Here is the latest addition to All Cars, All the Time: Amalie Anne. She's a great bundle of joy and we are so happy to have her join our family.
California Autos Examiner
Monday, September 28, 2009
Latest ACATT Project
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
2010 Nissan Altima revealed thanks to a recall
2010 Nissan Altima (source: Nissan via Automotive News)
2009 Nissan Altima (source: Nissan)
2010 Nissan Altima teaser (Automotive News)
When the Automotive news story about the Nissan Altima and Nissan Maxima recall came through my inbox yesterday, my head tilted a bit to one side and I thought to myself, hmmm why is something a bit different looking? "Meh, must be different wheels" I told myself and moved on with my day.
Walk through the history of the Nissan Altima in this slideshow.
Now it comes to light that the image used in that Automotive News story was an embargoed 2010 Altima. Oops. You see, Nissan only wanted to show the teaser image you see to the right, saving the actual 2010 reveal for a later date.
According to one Altimas.org forum poster, dgreaser3045, some of the changes for 2010 will include,
A restyled hood, grille, front bumper and rear license plate finisher, new 16-inch and 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheel designs, standard Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), revised interior fabrics and finishers, two new exterior colors and revised option package content. In addition, the Altima 3.5 SE has been renamed the 3.5 SR.
According to that document, the embargo will be lifted on September 30, 2009 and the press will get a crack at the revised lineup in October.
Read my full coverage of Nissan's 2010 lineup by clicking here. I have also posted an article on Nissan's plans for beyond 2010.
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Monday, September 21, 2009
Manual intervention: Chrysler kicks bulky owner manuals to the curb
Simpsons character Troy McClure (source: wikipedia)
One of the joys of new car ownership for me has always been thumbing through the owner's manual. I am probably in the minority on this one as most folks prefer to sit down, buckle up and drive.
Chrysler is hoping to split the difference with a new approach to these weighty tomes: DVDs. For the 2010 model year Chrysler is swapping out the 500 page monster manuals with smaller 60-80 page user guides and an accompanying DVD.
You can watch a sample video below to gain a better understanding of the DVD guides.
It is a shame that Phil Hartman is no longer with us, his Troy McClure character from the Simpsons would have been perfect to narrate these DVDs. Can you just hear him now,
Hi, I'm Troy McClure. You might remember me from your Plymouth Sundance. I am here to tell you all about your new Jeep Liberty.
These new videos should make tasks such as fiddling with the Jeep Wranger's soft top a much easier job for newbies. For owners who have built in DVD players, this swap is a no-brainer (unless they do not know how to use the DVD player) but for those drivers who have to tote the DVD into the house where it will soon be lost, it might not be the best solution. Ideally, the manual should be written to flash memory and accessed from a navigation screen on all vehicles, perhaps with an audio only function for drivers on the move who need to get some information quickly (using voice commands).
In a Prius-like, saving the earth move, Chrysler also mentions that the smaller paper guides will save an estimated 930 tons of paper, the equivalent of 20,000 trees every year.
For those buyers who do not care to watch a movie about their cars, Chrysler will offer free traditional owner's guides.
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Friday, September 18, 2009
'Il mio Italiano è orribile,' What I meant to say is Chrysler doesn't have any new product
Sergio Marchionne mulling his next move (courtesy: chrysler)
"Mi sento male" (Italian for I feel sick) is probably what Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said after signing on the dotted line to acquire 20 percent of Chrysler. Marchionne told reporters at the Frankfurt Motor Show that Chrysler is worse off than expected,
“There's a whole pile of stuff that we didn't see when we came, that we were not expecting,” Marchionne is quoted as saying in The Globe and Mail. “Probably the single largest surprise to us was how little had happened in the past 24 months to get [Chrysler] competitive.”
Cerberus Capital Management basically went into a conservation mode once it became quite obvious that things were not going to get better. That means that while General Motors also declared bankruptcy, its product pipeline was not as impacted. Chrysler has very little in the way of new models with which to entice buyers. Just how many folks are going to clamor over a new 2011 Grand Cherokee or full size 2011 Chrysler 300? Until new Fiat-based product can be delivered to showrooms, Chrysler's best tactic will be to deliver a value message.
Years ago Chrysler made a push with airbags. My memory is a bit fuzzy, but the net effect was that all Chrysler cars had airbags even though it was not a government requirement yet. Chrysler could do the same thing again by committing that all vehicles would come standard with stability control, blind-spot detection and Bluetooth or similar gimmick. The bottom line is, in order to move metal you either have to have a hot product or a hot promotion.
