Automotive Trends

      The 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid proved that it doesn’t have to give up being an SUV to be frugal. The Escape returned 31.4-mpg during its tenure with the AT staff, and I’ll be the first to admit that our right feet aren’t the lightest.

      The Infiniti Coupe concept shown at the 2006 NAIAS appears to be a thinly disguised version of the updated G37 Coupe.

     The 2007 Saturn Outlook arrived on the crossover scene in a big way! With seating for eight or room for 116.9 cubic of stuff, this Lambda platformed crossover will perform nearly every task a typical family would ask of a Chevrolet Suburban or GMC Yukon XL and get better fuel mileage doing it.

     We proved the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a capable runner when we took this paticular example romping through a gravel pit.

      We brought you news of Chevy’s limited edition 2011 Corvette ZO6 Carbon a little bit ago, but GM would only share a pair of photos at the time. Thankfully, they’ve remedied that problem. Click into the post to see more detail shots of the Carbon in all its menacing glory! Read more…

      Back at the 2003 NAIAS, Cadillac teased us with a super-lux sedan powered by the V16 shown nestled into the Cadillac Sixteen Concept engine bay above. Call us old fashioned, but nothing declares Standard of the World better than 16 cylinders smoothly churning away under the graceful arc of a long Made in America hood.

      I am sure that many of you will agree, the last thing a Buick needs is less power. As it is Granny backs up the left lane with her blinker going on her way to the hairdresser! Anyways, entering as a late addition to the 2010 lineup is 2.4L 4-cylinder Ecotec. And not just any Ecotec but the same direct injected 2.4L already forging a success story in the Chevrolet Equinox / GMC Terrain crossover twins. The little mill produces a healthy 182-hp and 172 lb-ft of torque, and delivers an EPA rated 19-mpg city / 30-mpg highway in the LaCrosse. The 2.4L will be the standard motor in the 2010 Buick LaCrosse CX and will altogether replace the 3.0L V6 as the base motor for the 2011MY. A Buick LaCrosse CX powered by the 2.4L will start with an MSRP of $26,995. Read more…

      The 2007 Cadillac Escalade has seating for eight, an exhaust note that betters a Corvette, and a 403-hp 6.2L V8. That spells not too shabby in our book!

      The 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara X-Sport was a charming little trucklet. It was a strong contender of the small SUV segment and had a genuine rear-wheel drive based 4-wheel drive system to boot!

      The Mercury Messenger Concept descends from the ceiling of COBO Arena at the 2003 NAIAS. Does it bring news of a revitalized Mercury? Not yet…