Filed under: Wagon, Videos, Crossover, Hatchback, Honda, Design/Style

There’s been no shortage of digital egg-throwing and epithet uttering when it comes to Honda’s 2010 Crosstour – this, despite the fact that essentially nobody has seen it in the metal. Thankfully, judging by these first interior shots furnished by Honda, the cabin’s design will likely prove to be much less divisive.

Packing an instrument panel that looks like a straight port over from the Accord (albeit one with a different steering wheel), the Crosstour appears to inherit the sedan’s lilting dashboard graphic, simple analog gauges, and available navigation system. From where we sit, for such an unconventional vehicle, the interior seems oddly anticlimactic, but at least it figures to be easy-to-use.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the interior that we can see here is the Crosstour’s cargo hold, which has a substantial-looking removable sub-floor storage box. We note that there seems to be a significant amount of wheel well intrusion into the cargo area, although we’ll have to wait until EPA volume figures are released to see how this has impacted the Crosstour’s utility.

In other news, the Crosstour will come standard with Honda’s 3.5-liter V6 – no four-cylinder version will be available when the car rolls into dealerships. For reference, the six-cylinder in the Accord sedan nets 268 horsepower (@ 6200 RPM) and 248 pound-feet of torque (@ 5000 RPM) and routes its power through a five-speed automatic transmission. Honda has declined to give official word on power figures for the Crosstour thus far, however. As expected, all-wheel drive will be optional.

Be sure to check out the high-res gallery below and the video and press release after the jump, then leave your fellow readers a comment.

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading 2010 Honda Crosstour interior images released, V6 power to be standard [w/VIDEO]

2010 Honda Crosstour interior images released, V6 power to be standard [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Citroen

Citroën is perhaps the wackiest mass-market auto manufacturer still in business (have you seen the 2CV, C-Cactus, and that dancing robot?), and this year, the company celebrates 90 years of mercantilism.

In celebration of that achievement, they have put together a 90-second video flyover of some of the most memorable – or just plain intriguing – pieces of company lore. From using the Eiffel tower as a billboard for a decade, to de Gaulle, the Pope, the WRC, and the Playstation, there’s been a lot of it. Follow the jump to watch the video.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Citroën remixes its 90-year history for celebratory commercial

VIDEO: Citroën remixes its 90-year history for celebratory commercial originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: LA Auto Show, Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Ford

Come December, we’ll finally get an official look at the U.S.-spec Ford Fiesta at the LA Auto Show. Yes, yes… we’ve seen the Fiesta in a hundred different colors and shapes already, but those have all been either European or Chinese models, and the U.S. version of the car will have a slightly different look as necessitated by our federal crash requirements.

Don’t expect any major changes to the Fiesta’s basic shape, however. We may get mildly enlarged bumpers front and rear, and those will likely have a small impact on the car’s fascias, but overall the changes should be very minor. While an official sale date has not yet been announced, the Fiesta should show up in Ford dealerships sometime in early 2010.

According to Ford, more than 50,000 “hand-raisers” have expressed interest in the small car since its Fiesta Movement kicked off back in May. Perhaps an even more noteworthy statistic is that 97 percent of those parties don’t currently own a Ford. Hit the jump for the official press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading U.S.-spec Ford Fiesta to debut at LA Auto Show

U.S.-spec Ford Fiesta to debut at LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Jaguar, Luxury

What with the advent of the world wide web, few of us do our Christmas shopping in catalogs anymore. That probably won’t stop Neiman Marcus from selling out of all 50 examples of the limited edition 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition that will appear in its Christmas Book this season. Neiman Marcus offers a limited edition vehicle in its Christmas Book every year, and this will be third time a Jaguar has been offered.

This special version of the new XJ will feature an exclusive Celestial Black paint job with 20-inch double-10 spoke wheels. Other than a special nameplate inscribed with “Neiman Marcus 1 of 50″, the yuletide Jag will be just like any other XJ with a supercharged version of the brand’s new 5.0-liter V8 producing 470 horsepower. The XJ itself, meanwhile, goes on sale the normal way in the U.S. in early 2010. If you’ve got a hankering for one of the first, call 1-866-524-6963 on Friday, October 16 at noon EST to place your order. Gift wrapping not included.

[Source: Jaguar]

Happy Xmas: Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

The car that authored the “four-door-coupe” terminology – and a great deal of Internet debate and dictionary definition checking – will introduce its second act toward the end of 2011. Unsurprisingly, the new model (which is expected to wear a 2011 designation), will look much like the current model. That’s the way it goes with genre-defining things most of the time.

Perhaps it is just our eyes, but in the spy shots it looks like the car’s rump could be even more sleek, with the glasshouse landing even further toward the rear of the car. Also, the mirror mountings have changed – at least on this prototype – from the A-pillar notch to the doors. In line with Merc’s current designs, they are now giant square flaps mounted on stalks.

Engines are expected to range from a 3.5-liter V6 with 292 horsepower to the top-o’-the-heap 6.2-liter V8 with 525 hp. Rumored to be tucked in there as well is a 299-hp hybrid.

