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Filed under: Economy , Japan , Suzuki Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Suzuki Alto Lapin Sporting a name that could roughly mean "high pitched rabbit" is loveably quirky, and so it fits that the name is affixed to a kei car. Suzuki's 660cc microcar, styled in the same idiom that has shaped Nissan's Cube, though the 'Zuki calls to mind the original Mini more than other squared-off micros. The styling is about the only thing that Suzuki hasn't changed on the Alto Lapin, which has been on sale since 2002. There are upgrades to the platform, powertrain, and interior, making the Alto Lapin a virtually new vehicle. The interior rework brings a newfound sense of space, if that can truly be said about anything so tiny, and the stylish design is rendered in classy materials. A new CVT makes the most of the 53 naturally aspirated or 63 turbocharged horsepower while delivering nearly 58 mpg. The car, with its inherent cuteness, is aimed at women buyers (like many other...
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Filed under: Economy , Hybrids/Alternative , Sedans/Saloons , Green , Crossovers/CUVs , Hatchbacks , Hyundai Hyundai has decided not to wait until 2020 to get its fleet average fuel economy up to 35 mpg, aiming instead for 2015. That will provide several advantages for the Korean manufacturer, including earning credits for being ahead of the curve. Perhaps more importantly now that Democrats are controlling both Congress and the White House, there is a strong possibility that California may get its waiver for CO 2 standards from the EPA. If that happens, Hyundai and everyone else will have to get well beyond 35 mpg. By targeting that amount by mid-decade, Hyundai will be a lot closer to the stricter targets. Hyundai's strategy to get to 35 mpg is officially called Blue Drive. Blue Drive kicks off in 2009 with new "Blue" editions of the Accent and Elantra that will get better fuel economy at a lower price than current models. The following year, Hyundai's hybrid system...
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Filed under: Economy , Hybrids/Alternative , Euro , Green , Volkswagen Click above for a high-res gallery of the Volkswagen up! concept European manufacturers seem to have been taken aback by the recent success of their microcars. Now that consumers have gotten a taste of what life is like when you're choosing between filling your tank or your stomach, industry insiders are predicting that the microcar category will only pick up steam. Daimler is sitting pretty with its smart brand, BMW is working on a city-spec Isetta revival, Toyota has responded with its diminutive iQ and VW went small with its Up! concept cars. But VeeDub's got even smaller ideas on its corporate mind, working on an smaller city car to slot below its already dinky Up! model. Power for the city car will come from either a 1.2L four cylinder or an oil-burning three-pot. That gasoline engine is expected to feature cylinder cutoff technology so it can operate on just half of its allotment of pistons when full power...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Economy , Hyundai , Nissan Less than a month after Nissan announced its $9,990 blue-light-special Versa Sedan 1.6 , Hyundai has one-upped them. Or should that be one-downed? The 2009 Hyundai Accent has regained the title of Cheapest New Car in America with a starting price that undercuts the Nissan by a Jackson. Priced at $9,970, it is now the least expensive new car on the market. And Hyundai didn't reduce content to get the price down. It's essentially the same Accent you could have bought last month, just with a lower MSRP. That's a hard deal to pass up, but that's not all bargain shoppers! Act right now and you'll be getting some free peace-of-mind, as well. According to the most recent J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study, it's also the "Most Dependable Sub-Compact Car" on the market. With Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a 7-year/unlimited...
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Filed under: Time Warp , Economy , Euro , Plants/Manufacturing , Hatchbacks "Cao, nema više" reads the piece paper affixed to the tailgate of the red Serbian hatchback, as a small throng of proud workers gathered around the car to bid it "Goodbye, no more" this week. After a 20-year run, the last Zastava Koral, #794,428, quietly made its way to the Zastava museum and the scrappy Eastern European automaker has wound down production on all but one of its models. The very last Zastava, a Skala 55 , will be the last of its kind when it makes its way down the production line on November 20th. After that, the proud, tenacious people who have been working at the Kragujevac factory aren't sure of what the future holds. Zastava has long been linked to Fiat, and when the lines restart, the Zastava 10 will be badged as a Fiat Punto, which it is. Make as many Yugo jokes as you'd like, but Zastava has a long and fascinating history, and the company has managed to produce...
