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Geneva 2011: Subaru’s RWD Sports Car getting 2.0-liter non-turbo engine, confirmed for America

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Subaru, Toyota, Design/Style

Subaru Boxer Sports Car Architecture

Subaru Boxer Sports Car Architecture – Click above for high-res image gallery

Peanut butter and jelly. Beer and brats. Wine and cheese. Subaru and all-wheel drive. It’s true – Subaru has done an enviable job convincing Americans that its automobiles are synomous with all-wheel drive, and the idea of a Subie that eschews four driven wheels for a powertrain sending its horsepower to the rear wheels only sounds like heresey to the diehard WRX driver.

But it shouldn’t… at least, that’s what Subaru is now trying to convince the masses with its new rear-wheel-drive Boxer Sports Car Architecture. It’s worth noting that the automaker has confirmed for the first time here at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show that the upcoming production version of this sports car is coming to America. If all goes to plan, production will commence in the spring of 2012 at a Subaru production plant in Japan.

Follow the jump for more confirmed details and specifications about Subaru’s rear-wheel-drive Boxer Sports Car.

Gallery: Subaru Boxer Sports Car Architecture

Subaru Boxer Sports Car Architecture

[Source: Subaru]

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Subaru’s RWD Sports Car getting 2.0-liter non-turbo engine, confirmed for America

Geneva 2011: Subaru’s RWD Sports Car getting 2.0-liter non-turbo engine, confirmed for America originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Diesel Chevrolet Cruze confirmed for U.S.

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Etc., Chevrolet, GM, Rumormill, Diesel

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to the crew at GMInsideNews, General Motors is mulling the notion of introducing a diesel Chevrolet Cruze to the American market. Sources within the Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant responsible for piecing the compact sedan together have confirmed that a diesel Cruze will be built for 2013. If that’s not enough to wipe the stink of skepticism off your person, GMI says that additional sources within The General’s engineering team have confirmed that an oil-burning Cruze is on the company’s schedule.

Production is rumored to kick off on the project at some point next year.

There’s even rumor that GM is currently testing diesel Cruze models around the greater Detroit area right now. While no power or fuel economy numbers are available at the moment, GM is expected to make use of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine for the new model. That would be the same lump found in the Holden Cruze CDX, which turns out 147 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque with up to 34 miles per gallon combined.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco: Quick Spin

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco

[Source: GMInsideNews]

Report: Diesel Chevrolet Cruze confirmed for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GMC Granite confirmed… again

Filed under: Hatchback, GM, GMC

GMC Granite

GMC Granite concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Many moons ago, Motor Trend reported that the funky GMC Granite concept from the 2010 Detroit Auto Show had been given the go for production. Immediately after, however, MT stated that while it strongly believed that the Granite would be produced, the publication had yet to receive an official green light from its sources within General Motors. That changes today, apparently.

Motor Trend is reporting yet again that the Granite has been confirmed for production, even going so far to say that the road-going car will keep the rear-hinged suicide door setup of the concept. This new confirmation reportedly comes from a “well-placed source” within the automaker, who also says that the Granite will be built on the same C-segment platform as the Chevrolet Volt, Cruze and Buick Verano.

When GM debuted the Granite concept, it used the same 138-horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four as the Cruze, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. This powerplant would certainly make sense for the production car, though MT suggests that even the automaker’s 177-horsepower 2.4-liter four from the Verano would be a good fit. Regardless, we’ll wait until GM issues an official statement before we start gearing up for the first drive.

Gallery: GMC Granite Concept

[Source: Motor Trend]

Report: GMC Granite confirmed… again originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Williams FW33 Formula 1 car unveiled, IPO confirmed

Filed under: Motorsports, Racing

2011 Williams-Cosworth FW33

2011 Williams-Cosworth FW33 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Williams joined the cadre of Formula 1 teams testing and revealing their 2011 challengers at the Valencia test session, pulling the wraps off the new FW33.

Unlike rival team Lotus Renault GP, which unveiled its new livery before rolling out the new F1 car, Williams opted once again to run its new car at the test sessions in plain dark blue paint with minimal sponsor logos. The independent racing team is sticking with Cosworth power for 2011, but despite having developed a flywheel-based KERS apparatus for 2009 (which it never actually ran, but was supplied to Porsche’s hybrid GT3), Williams F1 switched to a new battery-based system that it ran for the first time at Valencia.

Otherwise, the Williams-Cosworth FW33 follows the same general idea as most of its Formula 1 rivals: a high nose with a sculpted engine cover and side pods. Rubens Barrichello returns to the wheel alongside newcomer (and reigning GP2 champion) Pastor Maldonado.

In a related development, Williams announced its plans to proceed with the previously reported IPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, floating a little over a quarter of the shares while ensuring that Frank Williams remains controlling shareholder and team principal for years to come. Follow the jump for more details on the new FW33 Formula 1 racer and check out the high-resolution images of the car on track in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Williams-Cosworth FW33

[Source: Williams F1]

Continue reading Williams FW33 Formula 1 car unveiled, IPO confirmed

Williams FW33 Formula 1 car unveiled, IPO confirmed originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 14:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Volvo to cut models, V50 first confirmed

Filed under: Wagon, Volvo

Volvo V50

Volvo wants to increase the number of units it sells each year in the U.S. So, it’s going to… um… cut the number of models it offers? It may seem a little bass-ackwards to those of us without a business degree, but that’s apparently the plan.

