Let's Talk Cars Podcasts

PodcastDirectory / Technology / Technology
PodcastDirectory / Regions / NA / USA

Fun, engaging inside line on automotive design and research. Primary Format : Technology Language : English Also Listed as: City : Tustin State/Province : CA Country : USA Region : NA User Tags: User Votes: RSS Feed Website People found this Podcast Searching for: View this Podcast on a Google Map. Podcast iTunes Link Text Only listing of Let\'s Talk Cars Podcasts Methings.com listings of Let\'s Talk Cars Podcasts If you like this podcast, you might also like:

New York Auto Show 2008 - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe A New Coupe, A Year Away Hyundai spent their New York auto show time introducing their new rear-drive sporty coupe, the Genesis Coupe. Related to the Genesis sedan on sale this summer, the coupe arrives in spring 2009. Genesis sits on Hyundai's first in-house rear-drive car platform. The stylish coupe tames down its looks from the concept introduced in Los Angeles in November 2007, but mostly in losing hood scoops and refining lights, front grille, and spoiler shapes. What Hyundai hel ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe A New Coupe, A Year Away Hyundai spent their New York auto show time introducing their new rear-drive sporty coupe, the Genesis Coupe. Related to the Genesis sedan on sale this summer, the coupe arrives in spring 2009. Genesis sits on Hyundai's first in-house rear-drive car platform. The stylish coupe tames down its looks from the concept introduced in Los Angeles in November 2007, but mostly in losing hood scoops and refining lights, front grille, and spoiler shapes. What Hyundai hel ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe A New Coupe, A Year Away Hyundai spent their New York auto show time introducing their new rear-drive sporty coupe, the Genesis Coupe. Related to the Genesis sedan on sale this summer, the coupe arrives in spring 2009. Genesis sits on Hyundai's first in-house rear-drive car platform. The stylish coupe tames down its looks from the concept introduced in Los Angeles in November 2007, but mostly in losing hood scoops and refining lights, front grille, and spoiler shapes. What Hyundai hel ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe A New Coupe, A Year Away Hyundai spent their New York auto show time introducing their new rear-drive sporty coupe, the Genesis Coupe. Related to the Genesis sedan on sale this summer, the coupe arrives in spring 2009. Genesis sits on Hyundai's first in-house rear-drive car platform. The stylish coupe tames down its looks from the concept introduced in Los Angeles in November 2007, but mostly in losing hood scoops and refining lights, front grille, and spoiler shapes. What Hyundai hel ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe A New Coupe, A Year Away Hyundai spent their New York auto show time introducing their new rear-drive sporty coupe, the Genesis Coupe. Related to the Genesis sedan on sale this summer, the coupe arrives in spring 2009. Genesis sits on Hyundai's first in-house rear-drive car platform. The stylish coupe tames down its looks from the concept introduced in Los Angeles in November 2007, but mostly in losing hood scoops and refining lights, front grille, and spoiler shapes. What Hyundai hel ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 NAIAS: 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Cadillac's CTS expands the range. This car was formally introduced in Paris, and some attendees of the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance caught a look, but this is the first U.S. auto-show circuit showing. With the goodness of the CTS for a base, it should be no surprise that Cadillac has created a Euro-style, sexy-but-practical wagon. Follow the jump for more photos and the full Cadillac press release. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Road Noise: The Allure of the Radio Button (Not That Kind) Here at VehicleVoice World Internet Headquarters and Day-Old Seafood Buffet, we divide our copious free time among three things: 1) Chair dancing and lip-synching to "Don't Stop Believing" in an effort to boost industry morale. 2) Impromptu salons, during which we discuss philosophy, world affairs and whether Iron Man was better than The Dark Knight. (Yes.) 3) The Internet. The sweet, sweet, life-giving Internet. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Road Noise: The Allure of the Radio Button (Not That Kind) Here at VehicleVoice World Internet Headquarters and Day-Old Seafood Buffet, we divide our copious free time among three things: 1) Chair dancing and lip-synching to "Don't Stop Believing" in an effort to boost industry morale. 2) Impromptu salons, during which we discuss philosophy, world affairs and whether Iron Man was better than The Dark Knight. (Yes.) 3) The Internet. The sweet, sweet, life-giving Internet. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exhaust Note 33: Audi Calls for Lowering Diesel Tax A Sensible Recommendation? Yes, In Fact At the close of the Audi Mileage Marathon we talked about last week, Audi of America's Executive Vice President Johan de Nysschen took a moment between results announcements and meet-and-greets with a few Hollywood celebrities to make a plea to the political structure. Mr. de Nysschen called for a lowering of diesel tax. Good, lowering taxes I like, though for a racing fan like myself, I was more impressed with Audi American Le Mans Series and Le M ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Road Noise: My Bumper Sticker Can Beat Up Your Honor Student When you're cruising down the highway, do you ever see a vehicle bearing bumper stickers that indicate the driver admires a political party/sports franchise/deity that you're not especially crazy about? And then you have to struggle against the urge to make rude gestures or run them off the road, because how could they be so stupid as to support the Monster Raving Loonies/Gotham Gators/Flying Spaghetti Monster and then be so stupid as to tell everyone about it OMG can you believe these peop ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Truck Market: Where is it Going? How Do F-150 and Ram Stack Up? With two new and important full-size pickup trucks this fall, at a time of extreme economic uncertainty, what do we see happening to the market in general? And how does the F-150 stack up against the Ram? Since our correspondent Jim Hossack attended both Ford and Ram driving previews, we asked him for some comments. Here we go! 2009 Ford F-150 XLT What's happening in the Full-Size Light Duty Pickup market? Contrary to mass media reports, the full-size light duty pickup market is not d ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website First Drive: 2009 Dodge Ram New Body; New Chassis; Improved Powertrain VehicleVoice contributors Jim Hossack and Stephanie Brinley had the opportunity to drive Dodge's new 2009 Ram pickup - what used to be called the Ram 1500. We're impressed - there is a lot to like, from looks to features to driving dynamics to capability to interior quality. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Ford F-150: First Drive VehicleVoice correspondent Jim Hossack attended a 2009 Ford F-150 driving preview - and reports that it was well worth it. The Dodge Ram is the other big truck news of this season, so we decided to bring you reviews of both trucks this week. Hossack says Ford put on a very thorough, very professional series of presentation, with plenty of opportunity to evaluate the new F-150 and facing competition under a variety of circumstances. Hossack was about as impressed with the passion and enth ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exhaust Note #32: Audi Continues U.S. Diesel Education Program I just finished the fourth leg of Audi's Mileage Marathon, a coast-to-coast demonstration and competition drive for the best fuel economy from a range of Audi TDI clean diesels. The drive started in New York City on October 6, ending in Santa Monica on October 19. I joined the crew in Las Vegas, which included driving through Monterey, California, and the chance to see the Audi R10 TDI cars take 1-2 in the final American Le Mans Series race of the year at Laguna Seca, their ninth consecut ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Road Noise: In It For the Long (U-)Haul. Autumn is in full swing here at Vehicle Voice World Internet Headquarters and Discount Wig Warehouse, and that makes me think of moving. My apartment leases always seem to end October-ish, and every year there seems to be a compelling reason why I have to pack everything in boxes and take it someplace else. I've moved seven times in the past six years, so I daresay I've got the expert qualifications necessary to advise you on the proper vehicle for your next move. Illustrative cat is ill ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Mercury Milan - Boring but Good Ah yes, the Mercury Milan, the upscale sister ship to the Ford Fusion. Aimed at younger buyers who want something a little more sophisticated than the Dodge Avenger or Mitsubishi Galant. Mercury aims the Milan at the Nissan Altima, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry buyer. We definitely wanted to take a closer look. To be honest it’s very rare for a 4-door mid-size car from Mercury to really knock my socks off. In terms of sex appeal I typically think Mercury ranks right up there with… well, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exhaust Notes 31: More Detroit Merger Talk Are we nearing the end of Chrysler? Or the beginning of a new blended family? Or just another day at the rumor mill? Late on Friday, the first stories began appearing about GM and Chrysler in possible merger talks. And at least in Detroit, dominated the weekend news cycle. GM's stock went up this morning, but given that the Dow was up 5.6% and GM went up only about 3%, the stock bump might have happened without merger talk. GM closed on Friday at $4.89, a number some say is actually l ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Road Noise: Share and Share Alike. Or Don't. I have my own car, because I come from Michigan, where people older than 16 who don't own cars are subject to the intense scrutiny and (ahem) gentle persuasion of their local UAW chapters. But when I went to college out of state, I was able to slip free of the car culture and live a glorious pedestrian lifestyle. I hated it. The guy on the Pedestrian Crossing sign is ashamed of not having a car. You can see it in his eyes. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford's MyKey: Who Says Parents Can't Control Your Speed? And turn that radio down! Today's teens have grown up in a world of fluid and ever-expanding technology, with their parents using everything from V-chips to internet blockers to teddy-bear babysitting cams to GPS trackers to keep better track of them. For many, it is simply part of their world. Parents and kids have the same trust issues to sort through, just the same as when I was a kid and didn't think my mom had any right to go through MY dresser, but parents have more direct tools at ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Toyota Sequoia Misses the Mark Among the newer products in Toyota's lineup is the Sequoia, updated for 2008 model year. The truck has scored well with owners, winning both AutoPacific's 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction and Motorist Choice Awards. Recently, we found a chance to see what all the fuss is about. It's often tough to knock a Toyota. They typically live up to the reputation they've earned as top-notch appliances you can rely on, even if they cost you a little more up front. Sometimes there is a notable lack of ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website September 2008 Fuel Survey So, what's happening out there? The results of the September, 2008 fuel survey are now in. Some of the highlights, after the jump: Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Psychotherapy With BMW's GINA Concept So, by now you’ve seen BMW’s GINA concept car. (And if you haven’t, jeez I have to do everything around here.) Opinions here at VehicleVoice World Internet Headquarters and House of Waffles are sharply divided: Steph thinks it’s intriguing, and I think it hungers for human souls. We were going to argue about it – you may not have noticed, but I’m only happy when I’m in a quarrel – but then I realized, “Wait, this is just what BMW wants us to do!” Because GINA isn’t so much as a car as a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Flex - Finally a Distinctive Crossover Ford has been teasing us with the Ford Flex for months now. We've seen it as auto show after auto show and been given rides in it, but not able to actually drive it. Finally, Ford let us drive its new Large Crossover SUV. GM Lambda Crossover SUVs are Primary Competitors Competing with General Motors Lambda Crossover SUVs - Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook and the upcoming Chevrolet Traverse - the Ford Flex adopts a much different styling strategy. Where the Lambdas are ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Saturn Astra XR 3-Door: "American" is Not Its First Language For years, many automotive enthusiasts have bemoaned the fact that both GM and Ford make beautifully executed vehicles for Europe, while we Yanks get cheap and plasticky land yachts with marshmallow suspensions. It killed me that – for example – we would get crusty old Ford Tauruses while Europe got the slick Mondeo – the latest generation of which Europeans genuinely consider to give the BMW 3-Series a run for the money, despite its everyman market positioning. It also annoyed that Ameri ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S Direct Injection and Dual-Clutch Transmission The next all-new Porsche 911 is still being prepared (998), but this fall we get a mid-term update. Porsche's released the first photos, which show us a look that hasn't changed much stretched over updated powertrains and modern infotainment. While European sales begin in July 2008, we in North America have to wait until September. After siblings Volkswagen and Audi began using both technologies, Porsche starts using direct-injection engine ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website SIX DOLLAR A GALLON GAS This is all conjecture, understand? But we were talking over lunch about the continuing increase in the price of gasoline. That subject has everybody talking, right? Well, crude oil has just gone comfortably over $120 per barrel and we are well on our way to a national average price of $4 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. What is doing this? And where is it going? Remember when gas was this cheap? May, 2006. Weak Dollar Since George W. Bush entered the White House, the va ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exhaust Note #10 - Will VW’s Road to Mainstream Success be Smoothly Paved? Considering just how much Volkswagen is a part of our cultural lexicon, it’s somewhat surprising that there aren’t more of them on the road. Volkswagens have been an iconic part of our automotive landscape, and just about everyone has a Volkswagen memory – whether recent or from long, long ago. Volkswagen enjoyed a tremendous resurgence in the late 1990s with the New Beetle and the fourth generation Jetta. Both appealed strongly to young and young-at-heart buyers, leading to incredible ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Nissan GT-R and Nissan Clipper Pickup Earlier this week, a whine of American auto journalists gathered in Cascais, Portugal to drive Nissan cars and trucks from around the world. (Maybe I should explain "whine". A "whine" is a group of journalists. Kinda like a flock, or bevy, or pod, or herd. You can guess why some PR flack came up with the term "whine"). During two days of driving, we were exposed to Nissan vehicles from Japan, North America, Europe and elsewhere. We were able to drive them on public roads through the c ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Stick It To The Man I remember the call like it came just last week, because it did. “Katrina, I have a new car.” “How exciting!” “It…it has a stick shift.” “Even better!” “You don’t understand! I don’t know how to drive a stick. I need you to teach me.” “You’ve made me a very happy woman, grasshopper.” Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exhaust Note #6: Latest Fuel Price Survey Findings The times, they are a changin' AutoPacific has completed the latest in a long series of fuel price impact surveys. And it now looks as though fuel prices have remained high enough for long enough for buyers to have begun to change their vehicle segment preference, their engine preference and even, so some extent, their driving habits. Fuel Prices The reported median price paid for fuel in March, 2008 was $3.36, up from $2.83 last August and $2.63 in March, 2007, and the highest since the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exhaust Note #6: Latest Fuel Price Survey Findings The times, they are a changin' AutoPacific has completed the latest in a long series of fuel price impact surveys. And it now looks as though fuel prices have remained high enough for long enough for buyers to have begun to change their vehicle segment preference, their engine preference and even, so some extent, their driving habits. Fuel Prices The reported median price paid for fuel in March, 2008 was $3.36, up from $2.83 last August and $2.63 in March, 2007, and the highest since the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe It's All About the Look Pontiac introduced a hardtop version of the extroverted Solstice at this year's New York auto show, along with the G8 GXP and G8 ST. As cool as it looks, don't rush to the dealer. Your Solstice coupe won't be there until early 2009. The Solstice coupe looks great. With the same engines and suspension setup as the roadster, you can bet it'll be just as fun on the road. But Pontiac built in compromises with a lift-off roof panel, liftglass (versus tailgate), ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe It's All About the Look Pontiac introduced a hardtop version of the extroverted Solstice at this year's New York auto show, along with the G8 GXP and G8 ST. As cool as it looks, don't rush to the dealer. Your Solstice coupe won't be there until early 2009. The Solstice coupe looks great. With the same engines and suspension setup as the roadster, you can bet it'll be just as fun on the road. But Pontiac built in compromises with a lift-off roof panel, liftglass (versus tailgate), ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe It's All About the Look Pontiac introduced a hardtop version of the extroverted Solstice at this year's New York auto show, along with the G8 GXP and G8 ST. As cool as it looks, don't rush to the dealer. Your Solstice coupe won't be there until early 2009. The Solstice coupe looks great. With the same engines and suspension setup as the roadster, you can bet it'll be just as fun on the road. But Pontiac built in compromises with a lift-off roof panel, liftglass (versus tailgate), ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe It's All About the Look Pontiac introduced a hardtop version of the extroverted Solstice at this year's New York auto show, along with the G8 GXP and G8 ST. As cool as it looks, don't rush to the dealer. Your Solstice coupe won't be there until early 2009. The Solstice coupe looks great. With the same engines and suspension setup as the roadster, you can bet it'll be just as fun on the road. But Pontiac built in compromises with a lift-off roof panel, liftglass (versus tailgate), ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe It's All About the Look Pontiac introduced a hardtop version of the extroverted Solstice at this year's New York auto show, along with the G8 GXP and G8 ST. As cool as it looks, don't rush to the dealer. Your Solstice coupe won't be there until early 2009. The Solstice coupe looks great. With the same engines and suspension setup as the roadster, you can bet it'll be just as fun on the road. But Pontiac built in compromises with a lift-off roof panel, liftglass (versus tailgate), ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe It's All About the Look Pontiac introduced a hardtop version of the extroverted Solstice at this year's New York auto show, along with the G8 GXP and G8 ST. As cool as it looks, don't rush to the dealer. Your Solstice coupe won't be there until early 2009. The Solstice coupe looks great. With the same engines and suspension setup as the roadster, you can bet it'll be just as fun on the road. But Pontiac built in compromises with a lift-off roof panel, liftglass (versus tailgate), ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe It's All About the Look Pontiac introduced a hardtop version of the extroverted Solstice at this year's New York auto show, along with the G8 GXP and G8 ST. As cool as it looks, don't rush to the dealer. Your Solstice coupe won't be there until early 2009. The Solstice coupe looks great. With the same engines and suspension setup as the roadster, you can bet it'll be just as fun on the road. But Pontiac built in compromises with a lift-off roof panel, liftglass (versus tailgate), ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe It's All About the Look Pontiac introduced a hardtop version of the extroverted Solstice at this year's New York auto show, along with the G8 GXP and G8 ST. As cool as it looks, don't rush to the dealer. Your Solstice coupe won't be there until early 2009. The Solstice coupe looks great. With the same engines and suspension setup as the roadster, you can bet it'll be just as fun on the road. But Pontiac built in compromises with a lift-off roof panel, liftglass (versus tailgate), ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe It's All About the Look Pontiac introduced a hardtop version of the extroverted Solstice at this year's New York auto show, along with the G8 GXP and G8 ST. As cool as it looks, don't rush to the dealer. Your Solstice coupe won't be there until early 2009. The Solstice coupe looks great. With the same engines and suspension setup as the roadster, you can bet it'll be just as fun on the road. But Pontiac built in compromises with a lift-off roof panel, liftglass (versus tailgate), ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - A Pair from Kia Kia's New York auto show stage held both concept and production surprises. We believe that the KOUP concept, though too cutely named, hints at the next-generation Spectra. Kia described the KOUP as "closer to production than you might think," strongly hinting Kia may add the coupe itself. The production surprise was the facelifted 2009 Optima. This new look takes Optima a step forward. Kia KOUP: Is there a pocket rocket in Kia's future? 2009 Kia Optima gets a fresh look Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - A Pair from Kia Kia's New York auto show stage held both concept and production surprises. We believe that the KOUP concept, though too cutely named, hints at the next-generation Spectra. Kia described the KOUP as "closer to production than you might think," strongly hinting Kia may add the coupe itself. The production surprise was the facelifted 2009 Optima. This new look takes Optima a step forward. Kia KOUP: Is there a pocket rocket in Kia's future? 2009 Kia Optima gets a fresh look Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - A Pair from Kia Kia's New York auto show stage held both concept and production surprises. We believe that the KOUP concept, though too cutely named, hints at the next-generation Spectra. Kia described the KOUP as "closer to production than you might think," strongly hinting Kia may add the coupe itself. The production surprise was the facelifted 2009 Optima. This new look takes Optima a step forward. Kia KOUP: Is there a pocket rocket in Kia's future? 2009 Kia Optima gets a fresh look Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - A Pair from Kia Kia's New York auto show stage held both concept and production surprises. We believe that the KOUP concept, though too cutely named, hints at the next-generation Spectra. Kia described the KOUP as "closer to production than you might think," strongly hinting Kia may add the coupe itself. The production surprise was the facelifted 2009 Optima. This new look takes Optima a step forward. Kia KOUP: Is there a pocket rocket in Kia's future? 2009 Kia Optima gets a fresh look Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - A Pair from Kia Kia's New York auto show stage held both concept and production surprises. We believe that the KOUP concept, though too cutely named, hints at the next-generation Spectra. Kia described the KOUP as "closer to production than you might think," strongly hinting Kia may add the coupe itself. The production surprise was the facelifted 2009 Optima. This new look takes Optima a step forward. Kia KOUP: Is there a pocket rocket in Kia's future? 2009 Kia Optima gets a fresh look Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - A Pair from Kia Kia's New York auto show stage held both concept and production surprises. We believe that the KOUP concept, though too cutely named, hints at the next-generation Spectra. Kia described the KOUP as "closer to production than you might think," strongly hinting Kia may add the coupe itself. The production surprise was the facelifted 2009 Optima. This new look takes Optima a step forward. Kia KOUP: Is there a pocket rocket in Kia's future? 2009 Kia Optima gets a fresh look Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - A Pair from Kia Kia's New York auto show stage held both concept and production surprises. We believe that the KOUP concept, though too cutely named, hints at the next-generation Spectra. Kia described the KOUP as "closer to production than you might think," strongly hinting Kia may add the coupe itself. The production surprise was the facelifted 2009 Optima. This new look takes Optima a step forward. Kia KOUP: Is there a pocket rocket in Kia's future? 2009 Kia Optima gets a fresh look Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008– MINI JCW Brings History Up to Date The next time someone calls my Cooper S “cute” I think I’ll commit a felony. While I understand the sentiment, it misses most of what a MINI is. At the New York Auto Show Jim McDowell, Vice President – Marketing, MINI USA introduced the John Cooper Works MINI to North America with a reminder that MINI has racing in it’s blood, including Monte Carlo Rally wins in 1964, 1965, 1967. John Cooper has been synonymous with the high-performance MINIs for forty years. Earlier this year, MINI acq ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008– MINI JCW Brings History Up to Date The next time someone calls my Cooper S “cute” I think I’ll commit a felony. While I understand the sentiment, it misses most of what a MINI is. At the New York Auto Show Jim McDowell, Vice President – Marketing, MINI USA introduced the John Cooper Works MINI to North America with a reminder that MINI has racing in it’s blood, including Monte Carlo Rally wins in 1964, 1965, 1967. John Cooper has been synonymous with the high-performance MINIs for forty years. Earlier this year, MINI acq ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: BMW’s Ultimate Tanning Machine is about to get more interesting. In a town where most tans are purchased and delivered indoors, BMW offered the US release of the outdoor Ultimate Tanning Machine, the M3 Convertible. Strolling Miami and LA beaches for years, the 3 series convertible has become iconic for the look-at-me yuppie set. Many have been delivered to brand-enthusiasts with little care for the vehicle’s performance potential. In recent years, however, BMW has offered up M versions of the coupe and convertible to those drawn to open top tanning ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: BMW’s Ultimate Tanning Machine is about to get more interesting. In a town where most tans are purchased and delivered indoors, BMW offered the US release of the outdoor Ultimate Tanning Machine, the M3 Convertible. Strolling Miami and LA beaches for years, the 3 series convertible has become iconic for the look-at-me yuppie set. Many have been delivered to brand-enthusiasts with little care for the vehicle’s performance potential. In recent years, however, BMW has offered up M versions of the coupe and convertible to those drawn to open top tanning ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008– Mitsubishi “i” One of the coolest things about working on the VehicleVoice team is the differing taste the team has. Trucks, SUVs, muscle cars, small cars. Lunch can be interesting, to say the least. While I appreciate anything with wheels, I’m slowly becoming more and more interested in minicars. Maybe it’s Europe-envy, or an increased sense of green, but I‘ve always been attracted to minimalism. From architecture to coffee without the fancy names. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008– Mitsubishi “i” One of the coolest things about working on the VehicleVoice team is the differing taste the team has. Trucks, SUVs, muscle cars, small cars. Lunch can be interesting, to say the least. While I appreciate anything with wheels, I’m slowly becoming more and more interested in minicars. Maybe it’s Europe-envy, or an increased sense of green, but I‘ve always been attracted to minimalism. From architecture to coffee without the fancy names. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008– Mitsubishi “i” One of the coolest things about working on the VehicleVoice team is the differing taste the team has. Trucks, SUVs, muscle cars, small cars. Lunch can be interesting, to say the least. While I appreciate anything with wheels, I’m slowly becoming more and more interested in minicars. Maybe it’s Europe-envy, or an increased sense of green, but I‘ve always been attracted to minimalism. From architecture to coffee without the fancy names. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #106 - The Audi A4: A is for Awesome Audi A4 Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show, March 20, 2008 – MINI JCW Brings History Up to Date The next time someone calls my Cooper S “cute” I think I’ll commit a felony. While I understand the sentiment, it misses most of what a MINI is. At the New York Auto Show Jim McDowell, Vice President – Marketing, MINI USA introduced the John Cooper Works MINI to North America with a reminder that MINI has racing in it’s blood, including Monte Carlo Rally wins in 1964, 1965, 1967. John Cooper has been synonymous with the high-performance MINIs for forty years. Earlier this year, MINI acq ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008– Improved Honda Fit We’ve liked the Fit since it was first imported from Japan for US Sales in April 2006. Conceptually very good, but lacking a sporty look. The second generation of the Fit for US sales gets a lot better looking, as well as some package improvements to make it more compelling. “The goal is to provide entry-level vehicle customers with functionality and refinement that’s a class above,” said Dick Colliver. “Buying a Fit is a choice, not a compromise.” Ah yes. A nod to the aspirational sma ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008– Improved Honda Fit We’ve liked the Fit since it was first imported from Japan for US Sales in April 2006. Conceptually very good, but lacking a sporty look. The second generation of the Fit for US sales gets a lot better looking, as well as some package improvements to make it more compelling. “The goal is to provide entry-level vehicle customers with functionality and refinement that’s a class above,” said Dick Colliver. “Buying a Fit is a choice, not a compromise.” Ah yes. A nod to the aspirational sma ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show, April 19, 2008: BMW’s Ultimate Tanning Machine is about to get more interesting. In a town where most tans are purchased and delivered indoors, BMW offered the US release of the outdoor Ultimate Tanning Machine, the M3 Convertible. Strolling Miami and LA beaches for years, the 3 series convertible has become iconic for the look-at-me yuppie set. Many have been delivered to brand-enthusiasts with little care for the vehicle’s performance potential. In recent years, however, BMW has offered up M versions of the coupe and convertible to those drawn to open top tanning ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: 2009 Dodge Challenger VehicleVoice covered the reveal at last Month’s Chicago Auto Show of the 2008 challenger SRT-8. With 435 hp culled out of its 6.1 liter Hemi V-8, it’s sure to be true to the muscle car image of its sheetmetal. Today, New York is host to the kinder, gentler, 2009 Challenger model line, if that’s possible. In reality, the real focus here is on the volume of these models, the Challenger R/T with a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and the Challenger SE with the Challenger SE with a 3.6-liter V-6. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: 2009 Dodge Challenger VehicleVoice covered the reveal at last Month’s Chicago Auto Show of the 2008 challenger SRT-8. With 435 hp culled out of its 6.1 liter Hemi V-8, it’s sure to be true to the muscle car image of its sheetmetal. Today, New York is host to the kinder, gentler, 2009 Challenger model line, if that’s possible. In reality, the real focus here is on the volume of these models, the Challenger R/T with a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and the Challenger SE with the Challenger SE with a 3.6-liter V-6. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show, March 19, 2008 – Improved Fit We’ve liked the Fit since it was first imported from Japan for US Sales in April 2006. Conceptually very good, but lacking a sporty look. The second generation of the Fit for US sales gets a lot better looking, as well as some package improvements to make it more compelling. “The goal is to provide entry-level vehicle customers with functionality and refinement that’s a class above,” said Dick Colliver. “Buying a Fit is a choice, not a compromise.” Ah yes. A nod to the aspirational sma ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 -- Scion Hako Coupe Concept You have to look long and hard to find a more difficult job than designing future Scion products. In its short life, Scion has raced to the forefront of Gen Y desirability. From zero to 173,000 units in just 4 years. Toyota Motor Sales claims the Scion brand to have a median buyer age of just 30 years old, which makes it the youngest brand in the United States. From the same group of people who bring us the Camry and Avalon, both standards for Boomer buyers, but neither evoking a youthfu ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 -- Scion Hako Coupe Concept You have to look long and hard to find a more difficult job than designing future Scion products. In its short life, Scion has raced to the forefront of Gen Y desirability. From zero to 173,000 units in just 4 years. Toyota Motor Sales claims the Scion brand to have a median buyer age of just 30 years old, which makes it the youngest brand in the United States. From the same group of people who bring us the Camry and Avalon, both standards for Boomer buyers, but neither evoking a youthfu ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 -- Scion Hako Coupe Concept You have to look long and hard to find a more difficult job than designing future Scion products. In its short life, Scion has raced to the forefront of Gen Y desirability. From zero to 173,000 units in just 4 years. Toyota Motor Sales claims the Scion brand to have a median buyer age of just 30 years old, which makes it the youngest brand in the United States. From the same group of people who bring us the Camry and Avalon, both standards for Boomer buyers, but neither evoking a youthfu ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show, April 19, 2008: 2009 Dodge Challenger Vehiclevoice.com covered the reveal at last Month’s Chicago Auto Show of the 2008 challenger SRT-8. With 435 hp culled out of its 6.1 liter Hemi V-8, it’s sure to be true to the muscle car image of its sheetmetal. Today, New York is host to the kinder, gentler, 2009 Challenger model line, if that’s possible. In reality, the real focus here is on the volume of these models, the Challenger R/T with a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 and the Challenger SE with the Challenger SE with a 3.6-liter V-6. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - Nissan’s “Denki Cube” EV While the New York Show has been certainly less green than LA, Detroit and Chicago, the march towards environmental altruism continues with automakers. The Nissan Cube has always looked somewhat like an automotive battery, so an electric concept for the Cube is fitting. Denki (Japanese for “electric”) is the name Nissan is giving its latest Cube Concept shown at the 2008 New York International Auto Show. The concept carries some of Nissan’s green banner and hints strongly at Nissan’s fu ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008 - Nissan’s “Denki Cube” EV While the New York Show has been certainly less green than LA, Detroit and Chicago, the march towards environmental altruism continues with automakers. The Nissan Cube has always looked somewhat like an automotive battery, so an electric concept for the Cube is fitting. Denki (Japanese for “electric”) is the name Nissan is giving its latest Cube Concept shown at the 2008 New York International Auto Show. The concept carries some of Nissan’s green banner and hints strongly at Nissan’s fu ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show, March 19, 2008 -- Scion Hako Coupe Concept You have to look long and hard to find a more difficult job than designing future Scion products. In it’s short life, Scion has raced to the forefront of Gen Y desirability. From zero to 173,000 units in just 4 years. Toyota Motor Sales claims the Scion brand to have a median buyer age of just 30 years old, which makes it the youngest brand in the United States. From the same group of people who bring us the Camry and Avalon, both standards for Boomer buyers, but neither evoking a youthf ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: 2009 Infiniti FX Coupe SUV Refined The next new Infiniti arrives in June 2008, in the form of an updated FX, and facing new competition from the only other coupe-SUV in the BMW X6. The new FX offers more power from a refined 302HP 3.5L V6 or an all-new 390HP 5.0L V8, with all-wheel drive still optional. There is a new standard seven-speed automatic transmission, new electronic aids for crash avoidance and easier city driving, and even self-healing paint. Infiniti gave the FX a worldwide introduction at t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: 2009 Infiniti FX Coupe SUV Refined The next new Infiniti arrives in June 2008, in the form of an updated FX, and facing new competition from the only other coupe-SUV in the BMW X6. The new FX offers more power from a refined 302HP 3.5L V6 or an all-new 390HP 5.0L V8, with all-wheel drive still optional. There is a new standard seven-speed automatic transmission, new electronic aids for crash avoidance and easier city driving, and even self-healing paint. Infiniti gave the FX a worldwide introduction at t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: 2009 Infiniti FX Coupe SUV Refined The next new Infiniti arrives in June 2008, in the form of an updated FX, and facing new competition from the only other coupe-SUV in the BMW X6. The new FX offers more power from a refined 302HP 3.5L V6 or an all-new 390HP 5.0L V8, with all-wheel drive still optional. There is a new standard seven-speed automatic transmission, new electronic aids for crash avoidance and easier city driving, and even self-healing paint. Infiniti gave the FX a worldwide introduction at t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: 2009 Infiniti FX Coupe SUV Refined The next new Infiniti arrives in June 2008, in the form of an updated FX, and facing new competition from the only other coupe-SUV in the BMW X6. The new FX offers more power from a refined 302HP 3.5L V6 or an all-new 390HP 5.0L V8, with all-wheel drive still optional. There is a new standard seven-speed automatic transmission, new electronic aids for crash avoidance and easier city driving, and even self-healing paint. Infiniti gave the FX a worldwide introduction at t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: 2009 Infiniti FX Coupe SUV Refined The next new Infiniti arrives in June 2008, in the form of an updated FX, and facing new competition from the only other coupe-SUV in the BMW X6. The new FX offers more power from a refined 302HP 3.5L V6 or an all-new 390HP 5.0L V8, with all-wheel drive still optional. There is a new standard seven-speed automatic transmission, new electronic aids for crash avoidance and easier city driving, and even self-healing paint. Infiniti gave the FX a worldwide introduction at t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: 2009 Infiniti FX Coupe SUV Refined The next new Infiniti arrives in June 2008, in the form of an updated FX, and facing new competition from the only other coupe-SUV in the BMW X6. The new FX offers more power from a refined 302HP 3.5L V6 or an all-new 390HP 5.0L V8, with all-wheel drive still optional. There is a new standard seven-speed automatic transmission, new electronic aids for crash avoidance and easier city driving, and even self-healing paint. Infiniti gave the FX a worldwide introduction at t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show, April 19, 2008 - Nissan’s “Denki Cube” EV While the New York Show has been certainly less green than LA, Detroit and Chicago, the march towards environmental altruism continues with automakers. The Nissan Cube has always looked somewhat like an automotive battery, so an electric concept for the Cube is fitting. Denki (Japanese for “electric”) is the name Nissan is giving its latest Cube Concept shown at the 2008 New York International Auto Show. The concept carries some of Nissan’s green banner and hints strongly at Nissan’s fu ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exhaust Note #5: The Death of the Truly Crummy Car So I’ve spent all this week in the city some of us at the office like to call Detwah…that’s Detroit to all you ‘Murrican speakers out there. Looking to save a few bucks for VehicleVoice, I reserved the lowest class of automobile (Economy) knowing that rental companies usually stock only a few of them – usually resulting in a free upgrade. Well, that didn’t happen this time. I reserved a Chevrolet Aveo, and instead of getting the usual free upgrade to something bigger and nicer, I got…wai ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exhaust Note #5: The Death of the Truly Crummy Car So I’ve spent all this week in the city some of us at the office like to call Detwah…that’s Detroit to all you ‘Murrican speakers out there. Looking to save a few bucks for VehicleVoice, I reserved the lowest class of automobile (Economy) knowing that rental companies usually stock only a few of them – usually resulting in a free upgrade. Well, that didn’t happen this time. I reserved a Chevrolet Aveo, and instead of getting the usual free upgrade to something bigger and nicer, I got…wai ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck Two Doors and a Bed: Are We Ready for an El Camino Revival? Pontiac is GM's star at the 2008 New York Auto Show, introducing two new takes on just-launched G8 sedan.As well as a hotter GXP sedan for 2009MY, late in 2009 there will be a G8 Sport Truck. Despite knowing quite a few people who profess their admiration for the old El Camino, the coupe-meets-truck thing never did much for me. A very unscientific show-floor poll found several people who thought the G8 ST looked cool, but did ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck Two Doors and a Bed: Are We Ready for an El Camino Revival? Pontiac is GM's star at the 2008 New York Auto Show, introducing two new takes on just-launched G8 sedan.As well as a hotter GXP sedan for 2009MY, late in 2009 there will be a G8 Sport Truck. Despite knowing quite a few people who profess their admiration for the old El Camino, the coupe-meets-truck thing never did much for me. A very unscientific show-floor poll found several people who thought the G8 ST looked cool, but did ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck Two Doors and a Bed: Are We Ready for an El Camino Revival? Pontiac is GM's star at the 2008 New York Auto Show, introducing two new takes on just-launched G8 sedan.As well as a hotter GXP sedan for 2009MY, late in 2009 there will be a G8 Sport Truck. Despite knowing quite a few people who profess their admiration for the old El Camino, the coupe-meets-truck thing never did much for me. A very unscientific show-floor poll found several people who thought the G8 ST looked cool, but did ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck Two Doors and a Bed: Are We Ready for an El Camino Revival? Pontiac is GM's star at the 2008 New York Auto Show, introducing two new takes on just-launched G8 sedan.As well as a hotter GXP sedan for 2009MY, late in 2009 there will be a G8 Sport Truck. Despite knowing quite a few people who profess their admiration for the old El Camino, the coupe-meets-truck thing never did much for me. A very unscientific show-floor poll found several people who thought the G8 ST looked cool, but did ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP 402HP and Six-Speed Manual. Sign Me Up. Pontiac has a new flagship sedan in the Australian-built G8 sedan, which we drove recently (read review). The line is already in expansion mode, with upcoming versions introduced at the 2008 New York Auto Show. The more traditional of the two additive models is the 2009 GXP. Putting fuel-cost concerns aside, I find the GXP more interesting. Given the tight chassis and sound handling of the G8s we've already driving, the GXP promises to be a rea ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New York Auto Show 2008: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP 402HP and Six-Speed Manual. Sign Me Up. Pontiac has a new flagship sedan in the Australian-built G8 sedan, which we drove recently (read review). The line is already in expansion mode, with upcoming versions introduced at the 2008 New York Auto Show. The more traditional of the two additive models is the 2009 GXP. Putting fuel-cost concerns aside, I find the GXP more interesting. Given the tight chassis and sound handling of the G8s we've already driving, the GXP promises to be a rea ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Alfa Romeo Spider Would be a Big Hit in the USA During the recent CES, I had a chance to spend some time with the Alfa Romeo Spider being displayed as a part of Microsoft's Sync display. What a lovely car. Powered by a 260Bhp 3.2 liter V-6 engine hooked up with a 4-wheel drive system, the Spider is both sexy and technically clever. Visually, I love the flowing lines of this car. Check out the detail around the headlights and the lovely use of a canvas, folding top. Designed as a collaborative effort between the Alfa Styling Center, Giu ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Alfa Romeo Spider Would be a Big Hit in the USA During the recent CES, I had a chance to spend some time with the Alfa Romeo Spider being displayed as a part of Microsoft's Sync display. What a lovely car. Powered by a 260Bhp 3.2 liter V-6 engine hooked up with a 4-wheel drive system, the Spider is both sexy and technically clever. Visually, I love the flowing lines of this car. Check out the detail around the headlights and the lovely use of a canvas, folding top. Designed as a collaborative effort between the Alfa Styling Center, Giu ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website BMW 1 Series Arrives Plus Cabrio Update This week, BMW dealers across the United States began receiving the initial run of the new BMW 1 Series Coupe. Previewed on video (watch) by AutoPacific during the Los Angeles International Auto Show, the coupe looks even better on the showroom floor. While some dealers greed factor could be seen on the window sticker (between $2,000 and $5,000 over sticker), the real sales prices are more likely to be at or near the manufacturers price ($28,600 MSRP for the 128i ). The 1 Series represen ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website California Loses More Car Operations On Friday, March 7, two announcements were made that impact the Southern California car culture and, to some extent, the global auto industry. Volvo Cars of North America Returns to Rockleigh Headquarters The first was that Volvo Cars of North America is returningto its former headquarters in Rockleigh, New Jersey at the foot of the Tappan Zee Bridge. Beautiful location and much closer to Sweden, but we can't help but wonder how the Volvo mindset in the USA will change with a New Jersey ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exhaust Note #4: Does the Green Car Really Exist? It seems that everywhere you look, America’s gone green. Products and their packaging proudly announce their sustainability. Recycling bins are prominently placed in public places. And of course, those hybrid vehicles seem to be just about everywhere. There are countless good reasons to think about environmental sensitivity, but it should also be said that it’s pretty easy to get caught up in the hype too. What am I implying here? I’m suggesting that it’s pretty easy to do small token ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Pontiac G8: Style and Substance As you've no doubt heard, the Pontiac G8 is but one example of GM's growing global strategy, built in Australia by GM's Holden division. Only fully approved in November 2006, production began in November 2007 and the first cars landed on U.S. shores and werebeing shipped to dealers this week. After seeing the car's introduction at the 2007 Chicago auto show, we were thrilled to get a chance behind the wheel. One of Pontiac's successes with this project we heard before we even got behin ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Pontiac G8: Style and Substance As you've no doubt heard, the Pontiac G8 is but one example of GM's growing global strategy, built in Australia by GM's Holden division. Only fully approved in November 2006, production began in November 2007 and the first cars landed on U.S. shores and werebeing shipped to dealers this week. After seeing the car's introduction at the 2007 Chicago auto show, we were thrilled to get a chance behind the wheel. One of Pontiac's successes with this project we heard before we even got behin ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Pontiac G8: Style and Substance As you've no doubt heard, the Pontiac G8 is but one example of GM's growing global strategy, built in Australia by GM's Holden division. Only fully approved in November 2006, production began in November 2007 and the first cars landed on U.S. shores and werebeing shipped to dealers this week. After seeing the car's introduction at the 2007 Chicago auto show, we were thrilled to get a chance behind the wheel. One of Pontiac's successes with this project we heard before we even got behin ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Pontiac G8: Style and Substance As you've no doubt heard, the Pontiac G8 is but one example of GM's growing global strategy, built in Australia by GM's Holden division. Only fully approved in November 2006, production began in November 2007 and the first cars landed on U.S. shores and werebeing shipped to dealers this week. After seeing the car's introduction at the 2007 Chicago auto show, we were thrilled to get a chance behind the wheel. One of Pontiac's successes with this project we heard before we even got behin ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Pontiac G8: Style and Substance As you've no doubt heard, the Pontiac G8 is but one example of GM's growing global strategy, built in Australia by GM's Holden division. Only fully approved in November 2006, production began in November 2007 and the first cars landed on U.S. shores and werebeing shipped to dealers this week. After seeing the car's introduction at the 2007 Chicago auto show, we were thrilled to get a chance behind the wheel. One of Pontiac's successes with this project we heard before we even got behin ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Pontiac G8: Style and Substance As you've no doubt heard, the Pontiac G8 is but one example of GM's growing global strategy, built in Australia by GM's Holden division. Only fully approved in November 2006, production began in November 2007 and the first cars landed on U.S. shores and werebeing shipped to dealers this week. After seeing the car's introduction at the 2007 Chicago auto show, we were thrilled to get a chance behind the wheel. One of Pontiac's successes with this project we heard before we even got behin ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Pontiac G8: Style and Substance As you've no doubt heard, the Pontiac G8 is but one example of GM's growing global strategy, built in Australia by GM's Holden division. Only fully approved in November 2006, production began in November 2007 and the first cars landed on U.S. shores and werebeing shipped to dealers this week. After seeing the car's introduction at the 2007 Chicago auto show, we were thrilled to get a chance behind the wheel. One of Pontiac's successes with this project we heard before we even got behin ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Boyd Coddington, Hot Rod Guru Dies There are two types of mainstream designers in the auto biz: classically trained individuals who create vehicles for major manufacturers, and independent creative gurus, who typically build custom or one-off masterpieces. The auto industry lost one of its best independents this week, with the passing of Boyd Coddington. Coddington, perhaps the leader in west coast “Hot Rod” design, died this week at a hospital in Whittier, California. Perhaps best known for his Hot Rod “Cadzilla” - create ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Volvo XC60: First Official Pictures Formal Worldwide Reveal Set for Geneva Auto Show Volvo is among several luxury makes adding smaller and smaller crossover SUVs over the coming years, as consumers get more concerned about fuel economy and worldwide regulations get tighter. Whether the European CO2-emissions regulations or U.S. CAFÉ standards, the combination of buyer sensitivity and governmental interference means smaller, more efficient, and lighter vehicles are on the horizon. The XC60 goes on sale in the States in ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Volvo XC60: First Official Pictures Formal Worldwide Reveal Set for Geneva Auto Show Volvo is among several luxury makes adding smaller and smaller crossover SUVs over the coming years, as consumers get more concerned about fuel economy and worldwide regulations get tighter. Whether the European CO2-emissions regulations or U.S. CAFÉ standards, the combination of buyer sensitivity and governmental interference means smaller, more efficient, and lighter vehicles are on the horizon. The XC60 goes on sale in the States in ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Volvo XC60: First Official Pictures Formal Worldwide Reveal Set for Geneva Auto Show Volvo is among several luxury makes adding smaller and smaller crossover SUVs over the coming years, as consumers get more concerned about fuel economy and worldwide regulations get tighter. Whether the European CO2-emissions regulations or U.S. CAFÉ standards, the combination of buyer sensitivity and governmental interference means smaller, more efficient, and lighter vehicles are on the horizon. The XC60 goes on sale in the States in ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Volvo XC60: First Official Pictures Formal Worldwide Reveal Set for Geneva Auto Show Volvo is among several luxury makes adding smaller and smaller crossover SUVs over the coming years, as consumers get more concerned about fuel economy and worldwide regulations get tighter. Whether the European CO2-emissions regulations or U.S. CAFÉ standards, the combination of buyer sensitivity and governmental interference means smaller, more efficient, and lighter vehicles are on the horizon. The XC60 goes on sale in the States in ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Volvo XC60: First Official Pictures Formal Worldwide Reveal Set for Geneva Auto Show Volvo is among several luxury makes adding smaller and smaller crossover SUVs over the coming years, as consumers get more concerned about fuel economy and worldwide regulations get tighter. Whether the European CO2-emissions regulations or U.S. CAFÉ standards, the combination of buyer sensitivity and governmental interference means smaller, more efficient, and lighter vehicles are on the horizon. The XC60 goes on sale in the States in ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #99 - The Dodge Zeo Concept: Zee Scissor Doors! Zee Electric Engine! The Dodge Zeo Concept Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exhaust Note #3: Help! I’m so distracted! It’s a fact of life that we are all “connected” more than ever today. We gab on our cellphones constantly, we check our messages both in front of computers and on the go on our smartphones, and we have more choices than ever over how we are entertained. For the most part, these are all positive changes in our lives and a clear sign of progress. We live, however, in one of those “in-between” times when society hasn’t yet figured out how to merge progress with basic safety. You know, like ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #96 - The Lincoln MKT Concept - A Luxury Oceanliner on Wheels The Lincoln MKT Concept Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fiesta Revival: Ford Confirms Name of Global Small Car We reported on the Verve hatchback and sedan concepts that Ford showed at the Frankfurt and Detroit auto shows during the 2007-08 show season, and now we bring the news that Ford has confirmed the production name: Fiesta! The official reveal of the European three- and five-door hatchback versions is in Geneva in March. When the U.S. sees the car in 2010, it will be in sedan form much like the Detroit 2008 Verve concept. Ford is evaluating offering the hatchback in the States as well. