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.
Spurred by high gas prices, Dodge unexpectedly sped the introduction of a V-6 version of the 2009 Challenger, a model that could account for 40% or more of Challenger sales. The Challenger SE, powered by a 3.5-liter V-6, joined the much-anticipated 2009 Challenger R/T — which uses a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 — on stage at the New York auto show. Come fall 2008, those versions will join the current Challenger SRT8, which has a 6.1-liter version of the Hemi V-8 and is the sole trim level available as a 2008.
While Dodge expects the R/T trim level to be the volume seller, Bryan Zvibelman, Chrysler Group's manager of car, minivan and truck product communications, says the model's appeal is broad enough to attract buyers who are less interested in speed. "The look of the car is a big part of its appeal, and people will be happy to have that for just over $20,000," he said. That rough price refers to the base SE trim level; the SRT8 stickers for $37,320.
Isn’t everyone a little tired of companies spelling words with a “K” when they should really have a “C”? Come on, when was the last time it ever led to anything good? Krispy Kreme? Kia, however, hopes the misspelling of its Koup is a good thing, and after checking it out in person at the New York auto show I’d have to agree it might be. Some of the folks over on YouTube took me to task for saying that it was both styled like an Acura from the 1990s and futuristic. They contended that would make it out of date, which is true; what I meant was that while it borrows the style, it’s still a modern interpretation. Plus, car nuts I know love Acuras from that time. You decide. Check out the video and let us know what you think in the comments.
Folks going to the New York auto show this week will get to check out the all-new Pontiac Solstice coupe. Those not so lucky can sit in the comfort of their desk chair and check out Joe Wiesenfelder’s video highlighting the good — hey, more headroom — and the bad — wicked blind spot — of the new two-seat sportster.
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More on the Pontiac Solstice
It seems kind of silly to report that these all-new Audi models are getting new engines. New models should get new engines, after all, but that isn’t always the case in the automotive world. With its new A4, though, Audi is making it all-new in terms of exterior styling, interior and, now we learn, the base power plant.
Replacing the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that is a staff favorite at Cars.com is a new, more powerful turbo four. Horsepower bumps up 11 hp to 211, and torque gets a healthy addition of 51 pounds-feet to 258.
The turbo will be the only power plant available for the A4 Avant, while the sedan offers an optional 265-hp, 3.2-liter V-6. Both come with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The new A4 and A4 Avant go on sale this fall.
Related
More 2009 Audi A4 Avant Photos
Up Close: 2009 Audi A4
More Audi A4 News
In connection with the New York International Auto Show, in a city where Ford Escape Hybrid taxicabs are an increasingly common sight, Ford offered me a test drive in an experimental plug-in version of its compact SUV.
The philosophy behind this vehicle is similar to that of the Toyota Prius plug-in, on which I reported from Detroit: to increase the battery capacity and to charge that battery in the home with a common extension cord before hitting the road. This supplements the normal hybrid with power that's comparatively cheap and potentially cleaner than gasoline, and that comes from North American sources such as coal, natural gas, nuclear, and, in regrettably rare cases, renewable energy like hydroelectric and solar. All current hybrids generate their own electricity with their gas engines and through recapturing the energy of motion during braking, which improves efficiency over that of a larger gas engine alone but doesn't meet the full potential of electric power.
After reading all you could find on the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe, were you left wondering what it was really like? In this video, Cars.com’s Kelsey Mays takes a look inside and out of Hyundai’s new rear-wheel drive performance machine and finds everything to be pretty remarkable.
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More on the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Cars.com's resident Suburban Dad, Patrick Olsen, takes a look at Volvo's new SUV, the XC60. It competes with the BMW X3 and Land Rover LR2 but is remarkably large for what's considered a compact segment. Patrick shows off the cargo area and rear seat room, as well as the fancy interior duds.
Everyone's seen pictures of the modern El Camino, but has anyone see the tailgate fold down? Senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder lowers that tailgate and takes a look inside. He also shows the behind-seat storage, which we haven't seen in photos yet. Check it out.
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More on the 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck
click on any photo to see a full image gallery
As the auto show season winds down, New York City took center stage. This year automakers really toned down the flashy, wild concepts to let new production models sink in a little better — one concept was even ready to be tested on roads. Mike Hanley, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder took out their red and green pens one last time to decide which vehicles are worthy of showgoers’ time in New York.
