IIHS tests convertibles, Saab 9-3 and Volvo C70 earn Top Safety Picks

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety made history today when they announced results of their first crah testings of convertibles. Out of the 10 new drop-tops they tested, the Saab 9-3 Convertible and the Volvo C70 received the Top Safety Pick. They scored "good" for all three criterias: frontal, side, and rear.The rear impact tests proved to...

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Nissan mulls Altima Convertible

Nissan may add a drop-top variant of the Altima in the years to come. If the project is given the go-ahead, the drop-top will be based on the Altima Coupe. The Altima Coupe is based on the Altima Sedan, but only shares an interior and hood. The low-priced convertible segment isn't what we call "successful" these days as sales are slow, mainly because...

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Chevrolet Lambda crossover likely to launch as early as next year

Is anyone surprised that the TrailBlazer is still part of the Chevrolet line-up for this year? We are, as the car has dwindled quickly and most of its siblings have already departed. The Detroit News is reporting that the TrailBlazer will be canned by 2010 and a new crossover will replace the old-timer as early as next year.The new Chevrolet crossover...

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Spied: 2009 Chevrolet Nubira

The third generation Nubira has been caught testing at the Nurburgring recently. The prototype shows an all-new design with a rounder roofline. The C-pillar cues the Chrysler Sebring and the new design is more European than its predecessor. It is also designed under GM unlike its predecessor which was designed by Pininfarina. Headlights that cue the...

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Buick to revive Skylark nameplate in China

The Skylark had its days in the 80's and 90's. The impression that remained of the Skylark was certainly not positive. However, GM did not market the Skylark outside of the US. So the nameplate will be revived in China for the successor of their Excelle compact sedan, based on the Daewoo Lacetti. The Skylark will sit on GM's new Delta II platform,...

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Porsche's mini-Cayenne rumored to be named Roxster

Porsche is rumored to be working on a sub-Cayenne model according to Autobild. Like the Cayenne which shares underpinnings with the Audi Q7, the new vehicle, rumored to be named the Roxster, will share underpinnings with the upcoming Audi Q5. They are reporting that Porsche AG has already trademarked the name. In exchange for the Q5, the source reports...

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Official: Peugeot reveals new 308

After many revealing spyshots of the 308 undergoing testing surfaced on the web, Peugeot decided to officially reveal the evolutionary 308 today. The exterior of the car seems more of an evolution of the 307 while the interior is quite the unexpected. The exterior also seems fit to describe as a bloated 207.The interior shows some retro touches including...

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Spied: Mercedes C63 AMG Estate

Mercedes-Benz is definitely serious about performance as these latest shots of the C63 AMG Estate show us that they will surpass the boundaries. The C63 AMG will be powered by a 6.3L V8 pumping out around 400 to 420hp. These are the very first shots of the AMG Estate and it looks sexier than its predecessor. The AMG Saloon and the Estate are expected...

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Off and On: Chrysler and Chery resumes discussion, Hornet confirmed

Chrysler and Chery have resumed discussions for a possible co-operation for building subcompact cars in China for the US. Chery stated that their hiatus in this deal was to get a better look on the Americans' future. Cerberus has taken over Chrysler and they're back in the talks.According to Automotive News, an official at Chery leaked the word that...

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Box On Wheels: Nissan planning to bring three subcompact cars to US, including Cube

Japanese media reports that Nissan is planning to throw in more subcompact cars in the North American market as early as next year. Alongside the Versa will be the next-generation Cube and two other subcompact cars. Nikkei is reporting that one model could be priced below $10K, which will indefinitely trigger a price war here in the US.GM unveiled...

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Bloomberg: All NYC cabs to be hybrids by 2012

That's right. Michael Bloomberg, the current mayor of New York City, announced plans of replacing the current taxi fleet of 13,000 into hybrids by 2012. The plan takes effective immediately as the current hybrid cab fleet of 400 will be increased to 1000 by October of 2008. The current hybrid fleet consists of mostly the Ford Escape Hybrid, Toyota...

