Autoshow Season - Suzuki XL-7

Since Suzuki redesigned their Sidekick...err, Grand Vitara recently, it would be expected that a new version of the stretched 7-seat version, the XL-7 would be forthcoming.

This would be right and wrong. Wrong in that we might have expected just another stretched Grand Vitara, right in that a new 7-seater from Suzuki under the XL-7 badge was announced at the New York autoshow.

This time around, instead of a body-on-frame design, Suzuki has borrowed the GM Theta (Chevy Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, Saturn VUE) chassis, stretched it in order to make the only 3-row seating version of this platform, and then asked nicely for the GM high-feature 3.6l VVT V-6 that used to be a Cadillac exclusive.

Nice looking fit and finish inside hints at what might be expected from a mid-cycle refresh to the Equinox/Torrent (Saturn just got a much improved interior for the 06 VUE).

This should help nicely in getting Suzuki to their 100k sales goal for this year.

More pictures below:

Autoshow Season - Lexus LS600h Hybrid

As previously announced, Lexus has debuted their new luxury flagship at the New York autoshow. The LS 600h L (long wheelbase model - only Japan is expected to get the standard length 600h) is claimed to be the quietest (or very near it) luxury car ever - so much so that they had to extensively redesign accessory drives and switches because you could now hear them so well.

Power is 430hp (more in a minute) and this is the first all-wheel drive LS.

Oh, did I mention that it's a hybrid? Combining a 5.0l V-8 (note, the 'regular' LS makes due with a 4.6l - so this is Lexus' only application of this particular engine) and hybrid drive, routing through a 2-stage CVT (obviously not your typical belt and pulley CVT with this kind of power).

The 600h also debuts Toyota's new branding for all their Lexus 'h' cars - they now will tout their use of Lexus Hybrid Drive (vs. Toyota's Synergy Drive). It looks like Lexus is going to focus more closely on the luxury benefits a hybrid system can offer - quieter driving experience w/ more power while Toyota will wisely focus on pure fuel-economy benefits (the slow sales of the Highlander SUV obviously have been heard - it packs more power but not much in the way of better fuel efficiency, thus confusing the Toyota buyer).

In another technical first - the 600h will be the world's first use of LED headlights (of course, with recent controversy about Toyota's claims to be 'first' with anything will bear this out pretty quickly - I was almost certain there was another car out there already with some form of LED forward lighting - but I'll need to check).

Expect the Lexus LS 600h to debut early in 2007.

Read all about the 600h and it's 460 stable-mate over at CarScoop:

CARSCOOP: 2007 Lexus LS 460 & 2008 LS 600h L

Autoshow Season - Wrangler Unlimited details and pics

Not much in the way of surprises here since we've been seeing spy photos of a 4-door Wrangler for what seems like forever now. Not to mention a selection of the media photos got out a couple days before the official debut.

Well, here we have the most cargo and passenger friendly Wrangler to-date...the Wrangler Unlimited (which was a stretched wheelbase, 2-door Wrangler before).

From the Jeep press release:

* Even More Passenger Room and Comfort -– Five-passenger seating includes 56.7 inches of rear-seat hip room, 37.2 inches of rear-seat legroom
* Even More Interior Cargo Space -– 46.4 cu. ft. behind second-row seat and 83 cu. ft. with second-row seats folded flat; more cargo space than 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2006 Hummer H3 and 2006 Nissan Xterra
* Even More Open-air Fun -– Only four-door convertible on the market features Jeep's all-new, three-piece Freedom Top and the innovative Sunrider soft top -— open-air driving in less than 30 seconds
* Even More Legendary Off-road Capability -– Best-in-class ground clearance, approach and departure angles; enhanced Dana front and rear solid axles, available next-generation Command-Trac ® and Rock-Trac transfer cases, new electric axle lockers, and electronic-disconnecting front sway bar
* Even More On-road Refinement -– 116-inch wheelbase, 100-percent stiffer frame, advanced shock tuning and new cross-car steering linkage
* Even More Power and Fuel Efficiency - 3.8-liter V-6 engine features 205 horsepower and 240 lb.-ft. of torque with improved fuel economy
* Even More Convenience - Standard 60/40-split fold-flat rear seat, available power windows and door locks with remote keyless entry, full-screen navigation system, MP3 capability and SIRIUS Satellite Radio
* Even More Safety - Standard Electronic Stability Program (ESP), electronic roll mitigation and Occupant Classification System (OCS); optional seat-mounted side air bags

The all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited features a 116-inch wheelbase, achieved by adding 20.6 inches to the standard all-new 2007 Wrangler's 95.4-inch wheelbase. The additional length allows for a larger rear seat that features three seating positions, as well as more hip, leg and shoulder room. In addition, Wrangler Unlimited offers nearly triple the rear cargo space.

Offered in two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited utilizes the same five-link solid-axle suspension configuration as the standard 2007 Jeep Wrangler. The all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited also retains Wrangler's coveted removable full-framed or half doors, exposed hinges, fold-down windshield and innovative removable and convertible tops.

