US LaCrosse VS. Chinese Regal

The story of 2 Buicks.
Unlike some people keep saying here, the new Lacrosse and the Chinese Regal are NOT the same cars.
The Regal is just a straight rebadged version of the Opel Insignia with its own grille.
The laCrosse is a larger car, with its own design and interior.

I still think there would be room for both models in the US.
Buick needs cars.

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback

Here is the first official photo of our US version.

Next generation Hyundai Sonata

Not much to see yet.
but it will look much slicker than the current model.
Which already looked quite nice. Before the recent chromy facelift that is...

What do celebrities drive??/

A great article from "Jalopnik".

Really cool to see who drives what.

I knew Larry King was driving a Lincoln. By listening to his old radio show, back in the days.
He even said that while owning a Town Car, that was also the only car he was renting on business trips.
I guess some people don't like change...

And I saw him and his family a few years ago in their Navigator.

Click on the title for the whole thing.

More pictures of the new Buick regal for China

US Buick Regal???

Not sure what this is exactly. But it's not really the Chinese Regal. And it's not the new laCrosse.
With recent rumors about Opel building a smaller Buick fro the US, I wonder....
Looks like a modified Chinese Regal to me.

Here is the new Chinese Regal.

Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback in the US

After telling us this car was only for the Japanese and European market, they've decided to sell it over here after all. It's coming in the summer.
It looks OK. Not nearly as good as the concept from the previous year though.
And not as good as a Mazda3.
They ned to stand out. And I don't think the "Sportback" is the answer...
So again, Mitsubishi will be in a position where they can pretty much only sell this if it is cheaper than the competition.

That's a crowded place to be, with Hyundai and Kia.
Even more so once the Chinese car makers finally make it into the US market.

Good luck...

No 2009 Astra for the US

I bet.
Since they are selling about half the number they had hoped for in the first place. There are plenty of 2008 Astras sitting on dealer lots.
I test drove one and really liked it. But the 4 speed auto has to go. Plus the engine isn't that great.
And the interior is nice but starts showing its age.

And there is the price problem. You can't get an Astra for under MSRP. (but they do have rebates) Which has to be killing them.
Saturn got rid of the "dent free plastic panels" a few years ago, but they should have gotten rid of their no haggling policy first.

Aston Martin Rapide

Sure it will be expensive. Very expensive.
But the Porsche Panamera won't be cheap either.

At least this does look like a super special luxury item.

Next Hyundai Equus/i70

Another picture of the next big Hyundai.
Again, we can't see that much.
I should really be waiting until the official stuff comes out. But hey, I've got a site to run.
I need to post stuff all the time.
Otherwise people complain, and I make zero money....

Jaguar XE

The XE will be an all new car for Jaguar.
It will not be a super mid engine sport car like previously thought, but a smaller, front engine coupe competing with the new BMW Z4, Porsche Boxter and Mercedes SLK.
I think this is a great opportunity for Jaguar.
And a better way to offer a sub $50 000 car that the unpopular X Type.

Dodge Avenger Info

2009 Dodge Avenger

To bring you this comprehensive review on the 2009 Dodge Avenger, TheCarConnection.com has researched all the best review sources on the Web. The editors of TheCarConnection.com have spent time behind the wheel of several different Avenger sedans and brought their driving impressions to help make the advice and information in this review most useful. Likes Exterior styling dares to be different Spacious backseat Good fuel economy (four-cylinder) Dislikes Rough, noisy, and sluggish base engine Road noise Chintzy cabin materials 2009 marks the second year of production for the Dodge Avenger, the latest mid-size sedan offering from Chrysler. The 2009 Dodge Avenger shares some styling with its big brother, the Dodge Charger, but features a lower starting price and a range of four- and six-cylinder engines. While originally available with optional all-wheel drive, that model has been discontinued, so front-wheel drive is the only configuration available. read the full bottom line review

Jan 6, 7:47 PM

To bring you this comprehensive review on the 2009 Dodge Avenger, TheCarConnection.com has researched all the best review sources on the Web. The editors of TheCarConnection.com have spent time behind the wheel of several different Avenger sedans and brought their driving impressions to help make the advice and information in this review most useful.

Likes

Exterior styling dares to be different

Spacious backseat

Good fuel economy (four-cylinder)

Dislikes

Rough, noisy, and sluggish base engine

Road noise

Chintzy cabin materials

2009 marks the second year of production for the Dodge Avenger, the latest mid-size sedan offering from Chrysler. The 2009 Dodge Avenger shares some styling with its big brother, the Dodge Charger, but features a lower starting price and a range of four- and six-cylinder engines. While originally available with optional all-wheel drive, that model has been discontinued, so front-wheel drive is the only configuration available.

read the full bottom line review



 Read more…

Opel Insignia GTC

GTC is the name of the sport versions for Opel.
This will get a twin turbo V6 good for at least 320hp.

