IIHS Award for Top Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has chosen their top safety picks. Those chosen vehicles are 2011 Honda Odyssey, Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia. For your information, the top safety picks is the highest honor from the organization.
Honda’s Odyssey is the second minivan that gets the award since IIHS adding roof strength requirement for their criteria in order to be chosen in the Top Safety Pick designation. The other minivan is the Toyota Sienna. Actually, Honda’s minivan was already tested and rated Good for the front, rear, and side crash protection. It means that the roof strength measurement is the only thing that they need.
GMC Acadia is pretty similar for only being tested for its roof strength because it has already passed the crash testing before. The roof of the Odyssey is able to withstand a force of five times than the minivan’s weight. Acadia is able to four times its weight. The rule is that the roof of the minivan must be able to withstand 1.5 times its own weight to pass the federal testing standards. The Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave win the Top Safety Picks as they share their architecture with GMC’s Acadia.
IIHS Award for Top Safety is a post from: Automotive News and Review
Concept of Jaguar B99, Yet to be Produced
Jaguar has already stated that they are not interested to bring the Bertone B99 concept to the market. However, that thing wont’ stop Bertone from revealing some set of images and details on this mid sized car concept. The company said that this car has a wheelbase of about 9.1 feet, and the whole bodywork would be made in an all hand made aluminum.
By seeing the detail, I think that this car will be a boot if it is ever made to the production phase. CarBodyDesign reporting that Bertone is specifically want to leave some typical wedge shape predominate between the sports sedans to bring the three volume look that places its head and taillight to the same plane.
The interior stuff will be the high tech goodies. Bertone said that the buyers may expect to see the extended range of hybrid technology inside this car. That is including the twin electric motors and the line of extended internal combustion engine which is able to give you 570 horsepower. Unfortunately, those things will still have to wait for Jaugar’s approval to enter the production phase.
Concept of Jaguar B99, Yet to be Produced is a post from: Automotive News and Review
BMW 6 Series Coupe Coming to America
The picture you see above is the already arrived 2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe. It has tighter lines in it with some more potential. This car will be on its way to their local dealership in some point on fall. You will se 4.4 liter twin turbocharged V8 engine under its hood, just like what Chris Paukert bring in the convertible version with 400 horsepower at between 5,500 and 6,400 rpm and 450 pound feet of torque at 1,750 to 4,500 rpm.
The car has eight speed automatic transmission that you can control manually via the pair of paddle shifters. If you prefer to be more traditional, you can get a six speed manual gearbox. Both version of this car is able to run from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than 5 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph.
You will see the latest set of gadgets from BMW in the cabin of this 2012 6 Series Coupe. The visual information will be presented in a 10.2 inch high definition screen. This modern 6 series also has lane departure warning, active blind spot detection, parking assistant, rear and top view cameras, and the three dimensional display. Don’t get too excited yet, as the pricing is still unknown.
BMW 6 Series Coupe Coming to America is a post from: Automotive News and Review
Fiat 500 Zagato Coupe Entering Production Phase
Beetween the line of Fiat 500 concepts which were brought by Fiat to Geneva Motor Show, the most interesting model is might be the Coupe Zagato. The design firm seems preety low with double bubble roof and the windows with a teardrop shape. According to Fiat brass, this Coupe Zagato will come to the production phase in Mexico and will be very limited in Europe.
This news is might not be surprising, but until yesterday they still don’t know on what will the Zagato Coupe will be in the production phase. The good news is that this car was not only has a green light for production, but also reported to be ready in a very short time, and it means that it won’t be delayed for too much.
Unfortunately, there is still no word on its pricing. The most likely thing is that this Fiat 500 Coupe Zagato will be your other option beside the standard engine options on the 500, including the 105 horsepower from turbo two banger. It is also still a mystery on whether Fiat will bring this Zagato Coupe to America.
Fiat 500 Zagato Coupe Entering Production Phase is a post from: Automotive News and Review
Chevrolet Captiva Sport Introduced for U.S. Customers
If you are one of the fans of Saturn Vue, General Motors has something to give to you. The picture that you see above is the Chevrolet Captiva Sport, the familiar crossover which is being offered to fleet sales in the United States. GM said that this Sport version of the previous Captiva CUV which is sold in other markets. However, the Saturn badged kin still can be found anywhere.
There are three levels of trim which will be available for this car, LS, LT, and LTZ with two different engine options. The basic engine is the 2.4 liter direct injected four cylinder Ecotec engine, whereas the higher option is The General’s 3.0 liter direct injected V6. Those engines can be seen in CHevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain crossovers, but maybe the four will has a smoother and refined that the V6.
Anyway, those engines will be planted into a six speed manual transmission, while the LTZ model has an option of all wheel drive. The LT and LTZ version will got the 3.0 liter V6 engine and come with OnStar and Bluetooth connectivity as standard. There is also a leather trimmed seats, premium audio system, and a rear view camera for the LTZ.
Chevrolet Captiva Sport Introduced for U.S. Customers is a post from: Automotive News and Review
