - which apparently did not look like a sure hit for the US market - and a new head in Wolfgang Bernhard who had all sorts of good vibes between himself and new DCX head Dieter Zetsche...the rest was likely just a matter of hammering out the details.
Now we know that, beginning in calendar year 2008, both VW and DCX will be bringing all new mini's to market based on the next DCX design.
It will be interesting to see what DCX gets as their part of the bargain. Obviously VW has lots of experience with AWD, platform sharing/flexible manufacturing that DCX might want to get some access to - but only time will tell.
As you may recall, VW has had a hit-or-miss history with small vans in the US market - starting with what could be argued was the real original mini-van, the VW bus/vanagon through lean times that saw Euro-style vans with less power and more cumbersome form factors trying to compete with the powerful and nimble offerings from the likes of Chrysler, Toyota, and Honda.
The last stab VW was set to take was a retro-styled van in the vein of the classic VW Vanagon. However, not too long ago, VW realized that a retro vehicle would not have made financial sense as it would have only played well in the US market.
So, without an alternative to bringing over the next Eurovan - which apparently did not look like a sure hit for the US market - and a new head in Wolfgang Bernhard who had all sorts of good vibes between himself and new DCX head Dieter Zetsche...the rest was likely just a matter of hammering out the details.
Now we know that, beginning in calendar year 2008, both VW and DCX will be bringing all new mini's to market based on the next DCX design.
It will be interesting to see what DCX gets as their part of the bargain. Obviously VW has lots of experience with AWD, platform sharing/flexible manufacturing that DCX might want to get some access to - but only time will tell.
Autoshow Season - 2007 Mazda CX-7
Mazda has officially released photos and info on the CX-7 that premiered at the Los Angeles Auto Show yesterday.New to us are pictures of a decidedly sporty, Mazda-like interior that crosses design elements from the Mazda3, MX-5, as well as a smidge of Mazda6 and Mazda5 thrown in for good measure.
This vehicle may, though no one at Mazda or Ford are talking, share its platform with the upcoming Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX (previously Aviator). It also shares the all-wheel drive system and re-tuned version of the Mazdaspeed6. So, this would make the CX-7 the only version of this vehicle to have no available V-6, only a turbo 4.Very zoom zoom for an SUV.