2 BREAKS COVER
- The 2 (called Demio in Japan) is a B-segment (sub-compact) hatchback that debuts in Geneva next month. It will share many engines and many internal giblets with the Ford Fiesta that breaks cover in all-new form later this year.
- There should be a variety of four-cylinder engines displacing under 1.6 litres. Diesel version would be the 1.4-litre unit co-developed with PSA Group, meaning that there will now be five brands using it: Ford, Mazda, Peugeot, Citroen and Mini.
- The 2 is positioned as a stylish hatch to match the Toyota Yaris, instead of a practical alternative to the Honda Jazz which, however, is still a rival to the 2.
- There could be more body variations of the 2 possibly three-door hatch, five-seat MPV and high-body (SUV style with 2WD).
Press Snoop: Blaney gives Toyota first Busch pole.
DAVE BLANEY gave Toyota its first Bud Pole Position in the NASCAR Busch Series on Saturday afternoon at California Speedway.
His lap of 180.410mph was set early on in the qualifying session and confirmed the opinion of JEFF BURTON that his then pole time wouldn't hold. Blaney now has seven Busch poles in 95 Busch starts.
"We could see it coming somewhat," he said, "The cars have been really fast and really impressive. In race trim the car is really fast. Later tonight, it's going to be dark by the time the race ends. It will be a lot different than what we practiced in. We'll see how it goes."
Nissan releases more images and info on trio of 2008 trucks
Perhaps looking to increase the buzz factor before the 2007 Chicago Auto Show next week, Nissan has released even more images and info on the trio of trucks it will be debuting, which includes the 2008 Titan, Armada and Pathfinder. To recap, the Titan gets a new long-wheelbase version with a 7-foot bed, as well as an off-road PRO-4X trim. The one and only engine is an updated 5.7-liter V8 now producing 317 horsepower and 385 ft-lbs. of torque, which is good for a top tow-rating of 9,500 lbs. that falls below that of the domestics and Toyota's new Tundra. The Armada gets a refreshened face up front, but the bigger news is on the inside where a new dash makes this full-size SUV an easier ship to sale. Finally, the Pathfinder also gets styling tweaks inside and out, but it's big news is under the hood where a 300-horsepower 5.6L V8 is now an option.
Sensible, sizzling, zesty, and cool
There may be no more perfectly executed line of affordable automobiles on the planet than the BMW 3 Series, from design to handling to fit and performance.
Sure, Toyota's Camry and Honda's Accord perfectly suit those for whom an auto is just a conveyance, but if you want to travel with a certain zest, the 3 Series is a sensible and sizzling line of automobiles to consider, even if "affordable" becomes debatable in the $40,000 range.
I've reluctantly just let the best of the 3 Series leave my driveway: the 2007 328xi Coupe. It's so good that I'd buy it. Sure, the M3 has more snarl, and the hardtop droptop just unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit arrives with a cute buzz, but car enthusiasts are drawn to cars like this one -- an all-wheel-drive performance coupe that sizzles in summer and slices snow and ice in winter.
2007 Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Nissan Titan
Nissan entered the full-size truck market with the Titan in 2004, but it didn't endear itself to many truck fans. The 2008 model will arrive this spring sporting the new corporate truck face seen on the new Pathfinder and Armada. It will also come in a long-wheelbase version. There's also a new trim called PRO-4, which joins the XE, SE and LE versions.
Inside the Titan we see some upgraded materials and a lot of new features, like optional Bluetooth hands-free calling, heated leather seats and a DVD entertainment system.
Power comes from a 317-hp, 385 pounds-feet of torque V-8 engine that's rated to tow 9,500 pounds. That figure doesn't match new offerings from Toyota and Chevrolet, which both best the 10,000-pound mark.
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