2009 Nissan Maxima
David Thomas: Winner
I was surprised at how much better the Maxima looks in person. I still think the grille is too rectangular and Nissan could’ve integrated it better with the stylish headlights, but everything else about the Maxima screams winner. The interior is near Infiniti-quality, and there’s plenty of room in the back despite the car’s smaller size. The trunk is huge, too. Big-sedan fans should be very happy.
Mike Hanley: Winner
The new Maxima's upright grille was a bit jarring when I first saw photos of it, but after seeing it in person it's grown on me. There are interesting styling cues almost everywhere you look on the outside of this car. What put me more in the sedan's corner was its interior; like Dave, I think it offers materials that wouldn't be out of place in Nissan's Infiniti luxury brand. For a big car, however, I found the backseat to be pretty small.
Joe Wiesenfelder: Winner
Here's a switch: I was more accepting of the new Maxima’s styling than were the others when we got the photos earlier this week, but now I'm not sold on it. Specifically, I question how well the front-end treatment will work with darker paint. The headlights and grille blend into the show car's silver paint, blunting the impact. Nissan finally succeeded in making this model significantly nicer than the Altima on which it's based, but now I wonder if it's too far into Infiniti territory. One of two things is happening: Either Nissan doesn't need this model at all, or I'm not seeing the need. On its own merits, though, the Maxima's a winner.
Acura has eloquently refreshed the TSX small sports sedan inside and out for 2009. But are looks all that matter? Cars.com’s Mike Hanley has already reviewed the new TSX, and he shares his thoughts on video at the New York auto show.
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When the FX hits the streets this summer there’s no doubt it will scare some young children who cross its path. Its menacing grille and bold styling cover an impressive performance machine. In the video here, Kelsey Mays takes a look at the 2009 in all its purple glory.
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We've been scratching our heads at the Maxima's new front-end styling. The more we look at it head-on, the more we see a resemblance to a certain flagship from Nissan's luxury division. Maxima, meet Q45, the full-size Infiniti sedan that was axed from the automaker's lineup in 2006. In its swan song year, the luxury sedan cost some $58,000, a figure that put it up against the Lexus LS and Audi A8.
The resemblance is more than passing, so we asked Nissan design VP Bruce Campbell if the late Q had provided any inspiration. He chuckled — apparently we weren't the first to ask him that.
"In short, no," Campbell said. "But, you know, that's thinking of it in retrospect. There was no picture up there on the board, [with us] thinking 'Oh, that was a nice car.'"
The Maxima's head designer, in fact, might have been "too young" to remember the Q's glory years, Campbell said. That's a shame, because it would seem fitting that Nissan's latest flagship would follow in the footsteps of Infiniti's former top dog. Or maybe not — given the Q's demise, the Maxima might just as well do without its ill-fated legacy.
Following the Concept Kizashi 1 and Kizashi 2 from last year's Frankfurt and Tokyo motor shows comes the Kizashi 3, which shares elements from both of the earlier cars and looks more like a real product. No coincidence there; Suzuki says the Kizashi 3 is on its way to becoming a real product. It will debut in Japan, where Suzuki says pre-production versions are already built. It is planned for the U.S. as a 2010 model.
The show car looks quite large, but the Kizashi 3 is technically a midsize sedan. The deep grille looks like yet another copy of Audi's new design direction, complete with a chrome cross-member. The car's a bit snub-nosed, similar to the Toyota Camry with which it would compete. The 21-inch wheels and tiny side mirrors are auto-show-only, but Suzuki says the concept is 90-95% of what the real product will look like — bold stuff. The interior is a mystery, because the concept's isn't representative and wasn't on display.
The car shown has all-wheel drive, based on front-wheel-drive architecture that Suzuki claims as its own even though it started its life as GM's Epsilon platform when the U.S. manufacturer owned roughly half of Suzuki. The car is powered by GM's relatively new 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6, which also appears in the Cadillac CTS and Chevrolet Malibu, to name two models. It produces 300 hp here. The transmission is a six-speed automatic with paddle shifting.
Check out more photos below and let us know if you think Suzuki is ready to take on the Camry and Accord.
We knew when we saw the first images of the new Nissan Maxima that it would be one of the most-talked-about debuts in New York. The big-mouthed sedan has won over nearly all of us, including Kelsey Mays, who delivers an up-close look at the Maxima live from the show floor.
