2007 Dodge Caliber interior

Just a quick reminder (I posted that picture before).
For those who are looking forward to the new small car from Dodge:

Don't expect too much from the interior.
Form that shot at least, it looks very cheap and bland....

And the car itself won't be that cheap. You can actually top $24000 if you get all options available.

New BMW X5

A new X5 is also around the corner. This latest illustration might, or might not, give us an idea of what it'll look like.
Seems like they aren't going crazy in the redesign.

The current one still looks nice. And is a really nice car to drive. ( at a starting price of $43 000 before options, it better be...)

Now if only they could work on the X3.

BMW M1

The 1 series coupe must be around the corner, because everyone is trying to guess what it'll look like.
This latest German illustration shows us the M version. It could be powered by a 3.2 Liter V6 with 343 hp!

Amazing for such a small car.
I'm not a fan of the small BMW, but it would be great competition for the Subaru WRX and the Mitsubishi Evo. Both of these cars aren't great looking either.
I guess when you want as much power as you can get, looks don't matter so much anymore.

Chrysler Imperial Concept

I am not sure where to begin...

These are pictures of a new Chrysler Imperial concept, published by Motor Trend magazine.
And the show the ugliest car I've seen in many, many years.

It really is a disgrace. Chrysler had some great designs about what a larger luxury car should be, before Mercedes took them over.
The German company is now putting out cars that look like charicatures of the old American designs. I am getting used to the 300, and I think it does have a style and strong presence on the road.
But they also gave us the horrific looking Charger, and now this!

This design is just a mess. And it patheticly tries to copy a Rolls Royce design!
It reminds me of a very bad Chinese design. The ones people make fun of, the ones that don't seem to make sence. The heavy handed cheap looking copies of western designs. Except in this case, the designer had to be a 5 year old on crack.
It gloryfies vulgarity.
American designs deserve better.
I just hope this never goes into production. Not that it wouldn't sell. I'm sure that plenty of Navigator and Escalade owners wouldn't mind adding this to their garages.







This is what a big Chrysler should look like. The great looking Chronos concept is 8 years old!
It came out at a time when Chrysler had great designers. Before Mercedes.
It is classy, expensive looking, modern and retro at the same time.
Everything the Imperial isn't...

Aston Martin Rapide

For years now, Aston Martin has claimed they are working on a 4 door sedan.
They've done it before. The last one was the crazy futuristic looking Laghonda from the 70's.

But this time it looks like they just added 2 more doors to the DB9.
The DB9 is one of the best looking cars around, so even with 4 doors it looks great. But I was hoping for something a bit more original.
If you have $200 000 to spend on a sedan, you couldn't buy a much better looking car anyway.

This "concept" is supposed to be shown at the Detroit show. It looks production ready to me...

More Scirocco/Corrado info.

This is just to answer some of you who wanted to know more about the old VW Scirocco and Corrado.


This is the 1st generation. It came out in 1974 in Europe, and a year later in the States.
It was based on the 1st Golf, called the Rabbit in the US.
It was designed by Giugiaro and was intended to replace the Karmann Ghia.



The second generation came out in 1982.
And was sold until 1988 in the US.



The Corrado was just a new Scirocco with another name. It was sold in the US from 1990 to 1994.

A new Scirocco is due for 2008.



I also want to remind everyone, a little too late, that this is the best week of the year to get a good deal on a new car. Dealers are desparate to get the best overall sale numbers for the year.
Usually, best deals are on the most popular cars, who are fighting for a number one sales spot. Like the Camry or Accord.
But I have also seen up to about $5000 discounts on the new Sonata.

Good luck and thanks to all the readers who have been with me for the past year.
Next year will be even better.

New VW Scirocco

Another illustration from Europe.
Lots of people are trying to guess what this will look like. Of course it will be based on the Golf.
So expect similar engines.
But with the death in Europe and the US of the Celica, it doesn't look like great timing for small sporty coupes.
Or is it?
A new small Mazda coupe is coming out soon. So maybe...

BMW 1 Series, Sedan and Coupe

More illustrations.
And from what the hatchback looks like, they seem pretty accurate to me. There won't be much surprises when they come out.
And these are the ones we'll get in the US, not the hatchback.

Being "cheaper" than a 3 series, I would guess they could start at around $26000, before options.

