DaimlerChrysler's new and large SUV

DaimlerChrysler launched 2 new large SUV in the United States this year. First it launched the 2007 model Chrysler Aspen and its Mercedes-Benz division released the modern 7 seater GL-Class. The Chrysler Aspen would be positioned in the lower end of the premium large SUV segment in a bid to bring the Chrysler brand upmarket. Incorporating the design elements of the Imperial and the 300 Saloon, Chrysler adds a huge grille and an interior filled with light-coloured wood. A similar design trend observed is the addition of a nice analog clock.



The Mercedes GL, on the other hand is targeting the Range Rover and offers buyers the flexibility of 7 seats. As Mercedes' largest SUV, it looks imposing though the ML Class indeed looks better designed. The GL takes its interior fittings from the ML and the headlights is a mix of the new ML and the old S-Class. Overall, the GL seems to be a hastily designed car.

Acura MDX Concept

Acura, Honda's luxury auto division will showcase the 2007/2008 Acura MDX Concept in the upcoming New York Auto Show in April as a replacement for its ageing MDX. The new SUV by Acura is likely to continue design cues from its earlier concept the RDX. The RDX is also expected to come in as an entry level luxury SUV competing against the likes of the BMW X3 and the Lexus RX.

The new Acura MDX sketch shown above shows a new grille concept for Acura and the rear C-pillar has cues from the Infiniti FX. The MDX is expected to be continued as an American only model, as Honda did not sell its MDX model outside America.

Saturn Sky - the cousin of Pontiac Solstice

General Motors seems to have run out of ideas. They are now recycling models throughout their myriad of brands. And these cars are all focused on one single market - The US Auto market. Little wonder then why they can't move their cars out of dealers lot. The highly successful design of the Pontiac Solstice has been translated into the Saturn Sky. Sounds amazing but GM really needs to kill some more of its brands, even after it axed Oldsmobile.


Similar in design to the the Pontiac Solstice, the Saturn Sky features sharper styling and a different grille, with the Saturn emblem instead of the honeycombed grille of the Solstice. The interior has more differences with a more conventional look and positioning. Definitely aimed more to the mainstream car buyers as opposed to the Solstice.

AutoNews - Nissan Sylphy replaces Sunny

The ageing Sunny is finally getting replaced by a brand new car. About time too, especially with the Sunny looking really outdated amongst the Corolla Altis, Civic and the new Kias and Hyundais. The Japanese version of the car still retains the famed Bluebird brand of Nissan, but it seems that the Asian version will just take on the simpler Sylphy moniker.


Outside the design of the car looks much better than the Sunny and the grille and headlights look like those more expensive Infinitis sold in North America. However the interior disappoints, especially with Korean car manufacturers progressing fast, the new interior of the Sylphy shows not much improvements especially with its huge gaping centre console.

The final result of the whole new model offers no significant progress for Nissan and it seems Honda is likely to be the winner in this class. Somehow the result of the car shows that Nissan no longer places this class of cars in heavy priority unlike the effort shown in the 350Z and the Murano.

AutoNews - VW to start delivery of Eos soon

The new Coupe-Cabriolet model from Volkswagen is set to start delivery from April/May onwards in Germany and should be distributed across Europe in time for the summer season. The VW Eos was based on the Concept R by Volkswagen as an answer to the hugely successful range of Coupe-Cabriolet models by Peugeot in the 206CC and 307CC. The other mass market European car company to have introduced such a model recently is Opel/Vauxhall with their Astra Twin Top and Renault have shown a cabriolet concept last year with their Renault Wind. However, any production car by Renault should most probably come in the middle of next year.


The back of the Eos is provided for by the Jetta and the grille takes on design cues from the Passat while the headlamps look like those of the Polo. Overall, the car possess that Teutonic look that is typical for VW.

AutoNews - Volvo to build cars in China

Sweden-based Volvo Cars would start production of Volvo cars in China by the end of 2006 or early 2007 as it intends to increase sales volume in the world's fastest growing automobile market. Volvo would produce S40 and S60 saloons through Ford's joint venture manufacturing plant, Changan Ford. As premium continental carmakers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have already started production in China, Volvo have jumped into the fray.

Premium automobile sales are expected to post an annual growth of 10-12% between 2006-2008. DaimlerChrysler's ultra luxurious Maybach and the venerable Rolls Royce have found several buyers last year as China's economy continues to increase at a rate of 9%.

AutoDesign - Latest sports cars go for hatchback styling

The latest automobile show in Geneva shows one new design trend in automobiles. Butt-less: this seems to be design that most automobile designers use for their concept and sports cars. This type of design was popularized by the Jaguar E-Type and the Laborghini Miura which remains to this day 2 of the most beautiful sports cars ever made. Some of the concept cars previewed with such design themes come from Saab and Mazda.

The Saab Aero X below should win the most striking concept car award at the Geneva, especially for its futuristic door opening mechanism and the design showcasing Saab's latest philosophy.

Another beautiful detail was the nice horizontal LED rear lights and the turbine-look alloy wheels marking Saab's aerospace links.


The other amazing car was the Mazda Kabura, which looks set to become another design success after its RX-8. Could this be the potential replacement for the RX-8 since it is a real coupe that still offers a similar standard of practicality to the 4 door RX-8.

