Transformers movie spy shot - Bumblebee robot
If you are, like me, in your early 30's - you probably spent way too much time on Transformers as a kid. You are also probably as excited as I am about the upcoming Transformers live-action movie that hits July 4, 2007.Well, I have some bad news...Bumblebee, the little guy with the heart of gold (and classically an original VW Beetle) has had a makeover for the movie. Apparently since VW is not interested in the product placement of the current Beetle, the producers have restyled the little guy as a 2009 Chevy Camaro. Why they didn't go with Jazz or Hot Rod, or some other, sportier car is anyone's guess.
Well, anyway, now we have a spy shot of a full-sized robot for use in some of the shooting (most of the work will likely be done with CGI rather than physical props like this one).
Check out the movie web site here:
Transformers movie site
New Infiniti G35 sedan caught testing
Over at The Car Lounge, you can find some nice photos taken of a G35 undergoing testing in Dubai at a fuel stop.Notice the nicely upgraded interior, evolutionary styling changes (which we saw earlier this year when the car was previewed), as well as the odd-ness that is a hood cutline that just sort of got put wherever the engineers/designers needed for access to the dirty bits in the engine bay...whatever happened to making the hood cutline follow a body contour?
Anyway, take a look at the photos here:
The Car Lounge - 2007 G35 Sedan in Dubai
Saturn sets price of Sky Red Line at $27895
Recently, we reported on Pontiac's pricing for the Solstice GXP, now it's Saturn's turn.Given all the info we had at the time, we projected Sky Red Line pricing to be right around $27k. Well, Saturn is a bit prouder of the car than that. Today's announcement is that the Sky RL will start at $27,895 including destination charges. This makes for almost $900 more of a mark-up, by our calculations, than Pontiac is charging on the GXP.
They'll still sell every single one they can make.
Expect them to show up at dealers near you sometime this fall.
More spy photos of next Chrysler minivan
World Car Fans has a series of photos of a disguised Chrysler minivan undergoing testing.Ignoring the obvious photo-chop of a 300c Touring (Euro-only 300 wagon) that they pawn off as a peek at what the new mini will look like - this shows yet again a big, block-y version of the minivan theme.
Given hints given with recent show cars, expect a possible V-8 at the top engine as well as more innovations like those previewed on the Dodge Rampage concept truck (box the styling out of that concept and you could be seeing the next Caravan.
Expect an unveiling at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit this January.
Read more here:
WorldCarFans.com - More Chrysler Voyager Spy Photos
Land Rover unveils 2007 LR2
Say goodbye to the Land Rover Freelander and say hello to yet another brand moving further along the alpha-numeric highway.
Today, Land Rover announced their new Freelander replacement, the LR2. Based, at least loosely on the same small-car, unibody chassis that serves as the basis for the Volvo S40/V50/C70, Mazda3, and Euro Ford Focus, the Freelander is the first 'truck' based on this highly flexible architecture.
Power comes via a new, compact, transversely mounted 3.2l I-6 putting out 230hp and routing to the ground through a new 6-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive. The LR2 also has Land Rover's 'Terrain Response' system with electronic controls to make off-road adventures safer.
Other features and options include: keyless starter button, bi-xenon headlamps, adaptive front lighting, rain-sensing windshield wipers and rear park distance control. Standard two-part panoramic sunroof and air-conditioning. A full-color touch-screen DVD satellite navigation system is optional. A choice of top-level audio systems includes 12-speaker Dolby Pro Logic II 7.1 Surround Sound with fiber-optic interconnects. An auxiliary audio connection (for MP3 players) is standard.
And now, the pics!
Today, Land Rover announced their new Freelander replacement, the LR2. Based, at least loosely on the same small-car, unibody chassis that serves as the basis for the Volvo S40/V50/C70, Mazda3, and Euro Ford Focus, the Freelander is the first 'truck' based on this highly flexible architecture.
Power comes via a new, compact, transversely mounted 3.2l I-6 putting out 230hp and routing to the ground through a new 6-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive. The LR2 also has Land Rover's 'Terrain Response' system with electronic controls to make off-road adventures safer.
Other features and options include: keyless starter button, bi-xenon headlamps, adaptive front lighting, rain-sensing windshield wipers and rear park distance control. Standard two-part panoramic sunroof and air-conditioning. A full-color touch-screen DVD satellite navigation system is optional. A choice of top-level audio systems includes 12-speaker Dolby Pro Logic II 7.1 Surround Sound with fiber-optic interconnects. An auxiliary audio connection (for MP3 players) is standard.
And now, the pics!
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:
