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2011 MODELS AND BEYOND
WHAT:
2011 BUICK REGAL
WHEN: SUMMER
2010
Saturn was to
have been Opel's North American outlet, but New
GM is instead tweaking the
multiple-award-winning Insignia into a Regal.
Engineers insist they're "tweaking," not
"reengineering" the car. A choice of two
direct-injected four-cylinder engines will be
offered: 2.4-liter naturally aspirated (182
hp/172 lb-ft) or 2.0-liter turbocharged (220
hp/258 lb-ft), mated to a manual or automatic
six-speed transmission. Indeed the Insignia and
Regal setups felt quite similar on a recent
drive of 2.0T variants. Neither is as plush as
the LaCrosse.
Sized
about four inches longer and a bit wider and
taller than its principle rival, the Acura TSX,
the 3600-pound Regal still manages to project a
light and nimble sensation from the cockpit
that's not unlike the 3450-pound TSX. And Buick
is contemplating a GS variant (it showed the
Regal GS Show Car at the 2010 Detroit show),
borrowing fatter tires, lowered adjustable
suspension,
WHAT: 2011
CHEVROLET CRUZE
WHEN: FALL 2010
Chevy's main selling
point for the Cruze is GM's new turbocharged
Ecotec 1.4-liter, DOHC I-4 with variable valve
timing. The 1.4-liter is tentatively rated at
138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. GM has
predictably been hyping the engine's efficiency
and its estimated 40 mpg highway, and unlike
most turbos, the engine's recommended fuel is
regular unleaded. There will be a base engine, a
1.8-liter four estimated to output 136 hp and
123 lb-ft of torque. During our drives of the
European and Chinese versions of the Cruze, we
were underwhelmed with the 1.8-liter, so the
extra grunt of the turbo will no doubt be
welcome.
2011 CHEVROLET
ORLANDO
Due out for early release in 2010 is the Orlando. Based on the same Delta platform as the Chevrolet Cruze and Volt, the Orlando will be motivated by a range of gas and diesel power plants, displacing between 1.6L and 2.0L. The Orlando’s top engine offering will be a 2.0L diesel unit, putting out 150 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. Power will be sent through five-speed manual and automatic transmissions. 
Although the
Orlando will initially be offered exclusively
with front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive
model will join the lineup later on.
With a 2,760 mm
wheelbase (108.7 inches), the Orlando features
three rows of seats. The interior appears to be
quite similar to the Cruze’s interior, with a
waterfall center stack and switchgear out of
GM’s current models.
The Orlando that
showed up in Detroit appears to be pretty much
the same concept car it was in Paris.
WHAT:
CHEVROLET VOLT
WHEN: NOVEMBER 2010
Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated American
car of the new millennium, Chevy's Volt remains
on schedule for launch this November, and based
on a recent drive in the nearly finished
product, folks expecting something radically
unusual are the only ones likely to be
disappointed. The car does its gol-dangdest to
behave like any other car on the road.
No
wonky surging on acceleration or braking, no
tapering off of available power as the plug-in
battery pack is depleted, no rush of power when
the range-extending gasoline engine fires up.
Hybrid enthusiasts will appreciate the
reconfigurable dash screen, which includes an
efficiency gauge with a floating ball that
rewards good driving behavior by glowing green
and hovering in the middle of its little
vertical range of travel.
Other
curiosities: When pedestrians are present,
pulling the turn-signal stalk activates a
warning tone, and you'll be able to control and
monitor charging on your smart phone.
Californians likely will pay around $32,500
after $7500 in tax rebates, and the EPA rating
is bound to have three digits.
DELAYED DIESELS 2011
Diesels that were
to appear in the 2011 model year but won't
include: Honda Acura, Chrysler Dodge Ram Pickup,
Ford F150, GM's Pickup line, Toyota Tundra &
Sequoia, Nissan Maxima and Titan. Only VW, MBenz
and BMW have followed through on their original
schedule.
Financial
problems and cost cutting appear to be the
primary driver. The German manufacturers
were already heavily invested in the diesel
process. However, the cost of the diesels can
add from $5-8k into the price of a vehicle.
Manufacturers are trending to put low initial
cost high mpg vehicles in the showrooms.
The cost benefit equation seems to be working
against us seeing small diesels across the board
until the 2012 models.
Diesel or Gas-Electric Hybrid?
The way EPA is
calculating fuel economy and CO2 standards,
gasoline-electric hybrids are getting an unfair
advantage over diesels. This comes from
assumptions about the percentage of highway /
city driving and real world driving conditions.
Corporate fleets averages are very different
than what the typical private individual. Diesel
vehicles perform best at high load and higher
average speed while hybrids tend to perform
better in stop and go city traffic.
2010 FORD
TAURUS
At your Ford
Dealer by late August, this is not your old
neighbors Taurus. Prices will start at
$26k and even top $40k. This is much
higher than the segment leader Impala and jumps
it into the Avalon price range. Is this
photo a Malibu, a Camry, an Acura??? Are they
all looking alike or is it just me.
2010
FORD TRANSIT
Here is one answer to the puzzle for
delivery and service fleets mileage dilemma. The
Transit is just now arriving at Ford Dealers. We have
access for immediate delivery of these hot new
commercial vans See specs below.
VERSATILE. CAPABLE, DEPENDABLE,
ACCESSIBLE, MANEUVERABLE, COMFORTABLE &
AFFORDABLE
Select Standard Features
— ZOL 16-Valve 1-4 Duratec Engine w/136 lip and
136 lb.-ft. of Torque
— Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
— 4-Speed Automatic Transmission w/Overdrive
— 15’ Steel Wheels w/Wheel Covers
— 1800 Rear Barn-Door Hinges (optional 270°
hinges on XLT)
— 2nd-Row Dual Sliding Doors w/Privacy Glass
— Lock-In-Latch Shielded Door Locks
— Rear Fog Lamps
— Manual 6-Way Adjustable Cloth Driver Seat
(fore/aft/up/down/recline, plus lumbar)
— 2nd-Row, Split-Folding/Removable Seat
— Air Conditioning
— AM/FM Stereo
— Audio Input Jack and 2 Front Power Points
— Front Overhead Storage Shelf
—Tilt/Telescoping Steering Wheel
— Collapsible Steering Column
—Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
— Front Airbags and Front-Seat Side Airbags
—Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
— Front Independent MacPherson Strut Suspension
w/Variable-Rate Springs; Front and Rear
Anti-Roll Bars; and Rear Multileaf Spring
Suspension
— Boron Steel Front Crossmember
— Polycarbonate Headlamps and Taillamps
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