The 2011 Genesis Coupe Image: Hyundai Motors

When Hyundai announced that only their V-6 Genesis sedan would be getting a bump in horsepower for the 2011 model year, Genesis Coupe fans cried “foul”. After all, more horsepower in a car with sporting intentions is never a bad thing, and the current Genesis Coupe’s 3.8-liter V6 only makes 306 horsepower. That’s not exactly “class leading”, especially when rivals Ford and Chevy have bumped the output of their own V-6 engines in recent years.

Fear not, Genesis Coupe faithful; Hyundai will be bringing a revised Genesis Coupe to next year’s Detroit Auto Show. On the menu is a revised 3.8 liter V-6, said to match the output of the sedan at 333 horsepower, as well as an updated version of their 2.0 liter turbo. There’s no guess yet on the output of the 2.0 liter turbo, but rest assured it will make more power than the current engines 210 ponies.

Hyundai is said to be updating the exterior as well, but the heavily-disguised spy photos circulating on the internet don’t seem to show any radical changes in shape or size. Let’s hope that Hyundai continues to offer the Genesis Coupe in R-Spec versions with a proper six-speed manual gearbox, but I wouldn’t mind seeing them adopt a proper sport-shift automatic, either.

Source: Inside Line

Vans used to be cool. People tricked them out. They had little perspex bubble windows and murals of sorcerers battling dragons on them. Then the minivan came along and nobody wanted them to be cool. Well, Kia thinks it’s about time to revive the awesome custom van, man. Check out the KV7.

Kia unveiled the KV7 van concept at the Detroit Auto show this year. It’s wicked cool looking, a shiny, sleek, and aggressive thing with lots of glass and squinty, annoyed headlights. And it has gull-wing doors, for chrissakes.

But the real awesome is inside. The KV7 has hardwood floors, four swiveling captain’s chairs, and a three-person bench/chaise lounge in the back. It has fold-down tables and three moon roofs. The dashboard also retracts six inches to give passengers more room for, you know, hanging out.

It also has two built-in touchscreen Internet-connected computers.

The KV7 may look futuristic, but is power train is downright contemporary. It employ’s Kia’s turbo-charged, direct-injection 2.0-liter inline four that’s good for 285 horsepower. The mill is mated to a six-speed autobox and, according to Kia, is good for 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

Chances are you’ll see a production version of the KV7 on the road. I mean, Kia pushed the Soul into production a just few minutes after they finished the show car. Sadly, the production version probably won’t have hardwood floors, bitchin’ yellow swiveling seats, and gull-wing doors.

Source: Autoblog

Ford's Chris Rahill and Chris Brown get dirty in Detroit. Image: Ford Motor Company

As promised, Ford did the tear-down on their EcoBoost “Hero Engine” live at the Detroit Auto Show, and Pickup Trucks has the full run-down and lots of accompanying pictures. To refresh your memory, the “Hero Engine” was a production EcoBoost V6, pulled at random from the assembly line. First, it was strapped to a dyno and run to simulate the equivalent of 150,000 customer miles, with repeated temperature shock testing that took it from -20 F to 235 F as quickly as possible. Next, it was installed in a production F-150 and used to skid 110,000 pounds of logs in the Pacific Northwest. From there, the same truck was used to tow a load of 11,300 pounds around Miami’s Homestead Speedway, for 24 hours, at an average speed of 82 miles per hour. Not done yet, Ford sent the same truck to Davis Dam in Arizona, to go head-to-head against Dodge and Chevy in an uphill towing contest, hauling 9,000 pounds up a 6 percent grade. Finally, the engine was pulled and installed in Mike McCarthy’s Baja 1000 race truck. Following the race, the engine was pulled for a live tear-down at the Detroit Auto Show on Saturday, January 15.

The results are impressive, but not perfect. When dyno tested, Ford found that the motor still produced 364 horsepower and 420 ft lb of torque, just one horsepower shy of its factory rating. A leakdown test showed that one cylinder had 13% air loss, while the remaining five had leakage less than 9%. Oil pressure, valve lash, timing chain stretch, crankshaft end play and main bearing wear were all within acceptable limits. The loss of pressure in one cylinder, along with heavy carbon buildup, prove that this was more than a publicity stunt: run an engine hard for the equivalent of 163,000 miles, and parts are going to wear out. Ford didn’t even use synthetic oil in the engine, which may have prevented some of the wear shown.

