Autoblog Podcast #62 was our first podcast in a while, but we came back with great information and analysis of the New York Auto Show. There were plenty of unveils at the show, and we covered all the important ones. The enhanced version of Podcast 62 has video of several of the New York unveilings, plus plenty of pictures.
Check it out. Per your suggestions, we cut the podcast into three sections for smaller downloads. If you have any more suggestions on how to improve the enhanced version of the Podcast, let us know in the comments. We’re working on a better distribution system than shoving all three in our the current RSS feed of the audio-only version.
DOWNLOADPart One to your desktop (Subaru Impreza, WRX, and Tribeca) DOWNLOADPart Two to your desktop (Ford Flex, Shelby GT500KR, GM sub-compacts, Hummer) DOWNLOADPart Three to your desktop (Hyundai, Infinity, Lexus, Mercedes)
SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes ADD the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
/> The New York Auto Show has come and gone but since it’s the last major show of the season we’re trying to make
it linger as long as we can. To that effect we’re interested to know which vehicle the Autoblog community believes is
Best of Show. Your 20 choices are below in the drop down menu, but we’ve provided a link to posts on each vehicle for
further review of the selections. Vote on design, vote on impact or vote on personal preference… just vote! And if we
missed your favorite concept or future production vehicle (our poll can only accomodate 20 choices), write ins are
welcome in the comments.
/> The New York Auto Show has come and gone but since it’s the last major show of the season we’re trying to make
it linger as long as we can. To that effect we’re interested to know which vehicle the Autoblog community believes is
Best of Show. Your 20 choices are below in the drop down menu, but we’ve provided a link to posts on each vehicle for
further review of the selections. Vote on design, vote on impact or vote on personal preference… just vote! And if we
missed your favorite concept or future production vehicle (our poll can only accomodate 20 choices), write ins are
welcome in the comments.
Does anyone want to wager whether Daimler-Chrysler, especially its Jeep brand, will win any advertising awards when well known TV Ad effectiveness ratings company, IAG Research, presents the IAG Automotive Advertising Awards at the New York Auto Show’s opening press breakfast on April 4, 2007? The awards will use data based on responses from 1.5 million national TV viewers from 20 TV networks. The awards ceremony will be hosted by none other than Regis Philbin. You just can’t do much better than Regis, he who in 2006 broke his own existing Guinness World Record for “Most Hours on Camera”, setting a new mark of 15,662 hours accumulated over his illustrious career. Wait a second — we think you could do better by having Kelly Ripa host it. She could kick off our impending “Girls of the 2007 New York Auto Show” post on the right foot.
Awards will be given out in five categories:
Most Effective Overall Ad (Luxury vehicle category)
Most Effective Overall Ad (Non-Luxury vehicle category)
Most Liked Ad
Most Effective New Nameplate Launch Campaign
Most Effective Established Nameplate Launch Campaign
Does anyone want to wager whether Daimler-Chrysler, especially its Jeep brand, will win any advertising awards when well known TV Ad effectiveness ratings company, IAG Research, presents the IAG Automotive Advertising Awards at the New York Auto Show’s opening press breakfast on April 4, 2007? The awards will use data based on responses from 1.5 million national TV viewers from 20 TV networks. The awards ceremony will be hosted by none other than Regis Philbin. You just can’t do much better than Regis, he who in 2006 broke his own existing Guinness World Record for “Most Hours on Camera”, setting a new mark of 15,662 hours accumulated over his illustrious career. Wait a second — we think you could do better by having Kelly Ripa host it. She could kick off our impending “Girls of the 2007 New York Auto Show” post on the right foot.
Awards will be given out in five categories:
Most Effective Overall Ad (Luxury vehicle category)
Most Effective Overall Ad (Non-Luxury vehicle category)
Most Liked Ad
Most Effective New Nameplate Launch Campaign
Most Effective Established Nameplate Launch Campaign
Click above image to view two-high res renderings of the Hyundai Concept Genesis
We’ve collected quite an archive of posts showing you spy shots of a large V8-powered, rear-wheel drive prototype sedan from Hyundai called the Equus, for lack of an official name. Things are getting more official ahead of the New York Auto Show in early April where this car, the Concept Genesis, is slated to debut. We’ve just received these concept renderings of the Concept Genesis that preview what we believe will become the production large, rear-wheel drive sedan from Hyundai everyone is expecting.
The Concept Genesis is clearly a large car, bigger than Hyundai’s current range-topping sedan, the front-wheel drive Azera. Overall the design is fairly simple, elegant even, with a Camry-like grille flanked by a pair of headlights the quickly retreat up the car’s hood. The rear continues the classy theme with what looks like a single strip of chrome that bisects and connects the two taillights. The New York state license plate is a nice touch, too.