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Kia introduces revamped 2008 Picanto

Kia introduced the first facelift of its successful Picanto subcompact hatchback today. The Picanto receives new headlights, new "Cee'd" style grille, new bumper and hood up in the front. It also receives new sets of wheels for all trims. The Picanto also receives redesigned taillights and bumper at the rear. It also gains an extra 40mm in length to...

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Ford introduces new Harley F-150 with optional 450hp V8

Ford and Harley-Davidson do a great deal in business co-operatively and one great example is the Harley-Davidson Ford F-150. Based on the F-150 SuperCrew 4x2, last year's model churned out 300hp, powered by the 5.4L Triton V8. Until then, 300hp was enough to get us all crazy, especially for a pickup. However, with the recent debuts of many sub-$30K...

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Super Pocket Rocket: Volkswagen unveils GTI Pirelli

VW unveiled the Pirelli version of the GTI hatchback at the Wörthersee 2007. 25 years ago, in May of 1983, VW unveiled their first Pirelli version of the GTI and this one continues the tradition that went black. Along with the 650hp super-GTI and the quirky, but attractive Audi Clubsport quattro Concept, the GTI Pirelli made its debut in the most unexpected...

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Seat unveils the Altea Freetrack, based on the Altea XL

Seat unveiled its first off-road (in appearance) vehicle, the Altea Freetrack, a few days before its public debut at the Barcelona Motor Show in June. Seat unveiled a concept version of the Freetrack in Geneva and not many changes were made in the process.The Freetrack will incorporate VW's four-wheel drive chassis, which transfers power to the front...

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Spied: 2008 Honda Accord EX Sedan caught testing

Temple of VTEC just posted up three spyshots of the EX trim of the new Accord Sedan, due to be unveiled on August 21st. Last week, the first spyshots of the Accord Sedan surfaced on the web, showing the LX variant. Reception was love-it-or-hate-it and we were on the tip of the cliff on whether we liked it or not. These new shots improve our perspective...

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Pontiac G8 and G6 GXP appears on 50 Cent's new video

GM is continuing its media blitz with a cameo appearance of the Pontiac G8 and the G6 GXP in 50 Cent's new music video. This continues the recent appearances of various GM vehicles like the Camaro Concept featured in rapper T.I.'s recent video.The new G8 and the G6 GXP appear for several seconds in 50 Cent's "Amusement Park", a single for his new album...

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Audi Clubsport quattro Speedster Concept revealed

This reveal was quite unexpected, as we came across upon this today. Audi released images of its Clubsport quattro Speedster Concept, which is basically an Audi TT Roadster with no pillars. The Speedster consists of no top, A-pillar, or rearview mirrors. Instead, a small windshield and side mirrors with turn signals do the job. It also features an...

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El General Does It Again: GM releases new images of Camaro Vert' and Beat

GM really knows how to excite car enthusiasts like us. The General released new images of the Camaro Convertible Concept and the Beat Concept, but this time, with some life into it. The cars were fine, but the initial shots they gave us at launch was lifeless with the dull gray studio backgrounds. They even managed to sneak in a beautiful human this...

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Rumors emerge of the fate of the Cadillac DTS and STS

It seems to be a growing trend these days where the American automakers are experiencing their worst, whereas the imports are doing abundantly well. Motor Authority is reporting that Cadillac might be the next victim in this streak with the STS and DTS sedans. The front-wheel drive DTS is predicted to be the first one planned to go, despite being one...

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2008 Suzuki Splash revealed ahead of Frankfurt debut

Following our last post on the revealing of the Agila, Suzuki released new images of its Splash minicar, which will debut alongside the Agila in Frankfurt. The new Splash is based on the Swift platform, and it cues the Splash Concept. The Agila and Splash differ little in design. Just like the Agila, the Splash grows in every dimension from its Wagon...

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