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Ford: No, After YOU

October 31, 2008

Remember when the rumor dejour was that Ford and GM were going to hook up? That didn’t last long, thanks to Fords deep lack of interest. But as the LA Times points out, rejecting GM’s advances was just step one in Ford’s survival scheme. In fact, Ford is letting GM take the [...]

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Rumormill: Caravan, Suburban would move to Lambda platform

October 31, 2008

Filed under: Minivans/MPVs, SUVs, Crossovers/CUVs, Chevrolet, Dodge, GM, Rumormill

We reported last month that General Motors could move the next Cadillac Escalade to its Lambda platform that’s currently used by the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse, and now GM Inside News is reporting via an inside source that the Suburban/Yukon XL may also get the unibody treatment. With replacements for the smaller Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Escalade reportedly cancelled, we think all signs are pointing to each GMT900-based SUV moving over to the Lambda platform with some of the current slow-selling Lambda-based models being cut altogether.
But the craziness doesn’t end there. GM Inside News also reports an even more surprising vehicle could get moved to the crossover platform: the Dodge Caravan, assuming of course that the General follows through on talks to purchase Chrysler from Cerberus. You may recall that GM abandoned the minivan market [...]

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Rumormill: Caravan, Suburban would move to Lamdba platform

October 31, 2008

Filed under: Minivans/MPVs, SUVs, Crossovers/CUVs, Chevrolet, Dodge, GM, Rumormill

We reported last month that General Motors could move the next Cadillac Escalade to its Lambda platform that’s currently used by the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse, and now GM Inside News is reporting via an inside source that the Suburban/Yukon XL may also get the unibody treatment. With replacements for the smaller Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Escalade reportedly cancelled, we think all signs are pointing to each GMT900-based SUV moving over to the Lambda platform with some of the current slow-selling Lambda-based models being cut altogether.
But the craziness doesn’t end there. GM Inside News also reports an even more surprising vehicle could get moved to the crossover platform: the Dodge Caravan, assuming of course that the General follows through on talks to purchase Chrysler from Cerberus. You may recall that GM abandoned the minivan market [...]

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Abu Dhabi F1 track has everything but loopdy loops

October 31, 2008

Filed under: Motorsports

Click above for high-res gallery of the Abu Dhabi F1 track
The last round of the Formula One Grand Prix has in recent years been held in Brazil. Next year’s provisional calendar makes Brazil the penultimate round, and puts the final race in Abu Dhabi at the country’s brand new track. The F1 circus runners got a chance to see the track where next year’s championship will be decided (cross fingers), and as one might expect from something out of the Middle East, it’s got everything and then some.
Designed by the man who created the Bahrain, Sepang and Valencia tracks, the Abu Dhabi circuit gets a course that runs through a hotel, a pit lane that runs under the track, and boasts 20 turns. Around the track will also be Ferrari World, the Yas Island Marina, a water park and sports facilities. All of that is fantastic, but we [...]

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Student Art: Saab Blackbird Concept inspired by famous jet

October 31, 2008

Filed under: Concept Cars, Saab

Click above for high-res gallery of the Saab Blackbird
If there’s anything even more cool about the current crop of concept cars, it’s that we can actually see a bridge to the technology in a lot of them. Not that we expect them to be on the roads soon, but the thought of something like the solar skin on Mark Kruse’s Saab Blackbird concept making it to an actual production car doesn’t sound as crazy as it did in 1990.
The Blackbird takes its cues from, surprise surprise, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance plane, yet looks even more to us like the head of a bird (as in woodpecker). The car’s solar skin powers four electric motors in the wheels, with a battery array likely free to power the driver’s LCD display and the passenger’s wraparound communications panel.
The car can also go on a diet: the [...]

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GM ends 100,000-mile warranty on Saab

October 31, 2008

General Motors will end the 5-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty on all 2009 Saab vehicles in the United States, a Saab spokesman confirmed. It’s a move the brand quietly made two months ago to save costs.

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Mercedes offers buyouts to Ala. workers

October 31, 2008

Mercedes-Benz is offering buyouts to nearly all 4,000 employees at its Alabama auto assembly plant, a spokeswoman confirmed today.

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Speed World Challenge releases partial 2009 schedule:

October 31, 2008

WC Vision and SCCA Pro Racing released more than half of the planned 2009 SCCA Speed World Challenge Championships schedule.

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Audi TT-S starts at $45,500

October 31, 2008

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertibles, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Audi

Click above for high-res gallery of the Audi TT-S
Audi announced today that pricing for its U.S.-spec TT-S will begin at $45,500 for the Coupe model and $47,500 for the open-air Roadster. The TT-S joins the TT 2.0T and TT 3.2 in Audi’s lineup, settling atop the range with a turbocharged, direct-inject 2.0L TFSI engine producing 265 hp @ 6,000 RPM and 258 lb-ft of torque. That’s 15 more horsepower and 22 more lb-ft of torque than the TT with Audi’s 3.2L V6. The TT-S Coupe also manages to hit 60 mph in an impressive 4.9 seconds while achieving a combined fuel economy rating of 24 mpg. Top speed for both the Coupe and Roadster, however, will be electronically limited to 155 mph. For their money, buyers will also get Audi’s S tronic dual-clutch transmission, magnetic ride suspension and the brand’s trademark quattro [...]

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Ford adds $200 million to Louisville plants for new vehicles

October 31, 2008

Ford Motor Co. plans to spend a combined $200 million at its two Louisville, Ky., assembly plants to prepare them for new vehicles. Ford also intends to cut fourth-quarter North American production.

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