Car News

The Jeep Renegade Concept vehicle completes Chrysler’s trio lineup for the upcoming Detroit Auto Show this year. This concept vehicle is already interesting to note as it is not everyday that we encounter a concept vehicle from Jeep. But that’s not all that adds to its interesting appeal as its design and feasibility make the Jeep Renegade concept vehicle all the more interesting. The Jeep Renegade Concept is covered in all-aluminum construction as the automaker wants to keep its weight down. It is also equipped with a parallel hybrid drivetrain as it consists of 40-mile lithium-ion battery pack coupled with a BLUETEC diesel engine. This is the same battery pack featured in the ecoVo0yager Concept of Chrysler. That is really not what we would expect from the off-road auto maker but it doesn’t mean that its market appeal was reduced. I think it even helped increase its market appeal from having that parallel hybrid drivetrain. Jeep is proudly saying that its concept vehicle can cover 110 miles per gallon which is not a far-fetched thing to happen since it has that 40-mile lithium-ion battery pack. As Jeep is now to be a producer of off-road vehicles, the design that Jeep Renegade Concept vehicle takes is appropriate for all weather conditions. You can even descry-be it to be somewhat sport because of its speedster windshield and roll bar. And with the lower-door openings and the hose-out interior of the concept vehicle, you can say that it indeed comes from the Jeep clan. It doesn’t have much front overhang and has vertical headlights which provide its front end with an aerodynamic but rugged look. This actually fits well with the seven-slot grill trademark of Jeep vehicles. Just to give a background of its exterior – its length is 153 inches with a width at H-point of 62.9 inches, a height of 56.3 inches and its wheelbase is 101.6 inches.

Nissan’s new super car, the new Nissan GT-R, has been out in the Japanese auto market for only three weeks now and already, performance parts are being produced for the super car. And the manufacturer of the performance parts is not just any company as it is one of the preeminent GT-R tuners across the Pacific, MINE’S. MINE’S seemed to have seen the potentials of the new Nissan GT-R and so took it upon itself to produce performance parts that will bring out the untapped potential of Nissan GT-R. In fact, it has already released the first batch of performance parts exclusively for use by Nissan GT-R. MINE’S has got itself a Nissan GT-R when it became available and immediately began to work on its performance parts. Now, it was able to develop a new catalytic converter, new exhaust, and front and rear rotors for the R35. The VX Pro Titan II exhaust’s welds and blue-anodized tips show that MINE’S characteristic of having attention to detail. It has a dual exhaust setup that may provide for a better flow rate over the stock unit. The rotors which are 400mm slotted rotors appear to be definitely pretty. They are also available with 16 or 24 slits. The prototype suspension installed behind these rotors appears to be quite interesting. Also, rumor has it that MINE’S will also be releasing an air filter setup and an ECU upgrade as well which they would call VX-ROM. However, as of now, details on how much these products will cost and when they will be available remain unknown.

Come early next year, there will be a new flagship Toyota Auris will be available early next year for car enthusiasts to enjoy. This new addition will give the range a new sporting edge against other vehicles. the SR180 is equipped with a Toyota Motorsport lowered suspension springs, thus, it has a ground-hugging stance. It also comes complete with a rear spoiler that’s attached just above the vehicle’s tailgate. Its exterior appearance has been accentuated by five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, dark-tinted rear privacy glass and body color finish includes the simple but very cool Pure White. The SR180 is equipped with a lot of goodies intended to provide drivers have an awesome time driving it. Its standard equipment include the 2.2-liter D-4D engine generating a maximum power output of 175bhp and its torque is 400Nm at 2000rpm and this engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. With these standard equipment, drivers can have full control of the car and at the same time experience a responsive and rewarding driving performance from their SR180 model. The acceleration time from 0-62 miles per hour is recorded to be 8.1 seconds and with the D-4D engine, it is capable of covering 45.6 miles per gallon in combined cycle driving. Other standard equipment include the traction control (TRC) and the vehicle stability control (VSC). For a more balanced driving, the SR180 comes equipped with a dedicated and lightweight double wishbone rear suspension. This suspension was specifically-designed to meet the demands of the model’s high-performance characteristics. Other standard features of the model are the automatic dual-zone air conditioning system, dusk-sensing headlights, cruise control, and rain-sensing wipers. This model is now available for ordering and it comes in three and five-door versions and prices range between £17,995 and £18,495 on the road.

