2011 Nissan Juke details, specs spilled ahead of New York
Nissan’s new-for-2011 Juke is set to make its North American debut at tomorrow’s New York Auto Show, and the small crossover’s polarizing moon-buggy styling is sure to set tongues wagging, just as it did during its global premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. Having seen this vehicle in person already, we can tell you that its “Baby Predator” front end takes some getting used to, but it all comes together better than expected, and the interior seems surprisingly roomy and well-resolved.
Much smaller in person than one might think, the curvy ute is significantly shorter than vehicles like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 – it’s even shorter than the new Hyundai Tucson and Nissan’s own Rogue, not to mention the likes of Mitsubishi’s Outlander Sport (itself another NY debut). The closest competitor we can think of is Suzuki’s SX4 crossover, which is, believe it or not, actually longer than the Juke. In the end, we fully expect it to be cross-shopped with more conventional hatchbacks (Mazda3), as well as ‘box cars’ like the Kia Soul.
Featuring the first application of Nissan’s 1.6-liter direct injected four-cylinder turbo in North America, it will be available with torque vectoring all-wheel drive, so it might just be the driver’s car of the bunch, too. Featuring “180+ horsepower and 170+ lb-ft of torque,” it will be available in both six-speed manual form and CVT with a sport setting. Unfortunately, the three-pedal setup will only be available in front-drive SV and SL trim, however. That torque-vectoring system? It defaults to a 50:50 front-to-rear split, but it can push power from side-to-side along the rear axle when situations warrant.
Categories: Auto Show, Crossover, New York Auto Show, Nissan Tags:
New York 2010 Live: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG priced at $183,000 for the U.S
Mercedes-Benz trotted out the SLS AMG GT3 and E350 4Matic Wagon here in New York, and along with the racy supercoupe and bangin’ wagon, it’s announced pricing for its all-new, homegrown gullwing.
We don’t have an official MSRP breakdown yet, but our man on the floor tells us that the 2011 SLS AMG will start at $183,000 in the U.S. when it begins to go on sale this summer. That entry-level price is noticeably lower than expected, but we’re sure once you tack on the options (custom color, carbon ceramic stoppers, etc.), it’s sure to head quickly north of $200k. Ready to place an order? Read our First Drive before you tap into the kiddie’s college fund.
Categories: Auto Show, coupe, Mercedes-Benz, New York Auto Show Tags:
Reader Spy: 2011 Scion tC caught on New York show stand ahead of reveal, looks much the same *Updated
We have always thought that the Scion tC was a pretty tidy looking little hatchback, but as it’s been on sale since 2004, well, it’s gotten a bit tired, even though there are very few inexpensive front-drive sport-ish coupes to choose from these days. With that in mind, we’ve been looking forward to the introduction of the long-awaited 2011 model, expecting a fairly radical step forward. Judging by this new spy shot from an anonymous tipster, perhaps we ought to temper our expectations a bit.
While the single snapshot in question is blurry and blown out, it does show what appears to be a new lower fascia, grille, wheels, and side mirrors. The headlamps are too washed out under the showstand’s high-power lights to tell if they’ve been altered (it appears that the photo was taken during a presentation rehearsal ahead tomorrow’s New York Auto Show reveal), but it’s reasonable to assume that the tC will receive new lights both front and rear, as they’re a hallmark of almost any vehicle refresh.
As for what lies underneath the reskin, we’re not yet sure, as the only thing to have slipped out about the new model that appears credible are a few official-looking detail shots that reveal items like a new manual shift mode for the automatic transmission and revamped HVAC controls.
We’ll have more on the 2011 tC after Scion’s press conference tomorrow, but in the meantime, you can play a game of “spot the differences” from the outgoing car by checking out our high-res gallery of Scion’s latest special edition model below.
Categories: Auto Show, Hatchback, New York Auto Show, Scion, Spy Photos Tags:
2011 Scion tC video brings updated sport compact into sharper focus
Thanks to our anonymous tipster from earlier in the day, we know a lot more about the updated 2011 Scion tC than we did yesterday. Tomorrow we’ll know even more when the new car debuts at the 2010 New York Auto Show. In the meantime, Scion itself has released a video that confirms many of our tipster’s earlier details, as well as provides some unfettered views of the new tC’s design.
The video, which can be viewed after the jump, confirms that the tC will be available with a slightly larger engine at 2.5 liters of displacement compared to the current model’s 2.4 liters. We don’t know yet how much little extra bit of volume will translate into extra horsepower, but the man in the video says there will be more than before (torque too). Add to that confirmation of both a six-speed manual and automatic transmission, improved fuel economy, 18-inch alloy wheels, bigger brakes and an eight-speaker stereo with a USB port. Read more…
Categories: Auto Show, coupe, New York Auto Show Tags:
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport shows up looking sharp in New York Auto Show 2010
Suzuki decided that tomorrow wasn’t soon enough to take the wraps off its new 2011 Kizashi Sport, so they invited us media types to SoHo tonight for a sneak peek before the official unveiling at the 2010 New York Auto Show. What we saw when we arrived was a very sharp looking Kizashi done up in fiery red with new 18-inch alloy wheels, a deeper front chin spoiler, a trunklid spoiler and extended side sills with a dash of chrome here and there. While we had hoped to see a “V6″ badge somewhere on it, we were sadly left wanting.
