2010 Hyundai Sonata: High End Luxury, Low End Price
2010 marks 25 years of production of the Hyundai Sonata, and it seems that now the automaker is really starting to hit it’s niche in the automobile market. Previously considered as a low end, economy vehicle manufacturer, Hyundai has stepped up the quality of their vehicles significantly in the last few years.
The vehicle’s exterior is relatively plain, with slightly angled headlights up front and available 17″ wheels providing the only real styling queues to the vehicle. It’s look is easily compared to previous generations of Toyotas and Hondas.
The real showstopper for the 2010 Hyundai Sonata is the interior. At the high end, the wood grain and leather interior is reminiscent of vehicles in the forty to fifty thousand dollar range. The console is clean, with available in-dash navigation providing a cockpit view one might expect out of a BMW or Acura. And priced at only $26,550, that makes the Sonata a great choice for customers looking for a posh grocery-getter.
The 2010 Hyundai Sonata comes loaded with standard features that other automakers charge extra for. Anti-lock four wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake management are standard. Cruise control, traction control, stability control, and power, heated mirrors – all standard.
Engine choices are a 2.4L 4 cylinder producing a very average 175 hp at 6000 rpm, or a 3.3L V6 producing a heftier 249 hp at 6000 rpm. Both engines are mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. The 4 cylinder nets 21 mpg in town and 32 mpg on the highway while the V6 is slightly less at 19/29 mpg.
For the worst-case scenario the Sonata is equipped with dual-stage front-seat airbags, side impact airbags, and full side-curtain airbags.
The 2010 Hyundai Sonata is backed by a 10 year, 100000 mile power train warranty, and 5 year, 60,000 mile bumper to bumper coverage. That’s some of the best coverage in the industry.
Pros: Deluxe interior at a budget price, loaded with features, great warranty.
Cons: Unexciting to drive, conservative exterior.
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2013 Mercedes C Class Diesel
Europeans love diesel cars and Mercedes wants Americans to love them too. They are going to push yet again their diesel car – 2013 Mercedes C Class Diesel. Mercedes is planning to put diesel in the American market with it GLK Class compact crossover. GLK220 CDI and GLK250 CDI cars famous in European market will also be there in US soon.
The diesel E320 Bluetec sedan is another diesel car for US E-Class lineup.
Mercedes lovers would be much relieved with the diesel coupe as a replacement for their oil burning C class car.
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2011 Tahoe Redesign
Chevrolet Tahoe one of the large SUV is not being redesigned since 2007. 2011 Tahoe Redesign will not be very big. No major changes are going to come in the new 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe. The only big change in the 2011 new design would be integrated trailer brake controller with optional trail ring package.
The strong V8 engine and the tough four-wheel drive of Tahoe is enough for people who love its smooth handling with the toughness of the truck. There are very few vehicles in the market right not which gives a flexibility of big-truck capability and a comfortable ride. It could go well on city roads, hills or snow. Other vehicles which fall in the same category are Toyota Sequoia and Ford Expedition.
LS, LT and LTZ are the 3 trims in which 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe would be available. The prices for this vehicle will not be very different from $34,670 to $54,000 for LTZ trim.
There might not be much difference in the fuel economy which is 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway.
Car safety features will also be same as in 2010 model i.e. antilock brakes, front airbags, OnStar emergency telematics, and Stability control and side airbags.
2011 Chevrolet Tahoe would be coming with 5.3-liter V8 engine that would generate 320 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque. Six-speed automatic transmission is the power source for rear wheels in 2WD and all 4 wheels in 4WD.
New Trucks for 2011
Economy has not yet recoved from the slums so the future of new trucks for 2011 would highly depend on that. Below are the list of all the future trucks that are going to come in 2011. We would update the details as soon as they are available.
2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid
2011 Volkswagen Touareg
2011 Toyota Tundra
2011 Toyota Tacoma
2011 Nissan Titan
2011 Nissan NV2500
2011 Nissan NV200
2011 Nissan Murano Convertible
2011 Mitsubishi Outlander GT
2011 Mini Crossman
2011 Mercedes-Benz Gl
2011 Lincoln MKX
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2011 Hyundai Tucson
2011 Hyundai Santa Fe
2011 Honda Ridgeline
2011 GMC Canyon
2011 Ford Ranger
2011 Ford Ranger
2011 Ford F-59 Super Duty Chassis
2011 Ford F-450
2011 Ford F-350
2011 Ford F-250/350 Super Duty
2011 Ford F-250
2011 Ford Explorer
2011 Dodge Ram 3500
2011 Dodge Ram 2500
2011 Dodge Ram 1500
2011 Dodge Durango – Dodge Durango in its 2011 model is going for a redesign.
2011 Dodge Dakota
2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD – Chevrolet Silverado HD would have a redesign in its 2011 model. Duramax diesel that is fitted to the earlier model would see an increased power and diesel emissions regulations of 2010 EPA.
