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Filed under: Economy , Sedans/Saloons , Tech , Crossovers/CUVs , Suzuki As previously reported , Suzuki has decided to include navigation on its SX4 Sport and Crossover before you make the first mark on the options list. That will make the $15,999 car the lowest priced car in America to come standard with talking maps. And now they're set to arrive in the SX4 Special Editions that arrive in Suzuki showrooms this month. To recap, the nav system is called TRIP -- Travel, Real-time traffic, Information, and Play -- and incorporates several Microsoft features. Drivers can get traffic info, weather reports, headline news, stock quotes, movie listings, the lowest priced gas in the area, and directions to 500 nationwide Suzuki dealerships. If buyers go for the expansion module, they'll also get Fodor guide reviews of eateries and nightlife spots. It sounds like an awful lot to do in such a little car, but that's the march of progress. [Source: Suzuki ] Read | Permalink | Email this...
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Filed under: Aftermarket , Tuners , Crossovers/CUVs , BMW Opinions about the BMW X6 are split around the Autoblog virtual water cooler and this teaser from Lumma Design hasn't helped. The German tuning haus will be unveiling a production model of its CLR X 650 at the Paris Motor Show later this year, and much like the standard X6, you'll either love it or loathe it. What isn't up for debate is the CLR X 650's aggressive demeanor. If the nuclear mishap hue isn't enough to catch your attention, then the new fascia equipped with super-sized air dams, the side skirts, rear fender vents and revised mirrors will keep your wandering eyes in check. The whole package is slammed by 40mm over a set of 23-inch bespoke black rolling stock, while the interior is expected to get a color-matched instrument panel, aluminum pedals and a new steering wheel. Even those of us partial to the X6's proportions aren't convinced that Lumma is doing the SAV concept right. But we have to...
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Filed under: Videos , Crossovers/CUVs , Chevrolet , Toyota Click above for a gallery of high-res pics. When the 2009 Chevy Traverse goes on sale in September, it will be the fourth, eight-passenger Lambda-based crossover to come from GM. The bow-tie CUV will carry the lowest starting MSRP of the quartet, and it will also carry the most power, with 288 hp and 270 lb.-ft. of torque, along with the highest towing capacity of 5,200 lbs. Hit the jump to view several comparison videos that pit the Traverse against one of its main competitors, the Toyota Highlander. The first video is a walk-around of the Traverse to point out unique styling points, and from there it's all competition. We judge everything from the interior volume to the driving experience, and then take the two CUVs into uncharted territory -- the track. Enjoy! Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Chevrolet Traverse Continue reading VIDEO: Chevy Traverse takes on Toyota Highlander inside and out Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: SUVs , Paris Motor Show , Crossovers/CUVs , MINI After nearly three years of rumors and speculation, the new jacked-up MINI SAV will finally make its debut, according to Autocar . The Brit pub is reporting that the MINI 'ute is bound for Paris, with an on-sale date sometime in 2010 and sporting a five-door design. Questions still remain about what platform the new all-wheel-drive model will be based on, with sources suggesting it will either be based around the Clubman's architecture, making use of a new upper-body structure, or the current Cooper's chassis, using the front end and employing a new floorpan to accommodate the AWD system and new seating positions. Regardless of what's underpinning the SAV, MINI has to justify the R&D, so if the biggie-sized MINI proves successful, there's a possibility that a front-wheel-drive variant will be offered on the same chassis, oxymoronically dubbed the MINI "Maxi." Production is expected to begin late...
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Filed under: Trucks/Pickups , Plants/Manufacturing , Crossovers/CUVs , Chevrolet , GMC , Rumormill General Motor's "commercial grade" truck unit may be losing two of its planned products, leaving some to contemplate the future of the nameplate in general. It's too early to consider GMC dead, but with the apparent cancellation of the next-generation Acadia CUV as well as the planned unibody truck inspired by the Denali XT Concept , GMC dealers are likely left wondering what, beyond the new GMC Terrain , they are supposed to be selling in the next few years. We're not all that sad to see the Acadia go as the Chevy Traverse is a better looking overall package and it makes more sense to offer the CUV as a Chevrolet anyway. What's more, with most GMC dealers also offering Buick vehicles, they'll still have the Enclave to offer potential customers. Current rumors also predict an end to the Saturn Outlook , the slowest seller of the original Lambda-based trio, which...