If you’re in the market for an F-150, but had some doubts about the durability of the EcoBoost engine, this should address your concerns. Ford didn’t provide detail on turbo wear, but if the engine was within 1 hp of the factory rating, I’d say the turbos still had life in them. Chances are good that most owners won’t abuse their trucks in quite the same manner, which really does bode well for the EcoBoost V6s longevity.

Source: Pickup Trucks

The Edison2 Very Light Car (VLC) positively stomped the competition a few months ago during the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize challenge, returning an impressive 102.5 miles per gallon on E85 ethanol. Now the aeronautical four-seater is at the North American International Auto show in detroit to show off its wind-cheating body and hyper-efficient engine. Hit the jump to see a video tour by engadget.

The Edison2 VLC was designed to be insanely efficient. It has a steel-tube chassis and a carbon fiber body. Every part of the automobile was is simple and lightweight. Your typical lug nut weighs about an ounce. A VLC lug nut weighs one-tenth of an ounce. Total weight of the VLC? 800 pounds.

But ultimate efficiency isn’t just about (lack of) weight. The VLC has one of the most aerodynamic bodies ever conceived. And indeed, it looks like the offspring of a Leer jet and a bullet, which means it disturbs nary a molecule of air as it sails down the road.

Motivation is provided by a turbocharged one-cylinder engine that runs through a six-speed sequential gearbox. The engine generates 40 horsepower and 29 foot-pounds of torque, which is just enough to get you around. But straight-line performance isn’t what the VLC is about. Efficiency comes first, followed, surprisingly, by handling prowess. Despite its skinny, low-rolling-resistance tires, the VLC pulls 1.18g on the skidpad, matching the Pagani Zonda C12 S.

Check out this walk-around video tour to get a better idea of what the VLC is like in person. Personally, I think it’s great and would love to drive around town in one. All it needs is a HUD and a few heat-seeking missiles.

The Maybach 62S: guaranteed to make a statement at your high school reunion.

Rumors about the death of uber-premium brand Maybach have been flying for years. In the years prior to 2008’s global economic meltdown, the Maybach seemed like a sensible gamble; there was, after all, a percentage of the population who wanted the absolute best of everything, cost be dammed. In the clear light of day, Daimler is beginning to seriously reconsider if the brand still makes sense in a more fiscally conservative climate.

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche addressed questions about the brand at the Detroit Auto Show. In his own words, “The success or failure of Maybach hardly shows up on our results, but it is something I want to have a decision on by year-end. And everything is on the table.” When pressed further on the issue of a potential shutdown, Zetsch simply repeated his last statement: “Everything is on the table.”

Pulling the plug is certainly one option, but it’s not the only one. Daimler could try to sell the brand, but it’s unlikely that they’d find interested buyers given the brands plunging sales. They could attempt to partner with another automaker to trim production costs, and there has indeed been dialogue between Daimler and Aston Martin. The question would be how to structure such a partnership to benefit all parties involved, while maintaining the level of quality that Maybach customers have come to expect. This much is clear: we won’t be speculating on the fate of Maybach after the end of 2011.

Source: Autoblog

The new VW Passat. Image: VW of America

Surprise! Volkswagen’s “NMS” teaser is really the next generation Passat, unveiled today at the Detroit Auto Show. Like the smaller Jetta, the new Passat has been designed for America by Volkswagen in Germany. It’s the biggest Passat ever built (which says something about the EU’s perception of Americans), and it will be manufactured in VW’s new Chattanooga, TN, plant. Also like the Jetta, the new Passat is designed to have an “affordable” entry level price point; VW promises more details closer to launch, but tells us to expect a starting price around $20,000.

The new Passat will come in three trim levels (S, SE and SEL) and will offer three drivetrain options. On the entry-level side, there’s the same 2.5 liter inline five that’s used in the VW Jetta, which will be available with either a five speed manual or a six speed automatic gearbox. Oil burner fans will be happy to hear that VW is offering a TDI option for the new Passat, and VW is quick to point out that the diesel will return an estimated 43 MPG while producing power comparable to a gasoline fueled V6. The TDI will be offered with either a manual transmission or VW’s outstanding DSG dual-clutch automatic. Finally, VW hasn’t forgotten about driving enthusiasts: their 280 horsepower, 3.6 liter VR6 engine will also be available, but comes only mated to the DSG gearbox.

