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Posted on
May 09 2008 8:06 AM
by
Asif
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What, you thought only Ford and GM did the full-size van thing anymore? Say hello to the eight-passenger Hyundai i800, which goes on sale late June in the UK. The i800 sports captain's chairs up front with two three-passenger benches out back. That makes a grand total of eight seat belts thanks to its totally accommodating third-row. Hyundai's big van is powered by a 2.5L four-cylinder CRDi diesel engine, so we expect acceleration is an afterthought in this cavernous cruiser.
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Following appearances in Frankfurt and Tokyo, Mini has taken its retro station-wagon Traveller concept to Detroit - and BMW has confirmed, as if we hadn't guessed already, that a version will go into production. Sales and marketing chief Dr Michael Ganal said that the new Traveller will be on the road "within the next three years" and will be a "modern interpretation of the classic Mini Traveller and Countryman estates of the 60s". Each of the Traveller concepts seen so far has had different, country-specific, touches, this Detroit show car being finished in silver and grey paint with highlights in the red, white and blue of the American flag and a pair of broad racing stripes. Read the rest of this entry »
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Suzuki has released more details of its Splash, a roomy mini-MPV based on the Swift supermini. It will be built in Hungary alongside the new Vauxhall Agila, which Suzuki has developed for General Motors, though it will have a different bonnet, front wings, lights, bumpers and tailgate.
The Splash will replace the Wagon R+, and is more family-orientated than the sporty Swift. It will be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, with UK sales starting in spring 2008. It will be offered with Suzuki's 1.0-litre, three-cylinder (65bhp) and 1.4 four-cylinder (86bhp) petrol engines, and a 75bhp 1.3 diesel, a Suzuki-built version of the excellent Fiat 1.3 Multijet unit. A four-speed automatic gearbox will be optional with the 1.4 petrol engine. article continues below
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Mazda has confirmed UK pricing and specifications for its new 2 supermini; the order books have opened and deliveries will start 8 September. Starting price is £8,499 (1.3-litre, 75bhp TS); all models will have twin front airbags, remote central locking with deadlocks, electric front windows, a CD player with auxiliary input socket and two speakers, electric door mirrors and a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser. TS2 models start from £9,999 (1.3-litre, 86bhp), and add 15" alloy wheels, side and curtain airbags, electric-folding door mirrors, a four-speaker audio system, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, a leather steering wheel and air conditioning. Read the rest of this entry »
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The Picasso really does feel like a quality car when you sit in it. The padded surfaces have a fine, expensive-feeling grain, there's plenty of fabric and some of the non-padded surfaces have a metallic-look rubberised finish. Chrome accents give an upmarket air and the fittings feel solid and durable. It's almost like being in a topologically distorted C6. The whole car gives the impression of being durable and well made. As for reliability, it's hard to tell at this stage. C4 hatchbacks have been mainly OK, although our long-termer had glitches with its air con and CD player. There's a lot of electronics, so fingers crossed until the C4 Picasso has proved itself in service. Read the rest of this entry »
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Similar to the deal in which Chrysler plans to source a new low-cost minicar from China’s Chery Auto to be sold in North America, Ford too will import a new model to the US, this time built in Brazil. The information comes from parts suppliers, who also revealed to Wards Auto that production is tipped ....
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US based ZAP Automotive has announced its plans to develop a second high-performance electric vehicle to join the upcoming 644hp ZAP-X electric crossover pictured in the above rendering. The second vehicle will be a more affordable model, with a targeted price of $30,000 and a top speed in excess of 100 mph and range of ....
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The 2007 MAZDA5 is a 3-row, 6-passenger multi-activity sports vehicle in a sleek and compact size. MAZDA5 is available in two configurations, Sport and Touring. Both offer the same multi-adjustable seating configuration, and lightweight sliding rear doors for easier access. MAZDA5 is equipped with a 2.3-liter, all-aluminum 4-cylinder engine, good for 157 horsepower. The power goes to the road through a short-shift, fast-moving, 5-speed manual gearbox. A sophisticated 4-speed electronically controlled automatic with manual-shift mode is optional. Attractive 17-inch alloy wheels, similar to those used on Mazda sports cars, are standard. So are a body-color sports grille, front and rear fascias and door handles. Flexible and roomy cabin offers 44.4 cubic feet of carrying capacity with the rear-most seats folded flat. The suspension is fully independent, and anti-roll bars are fitted front and rear for flat handling, and minimal body roll. Visually, the Touring model adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a tilt-and-slide electric moonroof, body-color door mirrors, a rear liftgate spoiler and side sill extensions.
