Comfort, convenience, style, and speed; America has a hot new hatchback……Sort of…

Since the 2005 model year, the HHR (GM speak for Heritage High Roof) has been gaining ground with people looking for more versatility and style for a day to day commuter.

However, the HHR has, as of yet, been anything but a sporty model. The hottest engine choice being the 2.4 litre twin cam mill producing 175 BHP, and 165 lb./ft. of torque, the HHR held the blandness of the “styled by the same guy” PT Cruiser.  Even the HHR Panel, which has been well received by small business in need of an economic courier, has yet to stir the loins of the tuner faithful.

GM front man Robert Lutz has made a habit out of injecting performance even in the lowliest econoboxes, and this event is no different. Using the LNF Ecotec Turbo I-4 from the Pontiac Solstice GXP, and Saturn Sky Redline, GM has infused 260 horsepower and 260 lb./ft. of torque channeled through a 5 speed manual.

This puts the quirky styling of the HHR and mates it to the high end tuner world of the Cobalt SS. Now suburban housewives, and upstart business owners can rocket down the road with the speed of a C4 Corvette or run an impromptu  race with any riced out WRX they happen to find.

While using the same engine and transmission setup as the Cobalt SS, some of the techno goodies come along for the ride. So now, while hauling a load of groceries, or a set of wheels for your customers new whip; you can blast through the gears without lifting, or play with the launch control feature for a quick light to light jaunt.

Whether the HHR’s styling in Panel or standard, and the infusion of power will steal more customers from their SUV’s is unknown; yet I’ll say I love the idea and would love an HHR Panel for a daily driver. 

The 2009 Ford Flex

Ford Motor Company has seen better days,

With record losses, bland new models, giant rebates on older models, and only the mustang to anchor the drifting company; many might think back to the iconic models of Ford’s yesteryears.

Enter the Ford Flex.

After years of production for the boring and sales lacking Ford Freestar and Mecury Monterey minivans, Ford has entered the world of the elite crossover.

Crossovers have existed for a decade in one form or another and were tipified with the introduction of the RX300 from Lexus. So, Ford entering this growing segment is needed but with every other manufacturer entereing the game as well, the waters ahead are rocky to say the least.

Luckily, Ford chose with this new model to draw on interesting styling and functionality rather than overall technology (as found in the Acura RDX) or sci-fi trechie styling that perforates most asian based crossovers.

What we end up with is the 2009 Ford Woodie…. whoops, should I say FORD FLex.

Accidentally harking back to the kitchy surf mobile made popular by california hippies in the 60’s, the Flex is immediately recognizable. It stands out in a sea of boring seemingly submersible blobs and razor edged SUVs.

With available seating for 7 and a choice of engines that can receive up to 26 mpg highway it should be gobbled up by the young adventurous family.

My only gripe with this particular mode of transportation with its slab sides and upright windshield is the lack of interior style. Ford continues to create bland uncomfortable looking interiors with bland panel fits and uninspired layouts.

Earlier today, GM unwrapped the vehicle that they feel is the key to the company’s survival.  That vehicle is the Chevy Volt.  It is a vehicle that is powered by an electric motor upto 40 miles, and then a small gasolin engine kicks in to help propel the electric motor.  Some features include: an all-black roof, solid front grill, and in the interior, a bright white center stack and customizable LCD displays.

According to GM, the Volt’s lithium-ion battery can be charged in eight hours on a 120-volt plug. Using a 240-volt outlet cuts the time down to less than three hours. The claimed 40-mile all-electric range is based on the EPA city cycle, but GM has not said how power accessories and components like air conditioning will affect it.

It will enter the market in late 2010 as a 2011 model.  Is it too little too late for GM?  What do you think?

Mazda Kiyora, a lightweight, next generation, urban compact concept car is going revealed at the 2008 Paris International Motor Show which will be held starting Thursday, October 2 through Sunday, October 19, 2008.Mazda Kiyora (meaning ‘clean and pure’ in Japanese) represents the harmony between driving fun and environmental and safety features aspired towards Mazda’s long-term technology development vision.