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Filed under: Economy , Videos , SMART , Suzuki , Motorcycles Click above to watch the video of a stunting smartabusa Stunting on a Suzuki Hayabusa is crazy in its own right, but stunting in a smart fortwo? Now that takes some real effort. While the bike's got the power to wheelie all day long and its dual front discs are more than powerful enough to raise the rear tire just as far as your guts allow, that's not really the bike's intent. Still, it's much more suitable for the activity than the smart fortwo with its lazy 70-hp three-cylinder and skinny tires, right? Well, maybe not. Take a good look at the video after the break for visual proof that the smart, when properly equipped, makes a fine stunt ride. Of course, in this situation, properly equipped equals a major horsepower infusion via the aforementioned Suzuki Hayabusa, along with some major front brake modifications. Seriously, ever see a smart fortwo perform a tail-whip? Neither had we, until today. [Source: Autofiends...
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Filed under: Spy Photos , Economy , Hatchbacks , Mazda Click above for more "official spy shots" of the 2010 Mazda3 5-door The styling of the new Mazda3 is generally pretty good, with one notable and extremely controversial element: that happy-go-lucky smiling face. Still, we've yet to get an official uncovered glimpse of the upcoming 5-door hatch, so there may still be some surprises up Mazda's sleeve. Today we discovered the odd batch of "official spy shots" straight from the horse's mouth , Mazda that is. They show the upcoming hatchback as it sheepishly plays peek-a-boo with its sedan sibling through some beautiful European scenery. From what we can tell, that blissfully chipper visage is alive and well on the 5-door. The rest of the details, unfortunately, are still pretty obscured by all that effective black vinyl clothing. When it finally is debuted at the 2008 Bologna Motorshow in Italy next month, the hatch's engine options should basically mirror...
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Filed under: LA Auto Show , Tuners , Economy , Hybrids/Alternative , Green , SMART Click above for high-res image gallery of the smart fortwo BRABUS The BRABUS edition of smart's diminutive little fortwo is, as we like to say, officially official as of yesterday when the brand pulled the wraps off the new-for-USA model. Unlike the Europeans who have had access to BRABUS smarts for the last few years, we won't be getting the force-fed 112-horsepower three-cylinder engine here in the States, but that means we get to keep the 41 miles per gallon efficiency of the standard smart fortwo. You win some, you lose some, right? It's a nice package that definitely stands apart from other fortwo models thanks to its unique alloy wheels, monochromatic paint in either black or silver and numerous BRABUS emblems inside and out. Want one? It'll cost you $17,990 for the coupe or $20,990 for the cabriolet, which initially strikes us as a fairly steep sum considering it comes with the same...
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Filed under: LA Auto Show , Economy , Sedans/Saloons , Mazda Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Mazda3 sedan Mazda has unveiled its 2010 Mazda3 sedan here at the LA Auto Show and we managed to snap some nice shots off as it was spinning around on a huge rotating stand. It's a good looking car that Mazda says carries on its "family face" with stylish bulges and creases that attract the eyes, and we're really looking forward to seeing the hatchback version as well. Underhood is a newly-enlarged 2.5-liter version of Mazda's MZR inline-four that offers up 167-horsepower and can be mated to either a 6-speed stick or 5-speed auto. As before, a standard 148-horsepower 2.0L four will be available and can be had with either a manual or auto tranny with 5 forward ratios each. Considering the low price class in which the Mazda3 competes, features like dual-zone automatic climate control, Xenon self-leveling head lamps, push-button start and hands-free Bluetooth...
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Filed under: LA Auto Show , Economy , Sedans/Saloons , Hatchbacks , Nissan Click above for a high-res gallery of the Nissan Cube The Cube is ready for America, and it's coming in three flavors just to make sure it has all... sides... covered. Each of them gets the 1.8-liter engine good for 122 hp and 127 lb-ft., with trim levels being just 1.8, 1.8 S, and 1.8 SL. The little box with the slightly droopy rear end is packed with goodies including ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, VDC, TCS, TMPS, and six airbags, and you can get it with Nissan's CVT or a six-speed manual. Opt for the CVT, and it will return something beyond 30 mpg. When it comes to accessorizing, there are 20 colors on offer, illuminated kick plates, a rear cargo organizer, and, um, pet blankets. Follow the jump to watch the video and read all about it, and check out the high-res photos of the "bulldog in sunglasses" below. Gallery: LA 2008: 2009 Nissan Cube Gallery: 2010 Nissan Cube (US Model) Continue reading LA 2008...
