Automotive Car Blog

Filed under: Wagon, Saab

The good news for Saab loyalists is that dealerships have been told they may start placing orders for the Saab 9-3X. The bad news for Saab loyalists is that if the deal with Spyker falls through, that brand-new Saab you are dreaming about will never arrive in your driveway. In a nutshell, dealers are allowed to take orders for the cars, but there’s no pricing information and nothing will be officially submitted until the Saab/Spyker deal closes (as of now, this is scheduled for February 15).

The announcement isn’t completely unexpected. After all, we reported just a few days ago that Spyker had big plans for the Saab lineup, including full range of 9-3 models for 2012. These will follow on the heels of the new 9-5, and the 9-4X, due in the U.S. market during 2010 and 2011, respectively. Whatever the case, if you believe in Saab, now’s the time to scoot down to your local dealer, open your checkbook and place an order!

[Source: Saab History]

Report: Saab 9-3X now available for order at U.S. dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Recalls, Safety, Videos, Toyota

Recalls have left Toyota battered and bruised with a very damaged image that now needs rebuilding. Consumer trust is not easily earned. Toyota knows it, too. The automaker worked for decades to build an image that equated quality and reliability with the company name itself. Now under heavy fire over its handling of the problems that led to the floor mat and gas pedal recalls involving its most popular and important models, Toyota has embarked upon a PR blitz intended to convince frustrated customers and a skeptical media that everything’s going to be all right.

Whether that’s indeed the case will become evident over time. Sales numbers speak for themselves, and if the public isn’t buying Toyota’s explanation, they won’t be buying its vehicles, either. In any case, it’ll probably be years before the recall story’s epilogue can honestly be written.

For now, Toyota’s primary focus is on re-establishing itself as a business that’s deserving of consumers’ trust. That starts with saying “I’m sorry” as frequently and in as many different venues as possible. The latest part of Toyota’s apology blitz comes in the form of a new TV spot called “Commitment.” It’s embedded after the jump for you to watch. The message is simple and delivered well: Toyota messed up big time, it knows it, and it’s fully aware that the onus is on itself to win back customers’ confidence.

If Toyota’s smart, it’ll air during the Super Bowl later this evening. But seeing it also leaves us wondering if Toyota had spent a fraction of its PR resources on getting out in front of these recall problems months ago instead of the damage control its writing checks for now, would it even be in this position today? Unfortunately for Toyota, we’ll never know.

[Source: Toyota via Gaywheels]


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Continue reading Video: Toyota recall apology blitz includes new mea-culpa TV spot

Video: Toyota recall apology blitz includes new mea-culpa TV spot originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Chevrolet

General Motors has been looking for ways to capitalize on the investments made in its platforms by increasing the number (and retail price) of the vehicles sharing them. Hence, reports of the next-gen Camaro sharing its platform with the upcoming Cadillac ATS and CTS successor. Now reports suggest that the General is hoping to capitalize on the Delta platform by creating more aggressive, sportily-minded variants of the Chevrolet Cruze.

One option, according to the report in Motor Trend, would be to build a four-door coupe based on the Cruze. The idea would follow the same formula that took the Volkswagen CC and Mercedes CLS up-market from the comparatively humble platforms (Passat and E-Class respectively) on which they’re based. The wheelbase and much of the mechanicals would carry over, but a more rakish roofline would give it a sportier profile, at the expense of rear headroom.

Another option fielded once again would create a Cruze SS, with more aggressive suspension and an upgraded 2-liter turbocharged engine. The potential application of all-wheel-drive from the larger Epsilon platform, meanwhile, could be used to aid traction. Either option could stand to bridge the gap between the Cruze and the Camaro. But while the options are presented as “either or”, would it be too much to ask for both?

[Source: Motor Trend]

Baby, Let’s Cruze: Chevy reportedly weighing four-door coupe, SS variants originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Recalls, Safety, Toyota, Event Alert

Digg, the “what’s popular” website that allows users to share and rate links to stories they’ve discovered online, also offers a feature known as “Digg Dialogg,” wherein it hosts a streaming exchange between prominent public figures and the masses (those that frequent Digg, at least).

Monday’s Digg Dialogg will be with Toyota’s U.S. President & COO, Jim Lentz, who will presumably answer questions about that hot new 2011 Sienna. He might field a few queries on the recall woes afflicting the company right now as well. We’re just guessing.