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fiesta Revival: Ford Confirms Name of Global Small Car We reported on the Verve hatchback and sedan concepts that Ford showed at the Frankfurt and Detroit auto shows during the 2007-08 show season, and now we bring the news that Ford has confirmed the production name: Fiesta! The official reveal of the European three- and five-door hatchback versions is in Geneva in March. When the U.S. sees the car in 2010, it will be in sedan form much like the Detroit 2008 Verve concept. Ford is evaluating offering the hatchback in the States as well. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fiesta Revival: Ford Confirms Name of Global Small Car We reported on the Verve hatchback and sedan concepts that Ford showed at the Frankfurt and Detroit auto shows during the 2007-08 show season, and now we bring the news that Ford has confirmed the production name: Fiesta! The official reveal of the European three- and five-door hatchback versions is in Geneva in March. When the U.S. sees the car in 2010, it will be in sedan form much like the Detroit 2008 Verve concept. Ford is evaluating offering the hatchback in the States as well. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Suzuki Equator: A Pickup for Suzuki Suzuki Goes to Nissan for a Truck Looking at Suzuki's new Equator, introduced at the Chicago auto show, you can see a Nissan Frontier shape. This isn't an accident or a copycat design, as Nissan will build the Equator for Suzuki. Suzuki has a stronger image among buyers of ATVs, marine engines, and motorcycles than they do with people looking for cars and trucks. A compact pickup seems natural for a brand selling toys that need to be towed, especially as their toys have terrific reputati ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Suzuki Equator: A Pickup for Suzuki Suzuki Goes to Nissan for a Truck Looking at Suzuki's new Equator, introduced at the Chicago auto show, you can see a Nissan Frontier shape. This isn't an accident or a copycat design, as Nissan will build the Equator for Suzuki. Suzuki has a stronger image among buyers of ATVs, marine engines, and motorcycles than they do with people looking for cars and trucks. A compact pickup seems natural for a brand selling toys that need to be towed, especially as their toys have terrific reputati ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Suzuki Equator: A Pickup for Suzuki Suzuki Goes to Nissan for a Truck Looking at Suzuki's new Equator, introduced at the Chicago auto show, you can see a Nissan Frontier shape. This isn't an accident or a copycat design, as Nissan will build the Equator for Suzuki. Suzuki has a stronger image among buyers of ATVs, marine engines, and motorcycles than they do with people looking for cars and trucks. A compact pickup seems natural for a brand selling toys that need to be towed, especially as their toys have terrific reputati ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Suzuki Equator: A Pickup for Suzuki Suzuki Goes to Nissan for a Truck Looking at Suzuki's new Equator, introduced at the Chicago auto show, you can see a Nissan Frontier shape. This isn't an accident or a copycat design, as Nissan will build the Equator for Suzuki. Suzuki has a stronger image among buyers of ATVs, marine engines, and motorcycles than they do with people looking for cars and trucks. A compact pickup seems natural for a brand selling toys that need to be towed, especially as their toys have terrific reputati ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Suzuki Equator: A Pickup for Suzuki Suzuki Goes to Nissan for a Truck Looking at Suzuki's new Equator, introduced at the Chicago auto show, you can see a Nissan Frontier shape. This isn't an accident or a copycat design, as Nissan will build the Equator for Suzuki. Suzuki has a stronger image among buyers of ATVs, marine engines, and motorcycles than they do with people looking for cars and trucks. A compact pickup seems natural for a brand selling toys that need to be towed, especially as their toys have terrific reputati ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Suzuki Equator: A Pickup for Suzuki Suzuki Goes to Nissan for a Truck Looking at Suzuki's new Equator, introduced at the Chicago auto show, you can see a Nissan Frontier shape. This isn't an accident or a copycat design, as Nissan will build the Equator for Suzuki. Suzuki has a stronger image among buyers of ATVs, marine engines, and motorcycles than they do with people looking for cars and trucks. A compact pickup seems natural for a brand selling toys that need to be towed, especially as their toys have terrific reputati ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Suzuki Equator: A Pickup for Suzuki Suzuki Goes to Nissan for a Truck Looking at Suzuki's new Equator, introduced at the Chicago auto show, you can see a Nissan Frontier shape. This isn't an accident or a copycat design, as Nissan will build the Equator for Suzuki. Suzuki has a stronger image among buyers of ATVs, marine engines, and motorcycles than they do with people looking for cars and trucks. A compact pickup seems natural for a brand selling toys that need to be towed, especially as their toys have terrific reputati ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Suzuki Equator: A Pickup for Suzuki Suzuki Goes to Nissan for a Truck Looking at Suzuki's new Equator, introduced at the Chicago auto show, you can see a Nissan Frontier shape. This isn't an accident or a copycat design, as Nissan will build the Equator for Suzuki. Suzuki has a stronger image among buyers of ATVs, marine engines, and motorcycles than they do with people looking for cars and trucks. A compact pickup seems natural for a brand selling toys that need to be towed, especially as their toys have terrific reputati ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Suzuki Equator: A Pickup for Suzuki Suzuki Goes to Nissan for a Truck Looking at Suzuki's new Equator, introduced at the Chicago auto show, you can see a Nissan Frontier shape. This isn't an accident or a copycat design, as Nissan will build the Equator for Suzuki. Suzuki has a stronger image among buyers of ATVs, marine engines, and motorcycles than they do with people looking for cars and trucks. A compact pickup seems natural for a brand selling toys that need to be towed, especially as their toys have terrific reputati ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #95 - The Buick Riviera Concept: Is It the First Chinese Car to Come to America? The Buick Riviera Concept Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website "How I Spent My First Media Preview"by Katrina, Age 27 When I arrived in Chicago night of Feb. 5, forecasters were predicting a nigh-apocalyptic snowfall. But I'm from Detroit, and I was in Chicago, and I like to think that upper Midwesterners are made of sterner stuff than the norm. Still, I knew I'd need to fortify myself against the coming snow and arctic cold. How does the traveler far from home and operating at the mercy of automakers and their PR departments manage such a feat? The image above should provide a clue, as should the pho ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website "How I Spent My First Media Preview"by Katrina, Age 27 When I arrived in Chicago night of Feb. 5, forecasters were predicting a nigh-apocalyptic snowfall. But I'm from Detroit, and I was in Chicago, and I like to think that upper Midwesterners are made of sterner stuff than the norm. Still, I knew I'd need to fortify myself against the coming snow and arctic cold. How does the traveler far from home and operating at the mercy of automakers and their PR departments manage such a feat? The image above should provide a clue, as should the pho ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #94 - The Toyota A-BAT Concept The Toyota A-BAT Concept Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website This post is brought to you by the letters X and B and the number 21 I guess Motor Week's getting a reputation for edgy choices when it comes to it's Drivers' Choice Awards. Last year, the weekly auto program's top choice was the Honda Fit, a zippy little hatchback from the design family evocatively known as "pregnant roller skates." Edgy choices for 2008 included again holding their press conference in the last slot of the day (4:30 p.m.) -- about three inches into the finest snowstorm I've seen in years -- and draping the Best of the Year mantle on the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website "How I Spent My First Media Preview" by Katrina, Age 27 When I arrived in Chicago night of Feb. 5, forecasters were predicting a nigh-apocalyptic snowfall. But I'm from Detroit, and I was in Chicago, and I like to think that upper Midwesterners are made of sterner stuff than the norm. Still, I knew I'd need to fortify myself against the coming snow and arctic cold. How does the traveler far from home and operating at the mercy of automakers and their PR departments manage such a feat? The image above should provide a clue, as should the pho ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Volkswagen Routan– Chrysler Minivan Roots Mean Function, Not Fun VW Wants to Hit the Big Time in the US Market Like so many other second tier brands today, Volkswagen is talking publicly about big goals in the US. True, Volkswagen is a huge player in many world markets, particularly Europe, China, and Latin America. Here in America, however, Volkswagen is definitely something of a niche player, despite its enviable brand image. Apparently, Volkswagen wants to become a mainstream player in the US as it is in the rest of the world, rather than a marque ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Volkswagen Routan– Chrysler Minivan Roots Mean Function, Not Fun VW Wants to Hit the Big Time in the US Market Like so many other second tier brands today, Volkswagen is talking publicly about big goals in the US. True, Volkswagen is a huge player in many world markets, particularly Europe, China, and Latin America. Here in America, however, Volkswagen is definitely something of a niche player, despite its enviable brand image. Apparently, Volkswagen wants to become a mainstream player in the US as it is in the rest of the world, rather than a marque ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website This post is brought to you by the letters X and B and the number 21 I guess Motor Week's getting a reputation for edgy choices when it comes to it's Drivers' Choice Awards. Last year, the weekly auto program's top choice was the Honda Fit, a zippy little hatchback from the design family evocatively known as "pregnant roller skates." Edgy choices for 2008 included again holding their press conference in the last slot of the day (4:30 p.m.) -- about three inches into the finest snowstorm I've seen in years -- and draping the Best of the Year mantle on the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Volkswagen Routan – Chrysler Minivan Roots Mean Function, Not Fun VW Wants to Hit the Big Time in the US Market Like so many other second tier brands today, Volkswagen is talking publicly about big goals in the US. True, Volkswagen is a huge player in many world markets, particularly Europe, China, and Latin America. Here in America, however, Volkswagen is definitely something of a niche player, despite its enviable brand image. Apparently, Volkswagen wants to become a mainstream player in the US as it is in the rest of the world, rather than a marque ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Acura RL - Minor Facelift for 2009 The singularly underperforming Acura RL Executive Luxury Car receives a facelift for the 2009 model year. Shown for the first time at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, the RL becomes more distinctive and less anodyne, but arguably at the cost of good taste. The new front end style certainly will be controversial but there may never be enough of this iteration of the RL to burn too many eyeballs. The fresh rear style is a mild re-do designed not to offend, but certainly does not turn heads ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Acura RL - Minor Facelift for 2009 The singularly underperforming Acura RL Executive Luxury Car receives a facelift for the 2009 model year. Shown for the first time at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, the RL becomes more distinctive and less anodyne, but arguably at the cost of good taste. The new front end style certainly will be controversial but there may never be enough of this iteration of the RL to burn too many eyeballs. The fresh rear style is a mild re-do designed not to offend, but certainly does not turn heads ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #93 - The Corvette ZR1: The Interview Corvette ZR1: The Interview Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Transit Connect - Does Ford Realize How Cool This Thing Really Is? Aimed at Small Businesses Feeling the Strain from High Fuel Prices Now here’s an idea whose time has come. Today at the Chicago Auto Show, Ford unveiled its new Ford Transit Connect, a small European cargo van that has the potential to fill what could be perceived as a pretty big gap in the marketplace. If you’re a business owner that needs to haul stuff around, you have two main choices: a full-size van or a pickup truck. Both of these vehicle types represent capability and toughness, n ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Transit Connect - Does Ford Realize How Cool This Thing Really Is? Aimed at Small Businesses Feeling the Strain from High Fuel Prices Now here’s an idea whose time has come. Today at the Chicago Auto Show, Ford unveiled its new Ford Transit Connect, a small European cargo van that has the potential to fill what could be perceived as a pretty big gap in the marketplace. If you’re a business owner that needs to haul stuff around, you have two main choices: a full-size van or a pickup truck. Both of these vehicle types represent capability and toughness, n ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Acura RL - Minor Facelift for 2009 The singularly underperforming Acura RL Executive Luxury Car receives a facelift for the 2009 model year. Shown for the first time at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, the RL becomes more distinctive and less anodyne, but arguably at the cost of good taste. The new front end style certainly will be controversial but there may never be enough of this iteration of the RL to burn too many eyeballs. The fresh rear style is a mild re-do designed not to offend, but certainly does not turn heads ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Transit Connect - Niche Busting Van One of the most significant launches at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show was the 2010 Ford Transit Connect. This relatively small van is made by Ford of Europe in Turkey and will be shipped into the USA from the Middle East. The Transit Connect re-opens a niche that Ford and General Motors abandoned when they shut down their Aerostar/Astro/Safari vans. Remember, those were mid-size "minivans" that had rear wheel drive and were powered by V6 engines. Selling briskly at first, these vans even ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Transit Connect - Niche Busting Van One of the most significant launches at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show was the 2010 Ford Transit Connect. This relatively small van is made by Ford of Europe in Turkey and will be shipped into the USA from the Middle East. The Transit Connect re-opens a niche that Ford and General Motors abandoned when they shut down their Aerostar/Astro/Safari vans. Remember, those were mid-size "minivans" that had rear wheel drive and were powered by V6 engines. Selling briskly at first, these vans even ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Transit Connect - Niche Busting Van One of the most significant launches at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show was the 2010 Ford Transit Connect. This relatively small van is made by Ford of Europe in Turkey and will be shipped into the USA from the Middle East. The Transit Connect re-opens a niche that Ford and General Motors abandoned when they shut down their Aerostar/Astro/Safari vans. Remember, those were mid-size "minivans" that had rear wheel drive and were powered by V6 engines. Selling briskly at first, these vans even ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Transit Connect - Does Ford Realize How Cool This Thing Really Is? Aimed at Small Businesses Feeling the Strain from High Fuel Prices Now here’s an idea whose time has come. Today at the Chicago Auto Show, Ford unveiled its new Ford Transit Connect, a small European cargo van that has the potential to fill what could be perceived as a pretty big gap in the marketplace. If you’re a business owner that needs to haul stuff around, you have two main choices: a full-size van or a pickup truck. Both of these vehicle types represent capability and toughness, n ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Chevrolet Traverse: A Modern Large SUV For America's Family Brand Editor's Note: Traverse may be the most significant new vehicle at the Chicago Auto Show. The highest volume of the four General Motors Lambda Large Crossover SUVs, Traverse pickups the positive styling cues of the Enclave's haunches and adds Chevrolet's front end styling. GM design definitelydid not dumb down the styling of the Traverse. With the Buick so fully-featured and having loads of special enhancements to handle noise vibration and harshness, hopefully Traverse gets more than i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Chevrolet Traverse: A Modern Large SUV For America's Family Brand Editor's Note: Traverse may be the most significant new vehicle at the Chicago Auto Show. The highest volume of the four General Motors Lambda Large Crossover SUVs, Traverse pickups the positive styling cues of the Enclave's haunches and adds Chevrolet's front end styling. GM design definitelydid not dumb down the styling of the Traverse. With the Buick so fully-featured and having loads of special enhancements to handle noise vibration and harshness, hopefully Traverse gets more than i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Chevrolet Traverse: A Modern Large SUV For America's Family Brand Editor's Note: Traverse may be the most significant new vehicle at the Chicago Auto Show. The highest volume of the four General Motors Lambda Large Crossover SUVs, Traverse pickups the positive styling cues of the Enclave's haunches and adds Chevrolet's front end styling. GM design definitelydid not dumb down the styling of the Traverse. With the Buick so fully-featured and having loads of special enhancements to handle noise vibration and harshness, hopefully Traverse gets more than i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Chevrolet Traverse: A Modern Large SUV For America's Family Brand Editor's Note: Traverse may be the most significant new vehicle at the Chicago Auto Show. The highest volume of the four General Motors Lambda Large Crossover SUVs, Traverse pickups the positive styling cues of the Enclave's haunches and adds Chevrolet's front end styling. GM design definitelydid not dumb down the styling of the Traverse. With the Buick so fully-featured and having loads of special enhancements to handle noise vibration and harshness, hopefully Traverse gets more than i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Chevrolet Traverse: A Modern Large SUV For America's Family Brand Chevrolet's 2008 Chicago auto show star, the Traverse, is the brand's answer to changing consumer demands, as buyers gravitate toward car-based SUVs and more and more prioritize fuel efficiency over SUV image. If you need the towing or off-road capability of a traditional truck-based SUV, Chevy will still offer Tahoe, Suburban, and Avalanche. If you need a comfortable, stylish, and relatively efficient non-minivan family car, Chevy will offer the Traverse late in 2008. Chevrolet will eve ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Dodge Challenger Blows into Windy City Limited Edition SRT8 Arrives First Ford launched the latest Mustang to a resounding critical and sales success, and its retro theme got GM and Chrysler thinking fast about a new-century take on the pony car wars. At the 2006 Detroit auto show, the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro concepts tested the waters for a full pony-car revival. Both companies were inspired by both pride and the success of the latest Mustang, and both the Challenger and Camaro will arrive on market. Eventually ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Dodge Challenger Blows into Windy City Limited Edition SRT8 Arrives First Ford launched the latest Mustang to a resounding critical and sales success, and its retro theme got GM and Chrysler thinking fast about a new-century take on the pony car wars. At the 2006 Detroit auto show, the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro concepts tested the waters for a full pony-car revival. Both companies were inspired by both pride and the success of the latest Mustang, and both the Challenger and Camaro will arrive on market. Eventually ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Dodge Challenger Blows into Windy City Limited Edition SRT8 Arrives First Ford launched the latest Mustang to a resounding critical and sales success, and its retro theme got GM and Chrysler thinking fast about a new-century take on the pony car wars. At the 2006 Detroit auto show, the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro concepts tested the waters for a full pony-car revival. Both companies were inspired by both pride and the success of the latest Mustang, and both the Challenger and Camaro will arrive on market. Eventually ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Dodge Challenger Blows into Windy City Limited Edition SRT8 Arrives First Ford launched the latest Mustang to a resounding critical and sales success, and its retro theme got GM and Chrysler thinking fast about a new-century take on the pony car wars. At the 2006 Detroit auto show, the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro concepts tested the waters for a full pony-car revival. Both companies were inspired by both pride and the success of the latest Mustang, and both the Challenger and Camaro will arrive on market. Eventually ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Dodge Challenger Blows into Windy City Limited Edition SRT8 Arrives First Ford launched the latest Mustang to a resounding critical and sales success, and its retro theme got GM and Chrysler thinking fast about a new-century take on the pony car wars. At the 2006 Detroit auto show, the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro concepts tested the waters for a full pony-car revival. Both companies were inspired by both pride and the success of the latest Mustang, and both the Challenger and Camaro will arrive on market. Eventually ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hummer H3T - Refining Niches and Brand Identity for Changing Times Times have certainly changed since the Hummer brand’s relaunch a few years back with the H2. Back then, 9/11 was fresh in Americans’ memory, and the H2’s military-inspired shape stirred up patriotic feelings among many. Heck, the fact that it slurped fuel with alarming thirst was probably a “badge of honor” among many Hummer owners. You took down our Twin Towers? Watch us take your oil! Fast forward to 2008, and it’s a very different world indeed. The war that (at least in some small ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hummer H3T - Refining Niches and Brand Identity for Changing Times Times have certainly changed since the Hummer brand’s relaunch a few years back with the H2. Back then, 9/11 was fresh in Americans’ memory, and the H2’s military-inspired shape stirred up patriotic feelings among many. Heck, the fact that it slurped fuel with alarming thirst was probably a “badge of honor” among many Hummer owners. You took down our Twin Towers? Watch us take your oil! Fast forward to 2008, and it’s a very different world indeed. The war that (at least in some small ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hummer H3T - Refining Niches and Brand Identity for Changing Times Times have certainly changed since the Hummer brand’s relaunch a few years back with the H2. Back then, 9/11 was fresh in Americans’ memory, and the H2’s military-inspired shape stirred up patriotic feelings among many. Heck, the fact that it slurped fuel with alarming thirst was probably a “badge of honor” among many Hummer owners. You took down our Twin Towers? Watch us take your oil! Fast forward to 2008, and it’s a very different world indeed. The war that (at least in some small ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Edge Sport - Adds Dimension to Edge The Ford Edge Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV adds a new Sport model for the 2009 model year. Normally, we would criticize the Sport because its features include only upsized wheels, a body kit and some interior tweaks. It does not include an uplevel engine... just its standard 3.5L V6 which is no slouch, but we're lusting for the 3.7L V6 (Lincoln only, we understand) or the 3.5L Twin Turbo EcoBoost V6. Anything to give the Edge truly sporting credentials. Still, the Sport mode ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Edge Sport - Adds Dimension to Edge The Ford Edge Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV adds a new Sport model for the 2009 model year. Normally, we would criticize the Sport because its features include only upsized wheels, a body kit and some interior tweaks. It does not include an uplevel engine... just its standard 3.5L V6 which is no slouch, but we're lusting for the 3.7L V6 (Lincoln only, we understand) or the 3.5L Twin Turbo EcoBoost V6. Anything to give the Edge truly sporting credentials. Still, the Sport mode ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Edge Sport - Adds Dimension to Edge The Ford Edge Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV adds a new Sport model for the 2009 model year. Normally, we would criticize the Sport because its features include only upsized wheels, a body kit and some interior tweaks. It does not include an uplevel engine... just its standard 3.5L V6 which is no slouch, but we're lusting for the 3.7L V6 (Lincoln only, we understand) or the 3.5L Twin Turbo EcoBoost V6. Anything to give the Edge truly sporting credentials. Still, the Sport mode ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bring on the Marching Bands - No More Halftime Pageants This has nothing to do with cars or trucks, but about the halftime shows shown at extravaganzas like the Super Bowl and BCS Championship Game. Our stories about auto company and Bridgestone ads stimulated the idea. Super Bowl Halftime Lame - Bring On the Marching Bands I don't know how much Tom Petty cost to entertain the nation for twenty minutes, but it was too much. And it's not that I don't like Tom Petty. I have just gotten sick of these extravaganza halftime shows that Bowl Games ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bring on the Marching Bands - No More Halftime Pageants This has nothing to do with cars or trucks, but about the halftime shows shown at extravaganzas like the Super Bowl and BCS Championship Game. Our stories about auto company and Bridgestone ads stimulated the idea. Super Bowl Halftime Lame - Bring On the Marching Bands I don't know how much Tom Petty cost to entertain the nation for twenty minutes, but it was too much. And it's not that I don't like Tom Petty. I have just gotten sick of these extravaganza halftime shows that Bowl Games ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bring on the Marching Bands - No More Halftime Pageants This has nothing to do with cars or trucks, but about the halftime shows shown at extravaganzas like the Super Bowl and BCS Championship Game. Our stories about auto company and Bridgestone ads stimulated the idea. Super Bowl Halftime Lame - Bring On the Marching Bands I don't know how much Tom Petty cost to entertain the nation for twenty minutes, but it was too much. And it's not that I don't like Tom Petty. I have just gotten sick of these extravaganza halftime shows that Bowl Games ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website GMC Denali XT: Redefining a GMC Truck? At this year's 2008 Chicago Auto Show, GMC is showing off a dramatic new four-door pickup concept. What's interesting about this truck is not its four doors, or even its hybrid powertrain, which is GM's two-mode