Says Doug Speck, head of Volvo’s operations in the U.S., “Five or six [models] is probably a good number… We have to focus on the key segments with significant volume potential.” At present, Volvo offers nine distinct nameplates, which means at least three have an appointment with a strange-looking man who wears a hooded black cape and carries a sickle.

According to Speck, the first model that will lose its lease on life is the V50 wagon. Others will follow, but not until Volvo’s dealer network is informed of their funeral proceedings. If we were betting men, we’d wager the C30, C70 and XC70 would be the first to get the axe, but we’ll know for sure soon enough.

The idea is to focus consumers’ limited attention spans and what little marketing budget the automaker has available on its core models: the S60 sedan along with the XC60 and XC90 crossovers. Volvo is counting on its revised strategy to post double-digit sales increases in 2011 after six straight years of declining figures.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req’d]

Report: Volvo to cut models, V50 first confirmed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed: Volkswagen NMS will be named Passat

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Volkswagen

2012 Volkswagen Passat

2012 Volkswagen Passat – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’re less than 24 hours away from Volkswagen’s big reveal at the Detroit Auto Show and while our man Paukert was staked out at a media gathering at VW’s corporate headquarters in Herndon, VA he learned that the NMS will carry the Passat badge when it goes on sale later this year.

Up until now, there was some question whether V-Dub would continue to use Passat for its new mid-size sedan, but after the NCS (New Compact Sedan) debuted with the Jetta badge, it was all but assumed that the Passat nameplate would carry on. We’ll have all the details on the 2012 Passat later tonight and live shots from the floor when the wraps come off tomorrow.

Gallery: Volkswagen NMS Renderings

Volkswagen NMS

Confirmed: Volkswagen NMS will be named Passat originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Lotus city car confirmed for 2013

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Hybrid, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Lotus, Electric

Lotus City Car

Lotus unveiled a flurry of new concept models earlier this year at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Five brand-new concepts took center stage, but there was a sixth vehicle unveiled that got far less press – the Lotus City Car. According to CAR Magazine, Lotus head Dany Bahar says that the City Car will arrive in production form for an October 2013 launch date.

The City Car rides on a platform developed for a range-extended hybrid powertrain. A 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine powers electric drive motors, which are mated to a single-speed transmission. This means that around town, the Lotus City Car will be able to run solely on battery power, while the gasoline engine can kick on for needed assistance if necessary.

Lotus is planning to build three versions of the City Car; one for Asia, a European version and eventually a sportier model.

[Source: CAR Magazine]

Report: Lotus city car confirmed for 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche Cajun mini-SUV confirmed, due to arrive in 2014

Filed under: Performance, SUV, Crossover, Porsche, Luxury

Porsche has officially confirmed what’s been rumored for at least three years – the German automaker will build a small SUV to slot in below its highly successful Cayenne. With the working name “Cajun,” Porsche wants the mini ‘ute to provide younger customers another point of entry into the brand.

Designer Walter da Silva has apparently taken the lead on the project, which is expected to be loosely based on the Audi Q5, and the press release (available after the jump) claims that the Cajun will have “typical Porsche features such as light weight, ease of handling and agility.” Here’s hoping… [Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche Cajun mini-SUV confirmed, due to arrive in 2014

Porsche Cajun mini-SUV confirmed, due to arrive in 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed: Fiat 500 Abarth coming to U.S., all-electric 500 BEV to launch first

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Chrysler, Fiat, Electric

Fiat 500 Abarth

The Fiat 500 Abarth prefers to run on two wheels – Click above to watch video after the jump

The other day we told you to bone up on your Italian because the Fiat 500 configurator came online. Now you should seriously start saving your Lira because the high-performance 500 Abarth model has been confirmed for the U.S. market. No date has been confirmed, but we’ve been told that the launch of all 500 models will be staggered and the Abarth is last in the queue.

Those other variations include the standard 500 that you can start ordering now, the 500C drop-top and a 500 that runs on all-electric battery power. Still, the one we’re breaking out the driving gloves for is the Fiat 500 Abarth… and rumor has it that we might see the tiny terror running Stateside within the next three years because the 500 BEV hits the market in 2012.

Check out the video after the jump to see why i nostri cuori battono così velocemente.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth Opening Edition

Continue reading Confirmed: Fiat 500 Abarth coming to U.S., all-electric 500 BEV to launch first

Confirmed: Fiat 500 Abarth coming to U.S., all-electric 500 BEV to launch first originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan teases next-gen Versa, confirmed for U.S.

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Etc., Hatchback, Nissan, Design/Style

Next Generation Nissan Versa sketch

Nissan has released a sketch of the next-generation Versa, and in the process has confirmed the new model will be sold in the United States. The 2011 model benefited from minor equipment and pricing changes, but the next Versa looks to take on much more stylish design language, with the Versa adopting some of the familial lines of its larger Altima and Maxima siblings.

Details are still very limited at this point, in fact we only have the above image and confirmation that this next-gen Versa will be sold here, but with the auto show season just ramping up, we’d expect to see Nissan’s new compact bowing at the LA Auto Show this November.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Nissan Versa Hatchback

[Source: Nissan]

Nissan teases next-gen Versa, confirmed for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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