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First Saab 9-4X rolls off the assembly line

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Saab, Luxury

GM's Raymond J Chess and Saab CEO Jan ÅkeJonsson with the first Saab 9-4X

GM’s Raymond J Chess and Saab CEO Jan Åke Jonsson w/Saab 9-4X No. 1 – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s been little over a year since Saab unveiled the 9-4X at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, and now the first production example has left the assembly line.

Envisioned when Saab was still under the General Motors umbrella, the 9-4X is based on the same Theta platform as the Cadillac SRX. As such, it’s being built not in Trollhättan, Sweden, like other Saabs, but in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

This first example – an Aero model in Ice Pearl metallic with the 2.8-liter turbo V6 and XWD – carries the chassis number 00001, and will be displayed at Saab’s museum in Sweden – after it makes the media rounds, of course. While you’re waiting for the 9-4X to hit U.S. dealers in May, check out our galleries below along with the official production announcement after the jump.

Gallery: Saab 9-4X chassis #00001

Gallery: 2012 Saab 9-4X

2012 Saab 9-4X

[Source: Saab]

Continue reading First Saab 9-4X rolls off the assembly line

First Saab 9-4X rolls off the assembly line originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Renault rolls out its own line of tires

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Renault

Renault Motrio tires

Automakers outsource a variety of components to OEM suppliers. The parts could be as small as a screw or as large as the entire car itself, contracting the entire assembly process to outside bidders. But while some automakers make more or less of the parts in-house, one component is always outsourced: the tires.

Renault, however, takes exception to that rule, and in characteristic French defiance is rolling out its own line of tires. Rather than equipping new vehicles with its own rubber, however, the tires are being marketed to existing Renault owners as replacement rubber.

Called the Motrio line, the Renault tires are focused on cutting costs, while maintaining optimal performance and minimal road noise. Now we have but to assume that, even though they’re not saying who is, Renault didn’t start farming their own rubber and actually building the tires themselves. They’re likely made by an existing rubber company to Renault’s specifications and under their license. Still, the French automaker is claiming this as an industry first, and we can’t help but wonder if they won’t extend the project to include sister company Nissan as well.

[Source: Renault]

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Renault rolls out its own line of tires originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Jan 2011 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Infiniti debating anchoring line-up with both entry-level and halo models

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Hatchback, Infiniti, Luxury

Infiniti Essence Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s not uncommon for an automaker to be evaluating several potential products at the same time, but those models usually hover within the parameters of the company’s existing line-up. Not the case with Infiniti. Nissan’s luxury division is reportedly looking at going both up-market and down with a pair of new products to give it a much father reach than the current range.

First up is a halo model, and after looking at the competition, Infiniti has reportedly come to the conclusion that, in order to lure buyers into showrooms, they’ll need something attractive and high-end. And while a successor to the Q45 flagship sedan was once seen as a potential route, reports indicate that, if given the green light, a sportscar to rival the likes of the Audi R8, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and even the Lexus LFA would be the way to go. The show-stopping Essence concept previewed that notion, but Infiniti is reportedly still mulling the idea over, and the presence of the Nissan GT-R surely isn’t helping focus the picture.

At the other end of the spectrum, Infiniti has long been considering the idea of an entry-level hatchback model to take on the Audi A3, BMW 1 Series and Volvo C30. Arch-rival Lexus became the first of the Japanese luxury brands to earnestly pursue the segment with the CT 200h, and if Infiniti is serious about getting a younger demographic, it could opt to follow suite in short order.

Gallery: Infiniti Essence Concept

[Source: Ward’s]

Report: Infiniti debating anchoring line-up with both entry-level and halo models originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley mulling third product line?

Filed under: Bentley

New Bentley CEO Wolfgang Durheimer inherited a high-end marque with only two product lines; the recently refreshed Continental GT and the spanking new Mulsanne. The two vehicles are tasked with continuing to prop up the brand after sales dropped to only 4,616 units in 2009, and according to a The Detroit Bureau help could be on the way.

