The Truth About Cars » New York Auto Show

Shanghai & New York Autoshow: Ask, And You Shall Receive

Bertel Schmitt — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:02:52 +0000

This coming week is the week when all car manufacturers wish they would have a split personality. The New York Auto Show and the Shanghai Auto Show will take place in the same week. Jack Baruth will take Manhattan. (Hey, Jack: The famous Headquarter’s “Steakhouse” is right next door to the Javit’s Center. Scores is just a few blocks south.) I’ll take Shanghai and my camera. I’m sure Jack will come equipped. Maybe.

As a special service to the Best & Brightest, YOU can put in requests for what we shall take pictures of – apart from the obvious.

We’ll try to fulfill all requests – to the best of our abilities.

Toyota Fires Maytag Man

Bertel Schmitt — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 05:12:13 +0000

If you like your appliance-style Toyota (there is statistical proof that you are not alone) then better run and buy it now. The Nikkei [sub] rattles its readers this morning with the news that Toyota “plans to build vehicles that are more eye-catching to counter criticism its cars are too bland,”

Jim Lentz, head of Toyota U.S., said that the new Camry, to be unveiled at the New York auto show in April, will already look more stylish. And that’s just the beginning. “In the years to come, you’ll see a much more emotive styling,” Lentz said.

Even Akio Toyoda conceded that “our cars need to be better looking”.

Takeshi Uchiyamada, executive vice-president for product management and research and development, promised that Toyota will be “allocating even greater resources to support the creativity of our designers.”

After a carmageddon-induced pause, Toyota will launch ten new models this year, including two Lexi, and one Scion. So again: If you like the understated Maytag look, buy your Toyota now.

Lutz Lost It: Toyota No Longer God

Cammy Corrigan — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:49:10 +0000

As many of you have probably figured out by now, I’m a firm atheist. You die, you become worm food, and your relatives divide up your estate. Life goes on. However, when I was learning religious education at school, I was told about the many different Gods on offer. We have God, Allah, Buddha (not really a god, but you get the gist), Zeus, Apollo, Thor and loads of others. But at no point did my teacher mention a Japanese car company. Bob Lutz just did.

You guessed it, our favourite near-octogenarian car exec is back with another cracker. Business Week reports that ahead of the March sales figures (and his latest retirement), Bob Lutz was there to stick the boot into Toyota. “We are well ahead of plan and growingly so,” Lutz, 78, said today in an interview at the New York auto show. “Toyota’s God-like status will never be reclaimed.” Lutz also heaped praise on the Chevrolet Equinox “The Equinox is sold out and has a transaction price $5,000 higher than the old Equinox.” Hahaha! Speaking of money: “When we can demonstrate financial success, we will regain the momentum.” and by “momentum” he means “Government can start the IPO and end this investment”. He carried on kicking Toyota: “Toyota will obviously recover, but from now on they’ll just be another one of the guys,” Lutz said. “I don’t think they’ll ever reach the exalted status of the world’s best auto company.”

I wonder if a Toyota ran over his foot when he was younger? Lutz seems to have had it in for Toyota for a while. This is the man who quite happily blamed a Toyota owned supplier for GM’s recall of 1.3 million cars (but when Toyota tried to blame CTS, they were met with scorn). Need more proof? Check out his reason for the Volt. Someone should tell loose-lips-Lulz that there are people who think that GM’s largest stockholder is behind (or at least interested in) the Toyota troubles, and that it’s not the smartest thing to attract attention to it.

The Many Faces Of The Chevy Cruze

Edward Niedermeyer — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 17:13:38 +0000

After several years of hype, Chevrolet is releasing images pictures of its US-market Cruze compact in advance of the New York International Auto Show. The Cruze has been on sale around the world for nearly a year now, though the US launch delay has actually been a blessing in disguise, thanks to early transmission problems and a recall for fuel supply pipes. Now that Chevy’s next small thing has had its teething pains, the Daewoo-developed compact is being shown in a dizzying array of trims and packages for the US market. Chevy hopes that the Eco trim level will bring some much-needed enviro-cred to the brand, by offering a 40 MPG (freeway) version powered by a turbocharged 1.4 liter engine. To match that long-established mileage goal, Chevy had to make a number of modifications to the Cruze, including

A lower front grille air shutter that closes at higher speeds to improve aerodynamics and opens at lower speeds to optimize engine-cooling airflow
The upper grille has more “closeouts” to improve aerodynamics
A lower front air dam extension, extensive use of underbody panels and a rear spoiler enhance aerodynamics
A lowered ride height improves aerodynamics
Unique 17-inch lightweight aluminum wheels
Ultra-low rolling resistance 17-inch Goodyear tires.

