From 2012, Opel will be selling its cars in Australia. This will be the brands next step in its export offensive. While the full model line-up will be announced near to its production date, we expect the Corsa , Astra , and Insignia to be offered. CEO, Nick Reilly said in Detroit: “This launch is an important part of our international expansion strategy. With its growing demand for German design and technology, the Australian car market is an excellent opportunity for Opel. Australian drivers have a strong affinity with Opel vehicles.” Alongside Australia, Israel and Chile are on the official launch list too. The Middle East, Argentina and a growth in South Africa and China are on the cards. Go here to read the rest: GM to sell Opel Down Under in 2012 (AU) View original here: GM to sell Opel Down Under in 2012 (AU)

Familiar with high-quality B-segment vehicles in Europe and Asia, the drivers of the North American continent is now entering the advent of motoring where we can expect more from less. As Scion, Nissan, and Honda applied themselves to a category that was unexplored through the early 2000s, the B-segment subcompact class became to take on greater importance as the automotive climate adjusted in the United States. Facing increasingly stricter fleet-wide fuel economy requirements from the government, American-based automakers have realized these smaller cars were a necessity as well as a demand. Welcoming the United States to the ‘World Car’ philosophy, Ford brought their widely-raved Fiesta subcompact to the marketplace this past summer while Chrysler’s new partner is supplying the Italian-styled Fiat 500. Sold in the United States since 2004, the Chevrolet Aveo (companioned with the Pontiac Wave in Canada) was General Motors attempt to match B-Segment wits with the Nissan Versa and Honda Fit. For the past 6 years this vehicle (sourced from General Motor’s South Korean partner Daewoo) has made few friends within the media who easily spotted the just passable build quality and performance. For the 2012 model year, a renewed commitment by Chevrolet introduces a new subcompact car officially unveiled to Americans at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. With new, edgier exterior and interior styling, the 2012 Chevrolet enters with a name change from Aveo to Sonic. Shown first at the 2010 Paris Motor Show still named an Aveo , that vehicle gave us a reliable representation to how the Sonic would arrive. However, the 2011 North American International Auto Show was the first time that Chevrolet’s new B-Segment Sedan version was officially brought to life. Dimensionally, the 2012 Chevrolet is more than 2 inches longer in wheelbase than the current Aveo and is a subtle single inch wider in stance. To be offered as a 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback in North America, the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is given a curvier overall profile that accents the larger front grille and headlights. Optional alloy wheels spanning up to 17 inches joins a range of exterior enhancements owners of the 2012 Sonic can look forward to breaking the economy car appearance....

With only days remaining in 2010, Kia Motors has aligned themselves for the best year in their company’s 66-year history. Enjoying a 16.8 percent sales increase in the North American market for 2010 on the end of November, Kia Motors has been raking in praise for their vast improvement in creating desirable vehicles. Among the areas the South Korean auto company is being immediately congratulated is advancement in aesthetics. While more-inspired styling is just recently showing up on production cars, concept cars through the past few years were giving promises Kia Motors has now fulfilled. Prominently featured in the Kia Soul compact utility vehicle which started life as a 2006 concept car at the Detroit International Auto Show, design influence from show vehicles have created the stunning new Optima sedan and the Sorento. For the 2011 edition of the International Auto Show in Detroit, Kia Motors is showing off their a new spin on an urban utility as the KV7 Concept will be shown off in what the company calls a “convention-challenging concept vehicle”. A balance between a mature transportation and a lifestyle-oriented utility, Kia Motors’ 2011 year concept is clearly another worthwhile voyage into fun-loving crossover territory. Featuring a exterior shell maintaining straight angles for a box-like appearance, the KV7 Concept optimizes interior space. The narrow strand of LED tail lighting departs widely from the twin, horizontal rear light housings Kia has shown on their current crossover vehicles. With forward passenger door opening conventionally, rear passenger entrance is gained through upward swinging gull-wing doors. Seen with 4-passenger seating, the Kia KV7 Concept most notable interior feature is pivoting seats. While captivating us with this take on cabin flexibility, the Kia KV7 Concept’s seating system is unlikely to find production in its present form. Offering somewhat unusual individual seating, observers will note the lack of spots to place seat belt harnesses provided inside of the KV7 Concept in present form. Let’s simply admire the KV7 Concept’s den-style cabin at a fancy take on automotive interior design. Supplied with limited information on the Kia KV7 Concept prior to the Detroit auto show, the design...

