Cabin materials in the show car were a step above the xB’s, with attractive plastics and a clever two-tone color scheme. The backlit blue-and-white gauges sit in front of the steering wheel — more conventional than Scion’s red center-mounted ones — while various features, from keyless access and push-button start to automatic climate control, feel more upscale.
And the winner is…
That's the question everyone wants answered when it comes to the 2010 car/truck rendition of the Pontiac G8. And the answer is: All those inquiring minds will have to wait.
The deadline for consumers to submit names for the upcoming two-door car/truck version of the G8 sedan came and passed last week, but don't expect the winning moniker to be revealed until the end of May at the earliest, says Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson.
Now that we’ve tackled the best economy cars, hybrids, SUVs and concept cars, it’s time to decide which car we want in our own driveways. This post is kind of like asking us what we’d do if we won the lottery, but considering we’re a fickle bunch when it comes to cars, there’s a bit more to consider than pure fantasy.
Kelsey Mays: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V
Energy independence notwithstanding, I’d gladly shell out $4 a gallon for a CTS-V. The regular CTS is one of Lutz & Co.’s finest achievements yet, and the thought of 550 hp underfoot is stupefying enough to make me crave one. Reality bites, but this Caddy bites back: It still has a full backseat, commute-friendly amenities and a trunk that can fit a weekend’s baggage. Naturally, if I had one, most of my weekends would be spent at the track.
We’ve already recapped our favorite economy cars, hybrids and SUVs. Now it’s time for the concept cars to take center stage. This auto-show season carmakers were remarkably frugal in debuting new concepts. A stagnant economy and rocky financial situations for many of the major players might have had something to do wtih that, but we don’t like excuses. Those that brought the goods get our praise. Here are the concepts we’d most like to see go into production.
David Thomas: Land Rover LRX
While I’d really like to see more interesting hybrids on the market, like the Toyota A-BAT, Honda CR-Z and GMC Denali XT, the only concept that floored me with how cool it and had a possible segment to conquer was the diminutive Land Rover. If Land Rover could come out with a miniature all-wheel-drive hatchback before Mini, I think it could bring in a lot of folks looking to downsize while retaining functionality and capability in their car.
We’ve already recapped our favorite efficient cars and hybrids, but what about the SUVs? Even with sky-high gas prices, new SUVs of all sizes are coming to market. This year brought some of the best interiors and fuel efficiency yet in this segment, but what glorified station wagon took our staff’s hearts?
Joe Wiesenfelder: 2009 Volvo XC60
Put simply, there were some impressive redesigns this year, but I have to go with an all-new entry — especially when it's a smaller alternative to an existing SUV: The XC60 is a handsome vehicle with a high-quality interior and all the safety features you could possibly want. It isn't too small in practical terms compared to the XC90, but it is smaller. These days, smaller is better.
As the last major show of the season wraps up in New York City this weekend, it’s time to choose the best of the best. After trips to Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago and New York, the Cars.com staff reflects on which vehicles we think will make the biggest impact this year and beyond. We’ll start the review with each of our picks for the Best Fuel-Efficient Car from the four shows.
Best Fuel-Efficient Car
David Thomas: 2009 Ford Fiesta
This wasn’t so tough: It came down to the new Honda Fit or the Ford
Fiesta. I picked the Fiesta — in spite of the fact that it didn’t show
up at any of the stateside shows as a finished production car — because
I think it will be a game-changer for Ford. It’s good-looking, has a
wild interior and will hopefully bring an affordable entry-level car to
a domestic automaker that needs it.
We got to see the new John Cooper Works versions of the hardtop Cooper and Clubman in New York City last week, and they looked pretty snazzy in their red, white and black duds. This year marks the first time the performance-oriented trim level will be created at the factory instead of at the dealer level, which should make enthusiasts happy when they go on sale this summer.
The changes are much more than cosmetic. Turbocharged engines from the S trim levels get more power, up 36 hp from 172 to 208 hp. That shaves about a half a second off the cars’ 0-60 mph times. There will also be new high-performance brakes, sports suspension, exhaust system, modified six-speed transmission and unique 17-inch light alloy wheels and tires.
The price bump isn’t a small one, though: $28,550 and $30,800 will get you into the JCW Cooper hardtop and Clubman, respectively. Prices do not include a $650 destination charge. That’s a $7,330 and $7,350 premium over the S versions of each car. Is it worth it? Tell us in the comments.
Hyundai is charging relentlessly into new territories with its products. Witness the Veracruz, a three-row SUV that Hyundai regularly compares to the Lexus RX 350 (which, if a recent Motor Trend comparison is any indication, might not be such a wild notion). Earlier this year, the automaker said it set sedans like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class as the benchmark for its new Genesis sedan, and now press materials for the 306-hp, V-6 Genesis coupe — rumored to be priced starting under $26,000 — tout the $35,000-plus Infiniti G37 as a possible competitor.
The comparison Hyundai made concerned performance capabilities, so we’ll have to wait until we drive one before we can deliver a final verdict. That doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun, though; at last week’s New York auto show, I checked out the two cars back to back.
It's been about 20 years since the Chevrolet El Camino passenger car/pickup truck was sold in the U.S., but GM is planning to resurrect the concept for the 2010 model year under its Pontiac brand. Why now? Why Pontiac?
According to Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson, the company decided to launch the G8 Sport Truck in response to changing customer demand, specifically the movement away from traditional pickup trucks to cars.
"We're doing it primarily to explore if there is a market for this," Hopson said. GMC also recently showed a carlike concept truck, dubbed Denali XT, that featured a fuel-saving hybrid drivetrain.
In an age when crossover SUVs and fuel-sipping small cars are all the rage, some may wonder why automakers still pursue large, relatively gas-thirsty sedans. No slowdown is in sight: Ford reportedly will debut a redesigned Taurus early next year, and Nissan took the wraps off its seventh-generation Maxima at last week’s New York auto show.
That’s in spite of the fact that the market for such cars is stalling: J.D. Power reports that large-car sales dropped 21% over the past two months. Automakers are committed to sticking it out because they say the cars represent flagships for their brands, and they’re confident the road ahead won’t be quite so rough.
Subscribe to our feed
Email us your tips!