systemmade E85 capable for the first time and uses a new direct-injection small-block 4.9L V8. What's interesting is that it sits on a platform related to the upcoming Pontiac G8 and Chevrolet Camaro. As a design study for future GMC products, this truck is a home run. That's ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website GMC Denali XT: Redefining a GMC Truck? At this year's 2008 Chicago Auto Show, GMC is showing off a dramatic new four-door pickup concept. What's interesting about this truck is not its four doors, or even its hybrid powertrain, which is GM's two-mode systemmade E85 capable for the first time and uses a new direct-injection small-block 4.9L V8. What's interesting is that it sits on a platform related to the upcoming Pontiac G8 and Chevrolet Camaro. As a design study for future GMC products, this truck is a home run. That's ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website GMC Denali XT: Redefining a GMC Truck? At this year's 2008 Chicago Auto Show, GMC is showing off a dramatic new four-door pickup concept. What's interesting about this truck is not its four doors, or even its hybrid powertrain, which is GM's two-mode systemmade E85 capable for the first time and uses a new direct-injection small-block 4.9L V8. What's interesting is that it sits on a platform related to the upcoming Pontiac G8 and Chevrolet Camaro. As a design study for future GMC products, this truck is a home run. That's ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website GMC Denali XT: Redefining a GMC Truck? At this year's 2008 Chicago Auto Show, GMC is showing off a dramatic new four-door pickup concept. What's interesting about this truck is not its four doors, or even its hybrid powertrain, which is GM's two-mode systemmade E85 capable for the first time and uses a new direct-injection small-block 4.9L V8. What's interesting is that it sits on a platform related to the upcoming Pontiac G8 and Chevrolet Camaro. As a design study for future GMC products, this truck is a home run. That's ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website GMC Denali XT: Redefining a GMC Truck? At this year's 2008 Chicago Auto Show, GMC is showing off a dramatic new four-door pickup concept. What's interesting about this truck is not its four doors, or even its hybrid powertrain, which is GM's two-mode systemmade E85 capable for the first time and uses a new direct-injection small-block 4.9L V8. What's interesting is that it sits on a platform related to the upcoming Pontiac G8 and Chevrolet Camaro. As a design study for future GMC products, this truck is a home run. That's ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website GMC Denali XT: Redefining a GMC Truck? At this year's 2008 Chicago Auto Show, GMC is showing off a dramatic new four-door pickup concept. What's interesting about this truck is not its four doors, or even its hybrid powertrain, which is GM's two-mode system made E85 capable for the first time and uses a new direct-injection small-block 4.9L V8. What's interesting is that it sits on a platform related to the upcoming Pontiac G8 and Chevrolet Camaro. As a design study for future GMC products, this truck is a home run. That's ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exhaust Note #2: GM’s Comeback Trail Much has been made of the recent onslaught of really great cars and trucks from General Motors. It’s particularly amazing for me, an automotive analyst in his thirties, to witness. You see, until very recently, GM – for my whole life – has always been the perpetual underachieving giant; in many ways a symbol of everything wrong with Detroit. I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s – a time when more and more of my generation’s Baby Boomer parents were abandoning GM clunkers in favor of far high ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Super Bowl Ads: Automakers Bring Their A-Games At any given Super Bowl party, half the guests are there with no intention of paying attention to the game. For them, it's all about the commercial breaks. And rightly so -- Super Bowl advertising sets the tone for the rest of the year and provides fodder for water coolers, USA Today and countless blogs for the rest of the week. Everyone always remembers the big productions rolled out by beer companies and junk food manufacturers, but I was wondering whether car companies could step up an ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website BMW X6 - You're Kidding Right? X6 Blisters the Eyes It turns out that others at the North American International Auto Show were agog at the BMW X6. My colleague Jim Hossack related a conversation with senior BMW of North America planner Rich Brekus and it sounded much like my own with him. What is it? "Well, it' a category defining new idea," said Brekus. Who will buy it? "People who want something really different with outstanding performance." I'll give 'em credit, I guarantee the X6 will be wonderful to drive, o ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #91 - The Ford F150 Review - How's it Stack Up to the New Ram? The Ford F150 Review Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #90 - The Dodge Ram Review - How's it Stack Up to the New F150? The Dodge Ram Review Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #89 - The All New Dodge Ram - Was It Worth the Wait? The New Dodge Ram Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Isuzu RIP - The Obituary of American Isuzu Motors Newspapers usually have obituaries pre-written for notable people who may be at risk of demise. We have been watching the deterioration of Isuzu in the USA for years and still hesitated to write its obit. Well, here it is. American Isuzu Motor Company has finally announced that it is pulling out of the light vehicle market in the USA. With sales dwindling to under 10,000 units per year, Isuzu just could not make a go of it even selling only rebadged General Motors SUVs and pickups. I ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Isuzu RIP - The Obituary of American Isuzu Motors Newspapers usually have obituaries pre-written for notable people who may be at risk of demise. We have been watching the deterioration of Isuzu in the USA for years and still hesitated to write its obit. Well, here it is. American Isuzu Motor Company has finally announced that it is pulling out of the light vehicle market in the USA. With sales dwindling to under 10,000 units per year, Isuzu just could not make a go of it even selling only rebadged General Motors SUVs and pickups. I ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Isuzu RIP - The Obituary of American Isuzu Motors Newspapers usually have obituaries pre-written for notable people who may be at risk of demise. We have been watching the deterioration of Isuzu in the USA for years and still hesitated to write its obit. Well, here it is. American Isuzu Motor Company has finally announced that it is pulling out of the light vehicle market in the USA. With sales dwindling to under 10,000 units per year, Isuzu just could not make a go of it even selling only rebadged General Motors SUVs and pickups. I ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #88 - The Brand New F150 - Now with Even More Bells and Whistles The New Ford F150 Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website AutoPacific Announces Ed Kim as Director of Industry Analysis Tustin, California, January 29, 2008. Today AutoPacific announced the appointment of Ed Kim as Director of Industry Analysis. Mr. Kim will manage AutoPacific’s industry analysis services, including competitive analysis and sales forecasting as well as support for AutoPacific’s consulting services. In addition, he will have editorial responsibility for VehicleVoice.com. “We are excited about Ed’s new role here at AutoPacific. His insights, experience, and customer-focus will be an excelle ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exhaust Note #1: It’s Pickup Week at VehicleVoice! (editor’s note: VehicleVoice will now kick off each new week with Exhaust Note, a weekly rant or rave of automotive industry insight. Here’s our first…enjoy!) Pickups Are At Our Core Like ‘em or not, big pickups remain a staple of the American automotive industry, representing one of the biggest chunks of the U.S. automotive market in terms of sales. Last year, full-size pickups represented over 2.1 million sales, or just over 13% of all new light vehicles sold, and AutoPacific, Vehicl ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exhaust Note #1: It’s Pickup Week at VehicleVoice! (editor’s note: VehicleVoice will now kick off each new week with Exhaust Note, a weekly rant or rave of automotive industry insight. Here’s our first…enjoy!) Pickups Are At Our Core Like ‘em or not, big pickups remain a staple of the American automotive industry, representing one of the biggest chunks of the U.S. automotive market in terms of sales. Last year, full-size pickups represented over 2.1 million sales, or just over 13% of all new light vehicles sold, and AutoPacific, Vehicl ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exhaust Note #1: It’s Pickup Week at VehicleVoice! (editor’s note: VehicleVoice will now kick off each new week with Exhaust Note, a weekly rant or rave of automotive industry insight. Here’s our first…enjoy!) Pickups Are At Our Core Like ‘em or not, big pickups remain a staple of the American automotive industry, representing one of the biggest chunks of the U.S. automotive market in terms of sales. Last year, full-size pickups represented over 2.1 million sales, or just over 13% of all new light vehicles sold, and AutoPacific, Vehicl ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Honda Pilot: Bigger, Better, Butt Ugly? Honda unveiled their much anticipated Pilot prototype at the 2008 NAIAS in Detroit. Conveying the design features of the production 2009 Pilot, set to make its debut this spring, this 2nd generation Pilot is tougher, smarter, larger, roomier, stronger, bolder, cleaner and safer than its predecessor. While the specifications of the new Pilot are impressive, there was wide comment about its styling. Tougher-looking, yes, said many auto journalists, but ugly. Some of the descriptors were ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Honda Pilot: Bigger, Better, Butt Ugly? Honda unveiled their much anticipated Pilot prototype at the 2008 NAIAS in Detroit. Conveying the design features of the production 2009 Pilot, set to make its debut this spring, this 2nd generation Pilot is tougher, smarter, larger, roomier, stronger, bolder, cleaner and safer than its predecessor. While the specifications of the new Pilot are impressive, there was wide comment about its styling. Tougher-looking, yes, said many auto journalists, but ugly. Some of the descriptors were ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Honda Pilot: Bigger, Better, Butt Ugly? Honda unveiled their much anticipated Pilot prototype at the 2008 NAIAS in Detroit. Conveying the design features of the production 2009 Pilot, set to make its debut this spring, this 2nd generation Pilot is tougher, smarter, larger, roomier, stronger, bolder, cleaner and safer than its predecessor. While the specifications of the new Pilot are impressive, there was wide comment about its styling. Tougher-looking, yes, said many auto journalists, but ugly. Some of the descriptors were ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #87 - Exclusive Detroit Auto Show Walk Through Exclusive Walk through the North American International Auto Show Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Honda Pilot: Bigger, Better, Butt Ugly? Honda unveiled their much anticipated Pilot prototype at the 2008 NAIAS in Detroit. Conveying the design features of the production 2009 Pilot, set to make its debut this spring, this 2nd generation Pilot is tougher, smarter, larger, roomier, stronger, bolder, cleaner and safer than its predecessor. While the specifications of the new Pilot are impressive, there was wide comment about its styling. Tougher-looking, yes, said many auto journalists, but ugly. Some of the descriptors were ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #85 - Lincoln MKS: A Fox in the Lexus Henhouse? The Lincoln MKS Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website What Are The Top Vehicles Purchased by Tech Savvy Buyers? According to AutoPacific's annual survey of new car and light truck acquirers, the BMW 3-Series, Acura MDX, Lexus RX, Honda Accord, and Infiniti QX56 attract the most tech savvy buyers. Tech savvy consumers made up approximately 5% of the new car buying population in 2007, up from just 2% in 2006. As Gen Y matures and enters the new vehicle market in greater numbers, AutoPacific expects these numbers to continue their growth. Tech savvy car buyers were defined utilizing a collection of data ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Saturn Lineup– The Newest Lineup in the USA It’s official. Saturn is no longer the brand with quirky composite commuters we remember at launch in 1990 and their recent transformation has been made with a swift but calculated hand from the European market. 2008 Astra Saturn’s lineup of completely new vehicles brought to us by way of Opel integration brings the brand up-market and solidifies Saturn as GM’s answer to fight foreign competition. 2007 Saturn Sky Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Invisible Explorer Say it isn’t so! I sincerely hope that I’m wrong on this one, or at least over-reacting. Ford’s initial Press conference at the 2008 North American International Auto Show left me wondering, “”What about the Explorer?” Ford began the Sunday with Bill Ford, Mark Fields, Country music superstar Toby Keith, and enough fireworks and decibels to put a chill up your spine. We were shown the newly-redesigned F-150, the Verve Concept, and a herd of Mustangs. We saw the Explorer America Concept ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Greenest Detroit Auto Show Ever In some ways, the 2008 North American Automobile Show was like most other recent major auto shows. Once again, automakers went out of their way to show us how hard they are trying to protect the environment and reduce our dependent for foreign oil. General Motors and Toyota lead the rhetoric. Each claims to have a broad spectrum of programs that range from alternate fuels for internal combustion engines to full electric vehicles. I have to weigh in on this issue, because I’m seeing two ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Saturn Lineup – The Newest Lineup in the USA It’s official. Saturn is no longer the brand with quirky composite commuters we remember at launch in 1990 and their recent transformation has been made with a swift but calculated hand from the European market. 2008 Astra Saturn’s lineup of completely new vehicles brought to us by way of Opel integration brings the brand up-market and solidifies Saturn as GM’s answer to fight foreign competition. 2007 Saturn Sky Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Powertrain Trends at NAIAS New Game; Many Players; Winners Unclear! There was a lot of action at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week. Clearly the industry is more interested in Green, and more interested in fuel economy (well, at least in legislated CAFE, Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirements) than ever before. Virtually all major manufacturers are working on clean diesels, gas hybrids, diesel hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hybrids with nickel-metal hydride batteries, with some form o ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Greenest Detroit Auto Show Ever In some ways, the 2008 North American Automobile Show was like most other recent major auto shows. Once again, automakers went out of their way to show us how hard they are trying to protect the environment and reduce our dependent for foreign oil. General Motors and Toyota lead the rhetoric. Each claims to have a broad spectrum of programs that range from alternate fuels for internal combustion engines to full electric vehicles. I have to weigh in on this issue, because I’m seeing two ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mitsubishi RA Concept - North American International Auto Show Mitsubishi showed its RA Concept at the North American International Auto Show. The RA is a two-seat diesel powered sports car with styling cues that telegraph shapes to come from Mitsubishi. Designed by perhaps the tallest styling team in the industry, both the Chief Designer and Interior Designer are well over 6-feet 5-inches tall. Dave O'Connell, Chief Designer, who is about 6-feet 7-inches tall admitted they "kept shaving off height until the car looked fabulous". And fabulous it ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mitsubishi RA Concept - North American International Auto Show Mitsubishi showed its RA Concept at the North American International Auto Show. The RA is a two-seat diesel powered sports car with styling cues that telegraph shapes to come from Mitsubishi. Designed by perhaps the tallest styling team in the industry, both the Chief Designer and Interior Designer are well over 6-feet 5-inches tall. Dave O'Connell, Chief Designer, who is about 6-feet 7-inches tall admitted they "kept shaving off height until the car looked fabulous". And fabulous it ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mitsubishi RA Concept - North American International Auto Show Mitsubishi showed its RA Concept at the North American International Auto Show. The RA is a two-seat diesel powered sports car with styling cues that telegraph shapes to come from Mitsubishi. Designed by perhaps the tallest styling team in the industry, both the Chief Designer and Interior Designer are well over 6-feet 5-inches tall. Dave O'Connell, Chief Designer, who is about 6-feet 7-inches tall admitted they "kept shaving off height until the car looked fabulous". And fabulous it ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Powertrain Trends at NAIAS New Game; Many Players; Winners Unclear! There was a lot of action at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week. Clearly the industry is more interested in Green, and more interested in fuel economy (well, at least in legislated CAFE, Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirements) than ever before. Virtually all major manufacturers are working on clean diesels, gas hybrids, diesel hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hybrids with nickel-metal hydride batteries, with some form o ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 NAIAS Audi TTS: A Good Thing Gets Better. The VehicleVoice editorial management staff if very good to me. Being primarily on the consumer research side of AutoPacific I’m not the first choice for industry analysis or vehicle evaluations. In spite of this, I get some pretty cool assignments. Having the opportunity to drive the 2007 Audi TT along California’s Riviera this past summer was one of those assignments. The newest interpretation the Audi’s iconic design clearly exceeds its predecessor in every way. The challenge of re- ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Tang Hua Lineup: Cars for Renowned Environmentalists We’d like to preface this entry by saying that we know that the Chinese are learning fast, and that we acknowledge that they are definitely coming here in the near future and will be a force to be reckoned with. And honestly, we’re really not trying to add to the wariness surrounding Chinese products these days. Still, the Tang Hua lineup of electric cars – and their auto show display – provided us with just a little too much fodder to resist a few jabs. Electric Runabouts Have, Um, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Tang Hua Lineup: Cars for Renowned Environmentalists We’d like to preface this entry by saying that we know that the Chinese are learning fast, and that we acknowledge that they are definitely coming here in the near future and will be a force to be reckoned with. And honestly, we’re really not trying to add to the wariness surrounding Chinese products these days. Still, the Tang Hua lineup of electric cars – and their auto show display – provided us with just a little too much fodder to resist a few jabs. Electric Runabouts Have, Um, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Tang Hua Lineup: Cars for Renowned Environmentalists We’d like to preface this entry by saying that we know that the Chinese are learning fast, and that we acknowledge that they are definitely coming here in the near future and will be a force to be reckoned with. And honestly, we’re really not trying to add to the wariness surrounding Chinese products these days. Still, the Tang Hua lineup of electric cars – and their auto show display – provided us with just a little too much fodder to resist a few jabs. Electric Runabouts Have, Um, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Tang Hua Lineup: Cars for Renowned Environmentalists We’d like to preface this entry by saying that we know that the Chinese are learning fast, and that we acknowledge that they are definitely coming here in the near future and will be a force to be reckoned with. And honestly, we’re really not trying to add to the wariness surrounding Chinese products these days. Still, the Tang Hua lineup of electric cars – and their auto show display – provided us with just a little too much fodder to resist a few jabs. Electric Runabouts Have, Um, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lincoln MKT - VehicleVoice Best of Show Best of Show You always go to an autoshow with the hope that there will be a truly outstanding example there. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific's eight staffers at the 2008 North American International Auto Show were extremely impressed with the Lincoln MKT concept vehicle. A vehicle we will call a Crossover SUV, the MKT is in many ways similar to General Motors Lambda Crossover SUVs and especially the Buick Enclave. The thing that makes MKT special is its exterior styling which uses all s ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lincoln MKT - VehicleVoice Best of Show Best of Show You always go to an autoshow with the hope that there will be a truly outstanding example there. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific's eight staffers at the 2008 North American International Auto Show were extremely impressed with the Lincoln MKT concept vehicle. A vehicle we will call a Crossover SUV, the MKT is in many ways similar to General Motors Lambda Crossover SUVs and especially the Buick Enclave. The thing that makes MKT special is its exterior styling which uses all s ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lincoln MKT - VehicleVoice Best of Show Best of Show You always go to an autoshow with the hope that there will be a truly outstanding example there. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific's eight staffers at the 2008 North American International Auto Show were extremely impressed with the Lincoln MKT concept vehicle. A vehicle we will call a Crossover SUV, the MKT is in many ways similar to General Motors Lambda Crossover SUVs and especially the Buick Enclave. The thing that makes MKT special is its exterior styling which uses all s ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lincoln MKT - VehicleVoice Best of Show Best of Show You always go to an autoshow with the hope that there will be a truly outstanding example there. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific's eight staffers at the 2008 North American International Auto Show were extremely impressed with the Lincoln MKT concept vehicle. A vehicle we will call a Crossover SUV, the MKT is in many ways similar to General Motors Lambda Crossover SUVs and especially the Buick Enclave. The thing that makes MKT special is its exterior styling which uses all s ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lincoln MKT - VehicleVoice Best of Show Best of Show You always go to an autoshow with the hope that there will be a truly outstanding example there. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific's eight staffers at the 2008 North American International Auto Show were extremely impressed with the Lincoln MKT concept vehicle. A vehicle we will call a Crossover SUV, the MKT is in many ways similar to General Motors Lambda Crossover SUVs and especially the Buick Enclave. The thing that makes MKT special is its exterior styling which uses all s ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lincoln MKT - VehicleVoice Best of Show Best of Show You always go to an autoshow with the hope that there will be a truly outstanding example there. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific's eight staffers at the 2008 North American International Auto Show were extremely impressed with the Lincoln MKT concept vehicle. A vehicle we will call a Crossover SUV, the MKT is in many ways similar to General Motors Lambda Crossover SUVs and especially the Buick Enclave. The thing that makes MKT special is its exterior styling which uses all s ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lincoln MKT - VehicleVoice Best of Show Best of Show You always go to an autoshow with the hope that there will be a truly outstanding example there. VehicleVoice and AutoPacific's eight staffers at the 2008 North American International Auto Show were extremely impressed with the Lincoln MKT concept vehicle. A vehicle we will call a Crossover SUV, the MKT is in many ways similar to General Motors Lambda Crossover SUVs and especially the Buick Enclave. The thing that makes MKT special is its exterior styling which uses all ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Volkswagen Passat CC: A 4-Door Coupe, Or a Very Pretty Sedan? High-Style 4-Door Aims to Show That VW’s Styling Mojo is Alive and Well Volkswagen unveiled the Passat CC at NAIAS today, and it really is a looker. Long, low, and sleek, it aims to be a statement of cutting edge design: an artistic blending of cutting edge product design and everyday practicality. When it goes on sale later in the year, it will supplement the standard issue Passat sedan, giving the Passat lineup three unique bodystyles – sedan, wagon, and this third variant. In keeping ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Volkswagen Passat CC: A 4-Door Coupe, Or a Very Pretty Sedan? High-Style 4-Door Aims to Show That VW’s Styling Mojo is Alive and Well Volkswagen unveiled the Passat CC at NAIAS today, and it really is a looker. Long, low, and sleek, it aims to be a statement of cutting edge design: an artistic blending of cutting edge product design and everyday practicality. When it goes on sale later in the year, it will supplement the standard issue Passat sedan, giving the Passat lineup three unique bodystyles – sedan, wagon, and this third variant. In keeping ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Volkswagen Passat CC: A 4-Door Coupe, Or a Very Pretty Sedan? High-Style 4-Door Aims to Show That VW’s Styling Mojo is Alive and Well Volkswagen unveiled the Passat CC at NAIAS today, and it really is a looker. Long, low, and sleek, it aims to be a statement of cutting edge design: an artistic blending of cutting edge product design and everyday practicality. When it goes on sale later in the year, it will supplement the standard issue Passat sedan, giving the Passat lineup three unique bodystyles – sedan, wagon, and this third variant. In keeping ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Volkswagen Passat CC: A 4-Door Coupe, Or a Very Pretty Sedan? High-Style 4-Door Aims to Show That VW’s Styling Mojo is Alive and Well Volkswagen unveiled the Passat CC at NAIAS today, and it really is a looker. Long, low, and sleek, it aims to be a statement of cutting edge design: an artistic blending of cutting edge product design and everyday practicality. When it goes on sale later in the year, it will supplement the standard issue Passat sedan, giving the Passat lineup three unique bodystyles – sedan, wagon, and this third variant. In keeping ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mercedes-Benz Vision GLK FREESIDE: Baby Benz SUV Only the night before the official reveal at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz borrowed Detroit's Museum of Contemporary Modern Art for a media sneak preview of their Vision GLK FREESIDE. Presented by Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the concept is not a hypothetical exercise. This C-Class-based small SUV will be in showrooms in January 2009. Dr. Zetsche reminded us the C-Class has grown up since the sedan was first known as the Baby Benz, but the GLK will be ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mercedes-Benz Vision GLK FREESIDE: Baby Benz SUV Only the night before the official reveal at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz borrowed Detroit's Museum of Contemporary Modern Art for a media sneak preview of their Vision GLK FREESIDE. Presented by Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the concept is