We know nothing more about the Concept Genesis except what we can glean from these renderings, but will be sure to bring you the full scoop from the show floor of the New York Auto Show in a few weeks.
Click above image to view two-high res renderings of the Hyundai Concept Genesis
We’ve collected quite an archive of posts showing you spy shots of a large V8-powered, rear-wheel drive prototype sedan from Hyundai called the Equus, for lack of an official name. Things are getting more official ahead of the New York Auto Show in early April where this car, the Concept Genesis, is slated to debut. We’ve just received these concept renderings of the Concept Genesis that preview what we believe will become the production large, rear-wheel drive sedan from Hyundai everyone is expecting.
The Concept Genesis is clearly a large car, bigger than Hyundai’s current range-topping sedan, the front-wheel drive Azera. Overall the design is fairly simple, elegant even, with a Camry-like grille flanked by a pair of headlights the quickly retreat up the car’s hood. The rear continues the classy theme with what looks like a single strip of chrome that bisects and connects the two taillights. The New York state license plate is a nice touch, too.
We know nothing more about the Concept Genesis except what we can glean from these renderings, but will be sure to bring you the full scoop from the show floor of the New York Auto Show in a few weeks. %Gallery-2087%
Hyundai’s working on a rear-wheel-drive successor to its home-market Equus luxury sedan. The car’s expected to debut at the New York Auto Show in April, and these most recent spy shots show it with less camouflage than we’ve seen it wearing in the past. You can’t see the front end, but you get a really good look at the clean flanks. The roofline pays homage to the Euro iron Hyundai undoubtedly has in its sights; not to mention the high-end Japanese makes like Infiniti and Lexus. The kink in the lower portion of the C-pillar is a nod directly to BMW - though Infiniti copied it first. Power will be provided by the Azera’s 3.8 liter V6 at the bottom end, while there’s a 4.6 liter V8 reportedly generating over 300 horsepower for the top-of-the-line car. This looks like a large vehicle, and we car nuts welcome more RWD platforms with available V8s - they’re a hoot to be irresponsible in. Rumors have the entry price in the $30,000 range, which is a mighty deal if it continues with Hyundai’s recent formula. Expect to find styling that’s pleasant in an inoffensive, non-polarizing way when the wraps come off, and we’re sure that equipment levels will be high and suspension calibrations will tend toward the softer side. How soft it goes will determine whether it’s a spiritual successor to the Crown Victoria, or if it plays in more rarified air occupied by the aforementioned lux-marques.
click above image to view 33 high-res pics of the 2008 Jeep Liberty
On the eve of the 2007 New York Auto Show, Jeep has released informaiton about its all-new 2008 Jeep Liberty, which for the first time comes available with a unique canvas roof called the Sky Slider. The Sky Slider can be slid completely forward or back or anywhere in between to reveal the open sky to all occupants. It’s like owning a Wrangler without as deep a commitment to open air motoring. Obviously, the Liberty looks completely new for 2008 wearing a more traditional slab-sided Jeep design than the first generation, which was often panned for being too round and soft. The new shape opens up additional interior space, although that rear load height seems awfully high to us.
The ‘08 Liberty is powered by the same 3.7L V6 producing 210 hp and 235 ft-lbs. of torque, available with either a 6-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Thus, we expect this new ute that has grown in most dimensions to be a tick or two slower than the current model. It should handle better, however, thanks to an all-new independant front suspension and new five-link rear suspension. Jeep faithful shouldn’t fret, however, as the Liberty’s Trail Rating is in tact, regardless of whether you choose the hard core Selec-Trac II full-time four-wheel-drive system or Command-Trac part-time four-wheel-drive system.
Check out the complete press release on the 2008 Jeep Liberty after the jump and our gallery of high-res images.
It’s not easy to put your finger on the pulse of the buying public, so Chevy decided to hedge its bets and build three mini car concepts, the Beat, Groove and Trax, and is leaving it up to us (as in all of us) to decide which one we like best. The public can vote for which concept is most appealing by visiting www.vote4chevrolet.com. While there’s no guarantee the highest vote getter will be built, it will help guide the development of a future global mini car from GM.
So here are your candidates. The Beat (green) is by far the most sporty of the trio, with its slicked back styling and comparatively large 1.2L turbo engine. Technically described as a “tuner” car, the Beat is meant to be customized much like a Scion to an owner’s own individual tastes. The Beat is a front-wheel drive, three-door hatch with an automatic tranny to divvy up the tiny motor’s available power.
The Groove concept (black) is much like a mini HHR, a five-door wagon with a tall roof and flat sides. It’s extremely short hood, big wheel arches and nonexistent overhangs mean that every square inch of the platform is utilized. Consider this the most practical concept of the three. Also a front-driver, the Groove is powered by a 1L diesel engine.