The exterior carries over the same design themes used in the new Jetta, but that’s a good thing. I like the car’s conservative styling and clean lines, and even the interior looks like a place I’d want to spend time. The Passat will come with VW’s new premium audio system, developed in conjunction with guitar maker Fender, which promises to bring the “raw emotion of live music to the driving experience”. Those are VW’s words, not mine, but I’m still curious to hear what an audio system tuned by the makers of the Stratocaster sounds like.

Source: Volkswagen of America

The 2012 Buick Verano. Photo: © GM Corp.

Buick is set to show their third new model in two years at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show. The Verano is Buick’s entry into the compact luxury segment (although I have a hard time writing “Buick” and “compact” in the same sentence), and will slot into their product line below the recently launched Regal sedan. John Schwegman, Buick’s VP of marketing, sums up their reason for launching a compact sedan as follows: “Verano expands our lineup, continues Buick’s momentum and gives us a great opportunity to attract a new generation of customers with a product that delivers on their expectations for design, performance and technology. It is a smart choice that delivers unexpected luxury in a compact sedan – and it will compete head-to-head with competitors from Audi and Lexus.”

The Verano’s exterior styling carries over design themes penned for the LaCrosse and the Regal, and the interior is chock full of comfort as you’d expect from Buick. Buick emphasizes the interior’s “Quiet Tuning”, so think of this as an isolation chamber on wheels, just like its bigger brothers. I’d expect the suspension to be tuned fro a plush ride and not for handling, but that’s what Buick buyers expect. Power will come from a 2.4 liter Ecotec four cylinder engine (the same used in the Regal and the LaCrosse), but the Verano’s smaller size will be a better fit for the 177 horsepower. Buick says the Verano will hit 60 miles per hour in eight seconds, but I doubt many buyers will ever test Buick’s claim. A 2.0 liter turbo version will be offered sometime after the cars launch in the last quarter of 2011.

Source: GM Corp.

The EcoBoost 'hero engine', after the Baja 1000. Photo: Ford Motor Company

You have to give Ford credit for having huevoes mas grande: it’s one thing to prove a point about the durability of your twin-turbo V6 EcoBoost engine, but it’s something else entirely to tear it down in public. Who knows what dirty little secrets lie within the engine’s heads and cylinders walls? Do you really want to run the risk of encountering a burned valve or scored cylinder walls in front of John Q. Public? If you’re Ford and the motor in question is EcoBoost V6, serial number 448AA, the answer is, “yes, at Ford’s powertrain display at the NAIAS, on January 15th at 11:00 a.m.” It’s enough to make me wish I were going to this year’s North American International Auto Show.

Just to recap the details on engine 448AA, here’s a run-down of its life so far:

- In July, Ford pulled the completed engine at random from the assembly line, and ran it on a dyno for the equivalent of 150,000 miles.
- Next, the motor was dropped into an F-150 and used to skid 55 tons of lumber.
- The same truck and motor were used to tow an 11,300 pound trailer around Miami Homestead Speedway, for 24 hours.
- The same truck and motor were used to run head-to-head against Chevy and Dodge in an uphill towing competition. Guess who won, by a decisive margin?
- Finally, the motor was pulled and dropped into an F-150 entered in the Baja 1000. At the end of the race, the motor was pulled and will be sent to the Detroit Auto Show for a public teardown.

Is it theatrics? Perhaps, but Ford is sending two clear messages to truck buyers everywhere: first, their EcoBoost V6 is every bit as good as V8 engines from the competition; and next, turbocharged engines are no longer the fragile and temperamental creatures of years past. Ford knows what’s inside engine 448AA, since I’m sure they’ve run all sorts of tests on it after the Baja 1000. If there were anything out of spec, or any cause for concern, I seriously doubt Ford would take it apart in public. Theatrics aside, the whole campaign speaks volumes about the viability of their EcoBoost strategy and the durability of modern turbocharged motors. I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly impressed.

Source: Ford Motor Company

Ford's latest creation, the C-MAX. Photo: Ford Motor Company

When Chrysler dropped the concept of a “minivan” on the American public in 1984, they captured lightening in a bottle. Accidentally or by design, the automaker had created the right vehicle at the right time; while compact vans (like the VW Bus) weren’t new, Chrysler minivans offered the practicality of a van with the ride and handling of a car. Americans bought them (and products from the competition) by the millions, and today minivans are a staple product in nearly every non-luxury automaker’s catalog.

