spawn Archives | AutoDepot

Report: C7 Corvette won’t spawn new Cadillac XLR [w/video]

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, Design/Style, Luxury

Between the new 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray and the even newer Cadillac Elmiraj Concept shown off at Pebble Beach, we were already expecting some sort of chatter of a Cadillac XLR redux. During an in-depth C7 Corvette discussion with Tadge Juechter, the car’s chief engineer, Fox News asked if a Corvette-based, Bowling Green-built Cadillac will be built off the C7. Non-spoiler alert: the answer is no.

Juechter says that General Motors has “no intent” on transforming this car into a Cadillac product since the C7 has been optimized for the Corvette buyer, a consumer that’s generally a different sort of person than a Cadillac intender who might also be cross-shopping a Mercedes-Benz SL-Class or BMW 6 Series.

While we’re not ready to write off a future XLR altogether, we assume that the Corvette Cadillac experiment is most likely never going to happen again. The interview with Juechter is posted below, but the XLR discussion comes in at the 9:00 mark.

Continue reading C7 Corvette won’t spawn new Cadillac XLR [w/video]

C7 Corvette won’t spawn new Cadillac XLR [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Aug 2013 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: C7 Corvette won’t spawn new Cadillac XLR [w/video]”

Rumormill: Alfa Romeo 4C to spawn Abarth, Maserati variants?

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Fiat

Alfa Romeo 4C Concept

Alfa Romeo 4C Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

If Alfa Romeo wanted to get people talking with the debut of its 4C concept in Geneva, they succeeded. The Internet is abuzz with rumors of its production potential. There have already been reports that the Alfa will spearhead the marque’s full-fledged return to North America, to be followed by both Spider and Abarth versions. Now, word is that Maserati could get a derivative, too.

If the reports prove accurate and the spinoffs come to fruition, that would mean three brands within the Fiat group will get their own versions of the lightweight, mid-engined, four-cylinder sports car. And that’s before any of the Chrysler brands get a crack at it, because a Dodge version to pick up where the Circuit concept left off could be most tempting. The Maserati version would naturally be positioned and appointed differently from the Alfa or Abarth models. The question is whether the market can bear more than one Elise rival from Fiat/Chrysler, let alone multiples.

Alfa Romeo 4C to spawn Abarth, Maserati variants? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 May 2011 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Rumormill: Alfa Romeo 4C to spawn Abarth, Maserati variants?”

2012 Nissan Versa will spawn hatchback body style, just not quite yet

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Nissan

2012 Nissan Versa

2012 Nissan Versa – Click above for high-res image gallery

When we studied the trends of hatchback and sedan sales numbers within the subcompact segment, we found that the more functional three- and five-door models tend to attract the majority of buyers. Nissan – a company whose Versa enjoys the largest share (20 percent) of this segment – stated that about two-thirds of all Versas sold in the United States are hatchbacks.

2012 Nissan Tiida So why, then, when the 2012 Versa sedan debuted at the New York Auto Show last month, was there no five-door variant in sight? After all, the Versa’s global sister, the Tiida (pictured right), debuted in funky hatchback form at the Shanghai Motor Show recently, and with the five-door model commanding the majority of sales, Nissan wouldn’t be smart to kill off its more popular offering.

We spoke to David Reuter, Nissan’s vice president of corporate communications, who assured us that a new version of the Versa hatchback is coming, just not quite yet.

The majority of Versa sold are the five-door. Overall, we sold 99,705 Versa in 2010, compared to our next closest competitor (Honda Fit) who sold just under 55,000 units. So, from a business standpoint, we decided to improve the sedan first.

As of this writing, it is unclear exactly when we’ll see the next-generation Versa hatch. In the meantime, Reuter says that the current car will soldier on for the 2012 model year with “only normal model year to model year changes.”

2012 Nissan Versa will spawn hatchback body style, just not quite yet originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “2012 Nissan Versa will spawn hatchback body style, just not quite yet”

New Kia Rio to spawn hot hatch?

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Hatchback, Kia, UK, Rumormill

2012 Kia Rio

2012 Kia Rio – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Autocar, the minds at Kia may be mulling the creation of a hot hatch based on the all-new Rio. The news has sprouted from comments made by Benny Oeyen, Kia marketing and product planning boss in Europe. Oeyen said that the brand’s perception in the old country still lags behind the quality and design that the automaker currently has to offer, and that one way to rectify that problem is with a new vehicle that can help sway public opinion. Exactly what type of vehicle are we talking about here? Oeyen pointed to a hot hatch, cabriolet or coupe as viable options.

Autocar says that a hot hatch version of the Rio is the most likely of those options, thanks largely to the fact that the segment is booming in the UK. Kia just recently unveiled a Rio show car at the Geneva Motor Show that came with a few sportier touches, including a set of large alloy wheels.

Even if Kia does pull the trigger on a hot hatch version of the Rio, chances are that the vehicle would be a Euro-only offering. If you live in the land of the free, you’ll have to turn to the Hyundai Veloster for your Korean hot hatch fix.

Gallery: 2012 Kia Rio: Geneva 2011

[Source: Autocar]

New Kia Rio to spawn hot hatch? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “New Kia Rio to spawn hot hatch?”

Chrysler 200 to spawn European Lancia model?

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Chrysler, Fiat, Rumormill, Lancia

2011 Chrysler 200 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Rumor has it that Fiat is looking to push the Chrysler 200 into a handful of markets around the globe. According to Automotive News, the Italian automaker has its sight set on reworking the car into Lancia and introducing it in mainland Europe. At the same time, the standard Chrysler 200 may debut in the UK and Ireland. Interestingly enough, Fiat isn’t mulling the move because it thinks that the 200 can go head to head with the rest of the small car. Instead, the company is hoping to bolster its fleet sales in various European markets.

That’s not to say that the deal is set in stone at this point. The Chrysler 200 has a major chink in its armor when it comes to doing battle in Europe – it doesn’t come with a diesel option. With only two gasoline engine options, Fiat would have to source its own oil-burning powerplant to make the ploy work. Throw in the fact that the car is set to be replaced in three years and the likelihood of seeing the 200 in Europe is slimmer yet. Still, the company says that it’s currently looking at the numbers to see if there’s a solid business case for the move.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 200