I couldn't get too close to the new Borrego in Detroit, and I couldn't find it in Chicago, but I was finally able to spend time with Kia's new full-size SUV in New York and was fairly impressed by it. The Borrego has a very truck-like feeling to it, very much in line with the Toyota 4Runner and Ford Explorer, both of which, Kia says, are smaller than the Borrego. I drove a 4Runner last week on a business trip, and in terms of inside space the two feel very close in size. I liked the amount of space in the second row of the Borrego; with the driver's seat set to where I normally have it, my knees weren't smushed back there. Headroom in the driver's seat was tight, but the model on the show floor had a sunroof, which usually steals a few inches of headroom. I doubt I'd buy one with a sunroof.
The Kia Koup is a sporty-looking two-door concept that features its share of show-car elements, like a neoprene floor, but it wouldn't take much in terms of styling tweaks to turn the Koup into a production car.
The Koup's front end has a bit of a scowl to it. It has thin, angled headlights, a large lower grille and bumper intakes. Under the domed hood is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that features direct injection and makes 290 hp and 289 pounds-feet of torque, all to the front wheels. Potential production versions would likely offer normally aspirated engines, but it's nice to see Kia going big by putting a turbo engine in the concept. Rather than a traditional manual transmission, Kia has saddled the concept with a six-speed automatic that features shift paddles ahead of the steering wheel.
The cabin has four bucket seats, with white accents for the front seats and rear seats that are completely black. The backrests have silicone padding to enhance occupant comfort, according to Kia. For more photos, check out the gallery below.
Not two months after sister company Hyundai debuted a freshened Sonata, Kia followed suit with the midsize Optima. Though the cars shared architecture in previous years, they’ve been on divergent paths for some time now, Kia says. Where the upgraded Sonata’s new face found general acceptance, our reaction to the Optima is lukewarm. The car’s sheet metal went from Plane Jane to Frank Caliendo, meaning you can find a good impression of a lot of cars here: the grille and taillights look like those on the new and two-generations-old Accord, respectively; the headlights are all Camry; and the trunk and rear bumper remind us of the Malibu.
Both engines have been upgraded, but the cabin remains mostly the same, save for some cooler electroluminescent gauges in the sporty SX trim level. (“Sporty” is a relative term here, as in, whoa, check out that sporty Camry SE!) Other SX features include 17-inch rims, a sport-tuned suspension and mirrors with integrated turn signals. The LX and EX trims remain, and new standard features include a USB port, which takes iPod compatibility beyond what simpler auxiliary jacks allow. Six airbags and active head restraints are also standard, but we wish ABS and stability control were, too. They’re optional, but product strategy manager Ralph Tjoa said that may change before the car arrives at dealerships.
Click below for more pictures.
Saleen is best known for its custom Mustang work, but the company also builds supercars for the rich and speed-addicted as well. The S5S Raptor concept gives us an idea of what its next supercar will look like.
Unlike concept cars from large manufacturers, Saleen is a small shop that hand-builds its supercars, so bringing the Raptor to production wouldn't take too long. The company says it could go on sale within two years at a price near $185,000.
What would that money get you? A supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 good for 650 hp and 630 pounds-feet of torque. Zero to 60 time? The company predicts 3.2 seconds. Top speed? More than 200 mph. Saleen says these numbers will be aided by the use of E85 ethanol as the car's fuel.
We're fans of the look. It might remind us a little of a Lamborghini up front, but the wild backside makes the Raptor unique. More photos below with more to come from the show floor.
Hyundai says the two Genesis coupes on display at the auto show were early, preproduction models shipped here from Korea, so things like badge placement — neither one said “Genesis” on it, for instance — would change considerably by the time the cars hit dealerships. Other things, like padding in the trunk, would upgrade some of the barer bones seen on the cars here.
All the same, I’m not sure why this car carries the Genesis name:
The ML320 Bluetec clean diesel displayed here is no different inside than a normal ML, except for the necessary lower-rpm tachometer and blue-illuminated sill plates (which Mercedes says aren't a definite for the final product). This model is one of three 2009 Mercedes SUVs billed as the cleanest diesels in the world — clean enough for sale in all 50 states. The other two are the R- and GL-Class, and all three debuted here in New York today.
Roughly 20% of Mercedes SUVs sold in the U.S. — including the M-, GL- and R-Classes — are diesels; these CDI versions have been sold in 45 states, excluding Mercedes' biggest markets of California and New York. With the addition of these markets – and given the emphasis on conservation in these parts of the country — Mercedes’ diesel sales are likely to make a healthy jump. No production limits are expected for the Bluetecs.
