2011 Pontiac Firebird - Retro Look for New and Old Generations
Posted by site admin on 23 May 2009
It is rumored that the Pontiac Firebird is due to return as a 2011 model year vehicle. If it does, t will sport a retro look and should please Firebird fans of times gone by.
The new Pontiac Firebird may be based on GM’s Zeta platform. The base engine will supposedly be a V6 that will produce 240 horsepower while the Trans Am model will have a 400 horsepower V8 engine.
The Chevy Camaro has already been released by GM, but it is also thought by most that the GM’s “Global RWD” architecture will also be the basis for a new Firebird, like the original was. The Firebird, Camaro, and Trans Am brand names were all retired at the end of 2002, and many customers think it is time to bring them back.
GM needs to introduce the Camaro and the Firebird to compete with the Ford Mustang. It is rumored that the Pontiac Firebird will be produced at GM’s Oshawa, Ontario plant. The 2011nPontiac Firebird will likely be more expensive than the Mustang, but it should also be more refined than its competitor.
The concept photos that have been released show that it similar and height and length to the Firebird of the 1970s. Also the styling is very reminiscent of the 70s model.
Despite the above rumors about the 2011 Pontiac Firebird, GM has yet to officially announce that it will be introduced. Last year an official at GM said that it was not in the development schedule at the company for the next two years. The official did say however that the Pontiac brand will remain performance oriented and that the new models that are coming will not disappoint customers.
In these difficult economic times, it is difficult to predict what products will be available in GM’s future line-up. If the Pontiac Firebird revival is in GM’s plans for 2011, it could be a candidate to be delayed or cancelled as GM desperately tries to restructure its business.
Let’s hope that the 2011 Pontiac Firebird does get produced. It will definitely appeal to a new generation of younger buyers as well as us older ones.
2012 Mercedes SL - Lightweight Roadster
Posted by site admin on 19 May 2009
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL will be introduced in 2011 in the US as an all new light-weight roadster model that should be even better to drive than the current vehicle. The new Mercedes-Benz vehicle is scheduled to be unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, and it should be very good competition in its segment for the BMW’s rumored 1 Series-based roadster which is also due out in 2011.
Mercedes has decided to introduce a new aluminum construction technique on the new SLS vehicle and this new construction will be also included in the 2012 SL. North American sales of the SLS will start in 2010 as a 2011 model year vehicle. The 2011 SLS will be the first stand-alone production model to be designed and developed completely by Merecedes-Benz’s AMG division.
The new aluminum construction will allow the next-generation SLS and SL to be lower in overall weight and to have sportier driving dynamics and handling that should impress customers. The aluminum body structure weights 531 pounds and will be made out of a combination of forged, cast, and sheet aluminum.
The Mercedes-Benz SL has been manufactured by Mercedes since 1954. The SL badge comes from the German words Sport Leicht which means Sport Light. The SL550 and SL600’s engines have remained unchanged for 2009 for the US. The SL550 has a 5.5L V8 engine that produces 382 horsepower, and the SL600 has a twin-turbo V12 engine that produces 517 horsepower. Until 2012, SL customers will have to be happy with the refreshed version of the fourth-generation SL. This generation of the two-seater sports car that was originally introduced five years ago. It is not clear yet which engine options will be available in the 2012 SL.
The 2012 should bring back memories for enthusiasts of the original model which was considered sporty and lightweight. Mercedes has been working on this roadster for a long time. The smaller and lighter 2012 model was originally unveiled as a concept vehicle in 2000. Mercedes has finally chosen to introduce the model in response to growing demand for smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles.
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL should be available just in time to complete with BMW’s rumored 1 Series-based roadster. By having a lower weight than the current generation, it should provide customers with improved driving characteristics.
2012 Chevrolet Corvette
Posted by site admin on 18 May 2009
The current Chevrolet Corvette is probably the best Corvette to date. The 197 mph Z06 is also probably the best-valued supercar in the world. So, how on earth does GM surpass this with the 2012 C7 model which is planned to be released in 2011 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet?
That is a good question, and GM executives are planning the replacement right now and asking themselves the exact same thing. GM may be suffering at the moment in the current economic conditions. However, they will not and are not going to let one of America’s longest lasting nameplates to linger too long without a replacement.
At least that is the current plan. Some sources believe that it will be impossible for GM to bring out the new Corvette in 2012. Some are predicting delays until 2013. Others are predicting the earliest that we will see the C7 is 2015, if we see a new model at all. If the new model is delayed until the 2013 model year the current C6 Corvette will be the second longest running model in Corvette history.
The current economic situation is not the only problem GM has as far as the new 2012 Corvette is concerned. The 2007 federal fuel economy standards law dictates that the corporate average fuel economy must be 35 mpg by 2020. This mandate will affect the options GM has with the layout and hardware choices for the new C7.
