Buick Business Small Van Debuts in Shanghai

The doom and gloom surrounding GM in the U.S. feeds on the perception that the company can’t build desirable cars. In China, however, the Buick brand has seen a boom in popularity over the past few years, and it features a number of relatively upscale products.

GM is still developing global products, and at this week’s Shanghai auto show it debuted the Buick Business concept based on its upcoming Chevy Orlando small van, which will be sold in Europe.

The Buick Business is aimed at China’s growing middle class, who are the people moving the dial on the auto market there. A Buick in China costs less than a Mercedes but still holds status it doesn’t quite retain in the U.S.

The Business will likely be a hit in China, but it has little chance of being one of the company’s products in the U.S. There’s word GM is bringing the more affordable Chevy Orlando stateside in 2011 to compete with the Mazda5 and Kia Rondo.

We could be wrong, though. Do you think a small luxury van could sell in the U.S.? Check out more photos below and let us know what you think in the comments.

Kelsey Versus the PUMA

If the Nerd Herd from NBC’s “Chuck” needed a new company vehicle, the GM/Segway PUMA could be it. The electric-powered PUMA can turn on a dime and carry two people in a “slow-motion roller coaster” kind of way. In this video, Cars.com’s Kelsey Mays talks to its designers and gets a brief ride that takes us through each step of the driving experience.

Riding Around in the GM/Segway PUMA

Yesterday, I joined the ranks of Meredith Viera, among others, by getting a ride in the PUMA, a two-seat contraption built for trolling around Manhattan-sized concrete jungles. PUMA — which stands for Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility — is a joint venture between General Motors and Segway, the company that builds the upright two-wheelers you’ve probably seen your local geek using. (Proof of that: I’ve ridden one before.) The PUMA seats two and operates much like a Segway, combining internal sensors with electric motors to balance itself on two wheels. Product designer Derek Hugger took me for a quick spin inside the Javits Center. It’s a bit like a slow-motion roller coaster.

Hyundai Nuvis Concept at 2009 New York Auto Show

• Looks like: Hyundai is ripping off Mazda’s concept style
• Defining characteristics: Gull-wing doors, hybrid drivetrain
• Ridiculous features: “Battlestar Galactica”-themed interior
• Chance of being mass-produced: Unlikely; we doubt even the styling will be seen in future Hyundais

Hyundai says the Nuvis “hints” at a future crossover, but taking a gander at its wild-looking sheet metal it seems more than one generation removed from the company’s current style, which can only be categorized as conservative.

Regardless, the Nuvis is a true concept in that it has a wild interior dominated by an organic-shaped dashboard backlit in blue, which reminds me of something out of “Battlestar Galactica.” Sci-fi fans will probably pick up on the “Tron”-themed blue lines on the floor, as well.

The designers’ science fiction inspiration doesn’t stop there, as the gull-wing doors give a nod to Doc Brown’s flying DeLorean from “Back to the Future.” Where does all this flight of fancy leave us? Well, car lovers might like to know the guts of the Nuvis rely on a hybrid powertrain aiming at 228 hp, with a lithium polymer battery pack helping gas mileage. The company estimates a crossover running such a setup would get 34/35 mpg city/highway.

The exterior also has a low drag coefficient, but those stylish 22-inch wheels will certainly cut down on fuel efficiency. The battery pack also eats into rear cargo room quite a bit despite the space-saving lithium polymer packs.

The Nuvis sure is a wild concept, but if Hyundai can get this type of hybrid performance in a traditional crossover body, it will have a big winner on its hands. More photos below.

Scion iQ Concept: Up Close

The iQ Concept works. On one level it works because it's just audacious enough to attract the young buyers to whom Scion has always catered — the demographic that found appeal in the brand's early xB and xA despite their small size, modest power and distinctive styling. But it also works because of what it represents to any American buyer: a car that doesn't give up too much in exchange for its small size and presumptive fuel efficiency.

Acura ZDX Concept: Up Close

Yesterday, Acura took the wraps off the 2010 ZDX, and I had a chance to see the prototype up close. Acura says the prototype is close to the real thing that will hit dealerships this fall. Whether the ZDX adds anything to the luxury-crossover fray will largely depend on its driving dynamics. As a utility vehicle, it runs the same playbook as the BMW X6 and Infiniti FX, which is to say styling trumps space.