[Source: SpeedLux]

Spy Shots: 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 caught playing in the rain originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Toyota, Humor

It’s always fun when advertisers take a well-known marketing cliche and turn it onside its head. Such is the case with today’s Funny Car Commercial of the Day, where we see a beautiful woman walking the streets of Norway with predictable results from the men she passes along the way.

Men both young and old find themselves unable to look away from the object of their desire, leading to a couple of unfortunate accidents. The woman seems unfazed, as if these events are part of her normal daily routine. But wait, there’s a twist. We don’t want to give it away, so click past the break to watch the video for yourself. Be sure to check out veryfunnyads.com for more.

[Source: veryfunnyads.com]

Continue reading Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Toyota and the Beautiful Woman

Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Toyota and the Beautiful Woman originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Japan, Videos, Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota

That didn’t take long. Hot on the heels of the Toyota FT-86 Concept’s reveal, we’ve got videographic proof that ToMoCo’s new boxer-powered 2+2 is bound for the virtual circuits of Gran Turismo 5.

Make the jump to see a darkened shot of the C-4S flat-four underhood, followed by the FT-86 romping through some European backroads, running a street circuit and then sliding sideways at Tsukuba with its predecessor and inspiration, the original Toyota AE86 Corolla.

Continue reading VIDEO: Toyota FT-86 Concept finds its way into Gran Turismo 5

VIDEO: Toyota FT-86 Concept finds its way into Gran Turismo 5 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, China, Videos, Ferrari, Specialty, Design/Style

One-of-a-kind Ferrari 599 in cracked porcelain by Lu Hao – Click above for high-res image gallery

In a communist country, all Ferraris are equal, but some are more equal than others. Take the special-edition 599 that the Italian automaker debuted exclusively for the Chinese market. Only twelve of them will be made. And now, an even more exclusive version – as exclusive as they get, really – has been presented.

This one-of-a-kind special Ferrari has been further differentiated by Lu Hao, a Chinese artist who applied the special touches that make the China special edition, well…special. It’s been decked out in the cracked glaze pattern of the coveted Song Dynasty-era Ge Liln porcelain, and signed by the artist. The unique supercar will be auctioned off for charity in Beijing on November 3, but you can see it for yourself in the gallery below and the video after the jump.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Fine China: One-off porcelain-finish Ferrari 599 special to be auctioned for charity [w/VIDEO]

Fine China: One-off porcelain-finish Ferrari 599 special to be auctioned for charity [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM

General Motors has already said the Chevrolet Volt will be in short supply at launch. But that isn’t stopping Bob Lutz from going out and talking about how popular the hybrid already is — even though it hasn’t gone on sale. Lutz told Automotive News that the promotional efforts GM has laid on thick are working. Once the car is further along in the production process, Lutz says GM will “pull out the heavy artillery and get Volt buzz” going, hinting that a short-term test drive/lease like Project Driveway is being considered.

Over 50,000 people have signed up on the “want list” at GM-Volt.com, more than doubling since the Volt debuted. To keep up with projected demand, GM’s Dave Barthmuss repeatedly told attendees at this weekend’s Alt Car expo in Santa Monica that the automaker will build “tens of thousands” of Volt units in the first year. For comparison, Nissan has collected names of about 22,000 people interested in the all-electric Leaf in the two months since it was unveiled.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

REPORT: GM sees more demand than supply with the Chevy Volt in the beginning originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Safety, BMW, Motorcycle, Alternative Fuel

Says BMW, “This is what a safe, environment-friendly and highly practical single track vehicle for city traffic could look like in the future.” Well then, let’s dissect that statement and see how BMW sought to accomplish these seemingly contradictory goals.

First, safety. Between 2000 and 2003, BMW offered a scooter in Europe called the C1. Though a marketplace failure, that machine may still be the safest two-wheeler ever offered. Featuring a fully-enclosed cabin with integrated rollover protection, a front-end impact zone, a rider seat belt and a low center of gravity, the C1-E has safety baked right in from the start. To that package, BMW adds electronic aids that include integral ABS, Tire Pressure Control, Anti-Slip Control and Traction Control. So… safety? Check.

Environmentally-friendly? The scooter itself emits nothing – BMW borrowed the electric motor and control systems from electric scooter manufacturer Vectrix (which recently filed for bankruptcy). Vectrix’s battery pack, though, has been swapped out with a high-tech lithium ion unit for greater energy storage. Alternatively, BMW could equip the same basic platform with any electric motor or small internal combustion engine of its choice.

Now, how about practicality? First, that enclosed rider cockpit means the C1-E could be used in nearly any kind of weather. Further, the bike features a large luggage compartment behind the rider. As far as single-track vehicles go, this one’s pretty darn practical. As much as we’d like to see the C1-E go into production, that’s not currently in the cards. BMW built this concept as its contribution to the European eSUM safety project. Want to know more? Check out the gallery below and hit the jump for the press release.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW previews its vision of a safer city scooter with C1-E concept

BMW previews its vision of a safer city scooter with C1-E concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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