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Hyundai has joined the ranks of minivan producers with its new Entourage for 2007. It comes in three trim levels, GLS, SE and Limited. All have a 242-horsepower, 3.8-liter aluminum DOHC V-6 and 5-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual controls. Safety attractions include Electronic Stability Control, ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution and six standard airbags to take care of the three rows of seats. Interior features abound, including a hideaway 3rd row of seats. Styling is state of the art, but well short of being radical. Add Hyundai’s 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty and the Entourage should be a family magnet, something that will be apparent at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show.
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For the 2007-model year, the Honda Element sport-utility vehicle undergoes a significant transformation with updated exterior and 4-passenger interior styling. An all-new variation of the Element, the Element SC, debuts with unique design cues, a sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels, and an exclusive color called Root Beer Metallic. All Elements’ come with Honda’s 160 horsepower, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, as well as a drive-by-wire throttle system and 5-speed automatic transmission, instead of precious 4-speed gearbox. For a compact-size SUV, the Element offers a generous 70.4 overall cargo capacity.
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GMC Savana continues to offer uncompromising versatility in the full-size van segment for 2007. Savana is available with 2-wheelbase lengths: regular length 135 inches, and extended length 155 inches. The popularity of Savana can be directly traced to its able to accommodate up to 15 passengers, or serve as a reliable and durable commercial cargo van; as well as forms the foundation for conversion vans. For ‘07, the Savana offers a myriad of power plants. This ranges from the base 195 horsepower, Vortec 4.3-liter V-6 for light-duty Savana cargo, through 4 difference V-8s. For those customers who require maximum performance, there is the Duramax 6.6-liter turbo-diesel V-8 engine that delivers 250 horsepower and a class-leading 460 lb.-ft. of torque. All engines come connected to a 4-speed Hydra-Matic electronic transmission, with 2 heavy-duty versions offered.
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Ford’s latest idea for the future of crossover vehicles is the Airstream, an ultra modern concept with a gleaming fuselage body. Visually the Ford Airstream concept pays homage to the riveted aluminum shell design of the celebrated Airstream travel trailers and motorhomes that have been traveling the highways of the world since 1931. The Ford Airstream prototype is powered by a plug-in hydrogen hybrid fuel cell drive train called HySeries Drive. This fuel cell system is half the weight and cost of today’s units, operates under electric power at all times, delivers 41 miles per gallon and can operate in the dead of winter. Each of the concept’s bold orange-trimmed window graphics is a unique shape, and its doors are asymmetric. In addition to the driver’s side hatch, the passenger side features a power clamshell door that runs two-thirds the length of the vehicle. A 3-door hatch finishes the rear of the crossover. The red & white interior features a floating instrument panel, flush-mounted, touch-sensitive controls, pod-shaped swiveling captain’s chairs, and a sculptural, continuous cocoon-like rear-seating environment wrapped in bold red B&B Italia fabric.
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Unveiled to the public and media at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show, the 2008 Ford Taurus X is a new full-size crossover that offers 3-rows of seating. A powerful 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 6-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment. A long list of standard safety equipment starts with side curtain air bags and AdvanceTrac electronic stability control. Innovative convenience features on the Taurus X include 1-touch, flip-and-fold 2nd-row seating and an available power rear liftgate. The 2008 Taurus X will reach dealer showrooms in late summer 2007.
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Arriving the fall of 2007, but on review during the Chicago Auto Show in February, is the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. This is the 5th-generation of Chrysler Group minivans, and for ’08, receives updated exterior and interior design. Dodge presents two models: the Grand Caravan SE and Grand Caravan SXT, and a total of 3 aluminum V-6 engines. These include a new 240 horsepower, 4.0-liter, a 3.8-liter that produces 198 horses or a 3.3-liter flex-fuel-capable (FFV) that develops 170 horsepower. The first two engines come with a 6-speed transaxle, and the flex-fuel V-6 connects to a 4-speed transaxle. Chrysler Group has sold more than 1,330,000 flex-fuel minivans since 1998. Three distinct seating configurations are available for ’08. First, a 2nd-row bench seat with 2nd-row covered storage bins; next, a 3rd-row fold-in-the-floor seating, and new for ’08, Swivel ’n Go 2nd-row seats. Swivel ‘n Go allows the 2nd-row seats to revolve 180 degrees and face the 3rd-row, plus, includes a removable table that installs between the two rows.
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For 2007, the Dodge Sprinter commercial van offers a ParkSense rear backup system, a high-pressure headlamp washing system, a full partition with sliding window, wiring for hands-free communications and a driver seat power outlet. Power train consists of a premium 2.7-liter, 5-cylinder Common-Rail Direct Injection Turbo Diesel engine and a 5-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick. Boasting a unibody construction design that reduces curb weight and maximizes payload capacity, the Sprinter is available in three wheelbases — 118, 140 and 158 inches — and two roof heights (64 and 73 inches). The Dodge Sprinter offers best-in-class cargo capacity (473 cubic feet) and maximum payload of 4,824-pounds.
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