Not available until the fourth quarter of this year, the Cruze Eco will accelerate to 60 MPH in about ten seconds with a manual transmission and about 9 seconds with the automatic option. No word on the cost of the package.

Non-Eco-model Cruzes will be trimmed as LS, LT and LTZ models, which start with a base 1.8 liter NA engine (136 hp, 123 lb-ft), which Martin Schwoerer’s German-spec Cruze review calls “an old-school engine that has somehow found its way into a new car, and it ruins the experience.” LT and LTZ models join the Eco in being powered by the 1.4 Turbo engine, which offers a mere 2 hp upgrade from the 1.8, but includes a much-improved torque rating (138 hp, 148 lb.-ft).

There have been rumors of an SS-trimmed Cruze (possibly in coupe form), but as GM’s Mark Reuss has put it, The General is “not trying to peanut-butter SS for everything.” That’s what the RS package is for. The appearance package will be available on LT and LTZ models, and is described in GM’s presser thusly:

Complementing Cruze’s sporty proportions is an optional RS appearance package for the LT and LTZ trim levels, which bolsters the car’s styling with unique fascias, rocker moldings, rear spoiler and fog lamps. An uplevel instrument cluster is also part of the package and includes chrome accent rings in place of the standard silver finish, as well as opaque cluster bezels that allow the cluster’s ice blue backlighting to shine through – providing a sporty nighttime appearance.

“For customers who want even more personality and presence in their vehicle, the RS appearance package builds on the already bold face and coupe-like proportions of the Cruze,” said Michael Simcoe, executive director, North American Exterior Design.

Which means you’ll have to wait for the SS version to get that famous red-stitched interior… or an engine that makes over 140 hp.

Will the Cruze reverse GM’s perennial compact-segment curse? It certainly looks to be a far better car than the Cobalt it replaces, and a 40 MPG Eco version could become GM’s first legitimately competitive green car (depending on its final price point). The open questions? Will the public appreciate the Cruze’s styling more than GM’s developers do? Will the base 1.8 engine perpetuate the impression that GM cheaps out on small cars (even when the better 1.4 has been federally subsidized)? Will Ed Whitacre’s volume obsession make a fleet queen out of the Cruze? Are those global launch-hurting defects all worked out? Will consumers willingly let go of their memories of Cobalts, Cavaliers and Vegas and look to Chevy for small cars? Anything’s possible, and if Chevrolet is going to pull itself out of its bankruptcy hole, it had better hope that it gets the answers to these questions right.

What’s Wrong With This Picture: What? Just 600? Edition

Robert Farago — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:50:06 +0000

TTAC Commentator FerrarimanF355: “It’s a good thing you’re not at the NY Auto Show, then”

Robert Farago — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:58:54 +0000

New Audi Cabriolet: Only 15 Seconds to Get the Girl

Robert Farago — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:14:34 +0000

Audi’s has dropped their A5 and S5 drop-tops at the New York Auto Show. As the hardtop A5 3.2 Quattro is currently sitting on my driveway, I reckon this fresh air version will be, as The Sun newspaper would say, a stunna. In terms of dynamics and comfort, the new A4 platform is a vast improvement over ye old A4′s nose heavy underpinnings. But a question: isn’t 15 seconds a long time for a cloth convertible to lower its lid? And a word of review-foreshadowing warning for perspective A5 Cab buyers: careful with that spec sheet. A faux S5 is the worst of all possible models. Which doesn’t make it horrible. Just . . . inadvisable. And you see that shot with the four people in the A5 Cabriolet? I’d like to see that with the top up. Please.

Mercedes Hybrid S-Class: Four Minutes to Save the World

Robert Farago — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:56:09 +0000

my review pointed out, flipping heck! The gas – electric luxury car has one of the world’s finest engines. Not to be outdone—provided you don’t think “first in” counts—Mercedes has unveiled its first gas – electric hybrid: the S400 HYBRID (all caps all theirs).

