Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Hatchbacks, Toyota
The current generation Prius has been a big hit in the US and Japan, and the tried and true second-gen. model could live on in Japan after the new hybrid goes on sale this spring. According to reports out of Japan, Toyota will sell a de-contented version of the old Prius to better compete with the new Honda Insight on price. The current Prius is rumored to be getting a cheapening on the inside, giving Toyota the ability to price it at �2 million mark, or about $22,000 US.
Toyota isn't responding to questions surrounding the rumors, as it says it doesn't comment on future product. We're not sure why questions about the current Prius could be considered "future product," but that's Toyota's story and their sticking to it. Inside Line points out that having two different models called the Prius could be a bit confusing, and we tend to agree. Our web-writing friends are all for a "Prius Classic" designation, while we're rooting for "Prius Lite."
[Source: Inside Line]
REPORT: Toyota to sell decontented current Prius alongside new model in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read�|�Permalink�|�Email this�|�Comments Read more ...Filed under: Car Buying, Tech, GM
GM is out to win hearts and minds, one OnStar-equipped vehicle at a time. The General is talking to other carmakers about offering OnStar, which would be a return to previous practice. The service was linked with six other brands in the past, including Audi, Acura, and Lexus, but the ties were cut around the time cellular communications switched to digital from analog.Now OnStar is ready to start adding friends to its profile again, and not just in the U.S. and Canada: the General is looking at expanding into other countries. GM says the driver aid has been getting more profitable for GM over the years, and that's in spite of reduced car sales. About 20% of used car buyers have been adding the service, which has kept the six-million-strong subscriber base growing. This looks like a good situation all around: GM makes money, customers get services, call centers don't need to be replicated. We just hope that the partners keep in-car navigation as well -- that turn-by-turn stuff is for the birds.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
OnStar for everyone! GM offering service to other automakers originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read�|�Permalink�|�Email this�|�Comments Read more ...Filed under: Convertibles, Plants/Manufacturing, Cadillac, GM
Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2009 Cadillac XLR-V
The Bowling Green Daily News reports that the Cadillac XLR will cease production forever this spring. Spawned from the eye-popping Evoq concept, the Corvette-derived (but Northstar-powered) hardtop convertible finds itself as General Motors' latest cost-cutting casualty. Its high price, low volume and decreasing sales do not make for a strong business case anymore, especially in an economic environment that is not conducive to new car sales in general. We've driven the XLR - the supercharged V-Series - and we like it a lot. Rare and stylish enough to still turn heads, fast enough to paste a wide, goofy grin on your face, and comfortable enough to let you cruise for hours on end - as good as it was, the XLR (and its V-Series counterpart) never quite got the formula perfected. It was doomed to perpetual also-ran status in its category compared to the benchmark set by the Mercedes-Benz SL. The Corvettes also had better engines, manual gearboxes and cost a lot less. The current CTS-V boasts a substantially better interior, is faster and costs less still. And so the XLR drives into the sunset this spring. Frankly, it's a pretty good ride to be making that drive in.
[Source: Bowling Green Daily News]
GM reportedly executes Cadillac XLR originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read�|�Permalink�|�Email this�|�Comments Read more ...Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Crossovers/CUVs, Infiniti
Click above for high-res image gallery of the Infiniti EX35
Take a quick glance at Infiniti's line-up in the United States. What's the most glaring omission? A range-topping luxury sedan or possibly a version of the GT-R to serve as it's sporting halo? Not according to John Capps, chairman of the Infiniti National Dealer Advisory Board, who says Infiniti dealers are pushing hard for another entry into the same near luxury segment where the G37 already competes along with another luxury crossover model. It seems that the EX, the automaker's latest CUV, is not selling up to expectations against rivals such as the Lexus RX-series due to its limited utility.
Up next for the automaker, though, are replacements for the M-series sedan and QX full-size SUV, which we surmise may come from a new platform since it's currently based on the Nissan Titan, which is slated to be replaced by a version of the Dodge Ram in a few years. On the green front, Infiniti is also said to have a hybrid on the way for 2010, though we're short on details as to which platform(s) will be so equipped.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Infiniti developing new crossover, hybrid for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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