Volkswagen‘s compact Touran Minivan (not to be confused with the Routan sold here in North America) has just been launched in its newest incarnation, and the range is being led by a 1.6L BlueMotion diesel that makes 105 horsepower returns a very impressive 51.3 miles per gallon. Also interesting is the tiny 1.2L 4-cylinder gas...
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With recent news of several new models joining a the Jaguar lineup, CEO Carl-Peter Forster has shed some new light on the company’s expansion plans – with a little creative interpretation from the folks at AutoExpress. According to a new report, the F-Type will take Jaguar down-market in the sports car segment, competing with the...
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With the launch of the Buick Regal comes word that the U.S. may get more than just the sedan. According to a report by Car & Driver there’s a strong possibility that we could get either the hatch or wagon, or both. Regal brand manager Jim Federico even admitted to C&D that Buick is currently...
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Regular readers will recall a fondness for hip-hop music at the Autoguide offices. We’ve previously covered the Houston “swangas” phenomenon, Seattle’s Volvo driving rapper and Atlanta’s dubbed-out Camaros. Now, Kia is showing the East Coast some love, with their new commercial featuring their familiar Hamsters, the Kia Soul, and Black Sheep’s seminal anthem The Choice...
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Mercedes-Benz is hoping that new variants of their small C-Class sedan will spearhead a 30% increase in sales over the next five years. The blitz will begin with a C-Class coupe that will go on sale next year, as well as a new C-Class in 2013, followed by a C-Class based convertible shortly after. Mercedes...
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The last Hummer H3 is destined for an Avis rental car fleet, after it left the factory on Monday, May 24th 2010. GM actually shut down production of the H3 in July, 2009, but kept the plant going to fill a special order of H3s made by the rental firm. GM is shuttering the Hummer...
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There have been some big blunders in the history of automotive naming. The Chevrolet Nova flopped in Spanish speaking countries because its name literally means “it doesn’t go”. The Ford Pinto’s name in Brazilian Portuguese has similarly negative connotations, literally meaning “a man with small genitals.” The latest casualty in the history of cars being...
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BMW‘s oddball 5-Series GT hatchback/station wagon/SUV thing is not off to a great start in the United States, and BMW executives are blaming the decision to market only the top-of-the-line rear-drive V8 car upon launch as the culprit behind sluggish sales. “The V-8 was probably not the right car to launch it with,” said Rich Brekus,...
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Whatever you think of the Dodge Journey’s subjective attributes, nobody can deny that it’s a family hauler that is the further thing from a performance vehicle. But somehow, German tuner Irmscher found it pertinent to modify a Dodge Journey with some kind of aggressive body kit, racing stripes, a chrome tailpipe, a “sports steering wheel”...
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Porsche enthusiasts were up in arms when the brand launched their Cayenne SUV, but 8 years on, the car truck saved the brand from oblivion, and helped fund new, exciting models like the Panamera and the Boxster Spyder. For 2011, a more capable, more streamlined and less belligerent Cayenne is on its way and pricing...
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There’s no such thing as a get rich quick scheme, and Nissan knows this, even as demand for their new Leaf electric car outstrips supply. Any new technology takes a significant amount of time to turn a profit, as development costs must be amortized. One can imagine how expensive a car with an $18,000 battery must...
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Volkswagen, looking to take advantage of their tie-up with Suzuki, is apparently angling to use the Suzuki SX4 as a new crossover, designed to compete with the Hyundai Tuscon and the Europe-only Nissan Qashqai. The crossover would retain Suzuki’s AWD system, but likely use Volkswagen’s TSI and TDI engines, rather than the pedestrian Suzuki motors....
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Subaru‘s hot selling Legacy and Outback will see a minor bump in pricing for 2011, as well as a new Limited trim level which brings a couple upgraded interior components that enhance the car’s cabin. The 2.5i and 3.6 Limited models get folding exterior mirrors, a harmon/kardon audio system and XM radio, for a mere...
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Ford is sticking by its slow-selling Flex crossover despite the distinctive box-on-wheels failing to meet its sales targets, and a host of internal competition in the form of a re-designed Ford Edge and an all-new Ford Explorer. The Flex was marketed as a family-hauler after Ford killed its Freestar minivan in 2006. However Ford is...
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Mercedes-Benz is conducting customer clinics to determine whether their B-Class compact car is suitable for sales in the U.S. market. The B-Class is currently sold in Canada, where its five-door quasi-hatchback bodystyle is extremely popular, but small cars have traditionally struggled in the United States. If the B-Class does come to America, it won’t make...
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The Israeli Defence Force already uses the Hummer H1 and the Toyota Hilux pickup for various duties, but now, one of the worlds most ferocious fighting forces is looking to add a frugal Ford to their lineup. Israeli newspaper Haaretz is reporting that the IDF is looking into the Ford Escape Hybrid as a support...
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After unceremoniously pulling out of the Canadian market, Saab is preparing a return to Canada for 2011, as it attempts to pull off an unprecedented resurrection of its entire brand. While Saab was under the auspicies of GM (and partnered with other perrenial losers like Saturn and Isuzu) in Canada, this time the now Dutch-owned auto maker...
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Subaru is recalling nearly 30,000 Outback and Legacy models due to a fault hose in the CVT transmission that could cause a fluid leak. Subaru says that only vehicles built between July 31 and December 1, 2009 are affected, and hasn’t mentioned any safety hazards in their recall notice. However a fluid leak has the...
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Less than a week after General Motors cancelled plans to bring their Chevrolet Orlando mini-minivan to the United States, Ford announced that their C-Max 7-seater will make the trip across the Atlantic. Built in Valencia, Spain, the C-Max features rear-sliding doors and can be had with either a 1.6L or 2.0L Ecoboost motor. Expect the...
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Chrysler had previously announced that a selection of Fiat-based compact cars was slated to hit the market in early 2012. But in a sign of rapid progress at Chrysler (or anxiety over the supposed apocalypse), CEO Sergio Marchionne said in a conference call that work on the vehicles is advancing sooner than the company anticipated, and...
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It’s always been a goal of mine to learn how to slide into a parking spot, similar to how all the cool guys do it in Hollywood blockbusters. It’s a totally frivolous thing to master, and the chances of ever being able to use it are negligible. In any case, it looks like it will...
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Since the launch of the brand, MINI has always had a host of quirky accessories, from flag motifs for the roof, rally inspired fog lights for the front of the car, colored mirror caps and racing stripes in all manner of hues. To commemorate the launch of the new four-door Mini Countryman, the Getaway package...
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Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru cars, forecasted a 57% increase in quarterly profits, as sales in the United States grew while costs were reduced. Fuji Heavy also said that they will boost production at its Indiana plant from 100,000 to 131,000 units. The plant builds Subarus as well as Toyota Camrys, as Toyota...
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Infiniti doesn’t offer a diesel engine in North America, but not having one in Europe is tantamount to brand suicide. The first oil-burner from Nissan’s premium brand will be the FX30d GT, retailing for £45,150, or roughly $67,000. For another£2,000 ($3000), buyers can upgrade to the FX30d S, which is the “sportier” trim level. Both...
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