The all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited will be offered in three models: Wrangler Unlimited X, Sahara and Rubicon, and will feature hundreds of different top, door and windshield combinations. In addition, nine exterior colors and available 16-, 17-, or 18-inch wheels will be offered.

Kind of makes you wonder what will happen to the next Jeep Liberty to keep it in the line (maybe a soft-roader big-brother to the Compass?)

Now this is just weird - VW to rename Golf

In a completely unsuspected move, VW has decided to rename the new Golf for the North American market. The name they have decided to use? Rabbit.

As you may remember, the Rabbit name is what was used on VW's hatchback back in the day before it was changed _to_ Golf.

The explanation is that the name is less pretentious and will help foster the kind of relationship folks had with their VW's back when they were Rabbits, Foxes, Things, Beetles, etc.

This could be the beginning of the resurrection of many classic VW nameplates in coming years.

Autoshow Season - Saturn Sky Red Line

Let's not even attempt to pretend to be objective here...I want one of these so bad I can taste it. I wanted one before they officially announced it and the question of a high-po Sky was one of turbo or supercharger and projections of power were anything from 210 up to 300hp.

Now its official and all I need to do is wait to put in my order.

That said, let's take a look at what Saturn hath wrought in the land of high-performance sports cars (who'd have thunk even 2 years ago that we'd be talking about this type of car from SATURN?).

Basically, the Sky Red Line is packing the same 2.0l direct-injection 4-cylinder that was announced as part of the Solstice GXP earlier this year with power numbers like these:

260hp @ 5300 rpm
260lb*ft @ 2500 - 5300 rpm (tasty!)

Oddly enough, fuel economy for the manual is 1 mpg better in the city and 2 mpg better on the highway than the 2.4l normally aspirated (3 worse in the city, 1 better highway with the automatic). This is sure to not be the case if you even think of dipping your toes into the turbo power, however.

Gearing is identical to the regular Sky.

Spring rates are unique to the RL on all corners, with a 33.3mm (replacing the standard 27.2) stabilizer bar up front and a 25.4mm (instead of 24.2) at the rear. Electronic stability control is standard issue.

Brakes and wheels are identical (with a polished finish replacing the painted finish of the standard car) though tires are upgraded from Goodyear Eagle RS-A all-seasons to Eagle F1 performance rubber.

With 83 extra horsepower carting around a mere 57 extra pounds, the RL's straight-line performance is obviously up. GM projects 0-60 times to drop from the standard car's 7.2 seconds to a blistering 5.5. Quarter mile times and trap speeds improve from 15.7 and 89 mph to 13.9 and an even 100 mph.

Now, if they'll just announce prices so I can figure how many of my pennies I need to save.

More pictures below:

Autoshow Season - Saturn PreVUE concept

When is an Opel concept no longer an Opel? Well, in this crazy, mixed-up world of Saturn - it looks like it happens quite a lot.

First we have the Sky Redline previewed as the new Opel GT, and now we have the Opel Antera GTC concept re-grilled with a Saturn badge and introduced as the Saturn Prevue (a corny joke since this is a preview of the next Saturn VUE due as a 2008).

Check out more info over at The Car Connection's TCC Confidential blog:

TCC Confidential � Blog Archive � Saturn PreVues Next Compact Ute

Autoshow Season - Saturn Outlook, key stats

Wow, this is going to be one big mutha from Saturn...here are some key stats for those of you that care:

Length - 202.7"
Wheelbase - 118.9"
Width - 78.2"
Height (w/o roof rails) - 69.9"
Ground Clearance - 7.4"
Curb Weight (2wd) - 4722
Curb Weight (4wd) - 4936

Comparing against the aforementioned Tahoe:

2007 Tahoe Dimensions
Length - 202.0 (Outlook is 0.7" longer)
Wheelbase - 116.0 (Outlook is 2.9" longer)
Width - 79.0 (Outlook is a measly 0.8" narrower)
Height - 77.0 (Here we see the whole body-on-frame vs. unibody difference with Outlook's roof a whole 7.0" closer to the ground)
Ground Clearance - 9.0 (Outlook, having less of a off-road bias, comes in 1.6" closer to terra firma)
Curb Weight (2wd) - 5233 (obviously, the separate frame thing weights a bit - Outlook is lighter by over 500 lbs)
Curb Weight (4wd) - 5537 (ditto - Outlook's advantage is now 600 lbs)

Other key stats for the Outlook:

Standard 18" wheels with 19" optional
Fuel economy of 17 city / 25 highway (2wd) and 16 city / 24 highway (4wd).

Autoshow Season - Saturn Outlook, more pics

Here are the rest of the pictures made available by Saturn of their new Outlook crossover.

Word has it that this bad boy is not that much smaller than a Tahoe (and the Lambda was insurance against a shift to higher mileage requirements by consumers in their large SUVs - the Lambda would have taken customers who couldn't handle the mileage of a GMT900).

More details soon.