Bauer Millet, the leading independent retailer based in Manchester, was able to secure an approved dealer status for Cadillac and Corvette brands last week as it signed contracts with General Motors. Aside from these two GM brands, this independent retailer has also been the official Hummer dealer since this August 2007. Among the five retail sites in the UK, Bauer Millet is the only independent dealer which is able to represent three of the most iconic car brands of General Motors. The Managing Director of Bauer Millet, Mitch Millet, said, “We’re delighted to officially add the Cadillac and Corvette ranges to the HUMMER 4x4 models in our showroom. We’ve had an involvement with Cadillac and Corvette for over 20 years, but this a very exciting time for all three of these GM brands. With the strongest ever product line-up in the UK, we’re confident of significantly growing sales volumes in 2008 with fresh models that feature world-class quality, refinement and driving experiences.” Steve Catlin also commented. He is the Operations Manager for Cadillac, Corvette, and Hummer in the UK and he said, “We’ve enjoyed a great relationship with Bauer Millett in the past and are very pleased that we can bring our relationship closer. With a more comprehensive support structure from GMUK provided by this new agreement, and an exceptional range of new outstanding products, Cadillac, Corvette and HUMMER in the north-west are better placed than ever before to compete with established premium brands.” The lineup of Cadillac right-hand drive vehicles in UK include the midsize BLS saloon and BLS Wagon, the all-wheel drive and versatile SRX, the rear-wheel drive STS luxury salon, and the upcoming CTS executive saloon. And of course, the well-known Cadillac Escalade sports utility vehicle is still included in the lineup. On the other hand, the Corvette models include the two-seater Corvette sports car which is available in coupe and convertible versions. The C6 is equipped with a6.2-liter engine capable of producing an impressive 435bhp. And the most powerful and fastest production car from General Motors, the race-bred Z06, is equipped with a 7.0-liter V8 engine producing 512bhp. Meanwhile, among the legendary models offered are the H2 and the recently introduced compact H3. Both these models provide on-road and off-road performance which made Hummer vehicles popular to car enthusiasts.

Volvo has decided to help people last Christmas by helping them get together. They did this by offering a fleet of its own vehicles during the Crisis Open Christmas. Because of the Swedish automaker’s kind offering, the charity was able to use the Volvo cars which include the Volvo V50 sports wagon and the S60 and S40 Saloons to transport the volunteers and reach the people who need someone to accompany them during this festive season. Aside from accompanying the needy, Crisis has an annual refurbishment of empty buildings to turn them into temporary homes to which over 1500 people from London who don’t have a home can live in during the holidays. Crisis has a range of centers across London and so the fleet of Volvo vehicles the Swedish automaker has provided will have the significant role of helping the volunteers transport important equipment and food to people who badly need these things. The Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, Stuart Kerr, commented on Volvo’s offering, saying, “We are delighted to support the Crisis Open Christmas this year, which does such an invaluable job over the Christmas period. As a socially responsible company that believes in taking the best care of people, it’s a pleasure to play an active role in helping to bring people together at this special time of year.”

Mazda2 or what is also known as the Mazda Demio is so proud to be honored as the 2008 Automotive Researchers’ and Journalists’ Conference of Japan (RJC) Car of the Year. Mada’s famous sports utility vehicle, the Mazda CX-7, has also bagged the special “Best SUV” award.

The Mazda2 is a compact vehicle which merges exceptional handling, distinct vehicle style, competitive running costs, and not to mention the Zoom-Zoom spirit of being fun to drive around. RJC gave the Mazda2 high scores for having exceptional fuel efficiency and drivability. This upgraded model is a lot less heavier as it weights 100 kilograms lighter than its previous generation. What makes the fuel economy of the Mazda Demio notable is its 13C-V model grade which merges the MZR 1.3-liter Miller-cycle engine of Mazda with CVT or continuously variable transmission. This combination results in a fuel economy of 23 kilometers per liter in a 10-15 fuel mode.