Finally there’s the Trax (orange), which we’ve met before. The Trax concept is the mini ute of the bunch, doing its best to feign even the slightest ability to venture off the beaten path. We wouldn’t suggest it however, as those tires lack any meaningful tread and the ride height, while high compared to the other two concepts, could hardly clear a curb (if that). It’s the only one of the three that features round headlights, though its four-door, upright, box-like packaging mimics that of the Groove concept. It’s powered by a 1L gas engine.
Which one would we choose? The Autoblog team is split, though this Autoblogger would pick the Groove if pressed. We’ll come back at you with more details on each concept, including live shots, in just a few short hours when the 2007 New York Auto Show opens to the press. Check out the preliminary press release from GM after the jump.
click above image to view 33 high-res pics of the 2008 Jeep Liberty
On the eve of the 2007 New York Auto Show, Jeep has released informaiton about its all-new 2008 Jeep Liberty, which for the first time comes available with a unique canvas roof called the Sky Slider. The Sky Slider can be slid completely forward or back or anywhere in between to reveal the open sky to all occupants. It’s like owning a Wrangler without as deep a commitment to open air motoring. Obviously, the Liberty looks completely new for 2008 wearing a more traditional slab-sided Jeep design than the first generation, which was often panned for being too round and soft. The new shape opens up additional interior space, although that rear load height seems awfully high to us.
The ‘08 Liberty is powered by the same 3.7L V6 producing 210 hp and 235 ft-lbs. of torque, available with either a 6-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Thus, we expect this new ute that has grown in most dimensions to be a tick or two slower than the current model. It should handle better, however, thanks to an all-new independant front suspension and new five-link rear suspension. Jeep faithful shouldn’t fret, however, as the Liberty’s Trail Rating is in tact, regardless of whether you choose the hard core Selec-Trac II full-time four-wheel-drive system or Command-Trac part-time four-wheel-drive system.
Check out the complete press release on the 2008 Jeep Liberty after the jump and our gallery of high-res images.
It’s not easy to put your finger on the pulse of the buying public, so Chevy decided to hedge its bets and build three mini car concepts, the Beat, Groove and Trax, and is leaving it up to us (as in all of us) to decide which one we like best. The public can vote for which concept is most appealing by visiting www.vote4chevrolet.com. While there’s no guarantee the highest vote getter will be built, it will help guide the development of a future global mini car from GM.
So here are your candidates. The Beat (green) is by far the most sporty of the trio, with its slicked back styling and comparatively large 1.2L turbo engine. Technically described as a “tuner” car, the Beat is meant to be customized much like a Scion to an owner’s own individual tastes. The Beat is a front-wheel drive, three-door hatch with an automatic tranny to divvy up the tiny motor’s available power.
The Groove concept (black) is much like a mini HHR, a five-door wagon with a tall roof and flat sides. It’s extremely short hood, big wheel arches and nonexistent overhangs mean that every square inch of the platform is utilized. Consider this the most practical concept of the three. Also a front-driver, the Groove is powered by a 1L diesel engine.
Finally there’s the Trax (orange), which we’ve met before. The Trax concept is the mini ute of the bunch, doing its best to feign even the slightest ability to venture off the beaten path. We wouldn’t suggest it however, as those tires lack any meaningful tread and the ride height, while high compared to the other two concepts, could hardly clear a curb (if that). It’s the only one of the three that features round headlights, though its four-door, upright, box-like packaging mimics that of the Groove concept. It’s powered by a 1L gas engine.
Which one would we choose? The Autoblog team is split, though this Autoblogger would pick the Groove if pressed. We’ll come back at you with more details on each concept, including live shots, in just a few short hours when the 2007 New York Auto Show opens to the press. Check out the preliminary press release from GM after the jump.
Ford will be unveiling another production intent vehicle at the New York Auto Show next week that has a connection to last year’s SEMA show. Back in November we showed you the custom Expedition that Funkmaster Flex brought to Las Vegas for the big show. Next week Ford will be announcing that a version of this truck will go into production this fall. The production version is truly the spitting image of the original show truck produced for SEMA, with the most obvious change being new 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels. It features a 3d Carbon body kit that spruces up the front and rear fascias while adding side skirts to lower the truck’s visual height. The Black and Colorado Red paint job with Orange pinstriping is just the like the show truck’s, however. Inside the Expedition, Flex added a black leather interior with Colorado red stitching, as well as Colorado red accents all over the dash, doors and center console. Based on the short wheelbase Expedition Limited, it doesn’t appear that any changes have been made to the motor or suspension. No pricing has been announced either, but any baller knows you need a lot of Benjamins to roll like this.
Click the image above to view Polly Wheels in action
Most of the Autoblog readers have been fostering a love for the automobile since a very early stage in life. We collected Hot Wheels and Matchboxes, and we had model cars and remote-controlled hot rods. The one thing those toys have in common is that they’re marketed almost exclusively to boys.
