Tag Archives: 2017
Porsche Panamera Executive Unveiled at Shanghai Auto Show 2017
Porsche just unveiled a long wheelbase version of its Panamera at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show. The German automaker calls it the Porsche Panamera Executive.
China-Exclusive Model
First, it should be noted that the Panamera Executive will only be available in the Chinese market. Recognizing the potentials of the luxury vehicle segment in China and the preference of its rich personalities to be chauffeured to their destinations as they ride comfortably in the rear passenger seats, the automaker decided to offer the long wheelbase car in the giant Asian country.
Strong Demand for Luxury Cars in China
According to TheDrive, China was the strongest single market for the Porsche brand in 2015 to 2016. In a year on year basis, the sales of the brand rose up to 12 percent. The vehicles delivered by the brand to customers numbered up to 65,246. So far, the automaker seems to be carrying over its momentum this year.
From a market data, it was recorded that luxury SUVs and sedans have huge following from wealthy Chinese consumers. The sports car line does not enjoy the same level of demand but Porsche remained popular, especially for younger buyers. Among the company’s best-sellers were the Macan, Panamera and 911 units.
The Panamera Executive was showcased by Porsche during the event together with the 911 GTS and 911 GT3 models, which are the two more popular products of Porsche in China last year. The said cars saw an 11% spike in sales from 2015 to 2016.
5 Models to Choose From
Porsche revealed all five new long wheelbase models in Shanghai. These include the Panamera 4 Executive, Panamera 4S Executive, Panamera Turbo Executive, Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Executive, and Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Executive.
Drivetrain
The Panamera Executive has a rear-wheel drive system. The lineup is highlighted by the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. The car is powered by a 3.0-liter turbo V6 engine. The unit is capable of producing a 330 hp output.
3 Important Features Of The 2017 Seat Ibiza
The fifth-generation Seat Ibiza had a lot of leaks in the past weeks. And since the internet has typically spoiled the surprise, the maker of the auto was forced to release the official pictures when the leaks were already widespread.
It’s time we also take a look at the official photos of the car:
1. Subcompact
Do you remember the five-door Leon compact hatchback? The 2017 Seat Ibiza looks quite similar to that in terms of the platform used and the dimensions as well. This supermini is just like the subcompact version of the Leon. That’s extremely shortsighted of the company, but competitors need to raise their A game.
The photos leaked were that of the Ibiza’s high-end version. The LED headlights and the alloys look mighty fine on the high-end model. We bet that it will cost more to have those on the Ibiza.
When it comes to the rear end, that’s where the comparisons between Leon and Ibiza end. The Ibiza has a double exhaust feature, which the Leon lacks.
2. Dimensions
The new Ibiza will be wider and the wheelbase will be longer by at least nine centimeters. That’s all because there’s a 355-liter trunk capacity somewhere in the interior. This is the same as the Golf 6, mind you.
When it comes to the interior, the infotainment system should be a blast thanks to the eight-inch display.
3. Powertrain
The high-end model will have a 1.4 TSI with 150 PS and 250 Nm of torque. If that’s too much for you, there’s the base model 1.0 TSI with an Eco version that produces 95 horsepower and paired with a five-speed manual.
The regular version, on the other hand, can come up with 115 horsepower and 200 Nm. The engine is paired with a six-speed manual transmission or the seven-speed DSG.
Official Photos
Check out the official photos of the 2017 Seat Ibiza below:
3 Things You Need To Know About The New Mitsubishi SUV
Despite the fact that Mitsubishi’s all-new compact SUV is only slated to be revealed at the 2017 Geneva Auto Show, the Japanese automaker has decided to give us a glimpse of what’s to come. The five-seater bandwagon will address the gap in the Mitsubishi SUV lineup.
Here are what we found out about it based on a source:
1. It Will Slide Between The ASX And The Outlander
This new compact SUV from Mitsubishi will fill the gap between the current ASX and the Outlander in the Japanese car manufacturer’s lineup. This will prove Mitsubishi’s plan to eventually move from passenger cars to a SUV-centric range.
2. It Will Be Based On XR-PHEV And XR-PHEV II Concepts
Mitsubishi refused to divulge any details about what platform will be used on this new SUV, but the exterior detailing has us wondering if the XR-PHEV and XR-PHEV II concepts will play a major role here.
The teaser for the SUV gave us a glimpse of sharply angled design, slanted C-pillar, and wedge-shaped glass house. All of these bear similarities with the two previous concepts.
