Toyota FT-AC Concept

While it seems everyone is showing EVs, at least in concept forms, Toyota is still pushing regular powertrains .
Even as concepts.

This one really looks like a production car with a few "Auto show" bits added on.
I just wonder what it could be previewing.
Maybe the next Generation Prius C?

What do you think?

2019 Mercedes CLS

This also looks quite good in person.

But it is not really roomier than the regular coupe. That back seat legroom is pretty bad.

I guess the convenience of having extra doors is worth it for some people. (?)

But I also think the E-Class coupe does look better. And it has a giant panoramic sunroof, not available in the CLS. 

The CLS has the same interior as the E-Class now. (But costs much more)

 I am just not sure who this is for???

2018 Mazda 6

The Mazda 6 is quite an amazing car.

The current generation came out in 2012. That is 5 years ago.

It was one of the best looking sedan around then, and it still is now.

They redesigned the dashboard a couple of years ago.

Now, for 2018, it gets an all new interior and a revised front end.

The big news is also the revised 2.5 Liter engine as well as an all new Turbo option.

In the past  5 years, we have seen many all new cars. Including all new versions of the Camry and Accord.

Yet, Mazda has been able to keep the Mazda 6 sedan fresh, and on top of its competition.

Which is pretty amazing.

The new interior is actually nicer than many Audi models.

This is a great car that keeps getting even better. 

Good for them!

I saw the car today, but it was surrounded by other press people. 

I will get pictures of it tomorrow. And actually get to sit in it...

Nissan Kicks (US)

So the Nissan Kicks is actually replacing the Juke.
And I am not sure why...

The Juke name is well known in the US. The Kicks has already been on sale in many countries around the world for over a year.
It's not "new".

And next to the Juke, it looks really generic.
Love it or hate it, but the Juke did start a trend. This will start nothing.

And now we have a "new" 1.6 Liter engine with 125HP. 125!! The Juke had 188HP!
And freeway MPG is just 33 on the Kicks. Just one more than the much more powerful Juke.
And no more AWD, as this is now front wheel drive only.

The whole thing seems to be a huge step back from the Juke.
So now we are basically getting a super cheap car engineered originally  for Brazil a while ago.

Wow...

I predict this will get its ass kicked by the new Hyundai Kona.
Which its offered in the US with a standard 2.0 Liter engine with 147HP.
Or a 1.6 Liter Turbo with 175HP as an option.
And you can still get AWD.

Looks like the Kona is actually the new Juke.

new Hyundai Veloster teaser

Most of us though the Veloster would be one of these "One generation experiment".
I guess not...

I do like the idea of a sporty hatchback car with a glass roof, sure.
So it looks like the second generation is just around the corner. And why not.

L.A Auto Show: Infiniti QX50

This one looks really nice in person.

Everything feels very solid. It is roomy. Nice details inside. Very high quality level of fit and finish.

This i just a very nice car. And the design looks really good.

This will be serious competition to the X3, and GLC. As well as the Lexus RX.

It really deserves to do well...

L.A car show.

So far not bad. Not bad at all...

2019 Lexus RXL

 Apparently, Lexus dealers have been waiting for this for years. So here it is (Probably also popular in China)

It's the same RX we have seen for years. 

Except longer. About 4 inches longer. (Is that really enough for a third row???) 

There seems to be a little more wood trim inside (?) making it look more like the previous generations.

The RX has always been a good car, but I am not a fan of the current generation design.

It's just too much. Way too many lines going nowhere. 

I think the Lincoln MKX (Nautilus) is actually a better Lexus than the current RX.

2018 Jeep Wrangler

Just a few more pictures before I get to see the real thing.

(I am really glad Chrysler/Fiat didn't mess this one up.)

That interior looks really good for what it is. And the exterior is just what it is supposed to be: a Wrangler.

Power comes from a V6 with 285HP or a new 2.0 Liter Turbo with 268HP.