GM is said to be considering three different propels for the new 2012 Corvette. Whichever design is chosen, the new vehicle will have to have better fuel economy and will have a higher performance than the outgoing model. GM is rumored to be considering a twin-turbocharged V6 direct-injection or a smaller V8 for the new model. Some even think that a mid-engine Corvette is being considered by engineers at GM. However, this option is likely to be too expensive and offers very little weight savings anyway.
Hopefully, GM will survive in one form or another after this current economic crisis is over. The Corvette has too much history to let it just expire as a model. Even if the new C7 is delayed from 2011 to 2015 and is not brought out in time for Chevrolet’s 100th anniversary, let us hope that GM continues to work on the icon that has excited us so much over the years.
How do Hybrid Cars Save Gas?
Posted by site admin on 06 May 2009
A gasoline-electric hybrid is a cross between a tradition gasoline internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The reason that a hybrid solution is needed is because neither a traditional gasoline engine nor an all-electric vehicle will currently meet the needs of future automobile customers who are looking for improved fuel economy.
A traditional gasoline engine will not meet demands for improved fuel economy because it is not very efficient. On the other hand, gas engines get good range and acceleration. In addition, the infrastructure is available to supply fuel for a gasoline engine. An electric vehicle, on the other hand, is very efficient; however, a driver can not get a long range out of the vehicle before the battery needs recharging. In addition, an electric car is slow and inconvenient to recharge. An all-electric vehicle is, therefore, not the best choice for customers either.
A hybrid combines the benefits of both types of engines to achieve improved fuel economy for customers. The two main ways that a hybrid saves gas is through energy recover and engine management.
When you slow your vehicle down by using the brake, you are removing energy from the system. A hybrid captures this energy and stores it in the battery for later use. When the battery is fully-charged, the hybrid can switch the engine management systems so that only the electric motor is running. When the electric motor is running, the vehicle is not using any fuel. In addition, the vehicle is producing zero emissions. When the charge in the battery is depleted, the system can change back to a normal internal combustion engine. By sometimes not running the gasoline engine, overall hybrids can obtain higher fuel economy levels.
Some hybrids also allow the engine to shut off when the vehicle is stopped at a red light. It takes less fuel to restart the engine than it does to leave the engine idling at the light. If a hybrid is equipped with this type of feature, the fuel economy savings will be even higher for customers.
The hybrid technology is in the development stage. Automotive manufacturers are all introducing their own versions of the technology. In addition, they are all selecting different types of vehicles to target for hybrid introduction. The competition created by this new technology should allow customers to benefit from increase fuel economy standards throughout the years to come.
2010 Honda Odyssey - One of the Best Transporting Options
Posted by site admin on 05 May 2009
The Honda Odyssey engineers will deliver new styling inside and out to customers in 2010. It is also thought that the Odyssey and its competitor the Toyota Sienna will be the only eight-seater minivans available in the US in 2010. Although causing much confusion because the name is the same, the US Odyssey will unfortunately will not be based on the new JDM Honda Odyssey that debuted in Japan in October 2008.
Honda was rumored to be considering a new diesel engine for the new 2010 Honda Odyssey. This new engine was supposedly a low-emission diesel V6 that was specifically designed for the US market. However, a company executive said last fall that Honda will put off sales of diesel vehicles in the US until at least 2010. In addition, in April 2009, a Honda official was quoted as saying, “there are no plans for a full-size Honda diesel car.” Japan’s Nikkei English News reported that this delay is the result of difficulties in reducing costs to make the engines affordable in these economic times.
Instead of a new diesel engine under the hood, the new US Odyssey will get an updated version of the existing 3.5L V6 gasoline engine that is in the current Odyssey. The current V6 engine produces 244 horsepower. It also has one of the highest-mileage and lowest-emissions ratings in its class.
In addition, the interior of the 2010 Honda Odyssey will be updated, and the exterior will get the Honda corporate grille. Unfortunate for Honda, the new grille is considered “bucked-tooth” looking by some and may not be a hit in the market.
Although the exterior styling will be updated, it will not be the same as the interesting styling that the JDM Odyssey has. The JDM Odyssey has a low floor and a low center-of-gravity package that enables a low profile roofline. The JDM Odyssey was designed to generate strong feelings of those who ride and drive in it. It delivers on this design challenge.
Although the US 2010 Honda Odyssey will not have the styling of the JDM model, the US 2010 Odyssey will remain one of the best options available for transporting large families.
2010 Chevrolet Cruze - GM’s Global Compact Hopeful
Posted by site admin on 26 Apr 2009
The Chevy Cruze went on sale in Europe in March of this year. However, we will have to wait until the first half of 2010 to see the model come to the US market from GM’s Lordstown, Ohio plant. The 2010 Chevrolet Cruze is actually larger than the current Cobalt model, which allows the Cruze to slot in between the Cobalt and Malibu.
