Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:07:00 -0700
Honda has recently been caught out in the California desert with two of its upcoming hybrid models -- the not-yet-seen (until now) all-new hybrid five-door hatch with seating for five and the refreshed 2009 Civic Hybrid. No doubt, the Honda team is in the midst of warm weather testing for both models given spiking temperatures in the desert region this time of year.
The all-new, as-yet-unnamed Honda hybrid, while still wearing a fair amount of camouflage, bears a striking resemblance to Toyota's Prius Hybrid, especially the greenhouse, but it also clearly takes more than a few cues from the Japanese automaker's FCX Clarity fuel cell sedan, which Honda said the vehicle would borrow many of its design elements from.
The new Honda hybrid is expected to undercut both the Prius and Honda's own Civic Hybrid in the pricing department. The vehicle will eschew lithium ion batteries -- a technology Honda chief Takeo Fukui deems currently unsuitable for use in production vehicles -- for an advanced nickel metal hydride system and a small gas engine. Honda expects to sell 200,000 of the new hybrid globally, with half of that volume being distributed to the U.S. The new global hybrid is scheduled to hit dealerships in late 2009 as a 2010 model and will be joined by a hybrid sports coupe shortly thereafter.
Meanwhile, Honda has given its Civic Hybrid a refresh to tide eco-shoppers over until the new hybrid's release. Though the revamped Civic Hybrid's mechanicals will likely remain intact from the current version (the present car is powered by a 1.3-liter, 110-hp four combined with a 20-hp electric motor), some significant changes have been made to the outside of Honda's gas-sipping compact.
This Civic Hybrid prototype wears a restyled front bumper with three separate air intakes in the place of the current model's single center intake. Additionally, the grille opening around the front Honda "H" logo has a more aggressive, angular look, and the headlights appear to be slightly revised internally. Out back, this prototype's taillights are revised and a new trim item can be seen between the two lights. Expect to see the refreshed Civic Hybrid in showrooms later this year as a 2009 model.
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Honda Hybrids Caught in the Desert - 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid and new global hybrid - Spied Vehicles - Motor Trend
Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:07:00 -0700
Subaru has been caught out and about testing a new, high-performance take on its venerable WRX STI all-wheel drive, rally-bred sporting five-door. Dubbed the WRX STI Spec C, the car was snapped in Germany in a town near the famed Nurburgring as well as on the "Green Hell" itself. Differences from the standard WRX STI are subtle, but visible. The new silver-colored rear diffuser is the most obvious revision, though the white twelve-spoke wheels also differentiate this test mule from the standard car.
Should the WRX STI Spec C follow past versions sold in Europe and Japan, we can expect some significant weight reduction via fewer interior niceties and the use of lighter weight materials in the vehicle's construction (earlier reports indicate an aluminum hatch, thinner glass, and a lightened roof). More power and bigger brakes are also likely to be on the playlist, keeping true to the Spec C's track-oriented theme, and you can expect a sportier interior with a smattering of Spec C badges.
Will the Spec C finally come to the U.S.? That's anyone's guess at this point. A quick glance at history would indicate it will not, but with the WRX's continued success in America, Subaru must be wondering if it can afford not to bring its top performer stateside. Meanwhile, we're waiting for news on what the Spec C's lap times are coming in at. Be sure to keep it tuned to Motor Trend Online for all your Subaru WRX STi Spec C updates.
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Subaru WRX STi Spec C - Spied Vehicles - Motor Trend
Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:07:00 -0700
American enthusiasts may be anticipating this car, but the fact is it's planned mostly for Cadillac's assault on Mercedes, BMW, and Audi in Europe. Rumor is GM plans to build only 10,000 to 12,000 per year of the CTS wagon, which will use the 3.6-liter direct gas-injection V-6 here, but also the 2.8-liter V-6 and 2.9-liter turbodiesel in Europe.
With total volume that low, the U.S. is likely to get Saab 9-3 Sport Combi volumes, about 3000 to 4000 per year. According to GM, the CTS wagon will come to market next spring, with the CTS coupe following close behind in the summer of 2009.
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2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon - Spied Vehicles - Motor Trend
Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:07:00 -0700
The 2010 Ford Taurus made its first appearance in April, when a grainy picture of the vehicle's clay model surfaced on the internet. Now, spy photos of an early, heavily-camouflaged prototype of the fullsize sedan have arrived.
The new Taurus will carry some elements of Europe's "kinetic design" styling, but the flamboyance of the Mondeo will be toned down for the large car using design elements from current North American vehicles.
It is expected to stay front-drive with available all-wheel drive, although what platform it will ride on remains in the air. Two options are available -- the current car's Volvo-sourced D platform and the Mazda-derived CD3 platform that underpins the new Flex crossover.
Power should come from the new EcoBoost family of engines that will first debut in the Lincoln MKS, with the possibility of a new Taurus SHO with a high-power EcoBoost like that in the Lincoln MKR concept.
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2010 Ford Taurus - Spied Vehicles - Motor Trend
Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:07:00 -0700
Yes, Deadheads, there is an MkII New Beetle. It's being developed on the sixth-generation Golf platform and may appear as a 2011 model. And Volkswagen's strategy for the iconic retromobile may extend even to adapting the Beetle's distinctive style to a North American version of the Up! minicar.
First, Volkswagen of America has confirmed it will import a version of the sixth-generation Golf. We'll have two models. The "base" Golf becomes the Golf GT, indicating VW plans to go upmarket again and get out of the $15,000 entry-car business here, at least for models imported from Europe. VW also will import the MkVI GTI, with both versions headed here about 2010.
The new New Beetle will come off that platform, in the 2010, or more likely, the 2011 calendar year and will include a hybrid version. VW would be smart, in fact, to make the MkII New Beetle hybrid-only, as its distinctive style lends it the same kind of instant recognition as the Toyota Prius. VW of America hasn't officially confirmed the next New Beetle, saying only that it's under study. But what does it need to study? Even with sales sliding to the low 30,000s as the current model has aged, it's selling at twice the rate of Golf/GTI sales in the U.S.
Then comes the North American version of the Up!, which made its debut at the 2007 Frankfurt show. VW is rumored to be considering a Beetle-style version of the rear-engine, monobox/hatchback concept. Makes sense, since American consumers remain more nostalgic for the Beetle than they are practical about boxy hatchbacks. What's more, J Mays designed his Concept 1, for the 1994 Detroit show, to be built on the smaller Polo platform, not the Golf platform, so we know that adaptation of the New Beetle style to a smaller car is far from impossible.
Two distinct new (or New) Beetles amounts to a sub-brand for Volkswagen, which sold just 231,000 cars and trucks here last year. With the warm, fuzzy feeling people already have for the People's Car, positioning this sub-brand as highly fuel-efficient could be the best strategy VW has had for the U.S. market in a long time.
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Beetlemania is coming - New VW Beetle news - 2011 Volkswagen New Beetle - Auto News - Motor Trend
