truth about domestics

One of the things many enthusiasts have loved about the Cadillac CTS-V are the optional Recaro power-adjustable sport seats.  They have thicker side bolsters, an adjustable seat cushion and look downright amazing.  Well Cadillac has decided to offer these seats on the V6 powered CTS sedan and coupe (not the Sportwagon for some odd reason…) for the low, low, low price of $2,800!  For more details, head on over to Autoblog.

(Image source: Motor Trend)

Automobile magazine recently got the chance to sit down with Jost Capito from Ford to talk about their two different performance groups; SVT here in the States, and RS for over in Europe.  He was asked if one group or the other would be taking off the duties of creating high performance variants of Ford’s next round of automobiles.  His response was that neither SVT nor RS would be going away, and that the name for the next high performance Ford Focus was still up in the air.  This means that basically we could be seeing an SVT Focus or more likely a Focus ST and then higher-level Focus RS like they have in Europe.  Stay tuned for more, or for now head on over to Automobile magazine.

(Image source: Ford)

And people say the domestics don’t build cars people want to buy!  Kelly Blue Book, a third-party car value rating company, has compiled a list of the Top 10 Family haulers of 2010.  The list includes some big names, but the shock to me is that the domestics had a whopping 6 cars make the list!  The list is as follows:

• Chevrolet Suburban
• Chevrolet Traverse
• Chevrolet Equinox
• Ford Flex
• Ford Taurus
• Ford Fusion hybrid
• Honda Odyssey
• Honda Accord Crosstour
• Subaru Outback
• Hyundai Elantra Touring

The domestics had home runs in this list with vehicles ranging from a 9 passenger SUV to crossovers to hybrids to sedans.  Looks like the domestics can do it all.  For more details on these great vehicles, head on over to KBB.com.

According to Automotive News, the base price for the new 2011 Ford Super Duty will start at $28,995, a fairly large $2,145 more than a 2010 model.  The main differences between the ’10 and ’11 rigs is new styling, an upgraded interior and upgraded powertrains.  PickupTrucks.com states that the new Scorpion 6.7L diesel will set you back a staggering $7,835.  Power ratings have not been announced yet but Ford is claiming best-in-class horsepower, torque, and fuel economy.  For more details, head on over to Autoblog.

(Image source: Ford)

If you happen to look around next time you are out and about, you will notice that there aren’t many Chrysler Sebrings on the road.  There are several reasons for this, be it poorly-performing powertrains, sub-par interiors and so-so fuel economy.  Could one other reason be the name?  According to a post on The Detroit Free Press, the name of the car could be dropped for something new altogether.  Do you think the name of the Sebring is what’s keeping it from selling?  Only time will tell…

(Image source: Chrysler)

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox features a 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder that allows it to achieve a 32 mpg highway EPA rating.  While that might be best in class now, that figure probably won’t hold up in the future.  So for that reason, General Motors has decided to invest $494 million into three separate plants; one in Tonawanda, New York, another in Defiance, Ohio and the final plant in Bay City, Michigan.  This move will also add 470 jobs to the U.S. economy and produce an as yet unnamed size of the new Ecotec.  For more details and GM’s official press release, head on over to Autoblog.

(Image source: GM)

That’s right folks.  The Olympics may be in Canada this year, but the three Canadian-made electric Zambonis were not up to the task of caring for the 2010 Winter Games’ surfaces.  All three machines succumbed to mechanical and electrical issues, causing major delays to the games.  Finally, to avoid further embarassement, the Candians brought in a CNG powered Zamboni from California-based Zamboni.  For more details, head on over to Jalopnik.

(Image source: bcenergyblog.com)

If you take a look at the evidence, it seems pretty clear that Buick is planning on bringing a Buick Regal wagon to the United States sometime in the near-to-short term future.  Let me lay it out for you.  First Buick shows off the Regal sedan and then says it will come to the US (basically a rebadged version of the Opel Insignia.)  Then Bob Lutz says GM is looking at a high performance Regal GS and a wagon.  Then the Regal GS concept shows up at the Detroit Auto Show in January.  Well now a fleet of Insignia wagons has shown up in the U.S. and was seen sitting with a bunch of Buick Regal sedans.  For more details, head on over to Jalopnik.

(Image source: Opel)

According to Tony Posawatz, GM vehicle executive, the first Chevrolet Volts will not be E85 capable.  While this may not seem like a big issue, I feel that this is a poor decision on GM’s part.  They have been one of the biggest proponents of E85 capability and production, even going so far as to invest in a start-up that claims it can make E85 from switch grass.  To not include E85 capability initially on the Volt seems to me like a mistake.  The Volt has a chance to be one of (if not the most) fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles on the planet.  Adding E85 capability would have shown that the General cared even more about future technologies. 

The good news here is that it will be available later in 2011.  GM also says it would like more help from the government to push for more E85 stations.  Right now GM spends about $100 million a year to add E85 capability to its cars and trucks.  More stations might help encourage people to purchase E85 equipped vehicles.  For more details, head on over to GM-Volt.com.

What makes the newest NASA Mars rover, “Curiosity” so advanced?  Well how about the fact that it’s nuclear powered!  This rover is roughly the size of a Mini Cooper and weighs in just under 1 ton.  It is expected to be touching down on the martian surface in 2013.  For more details, head on over to Jalopnik!