Reminiscent of the ASX, this new SUV will have a slightly smaller size for the next generation. It will sport a traditional five-door and five-seater cabin.
3. It Will Have A Petrol Or Diesel Engine
Though Mitsubishi has not released any details about the powertrains in their new SUV, we bet the automaker will use a 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol and a 2.2-liter turbo diesel found in the Outlander. The petrol will be paired with a six-speed manual or a CVT automatic while the diesel will be mated with a six-speed automatic.
Both of these engines will come standard with a front- and all-wheel drive systems. Mitsubishi is also expected to come out with a plug-in hybrid variant, which is based on Outlander PHEV’s petrol-electric drivetrain.
There are no pricing details yet, but expect it to be similar with the ASX XLS, which has a price tag of $36,490.
Sport Package for Chevrolet Malibu Announced for 2017 Model
The Chevrolet Malibu boasts a decent design, good crash test ratings, high reliability, average comfort features, and satisfying performance. Those are reasons why it has garnered above average reviews. Recently, the Sport Package for the 2017 model of the car was announced.
According to source, the new Sport Package only offers aesthetic updates to the LT trim of the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. Inside, the steering wheel and shift knob are wrapped in leather. Outside, the Chevy Malibu receives a new rear spoiler and 18-inch 10-spoke wheels.
The Sport Package costs $875. Despite the subtle upgrade, the package will surely bring in a sporty appearance to the midsize car.
It should be noted that the Chevrolet Malibu already ditched its two sub-trim configuration. Instead, the range streamlined them into the LT trim.
The 2017 Chevrolet Malibu LT carries a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder engine. The output of the power unit is 160 hp. All that is distributed via a six-speed automatic transmission gearbox. The Malibu L and the LS also share the same spec.
Buyers who want more power from their car can opt for the Malibu hybrid with 182 hp or the Malibu Premier with 250 hp packed in its 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine. From the eight-speed automatic gearbox of the Malibu Premier, the new Premier model upgrades it to the nine-speed unit.
The other standard updates in the Chevy Malibu LS and LT lineup include the integration of the Apple CarPlay and the Android Auto into the car’s seven-inch touchscreen display. Another inclusion is the Teen Driver system of GM. The system lets parents monitor the driving habits of their teens.
The starting price of the Chevrolet Malibu is $22,555. That is for the L trim. The Premier trim is tagged at $31,850 while the LS and the LT are each worth $105 more than their predecessors.
2017 Electra Meccanica SOLO Gets Unveiled
Electra Meccanica launched its 2017 Electra Meccanica SOLO electric vehicle (EV) at the Luxury and Supercar Weekend event held at the VanDusen Botanical Garden. Finally, after years of development, the single-rider SOLO is now available for the public.
The idea for SOLO was a product of the brainstorm by CEO Jerry Kroll, founder of KleenSpeed Technologies, and Henry Reisner, President of Intermeccanica Inc., who is now the COO of Electra Meccanica. It was not intended to replace the family car, but was instead dedicated to supplement the driving experience of the commuter in an environmental-friendly way, and at minimal expense.
The SOLO was built from the knowledge that 80 percent of commuters go to work alone. And since the average round trip commute is 40 miles, the SOLO won’t need to be charged in between the house and the workplace because it has a 100-mile range.
The SOLO is powered by a 16.1 kWh lithium ion battery that has a universal power connector that enables connection at both quick charge and standard stations. To fully charge the battery, it needs only three hours on a 220-volt charging station, and twice the amount of that time on a 110-volt station.
It has a top speed of 80 mph, and an ability to go 0-60mph in under eight seconds.
Standing 10 feet in length, the SOLO is about 14 inches longer than a Smart ForTwo and 19 inches shorter than a Fiat 500. It has a a wheelbase of 80.5 inches, a height of 50.5 inches, a front width of 47.6 inches and a lowslung, singleseat configuration.
During its launching, the SOLO will be available in colors based on Electra Meccanica’s corporate palette–Titanium Silver, Electric Red, Raven Black and Arctic White.
Those who want to make a fully-refundable deposit for the SOLO EV can now do so. Release of the vehicle will be in 2017.
BMW Diesel Vehicles for Model Year 2017 Confirmed
BMW announced that its diesel vehicles with the 2017 model year will be rolled out soon in the United States of America. The luxury car maker confirmed the arrival of four diesel models in the region.
According to CarAndDriver, the variants that will get diesel versions for the 2017 model year are the sedan and Sports Wagon versions of the 328d, the X3 xDrive28d, and the X5 xDrive35d.