Sliding rear doors simplify loading. Photo: Ford Motor Company

Ford hasn’t had a minivan in their lineup since they discontinued the Freestar in 2006. Sales of Ford’s full-size minivan had dropped to roughly 1/3 the number of Honda Odyssey’s sold, or slightly less than 1/4 of the Chrysler minivans sold that year. Ford chose to focus on building SUVs and crossovers, and turned their attention away from minivans. Until now, that is, as Ford is set to launch an entirely new category of minivan (a mini-minivan?) at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show.

Photo: Ford Motor Company

Dubbed the C-MAX, Ford’s new vehicle looks like a car, but works like a compact minivan. Need sliding rear doors to get your kids and stuff safely inside? The C-MAX has them. Need flexible seating, so you can carry up to seven passengers or a wide variety of cargo? The C-MAX has it. Need a power liftgate, so you can open the rear with your hands full of groceries? The C-Max has that. By all definitions, it’s a small minivan, but it’s a minivan that doesn’t look like a minivan. It’s also a minivan that will get impressive fuel economy, thanks to the standard 2.5 liter four cylinder engine, or the optional 1.6 liter EcoBoost four cylinder.

Rear seats can accomodate passengers or fold for cargo. Photo: Ford Motor Company

If technology is your thing, the C-MAX will offer as much as you’re willing to pay for. The hands-free liftgate works by swiping your foot beneath the rear bumper when the key fob is in close proximity to the door. Active Park Assist will steer the C-MAX into a parallel parking space for you (but requires you to work the brake and gas). MyKey allows owners to set speed limits for various drivers, making the C-MAX ideal for families with new drivers. Finally, Ford’s Synch and MyTouch voice command and infotainment systems are available options, as are a panoramic moonroof, a rear view camera and a Sony-tuned audio system unique to the C-MAX.

A third row seats two. Photo: Ford Motor Company

The C-MAX will be based on Ford’s global Focus platform, so think of it as a minivan in 3/4 scale. Ironically, Ford won’t market it as a minivan, as it want’s to avoid the stigma associated with the word and will instead promote the C-MAX as a younger, hipper alternative to a minivan. Call it what you want, but a vehicle with this kind of practicality and this many features will certainly attract buyers, especially if it looks as good as the C-MAX. Expect sales to begin in 2012, with pricing to be announced closer to launch.

Chevy's Volt is one of three finalists.

When future automotive historians look back on 2011, I think they’ll mark this year as the beginning of the end of the automotive industry as we know it today. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is entirely based on your perspective, but one thing is certain: over the next five years, cars will get smaller, lighter, more fuel efficient and won’t be powered by gasoline alone. Automakers have no choice if they’re going to reach the level of fuel economy mandated by CAFE standards set to take effect in 2016, and cars like the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf are important first steps down a new automotive path.

At next month’s Detroit Auto Show, the 2011 Car of the Year and Truck of the Year will be announced. The list of candidate cars included the Audi A8, the Buick Regal, the Chevy Cruze, the Chevy Volt, the Ford Fiesta, the Hyundai Sonata, the Infiniti M37 and M56, the Jaguar XJ, the Kia Optima, the Mazda 2, the Nissan Juke, the Nissan Leaf, the VW Jetta and the Volvo S60. Three finalists were chosen from this list, and the choices certainly reflect the changes in the industry. The 2011 North American Car of the Year will either be the Chevy Volt, the Nissan Leaf or the Hyundai Sonata.

Ford's Explorer, one of three truck finalists.

On the truck side, the original choices were the Dodge Durango, the Ford Edge, the Ford Explorer, the Honda Odyssey, the Hyundai Tucson, the Infiniti QX56, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Kia Sorento, the Kia Sportage, the Lincoln MKX, the Mercedes-Benz R Class, the Porsche Cayenne, the Toyota Sienna or the Volkswagen Touareg. The three finalists are the Dodge Durango, the Ford Explorer and the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

I’ll go out on a limb and guess that the winners will be the Chevy Volt and the Ford Explorer, simply because they both represent the vehicles with the most substantial changes in this model year. It really does make me wonder what cars will be like in just five or ten years. I know they’ll be more fuel efficient and more technologically advanced, but I just hope they remain entertaining to drive.

Source: In Auto News