Crossovers NewsAll News
Browse by News Category
Next-Gen Chevy Equinox to Go Global, Shrink in Size and Weight
1
Following an increasingly popular trend, Chevy will look to build its next-generation Equinox compact crossover on a global platform. Set to be based on the next-gen Chevy Cruze architecture, the Equinox is slated to be smaller and lighter than the current model. Along with more efficient engines, automakers are working to reduce weight from vehicles…
Ford To Cut Back On Red And Black Paint Due To Supply Shortage
Ford is asking dealers to curtail orders of three shades of red paint, and one hue called “Tuxedo Black” due to difficulties sourcing metallic elements needed for the paint. The element, which is produced by a Japanese supplier, is unable to be produced to due damage resulting from the natural disasters that occurred in the…
Mazda Suspends Dealer Orders For Japanese-Built Cars, Nearly All Mazdas Affected
Mazda is planning to close down their assembly plants again, while stopping orders from dealers in the United States for their made-in-Japan vehicles. The Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5, MX-5, RX-8, CX-7, CX-9 are all affected. Only the Mazda6 and Tribute will remain in production at their American plants, although the situation could change in light of…
Maserati To Use Turbochargers, 8-Speed Automatics In Future Cars
Maserati‘s new GranTurismo MC Stradale might be using a nifty new single-clutch automated manual gearbox in its home market of Europe, but North America will get a ZF-built 8-speed automatic. The ZF unit is a precursor to Maserati’s further use of the gearbox, and frankly, North American consumers of the brand will likely not notice…
SEAT Plant In Spain To Produce Audi Q3, 700 Jobs Added
Volkswagen‘s Spanish subsidiary SEAT is preparing to take on the task of assembling Audi‘s Q3 compact crossover, at their plant outside of Barcelona. The move comes as a bit of a quid pro quo for Audi, since SEAT’s Exeo flagship is a re-badged Audi A4, and with SEAT’s flagging sales presenting an issue for Volkswagen’s…
Lincoln Offers Free Access To New York Times Online Section
With the New York Times erecting a “pay wall” around their online section, many web enthusiasts are crying foul at the venerable paper’s decision to abandon the online modus operandi of making information free. But 200,000 of the Times’ best customers will be eligible for free access (worth about $150) thanks to Lincoln, which is…
Porsche 911 Named Most Reliable Sports Car By J.D. Power
While Italian sports cars get a bad rap for being fickle, nobody has ever accused the Porsche 911 of having major reliability issues, and J.D. Power, publisher of the legendary reliability rankings, seems to confirm that, having named the 911 the most reliable sports car and Porsche as the top German manufacturer. While some of Porsche’s newer…
Audi Q6 Under Consideration as Rival to BMW X6
BMW’s decision to build the X6 coupe-styled SUV may have seemed absurd at first, but demand for the unique and sporty AWD machine has far exceeded expectations, giving rise to rumors of competitors from the automaker’s main rivals. The latest comes from Audi, and it’s more than just a rumor with Audi boss Rupert Stadler…
Porsche 911 To Lose Weight, Use Aluminum Extensively
The next Porsche 911 is expected to shed roughly 100 pounds of weight, thanks to an aluminum intensive chassis that will be shared with the next generation Boxster and Cayman. The news, courtesy of Motor Trend, seems to suggest that power upgrades won’t be as substantial, with the reduced weight helping to bring the majority…
Porsche Cajun Gets Green Light, On Sale in 2013
Porsche has confirmed the Cajun compact crossover will head into production, hitting the market in 2013. The news comes as part of an announcement by the German automaker that it has selected its Leipzig plant to assemble the new vehicle alongside the Cayenne and Panamera. Also of note, Porsche uses the ‘Cajun’ name in its…
Honda Odyssey, GM Crossovers Get Top Safety Pick
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has bestowed their Top Safety Pick to the 2011 Honda Odyssey as well as the GM crossovers, which includes the Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse and GM Acadia. The three GM vehicles all share the Lambda platform. The GMC Acadia was the guinea pig that ran the gamut of tests,…
MINI Countryman Gets Rear Bench Seat for 2012
The MINI Countryman currently seats four, plus a whole lot of cupholders. But due to consumer demand, a rear bench option will be coming to America as early as July. The four-seater will be standard, but the bench seat will be an additional option. Current Countryman owners looking to squeeze their fellow countryman into the middle…