Recently, MINI has been growing to accept a broader range of admirers. As the longer wheelbase Clubman arrived on sale in 2008, the most awaited promise for the past two years was MINI’s first ever crossover vehicle called the Countryman. Showing off their interpretation of four-door configuration and all-wheel drive, it appears that the Countryman’s positive initial reception has allowed MINI to weather concerns they might be losing touch with their brand’s true DNA. However, for fans of the two-door MINI cars, a 2011 concept to be presented at the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit will provide a sight for sore eyes. Deriving mechanics from the new MINI Countryman, the Paceman Concept is a design study contemplating a tantalizingly, athletic form sharing crossover utility in what they call “muscle car design cues”. Borrowing heavily from the Countryman S, the Paceman Concept projection integrates a similar front end intake setup and the rear diffuser. Distinguished with the two-door look featuring a sporty rear roof profile, designers behind the MINI Paceman Concept wants to emphasize a wider profile. Although the MINI Countryman retains the 70.4-inch width, the Paceman Concept involves a lowered roof line of about 0.8 inches and some mild side skirts in order to accomplish the desired illusion. MINI sport look is enhanced further by 19-inch custom wheels within the small confides. Further blurring the categorization of modern all-wheel drive vehicles by calling their creation a Sport Activity Coupe, the MINI Paceman Concept is constructed to utilize front-wheel drive and MINI’s ALL4 all-wheel drive. Powering the MINI Paceman Concept, the John Cooper Works 1.6 twin-scroll turbocharged engine four-cylinder expels a meaningful 211 horsepower to allow this concept vehicle to step beyond its stationary aggression. Through an Overboost function, torque production extends up to a 207 foot-pound range. Showcasing MINI traits such as the center-mounted speedometer, the Paceman Concept realizes a great sense of premium-quality sportiness. Instead of luring three adults into what would more than likely be a claustrophobic rear seating area, the MINI Paceman Concept adapts to an interior for four total passengers. Said...

News from the Land of the Rising Sun:  The Mainichi Shimbun and Shimbun newspapers in Japan state that Honda Motor Co. gave their new hybrid car with low, low price tag of only ¥1.59 million (that’s roughly US$18,600), which makes it the cheapest hybrid vehicle in Japan.  Soon, the new Honda Fit Hybrid might just be the most affordable gasoline-electric car in the United States and the world. The US$18,600 price tag is still as staggering $3,500 lower when compared with the Honda Insight, the present cheapest hybrid in the market today.  It is also $4,600 lower compared to the conventional gasoline-chugging Fit.  While Japan’s market price does not always coincide with the US, Honda Fit Hybrid’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price might land somewhere around $17,000. The Honda Fit Hybrid will carry an electric motor and a 1.3-liter engine. It is expected to achieve 70.6 mpg US, 3.3 L/100km with the fuel economy of 30 kilometers per liter.  However, the Fit Hybrid’s title of being the cheapest hybrid vehicle is challenged by Toyota’s plan to debut its compact hybrid in 2011.  Toyota’s hybrid will have the price tag of around ¥1.5 million (that’s $17,554) and is expected to reach 40 kilometers per liter and 94 mpg US, 2.5 L/100km.  According to analysts, the release of these two hybrid vehicles will improve the competition in the sales of eco-friendly vehicles between the two Japanese automobile giants. Honda’s new Fit hybrid will make its debut in the Paris Auto Show this fall season and will be released sometime in 2011. There’s much more Honda Civic stuff at www.motors.co.uk, the UK’s awesomest portal for second used cars and car information. We actually used it ourselves to buy our Honda S2000, and paid less than 60% of new price! Read the original:  Honda’s Cheapest Hybrid at US$18,600

