No Cruze hatch for the U.S.
The Chevrolet Cruze, on sale in the U.S. this week but previously available in other parts of the world for about a year, is a big deal for GM. It replaces the outgoing Cobalt, and is positioned to have a truly global appeal in the small-car segment. Which is why, at the upcoming Paris Motor Show, GM will unveil a hatchback version of the Cruze. Only one problem: There are no plans to bring it to the U.S., and Rick Kranz over at Automotive News wants to know why.
Ryan Beene, Automotive News
American Suzuki's product plans are murky--partly as a result of Volkswagen's acquisition of 20 percent of Suzuki Motor Corp. this year and partly because of the growing strength of the yen against the dollar.
The Swift, a small car popular in Europe and Japan, was scheduled to go on sale in the United States this year. But its release has been delayed until next year.
Engineering for the U.S. market was completed, and Suzuki was setting the price. But Suzuki's worldwide product plans are under review following the VW deal, said Steve Younan, vice president of product planning for American Suzuki Motor Corp.
Motorcycle fatalities, injuries go down even while miles ridden increase.
Good news for 2-wheel riders across the country: According to a study by the Motorcycle Industry Council, riding a motorcycle is becoming safer.
The report says the latest research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 4,462 motorcycle riders were killed in 2009 -- 850 fewer than the 5,312 who died in 2008. That 16 percent drop in fatalities came even as motorcycle miles traveled jumped 5 percent, or 1.3 billion miles more, in the same time frame.
By Diana T. Kurylko, Automotive News
Subaru plans to extend its lineup in late 2011 or early 2012 by adding a sporty coupe developed with Toyota.
Also, an Impreza hybrid that uses technology from Toyota is expected in 2012. Toyota now owns about 17 percent of Subaru.
While updating the rest of its five-vehicle lineup, Subaru is concentrating on increasing interior space and adding features such as iPod and Bluetooth connections.
New study finds many gas-electrics aren't a good value.
To that end, the study compared only hybrids that had nonhybrid counterparts (meaning no Prius) such as the Chevy Malibu and Ford Fusion -- 45 models in total. According to Wired.com:
"[The] crew looked at the typical selling price of a used hybrid so they could consider depreciation in the cost of ownership. ... including that data disproved the idea that higher resale values help offset the so-called 'premium hybrid' paid when the car is new.
Rally champ posts speed record for Mount Washington Auto Road.
In advance of the Mount Washington "Climb to the Clouds" -- a Pikes Peak-like hill climb back next year after a 10-year hiatus -- Travis Pastrana made the run in a fastest-ever time of 6 minutes, 20.47 seconds (for an average trip speed of almost 72 mph) in his Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally car as part of the Red Bull Speed Chasers project.Yes, this is a bit of press release fluff, but kudos to Pastrana and Red Bull, less for the record-breaking run than consistently bringing a level of excitement and daring -- on their own terms -- to the world of rally racing, record-breaking and risk-taking. They're doing interesting, compelling projects. Speaking of which, I also really wanted an excuse to post some of these awesome pictures. Check them out after the jump.
How does a 1970s V8 Boss Mustang stack up against a standard modern V6?
When it comes to muscle cars, purists and enthusiasts for the new models tend to ask: Who's the boss? And when it comes to the classic high-performance Boss Mustang versus the newer, standard pony car, Consumer Reports has tried to answer that question.Back in 1970, CR put a high-performance Boss 302 through its paces, as the magazine was and is wont to do. More recently, the staff put a 2011 V6 Mustang to the test, and so they decided to put the results head-to-head. This despite the fact that there's an all-new Boss Mustang on the block -- perhaps they haven't had a chance to do their own rigorous tests yet. Given that the Boss 302 packed a 4.9-liter V8 engine versus the 2011's 3.7-liter V6, the performance results are surprising; that is, until you consider the numerous technological advances that have happened in the last 30 years.
Yes, thanks to all our modern performance-enhancing technology, the new V6 is both quicker off the line, with a 6.2-second sprint to 60 mph versus 8.0 seconds, and faster, running a 14.8-second quarter-mile versus the 302's 16.0-second time. And let's not even talk about fuel economy, with the modern version reaching 24 mpg overall compared with a paltry 11 mpg for the Nixon-era Boss.
Full results after the jump.
By Greg Kable
Daimler-owned Smart has revealed more plans for a plug-in electric scooter at the Paris motor show.
The new two-wheeler, depicted here in a series of official sketches, is set to form part of Smart's upcoming show spread. Smart's Paris display will also feature a lightly facelifted version of the fortwo, the company's sole model prior to the arrival of the reborn Forfour in 2012.
AutoWeek first reported the scooter concept in July.
Described as a concept with a possible production future, the traditional-looking scooter is being evaluated as a part of plans to significantly broaden the Smart lineup in coming years as parent Daimler moves to broaden its focus.
Explore New Cars
More on MSN Autos
‘Eleanor’ Mustang sells for $1M'Gone in 60 Seconds' movie car driven by Nicolas Cage has a new home.
About Exhaust Notes
Cars are cool, and here at MSN Autos we love everything about them, but we also know they're more than simply speed and style: a car is an essential tool, a much-needed accessory to help you get through your day-to-day life. What you drive is also one of the most important investments you can make, so we'll help you navigate your way through the car buying and ownership experiences. We strive to be your daily destination for news, notes, tips and tricks from across the automotive world. So whether it's through original content from our world-class journalists or the latest buzz from the far corners of the Web, Exhaust Notes helps you make sense of your automotive world.
Have a story idea? Tip us off at exhaustnotes@live.com.
Contributors
Clifford Atiyeh has spent his entire life driving cars he doesn't own. Raised in Volvos, he has grown to love fast, irresponsible vehicles of all kinds. He is the senior news editor at MSN Autos and also reports for Car and Driver, Road & Track, The Boston Globe and other publications.
In the garage: 21-speed Iron Horse, 2002 Jeep Wrangler X (not his)
Doug Newcomb has covered car technology for over 20 years for outlets ranging from Rolling Stone to Edmunds.com. In 2008, he published his first book, "Car Audio for Dummies" (Wiley). He lives and drives in Hood River, Ore., with his wife and two kids, who share his passion for cars and technology.
In the garage: 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS, two 1984 Chevrolet Blazers, 2008 Honda CR-V
James Tate learned to drive stick at age 13 in a 1988 Land Cruiser - in La Paz, Bolivia. He's since been a mechanic, on a pit crew and has wrenched on every car he's owned since his first 1989 Honda CRX Si (and won't stop until the car is a 1973 Porsche 911 RS). His work has appeared in Car and Driver, Popular Mechanics, Automobile and others.
In the garage: 1995 Porsche 911 Carrera, 1988 BMW M5
