2009 Nissan Maxima

Just another picture.
Showing the double sunroof option similar to the new Murano.
And I also noticed the way the A pillar flows into the hood. A pretty dramatic design that would look great in real life.

Chevrolet Beat

I guess this is going to make it into a production model.
Here it is, testing in China.
Does that mean it will also be built in China?
GM is already making engines for the Equinox over there, so I wonder if a small car is next...

Lat year's concept.

2009 Acura TSX

Just a few more pictures.
Nothing amazing really. And from what I read, quite a let down to even most Honda/Acura fans out there who were expecting much more.
What I would expect in a car that is that small, is a real back seat. It doesn't seem that much roomier than before.
I don't want to go just after Honda about this. Most car makers in that segment don't offer a roomy back seat.
What is the point of a sedan. Once you're in there, it's OK. But it's even hard to get in, between the smallish doors and the tight space back there.
They are all to blame, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus etc... Is it so hard to add a couple of inches???
Humans aren't getting any smaller....

Geely CE Concept

One of these concepts that will be a production model sooner than later.
It already looks like something we'd see in the streets now.
and it does look pretty nice.

I guess Geely is getting ready to sell cars in Europe pretty soon.

BMW Z4

The al new Z4 is due pretty soon.
What you can't see on this illustration is the new hard top convertible. Similar to the SLK, or the much cheaper Miata.
Finally, the BMW won't be that claustrophobic to drive with the top up.

Kia Soul

Coming up soon.

This looks like what the Scion xD should have been. Small, roomy a fuel efficient.
Toyota might be paying for their mistake of making the xD too big.
I personally like the xD. It is still pretty small and is more refined that before. Sure the engine is larger, but the Camry motor is super smooth and quiet. And I'm a sucker for comfort.
But it seems that is not what Scion buyers really want.

The Soul might just be it.

Camaro Accessories

GM is making sure you can make your new Camaro really ugly if you want to.
They will offer a bunch of these "accessories" like spoilers, side skirts etc... All of them ruining the understated original design.
The lower part of the car pictured here is still made out of clay. So the final thing will be black.
Still. Very vulgar.
But I guess when you are in the "muscle car" market, you gotta appeal to as many people as you can....

Chery A6 CC

One of the best Chinese concept is heading for production. And from these pictures, it looks like it will stay really close to that concept.
Which I think was designed by Pininfarina.
By the way, CC does not mean it's a hard top convertible. This is just a hatchback coupe.

Here is the concept. In case some of us had done the unthinkable: forget what it looked like....

Unmistakeably German Citroen

A really cool commercial for the latest French sedan, trying hard to show how it should be considered against the German competition.
At least as far as design is concern, I don't think Citroen should be worried. It looks so much better than any of the German competition.
Anyone here knows how this car drives???

Opel Insignia/Saturn Aura

Funny how some cars are pretty much kept secret until they actually come out.
Others, like this one, not so much...

Brilliance BS2

Looks like a nice looking hatch with a Skoda grille.
Still, this might end up in Europe where it could actually compete with other cheap hatchbacks.
It's at least as good looking as the stuff we get over here.
Again, there are so many unanswered questions and concerns about Chinese cars, they'll have a tough time at first.

Camaro Convertible production pictures

They do look real to me.
I notice the slightly smaller wheels. So this should be the more popular V6 version.
And also, for the first time, real headlights. The other spy pictures from prototypes only show us the temporary headlight set up used for testing.

This car looks exactly like I though it would: just great.
I can't wait....

2009 VW Golf

When I say 2009, I mean for the European market. Chances are, we'll get this around 2015 if we're lucky.

This is still just an illustration, but it looks really close to all the spy shots we've already seen of that car.
Which is to say, the usual Golf redesign: the same but different. Never a big leap from one generation to the other.
And nothing ever exiting...

Roewe 550

Just newer, better pictures. With no camouflage at all.
A nice looking car. Better than the Jetta we get over here... At least...

Geely GT Concept

I think this looks great. A bit busy and loud. But at least pretty original.
The Chinese have the habit of showing off pretty nice looking concepts so far.
We'll see if any of these actually translate into decent production cars...

Would anyone here buy something like that? At what price?

Chubby nerd and friends take over New York!

And doing a good job.
Thanks to these guys we get a better idea of these cars.

Interesting how the Genesis coupe interior is highly praised. While the TSX really doesn't seem a better car than the current model....