not a hypothetical exercise. This C-Class-based small SUV will be in showrooms in January 2009. Dr. Zetsche reminded us the C-Class has grown up since the sedan was first known as the Baby Benz, but the GLK will be ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mercedes-Benz Vision GLK FREESIDE: Baby Benz SUV Only the night before the official reveal at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz borrowed Detroit's Museum of Contemporary Modern Art for a media sneak preview of their Vision GLK FREESIDE. Presented by Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the concept is not a hypothetical exercise. This C-Class-based small SUV will be in showrooms in January 2009. Dr. Zetsche reminded us the C-Class has grown up since the sedan was first known as the Baby Benz, but the GLK will be ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mercedes-Benz Vision GLK FREESIDE: Baby Benz SUV Only the night before the official reveal at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz borrowed Detroit's Museum of Contemporary Modern Art for a media sneak preview of their Vision GLK FREESIDE. Presented by Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the concept is not a hypothetical exercise. This C-Class-based small SUV will be in showrooms in January 2009. Dr. Zetsche reminded us the C-Class has grown up since the sedan was first known as the Baby Benz, but the GLK will be ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mercedes-Benz Vision GLK FREESIDE: Baby Benz SUV Only the night before the official reveal at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz borrowed Detroit's Museum of Contemporary Modern Art for a media sneak preview of their Vision GLK FREESIDE. Presented by Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the concept is not a hypothetical exercise. This C-Class-based small SUV will be in showrooms in January 2009. Dr. Zetsche reminded us the C-Class has grown up since the sedan was first known as the Baby Benz, but the GLK will be ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mercedes-Benz Vision GLK FREESIDE: Baby Benz SUV Only the night before the official reveal at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz borrowed Detroit's Museum of Contemporary Modern Art for a media sneak preview of their Vision GLK FREESIDE. Presented by Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the concept is not a hypothetical exercise. This C-Class-based small SUV will be in showrooms in January 2009. Dr. Zetsche reminded us the C-Class has grown up since the sedan was first known as the Baby Benz, but the GLK will be ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mercedes-Benz Vision GLK FREESIDE: Baby Benz SUV Only the night before the official reveal at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz borrowed Detroit's Museum of Contemporary Modern Art for a media sneak preview of their Vision GLK FREESIDE. Presented by Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the concept is not a hypothetical exercise. This C-Class-based small SUV will be in showrooms in January 2009. Dr. Zetsche reminded us the C-Class has grown up since the sedan was first known as the Baby Benz, but the GLK will be ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mercedes-Benz Vision GLK FREESIDE: Baby Benz SUV Only the night before the official reveal at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz borrowed Detroit's Museum of Contemporary Modern Art for a media sneak preview of their Vision GLK FREESIDE. Presented by Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche, the concept is not a hypothetical exercise. This C-Class-based small SUV will be in showrooms in January 2009. Dr. Zetsche reminded us the C-Class has grown up since the sedan was first known as the Baby Benz, but the GLK will be ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hyundai Genesis: Conservative Sedan Holds Promise for Interesting Future Product Hyundai’s First Luxury Sedan is Packed with Impressive Specs Hyundai unveiled the production Genesis luxury sedan that was previewed last year in concept form at the New York Auto Show. The production version has hardly changed except for the front and rear fascias; it’s a pleasant looking big sedan that definitely pays homage to some of the more aspirational luxury cars out there, albeit in a most conservative manner. No doubt, this is one impressive Hyundai. It’s the first rear drive ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hyundai Genesis: Conservative Sedan Holds Promise for Interesting Future Product Hyundai’s First Luxury Sedan is Packed with Impressive Specs Hyundai unveiled the production Genesis luxury sedan that was previewed last year in concept form at the New York Auto Show. The production version has hardly changed except for the front and rear fascias; it’s a pleasant looking big sedan that definitely pays homage to some of the more aspirational luxury cars out there, albeit in a most conservative manner. No doubt, this is one impressive Hyundai. It’s the first rear drive ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hyundai Genesis: Conservative Sedan Holds Promise for Interesting Future Product Hyundai’s First Luxury Sedan is Packed with Impressive Specs Hyundai unveiled the production Genesis luxury sedan that was previewed last year in concept form at the New York Auto Show. The production version has hardly changed except for the front and rear fascias; it’s a pleasant looking big sedan that definitely pays homage to some of the more aspirational luxury cars out there, albeit in a most conservative manner. No doubt, this is one impressive Hyundai. It’s the first rear drive ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup All-New Ram 1500 Dodge has just introduced the all-new 2009 model year Ram pickup. So called "half ton" or 1500 series model will be available in dealers in the fall of 2008. The 2009 version of the Dodge Ram pickup has an all-new exterior and interior appearance, an upgraded powertrain, new chassis, and several new features, many of them first-in-class. Three cab configurations are available: Regular Cab, Quad Cab, and Crew Cab. The new exterior appearance builds on the big-rig the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup All-New Ram 1500 Dodge has just introduced the all-new 2009 model year Ram pickup. So called "half ton" or 1500 series model will be available in dealers in the fall of 2008. The 2009 version of the Dodge Ram pickup has an all-new exterior and interior appearance, an upgraded powertrain, new chassis, and several new features, many of them first-in-class. Three cab configurations are available: Regular Cab, Quad Cab, and Crew Cab. The new exterior appearance builds on the big-rig the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Verve Previews 2010 Small Car - North American International Auto Show Ford Targets Millenials with Verve Ford will re-enter the small-car segment in the States, one they haven't really played in here since the not-missed Ford Aspire (often referred to as the Ford "Despair"). If the Verve concepts are anything to go by, Ford is preparing a car that people actually may want to own. Ford of Europe has done well with its small cars, including the current Fiesta. But small cars have been notoriously unprofitable when built in the States where small cars are sol ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Verve Previews 2010 Small Car - North American International Auto Show Ford Targets Millenials with Verve Ford will re-enter the small-car segment in the States, one they haven't really played in here since the not-missed Ford Aspire (often referred to as the Ford "Despair"). If the Verve concepts are anything to go by, Ford is preparing a car that people actually may want to own. Ford of Europe has done well with its small cars, including the current Fiesta. But small cars have been notoriously unprofitable when built in the States where small cars are sol ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Verve Previews 2010 Small Car - North American International Auto Show Ford Targets Millenials with Verve Ford will re-enter the small-car segment in the States, one they haven't really played in here since the not-missed Ford Aspire (often referred to as the Ford "Despair"). If the Verve concepts are anything to go by, Ford is preparing a car that people actually may want to own. Ford of Europe has done well with its small cars, including the current Fiesta. But small cars have been notoriously unprofitable when built in the States where small cars are sol ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Verve Previews 2010 Small Car - North American International Auto Show Ford Targets Millenials with Verve Ford will re-enter the small-car segment in the States, one they haven't really played in here since the not-missed Ford Aspire (often referred to as the Ford "Despair"). If the Verve concepts are anything to go by, Ford is preparing a car that people actually may want to own. Ford of Europe has done well with its small cars, including the current Fiesta. But small cars have been notoriously unprofitable when built in the States where small cars are sol ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Verve Previews 2010 Small Car - North American International Auto Show Ford Targets Millenials with Verve Ford will re-enter the small-car segment in the States, one they haven't really played in here since the not-missed Ford Aspire (often referred to as the Ford "Despair"). If the Verve concepts are anything to go by, Ford is preparing a car that people actually may want to own. Ford of Europe has done well with its small cars, including the current Fiesta. But small cars have been notoriously unprofitable when built in the States where small cars are sol ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Verve Previews 2010 Small Car - North American International Auto Show Ford Targets Millenials with Verve Ford will re-enter the small-car segment in the States, one they haven't really played in here since the not-missed Ford Aspire (often referred to as the Ford "Despair"). If the Verve concepts are anything to go by, Ford is preparing a car that people actually may want to own. Ford of Europe has done well with its small cars, including the current Fiesta. But small cars have been notoriously unprofitable when built in the States where small cars are sol ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Verve Previews 2010 Small Car - North American International Auto Show Ford Targets Millenials with Verve Ford will re-enter the small-car segment in the States, one they haven't really played in here since the not-missed Ford Aspire (often referred to as the Ford "Despair"). If the Verve concepts are anything to go by, Ford is preparing a car that people actually may want to own. Ford of Europe has done well with its small cars, including the current Fiesta. But small cars have been notoriously unprofitable when built in the States where small cars are sol ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Verve Previews 2010 Small Car - North American International Auto Show Ford Targets Millenials with Verve Ford will re-enter the small-car segment in the States, one they haven't really played in here since the not-missed Ford Aspire (often referred to as the Ford "Despair"). If the Verve concepts are anything to go by, Ford is preparing a car that people actually may want to own. Ford of Europe has done well with its small cars, including the current Fiesta. But small cars have been notoriously unprofitable when built in the States where small cars are sol ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Verve Previews 2010 Small Car - North American International Auto Show Ford Targets Millenials with Verve Ford will re-enter the small-car segment in the States, one they haven't really played in here since the not-missed Ford Aspire (often referred to as the Ford "Despair"). If the Verve concepts are anything to go by, Ford is preparing a car that people actually may want to own. Ford of Europe has done well with its small cars, including the current Fiesta. But small cars have been notoriously unprofitable when built in the States where small cars are sol ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Verve Previews 2010 Small Car - North American International Auto Show Ford Targets Millenials with Verve Ford will re-enter the small-car segment in the States, one they haven't really played in here since the not-missed Ford Aspire (often referred to as the Ford "Despair"). If the Verve concepts are anything to go by, Ford is preparing a car that people actually may want to own. Ford of Europe has done well with its small cars, including the current Fiesta. But small cars have been notoriously unprofitable when built in the States where small cars are sol ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Verve Previews 2010 Small Car - North American International Auto Show Ford Targets Millenials with Verve Ford will re-enter the small-car segment in the States, one they haven't really played in here since the not-missed Ford Aspire (often referred to as the Ford "Despair"). If the Verve concepts are anything to go by, Ford is preparing a car that people actually may want to own. Ford of Europe has done well with its small cars, including the current Fiesta. But small cars have been notoriously unprofitable when built in the States where small cars are sol ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Verve Previews 2010 Small Car - North American International Auto Show Ford Targets Millenials with Verve Ford will re-enter the small-car segment in the States, one they haven't really played in here since the not-missed Ford Aspire (often referred to as the Ford "Despair"). If the Verve concepts are anything to go by, Ford is preparing a car that people actually may want to own. Ford of Europe has done well with its small cars, including the current Fiesta. But small cars have been notoriously unprofitable when built in the States where small cars are sol ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Verve Previews 2010 Small Car - North American International Auto Show Ford Targets Millenials with Verve Ford will re-enter the small-car segment in the States, one they haven't really played in here since the not-missed Ford Aspire (often referred to as the Ford "Despair"). If the Verve concepts are anything to go by, Ford is preparing a car that people actually may want to own. Ford of Europe has done well with its small cars, including the current Fiesta. But small cars have been notoriously unprofitable when built in the States where small cars are sol ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Audi R8 V12 TDI Concept: Power and Torque Can Audi Make Diesel Sexy? Enthusiasts the world over have been taken in by Audi's R8, which launched with a 420HP V8. At the 2008 North American International Auto Show, Audi fits an updated version of their racing V12 diesel into the mid-engined supercar. In racing form, the 650HP 6.0L V12 diesel has been winning since 2006 and, Audi hopes, changing the American impression of diesel engines as smelly, loud, and slow. After the 2007 600HP Q7 V12 TDI Concept, this year Audi checks reacti ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saab 9-4X Concept: Finally, A Saab For the Times? The World Has Caught Up to Saab…Or So Saab Hopes For years and years, Saab has been struggling to find a happy medium between maintaining its unique and renowned character and possessing enough mainstream virtues to appeal to an audience big enough to sustain profitable volumes. It’s lucky for them that consumer values may be shifting in ways that make traditional Saab values suddenly more relevant. What has made a vehicle uniquely a Saab? This has generally meant unique (and sometimes q ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saab 9-4X Concept: Finally, A Saab For the Times? The World Has Caught Up to Saab…Or So Saab Hopes For years and years, Saab has been struggling to find a happy medium between maintaining its unique and renowned character and possessing enough mainstream virtues to appeal to an audience big enough to sustain profitable volumes. It’s lucky for them that consumer values may be shifting in ways that make traditional Saab values suddenly more relevant. What has made a vehicle uniquely a Saab? This has generally meant unique (and sometimes q ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saab 9-4X Concept: Finally, A Saab For the Times? The World Has Caught Up to Saab…Or So Saab Hopes For years and years, Saab has been struggling to find a happy medium between maintaining its unique and renowned character and possessing enough mainstream virtues to appeal to an audience big enough to sustain profitable volumes. It’s lucky for them that consumer values may be shifting in ways that make traditional Saab values suddenly more relevant. What has made a vehicle uniquely a Saab? This has generally meant unique (and sometimes q ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saab 9-4X Concept: Finally, A Saab For the Times? The World Has Caught Up to Saab…Or So Saab Hopes For years and years, Saab has been struggling to find a happy medium between maintaining its unique and renowned character and possessing enough mainstream virtues to appeal to an audience big enough to sustain profitable volumes. It’s lucky for them that consumer values may be shifting in ways that make traditional Saab values suddenly more relevant. What has made a vehicle uniquely a Saab? This has generally meant unique (and sometimes q ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Scion xB Release 5.0 Popular Release Series Continues with Second-Generation xB In an effort both to freshen the vehicle and to inspire buyers to do their own customization, Scion began offering Release Series special editions with the first xB. There were four with the first generation, none built in quantities of more than 2500 units, and the first for the second generation is on display at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. Release Series 5.0, continues the number sequence began with the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Scion xB Release 5.0 Popular Release Series Continues with Second-Generation xB In an effort both to freshen the vehicle and to inspire buyers to do their own customization, Scion began offering Release Series special editions with the first xB. There were four with the first generation, none built in quantities of more than 2500 units, and the first for the second generation is on display at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. Release Series 5.0, continues the number sequence began with the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Scion xB Release 5.0 Popular Release Series Continues with Second-Generation xB In an effort both to freshen the vehicle and to inspire buyers to do their own customization, Scion began offering Release Series special editions with the first xB. There were four with the first generation, none built in quantities of more than 2500 units, and the first for the second generation is on display at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. Release Series 5.0, continues the number sequence began with the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Scion xB Release 5.0 Popular Release Series Continues with Second-Generation xB In an effort both to freshen the vehicle and to inspire buyers to do their own customization, Scion began offering Release Series special editions with the first xB. There were four with the first generation, none built in quantities of more than 2500 units, and the first for the second generation is on display at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. Release Series 5.0, continues the number sequence began with the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK: Light Update Freshened Look and Improved V6 Engines for Baby Benz Roadster Among the vehicles due on Mercedes-Benz' 2008 North American International Auto Show stand this January is a revised SLK. Sales are slated for April 2008. 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 The updated SLK sports a revised nose and rear fascia, strengthening the car's visual ties to the big bad SLR McLaren supercar, and a few changes to the interior. The V6 engines are updated for more power and reduced emissions, though AMG's 5.5L ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK: Light Update Freshened Look and Improved V6 Engines for Baby Benz Roadster Among the vehicles due on Mercedes-Benz' 2008 North American International Auto Show stand this January is a revised SLK. Sales are slated for April 2008. 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 The updated SLK sports a revised nose and rear fascia, strengthening the car's visual ties to the big bad SLR McLaren supercar, and a few changes to the interior. The V6 engines are updated for more power and reduced emissions, though AMG's 5.5L ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK: Light Update Freshened Look and Improved V6 Engines for Baby Benz Roadster Among the vehicles due on Mercedes-Benz' 2008 North American International Auto Show stand this January is a revised SLK. Sales are slated for April 2008. 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 The updated SLK sports a revised nose and rear fascia, strengthening the car's visual ties to the big bad SLR McLaren supercar, and a few changes to the interior. The V6 engines are updated for more power and reduced emissions, though AMG's 5.5L ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK: Light Update Freshened Look and Improved V6 Engines for Baby Benz Roadster Among the vehicles due on Mercedes-Benz' 2008 North American International Auto Show stand this January is a revised SLK. Sales are slated for April 2008. 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 The updated SLK sports a revised nose and rear fascia, strengthening the car's visual ties to the big bad SLR McLaren supercar, and a few changes to the interior. The V6 engines are updated for more power and reduced emissions, though AMG's 5.5L ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK: Light Update Freshened Look and Improved V6 Engines for Baby Benz Roadster Among the vehicles due on Mercedes-Benz' 2008 North American International Auto Show stand this January is a revised SLK. Sales are slated for April 2008. 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 The updated SLK sports a revised nose and rear fascia, strengthening the car's visual ties to the big bad SLR McLaren supercar, and a few changes to the interior. The V6 engines are updated for more power and reduced emissions, though AMG's 5.5L ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK: Light Update Freshened Look and Improved V6 Engines for Baby Benz Roadster Among the vehicles due on Mercedes-Benz' 2008 North American International Auto Show stand this January is a revised SLK. Sales are slated for April 2008. 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 The updated SLK sports a revised nose and rear fascia, strengthening the car's visual ties to the big bad SLR McLaren supercar, and a few changes to the interior. The V6 engines are updated for more power and reduced emissions, though AMG's 5.5L ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Scion xB Release 5.0 Popular Release Series Continues with Second-Generation xB In an effort both to freshen the vehicle and to inspire buyers to do their own customization, Scion began offering Release Series special editions with the first xB. There were four with the first generation, none built in quantities of more than 2500 units, and the first for the second generation is on display at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. Release Series 5.0, continues the number sequence began with the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Land Rover LRX Concept: Times are Definitely Changing LRX Demonstrates Atomization of the SUV Market Not all that long ago, we (and most other pundits) would have prescribed a pretty failsafe formula for how to create a successful SUV. Make it big, make it really upright, and give it plenty of power, OPEC be damned. Sure, everyone knows now that fuel prices are high, driving demand for more efficient means of transportation, but there are plenty of other factors driving the atomization of the once cookie-cutter SUV market. Whatever you want ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Land Rover LRX Concept: Times are Definitely Changing LRX Demonstrates Atomization of the SUV Market Not all that long ago, we (and most other pundits) would have prescribed a pretty failsafe formula for how to create a successful SUV. Make it big, make it really upright, and give it plenty of power, OPEC be damned. Sure, everyone knows now that fuel prices are high, driving demand for more efficient means of transportation, but there are plenty of other factors driving the atomization of the once cookie-cutter SUV market. Whatever you want ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK: Light Update Freshened Look and Improved V6 Engines for Baby Benz Roadster Among the vehicles due on Mercedes-Benz' 2008 North American International Auto Show stand this January is a revised SLK. Sales are slated for April 2008. 