Nissan was the first foreign brand to offer a truly full-size pickup with the 2004 Titan. But the Titan has made even less of a dent in Detroit’s share of this highly profitable segment than Toyota has with the Tundra. But far from giving up on the segment, Nissan is doubling down with a fully redesigned 2016 Titan. The new… More →
Category: New Car Model Intros
New Car Model Intros
2016 Chevrolet Volt: redesigned with more range
The Chevrolet Volt hasn’t been the breakthrough product GM had hoped it would be, at least not in consumer perceptions, where Tesla has stolen whatever fire it initially possessed. But the roughly 70,000 people who have owned one have tended to love it–the car has outstanding satisfaction scores. For the 2016 model year, GM has drawn on extensive feedback and… More →
New Design Language for Buick
After introducing the Cascada compact four-seat convertible, which has been available as an Opel in Europe for nearly two years but which won’t reach the U.S. rebadged and retuned as a Buick until this time next year, General Motors had a surprise. A large sedan concept, tagged the Avenir, indicates the design direction that will be taken with future Buicks.… More →
2015 Chrysler 200
A month after the North American International Auto Show (Detroit auto show), the car that seems most significant to me is the Chrysler 200. While the 2013 Dodge Dart and 2014 Jeep Cherokee were the first joint products of Chrysler and Fiat, the 2015 200 must compete in the critical midsize sedan segment. Will it be able to? Though I… More →
2014 Cadillac CTS, now a threat to BMW?
Yesterday Cadillac revealed the 2014 CTS at the New York auto show. In its third iteration, will the car finally threaten the dominance of the Germans? In many ways I’m impressed, but in one I’m also discouraged.
Much better late than never file: GM turbo V6
Back when GM’s then-future HF V6 engine family first became public knowledge (circa 2000), a twin-turbo 3.6-liter capable of 360 horsepower was part of the plan. Then Bob Lutz put a 400-horsepower 6.0-liter V8 in the 2004 CTS-V instead. The second generation CTS-V got a 556-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8, opening up a huge gap in the line as the next… More →
Favorite NAIAS Intro: 2014 Lexus IS
Between the C7 Corvette and Cadillac ELR, General Motors received about 97 percent of the media’s 2013 NAIAS (Detroit auto show) love. But of the new cars introduced at the show, my personal favorite was the 2014 Lexus IS, which has received little love from other sources. How might I explain my deviance?
Any interest in a compact van? (new Ford Transit Connect)
Over the years minivans have gotten larger and larger, to the point that they’re far from “mini.” If a more compact van were available, with more agile handling, better fuel economy, and a lower price, would people buy it? The Mazda5 hasn’t done especially well. But maybe the 2014 Ford Transit Connect, arriving later next year, will fare better. What… More →
Who will buy the 2014 GM pickups? Does it matter?
I haven’t reviewed a full-size pickup in years because I assume that my tastes are so different from those of the typical pickup buyer. My review simply wouldn’t be relevant to them. Or so I thought. I might be wrong. Today I attended the reveal for GM’s redesigned full-size pickups, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, which will launch next… More →
2013 Lincoln MKZ: enough?
With the Town Car gone and the Navigator far out of fashion, Lincoln has been struggling. If they’re to survive as a premium brand, they need a reason for people to buy their cars. At the show this year, they offered a couple.