2011 Chevrolet Colorado
2011 Chevrolet Avalanche
2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT
2011 BMW X1 – BMW is working on the all new X1 after the huge success of its X6 model which will be based on its 1 series platform.
2014 Range Rover – Range Rover Sport
Mark III Range Rover was launched in US somewhere around 2002 in the month of June. US got the car a bit late and this model of Range Rover debuted in UK much earlier. Mark IV for Range Rover is most likely to be launched in 2013 as 2014 Range Rover model. If it gets delayed further then 2014 then there would be a gap of more then 13 years between the two models. This is much big model life for a perticular car.
New Range Rover Sport is espected even later i.e somewhere in 2015/2016. I think the whole development of Range Rover is freezed but they should give some facelifts to the current model if not a new one altogether.
2011 BMW 6-Series – Not a Radical Change
The next-generation 6-Series BMW will not be as radical a change as the current 6-Series introduction was that happened in 2004. However, BMW is expected to address all of the concerns with the current model when the new 6-Series is launched in the US in late 2010 as a 2011 model.
The 2011 BMW 6-Series will be longer, three inches in the wheelbase, than the outgoing model and will therefore have more legroom for the rear seat passengers. The interior is also supposed to be sportier than the current model and have a more driver-friendly interface. The rear of the vehicle will also be streamlined, similar to the BMW CS concept. The other design features should be similar to the 2009 7-Series.
As with the current 6-Series, the new 6-Series models will share a lot of the platform from the 5-Series that will first be introduced in the US later this year.
The European engine options for the 2011 BMW 6-Series will have horsepower options of 306, 408, and 507 all from gasoline engines. There will also be a diesel engine that is available to customers. However, some sources think that only the 408 and 507 horsepower gasoline versions will make it to the US market.
The 507 horsepower will be available in the M6 which is should be launched in 2011 and is expected to be an upgraded version of the BMW’s current 5 liter, V10 engine. The models will all be rear-wheel drive and will be coupled with a new eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF.
A convertible is also expected to be available in the new 6-Series. The top should be a folding metal roof, similar to the 3-Series convertible, despite the fact prototypes seen on winter testing were fitted with soft, fabric roofs.
The next-generation BMW 6-Series will not be a radical change for the marketplace. The new model will be a improvement and a refinement of the existing model and will be based on the new 5-Series platform. The refinement step is exactly what the 2011 BMW 6-Series needs to keep customers coming back into BMW showrooms.
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2011 Saab 9-5
Saab will be bringing out the new 9-5 sedan in 2010 as a 2011 model. Even though GM is planning on shedding itself of the Swedish brand, the new 9-5 will share the same platform as the 2010 Buick Lacrosse. The new vehicle looks like it will be bigger than the model it is replacing and will provide the 9-5 with a much needed overhaul.
The 9-5 was introduced in the US market in 1997 and has not had any major updates since. The new platform – GM’s Epsilon II – is capable of delivering both FWD and AWD vehicles. Expectations are that the new 9-5 will have a version of Saab’s XWD all-wheel-drive system as an option.
The 2011 Saab 9-5 for the US market is likely to have the 3.6L V-6 engine from the Buick Lacrosse and perhaps a hybrid powertrain as an option. The base European model will be powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder, turbo-charged engine that is capable of producing 210 horsepower. The European model will also likely have a diesel engine as an optional powertrain available to customers.
Although it is hard to spot anything under the camouflage photographs that are available of the new vehicle, it is predicted that the 9-5 will take design cues from Saab’s 9-4X BioPower concept vehicle. The vehicle will likely be heavier than the outgoing model because of its larger length and width.
Saab lost about $340 million in 2008, and GM has decided to relinquish ownership of the Swedish company on January 1, 2010. Despite Saab’s and its parent company’s difficult times, Saab is not likely to exit the US market. All internal sources questioned by the media have said that Saab is continuing plans for its new vehicles – like the 2011 Saab 9-5.