6 Speed manual and 8 speed auto are available.

As well as removable roof panels and power soft top options.

Apple Car Play and Android Auto are standard..

More very soon..

That Lincoln Nautilus grille

 I truly think this is a terrible choice for Lincoln.
That gaudy, vulgar looking grille is now fitted to everything they make.

 That poor thing now looks terrible with "small yet big" new grille. It doesn't fit the rest of the car at all.
It's either too small or too big. It just seems wrong.
It looks like some after market part someone bought and quickly put over the old front end...

 These two rich fake hipster can laugh all they want, I am crying inside...

(And to add insult to injury, it looks like they are actually laughing at me!)

While the Lincoln's grille is just vulgar, the real gaudiness of the original Nautilus was inside!

But, at least, they were able to drink champagne while traveling.  

2019 Subaru Ascent

It looks actually better than I though. In a boring way. the character lines actually look OK to me.

Sure, it's no Mazda CX-9, but it easily beats the Honda Pilot and the Toyota highlander in the looks department.
As well as the VW Atlas.
So I think it will do really, really well. It will attract more than the usual "Subaru crowd".

 Inside, it basically looks like a huge Impreza. Which is OK.
Again, nothing like the gorgeous CX-9 interior. But way nicer than the Atlas.

Expect, at least on this "Touring"version, for the horrible looking fake wood trim.
It didn't look good 20/30 years ago and it still doesn't today.
Especially in that weirdo relish color...

 The "Touring" can have captain chairs in the back. (And the fake red plastic wood!)

 This one has a more normal bench seat.
And no wood! And it doesn't seem to be replaced by some fake metal trim either.
Which is much nicer...

Of course you can probably sleep inside.
Which is great for camping.

Power comes from a new 2.4 Liter Turbo with 260HP ( just a tiny bit more than the CX-9)
And a CVT. No V6. 

2019 Infiniti QX50

I am not a fan of big grilles on cars or even Crossovers, but I think this looks really good.

There is something very relaxing about it. A very calm design.

Something that doesn't try to be overly aggressive for a change.

Same thing inside. It seems very inviting. I really like this.

I remember testing the "old" EX35 (Which became the QX50 later). And it drove great.

But that 23MPG on the freeway was just really bad for something that wasn't very roomy to begin with.

(The QX50 was the same car with a slightly longer wheelbase.)

This 2019 model uses an all new "FWD" platform (AWD option) and engine.

It gets 268HP out of its 2.0 Liter Turbo engine. And also now has a CVT.

So no more RWD, big V6 and 7 speed auto.

But the new one is expected to get 27 MPG Combined. Which probably means over 30 on the freeway...

This should turn out to be quite popular for Infiniti. 

2019 Subaru Ascent

I just posted a picture of the concept version (bottom) se we can compare it to the final model.

I did like the more original headlights of the concept much better. (Subaru has been teasing us with similar headlight designs while never actually producing them ever)

Otherwise the Ascent seems pretty nice. Much nicer looking than the poor Honda Pilot (But that's not saying much )
I will see it for myself at the auto show and will report.

A few more pix of the 2019 Mercedes CLS

Still in that "Russian mafia Special" color combo. (Matte grey and black wheels)

And still looking odd. And not special at all. For the price...

At least we do get a first look at Mercedes's all new inline 6 cylinder engine. Which will make it into the rest of the E-Class line up next year. As well as the S-Class.

2019 VW Jetta Teaser

VW is already teasing the all new Jetta. Which will be shown at the Detroit Auto Show.

And you can't really see much of it.

Here is the real thing, as pictured months ago HERE.
Which could end up looking quite nice. If, as always, a bit boring...

Honda is selling tons of its Civic sedan, so there is still hope for a new Jetta to sell pretty well.

It will finally be based on the modern MBQ platform. Just like the current Golf.
Engines might be the small 1.4 Liter in the base model.
And the new 2.0 from the Tiguan on others. A GLI will appear later in the year.

Head over HERE for more pix.