Auto & Car Blog

Filed under: Coupes, Euro, Hatchbacks, Renault, Rendered Speculation

Click above for gallery of the 2010 Renault Megan Coupe

Recent snooping at the EU patent office yielded an application revealing the 2010 Renault Megane 3-door Coupe. The images (most likely shot of a clay model) show a much tamer production version when compared to the Renault Megan Coupe concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year. Sleeker than the 5-door Megane shots leaked a couple weeks ago, the coupe’s C-pillar differs most noticeably as the window glass sweeps to a clean point as it meets the rear hatch. The best guess is that the coupe will see a range of engines from 1.4-liters up to 2.0-liters rated between 100 and 160 hp, depending on the model. Look for it on sale next year, but sadly not on our shores.

[Source: EU Patent Office via Carscoop]

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Coupes, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchbacks, Citroen

We often wonder why French wine, fashion and architecture make total sense to us, yet French commercials often make us go “Um, ok, all right….” Citroen’s C4 dancing robot first appeared back in 2004 — well before Optimus Prime and crew teamed up with film director Michael Bay — and since then he’s done four more commercials to showcase the car that is “alive with technology.”

With this latest clip, make that “staying alive with technology.” Roaming the streets of New York, he’s kitted out in chrome teeth and a glitter beret, jiving out to the Bee Gees while he performs style checks in any mirrored surface and poses for pictures. We have to admit his dance moves are hot, but Ironhide would probably shoot him if given the chance.

As for his alter ego, the New Look Citroen C4, it gets a grille, curvier hood and headlight treatment to match the C5. In back, transparent crystal taillamps replace the previous units. Inside, Citroen’s latest NaviDrive has a 7-inch translucent screen pre-programmed for all of Europe. Two new engines, developed with BMW, will provide the car with 120 hp or 150 hp. Most intriguing, the car comes with an integrated, scented air freshener — because all that dancing can make a robot sweat. Watch the new commercial for yourself after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: New Citroen C4 actually a dancing robot

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Euro, Hatchbacks, Ford, First Drive

Save the hot hatch for last. That’s what we kept telling ourselves as we wandered the Belgian countryside looking for Ford’s Lommel Proving Ground. As it turns out, the facility, located next to an air force base - restricted airspace, you know - is so secret, our hosts at Ford could hardly find it. So we had a little extra time to repeat the mantra: save the hot hatch for last.

On our way to Italy to drive the new Fiesta, we took a detour to Lommel to sample some of Ford’s European C-segment offerings. A variety of vehicles, including one with the new dual-clutch gearbox, a Kuga crossover and the fire-breathing Focus ST, would be on hand for us to drive around the track. But we knew that if we gave into temptation and drove the ST first, the rest would seem sluggish by comparison, even though the vehicles aren’t comparable. So did we resist the urge, or give into the little demon that’s always whispering in our ears to go faster? Follow the jump and we just might tell you.

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Noah Joseph / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2008 Ford Focus ST (Euro-spec)

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Japan, Hatchbacks, Toyota

As we reported yesterday, Toyota announced today the availability of a new premium compact hatchback called the Blade. Based on the Auris, the Blade gets a sharper edge of style with a sculpted front end that’s more aggressive than the bloated face of the Auris. Unlike what we told you yesterday, Toyota did not announce a powerful 280-hp V6 as an engine option for the Blade, at least it hasn’t yet. At launch, the Blade will be powered by Toyota’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which Wikipedia lists as producing 157 hp and 162 ft-lbs of torque. Toyota didn’t release official power figures for the engine’s use in the Blade, so those numbers may turn out to be different. The engine will be paired with what Toyota calls its Super CVT-i, a continuously variable transmission with seven programmed “speeds” if people still yearn the kick-down of a cog, and will be available in front- and all-wheel drive. As a premium hatchback, the Blade also gets many electronic nannies including Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, side and curtain shield airbags, as well as a driver’s seat knee bag.

Read more of our thoughts and check out the official press release from Toyota after the jump.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota officially launches the Blade

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Economy, Hatchbacks, Saturn

Click above image to view a high-resolution gallery of the new Saturn Astra

Saturn just rolled out the new Astra to the crowd at the Chicago Auto Show, with the automaker claiming that the compact will help fulfill the brand’s promise to bring “appropriate and affordable technology”, “great design”, and “quality without compromise” to customers.

The Astra survives its overseas excursion largely unchanged, with the most major differences being a set of cupholders and tires that allow it to meet GM’s standards for foul weather performance (a result of Americans’ lack of awareness or complete apathy when it comes to the use of proper snow tires). Yet another variation on the Ecotec architecture, displacing 1.8L and producing 140 hp, drives the front wheels. The sporty intentions of the three-door model are made evident by the quicker ratio rack in its electrohydraulic steering system, larger wheels with more aggressive performance rubber, and standard stability control.

The long wheelbase and wide stance lend a roomy feel to both the three- and five-door model, and rear storage appears to be rather generous. Need we say the rest of the interior is far better than the vehicle it replaces? We are getting a bit tired of silver paint and oversized trip computer displays, but otherwise, there is little to offend inside the Astra (and kudos to GM for installing a decent set of bolstered seats in the three-door).

We’ve included plenty of live shots and official press pics of the 2008 Saturn Astra here. You can find the complete press release from Saturn after the jump, and we’ve also produced a nice video of the introduction with live-action views of the new Astra.

Continue reading Chicago Auto Show: Live unveiling of the 2008 Saturn Astra

Permalink | Email this | Comments

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

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Spy Photos, Economy, Euro, Hatchbacks, Ford

The Ford Fiesta name might not raise a lot of excitement in the American market, conjuring up as it does images of pathetically underpowered golf karts that pale next to other Ford products sold here like the Mustang and F-Series trucks. But in Europe, the Fiesta is one of Ford’s top-selling cars. England’s Car magazine reports that Ford sold over 100,000 Fiestas just in the UK last year, some 30,000 more than its nearest rival. Superminis are big business for Ford of Europe, which intends to keep it that way with the anticipated launch of the replacement for the current car, which has been on the market for five years already.

We can’t tell much about the styling from this test mule, caught while undergoing cold-weather testing in Scandinavia, wearing body panels from the current version. But expect it to follow along Ford’s latest global “kinetic” design direction, as seen on the new Mondeo and previewed by the Iosis concepts. Also expect a small increase in size thanks to the new B-class platform it will share with the Mazda2, but nothing to mess with the success of the current Fiesta.

[Source: Car]

Continue reading Spy Shots: 2008 Ford Fiesta test mule

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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

Read the rest of this entry »