Auto News 2009

Fiat 500 ($19,000)

With Fiat now owning Chrysler. Fiat will be able to bring over this cute 500 model. A retr0-throw back to the original 500. The new 500 comes with a large range of petrol and diesel engines. The Abarth (sport model) comes with a turbocharged 133hp four-cylinder engine with twin-exhaust pipes and a five-speed manual gearbox. Sales are planned by mid-2010 or late 2010. It's cute and charming. Will give the Mini Cooper a good run for it's money.

Ford Flex Ecoboost V6 ($36,700)

Designed to offer performance like a V8. With fuel economy of a V6. The EcoBoost V6 features two-turbochargers to produce 355hp. This option maybe for those who test drove the base 3.5-liter V6 and felt it was a tad underpowered. For a 4,800lb vehicle, it can accelerate to 60 in less than six seconds. Which is pretty impressive. This is the closest to a Taurus SHO wagon we'll get. With V8 like fuel economy and some options being rather expensive. The Ford Flex is still a stylish alternative to the many various crossovers out there.

Cadillac CTS wagon ($44,050)

BMW 5 Series too expensive? Audi A6 out of your league? How about a Cadillac CTS wagon? Designed to take on the German Luxury Wagons. The CTS wagon is very stylish and comes with plenty of horsepower. 306hp to be exact. Although most Americans won't notice this wagon. We say however that if you don't want a luxury sport utility vehicle; and you're tired of overpriced Euro Wagons. We'd give the Cadillac CTS wagon a good glance. A Cadillac that's not boring, wow! That's worth a look!

Chevy Volt

The Chevy Volt is going to start around $35,000 - $40,000. With it's breakthrough technology under the hood. Are you willing to pay a premium for a Volt? Leave a comment below

60 day guarantee, good idea or flop?

60 day guarantee?

Will GM win back buyers? Or is this another attempt that will fail to lure the American Public? Leave a comment below. Tell me what you think.

Hummer: SOLD!

General Motors announced on October 09, 2009 that they have sold their entire stake in the Hummer brand to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery and a group of private investors (Mr. Suolang Duoji, a private entrepreneur with holdings that include the Hong Kong-listed thenardite producer Lumena, will hold the remaining 20 percent stake.). Sichuan now owns 80% of the company, Autoblog reports. The sale will net GM around $150 million, although the transaction still has to be approved by both U.S. and Chinese regulatory agencies, which could come later this year or in early 2010. The deal includes manufacturing to continue in the two plants that GM already uses to produce the Hummer trucks through June of 2011, with a possible extension until 2012.

Mercedes-Benz Brabus SV12 R

Mercedes-Benz obsessed tuner Brabus has something very special planned for the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show next week. The tuning firm will show its new Brabus SV12 R, the world’s fastest and most powerful luxury sedan and we expect nothing less of the German company.

Power will come from an upgraded 6.3L V12 twin-turbo engine making an outstanding 750-hp with a maximum torque of 995 lb-ft. That allows the Brabus SV12 R to go from 0 to 62 mph in just 4 seconds, 124 mph in just 11.9 seconds with an electronically-limited top speed of 211 mph. Power is driven to the rear wheels via a modified 5-speed automatic transmission.

By now you’re probably already looking at the high-res image gallery so we’ll save our breath and leave it up to the pictures to show you the visual enhancements made to the SV12 R.

BMW News

Er--- is it a wagon? Is it a hatchback? The rear trunk can be opened like a sedan, as well as a hatchback/wagon. With plenty of headroom like a wagon. So what do you call it? BMW calls it a 5 Series Gran Turismo. But other than the versatility and roomy rear seat. The whole concept is to provide a little more room than a sedan. With more versatility than a sedan. But without looking like a wagon. Or a hatchback? I'm not sure if I hit the nail right on the head. But this is one stylish looking BMW. Although it will start at (sigh) $67,000. This is one of those vehicles that won't be in reach for all. But I do love the style. Just wish that it wasn't so expensive. There will be a 3 Series Gran Turismo or GT that will appear with the next generation 3 Series. The Next BMW M5 will use a smaller displacement twin-turbocharged V8 engine. Which is rumored to be rated near 600hp! The current M5 is pretty much set the benchmark for sports sedans. But using a V8 with 600hp should be more interesting. Expect the next M5 to come within a year of the next generation 5 Series. The X1 (based on the 1 Series coupe platform) should also be a very interesting offer for BMW's line-up. Although it's rather strange to have the X1 alongside the BMW 3 Series Wagon. Styling wise isn't really BMW-ish. But I do like the look it it. Expect both six-cylinders from the 1 Series to appear in the X1. And twin-turbo diesel producing 201hp. The 7 series is now available with the X-Drive all-wheel-drive system. As well as a 6.0L V12 producing 535hp. The next generation BMW X3 will appear this Decemeber. Rumors says that the new X3 will share the same familiar 3.0liter engines. With a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder producing 306hp.

Dedicated to Mini Cooper slick Marketing