As for Marchionne's "shock" at the condition of Chrysler, one has to have healthy amount of skepticism. It was fairly obvious to even casual observers that new product development had slowed to a trickle. There was the much ballyhooed "Project D" to replace the Avenger/Sebring sedans and the aborted partnership with Nissan, but other than the 2011 Ram heavy duty models, Grand Cherokee and 300 replacements it has been all quiet on the western front. Could Marchionne simply be setting up the company for another round of slimming cuts?
For more info: See Lee Iacocca
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Thursday, September 17, 2009
Citroën at Frankfurt 2009: Deux Chevaux redux with the Revolte?
Citroën Revolte concept (courtesy of Citroën)
Citroën 2CV (courtesy of Flickr user Badhatstand)
At some point in our lives, we all want to revisit our past. Maybe we were in better health or had a summer romance that we never forgot. Car manufacturers are no different, they all look back to certain models in their history and wish to repeat those successes.
Check out this slideshow for more images of the Revolte and a special guest star.
Take Citroën for example, it manufactured the 2CV (French for two horses) from 1949 to 1990. That is one heck of a production run! Given the amazing success that Fiat has had with its retro inspired 500, Citroën would obviously love to have some of that magic for a reimaging of the 2CV: Enter the Revolte.
The French know a thing or two about revolutions, but why it chose to name its latest concept the Revolte is lost upon me. I'm not the only one, Channel4.com's 4car calls the Revolte "Oddly named." Enough kibitzing about the name of the car, how does it stack up?
From what we can see in these illustrations, the Revolte looks very promising on the outside. I could certainly see this boutique model commanding a premium over its sister the Citroën DS3. The interior of the car appears to be pure show car fantasy and by God I hope it stays a fantasy. I love the French. I routinely seek out French goods. Hell, my mother-in-law lives in France, but I have yet to understand French car interiors. Remember the Nissan Quest's interior? One would expect that Citroën would tone things down for a production model. We will know more when Citroën reveals all the details and more imagery on the Revolte later this month.
Could Peugeot/Citroën find its way back to the United States? If anything were to happen, more than likely it would have to vector through Canada where Citroën would most likely establish a beachhead. Five years ago this would have been pure fantasy, but almost all manufacturers are realizing that Americans will pay for quality, unique, stylish small cars. The recent retraction in the USA's dealer body bodes well for an expansion when things turn around. Certainly Chinese and Indian manufacturers will be gaming to be a part of the turnaround, but PSA would be foolish to completely ignore the US market.
More info: Check out Examiner.com's team coverage of the Frankfurt motor show.
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Monday, September 14, 2009
Your blood can get you behind the wheel for free!
Get out on the track courtesy of your blood.
I really love GoKart Racer in Burlingame. My only hesitation is that it can get pricey in a hurry. That is why I recommend you go on your birthday for a free lap. Well now you can get a free hot lap for the price of a donation...of your blood. What a deal!
Click this link to take a tour of the GoKart facility.
In cooperation with the American Red Cross GoKart Racer will host a blood drive on September 15th, 2009. Everyone who donates blood between 12:00p and 5:00p will receive a 10 minute Hot Laps Session for free! This is a perfect opportunity to help a great cause and enjoy some free racing!
Basic Donor Requirements:
- Weigh a minimum of 110 pounds
- Be in general good health
- Be 17 years of age (age 16 with parental consent)
- Have not donated blood in the last 56 days
- Presenting Donor Card or Photo ID at time of donation is Required
For more info: Click Here now to make your appointment to save a life! Enter sponsor code gokartracer. Call 650.692.7223 x0 for more information!
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Sunday, September 13, 2009
2010 Toyota 4Runner image leaks continue
2010 Toyota 4Runner (source: toyota)
Just after Toyota teased us with an image of the 2010 4Runner, blurry camera phone images spilled out into the web.
View this photo gallery for a few more shots of the 2010 Toyota 4Runner.
Now as the official images start to appear, the floodgates are surely about to open.
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Thursday, September 10, 2009
Arizona speeder resorts to monkey business to fool speed cameras
Dave VonTesmar behind the wheel
Dave VonTesmar does not think much of speed cameras, in fact you can see it all over his face. VonTesmar wears a monkey or a giraffe mask to avoid having to pay photo radar tickets. Police say that VonTesmar has accumulated 90 unpaid tickets with a year. As Borat would say, "Nice."
How do police know absolutely, positively that VonTesmar is behind this? Lt. Steve Harrison told myFoxPhoenix.com,
During our surveillance our officers observed him putting on and taking off a mask as he went through each of the four photo enforcement zones.
Pretty damning evidence I'd say. The Arizona Department of Public Safety estimates that there are about 100 to 600 "frequent fliers" with 15 or more photo camera citations. What makes this even funnier is that VonTesmar is a flight attendant, so the "frequent flier" tag really fits! There is nothing funny about rampant speeding, however, as it shows a complete disregard for the safety of both yourself and others.
For more info: Read the full MyFOXPhoenix article.
