Filed under: New York Auto Show, Budget, Japan, Hatchback, Scion

Well, well, well – it looks like Toyota’s iQ is coming to the U.S. after all, only it will be (as reported) sporting a Scion badge. Makes sense. Especially as according to Scion, the world’s smallest four-seater is aimed squarely at a very young demographic. Not just young, but hip and urban, too. In fact, we were told that the iQ represents a “new urbanism,” and is a vehicle for a “progressive buyer.” We can hear Glenn Beck’s aneurysm from here.

As for details, the “mini-er, smart-er” iQ sports a 1.3-liter engine delivering its not-yet-divulged power through a CVT. Mileage should be in the high 30s, which is reasonable but far from overwhelming for such a small package. The iQ will also ship with stability control, traction control and ABS, as well as ten – count ‘em – ten airbags, as well as the industry’s first-ever rear window bag. As for now, that’s the whole story. We’ll update you on price, performance specs, and on-sale date when we know more. Press release after the jump.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading New York 2010: 2011 Scion iQ is a little intriguing

New York 2010: 2011 Scion iQ is a little intriguing originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

More: continued here
Powered by SmartRSS

Popularity: unranked [?]

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Crossover, Kia

The original KiaSportage was one of the vehicles that led the Korean automaker’s initial charge into the American market. Those early SUVs (they were body-on-frame back then) were inexpensive and honest, but that’s about the best thing you could say about them. After a near brush with extinction, Kia is a very different kind of automaker today. Like the rest of the company’s recent introductions, the Sportage features crisp, aggressive styling that won’t leave you embarrassed to be seen in one.

The new Sportage actually had its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show early this month, but the New York Auto Show is considered the crossover’s U.S. coming out party, even though it actually showed up at the Atlanta show just recently. Like sister brand Hyundai’s new Tucson, the American-spec model gets a new 176 horsepower variable valve timing 2.4-liter inline-four that beats the power and efficiency of the old 2.7-liter V6 with the buyer’s choice of manual or automatic six-speed transmissions.

Later in the 2011 model year, the Sportage will finally get some real sport when it gets the new 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct injected inline four that’s going into the Optima and Hyundai Sonata. A snazzy looking, 274 hp Sportage? What is this world coming to?

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Kia]

Continue reading New York 2010: Kia’s 2011 Sportage comes to America

New York 2010: Kia’s 2011 Sportage comes to America originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has met with some Malaysian bankers to discuss the possibility of raising a $300million credit facility for indigenous ship owners and operators in the country.

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

South Africa and China have signed trade contracts for products such as wine, frozen fish abalone and chrome oil worth R2.3 billion.

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Japan, Scion

The big reveal for Scion at the 2010 New York Auto Show is staring you square in the face. Meet the 2011 tC. Scion describes the car as defining “refined aggression.” They called it, “masculine,” too. Even though the new car borrows fairly heavily from the 2006 Fuse concept (not to mention the outgoing tC), our collective jury is still out on the refined aggression part. But we’ll go ahead and agree that the new model does indeed look more masculine, which is good for Scion, as the tC demographic not only skews young (most youthful in the industry it turns out), but very male as well.

As for what’s new, the engine is now a 2.5-liter I-4, up from 2.4 liters. Power is up as well. The new tC ships with a respectable 180 horsepower and 173 pound-feet of torque. That’s plus 19 ponies and 11 pound feet. The suspension is now “sport tuned” and the power steering is electronic, which Scion assured us better allows the engineers to dial in more steering feel. Uh-huh.

The new tC also gets better gas mileage than the previous car (no word yet on exactly how much better) and comes with two new transmissions. There’s a six-speed automatic that features sequential-shift (Scion-speak for a manual shift mode) as well asa six-speed manual that promises more refined shifting than the old five-speed.

Other goodies include 18-inch wheels and larger tires, bigger brake rotors (Scion claimed 16-inch rotors front and back during the press conference, but that’s… insane) and a flat-bottom steering wheel. The tC has been our favorite Scion ever since Scion replaced the fist-gen xB with the fatter second-gen model. As such, it looks as if we have a new favorite. Press release, after the jump.

Live photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading New York 2010: Scion reveals better looking, more powerful 2011 tC

New York 2010: Scion reveals better looking, more powerful 2011 tC originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Luxury

McLaren has pressed the “Start” button on another Internet time waster: its MP4-12C configurator is online and waiting to drain your imaginary Luxembourg account. There are 17 exterior colors, lots of carbon fiber bits, special brake calipers and tires, and a selection of varied cockpit mix-n-match options from which to choose.

McLaren F1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jensen Button have already configured theirs, but of of course we prefer the Autoblog option. As if you needed more info, there’s a press release after the jump as well as a video and pics below. When you’re finished with all of that, you know what to do, work be damned.

[Source: McLaren Automotive]

Continue reading McLaren MP4-12C configurator goes online

McLaren MP4-12C configurator goes online originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

A Palestinian teenager is shot dead close to southern Gaza’s border, Palestinians say, as at least five other Gazans were wounded elsewhere.

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

Filed under: Sedan, China, Europe, Maybach, Luxury

Fear not – it turns out Maybach won’t be the next fabled automaker to be handed off to Chinese buyers. Rumors that the hyper-luxury mark was up for bid have officially been dismantled by Daimler. Just yesterday, we heard that the infamously questionable BYD wanted to sink its teeth into Maybach in a big way, but officials from BYD have officially said it has no plans to pursue the brand.

BYD and Daimler have recently been partnering on an electric vehicle project, which may have helped fuel rumors that the two would work together to find Maybach a new home. As juicy as the rumors were, it rather predictably turns out they’re nothing but lies.

[Source: Autocar]

Rumor Squashed: Maybach not for sale, to BYD or anyone else originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt makes a move to improve relations with former foe Syria.

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

An Israeli MP wants to make it illegal for cinemas to charge inflated prices for snacks, but cinemas object.

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]