The new ML will come out this summer, with Bluetec versions to follow in fall. Prices haven't been announced, but Mercedes says the regular ML will have more standard features, and the Bluetec will cost roughly $1,000 more than the ML350, which currently costs $44,000. (Credit to Mercedes for making the V-6 diesel version more affordable than the V-8 gas-powered ML550, which starts close to $53,000.) EPA fuel-economy estimates aren't available yet, but the typical diesel advantage should hold true for these models. The current ML350's rating is 15/20 mpg city/highway, and the CDI diesel version is rated at 18/24 mpg.
Bluetec achieves its clean operation through the addition of urea injection in the form of a fluid called AdBlue. Mercedes says it's refilled at the regular 10,000-mile service interval, which is when oil changes are due.
The world just got its first up-close look at the redesigned Acura TSX at the New York auto show yesterday, but Cars.com’s Mike Hanley has already been in the driver’s seat. The sport sedan gets a new design inside and out and Mike pushes the engine — which has stayed pretty much as-is — to the limits for his full review.
The Cars.com team was hard at work on the first day of the New York auto show, covering all the concept and production cars your heart could possibly desire. Now that we've taken the Big Apple by storm, we've got full reports and pictures galore on each vehicle. Take a look at our highlights and let us know what you think. Also, be sure to check back throughout the rest of today for more coverage.
Production Cars
2009 Acura TSX
2009 Dodge Challenger R/T, SE
2009 Honda Fit
2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
2009 Infiniti FX
2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
2009 Nissan Maxima
2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck
2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe
2009 Volvo XC60
Concept Cars
BMW Concept CS
Ford Transit Connect Taxi Concept
Scion Hako Concept
If you're a fan of the Dodge Challenger's retro looks but are frightened by the SRT8's price tag and fuel-sucking ways, then your Challenger has arrived at the New York auto show. The 250-hp V-6 in the base SE might not have the burnout-ability of a Challenger SRT8, but it gets 18/25 mpg city/highway when teamed with a four-speed automatic transmission, and it still looks the part of its more powerful big brother.
There's also a new R/T, which offers a blend of performance and gas mileage with its 375-hp V-8 and 15/23 mpg rating with the manual transmission. R/Ts with the automatic transmission feature cylinder-deactivation technology to save gas and gain 1 mpg in the city.
Official pricing hasn't been announced, but Dodge says its lineup of Challengers will start in the low-$20,000 range. That's a big discount from the 2008 SRT8's near-$40,000 price tag, really upping the coupe's accessibility for buyers on a budget. More photos of the newly introduced trims are below.
Related:
2008 New York Auto Show: 2009 Dodge Challenger SE, R/T
I've heard the term sport truck before, but this one definitely has more sport than most. The G8's aggressive front end, combined with long, clean flanks and a jacked-up rear end, make for a compelling presence. The cab is shorter than I expected, really exaggerating the length of the cargo box. Honestly, I can't tell if the profile is awkward or if it's just that I'm looking at an animal that's altogether unfamiliar to the eye.
The rear window is right behind the occupants' heads — similar to a roadster, and resulting in surprisingly good rear visibility. The interior is straight out of the G8 sedan, which is to say of decent quality and design, but a little foreign compared to the average North American-built GM car.
Everyone's wondering aloud who the buyer for this model would be, and some have suggested that it's the casual pickup truck buyer who wants to pay less for gas. I don't think someone who wants to pay less for gas is going to go buy a new car — especially not this one, seeing as its starting price will be around that of the G8 GT, which is almost $30,000. Then there's the fact that it's powered by the GT's 361-hp V-8, which delivers 15/24 mpg city/highway in the sedan. Pontiac says the sport truck’s fuel economy estimates should be similar because its standard soft tonneau cover eliminates any aerodynamics penalty. There's currently no plan for a V-6 version of the truck, but Pontiac says there's no reason it couldn't be done if it's demanded. Maybe pickup truck fans will be drawn to the base GT's 17/25 mpg. Or maybe buyers will be more interested in sport than in truck.