The new 2011 Saab 9-5 is expected to be officially released at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The new model should make a nice mark in its competitor segment. The new model will definitely give the Mercedies-Benz E-Class, the Cadillac STS, and the Volvo S80 something to worry about.
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2012 Porsche 911 Carrera
The next generation of the Porsche 911 Carrera is due out in Europe in the second half of 2011 and will go on sale in the U.S. in early 2012. The current 911 line-up was introduced in the U.S. in 2005. Although the current vehicle, which is also known as the 997 series, received an update for the 2009 model year, the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera will be welcomed by Porsche customers when it is introduced.
The new 911 has a codename of 991 and will be a full redesign of the sports car. Porsche will not change much on the external styling, though. Why would they? It has, however, been reported that the wheelbase will be extended by four inches. It is also rumored that the wheelbase will be wider than the current 911.
The prototypes of the new 911 have already been spotted completing cold weather testing. The windshield on the test vehicles is more swept-back than the current 911. The front grill is also wider and lower.
The powertrain changes will be more extensive than those that will be seen in the body work. The base S-model will get a downsized 3.4L of the six-cylinder engine instead of the current 3.6L unit. Despite the small displacement, the 3.4L will produce approximately 350 horsepower which is five more horsepower than the 3.6L.
A new 2012 Carrera RS will use the same 3.8L engine that is available in the 2009 lineup. It will be tuned to have 15 additional horsepower to make a total of 400 horsepower available. All 911 engines will be coupled with standard six speed manual transmissions. An optional double-clutch gearbox will also be available.
Porsche is working on weight reductions for the 2012 Carrera. The target is 130 pounds less than the outgoing 911. The weight reduction and engine upgrade is expected to allow the RS version to go 0 to 60 mph in four seconds. Porsche will use carbon-fiber and plastic composite materials to achieve the weight savings, which will help the line-up achieve improved fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions.
The 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera will probably be introduced to the public at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The European version will be out first, but the U.S. version will follow close behind. As always, the new 911 will carry on the tradition of former generations and continue to delight Porsche customers.
2011 Volkswagen Tiguan at Beijing 2010
Curtains has been raised over 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan in Beijing. The new model i.e refreshed Tiguan is just in production for a little over two years and is getting a facelift. The new car is going to hit the roads this fall when the 2011 models arrive.
The new look for Volkswagen Tiguan is going to give the car a wider appearance with its new corporate horizontal bar grille. The car is also going to have new bumpers and a pedestrian friendly reshaped bonnet. Other then these cosmetic changes not much has changed for the car. The other models which got similar type of treatment are Mk VI Golf and next generation Touareg SUV.
The pricing for 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan might remain consistent.
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2012 BMW 1-Series
BMW will bring out their new 1-Series in 2011 in time for the 2012 model year. At least five models are being considered in the future 1-Series line up by BMW – a 3-door hatchback, a 5-door hatchback, a 2 door coupe, a 2 door convertible, and a small crossover vehicle. Also, as part of this 1-Series debut, a new Super Sport version is expected that will come to the US in either late 2011 or 2012.
The entry level model is currently being called the 115i and is expected to have a 1.3L turbocharged engine that is capable of producing 136 horsepower. The next 1-Series and 1-Series Super Sport models will also use the Efficient Dynamics system which should include an integrated starter generator and a start-stop feature for the automatic transmissions. Direct injection technology will also be expanded throughout the powertrain line up.
At the other end of the spectrum, the US version of the BMW 1 Series Super Sport is expected to feature a 2.0 or 2.2 liter, approximately 300 horsepower twin-turbocharged, four cylinder engine. The model will be rear wheel drive with a six-speed manual or a semi-automatic transmission.
The base model and the Super Sport will have different external looks. The Super Sport look will include dual round headlamps that are very similar to those that were seen on the BMW concept vehicle, the 2002 tii.
The new model will also be larger than the current 1-Series. The larger footprint, which includes a front and rear trackwidth increase, will improve the car’s dynamics and ride and handling. The rear seat should also be improved for passengers. The current 1-Series has often been criticized that no full-size adult can fit in, and engineers are planning on taking advantage of the increased footprint to make a change to improve the ergonomics.
It has been difficult for BMW to expand the 1-Series lineup without taking sales away from their other models. On the low end, the have the Mini, and on the high end there is the 3-Series. They may just have the right mix and the right timing with the new 2012 1-Series lineup.
