GM Expected to end Trailblazer production by 2010
Due to sliding sales at all automakers for conventional body-on-frame, 4x4 station wagons like the Chevy Trailblazer, Ford Explorer, et al., GM is rumored to have decided to let the current Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, and all the other Buick, Saab, and Isuzu derivatives sell in their current form until 2010 (or whenever it makes sense to stop selling them - like the Rainier which will leave Buick at the end of the 2007 model year) when a new cross-over would be introduced.
This, as yet unannounced crossover would be smaller than the recently announced Saturn Outlook, Buick Enclave, and GMC Acadia which are all essentially full-sized crossovers with the same room as the body-on-frame Tahoe, Yukon, and Escalade.
A new mid-sized crossover would need to slot between the Tahoe and the smaller Equinox. Though the current super-sized compact SUV niche occupied by the Equinox could make this difficult. Perhaps we'll see a version of the, smaller, Chevy Captiva from Europe as the next Equinox to make room in the line for a true mid-sized crossover.
See one of the many reports of the Trailblazer's demise over at the Detroit News:
Detroit News - Chevy may junk Trailblazer...
This, as yet unannounced crossover would be smaller than the recently announced Saturn Outlook, Buick Enclave, and GMC Acadia which are all essentially full-sized crossovers with the same room as the body-on-frame Tahoe, Yukon, and Escalade.
A new mid-sized crossover would need to slot between the Tahoe and the smaller Equinox. Though the current super-sized compact SUV niche occupied by the Equinox could make this difficult. Perhaps we'll see a version of the, smaller, Chevy Captiva from Europe as the next Equinox to make room in the line for a true mid-sized crossover.
See one of the many reports of the Trailblazer's demise over at the Detroit News:
Detroit News - Chevy may junk Trailblazer...
Chrysler freshens and ups power on 2007 Pacifica
Chrysler unveiled today the freshened 2007 Pacifica crossover.
In addition to a freshened front-end, available 19" chrome wheels, and added safety equipment - the Pacifica now gets a larger 4.0l SOHC V-6 on all-wheel drive models along with a new 6-speed automatic.
And now, the pics:
In addition to a freshened front-end, available 19" chrome wheels, and added safety equipment - the Pacifica now gets a larger 4.0l SOHC V-6 on all-wheel drive models along with a new 6-speed automatic.
And now, the pics:
Official pics of new 2007 Sebring
The new Chrysler Sebring has been officially announced today.
Production begins in August 2006 for sales beginning in the 4Q06. This is a brand new platform powered by the 170hp+ 2.4l world 4-cylinder, 190hp 2.7l V-6, as well as a version of the 3.5l V-6 mated to a 6-speed auto.
Without further delay - here's all the pictures Chrysler has made available:
Production begins in August 2006 for sales beginning in the 4Q06. This is a brand new platform powered by the 170hp+ 2.4l world 4-cylinder, 190hp 2.7l V-6, as well as a version of the 3.5l V-6 mated to a 6-speed auto.
Without further delay - here's all the pictures Chrysler has made available:
Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, Hummer H3 to get more power
GM has announced that the platform-mates that are the Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Hummer H3 (and very likely the Isuzu pickup, though no mention has been made so far) will get larger versions of the I-4 and I-5 engines they currently use (only I-5 on the Hummer).
These engines promise better performance and improved emissions.
The 2.8l I-4 is being replaced with a 2.9l I-4 with 6% more power and 3% more torque.
The 3.5l I-5 is being replaced by a 3.7l I-5 with 22 more horsepower and 17 lb*ft more torque.
Both engines promise to also be quieter while the I-5 also promises better emissions performance.
These engines promise better performance and improved emissions.
The 2.8l I-4 is being replaced with a 2.9l I-4 with 6% more power and 3% more torque.
The 3.5l I-5 is being replaced by a 3.7l I-5 with 22 more horsepower and 17 lb*ft more torque.
Both engines promise to also be quieter while the I-5 also promises better emissions performance.
Leaked - new Chrysler Sebring
Leftlane News has gotten their grubby little hands on early photos of the new Chrysler Sebring that Chrysler is expected to unveil tomorrow (what, you expected a long lead time?)
The resemblance to the Chrysler Airflite is quite striking, but minus the hatchback design and a bit of the visual punch that had me going ga-ga over it back when it was originally shown.See the article at LLN here:
LLN - 2007 Chrysler Sebring Revealed
Pontiac sets Solstice GXP pricing at $25,995
We should have seen this coming...today is the Summer Solstice...what better time for Pontiac to make a Solstice related announcement?Pricing for the 260hp turbocharged, direct-injected, uber-Solstice will be $25,995 including the $600 destination charge. This is $6000 more than the base Solstice, but only $1500-$2000 more than a regular Solstice with similar options.
This bodes well for a Sky Red Line price around $27k.
Corvette Blue Devil gets a name
*Sorry this story is so far behind...it has been sitting in 'draft' for over two weeks - I just noticed it had never officially published it to the site - Scott K*
Rumors abound about a mythical 'project Blue Devil' within GM. Rumor has this as a ultra-Corvette that would humble even the renowned 505hp Z06 that has been called everything from the best supercar ever (505hp, under $80k does that to some people) to the best performance bargain of all time.
'Blue Devil' would pack a supercharged version of the 7.0l LS7 V-8 and good for at least 600hp. I'd guess recent reports of a 600+hp Viper will cause the Corvette team to try to eek out a few more ponies, if only for bragging rights.
Now there's a new piece to the mystery that should have all the Corvette fans salivating...the proposed real name for the über-Vette...
Sting Ray
This is a storied name for a Corvette, but it certainly sounds like this variant of the C6 will certainly do it justice.
Expect an official announcement within a year (possibly at the NAIAS in Detroit in January) with a sticker price in the low 6-figures.
Read about it over at Autoweek.com:
Autoweek.com - Corvette Blue Devil project reportedly now called Sting Ray
Rumors abound about a mythical 'project Blue Devil' within GM. Rumor has this as a ultra-Corvette that would humble even the renowned 505hp Z06 that has been called everything from the best supercar ever (505hp, under $80k does that to some people) to the best performance bargain of all time.
'Blue Devil' would pack a supercharged version of the 7.0l LS7 V-8 and good for at least 600hp. I'd guess recent reports of a 600+hp Viper will cause the Corvette team to try to eek out a few more ponies, if only for bragging rights.
Now there's a new piece to the mystery that should have all the Corvette fans salivating...the proposed real name for the über-Vette...
Sting Ray
This is a storied name for a Corvette, but it certainly sounds like this variant of the C6 will certainly do it justice.
Expect an official announcement within a year (possibly at the NAIAS in Detroit in January) with a sticker price in the low 6-figures.
Read about it over at Autoweek.com:
Autoweek.com - Corvette Blue Devil project reportedly now called Sting Ray
Autoshow Season - MX-5 (Miata) to get available, retractable hard top
Mazda has officially announced that their new MX-5 (Miata to most of us in the US) will be shown with a new, power retractable hard top at the upcoming British International Motor Show.This confirms rumors that have been circulating lately that Mazda was working on such a device.
It is likely that this will be an upgrade option and the manual cloth top will remain on lower priced models.
The media day for the BIMS will be Tuesday, July 18, 2006. Expect photos of the hard top around that time.
*UPDATE: Expected cost for the hard top option is around $2000, with about a 75lb weight increase*