On the other hand, the mazda SUV which received the Best SUV award is a crossover sports utility vehicle incorporating cosmopolitan and sporty styling. It got the RJC’s vote because of the CX-7’s responsive and powerful driving dynamics because of the 2.3-liter direct injection turbocharged and eco-friendly engine. This engine is connected to a six-speed Activematic gearbox coupled with a suspension that provides comfortable and stable ride for the passengers.

“We are delighted to receive these prestigious awards from the RJC. Under our product-led growth strategy, we launched the Mazda Atenza as the first of our next-generation models in 2002 and it won the RJC Car of the Year award. We’re pleased to be chosen again by the RJC for the Mazda Demio, the first new model we introduced after announcing our Sustainable Zoom-Zoom long-term technical development vision this year. We appreciate these accolades as a validation of where we are going with our products. Looking ahead, we will continue to strive to make cars infused with the Mazda spirit,” said Hisakazu Imaki, Mazda’s Representative Director, President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board.

The organization which honored the Mazda2 with the 2008 Car of the Year Award is a non-profit organization which dedicate itself to research and criticism of the automotive industry.

The Classic Motor Show which will be happening this year will see rare Volvo cars on display. This auto show will start today, November 9, and continue on until the 11th of the month. The show of rave Volvo cars is to commemorate the time that Volvo car left the Gothenburg factory located in Sweden which is eight decades ago. The show will be held at Birmingham’s NEC. There will be nine rave Volvo cars on show in NEC’s Hall 1.

The rare Volvo cars on show are so rare that some of them are just existing examples. the Swedish automaker’s goal in displaying its rare model is to introduce some of the lesser known parts of Volvo’s product history. It also wants to create awareness for its older cars that are not so much popular outside of Sweden. These are some of the automaker’s reasons for bringing these rare models out into the open, and in UK’s best classing motoring exhibition.

The Volvo PV655 Norrmalm drophead coupe 1933 is an impressive one-off. It is also being considered as one of the most beautiful models of Volvo. The Volvo Sport 1956 is a great sports car and it is equipped with is initial plastic body chassis number 1. This Volvo sports car is also referred to as P1900. Volvo’s C70 T5 convertible 2008 is the Swedish automaker’s current model with an open top. This Volvo rare car in the model range is available with different options for engines. The Volvo 445 Valbo convertible 1953 is actually one of the five survivors among the only ten rare cars originally built. This model had been built on 445 truck light chassis. Volvo 122S Amazon Coune convertible 1963 had been developed by Belgian carrossier Jacques Coune. This is also the only rolling example among the five open Amazons built by the said carrossier. Last but not the least rare car from Volvo Cars Heritage is the 480 convertible prototype 1990, a car built by Volvo Car B.V for its design and feasibility study.

On the other hand, the cars contributed for the show by Volvo Owners Club are also noteworthy. The Volvo 780 Bertone Coupe 1990 was built by Bertone in Italy. And during the second half of the years 1980’s, this was considered as one of the top-of-the-line models of Volvo. There’s also the Volvo Volvo PV36 “Carioca” 1936 and this belongs to the limited 500 models equipped with a streamlined pre-war Volvo. And as of the moment, this is the only one of its kind that is available in UK. Finally, the Volvo 1800S 1965 has received a lot of concour awards. This is one of the best 1800S that existed and it is proudto be still in regular use today.

Motor Trend Magazine has decided that the 2008 model year for the Mazda CX-9 is the rightful owner of the title SUV of the Year after the Mazda SUV scored high in its tests.

The Editor-in-Chief of the magazine, Angus MacKenzie, even praised the 2008 Mazda CX-9 for its exceptional qualities saying that the CX-9 was “arguably the most enjoyable sports utility to drive, and a great reminder that SUVs can be exciting as any car.”