The Lexus LS600h L was designated a “600″ because Lexus reckoned the battery-enabled V8 engine performed like a 6.0-liter V12 (no argument here). Besides, the most expensive model/range topper should wear the highest number. So, will Mercedes’ gas – electric S400 HYBRID perform like a 4.0-liter V8? Ja, maybe. It’s equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 good for 275 hp married to an electric motor that generates 20 hp and “a starting torque of 118 lb·ft.” Put it all together and what do you get? Twenty-nine miles per gallon on the EPA’s highway cycle, presumably.

Well, that’s the headline anyway. In fact, Mercedes wants you to know that the S400 HYBRID ”dispels the myth that sustainable mobility is only possible with small cars.” There’ll be some sniggering in Japan tonight, folks. Anyway, Merc’s HYBRID is a bit like Time magazine’s cover: when a trend hits the front, it’s so mainstream its not worth bothering about anymore.

All of which means Toyota hybrid owners are free to go about their business without condescending MSM pricks and Detroit apologists (and condescending MSM Detroit apologists) telling them that they’re poseurs.

Land Rover Sport: Green Queen Gets 5.0-liter Supercharged Engine

Robert Farago — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:13:08 +0000

Four days after the Indian-owned SUV maker secured a $400 million loan from the European Investment Bank to “invest in new greener technology to lower emissions during vehicle production and driving,” Land Rover journeys to New York City to reveal that it’s sticking a monster motor in its Range Rover Sport Supercharged. The new, Jag-sourced 5.0-liter force-fed lump stumps-up 510 hp and 461 lb·ft of torque, up from 390 hp and 410 lb·ft of twist. That’s enough shove to fling the 5670 lb beast from zero to sixty in a claimed 5.9 seconds. Let’s hope those big ass Brembo brakes are up to snuff (so to speak). The Range Rover and Range Rover Sport’s cabins receive a few upgrades here and there (no I can’t be any more vague), maintaining the SUVs hold on “the world’s most imperious driving position” title. Saying that, I’m not convinced two mouse warts on the steering wheel (in addition to the one between the seats) is such a great idea. We’ll have a review as soon as we get our audience with the Queen’s favorite mobile throne. Meanwhile, the best sign that Indian ownership may rescue Land Rover: their clean, functional and attractive website. But does Landie really have a “Muddy Buddy” event? How . . . Spongebob.

Why Do I Keep Hearing the Safety Dance in my Head?

Robert Farago — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:05:34 +0000

Bob Lutz’s Nine Greatest Hits

Justin Berkowitz — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:23:00 +0000

Being Bob Lutz has a fantastic job. He’s rich as sin (thank you, Daimler, for buying Chrysler), and he has Czar in his unofficial title with GM. He can say whatever he feels like, whether it’s about global warming (“a crock of shit,” in his words) or random price projections for meeting the next round of EPA standards. During Maximum Bob’s epic career, he’s “championed” some very interesting though chronically unsuccessful products. Some of these were on sale twenty years ago, others are on sale today. And still others will likely never see the light of day. While so many cars have been touched by Lutz’s magic hands, we present to you his big nine.

MDI Air Car Breaks Cover At NYIAS

Edward Niedermeyer — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:56:21 +0000

We reported earlier that Indian automaker Tata had entered an agreement to license compressed-air technology from French firm MDI. But we hadn't seen a prototype… until now. The MDI Air Car was discovered by Autoblog Green at the New York Auto Shows X-Prize display, confirming the goofiness of the concept. Think Manx dune buggy meets golf cart meets tree frog. No word yet as to how the vehicle (one hesitates to use the term "car" so loosely) will conform the 100mpg performance required for participation in the X-Prize. Although we typically embrace the use of revolutionary technologies, this one just seems way too far removed from reality… unless you want a carbon-neutral trip to the 19th hole.

