2016 Toyota Prius

The current Prius is getting a bit long in the tooth. It's over 6 years old now.

Looks like the next one will keep the general hatchback shape. While being quite a bit sleeker.
(That rear hatch window is almost flat!)

A good thing for Toyota. As the Prius is a giant hit pretty much everywhere.

Something you don't see every day...

Just doing my share of celebrating. The Citroen DS is turning 60 today.
So I thought I'd just post these pix of a rare convertible version I saw just a couple of days ago.
Looking as perfect as it gets.

Except for the new radian and GPS screen inside.
But that also means the owner is driving the car a lot. Which is great.

NO Mazda2 for the US

 The suits at Mazda have now officially decided not to sell the all new Mazda2 in the US.

It is built in Mexico and has been engineered with the US in mind. (Since Toyota will sell us the sedan version as a Scion)

Too bad.
I test drove the previous model a few years ago and really liked it. And I'm sure the new one is even better.
I guess the new CX3 Crossover has a better chance to be popular over here. Plus it probably means more profits than a $15 000 hatchback.

Here is the only version we will be able to get over here. The new Scion sedan.
(Built by Mazda). With its ghastly front end design that doesn't fit AT ALL the rest of the car....

Citroen Cactus test drive coming up: Something very different.

While in Europe for a few days, I am actually driving the new Citroen Cactus.
So I will be reporting on that very soon.

So far so good. Besides looking really cool, and different, it has a 3 cylinder engine.
My only previous experience with a 3 cylinder was a quick drive a few weeks ago in a Focus. And I was pretty amazed.
Same thing here.

More soon....

All new Renault Kwid

The tiny and super cheap Kwid is based on a "new platform common to Renault and Nissan".
So this could become a new cheap Nissan somewhere in the world.

Right now, its market ins mainly India. Where it starts at around $4800 .
I repeat, that's $4800!!!!  (A fancier model starts at $6300)

To put things in perspective, the famous (or infamous) Yugo was $4000 in the US back in 1986.


Considering this, I think it looks amazing.
Sure, the whole interior is probably covered with cheap hard plastics. But... $4800!

And the power comes from a tiny 0.8 Liter engine.
But its only about 4 inches longer than a Fiat 500. (Itself offered in Europe with a 0.9 Liter 3 cylinder engine)

I say why not!!!!

2017 Maserati Levante

 The new Levante SUV is pretty much a production version of the Kubang "concept" from 2011.
Yes, 2011...

It didn't look that futuristic then, and it doesn't now. Not that it has to be. But after over 4 years, things look pretty much the same.
Windows are a bit taller, stronger shoulder, lights a bit different, etc...

It doesn't really matter, since this will probably instantly become the best selling Maserati of al time.

Here is the 2011 Kubang Concept.

New Toyota Sienta.

I must say, I am not familiar with the Sienta.
Apparently, the current model has been around since 2003! So it's about time for a new one.

And it looks like a minivan version of the Prius C.
Which, in the US, could actually make quite a nice new Scion model (instead of the rebadged boring Mazda2 sedan we are getting)

I guess the geniuses at Toyota know better...

2016 Camaro: even more pix.

I'm just going to say that it probably looks really good in the flesh.

2016 Chevrolet Camaro: The better pix

This is looking really nice.
Although, like I mentioned earlier, the interior still looks pretty "cheesy" to me.
This is way too busy.

I am really not a big fan of the 2015 Mustang interior, and still have a hard time getting used to it. So I was hoping the Camaro would be much better. But this looks really, really busy.
Like if they took the current interior and added a bunch of stuff, shapes, everywhere.

At least, GM is mentioning much higher grade interior plastics.

Engines are what I mentioned earlier.
-2.0 Liter Turbo with 270HP
-3.6 Liter V6 with 330HP
-6.2 Liter V8 with 455HP. Available with a 6 speed manual or 8 speed Automatic.

So there is something for everyone.

2016 Chevrolet Camaro: Here it is!

Looking pretty good so far.

A lot like the previous generation though. Which is not a bad thing. I guess...
Even inside! (Which still has a bit of "cheesy" feel to it...)

The whole thing doesn't seem really "new". But improved. A lot.
Also, more pictures in better colors (especially inside) might help.

Much more on this very soon. 

New Honda Shuttle

The Shuttle has been, for years, a longer, wagon type version go the Fit.
Since there was a new Fit last year, now we have a new Shuttle.

When I say "we" I mean "them".

 Since we never got the Shuttle here in the US.
And we are not getting this one either.

As usual, it looks much more awkward than the regular Fit. It's just too long, and the wheels are way to small.
Just like the Fiat 500L.

2016 Chevrolet Camaro

We will see the whole thing tomorrow, but for not, this is it.
From some CNBC promo.

Well... It looks like a Camaro. Like they had told us, it's not really a new look. (Even though it is a brand new design off a new platform)


-New base engine is a 2.0 Liter Turbo with 270hp
-New 3.6 Liter V6 option with 330hp
-6.2 Liter V8 with 440hp

Much more on this very soon.

Ford Mondeo Vignale

The Fusion's European cousin, the Mondeo, can now be ordered as a new top of the line model, called Vignale.
From the name of an old design company. (Just like Ford did in the 70's by  using the name "Ghia" on their top of the line models. So not a new idea...)

The Fusion is still one of the very best looking sedan available, and it still looks great with mode chrome/detailing.
There is no Taurus or Lincoln in Europe. So the Mondeo is the top sedan. Which leaves room for a luxury version.
Not the case here in the US. Where the Fusion is squeezed under the Taurus.

By the way, it looks fantastic as a hatchback (pictured above). And the wagon isn't bad either...

2016 Chevrolet Camaro

Just a few more teasers before we see the whole thing in just a few days.

No surprises really. The profile does look better than some of the photoshop illustrations I've seen before. So that's good. (Too bad about that stupid spoiler that still looks like a PepBoys add on)

The front kind of looks like the current model blended with the "double grille" look of the new Malibu and Cruze. Why not...

No matter what, it'll be really cool to see an all new Camaro.

Something you don't see every day...

 Or never.
As, I have never ever sen this car before. I didn't even know it existed.
I took this in Europe a couple of days ago. (My camera was set to B&W but the car was actually bright red)
I couldn't really see the logo from where I was. But that front end did remind me of older 70's VW models.

So there it is: The VW SP coupe from Brazil!
It was developed with the help of of Karman-Ghia's Brazilian operations no less!

With only 65HP, it wasn't really a sports car. But it looked fantastic. And still does today.
About 10 000 were sold between 1972 and 1976. Very few of them ended up in Europe. Mostly in museums.
So I guess I was really lucky to see one diving around...

2016 BMW 7 series

We've seen most of it before, not a surprise.
Not that I expected anything new, really. Since all BMW sedans look pretty much the same.
So this, again, looks like a giant 3 series.
With more chrome. Lots of chrome.

I am in Europe for a few days, and have noticed how much chrome there is on recent European designs. It usually looks very plasticky and quite vulgar (like on some new Renault models)
Some weird trend.

2016/17 Toyota Prius

This is, of course, just an illustration.
It shows a car so similar to the curent one that most people (Except car nerds like us, and previous owners) won't be able to tell the difference.
So, let's hope the new Prius looks better than this.
Especially after 7 years.

I haven't heard anything about a major breakthrough for the next model.
Of course mileage will be better, as usual.
But it won't be any cheaper since the Prius C is already there.

I still think the new Volt is a much better deal. For the same price you get a car that will give you 50 miles of pure electric driving. Plus, the driving experience of the Volt is so much better than the Prius.