During an interview with outgoing Bentley boss Franz-Josef Paefgen, the CEO said that Durheimer is tasked with noodling the idea of a third model. If we were the betting type we’d place our chips on a high-end electric car to help the brand reach rising emissions standards or an “entry model” under $150,000 to help increase volume – and the latter seems far more likely. At any rate it appears a third Bentley is still years out even if Durheimer and his team decide to expand its product lineup.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

Bentley mulling third product line? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mulholland Mayhem – Canyon drivers fail to walk the line

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos

Mullholland Drive - Line Crossing

Crossing the line in the canyons – Click above to watch video after the jump

There are plenty of roadways in and around Los Angeles that provide excellent opportunities to test a vehicle. Blind curves, dramatic elevation changes and scenic vistas combine to create wonderful stretches of asphalt. These roads attract great drivers and amazing machines, but they also attract more than a few idiots lacking in the common sense department. Those double-yellow lines running down the middle of the road are there for a reason, and ignoring isn’t just bad form, it’s dangerous.

One particular stretch of road that’s popular with Southern Californian drivers is Mulholland Highway. A camera crew is usually on-hand over the weekends, and one group has strung together a video showing a collection of lane-crossers showing off some genuinely lousy driving. Stay in your lane and hop the jump to watch the video. Thanks for the tip, Brandon!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Mulholland Mayhem – Canyon drivers fail to walk the line

Video: Mulholland Mayhem – Canyon drivers fail to walk the line originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Korean War: Inside Line pits Hyundai Sonata against Kia Optima [w/poll]

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Kia

2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Hyundai Sonata

2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Hyundai Sonata – Click above to enlarge

The Koreans are coming! Actually, strike that… they’re already here. As a matter of fact, both the 2011 Hyundai Sonata and its corporate kissing cousin, the 2011 Kia Optima, rank very highly on our own midsize sedan pecking order chart. All of this begs the question: Which one is better, and why?

The boys from Inside Line decided to pit the two sedans, which share most major components and assemblies, against each other in a no-holds-barred fight for supremacy. Not surprisingly – both use 2.4-liter four cylinder engines (plus or minus California emissions…) and six-speed automatic transmissions, and both weight nearly the same – picking a winner means delving into the details.

And IL found that the details favored the Kia. There are a number of reasons given for the why and how of this conclusion, which you can read all about right here. Basically, though, IL found that the Optima is tuned more for the enthusiast as opposed to the competent and comfortable nature of the Sonata.

Which one would you pick? Take our poll below and then feel free to talk about your choice in Comments.

View Poll

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Gallery: 2011 Kia Optima: First Drive

[Source: Inside Line | Main Image: Kurt Niebuhr for Edmunds]

Korean War: Inside Line pits Hyundai Sonata against Kia Optima [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolls-Royce and Bijan team up for custom Phantom line

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Convertible, Sedan, Rolls-Royce, Design/Style, Luxury

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Rolls-Royce has announced a partnership with Beverly Hills-based designer Bijan Pakzad. Bijan will work closely with the super-luxury automaker to turn out a handful of special edition Phantoms, complete with the designer’s own personal touches. So far, we’ve been left in the dark about exactly what kinds of changes to expect, though Rolls-Royce says that Bijan will lay out a host of specifications for the company’s craftsmen to meet. Considering that the designer’s personal car is a bright yellow Phantom Drophead Coupe, we can bet that the new Phantoms will be anything but subdued.

Rolls-Royce and Bijan made the announcement at the Bijan Boutique in Beverly Hills – nicknamed the most expensive store in the world – just before this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show got underway.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Rolls-Royce and Bijan team up for custom Phantom line originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Nov 2010 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee named ‘SUV of Texas,’ Ford named winning ‘Truck Line’

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Dodge, Ford, Jeep

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 2011 Ford F-150

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2011 Ford F-150 – click either image for high-res gallery

Ford, Jeep and Ram have new feathers to stick in their caps. The Texas Auto Writers Association has voted Ford the official Truck Line of Texas, while the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has landed the title of SUV of Texas. Despite FoMoCo’s line of top-notch trucks, the 2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn was awarded the much-coveted Truck of Texas honor. We expect to see each respective manufacturer tout their new titles in ads any day now.