NYT: New Pontiac G8 Ute is “Hell Camino”

Robert Farago — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:41:06 +0000

One of TTAC's Best and Brightest asked the obvious question: "is Lawrence Ulrich working for you secretly?" Nope. It's just that love is breaking out all over for the new Pontiac G8 pickup ute sport truck thingie. More specifically, The New York Times car hack asks "Who exactly was clamoring for a two-seat, gas-guzzling pickup with the cheapest-looking interior this side of a Motel 6?" [NB: TTAC would have said "Who the Hell..."] The Wheels' description of the G8 without the rear seats is plenty pithy: "The 6-liter V-8 from the G8 sport sedan, good for 361 horsepower and a 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds. The 74-inch cargo bed can handle just under 1,100 pounds, and there’s a 3,500-pound towing capacity. Now, if it could only tow itself away." Ulrich describes the "we don't know what to call it so you do it" Aussie import as "Like Hell Camino: a pointless hodgepodge that’s worthy of an expletive-filled diss from 50 Cent himself." [thanks to Nicholas Weaver for the link]

Hyundai Sonata and Genesis Coupe In Person

Justin Berkowitz — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:09:57 +0000

In rounding out our coverage of Hyundai's offerings in NYC, we've got shots of the facelifted Sonata and Genesis Coupe. Both are much, much better in person than in pictures. The Sonata's biggest aesthetic improvement is the interior, which goes from zero to hero. Build quality and fit and finish are way better, and it no longer is ergonomically challenged. Hyundai's Mission: Bland sedan has, dare I say, some style. As for the Genesis coupe, while I thought the initial press shots showed a hideous Lexus IS knock-off in coupe form, in person it's more of an Infiniti G37 coupe knock-off. Very slick car, and with Kia's use of a 290 hp turbocharged four in the Koup concept, the turbo four that Hyundai announced for the Genesis coupe sounds promising. Although Hyundai didn't have any prices, you'll be glad to know that Hyundai's trademark olfactory character is unchanged in this RWD coupe: even the preproduction show car's interior smelled like a Hyundai interior, which I'd describe as musty crayon.

Click here for Pixamo gallery

Ford Shows Transit Connect Taxi Concept

Justin Berkowitz — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:40:27 +0000

But really, they say, it's not a concept. The Transit Connect compact van (already confirmed for the U.S.) will be a taxi, especially in the taxi capital of America, New York City. With the Crown Victoria going out of production, Ford needs a big car to take its place in the taxi lineup. So it's a hybrid, right? Wrong. Despite Mayor Mike Bloomberg's insistence that all NYC taxis must be hybrids by 2012, the Transit Connect taxi is internal combustion as usual. It'll have the same 4-cylinder gas engine, front wheel drive, and not-cutting-edge 4-speed automatic as the private sale versions of the TC. Still, it makes a fantastic taxi because it is so easy to get in and out of, and it's loaded with legroom. Sliding doors will be especially welcome on Manhattan's absurdly clogged streets, and it's one of the nicest things about the Toyota Sienna minivans already on the road. Ford's reps also confirm that the wheelbase of all American TCs will be stretched from the standard short wheelbase on sale in Europe. Pity it only seats 4 passengers but a third row was probably a bit of a stretch.

Click here for Pixamo gallery

Berkowitz Rides in Ford Flex

Justin Berkowitz — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:35:53 +0000

This is the first anniversary of the Ford Flex [not being on sale]. Ford debuted a concept that looked production-ready at last year's NY Auto Show. This year, it's pretty much ready to go, in finished pre-production form, and off to dealers this summer. Ford's PR folks, who join Toyota in warming up to TTAC, gave me a 20 minute ride in the Flex. Without driving it, what I can say hit me the most is how it feels fully thought through, as opposed to previous cars in which someone started a good effort and then went out to lunch (the Mustang's missing interior, e.g.). The seats are extremely comfortable, and the prepro car was silent inside – which is a feature I hope stays on the actual production models. It's very heavy on creature comforts and goes as far as having a compressor-driven refrigerator as an option, so odds are that it'll be heavy in general. Fit and finish is a huge improvement over most other Ford products, and there's even some character – the cloth version's seats were described as having a tweed pattern. Huh? Engine will be the 3.5 liter V6 from the Flex and Taurus, although one of the marketing guys admitted he wishes Ford's 2.7 liter diesel from Europe would be available. In the future though, the EcoBoost version will be available with a turbocharged V6. Sadly, the packaging isn't what we hoped for, because while the seats totally fold flat, this still ain't rivaling a minivan or the Expedition for space. For example, the third row is still only for children and Napoleonic adults (like me). Looks slick in person, so much so I don't have any idea why Ford's going to sell it alongside the extremely similar Taurus X.

