Last year at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Nissan brought forth the Ellure Concept - a vehicle that previewed the company’s future design language. This year, at the New York Auto Show, the design elements from that concept will come to fruition in the debut of a new compact sedan. In addition to this new model, Nissan will reveal a new, zero emission motorsports concept.
The company has yet to reveal any details on the future compact sedan, but the Ellure concept was a hybrid vehicle that combined a supercharged 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder with Intelligent Dual Clutch Control and a 33 HP electric motor. This duo is matched with an Xtronic CVT and front-wheel drive. The concept is defined by a deeply skirted front fascia and a bold solid-transparent front grille with small openings. Those last two elements are pretty rad, but don’t expect to see them put into the production model.
After seeing the Sonic Z-Spec Concept at the Detroit Auto Show, we didn’t think it would take too long before Chevrolet revealed the first details on the production version of the car. Now we have them as the production Sonic Z-Spec will be revealed at the 2011 New York Auto Show next week.
The production version will include body-color ground effects (with a silver exhaust tip), contrasting mirror caps and roof spoiler, contrasting upper and lower grille surrounds, and a body graphics package. Additionally, the customer will get a more unique look for their special edition hatchback with a front fascia extension, rocker panel extensions, rear fascia extension, and silver exhaust tip. The interior is left widely untouched with only new aluminum sport pedals and sill plates. The vehicle will be completed with a new set of painted wheels offered in size 16" or 17".
Customers will have to choose from two different color accent packages - "Black Out" or "White Out" - that feature black accents on the Summit White Sonic exterior paint and Summit White accents on the Inferno Orange Sonic.
The 2012 Sonic will carry a 1.8L DOHC inline 4-cylinder unit delivering 135 HP and 125 lb-ft of torque, but customers can also upgrade to an optional 138 HP 1.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder. We imagine the Z-Spec package will come with these same engine options.
"The new Z-Spec accessories reinforce Sonic’s fun, youthful spirit," said Rick Scheidt, vice president, Chevrolet marketing. "Customization is particularly important with the customers we believe will gravitate toward the Sonic, and we want to help them make their vehicle look exactly the way they want as easily as possible."
The Sonic Z-Spec package will be available in parts form or as a full package. Prices will be revealed closer to the launch date, but don’t stress too much about the additional up front costs; GM is allowing customers to roll the parts prices into their monthly payment.
Dodge, in cooperation with Magneti Marelli, has revealed the new Avenger rally car. The model will make its first public appearance at the New York International Auto Show on April 22–May 1, 2011.
"Our Dodge Avenger Rally car showcases Mopar’s new relationship with Magneti Marelli," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group’s service, parts and customer-care brand. "Our companies worked closely together to bring this vehicle to life in a joint build that utilizes proven, quality-tested performance parts and accessories from Mopar and Magneti Marelli. We will gauge reaction to this vehicle and determine which parts will go into production."
The new Avenger rally car is based on a stock 2011 Dodge Avenger Heat, but its weight has been reduced by about 200 lbs. The interior has been updated to coincide with rally requirements. It features a full 8-point Mopar roll cage, race seats with 5-point racing harnesses, a steering wheel and diamond-plate foot well from OMP, a purpose-built center stack and console with a compact high-performance 1 GB data logger and an integrated GPS, and inertial platform with real-time calculation of pitch and roll angles.
Power for the Avenger Rally will come from a new Dodge Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 engine that delivers 300 HP. This engine is combined with a new exhaust system, a Mopar cold-air intake, and a high-performance Mopar/Magneti Marelli braking system.
Hit the jump for full specifications on the Mopar Dodge Avenger rally car.
Full story
With just a week before its official debut at the New York Auto Show, Lexus has unveiled the official details on the LF-Gh concept, a preview version of the next generation GS premium grand touring sedan. The concept will be at the Lexus display through May 1, 2011.
"For this concept, Lexus designers studied characteristics that are often considered contradictory and difficult to execute together," said Kengo Matsumoto, general manager, Lexus Design Division, Toyota Motor Corporation. "The captivating design of the LF-Gh concept examines the possibility of balancing what are normally opposing qualities, such as style and functionality."
The Lexus LF-Gh concept takes the company’s L-Finesse design philosophy one step forward and combines style, performance, efficiency, and environmental compatibility with advanced, new technologies. And, as with many other new concepts, the LF-Gh is also a hybrid vehicle.
UPDATE 04/12/2011: This review has been updated with the official details and images on the Lexus LF-Gh Concept. Hit the jump for the full details.
Full story
Chrysler has finally offered us a few, yet scarce, details on the company’s line-up for the upcoming New York Auto Show. In just a few lines, Chrysler has announced that "the company will reveal a production vehicle and a race-inspired project vehicle that will appear at next week’s New York Auto Show." Along with the new vehicles showing their face for the first time, Chrysler will also announce a new strategic relationship that will enhance its service and parts business.
A first preview of the two vehicles will be made tomorrow, April 13th, 2011 at 9AM, but until then we are only left with our speculations to keep us company. Chrysler has previously reported that there will be a more powerful version of the current Chrysler 300, most likely a production version of the 300S Concept revealed at the end of March. The production model is supposed to use the company’s new 6.4 liter V8 engine that will also be used in the future Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 where it will deliver more than 500 HP.
