General Motors hopes he third time will be the charm when it relaunches Cadillac in the United Kingdom next year. Critical pieces of that plan are the new CTS, which we also get in America, and the BLS wagon, which is not sold here.

Despite its global ambitions, Cadillac’s impact on the British market (Europe’s second-largest luxury market) since 2005 has been negligible. The GM luxury division has sold just 400 cars in the past two and a half years. That’s disappointingly short of the 8000 sales forecast. Cadillac is faring slightly better in the rest of Europe, but the brand is still a hard sell in most countries.

continue reading "Cadillac BLS wagon: Not for U.S. sale: Wagon may not be good enough to bring brits back to GM’S luxury marque"

General Motors plans a new family of rear-wheel-drive vehicles for Pontiac. The G8 line will include a sedan followed by a wagon and sport truck.

All will be modeled after products sold by GM’s Australian subsidiary, Holden, according to three sources familiar with the project. The vehicles will be assembled in Australia.

The G8 sedan goes on sale early next year. It replaces the Grand Prix and will be Pontiac’s flagship sedan with a starting price around $25,000.

The G8 wagon will be a performance vehicle similar to the Audi A3 wagon, sources say. The G8 sport truck will be reminiscent of the Chevrolet El Camino, which was produced in North America from 1959 through 1987.

continue reading "Pontiac to get wagon, truck on G8 platform:"

In keeping with LA Auto Show keynote speaker tradition, Ford CEO Alan Mulally promised us all a greener tomorrow. He did not go as far as last year’s keynote speaker, GM chief Rick Wagoner, who all but promised to ride his bicycle to work every day and not exhale while doing so. But the new Ford guy did a good job of saying to the people of California that which they always want to hear.

In his speech, Mulally referred the press to the handy press release outlining all the wonderful greenness to come. Specifically that means, and here he and the release both strayed somewhat from the traditional keynote vagueness, turbocharged gasoline direct injection engines would be offered in high volumes on lighter Ford vehicles. First to get one of those will be the Lincoln MKS next summer. So that’s a good transitional technology to use to stretch out the world’s gasoline supply another few weeks.

continue reading "LA BLOG: Mulally’s future view is bright, but hazy: Ford chief makes vague promises about a green tomorrow"

Pontiac has given the Vibe wagon a makeover for the 2009 model year. The ‘09 Vibe was unveiled Tuesday and goes on sale early next year.

The Vibe’s makeover coincides with a redesign for its mechanical twin, the Toyota Matrix. Toyota introduced the new Matrix last week during the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

The ‘09 Vibe comes in three trim levels–base, AWD and GT. The redesign marks the return of all-wheel drive and the GT trim level to the Vibe lineup. The first-generation Vibe was launched in 2002 as a 2003 model.

Base engine for the Vibe is a 1.8-liter, inline four with variable valve timing. The engine is rated at 132 hp and 128 ft-lb of torque. It is mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

continue reading "Pontiac restyles Vibe for ‘09: GT trim, awd return to lineup"

Pontiac has given the Vibe wagon a makeover for the 2009 model year. The ‘09 Vibe was unveiled Tuesday and goes on sale early next year.

The Vibe’s makeover coincides with a redesign for its mechanical twin, the Toyota Matrix. Toyota introduced the new Matrix last week during the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

The ‘09 Vibe comes in three trim levels–base, AWD and GT. The redesign marks the return of all-wheel drive and the GT trim level to the Vibe lineup. The first-generation Vibe was launched in 2002 as a 2003 model.

Base engine for the Vibe is a 1.8-liter, inline four with variable valve timing. The engine is rated at 132 hp and 128 ft-lb of torque. It is mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

continue reading "Pontiac restyles Vibe for ‘09: GT trim, and return to lineup"

Posted: 11:17am, 31 October 2007

What’s that: a cool and understated Golf wagon?You’d better believe it. And it’s more than a modified Golf estate, it’s the spearhead for Volkswagen’s renewed diesel push into North America. VW knows that young car enthusiasts see the influential SEMA (Speciality Equipment Market Association) as the barometer of what’s cool and happening.

So by launching its new 2.0-litre TDI in the Jetta at SEMA, VW is hoping to whip up some interest among young people who don’t remember the bone-shaking oilburners that gave diesel a bad name Stateside. Vee-Dub will even launch a diesel version of its Racing Cup series in the US mid-2008, to promote the initiative.

continue reading "VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI"

Posted: 1:38am, 30 October 2007

The lowdown: XC70 Surf RescueVolvo is adding a touch of Baywatch glamour to the XC70, with this Surf Rescue concept car. The jacked up, yellow and red rescue vehicle was unveiled at the world’s biggest aftermarket show – SEMA in Las Vegas – which starts today (Tuesday 30 October).

CAR is reporting live from the show, which establishes key automotive design trends. Today’s must-have cues – big wheels, vibrant paint jobs and amazing graphics – have spread with SEMA’s influence, and all three trends feature big time on the XC70 Surf Rescue.

continue reading "Volvo XC70 Surf Rescue"

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Posted: 7:09pm, 31 October 2007

Dodge ChargerIt’s Halloween today, so we thought we’d bring you some monsters from the SEMA show.

Muscle cars dominate the world’s biggest automotive accessories fair, and this Dodge Charger epitomises the wild style motors that pepper SEMA’s 1m square feet of show floor. Created by King of Cars.com and Vertical Doors Inc, this Charger rolls on 26-inch rims which resemble a stainless steel lemon juicer. And check out those Lambo-style doors…

continue reading "Win a co-drive at the Race of Champions"

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Posted: 7:09pm, 31 October 2007

Dodge ChargerIt’s Halloween today, so we thought we’d bring you some monsters from the SEMA show.

Muscle cars dominate the world’s biggest automotive accessories fair, and this Dodge Charger epitomises the wild style motors that pepper SEMA’s 1m square feet of show floor. Created by King of Cars.com and Vertical Doors Inc, this Charger rolls on 26-inch rims which resemble a stainless steel lemon juicer. And check out those Lambo-style doors…

continue reading "SEMA’s good, the bad and the ugly"

The Ford Flex wagon doesn’t go on sale until next summer. But Ford handed a pair of them over to customizers Chip Foose and Funkmaster Flex to work on for the SEMA show.

Revealed today, the Flex Flex wears red-colored body panels and silver roof. Other exterior changes include 22-inch wheels, a rear wing and suspension lowered by 1 inch.

Inside, the Flex Flex has black leather seat covers DVD screens mounted on the headliner for the second and third rows of seats. The sound system has a 12-inch subwoofer.

Chip Foose’s Flex has blue-colored body panels and white roof panel. It rides on 22-inch wheels and a lowered suspension.

continue reading "SEMA: Ford flexes the Flex at SEMA:"