The Texas Auto Writers Association holds an annual Texas Truck Rodeo every year, giving journalists from the state are given the opportunity to drive nearly every truck on the market over a two-day period. At the end of the event, votes are tallied for each award category and the winners announced. In addition to the categories just mentioned, there were other awards handed out, including Full-Size Pickup Truck: 2011 Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Crew Cab 4×4, Mid-Size Pickup Truck: 2011 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4×2 Texas Edition, Luxury Pickup Truck: 2011 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn, Heavy Duty Pickup Truck: 2011 Ram Power Wagon Crew Cab 4×4, and Outstanding Feature: Ford/ MyFord Touch.

This year’s big winners make plenty of sense to us, as Ford has crammed the F-150 with a slew of excellent drivetrain options and the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a massive step in the right direction for Chrysler. Likewise, the Ram Laramie Longhorn offers one of the best interiors of any pickup available right now, and its supple rear suspension strikes us as just the thing for traversing the Lone Star state.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Gallery: 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost

[Sources: Chrysler, Ford, Pickuptrucks.com]

Jeep Grand Cherokee named ‘SUV of Texas,’ Ford named winning ‘Truck Line’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maserati drops MC Sport Line for the Quattroporte at Sydney show

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Maserati, Misc. Auto Shows, Design/Style, Luxury

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S with MC Sport Line – Click above for high-res image gallery

MC. The letters are sacrosanct to fans of the Trident marque and its venerable racing prowess. They stand for Maserati Corse, and you may recognize them from the MC12, the Enzo-based homologation special that’s still kickin’ ass and taking names in the FIA GT1 series. More recently the Modenese automaker rolled out a racing version of its GranTurismo coupe bearing those same letters, which has since been followed by a roadgoing version of said racer called the MC Stradale. There’ve been MC Sport Line accessories for the GranTurismo S as well, but until now the Quattroporte has been left out of the fun.

Kicking things off for its four-door model, Maserati has unveiled the Quattroporte MC Sport in Sydney at the Australian International Auto Show. So what are we looking at, a road-going version of the touring car currently being flogged around Italy’s best circuits in the Superstars series? Unfortunately not. What you’re looking at here is the existing Quattroporte Sport GT S – already one heck of a car – with some added trim: carbon fiber interior accents and aluminum pedals, and little else. Not much on their own, but then this is how Modena kicked off the MC program for the GranTurismo, so we’re hoping this is the harbinger of things to come.

Gallery: Maserati Quattroporte MC Sport Line

[Source: Maserati]

Continue reading Maserati drops MC Sport Line for the Quattroporte at Sydney show

Maserati drops MC Sport Line for the Quattroporte at Sydney show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Porsche commits to a hybrid model in every vehicle line

Filed under: Hybrid, Performance, Technology, Porsche

2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

Fuel efficiency is a big deal for small sports car manufacturers. Boutique automakers and sports car specialists like Porsche figure to have a particularly hard time meeting rising efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions regulations all around the world because they don’t manufacture vehicles that play in more fuel-efficient segments of the market.

With that in mind, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Porsche is keenly interested in hybrid technology. Starting with the 2011 Cayenne and following with a similar hybrid system for the Panamera, Porsche plans to roll out fuel-saving technology across its entire model range.

That transition won’t be an easy one. Both the Cayenne and Panamera use a front-engine layout and automatic transmission with an electric motor sandwiched in between, and such a system wouldn’t work on the company’s mid- and rear-engined models.

That’s where the upcoming 918 Spyder comes in. According to Porsche development chief Wolfgang Duerheimer, “We want to learn how we can electrify all our sports cars in the future with the help of this short production run” of the hybrid 918 Spyder. In fact, all of Porsche’s models are slated to be hybridized, says Duerheimer.

Other efficiency-raising efforts will include a 10-percent reduction in weight, increased use of carbon fiber bodywork and possibly even the return of four-cylinder engines, likely with forced induction and direct injection.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche Cayenne

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

Report: Porsche commits to a hybrid model in every vehicle line originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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