The "GMC Truck" marque first appeared on vehicles exhibited at the 1912 New York International Auto Show. Now, 100 years later, GMC will bring the Yukon and Sierra Heritage Editions to celebrate the company’s centenary. The new Heritage Editions will be offered on the Sierra 1500 Crew Cab, Yukon, and Yukon XL models in SLT trim, priced at $2,645 for Sierra and $1,970 for Yukon and Yukon XL package.
The new models will be distinguished by commemorative exterior badges on the doors, a chrome package for Sierra, a new set of 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels, and different equipment for the interiors. Three colors will be available – a new, exclusive Heritage Blue ($195), White Diamond ($995), or Onyx Black (no additional cost). Interior colors for the Yukon are Ebony and Light Tan.
"The GMC brand always looks forward, but this day provides an opportunity to celebrate 100 years of the proud GMC name," said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of GMC Marketing. "Sierra and Yukon are two of our longest-running and most-respected nameplates, so it makes sense to use them to represent our heritage."
It’s time to take a little break from all the Subaru BRZ excitement and focus our attention on other models from Subaru’s line-up. This is especially important now that the 2012 New York Auto Show is getting closer and the company has announced a series of debuts for the show. The first is a restyled version of their Outback SUV. The 2013 model will receive a new exterior face, a new, more efficient powertrain, and a series of new safety systems. All in all, it looks like the Outback is prepared to be better than ever.
The 2013 Subaru Outback will be offered in three trim levels - Base, Premium, and Limited - and all of them are powered by a new double-overhead-cam (DOHC) 2.5-liter FB series Boxer engine that delivers a total of 173 hp and 174 lb.-ft. of torque. Despite the extra 3 HP, this new engine will deliver a fuel economy of 30 mpg (on the highway) - a 1 mpg increase over the previous version.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Subaru Outback.
Earlier this month we teased you with some basic information on the 2013 Chevy Traverse and were awaiting its release at the New York Auto Show so we could provide more information. Fortunately, Chevy decided to not make us wait any longer and release a ton of information on the upcoming 2013 Chevrolet Traverse.
In the 2013 model year, the Traverse is entering its fifth model year, which is the typical timeframe for a refresh. Chevy is being careful not to shake up things too much by just adding slight touches to the exterior, keeping it from falling behind other models. The interior was another focal point of this redesign, as Chevy tries to make the Traverse a vehicle that the whole family can enjoy riding in.
With the Traverse coming into an extremely crowded SUV realm, which includes the newly redesigned 2013 Ford Explorer and the 2013 Honda Pilot, Chevy needs to come to the table with something that the others do not. To be perfectly honest, Chevy hasn’t done a great job at keeping its SUVs at the front of the class. Let’s see what kind of information GM is giving us before its New York Auto Show release.
Every single year cars continue to get closer and closer to being completely autonomous, but that’s still a distant goal. In today’s world, automakers are simply trying to make getting lost a thing of the past with new integrated navigation systems. Chevy has taken this a step further by announcing that it is planning to release a new type of navigation system in the fall of 2012.
Chevy has dubbed this new system GogoLink and will debut it at the 2012 New York Auto Show. What’s weirder than the name itself is that it is a smartphone application. Yup, this application loads into any smartphone and offers a fully functional navigation system with live traffic updates. This system works through the MyLink infotainment system installed in the upcoming 2013 Sonic and 2012 Spark via Bluetooth or cable connection, and displays the navigation system on MyLink’s 7-inch LCD touch screen.
But why on Earth would Chevy put a smartphone app as its navigation system? Well, Chevy claims that 90% of Sonic and Spark buyers own a smartphone and that these higher-end customers are accustomed to using their phones for everything. We honestly think it is a cheap way for Chevy to say “Even our entry level cars have navigation systems,” but we’re skeptics.
Due to the fact that GogoLink will likely not debut in time for the release of the 2012 Spark, Chevy dealers will quickly upload GogoLink onto the MyLink system on your new Spark once it becomes available. For now, we’ll reserve judgment until more details come about, but we can certainly see a large number of Spark and Sonic customers complaining because they used up their entire smartphone data plan running GogoLink (See iPhone billing nightmares). However, if you happen to have an unlimited data plan, which we would assume most smartphone users would, this could be a pretty cool system to help get you around town.
Click past the jump to read the full press release and list of features.
The film on the teaser reel has barely cooled down and Ford is already debuting the high performance version for their Explorer SUV. The new Explorer Sport will make its world debut next week at the 2012 New York Auto Show and will arrive in dealerships later this year.
The Explorer Sport will feature a muscular, sculpted form with subtle cues to differentiate it from the other models in the lineup. Under the hood, Ford has placed a twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine that delivers a total of 350 HP. Combined with four-wheel drive and a Terrain Management System, the new Explorer Sport delivers the highest projected fuel economy among gasoline-engine-powered, high- performance SUVs: 16 mpg in city driving and 22 mpg on the highway.
"Adding an EcoBoost drivetrain to Explorer Sport delivers even more fuel efficiency and performance to the lineup," said Bill Gubing, Explorer chief engineer. "This is our highest- performance, most capable Ford Explorer ever."