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Filed under: Crossovers/CUVs , Chevrolet , First Drive Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Chevy Traverse At the Chicago Auto Show , Chevrolet rolled out the fourth and hopefully final member of its Lambda crossover family, the new Traverse. By the way, according to Chevrolet the proper pronunciation puts the emphasis on the second syllable. Like its Saturn, GMC and Buick siblings, the new Traverse is a full-size vehicle that is almost the same size as the Tahoe. That means it has seating for up to eight occupants, although three in the last row is a bit of a squeeze. GM invited the media out to its Milford Proving Ground last week for a first drive of the Traverse, which of course we attended on your behalf. We had the chance to sample the big CUV in several different scenarios against what the marketing staff consider its main competitor, the Toyota Highlander. We ran the Chevy and Toyota back to back on the ride road, the skid pad, a lane change and slalom course and while...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Crossovers/CUVs , Chevrolet , GM Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Chevy Traverse The fourth addition to General Motors' lineup of Lambda CUVs, the 2009 Chevy Traverse, has officially been priced from $28,990, which includes a $735 destination charge. As with most Chevy models, the Traverse can be had in LS, LT and LTZ models. It will be the first and only Lambda CUV to be equipped with the direct-inject version of GM's 3.6L V6, which must irritate Buick Enclave owners who have paid a lot more for their Lambda sans DI, that will be mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The 3.6L DI V6 produces 288 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque in the Traverse, and can power the front wheels or all four in AWD models. The Traverse can also carry eight people if you opt for the second-row bench, though we imagine those several passengers stuffed in the way back will not be your friends anymore upon arrival. Unfortunately, Chevy has not released...
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Filed under: Sports/GTs , Trucks/Pickups , Etc. , Crossovers/CUVs , Honda , Toyota What would you call this thing? A Prelude SUC*? A Preludamino? A Prelude Brat? A Ridgelude? The seller, for his part, bills it as a "Cruck." With the careful adaptation of a Datsun Pickup liftgate, this cut and restyled 1989 Prelude Si was possibly a prelude to the atrocity wonder that would eventually be known as the Honda Ridgeline. It is said to feature a four-cylinder with an automatic, and able to get 38 mpg. Thank goodness it "was built under professional supervision of experienced body technicians," as we'd hate to think that any average schmo cut and pasted this Prelude. The work must be halfway decent, as it serves as daily transport for the seller and still features such luxuries as "power windows, sunroof, heat and a/c, cd player, power steering and functional tailgate." As it sits it's a fitting testament to ingenuity and another answer to a question nobody...
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Filed under: Etc. , Tech , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford They're not very glamorous, but tires make or break our driving enjoyment. Ford wants to soothe drivers of its new Family Truckster Flex, so Goodyear's Assurance ComforTred tires have been specified as the original fitment for the big crossover. The Assurance ComforTred uses a special cushion layer to smooth out road imperfections, the last thing anyone wants with a Flex loaded for bear with the kids, the dog, and a fully stocked refrigerator. The Flex is obviously designed to devour large stretches of interstate without a whimper, and Goodyear seems to think their ComforTred tires share the same appetite for asphalt, backing them with an 80,000 mile warranty and calling the Assurance Goodyear's very best tires. To make the Flex a success, the entire program needs to encompass multiple "very bests;" here's hoping. Press release after the jump Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Ford Flex [Source: Goodyear] Continue reading...
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative , Green , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford , Mercury , Driving Click the image above for more high res pics of the 2009 Mariner Hybrid Ford took pride in being the first automaker on the planet to offer a hybrid utility vehicle when it introduced the first battery-assisted Ford Escape in mid-2004. The Escape hybrid has had mixed success over the past few years, but with gas prices hitting $4 per gallon, the Blue Oval is selling every unit it can produce. For the 2008 model year, one in eight Escape sales are hybrids, which is impressive when you consider that it averages $30,000 per vehicle. In 2006, the Escape was joined by the lower volume Mariner Hybrid, giving Ford two entries in the hybrid soft-roader market, and a green model to sell at Lincoln-Mercury dealerships. The Escape got a thorough makeover on the outside for 2008, but most of the mechanicals remain a carryover from the previous generation. For 2009, Ford finished the job on the Escape and its sheet...
