Autoshow Season: Mazda to show CX-9 at NY
Well, not long after Mazda spent time making sure the press knew that their new CX-7 crossover was _not_ a twin to the new Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX twins...and is a Mazda3 derivative that can only hold a turbo 4-cylinder (vs the larger vehicle's 3.5l V-6).Why the duplication of effort for a smaller crossover? Well, it is simply the CX-9 boys and girls.
CX-9 is similar in styling to the CX-7 - see the picture of the 7 here and compare to the 9 above - (explaining the past year of confusing spy shots identifying a future Mazda crossover as sometimes bigger than the CX-7 turned out to be). CX-9 is actually not only a larger crossover for Mazda but will likely replace the slow-selling MPV minivan. Where CX-7 only seats, at most, 5 - the CX-9 has a third-row seat and can seat 6-7.Not to mention that the MPV really didn't fit the whole sporty 'zoom zoom' branding Mazda has been aiming for (and is the reason we expect the Tribute and B-series pickups to go bye-bye pretty soon).
Expect the CX-9 with 3.5l V-6 (like its Edge and MKX brothers), in both front and all-wheel drive, and a 6-speed automatic to go on sale later this year.
Wow, consistent styling _and_ coherent brand message? This Mazda thing might work out for Ford after all.
60 Minutes shows preview of next Cadillac CTS
Leftlane News is showing some screen-caps from the latest episode of 60 Minutes which featured a segment on GM.In a styling studio walk-through with Bob Lutz, Bob gets a wild hair and shows off what appears to be the next CTS' interior styling buck as well as pulling up the tarp on the front and rear styling on a CTS-sized car.
There is some question at LLN that the rear end might be a show car without provision for a bumper - but it could be that Cadillac has figured out a clever way to meet the letter of bumper regs in a pseudo-bumerless looking design.
Check it out at:
http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/04/02/breaking-gm-previews-2008-cadillac-cts/
Autoshow Season - Saturn to debut 3 cars and concept at NY Auto Show
They've been busy over at the Saturn division...
Today, Saturn announced that they would be showing a concept car (showing Saturns future styling direction) as well as 3, count 'em, 3 production vehicles:
2007 Saturn Aura sedan - based on Epsilon and previewed with the Aura concept at Detroit in 2005, this car is a darn sight better than the L-series Saturn tried, and failed, to use to break into the mid-sized sedan market.
2007 Saturn Outlook crossover - bigger than a VUE...in fact, interior room is similar to that of the Tahoe/Yukon body-on-frame SUV's from GM. Initially expected to be available with 3.6l 250+hp high-feature V-6 power - this should help drive cross-over buyers to Saturn showrooms.
...and, my personal favorite and one I've been predicting for what feels like forever...
2007 Saturn Sky Redline - basically the same as the Opel GT shown earlier this month in Geneva. The Sky RL will go on sale 'in the fall' - which I suppose gives GM until almost Christmas to get it to dealers.
Time to start saving my pennies.
Today, Saturn announced that they would be showing a concept car (showing Saturns future styling direction) as well as 3, count 'em, 3 production vehicles:
2007 Saturn Aura sedan - based on Epsilon and previewed with the Aura concept at Detroit in 2005, this car is a darn sight better than the L-series Saturn tried, and failed, to use to break into the mid-sized sedan market.
2007 Saturn Outlook crossover - bigger than a VUE...in fact, interior room is similar to that of the Tahoe/Yukon body-on-frame SUV's from GM. Initially expected to be available with 3.6l 250+hp high-feature V-6 power - this should help drive cross-over buyers to Saturn showrooms.
...and, my personal favorite and one I've been predicting for what feels like forever...
2007 Saturn Sky Redline - basically the same as the Opel GT shown earlier this month in Geneva. The Sky RL will go on sale 'in the fall' - which I suppose gives GM until almost Christmas to get it to dealers.Time to start saving my pennies.
2007 Cadillac STS
The Car Connection is running a set of 4 spy photos of the 2007 Cadillac STS.
It looks like a mild freshening to bring the STS more in line with the softer look debuted, in part, on the 2007 Escalade.
Also, it looks like LED tail lights are going to be a more pronounced brand styling trait with this new STS sporting smoked lense tail lights with rows of amber and red LEDs that will be eye-catching if not exactly as stylish as the jeweled red lenses currently used.
We'd also bet on a mild interior upgrade as well to bring the STS more in-line with interior fit and finish as well as style seen in competing vehicles (not that the current STS is shabby at all).
Spy Shots: ’08 Cadillac STS - The Car Connection
It looks like a mild freshening to bring the STS more in line with the softer look debuted, in part, on the 2007 Escalade.
