How do you make the hot-selling Volkswagen new New Beetle even hotter? Chop the top!
Car and Driver says sun worshippers will have a convertible option when buying their Beetle next year. The news should be a surprise to no one, but engine choices could be.
VW says all the powertrain options in the coupe will be availble in the convertible. That means the 170-horse five-cylinder, the 200 hp turbo four and even the 140 horse 236 lb-ft TDI. Both transmissions will be on the menu as well: 6-speed DSG or a 6-speed manual.
Car and Driver speculates that VW will probably show off the convertible Bug at the L.A. Auto Show in November. When it goes on sale in the spring, it'll be the only diesel convertible available in the U.S. The way VW's diesels are selling, don't expect the Bug version to sit around on lots very long.
How would you feel about a Cadillac with a diesel engine? Those of you in America shouldn't bother answering that question, however - it's strictly for the Europeans. At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Cadillac's VP of marketing said that a diesel is "under consideration for vehicles sold outside the United States," with its U.S. chances going only so far as "a potential hedge."
When committing to the best fight against its rivals overseas, Cadillac's rep said, "if that means making the right powertrain choices, then those are the choices we will have to make." No mention was made of Opel's diesels or whether General Motors would choose to develop something new, but the German subsidiary has done well with oil-burners in the Insignia, and a trial of diesels in Caddys could help use up the allotment that Saab won't necessarily be needing.
LA Recap, Soave out at Fiat, ZL1 "you're welcome," Gray-market petition
Episode #257 of the Autoblog Podcast is here with Chris, Dan, Zach, and Autoblog Executive Editor Chris Paukert this week. Topics include the turmoil at Fiat USA with Soave stepping down and 500 sales creeping along, a recap of the Los Angeles Auto Show, the "you're welcome" to Ford fans from the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 chief engineer, and the petition underway to reduce gray-market import restrictions from 25 to 15 years. Your questions and comments power the end of the 'cast, and we'll have our live 'cast back at our UStream channel soon. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #257:
Fiat USA in turmoil as Soave is out amid slow 500 sales
Petition started to shorten gray market exemption from 25 to 15 years
Camaro ZL1 chief engineer says "you're welcome" to Ford Mustang fans
Los Angeles Auto Show recap
In the Autoblog Garage
2012 Subaru Impreza
2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
2011 Toyota Avalon
2012 Honda CR-V
2012 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman, Chris Paukert
Runtime: 01:35:51
Get the podcast
[UStream] Listen live on Mondays at 10PM Eastern at UStream
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
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The Nissan Cube is... different. There aren't many vehicles that pack the length of a sub-compact, the height of a crossover and the sex appeal of a postal truck. There is no question that Nissan was thinking out of the box with this boxy ride, but the model has never really caught on in the States. In 2009, Nissan sold 21,000 units, followed by 23,000 units in 2010. This year, however, sales have dipped to just 13,850 units through 10 months, a tepid 198 units having been sold in October.
But while the Cube isn't selling well, AutoWeek reports that Nissan isn't giving up on it just yet. Nissan North America sales boss Brian Carolin told the magazine at the Los Angeles Auto Show that the Cube "has found its place in the market." Carolin added that demand for the Cube was strong when gas prices spiked, and that at that point, the automaker was "struggling to get a supply of it."
Part of the Cube's sales decline could be attributed to parts shortages as a result of the Japan earthquake back in March, but that doesn't seem to explain its very weak October sales numbers. Even with obviously slow sales, Carolin sounds bullish on the Cube, but we're betting that Nissan will struggle to keep the Cube in the U.S. lineup if sales continue to dip, and we haven't heard a peep about a next-generation model.
We record Episode #257 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below. Check out our discussion topics or chime in to help determine what else the crew chats about this evening. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already. We're giving UStream a break this week, but we'll be back with live webcasts of Autoblog Podcast production soon.
Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #257
Fiat USA in turmoil as Soave is out amid slow 500 sales
Petition started to shorten gray market exemption from 25 to 15 years
Camaro ZL1 chief engineer says "you're welcome" to Ford Mustang fans
Los Angeles Auto Show recap
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
The production version debuted just this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and the 2013 Infiniti JX35 doesn't go on sale until spring 2012, but that hasn't stopped Infiniti from putting up an online configurator for its new three-row crossover, or releasing a trio of new videos.
Pricing starts at $41,400 (including a $950 destination charge), but Infiniti is offering some $12,000 worth of packaged options. We managed to load one up to the tune of $55,170. The JX will initially come in just two flavors: Front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive. Both will be powered by a 265-horsepower version of the ubiquitous Nissan 3.5-liter V6 mated to a continuously variable transmission. Infiniti lists an estimated fuel economy at 17 city, 23 highway for both models.
We're thinking six months is a long time to wait, and Infiniti seems to agree, as it's upping the ante for those interested in the new vehicle now. If you reserve a JX through its website and follow it through to purchase, Infiniti will give you his and hers Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones or a Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker.