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Monday, September 07, 2009
2010 Toyota 4Runner images appear, but is that a good thing?
2010 Toyota 4Runner official image (courtesy: toyota)
Car & Driver recently ran some pictures of the 2010 4Runner prior to its debut in September. The images appear to have been taken via a camera phone or similar pocket device. You can click this link to view the images of the 2010 Toyota 4Runner if you care to, but what I am asking is if these sneak peeks are a good thing?
Click to view a slideshow of the current 4Runner and its blood relatives.
Toyota already provided us with an official teaser image on August, 27 of the 2010 4Runner and to be honest I was rather looking forward to the reveal in September. For me the camera phone images are like a bad cookie you might eat before a meal. Chewing halfway through the thing, you ask yourself “Why did I do that? This cookie tastes horrible” but it is too late. The blurry images that surfaced of the 2010 4Runner don’t do justice to the professional pictures that we will be getting in less than a month.
Certainly some manufacturers do leak images purposefully to gain insight into the market. However, in Toyota’s case, this clearly appears to be someone acting on their own.
Spy photos taken on public property are fair game. It is a cat and mouse game that plays out every day in areas like Death Valley where manufacturers test their wares. For an interesting view into the car spy world, check out this ABC News report on ace Brenda Priddy.
Being invited to an event by the manufacturer and being told that no cameras are allowed is something completely different. If you are lucky enough to be in the presence of a vehicle that is not yet ready for public consumption, savor the moment and honor the no-photography rule. Don't spoil our appetite with lousy cookies.
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Friday, September 04, 2009
2010 Audi A3 TDI: It's not for idiots
2009 Audi A3 (courtesy of audi)
It is rather fitting that on the day Audi USA announces pricing for its 2010 A3 TDI a quote from Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen regarding the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt makes the rounds of the blogosphere,
"No one is going to pay a $15,000 premium for a car that competes with a Corolla. So there are not enough idiots who will buy it."
It is no secret that the Germans have and thing for diesels and they'd like Americans to warm up to compression ignition. However, I don't think that kicking sand in the face of the new General Motors' virtual mascot the best move.
Click to view a gallery of Audi A3 TDI images.
One of the contentions by diesel supporters is that the fuel is getting short shrift from legislators. Is it simply a case of jealousy on the part of the diesel lobby that causes outbursts like this? No matter the case, Audi quickly realized that it had better not come off as an aloof bully so de Nysschen posted a response on Audi's Facebook page,
"I do not specifically recall using the term “car for idiots” during my informal conversation with the writer. It was certainly not my intention to leave the impression that I’m opposed to electrical vehicles, and if I was unclear on either of those points then I need to eat crow."
Everybody feel better now? If nothing else, this is at least a better use for Facebook than Honda's Crosstour debacle.
Back to the crux of this story, Audi has released pricing for the 2010 A3 TDI. The A3 TDI with S tronic front wheel drive will start at $29,950 plus an obligatory $825 destination charge. That's a small $1200 premium to pay over the gas powered 2010 A3 premium S tronic model. Sadly, you cannot specify a manual transmission with the TDI. You can already play with Audi's configurator via this link to spec out a TDI for your very own. I did note that while the initial pricing was correct, the configurator did not tally up all of my individual options. Perhaps they are not yet priced?
The Audi A3 TDI scores an impressive 42MPG in the EPA's highway cycle. During the Audi Mileage Marathon last year, some writers scored substantially higher numbers with an A3 TDI, so you might be able to squeak out better numbers for your very own.
If I were considering an A3, which I think is a fine car, and could live with the limited transmission choice, I would definitely go TDI. The question gets murkier when you consider the Jetta wagon TDI. Given that the 2010 Jetta wagon will get a much more appealing look than the current model, I would have to say that I would lean towards the Jetta, especially if VW keeps the manual transmission available on the TDI (which I am quite sure they will). You also save about six grand (comparing 2009 Jetta with 2010 A3 of course) so that is an added incentive. Still for those noble few who wish to set themselves apart from the masses, you could go farther and do a lot worse than an A3: You simply have to pay a premium for that exclusivity.
Johan de Nysschen’s remarks on the future of Audi and sustainable technology (part 1).
Johan de Nysschen’s remarks on the future of Audi and sustainable technology (part 2)
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Thursday, September 03, 2009
Nissan future cars and product plans: What is ahead for the brand?
2010 Nissan Rogue
I have already covered the future plans of Toyota, Scion, Honda, Buick, Ford and Lincoln. Now, let's take a look at what is up Nissan's sleeve for the next few years.
Click to view a gallery of current Nissans.
The 2010 Cube is a spunky new entry for Nissan and I was quite impressed with it at the LA Auto Show. To date I have only seen one Cube on the road, but it sure stood out!