Click here for Pixamo gallery

Ford Slogans Drive You (Crazy)

Robert Farago — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:32:30 +0000

It turns out we got it semi-wrong when we reported that FoMoCo's new tagline is "Ford. Drive One" (pearl two). Wandering around their auto show stand, it's clear The Blue Oval Boyz' marketing mavens are hedging their bets. They're rotating their taglines a la Nissan (Shift BLANK), Pontiac (is BLANK) and Mercedes (BLANK like no other). Three separate LCD's proclaim three separate reasons to drive a Ford product: "Drive Smart," "Drive Green," Drive Safe." (It hardly seems likely that Ford will stop at three taglines, so feel free to suggest further variations on the theme below.) The lack of a single sales message does not bode well for branding, but it certainly should satisfy the divisional mandarins within Ford's Byzantine bureaucracy (our turn!). Meanwhile, a word of warning to prospective Flex buyers: if you want to put adults in the way back, opt for the convex non-sunroof sunroof option. Otherwise, neck compression is a given.

Click here to view other taglines

Suzuki’s Concept Sedan and My Free Lunch

Justin Berkowitz — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:31:56 +0000

Suzuki, despite its 55 percent market share in India, is not the most exhilarating brand in the United States. Their best car in production, the Swift, isn't even sold here. So to entice all the journos to hit up their press conference, they gave out free lunch. At their new concept car unveiling, they showed us a new D-segment sedan concept (Accord/Malibu/etc competitor) that looks fantastic and a little like the Lexus LS460 from the side. What percent production ready is it? Hard to cut through the PR talk, which says it communicates a new design language, yada yada yada. It's front wheel drive, has a 3.6 liter V6 (sound like any General Motors cars you know?) and a six-speed automatic transmission. The concept car has AWD, though whether that comes through in a production model is questionable.

Click here for Pixamo gallery

CAFE Has Maximum Bob Confused, Depressed

Edward Niedermeyer — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:25:38 +0000

Another day, another hybrid prognostication from Maximum Bob Lutz. We reported yesterday that Lutz said that one-third of GM's sales would have to be hybrids by 2015 to meet CAFE standards. Overnight Lutz has maximized his vision to 80 percent hybrid sales by 2020. The Freep reports Lutz spouting such cheery bromides as "Ultimately by 2020 we figure that 80% of vehicles will require some sort of hybridization. We cannot get to 35 miles per gallon with anything resembling the current product portfolio with anything resembling current technology." Gee Bob, ya think? To be fair, we know that all this CAFE standards talk isn't really the Car Czar's forte. In fact, it seems like just talking about it is making the poor guy depressed. "Around 2015 we're going to have to sell a ton of hybrids whether people want them or not," Lutz told the Detroit News. "It's basically going to result in the quasi-disappearance of V-8 engines." Now that doesn't sound like the Maximum Bob we know and love.

Kia Debuts “Koup” Concept Car

Justin Berkowitz — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:48:58 +0000

Not to be confused with Reagan's Surgeon General, Dr. Koop, Kia debuts the Koup concept car today. It's a classic "beats the Scion tC at its own game" move by being a reasonably nicely shaped four-seat FWD sport coupe. The concept engine – which Kia says is real and functional – is a hopped-up turbo four with 290 horsepower…. unfortunately routed to the front wheels. What this concept should mean to you is a realistic preview of the upcoming (and disappointingly, not revealed this week) Kia Spectra sedan and coupe. Considering the current model has been on sale since 2000-2001, it's about frickin' time. Still, if they can bring something that looks like this into actual production, PR Director Alex Fedorak's hope of "standing out in traffic" might inch closer from PR dreamland to real life.

Click here for Pixamo gallery

GM Loves Bloggers (Who Fawn Over Their Quasi-Vaporware)

Edward Niedermeyer — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:34:05 +0000

The Detroit Free Press "reports" that some 300 people traveled to the New York Auto Show specifically to gush about GM's Hail Mary PHEV, the Volt. Basic reporting standards are out the window as the Freep climbs aboard the Volt love train, boldly giving a forum to bloggers to voice their fearless and unimpeded admiration for a vehicle which is still little more than a concept. An event titled "Volt Nation," organized by Neurologist Lyle Dennis, was the focal point for throngs of (presumably) unpaid Volt cheerleaders. Let the Freep take you there on the wings of its elegant prose: With the Volt Nation event, Dennis said earlier in the day, (his) Web site (gm-volt.com), which is independent of the automaker, has achieved a milestone."For the first time in history, a major U.S. automaker will hold a conference not for the press, not for the government … but for the consumer," said Dennis, who has become something of a cult hero among those who frequent his Web site. That's right folks, if you become a legendary shill for a failing automaker's last gasp at relevance, you too might just get your own personal conference with Bob Lutz. Sure, he'll probably just slap you on the back and commend you for working harder and cheaper than any marketing hack he's met, but that's just just the price of "cult hero-dom," isn't it?

