Autoshow Season - New Audi TT breaks cover
Geez...some companies are just _so_ too good for autoshow debuts.Instead of waiting like every other self-respecting auto company, Audi decided to unveil their new TT coupe to the world in a special event, broadcast on the Internet live from Berlin.
Now, we finally have official pics of a car that spy photos had left little to the imagination of for weeks now.
No real surprises in this new TT except maybe that the V-6 Quattro model will finally be available with a standard 6-speed manual in addition to the previous model's DSG...one of many reasons (not the least of which is a lack of funds) that I didn't consider the previous V-6 TT to be a worthy sports car for my shopping list...The new TT, as you may have already heard is now 5 inches longer and 3 inches wider, as well as slightly less pure of form than the first generation car - of course, it would have been practically impossible for Audi to improve on the artistic wonder that was the original TT coupe, a car that many thought would/could never be produced, so bold were the lines and shapes of the original show car.
Interior-wise, the new car has many of the same cues, but again with a little less daring and purity (note the triangular 'bracing' that the original TT used, in metal, on either side of the center stack is now rendered in plastic - a mere shadow of its former beauty).Will the new TT sell - of course. With its larger interior, it is sure to capture a few more folks who found the former car too small for their tastes. The extra power and refinement is also sure to attract a few more. It is just a shame that in the interests of change, that the TT has been forced to get bigger - even if its new aluminum/steel space frame have kept weight gain in check and new, more powerful engines have given Audi more impressive performance numbers to sprinkle in their press releases and brochures - and less edgy in its design.
Of course, most current generation Audi's suffer from this stylistic watering-down from the early 21st century highs (the new, giant grills are one example; excess surface detailing is yet another).
We'll reserve final judgment until we start to hear from folks who have driven the new car. But even if it is the best new coupe, dynamically - it just isn't the same.
GM fights back against Tahoe bashing in online commercial contest
By now, you've likely heard that GM has received some less-than-glowing entries in its contest to create your own Tahoe commercial at http://www.chevyapprentice.com
Several commercials slam the big ute specifically and often GM as a whole for even producing such a beast.
Now, in the GM Fastlane blog, Chevy General Manager Ed Peper has fired back with a fairly reasoned response as well as why they don't think 1. that the Tahoe is as bad as these people say and 2. how them not pulling the faux ads isn't a sign of being asleep at the switch.
Really, it is funny to think that some folks are attacking what is arguably the most efficient of the big utes just because the contest made it easy.
Take a look Mr. Peper's open letter to these folks at:
GM FastLane Blog: Now that we've got your attention
Several commercials slam the big ute specifically and often GM as a whole for even producing such a beast.
Now, in the GM Fastlane blog, Chevy General Manager Ed Peper has fired back with a fairly reasoned response as well as why they don't think 1. that the Tahoe is as bad as these people say and 2. how them not pulling the faux ads isn't a sign of being asleep at the switch.
Really, it is funny to think that some folks are attacking what is arguably the most efficient of the big utes just because the contest made it easy.
Take a look Mr. Peper's open letter to these folks at:
GM FastLane Blog: Now that we've got your attention
BLS and GM's reaction to recent reports on their Euro strategy...
GM's Fastlane Blog has a post setting the record straight about recent reports on Cadillac's sales targets in Europe for both the Cadillac brand as a whole as well as the new BLS sedan that just launched (finally).In case you've forgotten, the BLS is a front-drive, sub-CTS Cadillac developed from the Epsilon chassis (the same platform used by the Saab 9-3, Opel Vectra, Pontiac G6, upcoming Saturn Aura, and the Chevy Malibu) It is not currently slated for the North American market - though reports are that a 2nd generation Epsilon-based BLS w/ all-wheel drive may make the trip later this decade.
Cadillac is targetting 20k sales in Europe per year by the end of the decade, 10k of which are expected to be the new BLS.
It appears that some reporters have mistakenly heard the 10k number as a suggestion that Cadillac is backing away from their previous 20k/year goal rather than a clarification of how they were going to get there...read all about it at GM's blog for further info:
http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/archives/2006/04/cadillac_bls_hi_1.html
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 -