Free Bose gear aside, it will be interesting to see how the JX fares once it hits the market, alongside the brand's smaller EX and FX crossovers. With Infiniti having pursued a performance-oriented, rear-wheel-drive-based brand strategy for the past several years, this new front-wheel-drive crossover would appear to represent a different direction for the marque. Check out the configurator, but not before clicking past the jump to watch a trio of videos that feature running footage and the JX's interior in detail.
Continue reading Infiniti JX configurator shows up early [w/video]
It appears as if we can expect to see the 2013 Lincoln MKZ borrow some from the just-shown 2013 MKS and MKT. Lincoln flashed a quick teaser of an unidentified vehicle's nose at the 2011 LA Auto Show, and it appears to be the face of the new MKZ. The teaser flashed in segments across the backdrop of the Lincoln booth as designer Max Wolff spoke about the 2013 MKS.
If that's what it is, the sedan looks to wear a similar split grille with integrated headlight housings as its larger siblings. Designers have opted to grace the smaller sedan with fewer, horizontally oriented grille slats in place of the vertical pieces of the MKS, and the grille outline itself seems to have more careful detailing, as do the slats themselves, which appear to have varying surface treatments. We've heard a lot of scuttlebutt about the MKZ looking stunning and showing off Lincoln's bold new design direction (as opposed to the light refresh jobs revealed in LA), so perhaps this partial view is a bit misleading.
Wolff said that the company has more design news in store, and that we'll all see the first examples debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show in January. You can hit the jump to see the full press presentation for yourself (the teaser comes at about 2:40).
Continue reading Did Lincoln tease the 2013 MKZ at LA Auto Show?
The Kia Optima is headed to the World Challenge next year. Kia has announced that it will once again partner up with Kinetic Motorsports, this time to build a pair of Optima SX models to go fender to fender with the rest of the World Challenge field. The two turbocharged sedans will compete in the Grand Touring Sport Class against vehicles like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, if you can believe that.
If you're thinking those two are going to make short work of the Optima, you may want to think again. Kia has already managed to earn a driver and team championship in the two years that it's been racing the Forte in the States, and the company recently announced the Rio 5-Door would be competing, as well. These guys aren't just out there to parade their badge around the track.
The World Challenge series pits great drivers against each other in race-prepped versions of production vehicles on some of the country's best road courses. The series campaigns at Infineon, Road Atlanta and the street circuit at Long Beach. Look for the races to show up on the NBC Sports Network this year. Hit the jump for the full press release from Kia.
Continue reading Pair of Kia Optima Turbos will compete in World Challenge against Mustangs and Camaros
The 2013 Nissan GT-R has officially bowed at the 2011 LA Auto Show. The latest interpretation of Japan's premier supercar may look the same, but it's the most powerful to date, with a full 15 additional horsepower over the 2012 model. That bumps the final figure up to 545 hp and 463 pound-feet of torque from the same twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6. The extra pep comes from a redesigned intake system, complete with larger intercooler ducting and reduced airflow resistance. Nissan says it has also taken the time to recalibrate the shift action on the vehicle's transmission and both differentials now use new lubricants.
Carbon ceramic brakes have also made their way to the option sheet for 2013, which is a good thing considering that Nissan claims the machine can hit 60 mph from a dead standstill in just 2.7 seconds. Two. Point. Seven.
Engineers have also managed to stiffen the chassis somewhat, and the whole package helps the vehicle lap Germany's Nürburgring a whopping 10 seconds quicker than the old model. The new GT-R is scheduled to whip into U.S. showrooms beginning this January, but you can check it out in our high-res gallery and in the official press release after the jump.
Continue reading 2013 Nissan GT-R is more of a great thing
The MKT may not be a big seller, but Lincoln is hoping that starts to change with a refresh. The MKT hit the stage at the LA Auto Show with a new grille that matches up closely with the new face of the 2013 MKS.
Beyond the (once again) love/hate visage of the new MKT, Lincoln engineers have added power and refinement. The base 3.7-liter V6 receives a 32-horsepower boost from 268 hp to a more class-worthy 300 ponies. Fuel economy also gets a boost, up one mile per gallon to 25 mpg when equipped with front-wheel drive. The MKT will continue to offer an EcoBoost V6 variant, with the same 355 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque.
The MKT also adds Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD) on EcoBoost-equipped models. The CCD system optimizes damping force in only 11 milliseconds to provide ideal ride comfort and handling regardless of conditions. The MKT also comes with Lincoln Drive Control, which allows the driver to choose from Normal, Sport and Comfort settings.
The refreshed three-row CUV will also feature available MyLincoln Touch. The updated system includes dual 4.2-inch screens in the gauge cluster and five-way steering wheel controls. The five-way controls give the driver access to climate, infotainment, phone and navigation settings without taking their hands off the steering wheel.
Hit the jump to read over the Lincoln press release, and be sure to click on the gallery above to check out our high-resolution images from the show floor.
Continue reading 2013 Lincoln MKT models its new mug
