Chevrolet Orlando concept hints at future

Chevrolet’s last attempt at a minivan, called the Uplander, was a total disaster. Their new attempt will be shown off as a concept at October’s Paris Auto Show.

The new Multi-Purpose Vehicle attempts to offer the qualities of a car, a minivan and an SUV, all into one automobile. It sounds exactly like the design philosophy for the sad Uplander, but this one is based in the Chevy Cruze platform, and is most likely a smaller vehicle than any previous Chevy minivan.

Seemingly aimed at the European market, it only sports a 150 hp 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine with 320 Nm of torque. Inside, the five-door Orlando is designed to meet the needs of families and those who need plenty of seating capacity with adaptable, theater-style seating in three rows that comfortably accommodate up to seven occupants. Whenever load carrying becomes a priority, the spacious cabin can be quickly transformed into a large cargo area.

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

By John Rettie



The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is svelt new two-door that goes on sale in early spring 2009 as a 2010 model.

Hyundai's concept coupe was a hit at the greater Los Angeles auto show last year (Fall 2007). It piqued the interest of those looking for a sharp looking rear-drive sports car at an affordable price.

Now, the unveiling of the production version of this car at the April 2008 New York Auto Show was no let down as it grabbed the headlines when two examples slid, with wheels spinning under the expert skills of a couple of stunt drivers, onto a makeshift indoor drifting stadium. Rock music and fireworks added to the razzmatazz. You've got to do something outlandish to make the headlines in the Big Apple and Hyundai did just that.

Judging by the specs, buyers of the car will not be disappointed when it goes on sale early in 2009.

The two-door coupe will be offered with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 212 hp and a 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 306-hp. A six-speed manual transmission will be standard with both engines. A five-speed automatic will be optional with the four-cylinder engine while the V6 gets a stronger ZF six-speed automatic as an option.

The Coupe is based on the same rear-drive platform as found under the upcoming Genesis sedan, but with almost five inches chopped out of the wheelbase. The Coupe features a MacPherson strut dual-link front suspension and a five-link rear suspension. The suspension on the sporty SE model is track-tuned and includes Brembo brakes. All models include electronic stability control and a traction control system. A limited-slip differential is optional with both engines.

In keeping with its positioning as an affordable sport coupe for younger drivers, the Genesis comes with the latest in audio systems including USB and mini-jack inputs. When an iPod or iPhone is connected it recharges the unit as well as allowing the driver to access tracks via the steering wheel controls. An optional Infinity audio system will be offered.

The Genesis Coupe replaces the Tiburon and brings Hyundai directly in competition with the Ford Mustang and the Infiniti G37 Coupe. Pricing, as one expects from Hyundai, will be competitive. We expect the base model to sell in the low $20,000s while the top-of-the range V6-powered version likely in the mid- to high-$20,000s. That's considerably less than its aspirational competitors from Japan and Europe. Hyundai officials like to point out that 20 years ago you had to pay $59,000 to purchase a rear-drive coupe with 300 horsepower: a Porsche 911.

2009 Honda Fit

By John Rettie

It might seem only a short time since Honda introduced the Fit. Yet the company is now introducing a second edition. Truth be known, the previous Fit had been on the market for several years before it arrived in the U.S. market. This time Americans do not have to wait as long to get a new version as the all-new Fit goes on sale in the summer of 2008 as a 2009 model.

Those who thought the previous Fit, known in many parts of the world as the Jazz, was perhaps too small will not be disappointed as the new Fit is a tad larger. This should fit the bill for many who really need a smaller car but perhaps don't want one. How's that for an oxymoron?

Overall, the look of the 2009 Honda Fit is similar to that of the previous model, but it has a much more heavily raked windshield that's located five inches farther forward. Apart from giving the car a more sporty look, it also makes for a much more spacious feel inside.

The 2009 Fit has a wheelbase that's two inches longer than that of the previous model. The new Fit gets an upgraded 1.5-liter VTEC four-cylinder engine that produces about 10 percent more horsepower. It's comes with a choice of five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission; the Sport model's automatic comes with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Despite a slight increase in size, the new Fit only weighs a few pounds more and even with an increase in power it is expected to deliver better fuel economy, an impressive achievement.

A key attribute of the Fit is its flexible cargo carrying capability. It has a large rear tailgate that allows easy access to the luggage area. Furthermore, the so-called rear Magic Seat has been further improved so it can now be folded flat in one single movement, without removing the headrest even if the front seats are in their rearmost position. There are several combinations of seating positions to provide flexible storage needs. A new hidden storage bin underneath the driver's side rear seat for placing small items securely out of sight.