The description of the event gives us some indication of what will be covered and why Toyota is reaching out in this unique manner:

“Toyota is one of the most admired and recognizable brands in the world. With this recall, Toyota is facing intense scrutiny around how they will manage and get past the crisis. With social media channels such as Digg emerging as primary sources for news and engagement, Toyota is taking the unprecedented step of putting its senior executive in a direct dialogue with consumers, using social media to address Toyota’s response to this extraordinary challenge.”

The interview starts at 2 p.m. PST Monday, February 8 and will be broadcast live on Digg’s Dialogg page. They’ve already started accepting questions, which you can post up until 8 a.m. PST Monday. As of this writing, there were exactly 900 comments already in the queue. As you can probably imagine, most of the questions have an irate tone, but some people are asking the mundane, the humorous and the absurd as well. What did you expect from those sociial mediates?

[Sources: Toyota, Digg]

Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the recall-free version of Autoblog.

Social Experiment? Digg community to interview Toyota President on Monday originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Hyundai, Celebrities, Humor

What do blueberries, fishin’ rodeos, the moon, and 400-pound linemen that run 4.3-second 40s have in common? They’re among the wide range of things Brett Favre discusses in this locker room interview shot for an upcoming Hyundai Super Bowl commercial. Used to hype Hyundai’s 10-year warranties, it’s a funny look at what the NFL might be like in the future.

The year is 2020 and a gray-haired Favre fields questions from reporters about how things have changed during his 29 seasons in pro ball. While holding the 2020 MVP trophy, Brett echos some of the sentiments he’s put out there in the past few seasons while being traded from the Pack to the Jets, retiring, and ending up in Minnesota, where he almost made it back to today’s big game. Follow the jump to see a hilarious five minutes from the four-hour shoot, most of which will end up on the cutting room floor by game time.

[Source: Hyundai Motor America]

Continue reading Video: Brett Favre talks blueberries, fishin’ rodeos and the moon for Hyundai commercial

Video: Brett Favre talks blueberries, fishin’ rodeos and the moon for Hyundai commercial originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Ford

While the rest of us think “rallying”, the Swiss look at their snow-capped mountains and think “skiing”. That’s largely because the Swiss are not known to be car people. But for every rule there’s an exception.

In Switzerland those exceptions include the efforts of notable speed-freaks like Peter Sauber (of F1 fame), Frank Rinderknecht (Rinspeed) and Franco Sbarro (the flamboyant coachbuilder - not the food-court pizza guy). And we can now add Ford to that list, as the Detroit automaker’s Swiss subsidiary is rolling out a special edition Focus RS to pay tribute to the 40th anniversary of the company’s iconic RS division, exclusively for the Swiss market.

Although mechanically identical to the existing Focus RS - not much change needed there - the Focus RS WRC edition wears a special livery submitted and chosen through an online forum. Black and green decals overlay a white background, complimented by blacked-out 19″ OZ Superturismo GT alloys, while inside, a special plaque carries the Hancocks of Ford’s top rally ace Mikko Hirvonen and his co-pilot Jarmo Lehtinen.

Only 50 examples will be offered, exclusively in Switzerland at a price of 55,900 Swiss francs - equivalent to about $53k in American greenbacks and representing a 2000-franc premium over the standard Focus RS. We’ll see if we can grab a closer look when we descend upon the multilingual alpine nation for the Geneva Motor Show next month, but in the meantime you can view the top liveries proposed in the gallery below and, if your French, German or Italian is up to the task, check out the press release after the jump. After all, while “speed” is not among the languages commonly spoken in Switzerland, neither is English.

And if some of you longtime readers think that a 50-unit Focus WRC special edition sounds familiar, well, it should. Back in 2007, The Euro Oval did a similar package based on the Focus ST.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford Suisse rolls out special edition Focus RS WRC

Ford Suisse rolls out special edition Focus RS WRC originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: New York Auto Show, Videos, Crossover, BMW

Yesterday we learned about the refreshed 2011 BMWX5 which goes on sale right after the New York Auto Show in April. Shortly after yesterday’s announcement, BMW dropped over 150 new photos of the X5 on us, along with some video footage of one on the new models running around in the snow in Arjeplog in northern Sweden.

When the updated X5s arrive, the vehicles won’t be any lighter, but the base window stickers will. The xDrive35i carries a base price of $46,675 including destination charges. That’s almost $1,800 less than a 2010 xDrive30i. We’re not sure if the equipment level has changed to achieve that lower price point, but any time you get a price drop it can’t hurt. On the other hand, no good deed goes unpunished as the $59,275 twin-turbo V8 powered xDrive50i will cost you about $2,100 more than the starting point for the outgoing xDrive48i model.