Porsche Slaps a Cease and Desist Order on Winding Road for “Solstice Targa”

Robert Farago — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:57:23 +0000

"Farago better cover his ears," former TTACer Chris Paukert said, kneeling by one of his colleagues in the floor of the press room. As if. Turns out Porsche has issued a cease and desist order against Paukert's current employer, windingroad.com, after the website referred to the new Solstice hardtop as a "Solstice Targa." Within hours, the automaker sent a legal document ordering them to stop using the word "Targa" for anything other other than a Porsche Targa (named after the Targa Florio). They "suggested" the alternative: "T-top" or "removable glass roof." While we understand Porsche's Kleenex-like desire to protect their model nomenclature, perhaps a quiet word in the website's proverbial ear would have sufficed. We also wonder if Porsche would have been satisfied if Winding Road had used a small "t" instead of a capital "T." I know: let's see what happens. Solstice targa. Anything? Just for fun: Solstice Targa. Frank, put Ms. Brown on standby.

Lutz: Brands are Back on Track

Frank Williams — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:04:13 +0000

"We are undoing the mess we had in the 1980s when every brand had everything, they all looked the same and they were all priced the same." So says GM's Product Jeffe Bob Lutz, quoted in The Wall Street Journal. The winner of TTAC's first annual Bob Lutz award went on to say their brands are emerging with their own identity, with "Buick standing for American luxury, Cadillac for total luxury and Pontiac getting back to its quality built roots." So let's run down the GM lineup and see where they stand: Pontiac is selling Cobalts and Holdens. Saturn is selling Opels. Saab is selling TrailBlazers (with the ignition key between the seats). Buick, Saturn, GMC and Chevrolet are all selling the same CUV with overlapping prices. Saturn, Chevy and Pontiac are all selling the same mid-sized car at about the same price. Cadillac is selling squared-off Corvettes and blinged-out Avalanches and Tahoes. Everything GMC sells is duplicated in the Chevy lineup. They're talking about introducing a Chevy-priced "entry level" Cadillac. Yep. Looks to me like GM has a firm grip on their brand identities. Too bad they don't have a firm grip on reality.

GM Mulls Turbo-4 for Camaro

Samir Syed — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:46:03 +0000

Autoweek 's Richard Truett reports that General Motors, feeling squeezed by ever-tightening fuel economy standards and ever-rising gas prices, is considering offering a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine for the base trim of its upcoming 2010 (for this week, anyway) Camaro. Speaking at the NY Autoshow, GM Vice-Chairman and daily TTAC newsblog fodderman Bob Lutz said he feels that the RWD drivetrains available from the Solstice GXP and Sky Red Line would make an excellent fit in a Camaro. Of course, the last time GM tried the i4/Camaro recipe, we ended up with the "Iron Duke" in slower-than-molasses 1982 Camaro. It's not so much the number of cylinders or the power output that bothers me – indeed, a 260 HP Ecotec is more powerful than some V8's of yore – but the turbocharging. To me, American muscle means a big, lazy, rumbling naturally-aspirated torque bomber with even power and torque-curves. I don't think I could ever get used to a Camaro with the exhaust note of a Cobalt SS.

Honda Unveils New Fit

Justin Berkowitz — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:09:07 +0000

Honda officially showed the second generation Fit to the world today, For a B-segment car, it's something of a looker. Power rises to a useful 118 horsepower from a new 1.5-liter engine, and the optional automatic transmission (befitting a car that will spend time in congested urban areas) gains a cog (for a total of five). Honda's also hoping to convince buyers of its cheapest car to spring for high-profit-margin items like the optional navigation system. Interior plastics are improved, and the flexible seating returns. Honda calls the latter "Magic Seat." While useful, if this is Honda's impression of magic they should probably stop going to prestidigiation performances at the airport motel. Honda forgot to release the Fit's crucial MPG figures. Since these are the most important stats for this car (besides price), you'd have thought Honda would have remembered not to remember to forget.

Clilck here for Pixamo Gallery