The Fit Sport gets larger, 16-inch wheels and an optional Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System features a 6.5-inch screen with voice recognition. All Fit Sport models include a USB audio interface that's compatible with current-generation iPods and many other USB storage devices.

Although the Fit is a small entry-level car it features a full complement of safety features including full curtain side airbags, ABS and electronic brake distribution system. A vehicle stability assist (VSA) system with active headrests is available as an option.

Full specifications and pricing for the new Fit will be available when the car goes on sale in the summer as a 2009 model.

2009 V Star 950 and V Star 950 Tourer Introduced in Las Vegas

By Dirck Edge

The definition of "entry level" in the cruiser category keeps changing, and Star Motorcycles tried to up the ante in Las Vegas this morning with the introduction of the V Star 950 and V Star 950 Tourer models for 2009. Entry level? How about a 942cc air-cooled twin with four-valve heads and fuel injection, coupled with genuine steel fenders and belt drive? Star is offering all this at an opening price of less than $8,000.

Nimble handling is claimed to come courtesy of a new steel frame and unique 18-inch front wheel with low-profile rubber. Star even claims it has tuned the rigidity of the chassis in the longitudinal, lateral and torsional directions.

With one of the lowest seat heights around, the V Star 950 should be an unintimidating ride for the "inseam challenged".

The new V Star 950 is also available as a tourer, which comes equipped with a windshield, leather-wrapped hard sidebags, and a passenger backrest. Several colors are available, and the V Star 950 carries a U.S. MSRP beginning at $7,890, while the Tourer starts at $8.990. For additional details and specifications, visit Star Motorcycle's 2009 model site here.

Yamaha Unveils All-New R1: A Paradigm Shift?

By Dirck Edge

Yamaha introduced an all-new YZF-R1 today in Las Vegas. This is an entirely new motorcycle, including new engine, new chassis and suspension. Yamaha claims it has "shifted the paradigm" for production sport bikes with the new R1's "crossplane crankshaft".

Do you think Valentino Rossi rides a "big bang" engine? He does not. The Yamaha M1 MotoGP bike has a crank that places each connecting rod 90 degrees from the next (firing at 270°, 180°, 90° and 180°). This virtually eliminates inertial crankshaft torque, which aides both power delivery and traction. Yamaha claims the new R1 combines "the low-rpm torquey feel of a twin with the raw, high-rpm power of an inline 4."

Much of the other engine technology is carried over from the last R1, including fly-by-wire throttle and the variable intake system that changes trumpet length at 9,400 rpm in order to broaden the spread of power. The new R1 also takes a cue from Suzuki and features rider-selectable throttle control maps (three in all), including a rain-appropriate low power mode.

The new aluminum frame and swingarm offer refined rigidity tuning. The rear sub-frame is now magnesium, and the new SOQI forks split compression and rebound damping duties, with the left fork handling compression and the right fork rebound. The new R1 also gets an electronic steering damper.

You can judge the new look of the R1 for yourself, but of note are the two projector-type headlight bulbs, which are closely integrated with the ram air intakes. The footpegs are adjustable to two positions (low and forward or high and back).

The new R1 will be available in January of 2009. For further details and specifications, visit Yamaha's R1 micro site here, or Yamaha's 2009 model site here.

Green GT All-Electric future race car

Green GT is an All-Electric Future Race Car, it can technically meet all the requirements and specifications of Le Mans racing, which is one of the best known races in the world.

Green GT was designed by Le-Mont-sur-Lausanne-based GreenGT team commissioned the young French designer Thomas Clavet of the ISD Valencienne Design School to create this Le Mans prototype, who is five students from the CCi du Valenciennois school. It will feature a fiberglass body on a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis. The vehicle’s twin 100-kw electric motors will provide around 350 to 400hp of power that will push the vehicle from 0-60mph in around 4 seconds. GreenGT’s head engineer Christophe Schwartz has stated that “The GreenGT Twenty-4 design study could become our 2011 Le Mans Prototype electric racer or it could even become an electric road going supercar. There is a possibility to do both!”

The prototype is made up of an FIA-spec carbon chassis with a fiberglass body. It comes with 2 water-cooled electric motors each with 100 kW (2 x 100 kW) coupled to a differential gearbox patented by GreenGT. Power supply comes from flexcell photovoltaic solar panels (What? You don’t know what those are?) and two lithium-ion batteries, each with 30kWh of juice. The whole thing weighs in at a ship-shape 860 kg.

The numbers?

Maximum speed: 275 km/h (171 mph)
0-100km/h (62mph): Under 4 seconds
Horsepower: 350 to 400
Torque:…