The Chevy Cruze is based on GM’s Global Compact Vehicle Architecture program and many of the components and styling features are common with the Daewoo Lacetti since the primary engineering and development source for the project was GM’s Korean partner - GMDAT.
The US Chevrolet Cruze is expected to have a standard 1.6 liter, 112 horsepower four cylinder engine or 1.4 liter, turbo gasoline four cylinder which is rumored to have 140 horsepower. An optional 1.8 liter, 140 horsepower four cylinder engine will also be available for buyers. If GM does put the 1.4 liter turbo engine into the Curze, highway fuel economy should go up to 45 mpg in the new model.
The engines are expected to come with the same transmission options that are available in Europe - a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. Like other manufacturers, Chevy will not be bringing the 2.0 liter diesel that is available in Europe to the US.
It was once thought the 2010 Chevrolet Cruze would replace the current Cobalt altogether, but with the US markets as fickle as it is GM is considering carrying on the Cobalt production when in introduces the Cruze.
The Cruze takes most of its styling features from the new Chevy Malibu, such as the front end, and will be much more appealing to customers than the Cobalt. The Cruze will also have an interesting side line which Chevy calls, a “wheels-out/body-in” design feature. Little is still known about the interior, but it is though the US version will have a “twin cockpit” design like the Malibu instead of the European and Asian passenger compartment.
GM hopes with the introduction of the 2010 (or 2011) Chevrolet Cruze that they will make a step towards catching up to other manufacturers in bring “global” compacts to the US market. GM has pulled the stops out on the design features, and it will be interesting how the market will react to this new compact hopeful from Chevy.
2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon - New Addition to the Family
Posted by site admin on 24 Apr 2009
GM was scheduled to start production of the 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon, as well as the coupe, this year. However, some sources suggest the first production models are now planned for early 2010. Whenever the models do finally arrive, the coupe and the wagon will expand Cadillac’s CTS line-up in a positive direction for the automotive manufacturer.
Both the coupe and the wagon are new top hats based on the Cadillac CTS sedan which as been successful both here and in Europe. The basic interior of the CTS Wagon will be the same as the sedan. The 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon will come with either a 3.0 liter, 260 horsepower V6 engine or a 3.6 liter, 304 horsepower V6 engine. Both engine options will be coupled with either a six speed manual or automatic transmission. An optional all-wheel-drive version will also be available.
Although GM will not officially rule out the 2.9 liter, 250 horsepower diesel engine that is available in Europe and Asia, it is unlikely it will be seen in the 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon’s option list. This missing power train will hopefully not hinder GM in achieving their goal with the 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon which is to capitalize on buyers who are currently in SUVs but are growing more concerned about fuel economy.
The design features of the wagon are taken mainly from the sedan. However, the rear lift gate is genuinely an appealing feature that is completely unique to the wagon. The Sport Wagon’s rear lift gate is a powered and has a V shape to it with curved glass. The tail lamps are fin-shaped, in an elegant and artistic way, and rise to the roof. The design feature also serves to hide the roof-rack edges. An additional feature to the sedan is the availability of a panoramic rear sunroof.
Cadillac is hoping that the 2010 CTS Wagon’s dynamic styling will reinforce their commitment to design and boost their sales worldwide. Basing the design on the sedan means that their overall investment is reduced than if wagon was based on an entirely independent platform. By sharing manufacturing facilities, GM can also flex the volume between the different CTS top hats to maximize efficiency.
More details on the Cadillac CTS Wagon and coupe will be available closer to the production date. However, CTS Wagon, with its unique design features, should be a welcomed addition to the Cadillac CTS family in 2010.
2011 Ford Fiesta: America, Prepare to Be Dazzled
Posted by site admin on 18 Apr 2009
Ford has begun production and sales of its new Fiesta in Europe and it will introduce the American version of 2011 Ford Fiesta early in 2010. Ford executives describe the new Fiesta as a “world car”, explaining that the basic design can be built and sold valuably in every major world market; one car suitable for many markets obviously cuts development and tooling costs, so that profits increase. Clearly, the strategy represents a critical element in Ford’s comprehensive plan for restoring financial health.
Ford already is retooling its plant in Cuautitlan, Mexico, where it will produce new Fiestas for all of the North American market. The plant currently produces and exports F-150 pick-up trucks. When it converts to Fiesta assembly, F-series trucks will be produced only in the United States. Ford predicts conversion to production of Fiesta will create 4000 new jobs for Mexican workers.
When it debuts early in 2010, the American version of the 2011 Ford Fiesta will be available in sedan, coupe, and hatchback models. All three models will be equipped with surprisingly powerful, exceptionally economical four-cylinder engines and a five speed manual or six speed double clutch transmission. The 1.8 liter engine will generate up to 115 horsepower so that Fiesta will have all the low end torque American drivers want and love. Fuel economy ratings have not yet been certified by the EPA, but industry analysts expect that Fiesta will deliver at least 35 mpg combined mileage.