Related:
2008 New York Auto Show: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sports Truck
In person, the new Fit looks a lot like the old Fit, but with a longer and more gradually sloping nose. The base of the A-pillars are farther out in front, which puts them more in your line of sight. They're not too thick, though, and Honda put small sail-shaped windows between them and the front of the door. It looks a bit peculiar from the outside, with the windows extending even farther past the front doors, but it helps with visibility.
The burning question here is how large the new Fit is, especially compared to the Nissan Versa, which owes its success, in part, to its greater size. At 6 feet tall, I fit in the Fit's backseat, where legroom has improved but still doesn't seem to match the Versa's. Cargo capacity, however, is impressive. In addition to a cavernous cargo hatch, the backseat offers a good deal of versatility. The 60/40-split backrests fold forward in a single step. You can also raise the seat cushion, giving a super-tall space between the floor and ceiling, similar to the backseats of some pickup trucks. There's even a storage box inside one of the seat cushions that’s accessible from its underside.
Sometimes when automakers shorten a seat's cushions to make it fit into the floor (or put a storage box in it), the seats end up being less comfortable, but this one seemed fine to me ... albeit for a minute, not an extended drive.
The front seats are plenty roomy and the overall quality is good. I don't think it's markedly better than the current-generation Fit, but that car already leads the competition, in my opinion.
Scion says its Hako Coupe concept was inspired by its xB, and it isn't hard to see similarities between the boxy wagon and this concept. Both models have a vertical grille, and the Hako Coupe goes even further with a completely vertical windshield. The concept's short side windows wrap around the rear end, and the greenhouse is topped by a roof that looks a bit like a toupee.
"We love that slammed, sinister look," said Jack Hollis, Scion’s vice president.
Look inside the concept and you might think the brand put in some mismatched seats, but the use of an orange driver's seat and a black passenger seat is intentional and intended to separate those areas of the cabin. Numerous video screens are sprinkled around the cabin — there are two in the dashboard for the entertainment system and four more in the doors and the rear of the cabin — and the driver can use exterior cameras to record passing scenery, providing a visual record of a trip.
The Hako Coupe is one unusual-looking concept car, but it sure does stand out from the crowd, and that's not easy to do these days. Somehow, someway, I find myself drawn to the look; let us know what you think of it in the comments, and check out the gallery below.
More than six years after its concept debut alongside the Solstice roadster, the Solstice coupe is a real product. It looks pretty good in person. Even though the rear quarterpanels are the same as those on the roadster, the fastback roofline looks organic and well-integrated.
I removed the targa top, which attaches via two levers in front and one in the back. Though it's 31 pounds, it's a bit wide. I was able to handle it by myself, but some people will require a helper on the other side. They'll also require a garage to leave it in. Unfortunately, the roof panel doesn't fit into the cargo area as the Chevy Corvette's does, so you pretty much have to leave it at home and hope it doesn't rain. Pontiac's solution is an optional fabric roof panel that can be carried in the back, just in case. There wasn't one to play with, but the accessory should be available when the car goes on sale in January or February of 2009.
The roof panel isn't the only thing that won't fit in the cargo hatch; where the convertible has a famously cramped horseshoe-shaped depression under its trunklid (and that's only when the soft top is up), the coupe improves things only a little bit. Being a hatchback helps, but with the exception of some modest bins in the cargo floor, all the space is above the occupants' shoulder level. Technically, this isn't a safe way to carry cargo in case of a collision.
The coupe is slightly more aerodynamic than the roadster, but that's unlikely to improve gas mileage much. The car is only about 20 pounds heavier than the roadster, so Pontiac says to expect similar EPA figures. The base roadster gets 19 mpg in city driving and 25 mpg on the highway. (Remarkably, the turbocharged GXP gets better mileage — 28 mpg on the highway.) Though the auto show coupe is a GXP, a base model will also be available. More photos below which we'll continue to update.
Related:
2008 New York Auto Show: 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe
The XC60 could easily be mistaken for an XC90, as the two have similar front-end and profile styling, though the XC60 does have a sleeker appearance overall. The XC60's rear also features Volvo's characteristic tall-and-thin taillights.
While the aging XC90's cabin is starting to look a little drab, the XC60's interior can be outfitted in a variety of color combinations; leather seats are available in two-tone combinations like tan and brown or black and yellow. Yes, black and yellow. The dash also incorporates a new version of Volvo's slim center control panel.
The XC60 comes at the right time for Volvo and should appeal to shoppers looking for a small luxury crossover — especially if gas prices continue to rise. A fresh photo gallery is below.