Check out the video after the jump along with all the new pics in the gallery.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Video: 2011 BMW X5 blasting around in the snow, starting at $46,675

Video: 2011 BMW X5 blasting around in the snow, starting at $46,675 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Nissan

It’s been a couple of months since Nissan first announced a special 40th anniversary model of its svelte 370Z, and, following a batch of spy shots confirming the car’s arrival, we’re about to get our first up-close-and-personal look at the upcoming Chicago Auto Show. But Nissan isn’t about to let American customers have all the fun, so it’s releasing a similar special edition for the European market.

Like its American counterpart, the Europe’s 370Z Black Edition celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Nissan Z, and packs most of the same features that distinguish its Yankee brother. That means darkened 19-inch Rays wheels, red brake calipers, red leather interior with a red-stitched steering wheel, special badges and the like. In fact, the only thing that seems different, apart from the “Black Edition” moniker, is the availability of a second exterior color: while the American version can only be had in “quartz” dark grey, the European Black edition can also be had in - you guessed it - black. It also comes with the full infotainment package

The 370 examples will begin distribution in April - a month after the Geneva Motor Show where it’s set to debut - with a £33,645 (~$53k) price tag in the UK. That’s over £5k above stock, but then the Black edition comes packed full of optional equipment. Full details in the press release after the jump and high-res photos in the gallery below.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Europe gets its own 40th anniversary Nissan 370Z Black Edition

Geneva Preview: Europe gets its own 40th anniversary Nissan 370Z Black Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: New York Auto Show, Crossover, BMW

The original BMW X5 marked Bimmer’s first entry into the then-burgeoning SUV segment, and it remains a strong seller for the company, trailing only the 3 and 5 Series. The time has now rolled around for the X5’s mid-cycle refresh, which brings two new gas engines and some mild visual updates. The lower front fascia has been reshaped with the larger outboard air intakes inspired by the X5 M. Similarly, the rear bumper is re-sculpted and both ends get more of their bodywork painted the car’s main color instead of black.

The more important changes are underhood, however, where both gasoline engines have been replaced. The base engine for the xDrive35i is now the same single turbo, 300-horsepower N55 3.0-liter inline-six finding its way into most other 2011 BMWs. Similarly, the xDrive50i gets the sweet 400-horse twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 found in the X6, 7 and 5 Series Gran Turismo. Both gas engines are paired with the new eight-speed automatic also making its way to other BMW models. The gas versions also adopt brake energy regeneration to reduce parasitic losses.

The diesel-powered xDrive35d, which only debuted just a year ago but is already accounting for about one-third of X5 sales, carries over its powertrain unchanged for 2011.

Official EPA numbers for the gas X5s won’t be available until closer to their on-sale date, which follows shortly after the X5 makes its public debut at the New York Auto Show in April.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Officially Official: 2011 BMW X5 goes all turbo

Officially Official: 2011 BMW X5 goes all turbo originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrid, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

Up until now, General Motors has remained deliberately vague in public about the scheduled Job 1 date for Chevrolet Volt production. Given the complexity and new technology involved in the program, the automaker’s reluctance is understandable. After all when you don’t know what the future holds or what problems will crop up, you don’t want to put a misleading date out there, years in advance.

Internal schedules, on the other hand, are something else altogether. Every program needs to have deadlines so that people know how much time and resources to allot for a given task. Those internal gantt charts have undoubtedly had the magic Volt Job 1 date on them for several years. Among the stakeholders that need to when a vehicle will launch are the dealers that have to schedule orders for inventory. Around about this time of year, automakers usually brief dealers on when the current model year vehicles will end production and new ones will start.

With less than ten months to go, GM has set November 1, 2010 as the Chevrolet Volt Job 1 date on the production start list for dealers. By September, dealerships will need to start giving GM an indication of how many Volts they want to order so that the head office can determine allocations. Interestingly, the GM chart indicates that dealers won’t know their allocations until two weeks after production starts, and won’t be able to start placing orders until then. Typically, those last two items happen about two months before production starts. The timing for the Volt production kickoff is still far enough out that those dates may yet change in the months to come.

A final item of interest is that the Cruze, which was originally slated to launch in April and subsequently pushed back to September, is listed as TBD.

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: GM-Volt.com]

2011 Chevy Volt appears in order schedule, Job 1 set for November 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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