Honda are one of the most popular manufacturers out there and for good reason they make great cars and great bikes. If you have recently decided to buy a new Honda car or bike you are going to need to get it insured. Insurance is expensive and not something that most people like having to pay for but it is a requirement of law. For the most part car insurance and bike insurance are pretty similar but there are some important differences to keep in mind. Accidents are an important part of driving, they are going to happen. You are required by law to have insurance on your vehicle in order to protect other people in the event of an accident. You can also get insurance to protect yourself in the event that your nice, new Honda gets damaged but this isn’t required, although it is a good idea. In the event that you cause an accident you are financially responsible for any damage you cause. If somebody gets injured that could cost millions of dollars, it is important that you have adequate insurance. The coverage on your Honda bike will be a little bit different than that on your Honda car. The most important difference covers what happens if you get hurt. Insurance policies on cars will cover you if you are injured in an accident, this isn’t the case with motorcycles. When riding a bike there is no personal injury cover for the rider unless he purchases it separately. If you plan to carry passengers you will also need to get a personal injury plan to cover them as well (available at great rates in the UK at www.carolenash.com ). You will probably find that it costs quite a bit less to insure your Honda bike than it does to insure your car. The reason for this is that you are the most likely person to get hurt in a bike accident. Insurance premiums are largely determined by who gets hurt in an accident. It is far more expensive for the insurance company if you hurt somebody else than it would be if you got hurt. Since a bike will do far less damage to other people than a car they are cheaper to insure. Accidents are an unfortunate part of driving,which means that insurance is a part of driving. It is important that you make sure that you have the right insurance coverage. It is a good idea to research insurance before you even buy your new Honda. And that...

Do you think you’re seeing double? With the twin sets of horizontal headlamps flanked on either side of the Li Nian Everus’ chrome-built grill, consumers might just blink their eyes to make sure. Li Nian is the newly formed line of Honda Cars designed especially for the Chinese auto market . Honda’s China Guangzhou branch served as the model’s opening stage. Two concept cars were released by the branch in the past: a sporty roadster and a more compact crossover. According to Honda, the production version of the Li Nian concept will be available to the Chinese market during the Guangzhou Motor Show. This is set to happen by the end of 2010, but the company did not release any other details about the car. Reviewers suspect that the model will be based on the Honda City, a small sedan which was also based on the Jazz’s platform, but nothing official has been announced. The Honda City is powered by a 1.8 liter engine which is perfect for a smooth, city cruise. The concept car’s name “Li Nian” means “idea” in English, and with the spare information released about the concept car, it remains just like that right now: an idea. Consumers may have to wait for a few more months before this idea can be realized by Honda. The Li Nian concept car was first introduced to the public in 2008, and after two years of waiting, the Chinese market is just hoping that it will be well worth the wait. Based on the photos alone, the concept “idea” car Li Nian seems to hold a lot of promise. See the original post here: Honda Gives Beijing the Li Nian Everus Concept Sedan for 2010

    It’s day #1 of the Ford Fiesta media preview and we have spent the entire day behind the wheel of the all-new Ford. I am wiped out. Yeah, we know, can’t post the driving impressions until Monday at 12:01 EST. However, we can share with you a ton of information about the American Fiesta. The car’s appearance is simply inspiring. Ford is going against the grain in every capacity with its new little flagship. From lime green to sky blue, the car comes in a wide array of great colors.   The starting price of the entry level Fiesta is $13,995 and the mid-level trim is $15,795. The base model has more horsepower (120 @ 6,350 rpm) than others in the competitive segment. The MPG also ranks at the front of the class. Ford has reported that 12 million Fiestas have been sold worldwide. Much of the U.S. draw to this car has come through its aggressive social media campaign called the Fiesta Movement. Ford also announced some additional news about its motorsports program and showcased an all-new rally car to be driven by Ken Block. So, the Fiesta isn’t being built to be an eco-box, it’s being developed as a global platform that will transcend from the street to the track. Ford’s marketing team also gave the media some other pieces of interesting news. The traditional buyer of this market segment has also changed (Honda Fit, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Toyota Corolla). Once considered to be a kid’s segment, the segment has grown and nearly 24% of the current buyers make over $100,000 per year. So, they can afford bigger and better cars, but why Fiesta? Ford says: - Fuel efficient - Great value - Fun-to-drive We’ll leave the last bullet for Monday’s story when we can discuss the driving characteristics of this Fiesta. Meanwhile, feast your eyes on a few shots from today’s program! Posted by Mike Caudill, auto expert, NADAguides.com   See the original post: IT’S FIESTA TIME! The 2011 Ford Fiesta

  The 2010 Mazda CX-7 crossover was first introduced to the U.S. market in 2006 at the Los Angeles International Auto Show and first hit the road in February 2007. Although the name crossover is still loosely defined and the physical appearance can sometimes be confusing, Mazda is one of the only manufacturers that has been able to really pull of the term crossover. Small SUV’s like the Honda Pilot and Lexus RX-350 are not crossovers, they are small 2wd SUVs. What makes the Mazda CX-7 a crossover vehicle is its utility and versatility while staying true to Mazda’s sporty heritage. Its ride height is perfectly matched for the family that wants the space of a minivan, but without the “minivan.” The CX-7 is easy to get in an out of and, more importantly, easy for parents to get their kids in and out of. The ride height isn’t too high, nor too low. The exterior looks of the CX-7 are what seal the deal for me on it being a crossover. It looks like it could be a cross between a car, minivan and SUV. The performance under the hood is something Mazda did right with the CX-7. They give the customer great options. If you aren’t a “Zoom-Zoom” Mazda customer, the CX-7 I Sport FWD comes with a 2.5L DOHC 16-valve I4 engine that pushes 161 horsepower. If you have a slight need for speed, then opt for the direct injection turbocharged 2.3L engine that has an output of 244-hp. The Sport automatic transmission is also a great feature that gives the driver the option of enjoying some of Mazda’s “Zoom-Zoom.” When it comes to handling, the CX-7 lives up to Mazda's sporty legacy. The steering is nicely weighted, and the effort increases in comparison when cornering while remaining stable in turns. The CX-7 rides a bit firmer than most competitors, but that's a decent trade-off in crossover performance. The interior was open and spacious, a sporty steering wheel reminiscent of the one found in the Mazda Miata, while the gauge cluster is similar to the Mazda RX-8. Overall, the CX-7’s build quality and ergonomics are both very good but the feature that attracted our attention the most was the navigation system. The screen was perfectly integrated in to the dashboard, but its location was not typical....

Just about every recent article written on the Buick nameplate starts with that same old, “It’s not your Grandpa’s Buick.” Although overused and quite true, the 2010 Buick LaCrosse seems less like a Buick and more like a Lexus. Sure, it’s debatable, but the exterior design, combined with a refined interior make the 2010 Buick LaCrosse a standout. Although entangled in the dilemma facing General Motors, Buick has stayed true to its brand and continues to develop classy American cars that its owners can be proud of. When you ask a 30-something old if they’d consider a Buick, the answer is always no. So, the question is, how will Buick change this? Enter the 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXS. The NADAguides.com team test drove this LaCrosse for one week and by the end of the week, we managed to sell one car. Our office neighbor saw it, sat in it, test drove it and bought it. Just that simple! Now if they could just recreate this among all model lines, Buick would be back among the elite. The newest Lacrosse to hit the roads takes on many European design cues that give the LaCrosse a more taught, modern and masculine appearance. The front fascia and Buick’s classic “waterfall” grille design seamlessly fit together, along with the smooth flowing lines of the exterior shape and body of the car to give it an elegant and sophisticated stance. The CXS wheel alignment also sets it apart. Many of the popular German cars on the road work to push the front axle as far forward under the car as they can and the rear wheels towards the bumper, which gives the car a more performance based stance. Again, debatable, but Buick’s taken the right engineering direction and if younger consumers can get past the “Buick” name to see what this car really offers, we are sure they will change their tune. The top-of-the-line CXS version has a 3.6L V6 with Variable Valve Timing and Direct Injection. Although slightly under horsepower at 280, the acceleration on to the freeway is consistent with a mid-tier luxury vehicle. It doesn’t throw you back in your seat, but it’s also not spinning the tires and the LaCrosse’s capable suspension paired with light-but-responsive steering allow you to hustle along nicely. The...

Minivans are known to be boring and at best they appeal because of their function. This maxim might just be challenged as Japanese carmaker Honda unveils its Odyssey Concept during the Chicago Auto Show. The Honda Odyssey Concept looks compact, sleek, and very modern. The design lines used for the Odyssey seem to represent the future of how mini vans should look like and how they should be fun-to-drive. The beltline of the car has a cool lightning bolt touch. The lines jag down before the D pillar. This gives the Honda Odyssey Concept a more aggressive stance than the typical minivan on the road. The Odyssey will also be more than your usual people-mover with its wider base and lower roofline. These features add to the sporty feel people have been looking for in minivans. The A pillar slopes into the roof that narrows down as it approaches the back. The rear looks more of a hatchback which distinguishes it from the car driven by mommies to their kid’s soccer game. The Odyssey though does not miss the touch of being a family car with seat capacity of up to 8 people with a magic seat set up for the third row. The improved aerodynamics of the vehicle also gives it a decent 19mpg fuel efficiency on city driving and about 28 mpg while cruising on the highway. The power of the Honda Odyssey Concept comes from a V6 i-VTEC power plant under its hood. The engine is equipped with variable cylinder management that does not utilize some of the engine’s cylinders when full power of the vehicle is not needed. The next generation of Honda Odyssey will be due for production by fall this year. Though the one unveiled during the auto show in Chicago is just a concept, we can expect that the production car will resemble much of it. See original here: Honda displays Odyssey Concept at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show

A big population of auto enthusiasts surely waited with eagerness for the coming of the sports coupe 2011 Honda CR-Z hybrid. The two-seater and its sporty line pumps some blood to the hybrid territory. The car is expected to be delivered as early as this summer. The CR-Z hybrid will be powered by the 4-cylinder i-VTEC 1.5L engine that makes use of the Integrated Motor Assist(IMA) by Honda. It looks like that this car shares most of its DNA with the recently rolled out Insight Hybrid. The CR-Z makes use of a 10 kilowatt electric motor which accelerates the car and recaptures power as it coasts and decelerates. The energy is stored in a 100 volt battery pack made of nickel metal hydride. The fuel economy is not the best as we expect for small hybrids. The electric engine is paired with six speed manual transmission or via a continuously variable transmission. The CVT version rates 36/38 mpg which is just like the Ford Fiesta while the manual hits worse at 31/37 mpg. Though the fuel economy is not impressive the CR-Z still makes it as a AT-PZEV or Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle as per CARB standards. The Honda CR-Z hybrid has an output of 122 horsepower at 6,000 rpm with 128 lb-ft of torque at 1,000 to 1,500 rpm. The car will be sold with a base and EX versions. The base comes with the usual standard features of stability system, climate control, ABS, and cruise control. The EX will add HID headlamps, leather trim, fog lamps, Bluetooth, and a 360-watt entertainment system. More:  2011 CR-Z Hybrid spells excitement as it was unveiled at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show

In an effort to kill some hatred against its new model that seems to have Facebook fans of the automaker up in a frenzy , Honda released additional images of the new Accord Crosstour. Does it change your perception of Honda’s new Accord Crosstour? Let us know your thoughts after the jump. 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour : – By: Omar Rana                         Read the original post:  Honda releases additional Accord Crosstour pictures Original post:  Honda releases additional Accord Crosstour pictures

The 2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost is set to premiere in Frankfurt after three years of secretive development.  The Ghost will serve as Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ smaller offering, placed below the revered Phantom. The press has chosen to nickname the Ghost as the “Baby Rolls,” but the car’s sheer dimensions care to argue.  Length is 17.7 ft. and width is 6.4; of that length, 10.8 ft. make up the wheelbase.  The curb weight of the car is still up there at 5,450 lbs.  Even with that monumental weight, the Ghost is able to reach 60 mph in just 4.7 sec.  That is thanks to a 6.6 L twin-turbo V-12 engine.  The twelve puts out a maximum of 563 hp; more impressive is the max torque figure of 575 ft.-lbs.  Peak torque is given to the driver at just 1,500 rpm.  All that power is handled smoothly with an 8-spd. ZF automatic transmission. Under the sheetmetal is a steel monocoque body.  That body is lined with an extensive network of computers that handle the air suspension, anti-roll support, stability control, and traction boost.  Hidden cameras are also part of the tech package to provide the driver with all-around visibility.  A night-vision camera is hidden behind the grill to warn the driver of unseen obstructions. The interior is what you expect from Rolls-Royce: perfection.  Hand-stitched leathers, chrome accents, and wood furnishings put even the most respectable Cadillac to shame.  A 600 wt., sixteen-speaker audio system is linked to a 12.5 GB music storage drive, offering the perfect sound experience.  Rear passengers have the added luxury of two adjustable 9.2 in. LCD monitors mounted behind the front seats.  Better yet for Ghost passengers is the fact that the car’s interior space is close to that of the larger Phantom.  Let’s not forget the bonus Teflon umbrellas inside the coach (”suicide”) doors. The Ghost design isn’t a radical departure from the Rolls norm, but it is different enough to move it forward.  It’s attractive, modern, and the look does justice to the wild specs.  There are plenty more hi-res images you can find at our Facebook and MySpace pages. ShareThis                         See the original post: A Look at 2011’s...

New shots of the upcoming 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour have been released today by the Japanese automaker. The images feature a red version of the car. Hit the jump for the rest of the images. Related Posts 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour Honda officially announced 2010 Accord Crosstour Honda’s Crosstour coming this October? Honda CR-Z shipping in 2010 2009 Honda Accord No tags for this post. Related posts No related posts. View original here: New 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour shots The rest is here: New 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour shots