And I don't really see the point. Unless you "must" have a BMW and nothing else. (and that's OK too).
But there are now so many very good cars under $30 000, that I don't see that many people spending so much money in a cramped, clumbsy looking, expensive compact car from an expensive brand.

For that price, it should be looking great. Something you must have. It's not...
I actually couldn't think of another car looking much worse than this one for the price.
A good match for the cheap looking X3...

Mystery car...

Again, can you guess what this is?
I can't tell you the answer because... I don't have it.

All I can tell is that the picture was done during winter testing in a very cold place (Duh...).
And the car behind seems to be a Japanese market Nissan Van. But the car itself looks to me more like a Mazda.

Any idea???

2007 Infiniti G37

This is a Japanese illustration of what the next Nissan Skyline, our Infiniti G35, could look like.

It seems pretty realistic, but very close to the current one. Nissan usually is more original when they redesign their cars.
And they also mention a larger 3.7 Liter V6 for the car.

Lincoln Concept

Not sure what the actual name is, I hear D3, but who knows...

It looks great no matter what they call it. And it does look smaller than what I thought.
It doesn't look to be the Town Car replacement, but more the size of the LS.
And I have no idea what it is based on.
The next "big" Lincoln is supposed to be based on the Ford 500, but this seems a bit small for that...

What do you think?

Nissan Urge Concept

I am usually not crazy about concept that have no chances of ever turning into a production car.
But this one is pretty cool. Very modern, but still a few retro touches like a T top roof, and a look that reminds me of the Lotus the "Prisoner" was driving back in the 60's.
This would make a great "cheap" new Nissan.

Lincoln Teases

The top picture is a detail of the new Aviator. Pretty much what everyone was expected.
The front looks much more like last year's concept.

But the other picture... What is it?
It isn't the new Zephyr.
I think it is the new Town Car replacement based on an AWD version of the Ford 500.
And that detail looks really nice.

A nice, modern looking, big American Luxury car, that isn't afraid of being what it is....
That could be good for a change.

Volvo C30

These are the real thing.
The "concept" that will be shown at the Detroit show next month.
It is pretty much the same as the actual production car that is scheduled to debut at the Paris auto show in September 2006.
And that also means the car will only be on sale in the US in 2007. Over a year from now!
Maybe that's because they are waiting for a 5 door to be ready?

As you can see, the interior is pretty much the same as the S40. I think it actually works better here, in a 2 door car. The S40 back seat is pretty much useless for most adults anyway.
And the interior is nice for about $25 000. But the S40 goes way past that with options. And the new C70, with the same interior, will go way past $40 000.

New Scion Xb

Here are some pictures of the new Toyota bB. The car sold here as the Scion Xb.
So it is safe to say the next Xb will look pretty much like this .

And I don't think it is as original as the 1st one. I am not sure if the weird colums shifter will make it here too.
It has a couple of interesting features, like the front seats that fold flat against the rear bench. (the 70's "Love van" is back).
A convenient tray in the trunk, and a "control wheel" for the stereo between the front seats. And, at least in Japan, you can have different front ends, chose between a few designs.

If it is making it here, I would guess it would be at the end of the year, as a 2007 model.

Toyota Supra ?

Just another Japanese illustration of what a new Supra could look like.

For years now, people have been trying to guess the next Supra.
It's not even sure that Toyota wants a new Supra...
So it might actually be the new Celica. If there is one. The current one is still sold in Japan.

2007 Volvo C30

This looks pretty real to me, but who the hell am I ???

It does match the previous spy shots we've seen of the car, and the teaser shot of the rear light I posted just a couple of days ago.
And Volvo has said they would present a concept version of the car, not the full production model, in Detroit.
If you take out the rear wing, oversized wheels and horrible gold lower body painting, I guess you would have the production car...

In any case, it looks pretty nice. Both 5 cylinder engines are planed. Regular and Turbo.
It could turn out to be a great car.

Nissan Teana

The Nissan Teana is due for a few changes next year.
As you can see, the front end includes a new grille and bumper.
Not that much.The interior is almost the same, with new door handles design.

But Nissan is revising the Maxima for 2007 to be more luxurious and compete better with the Avalon. And I think some of the Teana's new features might just end up in our good old Maxima.
The new Teana grille looks pretty close to the 2007 Maxima spy shots I've seen so far, for exemple...

We'll see...


Here is the current Teana.
I think if their goal is to compete with the Avalon, they should just bring this car over here.