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Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show , Crossovers/CUVs , BMW The BMW Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS or possibly V5 ) is on its way, whether the world wants it or needs it. According to Auto Motor und Sport , the 5-series based sedan will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009, and is expected to be very reminiscent of the recently released X6, with plummeting C- and D-pillars, a hatchback, a higher ride height (think Audi's Allroad) and measuring in at approximately 4.9 meters (192 inches), about an inch longer than the X6. There's no indication about which markets the PAS will be sold in when it arrives in late 2009 or early 2010, but it's safe to assume that the success of the X6 will be a factor in the PAS' distribution. [Source: Auto Motor und Sport via Autotelegraaf via Egmcartech ] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Coupes , Wagons/Estates , Crossovers/CUVs , Cadillac Click above for a high-res gallery of the Cadillac CTS Wagon. Cadillac's product onslaught will continue with another iteration of the CTS that takes aim at the Kraut-wagons from Mercedes and BMW. The CTS wagon will debut in 2009 and will be sold worldwide, and it's expected that the CTS coupe will debut later that year. As expected , the Provoq concept will replace the SRX in 2010 and will be built atop a new premium platform created by blending the Theta and Epsilon architectures. Power will be provided by a V6 and Cadillac's general manager, Jim Taylor, expects annual sales to land somewhere between 60,000 and 70,000 units. Gallery: Cadillac BRX - spy shots Gallery: Cadillac CTS Wagon - spy shots [Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Spy Photos , Crossovers/CUVs , Saab Click above for high-res gallery of Saab 9-4X spy shots Yes, even crossovers need their suspensions tuned, and what better place for Saab to stretch the legs of its upcoming 9-4X crossover than the Nurburgring in Germany? The 9-4X was, of course, already previewed by the Saab 9-4X Biopower concept revealed last January at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show , and then we also saw our first spy shots of the covered crossover back in April. Here we see the sloped roof 9-4X being thrown around the 'Ring during its development process. The engineers are no doubt striving to instill the 9-4X with that certain bit of Saabness the brand's current off-roader, the 9-7X, is completely missing. You should consider the 9-4X a cross between the late Subaru Impreza-based 9-2X and Chevy Trailblazer-based 9-7X, as its got enough ground clearance to go soft roading but should show off some deft moves on a flat surface. The 9-4X will be built on a unique version...
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Filed under: Government/Legal , Safety , Crossovers/CUVs , Chrysler , Dodge Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Dodge Journey Chrysler is recalling 6,692 Dodge Journey crossover vehicles equipped with its 3.5L V6 engine due to a wiring harness problem that could potentially result in an engine fire. NHTSA says the issue can occur when the wiring harness becomes dislodged and makes contact with the transaxle mount. Effected vehicles need to be checked out at your local Dodge dealer where the wiring harness will be inspected for damage. If the harness is damaged it will be replaced, and all harnesses will be secured with a tie wrap to ensure the issue doesn't reoccur. Chrysler has known about the issue since mid-March, but no actual fires have been reported as of this time. The Journey recall is the second NHTSA action on a new vehicle this month, the Volkswagen Tiguan being the other, with each model having less than 7,000 units effected. Though nobody wants to see a time-consuming...
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Filed under: Crossovers/CUVs , Ford Click above for high-res gallery of our first drive of the 2009 Ford Flex According to Peter Horbury, Ford's head of design in North America, the Blue Oval will be shortening the time frame between major styling changes for its models from five years to three. This move is part of a plan to reduce the need for large incentives to move older models that haven't had a major redesign in 4 - 5 years. Apparently, the company has not seen big sales jumps with its standard practice of giving older models minor facelifts. So, for instance, the Ford Flex, which is arriving to market as we speak, could see some major changes for its first makeover on which designers are already working. First seen in 2005 as the Fairlane concept, the Flex could be in danger of getting stale faster than other models. Considering that we just drove the new 2009 Ford Flex for the first time, already starting its next major restyling is a good sign that Ford's planning...
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