As designers and engineers put the finishing touches on these models, they emphasize comfort, “feel,” and very cool features. The Fiestas they showed at 2009 auto shows had spacious, comfortable, extremely well-appointed interiors, showing that small in no way suggests stripped-down. The majority of Fiesta models for sale in the United States will include Ford’s extremely popular “Sync” Bluetooth technology, iPod compatibility, and other high-tech gadgetry calculated to appeal to drivers between 18 and 25.
Ford marketers, aggressively courting the youth market, have developed several innovative campaigns for promoting the 2011 Ford Fiesta. In addition to teasing the automotive press with auto show appearances across the country in 2009, generating a great deal of “buzz,” Ford has launched what it calls “The Agents.” Recruiting 100 people, almost all of them very attractive and under 30, Ford created “The Agents.” These carefully selected 100 Agents will enjoy free use of the Fiestas, which they will drive all around the country and about which they persistently will blog. The Agents’ website already is up and running, already receiving thousands of hits well in advance of its big media kick-off, scheduled for the summer of 2009. Agents’ reports will appear on all the most popular social networking sites, including Facebook and Twitter.
2011 Chevrolet Tacuma - Revamp for Europe and New for U.S.
Posted by site admin on 17 Apr 2009
GM will bring the next generation Tacuma to the US market in 2011. The current Tacuma, which is not available in the US, was originally designed by Daewoo and was first available under a Daewoo badge until it was re badged as a Chevy, much to the confusion of most Europeans.
The current Tacuma, now with a Chevy nameplate, is a crossover vehicle that seems to be more minivan than SUV. However, the new model is longer and bigger than the outgoing model and will have more SUV styling that should appeal to American customers.
The Chevrolet Tacuma will first be introduced in 2010 in Europe. It will be designed based on GM’s global Delta platform, which is also the basis for the Chevrolet Cruze. The new vehicle will have enough room for seven passengers and should appeal to the family crossover market in the US.
Many of the components of the new Tacuma will be common with its sister vehicle the Opel Zafira. Or they should be, but the final outcome will depend on what actually happens to the business relationship between GM and Opel in the future.
The engines available in the new 2011 Chevrolet Tacuma are expected to be a 1.8 liter and a 2.4 liter gasoline engine. A 2.0 liter, 150 horsepower turbocharged diesel engine will also be available. It is even rumored that a hybrid version will be available to customers in the US.
The 2011 Chevrolet Tacuma will be manufactured in the US next to the Volt in Michigan. It is designed to complete with the Hyundai Matrix and the Volkswagen Touran. The styling is very similar to the Orlando concept car that was revealed last year and should be a good competitor in this segment.
GM may actually decide to change the name to Orlando for the US market to avoid confusion with the Toyota Tacoma truck which is already available. Whatever the 2011 vehicle is called, Tacuma or Orlando, the new seven-seater crossover should give the family customer the space they need, but with the SUV styling that they want.
2010 Nissan 370Z - Shorter But More Powerful
Posted by site admin on 16 Apr 2009
The 2010 Nissan 370Z will replace the current 350Z sports car later this year in the US. The new Z is significantly shorter, but slightly wider than the outgoing model. This design changes to the new model, which is codenamed Z34 by Nissan, is expected to make it lighter and have better ride and handling characteristics than the current model.
The new 370Z has lost approximately five inches, mainly between the B-piller and the rear wheel opening, which not only affects the styling of the new model, but also affects the ride and handling. The 370Z is only slightly wider than the 350Z, but because it is so much shorter it looks a lot wider in comparison. These new features should give in improved agility as well as be lighter than the outgoing model.
Nissan targeted the Porsche Caymen when it was designing and developing the 2010 370Z. It will come as no surprise then when I tell you that the 370Z is roughly the same size as the Porsche. Designers of the 370Z have taken advantage of the change in dimensions to make the external styling more aggressive than the outgoing model. The fenders are heavily flared and there are slot features at the front and rear end. The interior has better material and more user-friendly interfaces.
The engine will be a 300 to 350 horsepower (depending on which source you believe), 3.7 liter V6. The 2010 Nissan 370Z should have at least 45 more horsepower than the outgoing model. This engine will be a modified version of Infiniti’s V6. Customers will be able to choose between a six-speed manual and a seven-speed automatic transmission.
There is even a rumor that when all is said and done with the new 370Z that Renault is considering using the new Z platform to start up the Alpine brand again - with help from Porsche.
The next generation 2010 Nissan 370Z sports car that is due out later this year will be shorter, but do not be fooled by this and think that it means less. Actually, the new sports car will have much more - at least 45 horsepower more - and should deliver on the ride and handling improvements that are so important to this segment of the market.