Jaguar and Land Rover sold

To Tata for $2 Billion.
Good for Tata, I guess. Although they have already said they weren't that interested in Jaguar.

But it is a sad statement about Ford. A company that was run so poorely that it didn't know what to do with legendary brands like these.
Looks like they were doing OK with land Rovers. With plenty of products.

Sad....

Camaro Video

Looks like GM is doing its best for the Camaro to actually be seen by as many people as possible before it comes out....

New Camaro pictures

And still no final headlight design.

I hear GM might offer the 2.0 Liter Turbo engine as one of the options.
That might not be a bad idea. With 260hp it could be plenty and would actually match the power of the V6.
Could be an interesting take on the 21st Century muscle car.

Another story about an asshole car dealer....

Yes, another one.
Just click on the title for the whole thing. I won't explain it here.

And if you want to see the actual E bay ad, go here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching&viewitem=&item=230233277471&_trksid=p3907.m32

Thanks to Richard for the story.

Chevrloet Matiz commercial

The small Daewoo/Chevrolet Matiz is sold in many European countries.
Here is how it is marketed in Greece..

2009 Ford Ka

Just like we saw the new Mondeo first in Casino Royale, the next ka will be featured in the new James Bond film.
So far, we can see it in a short teaser/making of thing on YouTube.
We can't see much, but hey, that's the best we have for now....

2009 Nissan Teana

The current Teana is basically the Japanese market version of our Maxima. With its own design and interior.
And it appeals to an older, more conservative audience.
Looks like the same story for the next one. it will be a softer, less aggressive version of the new Maxima. Looking more like the Intima concept.

I guess more like a Nissan Avalon.

Insane. Part2

$4 a gallon will sure feel real good driving that thing around...

Insane. Part1

Taken a few minutes ago in Hollywood.

I guess $4 a gallon is closer than we think.
It was already well over $4 around Malibu yesterday.

Whose car is this????

Let's see who can guess this.
This was taken in the Hollywood Hills by a friend of mine.

Chery B13

We'll never see this here. But still, why not show what they're doing.
It is really close to the concept version they showed a while ago. So I guess that wasn't really a concept in the 1st place.

Audi Q5

These are supposed to be shots of the real thing.
So there it is, the most boring and unoriginal looking SUV/Crossover/wagon this year.
It's even amazing how much they didn't even try....

Suzuki Kizashi 3 Concept

The 3rd and final(?) Kizashi concept. The 1st two showed us a wagon a crossover. This is supposed to show us what the upcoming larger Suzuki sedan will look like.
The concept is powered by a 300hp 3.6 Liter V6. That sounds like the one in the CTS.

Good luck.
The car does look nice. Especially compared to the boring offerings from Honda and Toyota. But the problem is nobody even knows about Suzuki.
When was the last time anyone here considered a Suzuki? Especially when in the market for a Camry type family car.

they need to spend major advertising money to let people know they even exist before they can compete.

Again, good luck....

2009 Infiniti FX35

That's right, 35, not 37.

The all new FX will keep the "old" 3.5 Liter V6 engine.
Which is perfectly fine, at 306hp. I just wonder, at least for cost, why they would keep producing 3 versions of the same engine.
I guess they really want the G37 coupe to stand out from the rest of the Infiniti lineup.
Plus you can get a V8 on the FX.

So there, i figured it all out....

Nissan Maxima video

Of course, this is the usual assy YouTube quality. So it is still pretty hard to tell...

Hyundai Genesis Coupe video

I still think the interior looks quite cheap. It also depends on how much they will be asking for it.
They claim this to deliver " Infiniti G37 performance at Mitsubishi Eclipse price".

We'll see about that...

Kia Koup Concept

This looks almost production ready to me.
I say the more small coupes the better. I like the Civic coupe a lot, and this looks like a cheaper alternative. And it looks great.
An inexpensive coupe is a great idea to get young buyers into their first new car.
It's pretty much what Hyundai was going for with the Scoupe years (and years) ago.

let's hope this makes it into production without too many changes....

2009 Kia Optima

First official picture.
I will show the interior later.

It is different and a bit more upscale. The Optima is one of these decent cars that doesn't get much notice from anyone.
I guess it needs to stand out a bit more, and it needs some advertising money... (Don't we all...)


Here is the current one, in case anyone forgot....