Despite the positive news, BMW haven’t released any definite date yet regarding the arrival of the mentioned diesel units. A spokesman of the company just told the source that it will be available later this year.
The report claimed that many BMW dealerships are now missing the diesel versions of some popular models. The source explained that the delay had something to do with the certification process, which is a requirement for diesel models sold in the U.S.
The article stated that EPA increased its scrutiny in the diesel models after the Volkswagen emission scandal that rocked the automotive world and led to the company CEO’s resignation. It should be noted that VW admitted to using a software to cheat their emission figures.
The postponement of the arrival of the BMW diesel models in the country is also due to BMW’s suspension of their production in the U.S. soil. We agree with the source that it is a smart move from the luxury automaker in case EPA will ask them to revise something in their diesel models.
As for the other popular models of the brand, BMW is yet to confirm if it will offer a diesel version of the redesigned 5-Series in the U.S. Currently, the vehicle is available in its 2016 model year with the name 535d. For the 7-Series, the company said it will not be selling a diesel variant of it in the area.
2017 Hyundai Sonata Adds Dynamic Headlights For Better Driving
Hyundai tweaked a little something in their 2017 Sonata. The addition of dynamic headlights will enable better driving, the Korean automaker believes.
The headlights will turn their beams up when the driver turns a corner, according to a source. This will help the driver see the road around the bend more clearly than before. Although only available on the top-of-the-line Sonata Limited, these dynamic headlights are especially helpful for drivers with eyesight problems.
Aside from the headlights, Hyundai announced some pricing and equipment adjustments across the Sonata range. These changes will come in full effect in this new model year.
Last year, the Hyundai Sonata was offered in one of three four-cylinder engines: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that can produce 185 horsepower, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that can come up with 245 horsepower, and a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 178 horsepower. The last one is exclusive only to the fuel-efficient Sonata Eco.
The 2.4-liter and 2.0-liter engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission while the 1.6-liter engine will work together with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to swap gears.
According to Hyundai, the entry-level Sonata’s price will rise by $300 to $22,435 while the SE will cost $200 more than the previous $22,785. The Eco models will cost less, on the other hand. Previously priced at $23,960, it will now cost less than $600 last year.
The Sport edition with the 2.0-liter turbo engine dropped by $2,325 to $27,435, though the Sport trim with the 2.4-liter engine stayed at $24,235.
Why the price drops? Hyundai decided to delete some standard features in previous models such as the HID headlights, LED taillights, proximity key, dual-zone climate control, and a blind spot monitor.
If you want the Sonata Limited, it will now cost $27,985, $200 less than the 2016 model. Consumers can choose to add the dynamic headlights, but this will be a part of the $3,400 Technology package, which will also include heated and vented front seats with memory, a navigation system, and more.
The Limited 2.0T has the Technology package plus more. It remains at $34,910.
2017 Cadillac CTS Gets Minor Visual Updates
Because Cadillac’s core sedans—the compact ATS and the midsize CTS—were struggling to make sales against its competitors, the automaker has decided that its 2017 CTS will receive minor trim-level upgrades and mild visual refresh.
“Mild” might be overstating it as the only visual change we noticed in the pictures is the addition of a horizontal chrome bar for the grille and the reshaped exhaust outlets at the rear.
In terms of trim-level structure, the more significant changes on the 2017 Cadillac CTS are the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder. It doesn’t offer much luxury equipment, but the base CTS will only have a starting price of $46,990, which is $435 higher than before.
On the other hand, the CTS Luxury, which starts at $52,690, has the standard 2.0T engine. Buyers, though, are allowed to upgrade to the 3.6-liter V-6 for an extra $2,000. Inclusions in the Luxury package are essentials such as leather seats, a sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, along with several active-safety features including blind-spot warning, lane-keep assist, and forward-collision warning.
Another step up is the CTS Premium Luxury, which will have a standard 3.6-liter engine with the following features: adaptive dampers, rain-sensing wipers and park assist. It has a starting price of $60,190.
All models will be paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission while an all-wheel drive option is available for an additional charge of $2,000.
If you want more performance from the CTS, check out the 420-horsepower CTS Vsport. It is a 10Best winner for the last three years. We’ll also see the return of the 640-horsepower CTS-V. The two, however, did not receive the same minor updates as the standard CTS models.
The Vsport has a two-model lineup—the standard’s starting price is at $61,990 while the Vsport Premium begins at $71,790. The 2017 CTS-V’s price remains unchanged at $85,990.
Check out the photos of the new Cadillac CTS in the gallery below:
