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First Look 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T
Very elegant style this is First Look 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T, The 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T is something of a pioneer in the midsize sedan segment, and you can bet other automakers will be closely watching its market performance. On paper, the Sonata turbo has the best fuel economy, more horsepower, and more torque when compared to the V-6-powered offerings of its formidable competition. Whether Hyundai has delivered this powertrain in a package that people will pick over a traditional powerplant like a V-6 is another question.
The Sonata 2.0T, which is debuting at the 2010 New York auto show, is powered by Hyundai's Theta II, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder producing 274 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, mated to Hyundai's all-new six speed automatic transmission. Those figures are thanks in large part to direct-injection and a twin-scroll turbocharger that Hyundai promises will give the sedan "instantaneous power delivery."
Surely the Sonata 2.0T's predicted 22/34 mpg city/highway fuel economy will help to further ease the transition for folks still pining for a V-6. That's just one highway mpg down from the 198-horsepower regular-strength Sonata four-cylinder. Even better, the turbo runs on regular gas.
No, Hyundai is not the first midsize sedan player to offer a turbo four-cylinder engine. Volkswagen has offered its Passat with a turbo four-cylinder for years. That engine, though, makes less power and helps the Passat accelerate from 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds, according to Volkswagen. We don't yet have similar times for the Sonata 2.0T, but expect it to be at the top of the class. Consider that, in our recent test of seven four-cylinder midsize sedans, the non-turbo 2011 Sonata was the fastest to 60 mph, with a time of just 8.1 seconds.
Spy shot 2012 Toyota Prius MPV
Spy shot 2012 Toyota Prius MPV
This is Spy shot 2012 Toyota Prius MPV
From the looks of things, the Prius MPV/crossover/mini-minivan thing will look exactly like, well, a Prius with a flatter, higher roof and an upright rear window. It appears to be sized somewhere between a Toyota Matrix and a Mazda 5, and to feature forward-hinged rear doors.
Through the camouflage, it’s easy to see Prius-esque graphics on the front end and in the taillamps, as well as the Prius’s characteristic triangular D-pillar. The wheels are remarkably large for a Prius (the base sedan rides on puny 15-inchers); the rollers here are either 18s or really big–looking 17s. Inside, the MPV features center-mounted gauges like those in the regular Prius. Maximum seating capacity is unknown as of now, but squeezing in a third row, as Kia did on its diminutive Rondo, is a possibility.Beneath the skin, expect to see the next generation of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, although not necessarily one using pricey lithium-ion battery technology; the company has pledged to stick with nickel-metal hydride batteries for a long time to come. (As demand for plug-in hybrids increases, however, we expect Toyota could release a Prius MPV variant with the lithium-ion-powered setup from the plug-in Prius, which is due for the 2012 model year.) The MPV may, however, get a larger four-cylinder engine displacing 2.5 liters or so. Just how high Toyota can stretch this vehicle’s fuel economy remains to be seen, but hitting the sedan’s vaunted 50-mpg EPA combined mileage mark will be tough,
Spy shot 2012 Toyota Prius MPV Red
Spy shot 2012 Toyota Prius MPV Blue
Test Drive 2011 Infiniti G25
Test Drive 2011 Infiniti G25 front
This is Test Drive 2011 Infiniti G25,Infiniti has earned a reputation for being the "Japanese BMW." Like the German automaker, Infiniti's U.S. entries are decidedly more performance oriented, but the brand's decision to install the naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter V6 in its G Sedan had us wondering if things were changing... and not for the better.
Follow the jump to find out if our suspicions have been confirmed.
Gallery:2011 Infiniti G25: First Drive
Here's the background: For Infiniti to continue expanding its U.S. sales, the company's marketing department listened to some important feedback from their dealers. Specifically, some buyers – particularly those of the fairer persuasion – thought the standard 328-horsepower V6 in the G Sedan was just too much. Scary, even. So... no sale. After hearing what its white-knuckled customers wanted, the company decided to add a less powerful G Sedan to its U.S. lineup. Easy peasy.
Test Drive 2011 Infiniti G25 Back
Test Drive 2011 Infiniti G25 Front look
Test drive 2012 Ford Grand C-Max
The Ford Motor Company has been successful at a great many things, but building minivans hasn't been one of them. Perpetually mired in the shadow of offerings from Chrysler and Japan's automakers, the Blue Oval folded up its sliding-door tent and went home years ago, killing off its undersized Mercury Villager in 2002 and then extinguishing the Windstar-turned-Freestar (and its short-lived Mercury Monterey counterpart) in 2007. Brand supporters will doubtlessly note that the family-ferrying segment was in decline for some years before Dearborn walked away from it, but the truth is that Ford never managed to crack the market's top ranks despite more than 15 years of trying.
Test drive 2012 Ford Grand C-Max
So why, then, is red-hot Ford risking a return to the segment in 2012 with the Grand C-Max shown here – a vehicle that's conspicuously smaller and less powerful than the segment norm? Do they know something that we don't? We hopped a puddle jumper to Nice, France after covering last week's Paris Motor Show in an attempt to find out.
Test drive 2012 Ford Grand C-Max Side
Test drive 2012 Ford Grand C-Max Car
T-bones a real cop car on TF3 set
T-bones a real cop car on TF3 set
seems that may just be the case for the folks working on Transformers 3. The movie has had its share of crashes, with a few of them being of the "unplanned" variety. The latest incident takes place in Washington D.C. and involves a certain yellow Camaro that Transformers fans know better as Bumblebee.
As a scene was being filmed, a real police vehicle was responding to a call and cut quickly across the set. The two cars collided and the police officer driving the SUV was taken to a nearby hospital, but it appears there are no serious injuries – except to the Camaro, which was covered up and taken away.
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