The 2010 Nissan 370 is a beautiful, reasonably affordable sports coupe. If your looking for this type of a car, you won't be disappointed. For 2010 the 370Z gains standard heated outside mirrors and in-cabin microfilter and Black Cherry replaces Chican Yellow (pity, I really liked that yellow).
The 2010 Nissan Altima will get refinements for the 2010 model year which will include tweaks to the exterior, interior and option packages. We'll get more info when the refreshed model is launched.
The 2010 Nissan Sentra get a host of changes. The 2.0 S model loses its 6 speed manual, so you'll have to downgrade to the 2.0 or step up to the SE-R to skip the CVT. Stability control ( VDC) is now standard or available on all models. Revised instrument panel with new accent trims and new reddish orange illumination color (changed from orange), chrome accents added to HVAC knobs, new instrument panel coin holder. A new Sentra should show up in 2011 or 2012 for those curious about such things.
The 2010 Nissan Versa, which goes on sale in September, features a number of goodies, including a new grille design, new sport front and rear fascias, body side sills, fog lights and rear spoiler for Versa Hatchback SL models, new wheel treatments and revised interior fabrics and finishers. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is now standard for 1.8 S models, along with standard ABS and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) for 1.8 SL models. The current Versa should be swapped out for a fresh one in 2012.
For 2011 we get a new Quest (covered previously in greater detail) and the all-electric Nissan Leaf. Lots has been written about the Leaf, but many questions remain. How will Nissan handle the cost of the battery pack, will it be a monthly lease? Will the range truly be 100 miles, or only when part of the trip is downhill? Will buyers flock to a "reasonably priced" car that won't go anywhere until it sees an electrical outlet after its charge has run out? Still the Leaf promises to be an interesting car that could move us forward on the road to energy independence. Or, it could flop.
The Maxima was supposed to be getting a diesel engine, but when it comes to diesels everybody seems to be getting cold feet except the Germans. I've thought a lot about the current Maxima and I can't quite wrap my head around it. When I see it coming down the street, it catches my eye, but then I remember that it is FWD and has wicked torque steer. Pity. Opt for the Infiniti G for only a few dollars more, I think you'll be glad that you did or save a few dollars and go with the Altima.
The Nissan Rogue is stand pat with its current configuration and 2010 Nissan Rogue pricing was recently announced.. While I take exception with the grille, overall I like the spunky little crossover quite a bit. Some friends recently considered the Rogue, but opted for a Honda CR-V because the Rogue did not offer a navigation system or backup camera. Nissan has been quite generous with equipment, it it baffles me why it does not offer such features on high end models: This was a profitable sale that the company lost. Could it be a vehicle architecture limitation similar to the one the current Chevrolet Malibu has that prevents in-dash navigation?
After its successor was dumped by Chrysler, the Nissan Titan soldiers on with an uncertain future. Given the murky future for pickup sales in general, I'm beginning to be of the mind that Nissan should simply leave the segment. Between GM, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota it's a real knife fight for every sale and every scrap of profit. Why bother with it? If Nissan's expansion in the commercial truck field is successful, then Nissan might be well advised to leave large pickups alone.
The Nissan Pathfinder, Nissan Xterra and Nissan Frontier all soldier on until 2012 without major changes. The next generation Pathfinder will probably merge with the Nissan Patrol to keep development costs down. That's a great move in my opinion as the Patrol is one tough mother of a truck!
The Nissan GT-R and Nissan Murano will likely receive minor tweaks here and there but nothing major for the foreseeable future.
The Nissan Armada will soon be taken out behind the barn and shot. Good riddance!
Source: Information for this report comes from previous reports by this author and information from Automotive News.
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Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Run for the hills! Honda releases 2010 Crosstour images and it is not pretty
Baby's got back, well at least better than the front.
The wait is over. Honda has finally released official images of the 2010 Crosstour and it is, gulp, a little ungainly in the front.
View a gallery of hatchlings and my thoughts about them in this slideshow.
When we first started talking about a new Honda crossover, a lot was made of spyshots showing a European market Accord Tourer mule. But then things took a turn for the worst when more spy photos arrived. Still, I don't think anyone saw this grille coming.
Given the grief that Honda has received as of late, such as a temperate response to the Pilot, one would have hoped for better news when the Crosstour arrived.
The rear of the car is much more palatable. While I may object to the space robbing slope of the hatch, the Crosstour's haunches have a Chrysler Crossfire look to them. Not bad.
We'll have to wait until we get more photos and see the car in person, but as of right now, I am feeling a little "cross." Let's hope that the much better looking Euro wagon comes here as a TSX variant!
To read up on all of Honda's future plans, click here.
If you want to hear what Honda has to say about the Crosstour, check out this press release.
For more info: Visit Honda's website or find a good plastic surgeon.
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