In fact, the 2011 Sport doesn’t have any performance tweaks in the engine bay, just the exterior changes and a firmed up suspension. There’s also a new sport steering wheel inside as well as contrasting stitching throughout. The Sport package will be available on Kizashi GTS and SLS trim levels and ia scheduled to go on sale in the States this August. We have a sneaking suspicion that this is the same Kizashi concept we saw several months ago out at Cars & Coffee, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Categories: Auto Show, New York Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Suzuki Tags:
2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid boasts luxury plus efficiency, but is it enough
Earlier this week we reported that Ford had plans to repurpose its very well-received hybrid powertrain in the Lincoln MKZ. Makes sense, right? Both the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan (sister cars of the MKZ) benefit from the fuel-sipping mill, and by adding a bit of electric power to the Lincoln lineup, Ford is hoping to attract more buyers into its luxury division’s showrooms. What’s more, since Lincoln vehicles carry higher price points than comparable Ford or Mercury products, the return on this hybrid investment means a larger profit margin for the automaker as a whole.
Well, now it’s official. For the 2011 model year, the Lincoln MKZ will offer the award-winning 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline/electric powertrain from the Fusion and Milan hybrids, good for up to 41 miles per gallon in the city. In doing this, Lincoln aims to compete directly with the recently introduced Lexus HS250h, and since the MKZ will net six more MPGs than the HS, it can safely take the title of most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in America. What’s more, the MKZ is slightly larger than the Lexus, and if Ford plays its cards right, we wouldn’t be surprised if the MKZ Hybrid is less expensive than the HS, as well.
Categories: Auto Show, Ford, Hybrid, Lincoln, New York Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons Tags:
New York 2010: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport lands on show floor, V6 and hybrid not happening
“You’ll turn blue in the face if you’re holding your breath waiting for a V6 Kizashi.” That was the word from a Suzuki spokesman at last night’s insider preview of the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport. It makes sense since Suzuki and General Motors have parted ways and that V6 was expected to come from GM. While we had been hoping a V6 would be part of the package, we are taking this quote to mean there won’t be anything other than a four-cylinder in the engine bay for a good long time. And we do mean anything. Automotive News is also reporting that Suzuki has also dropped plans for the hybrid version of the mid-size media darling.
What we’re left with isn’t exactly chopped liver though. We’ve waxed poetically about the Kizashi and its near perfect blend of styling, performance and value, and the Sport looks to add just that little extra bit of styling and performance to make it even more appealing. We still have to wait to pass judgment on whether they keep the value part of the equation as prices won’t be announced until closer to the vehicle’s July on-sale date.
Categories: Auto Show, New York Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, Suzuki Tags:
New York 2010 Live:Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is fantasy writ large
The world’s automakers are introducing around 20 new vehicles this week at the 2010 New York Auto Show. Some of those cars are pretty interesting, but here’s the juice: In 20 years, there is exactly one car being shown here today that people will still be whispering about. That car? The Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon. You’re reading this correctly. Cadillac, former maker of landau-roofed Boca Rotan retirement sleds will soon be offering a station wagon stuffed with a 556-horsepower, supercharged and Corvette-derived 6.2-liter V8. If that’s not loony enough for you, yes, you can order it with a six-speed manual. Wowza.
We first glimpsed the V Wagon last night at a fairly gala Cadillac cocktail reception, complete with GM design boss Ed Welburn and none other than Maximum Bob Lutz, the man who may have single handedly willed pistonhead fantasy into production. The CTS-V Sport Wagon took center stage flanked on either side by the plain old CTS-V and our Detroit Show favorite CTS-V Coupe. To put the spectacle in photographic terms, even though it was surrounded by some pretty desirable metal, the newest V managed to “pop.”
Categories: Auto Show, Cadillac, GM, New York Auto Show, Wagon Tags:
New York 2010: 2011 Nissan Juke is actually pretty neat
Attention all you small crossover fans out there, now is the time to get excited. Nissan pulled back the curtain on the 2011 Juke and although we’ve seen it (at the Geneva Motor Show), we’re still glad it’s here. We’re being implored to mention that some of us think the front end has a Pontiac Aztek quality about it. Others (“Hi, Mom!”) feel different. Yeah, it’s… not normal looking, but we’ve seen worse. At least it’s not derivative. The rest of the Juke’s styling, however, is much less controversial. Especially that rear three-quarter view.
Categories: Auto Show, Crossover, New York Auto Show, Nissan Tags:
Brawnier 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class leaked ahead of New York debut
The R-Class has had a rough life. Not only did it suffer from odd, disproportionate styling, but Mercedes-Benz never really marketed the vehicle the way that it should have, choosing to position it as a “sports tourer,” rather than the obvious upscale family hauler that it is. Dismal sales ensued. Makes sense, then, that the 2011 R-Class benefits from a slightly more comprehensive overhaul than the standard mid-cycle refresh usually entails.
Right away, we must say that the R-Class’s new schnoz is a giant leap forward from drooping proboscis of the outgoing car. New, more chiseled headlamps accent a larger, more upright grille and a less angular hood. The revised lower fascia features the automaker’s new quad foglight design – something we’ve already seen on the E- and GL-Class. Not much has been changed out back, save the standard mid-cycle enhancements (revised taillights and a tweaked bumper).
Categories: Auto Show, Crossover, Mercedes-Benz, New York Auto Show Tags:
