By Greg Kable
It was only natural. With the SUV craze decidedly downsizing, BMW appears set to add an X4 -- with a range-topping M version -- as part of plans to expand its utility-vehicle lineup in 2014.
Conceived along the lines of the highly successful X6, the X4 is a smaller and more agile four-seater. Although it shares the same floorpan, drivelines, chassis and engineering hard points as the X3, the X4 is set to receive individual styling in a move to give it a more sporting image and enable BMW to position it higher than the SUV upon which it is based.
Subcompact cars are better than ever, but they may never be a good fit for America.
There’s no question that Americans are opening their minds and wallets to small cars. But how small are most people willing to go? That’s the question I have after testing the Ford Fiesta subcompact and its kissing cousin, the Mazda2.
The Ford and Mazda hatchbacks, like the Honda Fit before them, are cute and spunky, if underpowered. But I’m still not sure I’d buy one -- especially when I could have a slightly bigger, better compact like a Mazda3 or the new-generation Ford Focus for only a bit more money.
By Jake Lingeman
We now have a better look at the 2011 Chrysler 200 sedan, courtesy of new photos from Chrysler.
The updates to the Chrysler Sebring to convert it to the 200 include new front and rear fascia. The Chrysler badge will adorn the front, while a new rear decklid, LED taillights and brake lights round out the rear.
Controversy aside, the average consumer doesn't care what's under the car's hood.
Monday must have been a rough day for General Motors. After finally handing the Chevrolet Volt over to select members of the media, the company was bombarded with accusations that it had misled both the press and the public about the Volt's status as an electric vehicle. There was a great deal of contention over the semantics about the Volt's powertrain -- whether it should be classified as a hybrid and whether its turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine was capable of driving the car's front wheels.
Current events aside, there's really only one thing that matters here: For John Q. Public, the bits and pieces under the Volt's hood don't matter. They don't matter for any hybrid or electric vehicle.
By Izzi Bendall
Aston Martin said on Monday that the Cygnet -- a reworked version of the Toyota iQ city car -- will go into production in 2011.
The Cygnet, which was shown as a concept car at the Geneva motor show in March, is just less than 10 feet long.
"Our customers need a small car for urban and city use and they want the right tools for the right job, to downsize creatively without compromising intelligence, artistry and personality," said Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez.
The General is fighting accusations that the Volt isn't a real electric car.
In the wake of yesterday's brouhaha regarding the Chevrolet Volt's electric-car credentials -- a tempest-in-a-teapot controversy that many journalists have labeled "Voltgate" -- General Motors is issuing explanatory statements and attempting to silence its critics. By Greg Migliore
The next-generation Nissan Versa will be sold in the United States, the company announced on Monday morning.
A sketch released shows a more sculpted and lined compact than the current car.
One priceless Chevrolet stunt car; one police officer with a lot of explaining to do.
Just when you thought it was safe to go back onto a movie set. While filming a scene for the film "Transformers 3," the famed yellow and black Chevy Camaro known as Bumblebee crashed into a police SUV yesterday in Washington, D.C., seriously damaging both machines.
According to Fox 5 News, the big Chevrolet Suburban was being driven by a senior explosive-tech officer responding to a "suspicious package" call in the vicinity of the "Transformers" set. He was on different radio frequency than the police officers securing the area and, thus, was unaware of any danger.
Check out the video after the jump.
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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