Chevrolet Captiva Released For Fleet Sales Only
The Saturn Vue is back, but you won’t be able to buy one. That’s because the Chevrolet Captiva Sport, essentially a rebadged Vue, will only be available to fleet customers. With either a 2.4L Ecotec 4-cylinder or a 3.0L direct injection V6, the Captiva will offer an adequate powertrain for all types of customers, but…
MINI Countryman Helps BMW Increase 2010 Profits
Purists may scoff at the 4-door MINI Countryman and its betrayal of “brand values”, but BMW’s bean counters are laughing all the way to the bank as the company credits the newest MINI with helping profits surge 15-fold in 2010. BMW’s net income was recorded at 3.23 billion euros in 2010, up from 210 million…
Cadillac SRX, Buick Lacrosse, Recalled Over Defroster Defect
General Motors is recalling 10,179 Buick Lacrosse sedans and Cadillac SRX crossovers due to a fault defroster. The problem is actually a software glitch rather than a physical defect, but one that prevents the unit from properly clearing the windshield. Should the windshield fail to be clear, visibility problems could arise and result in a…
Mini Countryman Receives Top Safety Pick
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named the Mini Countryman its “2011 Top Safety Pick,” the first Mini to do so. The sort-of-SUV received “Good” ratings in front, side, rollover, and rear impact protection, ensuring that owners won’t get beat up if they ever take theirs rally racing. The Countryman comes with electronic stability…
Kia Sportage SX Turbo Announced With 256-HP, Priced from $25,795
After the car quietly popped on the scene at the Montreal Auto Show a few months back, Kia has confirmed the SX Turbo version of its Sportage crossover for America. Powered by the same 2.0-liter turbocharged direct-injection 4-cylinder as found in the Optima sedan, it makes 256-hp and 264 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is…
Infiniti Etherea Video: First Look at the Bizarre Hybrid Crossover Concept
Infiniti‘s new Etherea concept, unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, takes the coupe-styled sedan trend and meshes it with the added functionality of a crossover. As this wasn’t enough, Nissan’s luxury brand added plenty of wild styling cues and even bills it as a hybrid. Designed to attract younger luxury buyers, the Etherea is powered…
Geneva 2011: Renault Captur Is How You Say “Nissan Juke” En Francais
Whether you love or hate the way the Nissan Juke looks, it’s hard to argue that it’s anything but a blast to drive. Renault seems to be taking a few things from corporate partner Nissan, and emulating the Juke with their Captur, a concept that debuted at the Geneva Auto Show. Powered by a 158-hp…
Geneva 2011: Infiniti Etherea Concept is a Coupe-Styled Luxury Hybrid Crossover Thingy
Infiniti‘s new Etherea concept is at the same time an incredible niche-market vehicle, while also trying very hard to be a car for the everyman. Part, hatchback, but with coupe styling, it’s also part crossover with a raised ride height, while even featuring a little practical hatchback thrown in for good measure. Let’s not forget…
Geneva 2011: Audi Q5 Hybrid Is A Discreet Way To Save The World
During Audi‘s presentation at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show, a company spokesman praised the Audi Q5 Hybrid’s as a usable everyday car and not “…a complicated political statement. While this swipe at a well-known rival may be over the line to some observers, the fact is that they compete for two very different customer bases….
Geneva 2011: Mazda Minagi Revealed
Mazda took the wraps off its Minagi concept crossover at the Geneva Auto Show today, showing the world what the upcoming CX-5 soft-roader will probably look like when it comes to market in the next couple years. Powered by an unspecified SKYACTIV powerplant and featuring styling cues taken from the gorgeous Shinari concept car, the…
Mazda Minagi Video: First Look at Compact SportCross Concept
Mazda has yet to confirm any details on its new Minagi SportCross concept and that’s because you’re not supposed to see it until tomorrow. Captured on display inside the Geneva Auto Show ahead of its world premiere, the Minagi shares the stage with the Japanese automaker’s new Shinari Concept, which is undeniably the design inspiration…
Geneva 2011: Mazda Minagi Concept Teased [Video]
Mazda‘s Minagi concept, a vehicle that will doubtlessly be seen on the roads as the Mazda CX-5, got its first reveal today, even if only half the vehicle was visible. Check back tomorrow for more detailed pictures as the car gets official reveal at the Geneva Auto Show. GALLERY: Mazda Minagi Concept See video of…