Mazda Kiyora

The concept of “Kiyora” helped the designers to imagine a city car cutting cleanly through an urban landscape, with water as the design theme.  The car achieves excellent fuel economy and low CO₂ emissions because of the fact it is equipped with Mazda’s next generation 4 cylinder direct injection engine and featuring the company’s unique Smart Idle Stop System. The new Mazda concept car is newly redesigned in order to maximize weight reduction and a high level of safety, in pursuit of enhanced driving excitement. It also features an interior design and new functions that support a youthful exuberance.

When Toyota launches the all new tenth generation Corolla, it will bring excitement to an area of the car market that has often been labeled as boring.  The Corolla Altis will bring excitement to a car known for its reliability, low maintenance, and terrific resale value, but has lacked the panache the Civic has brought to the compact car market more than two years ago.  The all new Corolla Altis is roomier, more powerful, more aerodynamic, and more comfortable than ever.  Honda will have its work cut out.

As said, on 5th September, Toyota had launched its 10 generation Corolla Altis. The new Toyota Corolla Altis hopes to give a good competition to the segment leader Honda Civic! By launching the Corolla Altis, Toyota makes its first step of gaining atleast 10% market share by 2015. The launch of the Toyota Corolla Altis took place at the Noida Expo Ground and it is available in the showrooms now.

The Toyota Corolla Altis comes with a 1.8L, 4 cylinder gasoline engine which produces 132bhp @ 6000rpm and torque of 170Nm @ 4200 rpm.. The new Corolla comes with MacPherson Strut suspension in the front and Torsion Beam at the rear. The front is equipped with ventilated Disc brakes and solid disc at the rear along with 15″ Tubeless tyres. The Corolla comes in standard 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmission.

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The all new Honda City will be on its way soon. The Honda City is a great car in India and is a great competition to the Maruti Suzuki SX4 and Ford Fiesta. The City sells well even though its priced a lakh above the rest of the cars in the segment. The new City will be Honda’s third launch this year after the Accord and Civic hybrid.

The car is inspired from the existing Honda Civic and the Honda Airwave. The new City will come with an i-Vtec engine that will come with a manual and automatic transmission. If you look at the interior pictures, you will find paddle shifts in the steering wheel, which could be an option for us.

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Honda has released the first official photos of its new Hybrid, popularly known as Honda’s Prius figther. The new Hybrid from Honda christened the Honda Insight yet is still a concept car. The car is said to launch globally in the middle of the year 2009. The Honda Insight will be presented as a 5-door hatchback that will seat 5 passengers.

The Honda Insight is based on an all new platform. The design of the car is inspired from Honda’s FCX Clarity, a better styled yet much more improved than the FCX clarity’s design. The 1st generation Honda Insight stopped production in September 6th, even though the car gave 70mpg which is about 30kmpl due to low sales.

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After all the spy pictures that had been circulating around the web, Hyundai has finally released the first photo of the all new Hyundai i20. The Hyundai i20 is a 5-door hatchback which will replace the Getz and compete with the Skoda Fabia, Indica Vista and the Suzuki Swift. The i20 is the third product of Hyundai from the ‘i’ series, a segment above the i10 and a segment below the i30.

The Hyundai i20 is based on an all new platform that has a longer wheelbase than the Getz, which means an extention of interior space, which is good for the comfort of the passengers. The i20 is styled at Hyundai’s European Design Centre in Russelsheim, Germany. The president of Hyundai Europe, Kun Hee Ahn says “The i20 was designed and engineered to meet European tastes and needs”. He also notes that the ride and handling development took place on the European roads, which has created a firm and agile drive.

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A lot of you guys are interested in buying a new car in and around the festive season of 2009. And the main aim will be to get the latest cars available in the market. Automakers are expecting a boost in auto sales in the coming festive season and a lot of cars are lined up for launch. We will get a list of summaries of the latest car cars that will be releasing in India.

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