AutoRacing - Renault gets a 1-2 win in Sepang

In Renault's most successful race ever for the past 15 years, it does a 1-2 win in Sepang yesterday with Fisichella and Alonso taking 1st and 2nd space respectively on the podium. Giancarlo Fisichella drove a remarkable race staring from his pole position to race first to the finish line while team mate and Bahrain F1 champion Fernando Alonso got the advantage as Christian Klien in the Red Bull team ousted Kimi Raikonnen in his Mercedes McLaren after crashing onto him. Starting from behind Raikonnen, Alonso went on to chase after the front runners and got the lead on Jenson Button on his Honda in the first pit stop. Without the pace of the Renault, Button can only be contented with the 3rd place with the Honda.

Juan Pablo Montoya took fourth spot and Williams Cosworth made a disappointing race with both cars eliminated from the race after failures even though they started amongst the top 5. The 2 Ferrari cars ended 5th and 6th with Michael Schumacher behind new Ferrari driver Felipe Massa. BMW Sauber took its first championship points when ex-World Champion Jacques Villeneuve took the 7th position. Ralf Schumacher took up the last point in his Toyota arriving in the 8th position.

AutoRacing - Fernando Alonso steals first place from Schumacher

Fernando Alonso took the crown in Sunday on the inaugural race of the 2006 F1 Season in Bahrain. The Renault driver took the first championship of the season from Ferrari driver and 6 time world champion Michael Schumacher by a close margin in the last run to the chequered flag. Michael Schumacher took the pole position during qualifying and it is clear that Ferrari had a more competitive car this year compared to the previous season. On the other hand, Kimi Raikkonen went on to take the last placing in the podium after starting at the back end of the race. This goes to indicate the pace that this year's Mercedes McLaren has. The other Mercedes McLaren driver, Juan Pablo Montoya completed the race in the 5th position, behind Honda's Jenson Button, to give Mercedes McLaren a similar standing to Renault in the Team Championship. Ferrari remains 3rd in the rankings table.

The next F1 race will be held in Malaysia at the Sepang race track between 17-19 March 2006. Most teams that did not win any points in Bahrain should look forward to the next race. However, fans would not be disappointed with the competition shown so far.

AutoShow - Budget SUV debuts in Geneva

The SUV market for automobiles show no slowdown, especially when seen from the flurry of new models in the SUV segment of the automobile indistry. Hyundai and Chevrolet both announced their latest offering, the Santa Fe and the Captiva respectively. Both cars will compete in the lower end of the small to mid-sized SUV market that is dominated by the likes of Toyota Rav4 and the best selling Honda CR-V.

The Hyundai Santa Fe is the first SUV launched by Hyundai and after one generation, improvements have been made in the new reincarnation, with a sleeker styling, albeit one that is a bit more tame than its predecessor. However, the rear of the car now incorporates 2 tailpipes which should be meant to add a vision of power to the car.


The Chevrolet Captiva on the other hand, looks good with its clean lines and station-wagon look. Its front face looks more pleasing to the eye and definitely looks better overall compared to the Hyundai. On top of that the wing mirrors are now hinged on the doors, following the latest trend from Japanese carmakers. It is not difficult to see where the Captiva is aimed at.

AutoRacing - Formula One Season 2006

The official start of the Formula One calendar is this coming weekend with the race starting at Bahrain in the Middle East on the 12th of March 2006 after 2 days of testing and qualifying. Get prepared for the race of the season!

AutoShow - Honda showcases next generation Civic Type R

This is the car that made boys all around the world dream of racing. This is one of the cars that revolutionized the concept of street racing. This is one of the cars that made Honda as one of the most popular car-makers for boys of all ages today. The Civic Type-R, its just one of those toys for teenage boys. Though with the futuristic looking normal Civic, Honda has already managed to catch the hearts of all young car buyers, the new Civic Type R goes on show at Geneva with a striking yellow paintjob and carbon fibre front grille. The front and rear air intakes also incorporates black meshed covers. And to completed the Type R look, red Honda badges grace the cars.

AutoShow - Geneva plays host to new budget crossovers

Dacia, the budget automobile arm of Renault, whose manufacturing facilities in Eastern Europe has allowed it to produce cheaper automobiles for the masses have launched their first ever concept-car in Geneva Auto Show. The Dacia Logan Steepe is a more sporty-looking version complete with rugged looking bumpers as well as a roof storage rack. The name and the look of the car should give a hint of a budget SUV model to be produced by Dacia.


The car at which the Dacia Logan Steepe had a close similarity to was the Skoda Roomster. Previewed as a concept car in 2003 Frankfurt Auto Show, the new car is shown in Geneva as the production version. This vehicle looks like a crossover between a mini MPV, SUV and van all in one.

AutoRacing - Porsche latest on-road track car, the GT3

After the Turbo, the next upcoming variant of the 997 (commonly known as the Porsche 911) is the GT3. Considered the enthusiast's version of Porsche's rear engined sports car, the GT3 has a top track speed of 193mph and an acceleration time from 0-60mph of 4.1 seconds. On the exterior, the 997 gets an individual bonnet that differentiates it from its 'ordinary' siblings. It is said to have better aerodynamics and incorporates an extra radiator to enable the engine to cope with the higher temperatures (for track use...)

The rear of the car on the other hand incorporates the most striking feature of the GT3, the bi-plane wing spoiler. An additional touch into the spoiler is a small rubber strip, which according to Porsche, creates additional downforce with negligible drag (on other words, the best of both worlds)


Alcantra bucket seats and a unique instrument cluster with yellow letterings combine to make the whole interior of the GT3 to appear more sporty and shows the intent for track use.