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Filed under: LA Auto Show , Economy , Japan , Hatchbacks , Nissan Click above for high-res gallery of the US-market Cube. Click here for the JDM car. Here it is. It's "tomorrow" in Japan, and Nissan has unleashed the motherlode of new Nissan Cube photos - including three showing the U.S.-Spec version that'll be rolled out at the LA Auto Show tomorrow. There's no accompanying press release at the moment, but the Japanese media is running their stories as we speak. JDM Cubes are equipped with a 107-hp/109 lb-ft 1.5L four-cylinder mated to a CVT transmission. Front- and four-wheel-drive versions are available. We'll get a different engine with more power that should deliver fuel economy in the Versa neighborhood. More on that tomorrow from our team in LA. The three shots of the U.S.-market bodywork show, as expected, the reverse of the JDM car. Kudos to Nissan for doing a second body for left-hand drive markets. Inside, the simple appointments of the current Cube...
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Filed under: Economy , Hybrids/Alternative , Trucks/Pickups , Chevrolet , GMC Click above for high-res image gallery of the Pontiac G3 One day before the press converge on the LA Auto Show , General Motors has released pricing on its 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid , 2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid and the 2009 Pontiac G3 . The full-size hybrid pickup trucks each feature GM's patented two-mode hybrid drivetrain with a 6.0-liter V8 under the hood. Assisted by an electric motor, the trucks are rated to tow up to 6,100 pounds. Fuel economy is impressive for a pickup -- they are rated at 21 mpg city and 22 mpg highway (2WD) when unladen. The base price for the Silverado is $38,995 (including a $975 destination charge). The Sierra barely undercuts it with a starting price of $39,365 (including $975 DFC). Production on the pickups starts in December, with delivery to dealers starting in early 2009. If trucks aren't your thing, pricing on the all-new Pontiac G3 hatchback will squeak in at $14,995...
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Filed under: Economy , Sedans/Saloons , Ford , Misc. Auto Shows Click above for more high-res live shots of the Ford Fiesta sedan Ford's latest Fiesta subcompact is finally coming to America, which is definitely cause for celebration. To get it ready for U.S. consumption, the Blue Oval brand has grafted a trunk onto the ex-hatch's hind end, as we Americans inexplicably nearly always choose a sedan over a more functional hatchback. At least Ford has managed to keep the Fiesta's Kinetic design language intact, and the freshly unveiled Fiesta sedan bears a striking resemblance to the Verve sedan concept from the last Detroit Auto Show . For the record, the sedan body style will not be available in Europe, though we expect Ford to also offer the two- and four-door hatchback version in the U.S. Ford officially took the wraps off the Fiesta sedan at the Guangzhou Auto Show in China where the new car will soon go on sale. When the Fiesta makes its long-awaited American debut as a 2010...
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Filed under: LA Auto Show , Spy Photos , Economy , Japan , Hatchbacks , Nissan Click above for a photo gallery of the JDM Cube in the wild The redesigned 2010 Nissan Cube will be unveiled in the U.S. tomorrow at the LA Auto Show , but Nissan's boxy little wagon is already making its way to Japanese showrooms, as evidenced by these shots of a transporter loaded with them . What you see here is what you'll see in LA tomorrow, only with one major difference: we'll get a reversed version of the car's asymmetrical layout. Stay tuned. Gallery: 2010 Nissan Cube (JDM) [Source: Newcar-News via TTAC , Motive ] 2010 Nissan Cube breaks cover in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Car Buying , Coupes , Economy , Tech , Hatchbacks , Audi Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi S3 Sportback Audi's five-door S3 and its Sportback sibling will now be able to benefit from the S tronic dual-clutch transmission. Mated to the 2.0-liter TSFI, you'll seamlessly shift from first all the way to sixth, with 265 hp on tap and 258 lb-ft. available from just 2,500 rpm. You'll also get even better gas mileage, with both cars registering 28 mpg, not to mention hitting sixty two-tenths of a second faster than would with a manual: 5.5 or 5.6 seconds depending on whether you're piloting the three- or five-door. The DCT is available now, and for better gas mileage, quicker shifts, and a quicker car... why wouldn't you? Gallery: 2009 Audi S3 Sportback Continue reading Audi S3 and S3 Sportback get S tronic dual-clutch trannies Audi S3 and S3 Sportback get S tronic dual-clutch trannies originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:01:00 EST...
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