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 The updated SLK sports a revised nose and rear fascia, strengthening the car's visual ties to the big bad SLR McLaren supercar, and a few changes to the interior. The V6 engines are updated for more power and reduced emissions, though AMG's 5.5L ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website BMW Advanced Diesel: Finally, the Ultimate Oil Burning Machine? BMW Joins the Effort to Spread the Diesel Gospel If there’s one company out there whose powertrain reputation is beyond reproach, it’s easily BMW. Some underwhelming 4-cylinders from the 80s and 90s aside, it’s hard to point out any BMW motors that weren’t powerful, engaging, soulful, and indestructible. Except for the indestructible part, those descriptors certainly don’t describe diesel, at least in the minds of North American drivers. In case you hadn’t heard, the Europeans are firing ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website BMW Advanced Diesel: Finally, the Ultimate Oil Burning Machine? BMW Joins the Effort to Spread the Diesel Gospel If there’s one company out there whose powertrain reputation is beyond reproach, it’s easily BMW. Some underwhelming 4-cylinders from the 80s and 90s aside, it’s hard to point out any BMW motors that weren’t powerful, engaging, soulful, and indestructible. Except for the indestructible part, those descriptors certainly don’t describe diesel, at least in the minds of North American drivers. In case you hadn’t heard, the Europeans are firing ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Land Rover LRX Concept: Times are Definitely Changing LRX Demonstrates Atomization of the SUV Market Not all that long ago, we (and most other pundits) would have prescribed a pretty failsafe formula for how to create a successful SUV. Make it big, make it really upright, and give it plenty of power, OPEC be damned. Sure, everyone knows now that fuel prices are high, driving demand for more efficient means of transportation, but there are plenty of other factors driving the atomization of the once cookie-cutter SUV market. Whatever you want ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Chevrolet Impala 50th Anniversary Edition: Does 50 Years Deserve a Bigger Party? Mild Trim Package Celebrates 50 Years of Impala Though the nameplate has certainly seen its share of ups and downs, there’s no denyingthat the Impala has been a core staple of the Chevrolet lineup. And behold – now there’s a 50th anniversary special edition commemorating its place in mainstream America’s driveways. Actually, if you wanted to be really picky it should be the 41st Anniversary Impala, given that the nameplate went into retirement from 1985-1994, but we’ll let Chevy have th ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website BMW Advanced Diesel: Finally, the Ultimate Oil Burning Machine? BMW Joins the Effort to Spread the Diesel Gospel If there’s one company out there whose powertrain reputation is beyond reproach, it’s easily BMW. Some underwhelming 4-cylinders from the 80s and 90s aside, it’s hard to point out any BMW motors that weren’t powerful, engaging, soulful, and indestructible. Except for the indestructible part, those descriptors certainly don’t describe diesel, at least in the minds of North American drivers. In case you hadn’t heard, the Europeans are firing ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Tata Nano - World's Cheapest Car Tata Motors of India announced its Tata Nano micro car today. In Tata's press release they refer to the Nano as "The People's Car". Priced at $2,500, the Nano is minimalist transportation at best. Designed to carry five, the Nano is described by Tataas an "all-weather car" which should tell you something. At 122-inches long, 59-inches wide and 62 inches tall, the Nano will not take up much road. As a comparison, the smart car which will soon be sold in the USA is 106-inches long, 62-in ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Tata Nano - World's Cheapest Car Tata Motors of India announced its Tata Nano micro car today. In Tata's press release they refer to the Nano as "The People's Car". Priced at $2,500, the Nano is minimalist transportation at best. Designed to carry five, the Nano is described by Tataas an "all-weather car" which should tell you something. At 122-inches long, 59-inches wide and 62 inches tall, the Nano will not take up much road. As a comparison, the smart car which will soon be sold in the USA is 106-inches long, 62-in ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Chevrolet Impala 50th Anniversary Edition: Does 50 Years Deserve a Bigger Party? Mild Trim Package Celebrates 50 Years of Impala Though the nameplate has certainly seen its share of ups and downs, there’s no denying that the Impala has been a core staple of the Chevrolet lineup. And behold – now there’s a 50th anniversary special edition commemorating its place in mainstream America’s driveways. Actually, if you wanted to be really picky it should be the 41st Anniversary Impala, given that the nameplate went into retirement from 1985-1994, but we’ll let Chevy have t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Tata Nano - World's Cheapest Car Tata Motors of India announced its Tata Nano micro car today. In Tata's press release they refer to the Nano as "The People's Car". Priced at $2,500, the Nano is minimalist transportation at best. Designed to carry five, the Nano is described by Tata as an "all-weather car" which should tell you something. At 122-inches long, 59-inches wide and 62 inches tall, the Nano will not take up much road. As a comparison, the smart car which will soon be sold in the USA is 106-inches long, 62-i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website What really happened to Pickup Sales in 2007? How bad was it? Full year 2007 sales results are now in, so it is an appropriate time to look back and see what really happened last year. The popular press suggests that pickup sales collapsed in the face of higher fuel prices, but is that what really happened? Total U.S. pickup sales actually declined from 2.9 million units in 2006 to 2.7 million in 2007, a reduction of about 170,000 units or 6%. But wait...the total industry declined as well, so actually pickup share of market actually ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Nissan Forum: When is a Minivan Not a Minivan? When It's a FORUM. Nissan created the Quest for buyers who needed a minivan but didn't really want to drive one. It was given an aggressive exterior supported by an odd and innovative interior, which took a major update that made it more conventional with the 2007 model year. But the Quest is too much for most minivan buyers, and sales have disappointed Nissan. Nissan must have done some things right, though; Quest owners gave it AutoPacific's 2007 Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Minivans ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Nissan Forum: When is a Minivan Not a Minivan? When It's a FORUM. Nissan created the Quest for buyers who needed a minivan but didn't really want to drive one. It was given an aggressive exterior supported by an odd and innovative interior, which took a major update that made it more conventional with the 2007 model year. But the Quest is too much for most minivan buyers, and sales have disappointed Nissan. Nissan must have done some things right, though; Quest owners gave it AutoPacific's 2007 Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Minivans ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Nissan Forum: When is a Minivan Not a Minivan? When It's a FORUM. Nissan created the Quest for buyers who needed a minivan but didn't really want to drive one. It was given an aggressive exterior supported by an odd and innovative interior, which took a major update that made it more conventional with the 2007 model year. But the Quest is too much for most minivan buyers, and sales have disappointed Nissan. Nissan must have done some things right, though; Quest owners gave it AutoPacific's 2007 Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Minivans ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Nissan Forum: When is a Minivan Not a Minivan? When It's a FORUM. Nissan created the Quest for buyers who needed a minivan but didn't really want to drive one. It was given an aggressive exterior supported by an odd and innovative interior, which took a major update that made it more conventional with the 2007 model year. But the Quest is too much for most minivan buyers, and sales have disappointed Nissan. Nissan must have done some things right, though; Quest owners gave it AutoPacific's 2007 Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Minivans ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Nissan Forum: When is a Minivan Not a Minivan? When It's a FORUM. Nissan created the Quest for buyers who needed a minivan but didn't really want to drive one. It was given an aggressive exterior supported by an odd and innovative interior, which took a major update that made it more conventional with the 2007 model year. But the Quest is too much for most minivan buyers, and sales have disappointed Nissan. Nissan must have done some things right, though; Quest owners gave it AutoPacific's 2007 Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Minivans ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Nissan Forum: When is a Minivan Not a Minivan? When It's a FORUM. Nissan created the Quest for buyers who needed a minivan but didn't really want to drive one. It was given an aggressive exterior supported by an odd and innovative interior, which took a major update that made it more conventional with the 2007 model year. But the Quest is too much for most minivan buyers, and sales have disappointed Nissan. Nissan must have done some things right, though; Quest owners gave it AutoPacific's 2007 Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Minivans ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Nissan Forum: When is a Minivan Not a Minivan? When It's a FORUM. Nissan created the Quest for buyers who needed a minivan but didn't really want to drive one. It was given an aggressive exterior supported by an odd and innovative interior, which took a major update that made it more conventional with the 2007 model year. But the Quest is too much for most minivan buyers, and sales have disappointed Nissan. Nissan must have done some things right, though; Quest owners gave it AutoPacific's 2007 Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Minivans ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Nissan Forum: When is a Minivan Not a Minivan? When It's a FORUM. Nissan created the Quest for buyers who needed a minivan but didn't really want to drive one. It was given an aggressive exterior supported by an odd and innovative interior, which took a major update that made it more conventional with the 2007 model year. But the Quest is too much for most minivan buyers, and sales have disappointed Nissan. Nissan must have done some things right, though; Quest owners gave it AutoPacific's 2007 Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Minivans ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Nissan Forum: When is a Minivan Not a Minivan? When It's a FORUM. Nissan created the Quest for buyers who needed a minivan but didn't really want to drive one. It was given an aggressive exterior supported by an odd and innovative interior, which took a major update that made it more conventional with the 2007 model year. But the Quest is too much for most minivan buyers, and sales have disappointed Nissan. Nissan must have done some things right, though; Quest owners gave it AutoPacific's 2007 Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Minivans ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Nissan Forum: When is a Minivan Not a Minivan? When It's a FORUM. Nissan created the Quest for buyers who needed a minivan but didn't really want to drive one. It was given an aggressive exterior supported by an odd and innovative interior, which took a major update that made it more conventional with the 2007 model year. But the Quest is too much for most minivan buyers, and sales have disappointed Nissan. Nissan must have done some things right, though; Quest owners gave it AutoPacific's 2007 Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Minivans ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Nissan Forum: When is a Minivan Not a Minivan? When It's a FORUM. Nissan created the Quest for buyers who needed a minivan but didn't really want to drive one. It was given an aggressive exterior supported by an odd and innovative interior, which took a major update that made it more conventional with the 2007 model year. But the Quest is too much for most minivan buyers, and sales have disappointed Nissan. Nissan must have done some things right, though; Quest owners gave it AutoPacific's 2007 Vehicle Satisfaction Award for Minivans ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Saturn Vue Greenline 2 Mode Hybrid Second Vue Hybrid to go on sale in 4th quarter of 2008 GM has recently announced the introduction of the 2009 Saturn Vue Greenline 2 Mode Hybrid, which is expected to go on sale in the 4th quarter of 2008. This new version is expected to offer a fuel economy increase of up to 50% over a non-hybrid V6 Vue, a range of more than 500 miles, and no compromises in performance (0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds) or towing capacity (3,500 pounds), and is classified as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Toyota A-BAT Concept– Toyota Makes a Prius Pickup? Toyota revealed their new ‘Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck’ (or A-BAT for short) at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. It’s not a smaller Tacoma. Think of it more like a small Toyota Ridgeline. It’s based on a unitized platform and swallows an inline 4 cylinder engine with Toyota’s Synergy Hybrid Drive. Concept No, the A-BAT was not designed in the dark by Avalanche and Ridgeline ex-patriots. The A-BAT was developed by the TMS Advanced Product Strategy group and Calty. Kevin Hunter, presi ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Toyota A-BAT Concept– Toyota Makes a Prius Pickup? Toyota revealed their new ‘Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck’ (or A-BAT for short) at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. It’s not a smaller Tacoma. Think of it more like a small Toyota Ridgeline. It’s based on a unitized platform and swallows an inline 4 cylinder engine with Toyota’s Synergy Hybrid Drive. Concept No, the A-BAT was not designed in the dark by Avalanche and Ridgeline ex-patriots. The A-BAT was developed by the TMS Advanced Product Strategy group and Calty. Kevin Hunter, presi ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Toyota A-BAT Concept– Toyota Makes a Prius Pickup? Toyota revealed their new ‘Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck’ (or A-BAT for short) at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. It’s not a smaller Tacoma. Think of it more like a small Toyota Ridgeline. It’s based on a unitized platform and swallows an inline 4 cylinder engine with Toyota’s Synergy Hybrid Drive. Concept No, the A-BAT was not designed in the dark by Avalanche and Ridgeline ex-patriots. The A-BAT was developed by the TMS Advanced Product Strategy group and Calty. Kevin Hunter, presi ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Toyota A-BAT Concept– Toyota Makes a Prius Pickup? Toyota revealed their new ‘Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck’ (or A-BAT for short) at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. It’s not a smaller Tacoma. Think of it more like a small Toyota Ridgeline. It’s based on a unitized platform and swallows an inline 4 cylinder engine with Toyota’s Synergy Hybrid Drive. Concept No, the A-BAT was not designed in the dark by Avalanche and Ridgeline ex-patriots. The A-BAT was developed by the TMS Advanced Product Strategy group and Calty. Kevin Hunter, presi ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Toyota A-BAT Concept– Toyota Makes a Prius Pickup? Toyota revealed their new ‘Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck’ (or A-BAT for short) at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. It’s not a smaller Tacoma. Think of it more like a small Toyota Ridgeline. It’s based on a unitized platform and swallows an inline 4 cylinder engine with Toyota’s Synergy Hybrid Drive. Concept No, the A-BAT was not designed in the dark by Avalanche and Ridgeline ex-patriots. The A-BAT was developed by the TMS Advanced Product Strategy group and Calty. Kevin Hunter, presi ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Ford Glass Roof Mustang– No not Fastback… ‘Glassback’ The first Mustangs rolled off the assembly line and into American hearts and driveways mid-way-through 1964. Introduced to the public at the New York World’s Fair in April with a price tag of $2300 Ford sold more than 417,000 in its first year. Needless to say, it was a success right off the bat. It was the right package at the right price and it was on it’s way to becoming an American icon. Since then, nearly 9 million Mustangs have been sold and today the Mustang has remained one of F ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Ford Glass Roof Mustang– No not Fastback… ‘Glassback’ The first Mustangs rolled off the assembly line and into American hearts and driveways mid-way-through 1964. Introduced to the public at the New York World’s Fair in April with a price tag of $2300 Ford sold more than 417,000 in its first year. Needless to say, it was a success right off the bat. It was the right package at the right price and it was on it’s way to becoming an American icon. Since then, nearly 9 million Mustangs have been sold and today the Mustang has remained one of F ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Explorer America - North American International Auto Show Explorer America – A Sustainable Showcase To help explain its vehicle sustainability strategy, Ford has created the Explorer America concept for the 2008 North American International Auto Show. Actually, the Explorer America tips Ford's hand about the next generation Explorer due in 2010. Shifting from a body-on-frame traditional SUV to a unit body crossover SUV, Ford shows they firmly believe that crossovers are where the SUV market is headed. The key here is the style and the packag ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford Explorer America - North American International Auto Show Explorer America – A Sustainable Showcase To help explain its vehicle sustainability strategy, Ford has created the Explorer America concept for the 2008 North American International Auto Show. Actually, the Explorer America tips Ford's hand about the next generation Explorer due in 2010. Shifting from a body-on-frame traditional SUV to a unit body crossover SUV, Ford shows they firmly believe that crossovers are where the SUV market is headed. The key here is the style and the packag ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Subaru Forester– Alright, NOW you can call it a Crossover SUV The real news with the 2009MY Forester is not the drivetrain; because you still get the 2.5L H4. Nor is it the trim levels available; from X to XT to the L.L. Bean edition. The real news is image. The next generation Forester will have a much bolder image for 2009 and as a result fewer snide ‘station wagon’ remarks. Segmentation Around here segmentation is very important, it’s not always easy and it changes every year. The whole, “If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…” thing ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Kia Borrego - Detroit Auto Show Introduction The all-new Kia Borrego, introduced at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, is Kia's new flagship SUV. Named for California's Borrego desert or the big horn sheep found there, Kia's new range topper appears to be a fully competitive traditional SUV. No crossover here. Over the years, Kia has shown an uncanny ability to plan, style and implement trucks that hit the center of their product segment target. The first example was the Kia Sedona, quickly fo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Kia Borrego - Detroit Auto Show Introduction The all-new Kia Borrego, introduced at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, is Kia's new flagship SUV. Named for California's Borrego desert or the big horn sheep found there, Kia's new range topper appears to be a fully competitive traditional SUV. No crossover here. Over the years, Kia has shown an uncanny ability to plan, style and implement trucks that hit the center of their product segment target. The first example was the Kia Sedona, quickly fo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Kia Borrego - Detroit Auto Show Introduction The all-new Kia Borrego, introduced at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, is Kia's new flagship SUV. Named for California's Borrego desert or the big horn sheep found there, Kia's new range topper appears to be a fully competitive traditional SUV. No crossover here. Over the years, Kia has shown an uncanny ability to plan, style and implement trucks that hit the center of their product segment target. The first example was the Kia Sedona, quickly fo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Chevrolet Malibu: Is It a Car You Can't Ignore? A Waiting Line for a Mid-Size Sedan? As we dive into our coverage of the 2008 North American International Auto Show, we can take a quick look back at one of the most important 2007 introductions. Chevrolet's Malibu went on sale in November, after being launched in Detroit last January. And in an unusual turn of events for Chevrolet, they couldn't build enough Malibus in those early months to meet demand, and it will take a bit of time for the inventory to build up. Perhaps consumers ag ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Chevrolet Malibu: Is It a Car You Can't Ignore? A Waiting Line for a Mid-Size Sedan? As we dive into our coverage of the 2008 North American International Auto Show, we can take a quick look back at one of the most important 2007 introductions. Chevrolet's Malibu went on sale in November, after being launched in Detroit last January. And in an unusual turn of events for Chevrolet, they couldn't build enough Malibus in those early months to meet demand, and it will take a bit of time for the inventory to build up. Perhaps consumers ag ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Chevrolet Malibu: Is It a Car You Can't Ignore? A Waiting Line for a Mid-Size Sedan? As we dive into our coverage of the 2008 North American International Auto Show, we can take a quick look back at one of the most important 2007 introductions. Chevrolet's Malibu went on sale in November, after being launched in Detroit last January. And in an unusual turn of events for Chevrolet, they couldn't build enough Malibus in those early months to meet demand, and it will take a bit of time for the inventory to build up. Perhaps consumers ag ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Chevrolet Malibu: Is It a Car You Can't Ignore? A Waiting Line for a Mid-Size Sedan? As we dive into our coverage of the 2008 North American International Auto Show, we can take a quick look back at one of the most important 2007 introductions. Chevrolet's Malibu went on sale in November, after being launched in Detroit last January. And in an unusual turn of events for Chevrolet, they couldn't build enough Malibus in those early months to meet demand, and it will take a bit of time for the inventory to build up. Perhaps consumers ag ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Chevrolet Malibu: Is It a Car You Can't Ignore? A Waiting Line for a Mid-Size Sedan? As we dive into our coverage of the 2008 North American International Auto Show, we can take a quick look back at one of the most important 2007 introductions. Chevrolet's Malibu went on sale in November, after being launched in Detroit last January. And in an unusual turn of events for Chevrolet, they couldn't build enough Malibus in those early months to meet demand, and it will take a bit of time for the inventory to build up. Perhaps consumers ag ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Chevrolet Malibu: Is It a Car You Can't Ignore? A Waiting Line for a Mid-Size Sedan? As we dive into our coverage of the 2008 North American International Auto Show, we can take a quick look back at one of the most important 2007 introductions. Chevrolet's Malibu went on sale in November, after being launched in Detroit last January. And in an unusual turn of events for Chevrolet, they couldn't build enough Malibus in those early months to meet demand, and it will take a bit of time for the inventory to build up. Perhaps consumers ag ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Chevrolet Malibu: Is It a Car You Can't Ignore? A Waiting Line for a Mid-Size Sedan? As we dive into our coverage of the 2008 North American International Auto Show, we can take a quick look back at one of the most important 2007 introductions. Chevrolet's Malibu went on sale in November, after being launched in Detroit last January. And in an unusual turn of events for Chevrolet, they couldn't build enough Malibus in those early months to meet demand, and it will take a bit of time for the inventory to build up. Perhaps consumers ag ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Chevrolet Malibu: Is It a Car You Can't Ignore? A Waiting Line for a Mid-Size Sedan? As we dive into our coverage of the 2008 North American International Auto Show, we can take a quick look back at one of the most important 2007 introductions. Chevrolet's Malibu went on sale in November, after being launched in Detroit last January. And in an unusual turn of events for Chevrolet, they couldn't build enough Malibus in those early months to meet demand, and it will take a bit of time for the inventory to build up. Perhaps consumers ag ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2008 Chevrolet Malibu: Is It a Car You Can't Ignore? A Waiting Line for a Mid-Size Sedan? As we dive into our coverage of the 2008 North American International Auto Show, we can take a quick look back at one of the most important 2007 introductions. Chevrolet's Malibu went on sale in November, after being launched in Detroit last January. And in an unusual turn of events for Chevrolet, they couldn't build enough Malibus in those early months to meet demand, and it will take a bit of time for the inventory to build up. Perhaps consumers ag ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Kia Borrego - Detroit Auto Show Introduction The all-new Kia Borrego, introduced at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, is Kia's new flagship SUV. Named for California's Borrego desert or the big horn sheep found there, Kia's new range topper appears to be a fully competitive traditional SUV. No crossover here. Over the years, Kia has shown an uncanny ability to plan, style and implement trucks that hit the center of their product segment target. The first example was the Kia Sedona, quickly fo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hyundai Genesis - Detroit Auto Show New Vehicle Intro The Hyundai Genesis is the new flagship for Hyundai Motor America. Slated for launch in Spring 2008 as a 2009 model, Hyundai will try to position the Genesis more as a luxury sport sedan than Korean land barge it really is. Let's talk about that a moment. The Genesis - or BH - is designed as the Hyundai flagship in Korea. As such, it will usually be a chauffer-driven conveyance with the chairman or president regally reclined in the doily covered rear seat. Big, comfortable, quiet. Th ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hyundai Genesis - Detroit Auto Show New Vehicle Intro The Hyundai Genesis is the new flagship for Hyundai Motor America. Slated for launch in Spring 2008 as a 2009 model, Hyundai will try to position the Genesis more as a luxury sport sedan than Korean land barge it really is. Let's talk about that a moment. The Genesis - or BH - is designed as the Hyundai flagship in Korea. As such, it will usually be a chauffer-driven conveyance with the chairman or president regally reclined in the doily covered rear seat. Big, comfortable, quiet. Th ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hyundai Genesis - Detroit Auto Show New Vehicle Intro The Hyundai Genesis is the new flagship for Hyundai Motor America. Slated for launch in Spring 2008 as a 2009 model, Hyundai will try to position the Genesis more as a luxury sport sedan than Korean land barge it really is. Let's talk about that a moment. The Genesis - or BH - is designed as the Hyundai flagship in Korea. As such, it will usually be a chauffer-driven conveyance with the chairman or president regally reclined in the doily covered rear seat. Big, comfortable, quiet. Th ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Cadillac Provoq - Detroit Auto Show Crossover SUV Concept With the North American International Auto Show still days away, information is leaking through sieve-like embargoes. Cadillac Provoq is a fuel-cell powered concept Crossover SUV that telegraphs cues for Cadillac's future Crossovers like the next SRX. Of course, the first question is why Cadillac used a name for this concept rather than an alphanumeric like "TRX" or "URX" or "VRX". VehicleVoice will have more from the show floor next week when we can shoot the Provoq in the flesh. Cue ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Cadillac Provoq - Detroit Auto Show Crossover SUV Concept With the North American International Auto Show still days away, information is leaking through sieve-like embargoes. Cadillac Provoq is a fuel-cell powered concept Crossover SUV that telegraphs cues for Cadillac's future Crossovers like the next SRX. Of course, the first question is why Cadillac used a name for this concept rather than an alphanumeric like "TRX" or "URX" or "VRX". VehicleVoice will have more from the show floor next week when we can shoot the Provoq in the flesh. Cue ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Cadillac Provoq - Detroit Auto Show Crossover SUV Concept With the North American International Auto Show still days away, information is leaking through sieve-like embargoes. Cadillac Provoq is a fuel-cell powered concept Crossover SUV that telegraphs cues for Cadillac's future Crossovers like the next SRX. Of course, the first question is why Cadillac used a name for this concept rather than an alphanumeric like "TRX" or "URX" or "VRX". VehicleVoice will have more from the show floor next week when we can shoot the Provoq in the flesh. Cue ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Year End 2007 - Auto Industry in the Rear View Mirror A stream of consciousness look at the auto industry in 2007. Whew, what a year it was!!!!!!! Not the Trauma We Expected, but2007 was Tough We began the 2007 thinking the year was going to tank into the mid-15,000,000 unit range. That didn't happen and the industry struggled to just over 16,000,000 units. This reasonably good year was in the face of negative media coverage, a severe housing downturn, asubprime mortgage crisis, soaring gasoline prices, etc. Saying 2007 at just over 16 ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Year End 2007 - Auto Industry in the Rear View Mirror A stream of consciousness look at the auto industry in 2007. Whew, what a year it was!!!!!!! Not the Trauma We Expected, but2007 was Tough We began the 2007 thinking the year was going to tank into the mid-15,000,000 unit range. That didn't happen and the industry struggled to just over 16,000,000 units. This reasonably good year was in the face of negative media coverage, a severe housing downturn, asubprime mortgage crisis, soaring gasoline prices, etc. Saying 2007 at just over 16 ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Year End 2007 - Auto Industry in the Rear View Mirror A stream of consciousness look at the auto industry in 2007. Whew, what a year it was!!!!!!! Not the Trauma We Expected, but2007 was Tough We began the 2007 thinking the year was going to tank into the mid-15,000,000 unit range. That didn't happen and the industry struggled to just over 16,000,000 units. This reasonably good year was in the face of negative media coverage, a severe housing downturn, asubprime mortgage crisis, soaring gasoline prices, etc. Saying 2007 at just over 16 ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Lexus LX570 - Luxurious Anonymity The reigning king of the Luxury SUV hill is probably the Range Rover. High priced at $77,175. Features most couldn't conceive of in an off-road environment. Extremely competent off road. The top of the Land Rover line has established a tremendous reputation and following as THE aspirational Luxury SUV. Range Rover is not the best selling Luxury SUV, but it casts a wide shadow. And has since the early 1970s. VehicleVoice was on hand at The Grand Del Mar Hotel for the media preview of ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Lexus LX570 - Luxurious Anonymity The reigning king of the Luxury SUV hill is probably the Range Rover. High priced at $77,175. Features most couldn't conceive of in an off-road environment. Extremely competent off road. The top of the Land Rover line has established a tremendous reputation and following as THE aspirational Luxury SUV. Range Rover is not the best selling Luxury SUV, but it casts a wide shadow. And has since the early 1970s. VehicleVoice was on hand at The Grand Del Mar Hotel for the media preview of ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Lexus LX570 - Luxurious Anonymity The reigning king of the Luxury SUV hill is probably the Range Rover. High priced at $77,175. Features most couldn't conceive of in an off-road environment. Extremely competent off road. The top of the Land Rover line has established a tremendous reputation and following as THE aspirational Luxury SUV. Range Rover is not the best selling Luxury SUV, but it casts a wide shadow. And has since the early 1970s. VehicleVoice was on hand at The Grand Del Mar Hotel for the media preview of ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Year End 2007 - Auto Industry in the Rear View Mirror A stream of consciousness look at the auto industry in 2007. Whew, what a year it was!!!!!!! Not the Trauma We Expected, but 2007 was Tough We began the 2007 thinking the year was going to tank into the mid-15,000,000 unit range. That didn't happen and the industry struggled to just over 16,000,000 units. This reasonably good year was in the face of negative media coverage, a severe housing downturn, a subprime mortgage crisis, soaring gasoline prices, etc. Saying 2007 at just over ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Lexus LX570 - Luxurious Anonymity The reigning king of the Luxury SUV hill is probably the Range Rover. High priced at $77,175. Features most couldn't conceive of in an off-road environment. Extremely competent off road. The top of the Land Rover line has established a tremendous reputation and following as THE aspirational Luxury SUV. Range Rover is not the best selling Luxury SUV, but it casts a wide shadow. And has since the early 1970s. VehicleVoice was on hand at The Grand Del Mar Hotel for the media preview of ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Auto Show Season In Full Force Three Months, Three Continents, Three Auto Shows: Where Am I? In the myriad of VehicleVoice posts are stories and podcasts from the Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Los Angeles auto shows. To get these stories, someone needs to attend the shows, and that is very often me. Auto showsget us close to real cars and the people who created them, giving us our look behind the scenes. As a product analyst for AutoPacific, I attend major shows around the world. Despite sore feet, long hours, pressure to ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Auto Show Season In Full Force Three Months, Three Continents, Three Auto Shows: Where Am I? In the myriad of VehicleVoice posts are stories and podcasts from the Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Los Angeles auto shows. To get these stories, someone needs to attend the shows, and that is very often me. Auto showsget us close to real cars and the people who created them, giving us our look behind the scenes. As a product analyst for AutoPacific, I attend major shows around the world. Despite sore feet, long hours, pressure to ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Auto Show Season In Full Force Three Months, Three Continents, Three Auto Shows: Where Am I? In the myriad of VehicleVoice posts are stories and podcasts from the Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Los Angeles auto shows. To get these stories, someone needs to attend the shows, and that is very often me. Auto showsget us close to real cars and the people who created them, giving us our look behind the scenes. As a product analyst for AutoPacific, I attend major shows around the world. Despite sore feet, long hours, pressure to ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Auto Show Season In Full Force Three Months, Three Continents, Three Auto Shows: Where Am I? In the myriad of VehicleVoice posts are stories and podcasts from the Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Los Angeles auto shows. To get these stories, someone needs to attend the shows, and that is very often me. Auto showsget us close to real cars and the people who created them, giving us our look behind the scenes. As a product analyst for AutoPacific, I attend major shows around the world. Despite sore feet, long hours, pressure to ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Auto Show Season In Full Force Three Months, Three Continents, Three Auto Shows: Where Am I? In the myriad of VehicleVoice posts are stories and podcasts from the Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Los Angeles auto shows. To get these stories, someone needs to attend the shows, and that is very often me. Auto showsget us close to real cars and the people who created them, giving us our look behind the scenes. As a product analyst for AutoPacific, I attend major shows around the world. Despite sore feet, long hours, pressure to ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Auto Show Season In Full Force Three Months, Three Continents, Three Auto Shows: Where Am I? In the myriad of VehicleVoice posts are stories and podcasts from the Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Los Angeles auto shows. To get these stories, someone needs to attend the shows, and that is very often me. Auto showsget us close to real cars and the people who created them, giving us our look behind the scenes. As a product analyst for AutoPacific, I attend major shows around the world. Despite sore feet, long hours, pressure to ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Auto Show Season In Full Force Three Months, Three Continents, Three Auto Shows: Where Am I? In the myriad of VehicleVoice posts are stories and podcasts from the Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Los Angeles auto shows. To get these stories, someone needs to attend the shows, and that is very often me. Auto showsget us close to real cars and the people who created them, giving us our look behind the scenes. As a product analyst for AutoPacific, I attend major shows around the world. Despite sore feet, long hours, pressure to ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Auto Show Season In Full Force Three Months, Three Continents, Three Auto Shows: Where Am I? In the myriad of VehicleVoice posts are stories and podcasts from the Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Los Angeles auto shows. To get these stories, someone needs to attend the shows, and that is very often me. Auto showsget us close to real cars and the people who created them, giving us our look behind the scenes. As a product analyst for AutoPacific, I attend major shows around the world. Despite sore feet, long hours, pressure to ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Auto Show Season In Full Force Three Months, Three Continents, Three Auto Shows: Where Am I? In the myriad of VehicleVoice posts are stories and podcasts from the Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Los Angeles auto shows. To get these stories, someone needs to attend the shows, and that is very often me. Auto showsget us close to real cars and the people who created them, giving us our look behind the scenes. As a product analyst for AutoPacific, I attend major shows around the world. Despite sore feet, long hours, pressure to ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Pontiac Vibe: A Vibe for Every Lifestyle Pontiac's Vibe Slam event was webcast at www.pontiacunderground.com, introducing the 2009 Pontiac Vibe to the media and a Pontiac fan base all at the same time. Pontiac chose Detroit-area artists, vocalists, andpoets to help, showcasing talent that they felt personified Pontiac energy and style. Before we heard from the marketing, design, engineering, and development guys, three vocalists dramatized the distinct personalities of three Vibe models (base, AWD, and GT). Each described their ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Pontiac Vibe: A Vibe for Every Lifestyle Pontiac's Vibe Slam event was webcast at www.pontiacunderground.com, introducing the 2009 Pontiac Vibe to the media and a Pontiac fan base all at the same time. Pontiac chose Detroit-area artists, vocalists, andpoets to help, showcasing talent that they felt personified Pontiac energy and style. Before we heard from the marketing, design, engineering, and development guys, three vocalists dramatized the distinct personalities of three Vibe models (base, AWD, and GT). Each described their ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Pontiac Vibe: A Vibe for Every Lifestyle Pontiac's Vibe Slam event was webcast at www.pontiacunderground.com, introducing the 2009 Pontiac Vibe to the media and a Pontiac fan base all at the same time. Pontiac chose Detroit-area artists, vocalists, andpoets to help, showcasing talent that they felt personified Pontiac energy and style. Before we heard from the marketing, design, engineering, and development guys, three vocalists dramatized the distinct personalities of three Vibe models (base, AWD, and GT). Each described their ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Pontiac Vibe: A Vibe for Every Lifestyle Pontiac's Vibe Slam event was webcast at www.pontiacunderground.com, introducing the 2009 Pontiac Vibe to the media and a Pontiac fan base all at the same time. Pontiac chose Detroit-area artists, vocalists, andpoets to help, showcasing talent that they felt personified Pontiac energy and style. Before we heard from the marketing, design, engineering, and development guys, three vocalists dramatized the distinct personalities of three Vibe models (base, AWD, and GT). Each described their ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Pontiac Vibe: A Vibe for Every Lifestyle Pontiac's Vibe Slam event was webcast at www.pontiacunderground.com, introducing the 2009 Pontiac Vibe to the media and a Pontiac fan base all at the same time. Pontiac chose Detroit-area artists, vocalists, andpoets to help, showcasing talent that they felt personified Pontiac energy and style. Before we heard from the marketing, design, engineering, and development guys, three vocalists dramatized the distinct personalities of three Vibe models (base, AWD, and GT). Each described their ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Pontiac Vibe: A Vibe for Every Lifestyle Pontiac's Vibe Slam event was webcast at www.pontiacunderground.com, introducing the 2009 Pontiac Vibe to the media and a Pontiac fan base all at the same time. Pontiac chose Detroit-area artists, vocalists, andpoets to help, showcasing talent that they felt personified Pontiac energy and style. Before we heard from the marketing, design, engineering, and development guys, three vocalists dramatized the distinct personalities of three Vibe models (base, AWD, and GT). Each described their ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Pontiac Vibe: A Vibe for Every Lifestyle Pontiac's Vibe Slam event was webcast at www.pontiacunderground.com, introducing the 2009 Pontiac Vibe to the media and a Pontiac fan base all at the same time. Pontiac chose Detroit-area artists, vocalists, andpoets to help, showcasing talent that they felt personified Pontiac energy and style. Before we heard from the marketing, design, engineering, and development guys, three vocalists dramatized the distinct personalities of three Vibe models (base, AWD, and GT). Each described their ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Pontiac Vibe: A Vibe for Every Lifestyle Pontiac's Vibe Slam event was webcast at www.pontiacunderground.com, introducing the 2009 Pontiac Vibe to the media and a Pontiac fan base all at the same time. Pontiac chose Detroit-area artists, vocalists, andpoets to help, showcasing talent that they felt personified Pontiac energy and style. Before we heard from the marketing, design, engineering, and development guys, three vocalists dramatized the distinct personalities of three Vibe models (base, AWD, and GT). Each described their ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Pontiac Vibe: A Vibe for Every Lifestyle Pontiac's Vibe Slam event was webcast at www.pontiacunderground.com, introducing the 2009 Pontiac Vibe to the media and a Pontiac fan base all at the same time. Pontiac chose Detroit-area artists, vocalists, andpoets to help, showcasing talent that they felt personified Pontiac energy and style. Before we heard from the marketing, design, engineering, and development guys, three vocalists dramatized the distinct personalities of three Vibe models (base, AWD, and GT). Each described their ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Pontiac Vibe: A Vibe for Every Lifestyle Pontiac's Vibe Slam event was webcast at www.pontiacunderground.com, introducing the 2009 Pontiac Vibe to the media and a Pontiac fan base all at the same time. Pontiac chose Detroit-area artists, vocalists, andpoets to help, showcasing talent that they felt personified Pontiac energy and style. Before we heard from the marketing, design, engineering, and development guys, three vocalists dramatized the distinct personalities of three Vibe models (base, AWD, and GT). Each described their ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Pontiac Vibe: A Vibe for Every Lifestyle Pontiac's Vibe Slam event was webcast at www.pontiacunderground.com, introducing the 2009 Pontiac Vibe to the media and a Pontiac fan base all at the same time. Pontiac chose Detroit-area artists, vocalists, and poets to help, showcasing talent that they felt personified Pontiac energy and style. Before we heard from the marketing, design, engineering, and development guys, three vocalists dramatized the distinct personalities of three Vibe models (base, AWD, and GT). Each described thei ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #80 - Looks Like a BMW, Only Smaller The New BMW 1 Series Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Jaguar/Land Rover Sale - Rumors Heat Up That Tata Will be Buyer The rumors are heating up that the buyer of Jaguar and Land Rover is close to being finalized. The front runner appears to be the huge Indian conglomerate Tata and its automotive arm Tata Motors. Others involved in the due diligence process thought to be less advantageous to Jaguar Land Rover for various reasons. The two private equity firms - Apollo and One Equity Partners (led by former Ford CEO Jacques Nasser) - are thought to be a bit too aggressive to have the best interests of th ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Green, Schmeen: Porsche Gives North America a look at the New 2008 911 GT2 at Los Angeles Auto Show Giving us all a little break from the green car parade at the LA Auto show, Porsche gave North America it's first look at the 2008 911 GT2. Based on the current 911 Turbo, the 911 GT2 is a beast, not designed for your average LA attorney. We had a few minutes with David Pryor Vice President of Marketing of Porsche Cars North America. David, a 911 driver, summed it up like this, "The GT2 is the perfect blend between the Porsche Turbo and the GT3." The GT3, At 415 horsepower, is the mo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Green, Schmeen: Porsche Gives North America a look at the New 2008 911 GT2 at Los Angeles Auto Show Giving us all a little break from the green car parade at the LA Auto show, Porsche gave North America it's first look at the 2008 911 GT2. Based on the current 911 Turbo, the 911 GT2 is a beast, not designed for your average LA attorney. We had a few minutes with David Pryor Vice President of Marketing of Porsche Cars North America. David, a 911 driver, summed it up like this, "The GT2 is the perfect blend between the Porsche Turbo and the GT3." The GT3, At 415 horsepower, is the mo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Green, Schmeen: Porsche Gives North America a look at the New 2008 911 GT2 at Los Angeles Auto Show Giving us all a little break from the green car parade at the LA Auto show, Porsche gave North America it's first look at the 2008 911 GT2. Based on the current 911 Turbo, the 911 GT2 is a beast, not designed for your average LA attorney. We had a few minutes with David Pryor Vice President of Marketing of Porsche Cars North America. David, a 911 driver, summed it up like this, "The GT2 is the perfect blend between the Porsche Turbo and the GT3." The GT3, At 415 horsepower, is the mo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Green, Schmeen: Porsche Gives North America a look at the New 2008 911 GT2 at Los Angeles Auto Show Giving us all a little break from the green car parade at the LA Auto show, Porsche gave North America it's first look at the 2008 911 GT2. Based on the current 911 Turbo, the 911 GT2 is a beast, not designed for your average LA attorney. We had a few minutes with David Pryor Vice President of Marketing of Porsche Cars North America. David, a 911 driver, summed it up like this, "The GT2 is the perfect blend between the Porsche Turbo and the GT3." The GT3, At 415 horsepower, is the mo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #79 - A Sports Sedan from Down Under The Pontiac G8 Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #78 - It's All About Big Fat (Hybrid) Trucks - Really The Chevy Silverado Hybrid Pickup Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Infiniti Announces Pricing on 2008 EX35 - $31,300 - $36,250 (to well over $40K) SUVs are on their way out and Crossover SUVs are on their way up. Those in the market for a versatile vehicle with seating for four full size adults and cargo, the ride quality of a car and the image of an SUV have flocked to Crossover SUVs. It’s not a new concept but the idea really didn’t catch on until Lexus came out with their RX 300 in 1998. XUVs as they’ve come to be called are typically built off of a unitized car platform and owners really appreciate the benefits. They tend to cost ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Infiniti Announces Pricing on 2008 EX35 - $31,300 - $36,250 (to well over $40K) SUVs are on their way out and Crossover SUVs are on their way up. Those in the market for a versatile vehicle with seating for four full size adults and cargo, the ride quality of a car and the image of an SUV have flocked to Crossover SUVs. It’s not a new concept but the idea really didn’t catch on until Lexus came out with their RX 300 in 1998. XUVs as they’ve come to be called are typically built off of a unitized car platform and owners really appreciate the benefits. They tend to cost ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Infiniti Announces Pricing on 2008 EX35 - $31,300 - $36,250 (to well over $40K) SUVs are on their way out and Crossover SUVs are on their way up. Those in the market for a versatile vehicle with seating for four full size adults and cargo, the ride quality of a car and the image of an SUV have flocked to Crossover SUVs. It’s not a new concept but the idea really didn’t catch on until Lexus came out with their RX 300 in 1998. XUVs as they’ve come to be called are typically built off of a unitized car platform and owners really appreciate the benefits. They tend to cost ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Infiniti Announces Pricing on 2008 EX35 - $31,300 - $36,250 (to well over $40K) SUVs are on their way out and Crossover SUVs are on their way up. Those in the market for a versatile vehicle with seating for four full size adults and cargo, the ride quality of a car and the image of an SUV have flocked to Crossover SUVs. It’s not a new concept but the idea really didn’t catch on until Lexus came out with their RX 300 in 1998. XUVs as they’ve come to be called are typically built off of a unitized car platform and owners really appreciate the benefits. They tend to cost ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - Volkswagen space up! Blue– Deutschland In Da House Y’all Whether you’re tired of fuel prices creeping up to $4 dollars a gallon, uncomfortable with the idea that your money is making it’s way over to the Middle East or simply want the feel good endorphins to pump through your body as you are seen as a socially responsible human being, a hybrid may be the answer. They have become the American answer to slow all personal transportation energy woes and Volkswagen, no stranger to fuel efficiency, wants a piece of the action. The VW space up! blue p ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - Volkswagen space up! Blue– Deutschland In Da House Y’all Whether you’re tired of fuel prices creeping up to $4 dollars a gallon, uncomfortable with the idea that your money is making it’s way over to the Middle East or simply want the feel good endorphins to pump through your body as you are seen as a socially responsible human being, a hybrid may be the answer. They have become the American answer to slow all personal transportation energy woes and Volkswagen, no stranger to fuel efficiency, wants a piece of the action. The VW space up! blue p ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - Volkswagen space up! Blue– Deutschland In Da House Y’all Whether you’re tired of fuel prices creeping up to $4 dollars a gallon, uncomfortable with the idea that your money is making it’s way over to the Middle East or simply want the feel good endorphins to pump through your body as you are seen as a socially responsible human being, a hybrid may be the answer. They have become the American answer to slow all personal transportation energy woes and Volkswagen, no stranger to fuel efficiency, wants a piece of the action. The VW space up! blue p ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - Volkswagen space up! Blue– Deutschland In Da House Y’all Whether you’re tired of fuel prices creeping up to $4 dollars a gallon, uncomfortable with the idea that your money is making it’s way over to the Middle East or simply want the feel good endorphins to pump through your body as you are seen as a socially responsible human being, a hybrid may be the answer. They have become the American answer to slow all personal transportation energy woes and Volkswagen, no stranger to fuel efficiency, wants a piece of the action. The VW space up! blue p ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - Volkswagen space up! Blue– Deutschland In Da House Y’all Whether you’re tired of fuel prices creeping up to $4 dollars a gallon, uncomfortable with the idea that your money is making it’s way over to the Middle East or simply want the feel good endorphins to pump through your body as you are seen as a socially responsible human being, a hybrid may be the answer. They have become the American answer to slow all personal transportation energy woes and Volkswagen, no stranger to fuel efficiency, wants a piece of the action. The VW space up! blue p ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - Volkswagen space up! Blue– Deutschland In Da House Y’all Whether you’re tired of fuel prices creeping up to $4 dollars a gallon, uncomfortable with the idea that your money is making it’s way over to the Middle East or simply want the feel good endorphins to pump through your body as you are seen as a socially responsible human being, a hybrid may be the answer. They have become the American answer to slow all personal transportation energy woes and Volkswagen, no stranger to fuel efficiency, wants a piece of the action. The VW space up! blue p ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - Volkswagen space up! Blue – Deutschland In Da House Y’all Whether you’re tired of fuel prices creeping up to $4 dollars a gallon, uncomfortable with the idea that your money is making it’s way over to the Middle East or simply want the feel good endorphins to pump through your body as you are seen as a socially responsible human being, a hybrid may be the answer. They have become the American answer to slow all personal transportation energy woes and Volkswagen, no stranger to fuel efficiency, wants a piece of the action. The VW space up! blue p ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - 2008 Dodge Viper ACR - More Venom Anyone? In 1995 a friend of mine picked me up in one of the crudest stock production cars of our time. First of all, there were no exterior door handles or a roof and I had to be careful not to burn my shins when getting into the vehicle as the side pipes (exhaust pipes running down the sides of the vehicle) were hovering around 230 degrees. The vehicle reminded me a lot of the AC Cobra, only bigger. It was a first generation Dodge Viper with what, at the time, seemed to be a ridiculous amount of h ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - 2008 Dodge Viper ACR - More Venom Anyone? In 1995 a friend of mine picked me up in one of the crudest stock production cars of our time. First of all, there were no exterior door handles or a roof and I had to be careful not to burn my shins when getting into the vehicle as the side pipes (exhaust pipes running down the sides of the vehicle) were hovering around 230 degrees. The vehicle reminded me a lot of the AC Cobra, only bigger. It was a first generation Dodge Viper with what, at the time, seemed to be a ridiculous amount of h ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - 2008 Dodge Viper ACR - More Venom Anyone? In 1995 a friend of mine picked me up in one of the crudest stock production cars of our time. First of all, there were no exterior door handles or a roof and I had to be careful not to burn my shins when getting into the vehicle as the side pipes (exhaust pipes running down the sides of the vehicle) were hovering around 230 degrees. The vehicle reminded me a lot of the AC Cobra, only bigger. It was a first generation Dodge Viper with what, at the time, seemed to be a ridiculous amount of h ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - 2008 Dodge Viper ACR - More Venom Anyone? In 1995 a friend of mine picked me up in one of the crudest stock production cars of our time. First of all, there were no exterior door handles or a roof and I had to be careful not to burn my shins when getting into the vehicle as the side pipes (exhaust pipes running down the sides of the vehicle) were hovering around 230 degrees. The vehicle reminded me a lot of the AC Cobra, only bigger. It was a first generation Dodge Viper with what, at the time, seemed to be a ridiculous amount of h ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - 2008 Dodge Viper ACR - More Venom Anyone? In 1995 a friend of mine picked me up in one of the crudest stock production cars of our time. First of all, there were no exterior door handles or a roof and I had to be careful not to burn my shins when getting into the vehicle as the side pipes (exhaust pipes running down the sides of the vehicle) were hovering around 230 degrees. The vehicle reminded me a lot of the AC Cobra, only bigger. It was a first generation Dodge Viper with what, at the time, seemed to be a ridiculous amount of h ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Protoype The LA Auto Show was beginning to feel a birthday party for Ed Begley. Fuel cells, hybrids, bluetec, plug-ins, clean diesel. How about a brief introductory course in the "New European Driving Cycle"? While technology is making green more interesting all the time, you can't replace horsepower with the warm and fuzzies of a green car. Thank God for Porsche. Certainly, our friends from Stuttgart won’t let us down. Wrong. Porsche came to the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show with a green pitch, a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Protoype The LA Auto Show was beginning to feel a birthday party for Ed Begley. Fuel cells, hybrids, bluetec, plug-ins, clean diesel. How about a brief introductory course in the "New European Driving Cycle"? While technology is making green more interesting all the time, you can't replace horsepower with the warm and fuzzies of a green car. Thank God for Porsche. Certainly, our friends from Stuttgart won’t let us down. Wrong. Porsche came to the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show with a green pitch, a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Protoype The LA Auto Show was beginning to feel a birthday party for Ed Begley. Fuel cells, hybrids, bluetec, plug-ins, clean diesel. How about a brief introductory course in the "New European Driving Cycle"? While technology is making green more interesting all the time, you can't replace horsepower with the warm and fuzzies of a green car. Thank God for Porsche. Certainly, our friends from Stuttgart won’t let us down. Wrong. Porsche came to the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show with a green pitch, a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website VehicleVoice #77 - The Nissan GTR - Finally Coming to the USA! The Nissan GTR - $70,000 of Pure Racing Beauty Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - Maserati Quattroporte GT S– Tired of Blending In? Is your S-Class blending in? Does the word BMW sound passé? Are you too young for a Bentley but owning a Ferrari was a lifestage or two ago? There may still be hope. A little known, often forgotten, manufacturer may just have the answer. They offer true exclusivity, segment leading personalization and hand-crafted attention to detail. They’ve been known to produce cars with extraordinary performance and luxury but meant for everyday use. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - Maserati Quattroporte GT S– Tired of Blending In? Is your S-Class blending in? Does the word BMW sound passé? Are you too young for a Bentley but owning a Ferrari was a lifestage or two ago? There may still be hope. A little known, often forgotten, manufacturer may just have the answer. They offer true exclusivity, segment leading personalization and hand-crafted attention to detail. They’ve been known to produce cars with extraordinary performance and luxury but meant for everyday use. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - Maserati Quattroporte GT S– Tired of Blending In? Is your S-Class blending in? Does the word BMW sound passé? Are you too young for a Bentley but owning a Ferrari was a lifestage or two ago? There may still be hope. A little known, often forgotten, manufacturer may just have the answer. They offer true exclusivity, segment leading personalization and hand-crafted attention to detail. They’ve been known to produce cars with extraordinary performance and luxury but meant for everyday use. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - Maserati Quattroporte GT S– Tired of Blending In? Is your S-Class blending in? Does the word BMW sound passé? Are you too young for a Bentley but owning a Ferrari was a lifestage or two ago? There may still be hope. A little known, often forgotten, manufacturer may just have the answer. They offer true exclusivity, segment leading personalization and hand-crafted attention to detail. They’ve been known to produce cars with extraordinary performance and luxury but meant for everyday use. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - Maserati Quattroporte GT S– Tired of Blending In? Is your S-Class blending in? Does the word BMW sound passé? Are you too young for a Bentley but owning a Ferrari was a lifestage or two ago? There may still be hope. A little known, often forgotten, manufacturer may just have the answer. They offer true exclusivity, segment leading personalization and hand-crafted attention to detail. They’ve been known to produce cars with extraordinary performance and luxury but meant for everyday use. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - Maserati Quattroporte GT S– Tired of Blending In? Is your S-Class blending in? Does the word BMW sound passé? Are you too young for a Bentley but owning a Ferrari was a lifestage or two ago? There may still be hope. A little known, often forgotten, manufacturer may just have the answer. They offer true exclusivity, segment leading personalization and hand-crafted attention to detail. They’ve been known to produce cars with extraordinary performance and luxury but meant for everyday use. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website LA Auto Show - Maserati Quattroporte GT S – Tired of Blending In? Is your S-Class blending in? Does the word BMW sound passé? Are you too young for a Bentley but owning a Ferrari was a lifestage or two ago? There may still be hope. A little known, often forgotten, manufacturer may just have the answer. They offer true exclusivity, segment leading personalization and hand-crafted attention to detail. They’ve been known to produce cars with extraordinary performance and luxury but meant for everyday use. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Clubman: Super-Sized MINI Continuing its tongue-in-cheek marketing party MINI USA unveiled the 2008 MINI Clubman at the Los Angeles Auto Show. In true self-deprecating MINI style, the diminutive wagon backed onto the stage, showing off its rear barn doors to the enthusiastic press. Vice President of MINI James O’Donnell led the tour of MINI’s latest model. (Look for VehicleVoice’s video podcast of our personal interview with James McDowell.) Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Clubman: Super-Sized MINI Continuing its tongue-in-cheek marketing party MINI USA unveiled the 2008 MINI Clubman at the Los Angeles Auto Show. In true self-deprecating MINI style, the diminutive wagon backed onto the stage, showing off its rear barn doors to the enthusiastic press. Vice President of MINI James O’Donnell led the tour of MINI’s latest model. (Look for VehicleVoice’s video podcast of our personal interview with James McDowell.) Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Clubman: Super-Sized MINI Continuing its tongue-in-cheek marketing party MINI USA unveiled the 2008 MINI Clubman at the Los Angeles Auto Show. In true self-deprecating MINI style, the diminutive wagon backed onto the stage, showing off its rear barn doors to the enthusiastic press. Vice President of MINI James O’Donnell led the tour of MINI’s latest model. (Look for VehicleVoice’s video podcast of our personal interview with James McDowell.) Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Honda FCX Clarity Timing is everything... Most major international auto makers have been working on fuel cells vehicles for years...decades, really. But my overall impression has always been that despite the potential advantages in terms of reduced pollution and reduced dependence on middle-eastern fuel, the first commercial fuel cell cars were still at least 5 years away, probably 10 and possibly decades away. Maybe...but maybe not! The Honda FCX Clarity Honda introduced the FCX Clarity at the LA Auto ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Honda FCX Clarity Timing is everything... Most major international auto makers have been working on fuel cells vehicles for years...decades, really. But my overall impression has always been that despite the potential advantages in terms of reduced pollution and reduced dependence on middle-eastern fuel, the first commercial fuel cell cars were still at least 5 years away, probably 10 and possibly decades away. Maybe...but maybe not! The Honda FCX Clarity Honda introduced the FCX Clarity at the LA Auto ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Honda FCX Clarity Timing is everything... Most major international auto makers have been working on fuel cells vehicles for years...decades, really. But my overall impression has always been that despite the potential advantages in terms of reduced pollution and reduced dependence on middle-eastern fuel, the first commercial fuel cell cars were still at least 5 years away, probably 10 and possibly decades away. Maybe...but maybe not! The Honda FCX Clarity Honda introduced the FCX Clarity at the LA Auto ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Honda FCX Clarity Timing is everything... Most major international auto makers have been working on fuel cells vehicles for years...decades, really. But my overall impression has always been that despite the potential advantages in terms of reduced pollution and reduced dependence on middle-eastern fuel, the first commercial fuel cell cars were still at least 5 years away, probably 10 and possibly decades away. Maybe...but maybe not! The Honda FCX Clarity Honda introduced the FCX Clarity at the LA Auto ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Lincoln MKS - LA Auto Show On Monday, November 6 Ford gave Detroit-area journalists a glimpse of the 2009 Lincoln MKS Mid-Luxury Car. We had reviewed the concept of the MKS previously in VehicleVoice and found the car lacking. In its first incarnation,the MKS came across as a JapoEuro design exercise without much American flair. It was bigger than it looked and that is not necessarily a good thing. Given the somewhat lukewarm reception that the MKS concept received, especially in light of the very positive recept ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Kia Borrego: Expanding Kia's SUV Lineup Detroit Introduction Set for New Entry Back in 2005, also at Detroit's North American International Auto Show, Kia showed a truck-based, mid-size SUV concept called Mesa. Disguised as a design study, three years later Kia is ready to show us the production version. 2009 Kia Borrego More details will come in January, but we know now that it will be built in Korea, named Borrego, and arrive at Kia dealers in 2008. See Kia's release below the jump. This first image of the Borrego shows ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mazda6: Frankfurt and Tokyo Introductions Preview U.S. Model Zoom Zoom Evolution It was back in 2001 that Mazda started blasting auto-show attendees and innocent TV watchers with the now-famous zoom-zoom theme. Mazda has remained true to Zoom-Zoom in the intervening years, and the second generation of the first Zoom-Zoom cars are starting toarrive. The Mazda2, not sold in the States, led the evolution this past summer. Mazda's mid-size sedan (and five-door hatchback and wagon) entry is next, known as the Mazda6 outside of Japan and as the Atenza i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mazda6: Frankfurt and Tokyo Introductions Preview U.S. Model Zoom Zoom Evolution It was back in 2001 that Mazda started blasting auto-show attendees and innocent TV watchers with the now-famous zoom-zoom theme. Mazda has remained true to Zoom-Zoom in the intervening years, and the second generation of the first Zoom-Zoom cars are starting toarrive. The Mazda2, not sold in the States, led the evolution this past summer. Mazda's mid-size sedan (and five-door hatchback and wagon) entry is next, known as the Mazda6 outside of Japan and as the Atenza i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mazda6: Frankfurt and Tokyo Introductions Preview U.S. Model Zoom Zoom Evolution It was back in 2001 that Mazda started blasting auto-show attendees and innocent TV watchers with the now-famous zoom-zoom theme. Mazda has remained true to Zoom-Zoom in the intervening years, and the second generation of the first Zoom-Zoom cars are starting toarrive. The Mazda2, not sold in the States, led the evolution this past summer. Mazda's mid-size sedan (and five-door hatchback and wagon) entry is next, known as the Mazda6 outside of Japan and as the Atenza i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mazda6: Frankfurt and Tokyo Introductions Preview U.S. Model Zoom Zoom Evolution It was back in 2001 that Mazda started blasting auto-show attendees and innocent TV watchers with the now-famous zoom-zoom theme. Mazda has remained true to Zoom-Zoom in the intervening years, and the second generation of the first Zoom-Zoom cars are starting toarrive. The Mazda2, not sold in the States, led the evolution this past summer. Mazda's mid-size sedan (and five-door hatchback and wagon) entry is next, known as the Mazda6 outside of Japan and as the Atenza i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mazda6: Frankfurt and Tokyo Introductions Preview U.S. Model Zoom Zoom Evolution It was back in 2001 that Mazda started blasting auto-show attendees and innocent TV watchers with the now-famous zoom-zoom theme. Mazda has remained true to Zoom-Zoom in the intervening years, and the second generation of the first Zoom-Zoom cars are starting toarrive. The Mazda2, not sold in the States, led the evolution this past summer. Mazda's mid-size sedan (and five-door hatchback and wagon) entry is next, known as the Mazda6 outside of Japan and as the Atenza i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mazda6: Frankfurt and Tokyo Introductions Preview U.S. Model Zoom Zoom Evolution It was back in 2001 that Mazda started blasting auto-show attendees and innocent TV watchers with the now-famous zoom-zoom theme. Mazda has remained true to Zoom-Zoom in the intervening years, and the second generation of the first Zoom-Zoom cars are starting toarrive. The Mazda2, not sold in the States, led the evolution this past summer. Mazda's mid-size sedan (and five-door hatchback and wagon) entry is next, known as the Mazda6 outside of Japan and as the Atenza i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mazda6: Frankfurt and Tokyo Introductions Preview U.S. Model Zoom Zoom Evolution It was back in 2001 that Mazda started blasting auto-show attendees and innocent TV watchers with the now-famous zoom-zoom theme. Mazda has remained true to Zoom-Zoom in the intervening years, and the second generation of the first Zoom-Zoom cars are starting toarrive. The Mazda2, not sold in the States, led the evolution this past summer. Mazda's mid-size sedan (and five-door hatchback and wagon) entry is next, known as the Mazda6 outside of Japan and as the Atenza i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mazda6: Frankfurt and Tokyo Introductions Preview U.S. Model Zoom Zoom Evolution It was back in 2001 that Mazda started blasting auto-show attendees and innocent TV watchers with the now-famous zoom-zoom theme. Mazda has remained true to Zoom-Zoom in the intervening years, and the second generation of the first Zoom-Zoom cars are starting toarrive. The Mazda2, not sold in the States, led the evolution this past summer. Mazda's mid-size sedan (and five-door hatchback and wagon) entry is next, known as the Mazda6 outside of Japan and as the Atenza i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mazda6: Frankfurt and Tokyo Introductions Preview U.S. Model Zoom Zoom Evolution It was back in 2001 that Mazda started blasting auto-show attendees and innocent TV watchers with the now-famous zoom-zoom theme. Mazda has remained true to Zoom-Zoom in the intervening years, and the second generation of the first Zoom-Zoom cars are starting toarrive. The Mazda2, not sold in the States, led the evolution this past summer. Mazda's mid-size sedan (and five-door hatchback and wagon) entry is next, known as the Mazda6 outside of Japan and as the Atenza i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Mazda6: Frankfurt and Tokyo Introductions Preview U.S. Model Zoom Zoom Evolution It was back in 2001 that Mazda started blasting auto-show attendees and innocent TV watchers with the now-famous zoom-zoom theme. Mazda has remained true to Zoom-Zoom in the intervening years, and the second generation of the first Zoom-Zoom cars are starting toarrive. The Mazda2, not sold in the States, led the evolution this past summer. Mazda's mid-size sedan (and five-door hatchback and wagon) entry is next, known as the Mazda6 outside of Japan and as the Atenza i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2007 SEMA Show - Toy Store for Auto Junkies Viva Las Vegas I love Vegas. Lights, gambling, food, beautiful women, cocktails, and not a working clock in sight. Hell meets Disneyland in a world that does not shun alcohol or tobacco for breakfast. Don’t misunderstand me, moderation saves, but this environment screams fun. Regardless of your level of debauchery, the guy next to you makes you feel like a saint. If they could figure out a way to thwart my email connection, I’d move here in a heartbeat. I look forward to the annual S ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2007 SEMA Show - Toy Store for Auto Junkies Viva Las Vegas I love Vegas. Lights, gambling, food, beautiful women, cocktails, and not a working clock in sight. Hell meets Disneyland in a world that does not shun alcohol or tobacco for breakfast. Don’t misunderstand me, moderation saves, but this environment screams fun. Regardless of your level of debauchery, the guy next to you makes you feel like a saint. If they could figure out a way to thwart my email connection, I’d move here in a heartbeat. I look forward to the annual S ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2007 SEMA Show - Toy Store for Auto Junkies Viva Las Vegas I love Vegas. Lights, gambling, food, beautiful women, cocktails, and not a working clock in sight. Hell meets Disneyland in a world that does not shun alcohol or tobacco for breakfast. Don’t misunderstand me, moderation saves, but this environment screams fun. Regardless of your level of debauchery, the guy next to you makes you feel like a saint. If they could figure out a way to thwart my email connection, I’d move here in a heartbeat. I look forward to the annual S ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Audi RS6 Avant: Europe Gets a Treat Too Bad Americans Shun Wagons: 580HP Avant Won't Be Part of U.S. Lineup Audi introduced the RS6 Avant at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show, along with an ultra-efficient A4 concept and a 1.4L four-cylinder TFSI engine for the European A3. The 580HP RS6 Avant, as fuel-efficient as a twin-turbocharged 5.2L V10 engine can be thanks to the direct-injection system, is about as opposite of socially conscious motoring as you get from Audi's range. The RS6 Avant goes on sale in Europe in April 2008, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Audi RS6 Avant: Europe Gets a Treat Too Bad Americans Shun Wagons: 580HP Avant Won't Be Part of U.S. Lineup Audi introduced the RS6 Avant at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show, along with an ultra-efficient A4 concept and a 1.4L four-cylinder TFSI engine for the European A3. The 580HP RS6 Avant, as fuel-efficient as a twin-turbocharged 5.2L V10 engine can be thanks to the direct-injection system, is about as opposite of socially conscious motoring as you get from Audi's range. The RS6 Avant goes on sale in Europe in April 2008, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Audi RS6 Avant: Europe Gets a Treat Too Bad Americans Shun Wagons: 580HP Avant Won't Be Part of U.S. Lineup Audi introduced the RS6 Avant at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show, along with an ultra-efficient A4 concept and a 1.4L four-cylinder TFSI engine for the European A3. The 580HP RS6 Avant, as fuel-efficient as a twin-turbocharged 5.2L V10 engine can be thanks to the direct-injection system, is about as opposite of socially conscious motoring as you get from Audi's range. The RS6 Avant goes on sale in Europe in April 2008, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Audi RS6 Avant: Europe Gets a Treat Too Bad Americans Shun Wagons: 580HP Avant Won't Be Part of U.S. Lineup Audi introduced the RS6 Avant at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show, along with an ultra-efficient A4 concept and a 1.4L four-cylinder TFSI engine for the European A3. The 580HP RS6 Avant, as fuel-efficient as a twin-turbocharged 5.2L V10 engine can be thanks to the direct-injection system, is about as opposite of socially conscious motoring as you get from Audi's range. The RS6 Avant goes on sale in Europe in April 2008, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The smart fortwo: coming to America See the new smart fortwo on the road and you’ll probably love it or hate it as it definitely stands out from the crowd. Drive it and you’ll find things that you love and things that you could definitely like more. But ultimately, the launch of the smart fortwo in the U.S. in January 2008 will excite the image-conscious, environmentally-focused, and parking space-constrained consumer. The shortest and most compact automobile currently in production is scheduled to enter the largest automo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The smart fortwo: coming to America See the new smart fortwo on the road and you’ll probably love it or hate it as it definitely stands out from the crowd. Drive it and you’ll find things that you love and things that you could definitely like more. But ultimately, the launch of the smart fortwo in the U.S. in January 2008 will excite the image-conscious, environmentally-focused, and parking space-constrained consumer. The shortest and most compact automobile currently in production is scheduled to enter the largest automo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The smart fortwo: coming to America See the new smart fortwo on the road and you’ll probably love it or hate it as it definitely stands out from the crowd. Drive it and you’ll find things that you love and things that you could definitely like more. But ultimately, the launch of the smart fortwo in the U.S. in January 2008 will excite the image-conscious, environmentally-focused, and parking space-constrained consumer. The shortest and most compact automobile currently in production is scheduled to enter the largest automo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The smart fortwo: coming to America See the new smart fortwo on the road and you’ll probably love it or hate it as it definitely stands out from the crowd. Drive it and you’ll find things that you love and things that you could definitely like more. But ultimately, the launch of the smart fortwo in the U.S. in January 2008 will excite the image-conscious, environmentally-focused, and parking space-constrained consumer. The shortest and most compact automobile currently in production is scheduled to enter the largest automo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The smart fortwo: coming to America See the new smart fortwo on the road and you’ll probably love it or hate it as it definitely stands out from the crowd. Drive it and you’ll find things that you love and things that you could definitely like more. But ultimately, the launch of the smart fortwo in the U.S. in January 2008 will excite the image-conscious, environmentally-focused, and parking space-constrained consumer. The shortest and most compact automobile currently in production is scheduled to enter the largest automo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The smart fortwo: coming to America See the new smart fortwo on the road and you’ll probably love it or hate it as it definitely stands out from the crowd. Drive it and you’ll find things that you love and things that you could definitely like more. But ultimately, the launch of the smart fortwo in the U.S. in January 2008 will excite the image-conscious, environmentally-focused, and parking space-constrained consumer. The shortest and most compact automobile currently in production is scheduled to enter the largest automo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The smart fortwo: coming to America See the new smart fortwo on the road and you’ll probably love it or hate it as it definitely stands out from the crowd. Drive it and you’ll find things that you love and things that you could definitely like more. But ultimately, the launch of the smart fortwo in the U.S. in January 2008 will excite the image-conscious, environmentally-focused, and parking space-constrained consumer. The shortest and most compact automobile currently in production is scheduled to enter the largest automo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The smart fortwo: coming to America See the new smart fortwo on the road and you’ll probably love it or hate it as it definitely stands out from the crowd. Drive it and you’ll find things that you love and things that you could definitely like more. But ultimately, the launch of the smart fortwo in the U.S. in January 2008 will excite the image-conscious, environmentally-focused, and parking space-constrained consumer. The shortest and most compact automobile currently in production is scheduled to enter the largest automo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The smart fortwo: coming to America See the new smart fortwo on the road and you’ll probably love it or hate it as it definitely stands out from the crowd. Drive it and you’ll find things that you love and things that you could definitely like more. But ultimately, the launch of the smart fortwo in the U.S. in January 2008 will excite the image-conscious, environmentally-focused, and parking space-constrained consumer. The shortest and most compact automobile currently in production is scheduled to enter the largest automo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The smart fortwo: coming to America See the new smart fortwo on the road and you’ll probably love it or hate it as it definitely stands out from the crowd. Drive it and you’ll find things that you love and things that you could definitely like more. But ultimately, the launch of the smart fortwo in the U.S. in January 2008 will excite the image-conscious, environmentally-focused, and parking space-constrained consumer. The shortest and most compact automobile currently in production is scheduled to enter the largest automo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The smart fortwo: coming to America See the new smart fortwo on the road and you’ll probably love it or hate it as it definitely stands out from the crowd. Drive it and you’ll find things that you love and things that you could definitely like more. But ultimately, the launch of the smart fortwo in the U.S. in January 2008 will excite the image-conscious, environmentally-focused, and parking space-constrained consumer. The shortest and most compact automobile currently in production is scheduled to enter the largest automo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Audi A4: Frankfurt Motor Show Introduction All-New A4 Arrives Stateside Fall 2008 Despite the European introduction in September 2007 at the Frankfurt motor show and sales in some markets by the end of the year, U.S. buyers won't get to choose the latest A4 until about a year later (click for the European Audi A4 microsite). We can't wait that long to share the first details with you, of course! The new A4 takes the latest family look, introduced with the TT and A5, and does it well from headlights to small decklid spoiler. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Audi A4: Frankfurt Motor Show Introduction All-New A4 Arrives Stateside Fall 2008 Despite the European introduction in September 2007 at the Frankfurt motor show and sales in some markets by the end of the year, U.S. buyers won't get to choose the latest A4 until about a year later (click for the European Audi A4 microsite). We can't wait that long to share the first details with you, of course! The new A4 takes the latest family look, introduced with the TT and A5, and does it well from headlights to small decklid spoiler. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Audi A4: Frankfurt Motor Show Introduction All-New A4 Arrives Stateside Fall 2008 Despite the European introduction in September 2007 at the Frankfurt motor show and sales in some markets by the end of the year, U.S. buyers won't get to choose the latest A4 until about a year later (click for the European Audi A4 microsite). We can't wait that long to share the first details with you, of course! The new A4 takes the latest family look, introduced with the TT and A5, and does it well from headlights to small decklid spoiler. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Audi A4: Frankfurt Motor Show Introduction All-New A4 Arrives Stateside Fall 2008 Despite the European introduction in September 2007 at the Frankfurt motor show and sales in some markets by the end of the year, U.S. buyers won't get to choose the latest A4 until about a year later (click for the European Audi A4 microsite). We can't wait that long to share the first details with you, of course! The new A4 takes the latest family look, introduced with the TT and A5, and does it well from headlights to small decklid spoiler. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Audi A4: Frankfurt Motor Show Introduction All-New A4 Arrives Stateside Fall 2008 Despite the European introduction in September 2007 at the Frankfurt motor show and sales in some markets by the end of the year, U.S. buyers won't get to choose the latest A4 until about a year later (click for the European Audi A4 microsite). We can't wait that long to share the first details with you, of course! The new A4 takes the latest family look, introduced with the TT and A5, and does it well from headlights to small decklid spoiler. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 2009 Audi A4: Frankfurt Motor Show Introduction All-New A4 Arrives Stateside Fall 2008 Despite the European introduction in September 2007 at the Frankfurt motor show and sales in some markets by the end of the year, U.S. buyers won't get to choose the latest A4 until about a year later (click for the European Audi A4 microsite). We can't wait that long to share the first details with you, of course! The new A4 takes the latest family look, introduced with the TT and A5, and does it well from headlights to small decklid spoiler. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website