Mitsubishi Outlander Prototype GT at 2009 New York Auto Show

• Looks like: Somebody slapped a Lancer grille on the Outlander
• Defining characteristics: That huge Lancer-styled grille
• Ridiculous features: Mitsubishi calling this a prototype when it’s just mild changes to the regular version
• Chance of being mass-produced: It’s very likely this will be a refreshed Outlander next year

We’re a little peeved at Mitsubishi for making a big deal out of the Outlander GT Prototype. You see, this isn’t really a concept car. That’s why they used the word “prototype.” Yet they’re not saying it’ll go on sale for sure, either. They didn’t even add an interesting new power plant like we predicted they would.

Instead, the GT Prototype just gets a revised version of the V-6 featured in the current top trim level, boosting power by 10 hp, to 230 hp, while getting better fuel economy. We were hoping for the turbo four-cylinder featured in the company’s Lancer Ralliart instead.

The new grille looks surprisingly natural affixed to the Outlander SUV. When the company tried the same thing with the Eclipse sports car, it didn’t look quite so seamless. We’d expect to see this look on all the trims of the 2010 Outlander. More photos below.

Scion iQ Concept at 2009 New York Auto Show

• Looks like: Japan’s Toyota iQ gets Scion-ized
• Defining characteristics: Small size, ginormous LCD screen
• Ridiculous features: Odd 3+1 seating setup
• Chance of being mass-produced: Very likely

At 126.9 inches, the Scion iQ concept is more than 2 feet shorter than the smallest Scion, the xD, but believe it or not it’s 20 inches longer than the Smart ForTwo. That means this little city car might have the chops for sale in the U.S.

The iQ is already sold in Japan and other countries as a Toyota model, but the company feels it would do better in the U.S. as a Scion. Of course, it uses the word “if” when talking about this car ever going on sale stateside. We think it would do well among Scion’s demographic and among those looking to spend a little to get basic transportation. The only modifications done to this iQ were to the exterior by way of body kits from an aftermarket tuning house. Oh, and the Toyota badges were replaced with Scion emblems.

Powered by a 93-hp four-cylinder engine, we’d expect it to get significantly better mileage than the more powerful xD, which returns 27/33 mpg city/highway.

What does that 3+1 seating mean? Basically, there’s room for only one adult in the backseat behind the front passenger, and the other seat is big enough to hold a small child or cargo. If that doesn’t sound safe, Toyota adds nine airbags, including a rear-window airbag — the first of its kind. It also comes standard with stability control and antilock brakes.

Check out more photos below and let us know if you’d like to see the iQ on U.S. roads.

2010 Acura ZDX at the 2009 New York Auto Show

• Looks like: Acura saw the BMW X6 and said, “We’ve got to have one of those!”
• Defining characteristics: Hatchback body style, Acura’s not-going-away grille
• Ridiculous features: Acura hasn’t given up on the new grille
• Chance of being mass-produced: Goes on sale this fall, so 100%

Honda and Acura don’t often roll out concept cars. Instead, they reveal prototypes that closely resemble upcoming production vehicles. That’s definitely the case with the Acura ZDX crossover concept. The company announced today it will indeed go on sale this fall. We’d guess the first look at a final version will be at a press event shortly before the car goes on sale.

What will that production ZDX be like? It’ll feature a V-6 engine, six-speed automatic transmission and Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive along with 20-inch wheels, which we’d guess will be standard.

The company also promises an upscale cabin beyond what’s in current Acuras. High-tech features will include a blind spot detection system and multi-view rear camera. It will also have a panoramic glass sunroof, as all luxury crossovers must have these days. 

As for the styling … we’re not sure if the BMW X6 is really something to emulate.

Unfortunately, the ZDX’s best angle, the rear, isn’t represented well in Acura’s supplied press photos below. We’ll have more live shots later today.

Acura Teases ZDX Via Twitter

I was off taking a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE for a spin at lunch — don’t ask why — and was listening to a humorous exchange on talk radio in which a newspaper tech reporter was trying to explain Twitter to the host, and callers were chiming in about how they didn’t get it either.

Like it or not, Twitter seems to be a place to get interesting tidbits on all things, including autos. One Acura official Twitter-er took a shot of the ZDX concept under a sheet and uploaded it to Twitpic, a photo site for Twitter users.

We’ll have full details on the ZDX come tomorrow at 11 a.m. EDT.