He also said, “We wondered if it would be possible for Mazda to inject its sports car DNA into their first-ever three-row crossover — a crossover that happened to be one of the largest in the lineup.”

The 2008 Mazda CX-9 benefits from the power provided by its 3.7-liter V6 engine. This engine has an incredible power output of 273 horsepower, with acceleration speed from zero to 60 miles per hour in just 7.8 seconds. The fuel economy of this praised SUV is 15 miles per gallon in the city and 21 mpg when running on the highway.

Automakers seem to be taking time now more than ever to produce vehicles that will score high on the green ratings, whether they are hybrids or those that make use of alternate fuel or simp,y have great fuel economy.

Here are the top vehicles that score high on the green rating with respect to their emission standard, miles per gallon in the city, and miles per gallon on the highway according to GreenerCars.com.

The top 1 for this year is the Toyota Prius. No doubt about that. It covers 60 miles per gallon and its emission standard is Tier 2 bin 3/PZEV. Because of that, it has a green score of 55.

The second is the Honda Civic Hybrid with a Tier 2 bin 2/PZEV emission standard, covering 49 miles per gallon in the city, and having a green score of 53.

Toyota Yaris comes in third place as it complies with the Tier 2 bin 5/ULEV II emission standard. It runs 39 miles per gallon in the highway and 34 miles per gallon in the city. It has a green score of 47.

Honda Fit lands the fourth spot with its compliance to the emission standard set by Tier 2 bin 5/LEV II. It runs 31 miles per gallon in the city and has a green score of 44.

With a green score of 43, the Ford Escape Hybrid gets the fifth spot. It follows the Tier 2 bin 3/PZEV emission standard and runs 36 miles per gallon in the city.

Another Ford vehicle is included in the list, the Ford Focus Wagon. It complies with Tier 2 bin 4, runs 24 miles per gallon in the city and 33 miles on the highway. Green score is also notable as it scores 42.

Hyundai Sonata has a green score of 39, thus it lands a spot in the 2007 green cars list. It covers 24 miles per gallon in the city and complies with the Tier 2 bin 5/ULEV II.

Like the Hyundai Sonata, sports car convertible Mazda MX-5 Miata scores 39 in green ratings. It also follows the Tier 2 bin 5/ULEV II emission standard and runs 22 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway.

Toyota Motor Corporation adds three more of its vehicles on the list namely: Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Toyota Tacoma, and Toyota Sienna. The Highlander Hybrid has a green score of 39, follows the emission standard of Tier 2 bin 3/SULEV II and runs 32 miles per gallon in the city. Toyota Tacoma is also proud as it gained a green score of 34 by following the Tier 2 bin 5/LEV II emission standard and running for 21 miles per gallon in the city. Toyota Sienna observes the emission standard set by Tier 2 bin 5/ULEV II, has a green score of 32 and runs for 19 miles per gallon in the highway.

Last but definitely not the least, GMC Sierra Classic C1500 completes this year’s green car list. It observes the Tier 2 bin 5/LEV II emission standard, scores 27 on green ratings, and is able to cover 16 miles per gallon in the city and 21 on the highway.

Autoblog reports that Audi will be delaying its launch of its three new SUVs and will only be introducing them into the auto market in 2009, mainly due to marketing reasons.

Audi’s compact Q5, the diesel and hybrid versions of the Q7 Crossover were originally up for sale in the third quarter of 2008 but Audi wanted to avoid these new vehicles from getting lost in the year-end sales drives. These three will instead be marketed as 2010 models instead of initially being 2008 models.

The diesel version of the Q7 was said to have a 3-liter turbo-diesel V6 which is capable of producing 230 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. According to U.S head Johan de Nysschen, since the new engine will be 50-state compliant, it is “just a matter of formality” before this engine also gets into the future models of A4, A6 and A8. On the other hand, the Q7 hybrid is said to be able to produce 280 horsepower with its V6 engine.

Audi is saying that these three vehicles will likely make its debut in Detroit in 2009.