Hit the jump to read more about the new Ford Explorer Sport.
Toyota Avalon has been firstly unveiled in 1994 and until know we have seen three different generation. Today, at the New York Auto Show Toyota has unveiled the fourth generation Avalon, a model that comes with a progressive and emotionally styled exterior design, improved dynamic performance, a greater degree of refinement, and a highly spacious, comfortable interior.
The model has been designed to attract younger buyers and features a sleek and expressive profile with a longer, sloping roofline, flared front fenders, and reduced front and rear overhangs. The car’s interior combines comfort, convenience and technology. Toyota opted to combined premium materials with smoked chrome-metallic accents. The new Avalon has been crafted with innovative technologies such as advanced capacitive touch switches, a three color display screens that support the multi-information display, the audio/navigation interface, and the climate control panel.
Toyota did not offered any details on the car’s engine just yet, but we expect to see the same 3.5-liter V6 engine maybe with improved output and fuel economy.
Updated 04/05/2012: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs.
Subaru has always made good use of this market and has a nice following of customers. Lately, though, it seems like Subaru is really attempting to gain an edge in new markets. First, it releases the BRZ, the Japanese automaker’s first true sports car since the SVX thankfully vanished in 1997, and now it is prepared to unveil the 2013 XV Crosstek, a compact crossover SUV, at the 2012 New York Auto Show starting April 4th.
Subaru is not shy in releasing some details about this long overdue SUV, as it has released images and basic specifications prior to its debut. The 2013 XV Crosstrek, which also falls in the crossover market, will bear styling similar to the 2013 Ford Escape, 2012 Honda CR-V, and the 2012 Hyundai Tucson – all of which will be direct competitors with the XV Crosstrek.
Hit the jump for more details on the Subaru XV Crosstrek.
Chevrolet Camaro is about to receive some major updates for the 2014 model year, but until then, the 2013 model will be getting a series of improvements to prep it for the following year. The major addition will be a new race-spec package 1LE, and will be joined by an updated interior with a new 7 inch color screen which replaces the standard radio unit.
The new 1LE package was previewed last year at the 2011 SEMA Auto Show with the Camaro 1LE Concept. It will be distinguished by a new front splitter and rear spoiler painted in smoke gray combined with a unique matte-black hood. The car will sit on a new set of 20" wheels in a 10-spoke design featuring low-gloss black finish and red Brembo brake calipers.
The interior will add a ZL1 flat-bottom steering wheel, trimmed in sueded-microfiber and designed for easier heel-and-toe driving on the racetrack. Chevrolet has also installed a quick-acting, short-throw shifter from the ZL1, also trimmed in sueded-microfiber.
The new 1LE package will only be available for 1SS and 2SS coupe models and will be powered by a 6.2 liter LS3 V-8 engine that delivers a total of 426 HP and 420 lb-ft of torque. The 1LE is only available with a six-speed manual transmission featuring a standard air-to-liquid cooling system for track use.
The Chevrolet Camaro 1LE will go on sale in Fall 2012.
Mercedes-Benz is due to release likely one of the most impressive vehicles that it has in many years at the upcoming New York Auto Show. This 2013 SL65 AMG has been at the forefront of automotive news lately, so its details have been pretty well documented.
We all know that it will feature a 6.0-liter V-12 engine with twin turbochargers, which will pummel concrete with its hefty 621 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. This impressive power plant will link to a seven-speed transmission, which Mercedes has dubbed the SpeedShift Plus. This drivetrain combination launches the SL65 AMG to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds. The SL65 AMG wouldn’t be complete without at least a little driver input and Mercedes solves this, from the looks of it on the video, by fitting the SL65 AMG with paddle shift controls on the steering wheel.
Just a few days ago, we released a video of the SL65 AMG cruising down a desert road and it turns out that was actually the filming for a complete teaser video, which Mercedes-Benz just officially released. By the looks of it, this is going to be one mean, nasty, yet sexy machine that would entice anyone with the means to lay out $300K to put one in his driveway. We know if we had the means to buy it, this impressive luxury machine would be in our driveways the day it’s released. We do know that its European release is coming in September 2012, but its U.S release is still uncertain.
Take a look at the video for yourself and see if you don’t suddenly find yourself looking at your budget and trying to see if you can squeeze the 2013 SL65 AMG into it.
Next to the 2014 Impala, Chevrolet will be unveiling a more-refined version of the family-friendly Traverse crossover utility vehicle at the 2012 New York Auto Show. The 2013 Traverse has received a series of exterior and interior updates, as well as new and industry-exclusive safety features.
The new Chevrolet Traverse has received the industry’s first front center air bag that has been engineered to protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes. The air bag deploys in milliseconds and inflates between the driver and front passenger, providing added protection for both front occupants.
"The new Traverse builds on the success of the current model offering a wide variety of improvements to ride and handling, interior materials and exterior styling without compromising the functionality and capability families need to support their busy lives,” said Chris Perry, Vice President of Global Chevrolet Marketing.
More details will be revealed next month during the car’s official debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show, so stay tuned!
