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Alfa Romeo streamlines the MiTo range with new engines, trim

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Alfa Romeo, UK

2011 Alfa Romeo MiTo

2011 Alfa Romeo MiTo – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ordering a new Alfa Romeo is a daunting task. Or at least, so we’ve come to understand. In the UK alone, the MiTo hatchback was available in no fewer than 17 different versions. Which you might expect of, say, a pickup truck with a choice of cabin sizes, bed lengths and drivetrain configurations. But the MiTo is the MiTo: it’s a three-door hatchback with front-wheel drive. That’s that.

So to make things a little easier, Alfa has streamlined the MiTo’s catalog down to nine versions as part of a refreshed range. The entry level model has been rebranded as the Progression, the Turismo and Lusso trim levels have both been replaced by the Sprint, the Veloce by the Distinctive and the Cloverleaf by the Quadrifoglio Verde.

The engine range has likewise been revised, the new 78-horsepower 1.4 and 105-hp MultiAir 1.4 replacing the 95-hp engine and a new 1.3-liter JTDM-2 diesel eligible for emissions exemptions under overseas regulations. The top-of-the-line QV carries over the same 170-hp MultiAir 1.4, while the bronze metallic paint pictured above is new. Read more about the revised range in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Alfa Romeo MiTo

Continue reading Alfa Romeo streamlines the MiTo range with new engines, trim

Alfa Romeo streamlines the MiTo range with new engines, trim originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 May 2011 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Buick LaCrosse dropping trim levels, V6 available as no-cost option

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Buick, GM

2010 Buick LaCrosse

Buick LaCrosse – Click above for high-res image gallery

In addition to having eAssist added to its four-cylinder powertrain, the 2012 Buick LaCrosse is undergoing a few other changes. We aren’t talking about styling or content tweaks – instead, General Motors is revising its packaging strategy for the LaCrosse. Buick will be ditching the CX, CXL and CXS trim level designations and simply offer large option packages that encompass all of the available amenities.

For 2012, the 2.4-liter Ecotec engine with eAssist technology will be offered as the “standard” powertrain. We recently had some very limited drive time with an eAssist-equipped LaCrosse (stay tuned for our full impressions), and found the four-cylinder with 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque to be pleasantly adequate and its highway rating of 37 miles per gallon downright remarkable. eAssist-equipped cars will look no different than other LaCrosses, save the addition of model-specific 17-inch wheels on efficiency-optimized tires and other fuel-saving upgrades not visible from outside the car.

The General’s 280-horsepower direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 will still be made available, complete with the new HiPer Strut front suspension that helps keep torque steer to a minimum, but buyers can now select it as a no-cost option, and also opt for all-wheel drive.

Final pricing information has not been released, but Buick tells us that the entry level LaCrosse will start around $30,000. Currently, the LaCrosse has a base MSRP of $26,995, which suggests the addition of eAssist and its associated fuel-saving parts isn’t cheap. What Buick has effectively done is ditched the “base” LaCrosse model and left two identically priced models for buyers to choose from: one focused on exceptional fuel economy and the other on power.

Production on the 2012 LaCrosse will start this summer with the first round of cars hitting dealerships this Fall.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Buick LaCrosse

2012 Buick LaCrosse dropping trim levels, V6 available as no-cost option originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Honda confirms natural-gas GX trim for next-gen Civic

Filed under: Sedan, Hatchback, Honda

The natural gas-burning Honda Civic GX has been around since 1998, and even though the Environmental Protection Agency anointed it the cleanest internal combustion vehicle in history, sales have been less than brisk.

There are quite a few reasons the Civic doesn’t sell in high volume, including a hefty $25,000 price tag and the $4,600 required to install a home refueling station. But according to our comrades over at Translogic, that won’t stop the Japanese automaker from offering up a new GX for the 2012 model year.

The new GX will still likely cost quite a bit more than the standard Civic and it will still need a pricey home charging unit, but improvements will also be made. For example, Honda spokesperson Jessica Fini tells Translogic that consumer feedback complaining about the levels of available equipment on the last GX prompted the automaker to offer more “desirable options like a navigation system and upgraded stereo.”

We’re happy to hear that the GX will live on in 2012 and beyond. After all, it’s tough not to love an environmentally friendly Civic that can deliver about 30 miles per gallon at fuel prices that can be one third the price of regular gasoline. We’ll be looking out for details on the 2012 GX, along with the entire Civic lineup in the months ahead.

[Source: Aol Autos]

Report: Honda confirms natural-gas GX trim for next-gen Civic originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Nissan Murano unveiled with mild refresh, new SV trim

Filed under: Budget, Crossover, Nissan, Design/Style

2011 Nissan Murano – Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan has officially confirmed that the new fascia we saw on the European version of the 2011 Murano will find its way to the land of the free. The look carries a reworked bumper, along with similarly sculpted headlights and a new grille. If you were hoping to see the diesel model crop up on dealer lots in your neck of the woods, we’ve got bad news – it ain’t happening. The oil-burning Murano is still only available to our cousins across the pond, leaving us with the capable 3.5-liter VQ V6 with 250 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque as our only powerplant option.

Even so, Nissan has chucked an additional trim line into the mix. Buyers can now choose between a total of eight variants on the Murano theme, including the new SV FWD and SV AWD trims. The Japanese automaker has thrown in 20-inch wheels, a dual-panel moonroof and a bevy of exterior color choices as optional goodies, too. Look for the 2011 Nissan Murano to land on dealer lots by October. Follow the jump for the full press blast.

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Murano

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading 2011 Nissan Murano unveiled with mild refresh, new SV trim

2011 Nissan Murano unveiled with mild refresh, new SV trim originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 Range Rover Evoque hits the ‘Ring in five-door trim

Filed under: Spy Photos, Paris Motor Show, Crossover, Land Rover

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Land Rover may be sending specially wrapped versions of its early ~~LRX~~ Range Rover Evoque prototypes to different cities around the world, but when it comes to the serious development testing, the standard swirly yellow camouflage will do. Here, our spies have caught the five-door version of the Evoque making its first foray onto the Nürburgring, giving us hope that there might be a sporting bone or two in the Evoque’s skeleton.

Details on the new Evoque are still pretty slim as of this writing, but we fully expect the usual raft of details to be released closer to the crossover’s public debut at the Paris Motor Show. As of right this writing, we know that both front- and all-wheel drive versions will be available and that a hybrid powertrain is planned. For now, scroll through our high-res gallery of spy shots below.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2012 Range Rover Evoque

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: 2012 Range Rover Evoque hits the ‘Ring in five-door trim originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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