Also, it looks like LED tail lights are going to be a more pronounced brand styling trait with this new STS sporting smoked lense tail lights with rows of amber and red LEDs that will be eye-catching if not exactly as stylish as the jeweled red lenses currently used.
We'd also bet on a mild interior upgrade as well to bring the STS more in-line with interior fit and finish as well as style seen in competing vehicles (not that the current STS is shabby at all).
Spy Shots: ’08 Cadillac STS - The Car Connection
Cadillac looking into even higher performance?
Inside Line is reporting, from an interview with Cadillac product director John Howell, that Cadillac is eyeing a line of performance Cadillacs that would slot in above the V-Series.With further styling and performance upgrades, these would likely be developed in conjunction with a 3rd party, euro-flavored tuning shop (like Alpina, Brabus, or Dinan).
If such a partnership comes to pass, expect these 'super-V-series' cars to debut by some time in 2007-2008 and to be powered by engines even more impressive than those already used by the V-Series (perhaps this will finally see that GM V-12 from the Cien concept in production).
Inside Line: IL Exclusive: Cadillac Eyes Super Vs and Tuner Vs à la Saleen, Brabus -
End of an era - SSR production ends
Autoblog clued us into this tidbit. After 3 years of production, itself years after showing an identical concept car that wowed the crowds at the Detroit auto show...Chevrolet has pulled the plug on SSR production.Built on a modified Trailblazer chassis, and initially powered by a 5.3l V-8 and 4-speed automatic and later by a 6.0l 400hp V-8 and an optional 6-speed manual - it just never caught on with buyers.
Still it was a great cruising car/truck/thing...
Chevy SSR production comes to an end - Autoblog
V8 Archie Pontiac Solstice
V8 Archie, famous hot-rodder of Pontiacs (previously, he focused on stuffing small-blocks into Fieros) has started working his magic on the new Pontiac Solstice.For approximately 14-15k you can have him build you a 350-400hp Solstice. He's looking for a few folks willing to have him do the conversion at his Chicago area shop in order to make a video to go with the kit version of this swap as you will see in pages 12+ of this thread from the SolsticeForum.com.
Corvette power, 400+ lbs lighter, all for as low as 35k...all I can say is 'wow!'
Take a Solstice apart with Archie - Pontiac Solstice Forum
Autoshow Season - What's up in New York
Media days for the New York Auto Show are planned for April 12-13, 2006. There should be an exciting slate of debuts on tap this year. Here's what we know to expect so far:
Acura MDX - 2nd generation of Acura's mid-sized cross-over SUV
Audi TT - brand new 2nd generation Audi coupe and convertible
Buick LaCrosse Special with V-8 power
Jeep Patriot - the Jeep traditionalists' version of the Jeep Compass. Expect the same powertrains, but very likey a more hard-core off-road setup with a likely low-range transfer case.
Jeep Wrangler 4-door - the new and first ever 4-door version of the Jeep Wrangler
Nissan Altima (a good chance a hybrid version will be announced offically as well)
Saturn Aura - the new flagship sedan from Saturn. Based on the Epsilon chassis and with Cadillac's 3.6l V-6 in its top model.
Saturn Sky Redline - identical (except for minor details) to the Geneva show debuted Opel GT, meaning 260hp 2.0l Ecotec with direct injection. I want one.
Saturn Outlook - large cross-over SUV on the same brand-new Lambda chassis as the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia.
Scion Fuse coupe concept - some are saying this might preview a new addition to the Scion line to replace the late Toyota Celica, others are saying it is a concept only. Only time will tell.
More as we hear it...
Acura MDX - 2nd generation of Acura's mid-sized cross-over SUV
Audi TT - brand new 2nd generation Audi coupe and convertible
Buick LaCrosse Special with V-8 power
Jeep Patriot - the Jeep traditionalists' version of the Jeep Compass. Expect the same powertrains, but very likey a more hard-core off-road setup with a likely low-range transfer case.
Jeep Wrangler 4-door - the new and first ever 4-door version of the Jeep Wrangler
Nissan Altima (a good chance a hybrid version will be announced offically as well)
Saturn Aura - the new flagship sedan from Saturn. Based on the Epsilon chassis and with Cadillac's 3.6l V-6 in its top model.
Saturn Sky Redline - identical (except for minor details) to the Geneva show debuted Opel GT, meaning 260hp 2.0l Ecotec with direct injection. I want one.
Saturn Outlook - large cross-over SUV on the same brand-new Lambda chassis as the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia.
Scion Fuse coupe concept - some are saying this might preview a new addition to the Scion line to replace the late Toyota Celica, others are saying it is a concept only. Only time will tell.
More as we hear it...