Toyota Yaris 1.8 Liter

Toyota is getting a more powerful version of the small Yaris ready soon.
The 1.8 Liter puts out between 130 and 180hp in the US. Quite a jump from the small 1.5 Liter.

But this little Yaris won't make it here. It is mostly for Europe and Japan. And maybe, just maybe, we can only hope it could make it in Canada. where small hatchbacks are much more popular than over here...

New Nissan X trail

Mea Culpa...
You guys were right. The previous post about the Xtrail showed a current version sold in other markets.
But this, although it is a quite ugly illustration, shows the next one.
The new X trail will share its platform with a small Renault SUV. And you can see the body is similar to the Renault I posted last week.

2007 Lexus LS

Nothing we didn't know. It is pretty much the same car as the concept they showed just a little while ago.
The grille is more like the current model, and the wheels actually look nicer than the concept.

There are talks of a 4.6Liter V8 and a larger 5Liter V8. And a hybrid.
We might not get everything in the US.
It seems weird that the ES offers the new glass roof and not the LS. At least from what we can see so far.

No matter what, this will be one of the top choices for anyone looking for a luxury sedan next year. And it finally looks good...
It should come out at next month's Detroit show.

2007 Volvo C30 ?

You tell me.
It does look like it...
At least , it is different than the previous concepts tail lights, so it might just be the real thing.

We'll know more next month when they bring to Detroit a "close to production" version of the S30.

Yes I know, another concept. Why not show the real thing???

2007 Toyota Highlander

Hold on! This is just an illustration.

But it is actually the second one I see with a similar design . Both ugly I must say.
If that is really what Toyota has in mind for their next Highlander, you'd better run to your nearest Hyundai dealer and sign up for the next Sant Fe.
I cannot beleive Toyota would go so wrong. So let's hope...

As usual, it will be based on the Camry, so expect the same 3.5 Liter V6 in there.

2007 Toyota Corolla.

Again, sorry for the bad picture. But I think this is the 1st shot of the next "Corolla with a trunk".
Basically, the one we'll get.

Just like I thought, the trunk ruins the car. It now looks like any other sedan that has been on the road for the last 20 years...
We'll now more soon.

Nissan X-Trail

The X trail is due to get a new front end design. Again...
The small Nissan SUV came out in Europe in 2001. And the front end was changed for the end of 2002. With the addition of the Altima's 2.5 Liter engine.
This time, it looks like thay want to make it look less"trucky"...
But a replacement is also due pretty soon, a small SUV shared with Renault.

And this time, we are supposed to get it in the US...



Here is a current 2005 model.

2007 Lexus ES 350

I have to apologize for the poor quality of these pics.
We can't really see anything new, but I thought I'd post them anyway...

The new double sunroof/glass roof option is very visible on these shots. And the side of the car doesn't seem covered, besides the funny tape.
In the front, they've put the tape in such a way that it creates wrong shapes around the lights.

The engine will of course be the new 3.5 Liter V6. And I have a January 2006 date from Japanese sources. So it might be at Detroit after all...

2007 Honda CRV

Just a few more small news I've gathered about the next CRV:

-Still a 2.4 Liter engine with now 170hp
-A real hatch, for the 1st time.
-No more spare wheel attached to the rear door.
-Actually just a bit shorter, about 3 inches.
-But lower (quite a bit) and wider.
-Scheduled for August 2006. Not sure if that is an unveiling or sale date.

These are just little bits of info, but the sources are reliable. And I thought if any of you are in the market for a small SUV, any news can help, right?

Stay tuned for upcoming news about the next Scion Xb, Lexus LS and ES and Toyota Corrola for the US.

Honda Fit for the US market.

The sketch (orange), is the only official info about the US Fit.
The car has been sold in Europe and Japan for years, and is due for a redesign.
But from this illustration, it looks like the US Fit is just the same old one.
In 2 door. With a new front and ugly side skirts.

Not sure if the 4 door will come over as well when the car goes on sale here next spring.

New Nissan Sentra ???

Could the new Nisssan Bluebird become our new Sentra.

The old Bluebird used to be the Altima. Now the Altima is too big for non US markets.
So this new smaller Nissan could very well be the new Sentra.
It almost looks good enough to be a small Infiniti.

What do you think, new Sentra or not???
Or maybe a smaller Altima, to make more room for the Maxima???