If the Insignia ends up over here as a Buick, don't expect this one to make it across the Atlantic.
I don't think there is any market in the US for a 320hp mid sized car sold by Buick in this country...

Rumor of the day: Insignia as Buick in the US

We've talked about this before: the Chinese Buick Regal would make a really nice Buick in the US too.
GM announced they will fund Saturn for another couple of years, but no new models.
That means no Opel Insignia as the next Aura.

But the Regal proves that the Insignia looks really good as a Buick.
On the other hand, GM is trying to make Saab more independant in order to sell it. That means the next 9.3 will be built in Sweden instead of Germany, where it was planed to.
The new small Buick would be built in Germany. We wouldn't get the one made in China.
Buicks being more expensive than Saturns, GM could actually justify a higher price.

It all makes sense to me. I would love to see this car in the US.

New pictures of the 2010 Toyota Prius

First time I really see the sunroof.

new Toyota Auris Verso

The Auris Verso will be replacing the Corolla Verso in Europe in a few months.
That's because the Auris replaced the Corolla. Even though over here, the more boring version of the same car is still called the Corolla.
Verso is the name they use for their high wagon version. They even have a smaller Yaris Verso.

I think this looks like it could be our next RAV4. Why not?
Just jack it up a bit. that's what they did with the Scion Xd in Europe, and called it the "Urban Cruiser".


This is what the current Corolla Verso looks like.
It's not really horrible, but boring looking as hell.
As a matter of fact, this looks so old next to pretty much anything else in European streets.
It's really time for a new one...

All new Hyundai Equus interior

Not much to see yet, but it will look expensive.
The Genesis already has a very nice interior.

The XLR is dead...

Well, almost.
Production of the Corvette based Cadillac will stop in a few weeks.
That's too bad. I guess it does make sense. How many of these do they sell?

But it would have been great to see what a second generation would have looked like.

In related news, the CTS coupe has been delayed until late 2010. It was supposed to be shown last November at the L.A Auto show.

Opel Ampera

This seems to be the Opel version of the Chevrolet Volt.
With pretty much the same specs. Hatch, 4 seats, 60km range on the battery etc...

And look for the weird cuts in the bumper under the headlights to make it into future Opel designs as well.

Car driving advice

From the wise man from Brooklyn.

Next VW Polo

A few more illustrations of what the next small VW could look like.
Both are surprisingly similar.

It would be a nice little car. A small sub $15 000 VW for the US.

All new Mercedes E500 Coupe

Even though there will also be a V6 version, it'll still be a "way over $50 000" car.
I must say, these official pictures make it look a bit better than before.

But that interior with the beige/brown combo doesn't look too upscale, does it...

A convertible will follow soon.

Chery S18

Another small crossover coming up. In China...

Remember back when Malcolm Bricklin was going to sell Chery cars in the US?
I wonder if any of these would have made it...

Chery A6CC

This really nice looking coupe has been in the works for years after they showed the concept version.
I just wonder when it will actually come out.

These latest spy shot show a production model pretty much identical to the concept. Designed in Italy.

All new Hyundai Equus.

The "larger than Genesis" Hyundai does look quite different than it's smaller brother.
engines will be the same as on the Genesis, plus a new 5.0 Liter V8 with 400hp.

This doesn't look bad. Even more interesting than the Genesis.

No plans for US sales. Yet....

Friend of the Chubby nerd in the Lexus HS

And he likes it.

Keep in mind, the video is all stretched out to get that fake HD look, so the car looks longer than it is, and the guy looks wider...

german guys showing us why the new E Class is so great...

Remember the guy on top?
I'll give you a clue: He helped kill Chrysler.

Guessing the next Saab 9.5

A few people have tried over the past couple of years.
But so far, only the 3rd illustration seems close to the spy shots I posted earlier. Unfortunately,
it is the most boring looking one.

The last picture was taken at a GM meeting, showing the real thing. At least an optimistic illustration of it...

I would have been great if the new top of the line Saab could have been an original and futuristic alternative to high end European sedans.
Some manufacturers are known for their daring designs, unusual, almost weird personalities.
Like Saab, Citroen and Subaru.

Of these three, only Citroen seems to be putting out something interesting and different.
Subaru seems to have completely lost it, and Saab has been on a conservative path for years...