Auto & Car Blog

Filed under: Hybrid, Germany

The city of Frankfurt is celebrating the Automechanika trade show which is focused on aftermarket equipment. During this exhibition, awards are handed out and one went to autoparts maker Valeo, which got the Automechanika Innovation Award for its StARS Micro-Hybrid System, also called Stop&Start.

Currently found in the Citroën C2 and C3, the Mercedes A and B class and the smart mhd, the StARS is a mild hybrid system that shuts off the engine at stops and starts it back once the gas pedal is pressed or the first gear is engaged. The result are noticeable gas savings in city traffic, where stop and go kicks in more frequently. The good news - and the reason why Valeo got this award - is that StARS can now be purchased aftermarket and retrofitted for existing cars.

[Source: Valeo]

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Filed under: Saturn, Frankfurt Motor Show, Opel

click for a high res gallery of the teasers

We’re still a month away from the Paris Motor Show which alternates every other year with the Frankfurt Motor Show. Nonetheless, GM has released some teaser images of the next-generation Astra which won’t appear until Frankfurt in 2009. We’ve been seeing spy shots of the new Astra for some time now, but GM has managed to keep much of the surface development covered up thus far. According to the press release accompanying the images, the final version will be seeing more of the features that have appeared on the new mid-size Insignia along with recent Opel concepts like the GTC and Flextreme. Among those are the sculpted side blade and the wrap-around interior. The sketch above also shows a shoulder character line above the rear wheels that has appeared on the other cars. The Astra shares the next-generation Delta compact car platform with the new Chevy Cruze and Volt and it is expected to be built in North America in addition to Europe. That will be the key to making it a profitable enterprise for Saturn. The current Astra has been a commercial failure due to its relatively high price and limited changes from the European version; it still loses money for GM.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Frankfurt 09 Preview: Opel releases teasers of the new Astra

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Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, New York Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Wagons/Estates, Crossovers/CUVs, Subaru

There have been some minor rumblings, as of late, about Subaru’s future offerings, including information about the Impreza WRX and its STI variant. The new Impreza will likely debut in New York this April, with sales beginning in August of this year, while the STI will probably bow in Frankfurt, and go on sale in early 2008.

The other rumor making the rounds is that the Legacy wagon will no longer be available starting in 2008, however the Outback wagon will still be around for those of you who prefer its higher ground clearance and off-road cred.

Also coming to NY will be the ‘08 Tribeca, complete with 3.6-liter H6 and a revised look (thank God). Sales of the new Tribeca are rumored to begin in June.

Considering that Subaru’s appearance in Detroit was kind of a let down, we’re looking forward to seeing more compelling product coming down the pike.

[Sources: Straightline, Karl on Cars]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

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Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, New York Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Wagons/Estates, Crossovers/CUVs, Subaru

There have been some minor rumblings, as of late, about Subaru’s future offerings, including information about the Impreza WRX and its STI variant. The new Impreza will likely debut in New York this April, with sales beginning in August of this year, while the STI will probably bow in Frankfurt, and go on sale in early 2008.

The other rumor making the rounds is that the Legacy wagon will no longer be available starting in 2008, however the Outback wagon will still be around for those of you who prefer its higher ground clearance and off-road cred.

Also coming to NY will be the ‘08 Tribeca, complete with 3.6-liter H6 and a revised look (thank God). Sales of the new Tribeca are rumored to begin in June.

Considering that Subaru’s appearance in Detroit was kind of a let down, we’re looking forward to seeing more compelling product coming down the pike.

[Sources: Straightline, Karl on Cars]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

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Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Euro, Hatchbacks, GM, Saturn, Opel, Vauxhall

We just told you about Bob Lutz’ comments that the Saturn Astra is too expensive and not making any money in the U.S., but that may change when the next iteration arrives. Of course, the next Astra will debut in Europe first as an Opel (and Vauxhall in the UK), but we suspect that GM will offer it in the U.S. again, especially if the automaker can build it locally so that it’s not dogged by a weak currency exchange like the current model. Though not scheduled to debut until late next year at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the fourth-gen Astra is making an appearance today in a couple of sketches released by General Motors Europe. The design is said to take direct inspiration from the new Insignia, which itself will become the next-gen Saturn Aura. The all-new Astra will be based on the Delta II platform with vehicles like the Chevy Cruze and Volt and feature a new range of fuel efficient engines, clever packaging solutions and trick technology like the Insignia’s Front Camera System that recognizes road signs. Check out the sneak peeks in our gallery below.

[Source: GM]

Continue reading GM gives very early sneak peek at next-gen Astra

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