Mattel has decided to give the girls what they’ve wanted all along: race tracks, pink cars that go shopping, and a great way to compete. Earlier we gave you an extensive debriefing on Polly Wheels, complete with an Autoblog Gallery, and now we’re adding video, too. Check out the Autoblog interview with Stephanie Cota, Vice President of girls marketing at Mattel. There is also some exclusive footage of a prototype Polly Wheels Race Track in action. Check it out!
We’ve been wondering where Nissan was going to fit in on the docket of next week’s Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS), but InsideLine confirmed our suspicions - they won’t be having a press conference at all. Instead, the Forum concept will be set on stage and Nissan will turn its attention to the New York Auto Show in March. There, Nissan plans to take the wraps of the redesigned Maxima that’s destined to go on sale later this year.
Darryl Harrison, Nissan’s North American spokesperson, told InsideLine that the Maxima will be “all new” but he didn’t go into details about what changes would be made. He also said that a “couple of other things” would be on display in the Big Apple and that Nissan’s presence at the Chicago Auto Show would be minimal.
Autoblog Podcast #62 was our first podcast in a while, but we came back with great information and analysis of the New York Auto Show. There were plenty of unveils at the show, and we covered all the important ones. The enhanced version of Podcast 62 has video of several of the New York unveilings, plus plenty of pictures.
Check it out. Per your suggestions, we cut the podcast into three sections for smaller downloads. If you have any more suggestions on how to improve the enhanced version of the Podcast, let us know in the comments. We’re working on a better distribution system than shoving all three in our the current RSS feed of the audio-only version.
DOWNLOADPart One to your desktop (Subaru Impreza, WRX, and Tribeca) DOWNLOADPart Two to your desktop (Ford Flex, Shelby GT500KR, GM sub-compacts, Hummer) DOWNLOADPart Three to your desktop (Hyundai, Infinity, Lexus, Mercedes)
SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes ADD the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
After being endlessly mired in the ’80s, the Autoblog Podcast has now climbed its way up to #90. Alex took a sick day, so John and Damon hold the fort. We’ve been in New York, and that’s the main focus of the podcast, although we have had more than just John’s Alero in the Autoblog Garage. Ford’s sale of Jaguar and Land Rover comes up, as does some of the news that’s ensued between the end of the New York show and now.
We’ve got a new podcast-specific email: podcast at autoblog dawt com, so please send in your questions about the show, about us, or about anything car-related you want to know, and we’ll make up the best answers we can. Thanks for listening!
SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes ADDthe Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator DOWNLOAD the show now
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Audi A4 Avant.
Wagon lovers rejoice! Audi’s new 2009 A4 Avant has made its official North American debut at the New York Auto Show. The press release, after the break, introduces us to the newest 2.0 liter TFSI four cylinder engine, variants of which have won “Engine of the Year” trophies three times. Coming in at 211 horsepower along with 258 lb.-ft. of torque, the A4’s base engine is reportedly capable of propelling the car to sixty in 6.5 seconds.
The impressive output of Audi’s new four-banger almost makes up for their decision not to offer the sedan’s 3.2 liter FSI V6 in the Avant. That engine features the newest version of the patented Audi Valvelift Technology (AVS) and offers up 265 horsepower. Six-speed transmissions will be offered in both the A4 sedan and Avant — no mention of Quattro systems or the new 7-speed DSG. It seems like Audi’s been holding back the new A4 for so long that we can hardly believe that we’ll see it in dealerships this October, but we’ll continue to sate your appetites with pictures until then.
We dug the hot new Genesis Coupe at the New York Auto Show, but not everybody can head out to Gotham to see Hyundai’s future tuner de force. Hyundai knows it has a good thing on its hands, and has now shared it with the world in web form. The Genesis Coupe’s official site includes everything from technical specifications and available equipment to photo galleries and videos. That ought to help you kill the year-or-so wait for the Genesis Coupe’s arrival in dealer showrooms. We noticed that Hyundai hasn’t gotten around to posting video of the car’s smoke-laden intro in New York, so we’ve added ours after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Mike!
Autoblog Podcast #62 was our first podcast in a while, but we came back with great information and analysis of the New York Auto Show. There were plenty of unveils at the show, and we covered all the important ones. The enhanced version of Podcast 62 has video of several of the New York unveilings, plus plenty of pictures. 
Does anyone want to wager whether Daimler-Chrysler, especially its Jeep brand, will win any 
After being endlessly mired in the ’80s, the Autoblog Podcast has now climbed its way up to #90. Alex took a sick day, so John and Damon hold the fort. We’ve been in New York, and that’s the main focus of the podcast, although we have had more than just John’s Alero in the Autoblog Garage. Ford’s sale of Jaguar and Land Rover comes up, as does some of the news that’s ensued between the end of the New York show and now. 
