Tag Archives: sedan
Top 5 Features Of The 2017 Holden Astra Sedan You Have To Know About
The 2017 Holden Astra sedan is the same Chevrolet Cruze that has been tested in the US. Only this time around, it’s wearing the Holden badge and carrying the Astra nameplate for the Australian market.
Here are the top 5 features of the car according to a report:
1. Powertrain
The biggest change happened under the hood. Instead of the Cruze’s 1.8-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine and 1.6-liter turbo petrol, the Holden Astra sedan will be powered by a 1.4-liter four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. Like the four-pot found on the Astra hatch, this can produce 114kW and 240Nm of torque.
2. Weight
The Astra is 113kg less in weight than the current Cruze. This allows an engine, which is basically not as powerful as other sedan’s, to pull the Astra significantly well. The Astra may be lacking a turbo engine, but the 1.4-liter makes good its promise to carry the Astra along. In terms of overall handling, the US-specification Cruze impressed drivers who tested it in Australia. After all, roads in Australia tend to be rougher than the ones in US soil.
3. Suspension
One of the biggest differences between the Cruze hatch and the Astra sedan is the setup of its suspension system. The hatch has a multi-link rear end while the sedan has a simpler torso beam or watts linkage hardware (depending on the models). That being said, the sedan may find it a bit difficult to compete with the hatch in terms of handling and driving experience.
4. Interior
An area of improvement for the sedan, though, is the cabin. It noticeable has an improved design and presentation, thanks to the MyLink infotainment system. The console between the front seats is larger and could therefore, store more, because of the elimination of a hand brake. However, this has been replaced by a foot brake, which is honestly worse than a hand brake considering the presence of electric park brakes these days.
5. Pricing
Holden has not released the official pricing yet, though the Astra is widely believed to start around the range of $21,000.
Cadillac Escala Concept Car Unveiled
Cadillac revealed a new concept car at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California on Thursday. The luxury car division of General Motors unveiled the Escala.
According to the company’s official media site, the Cadillac Escala concept car is a rear-wheel drive four-door sedan. The auto appears to be an evolution of the brand’s Ciel convertible concept launched in 2011 and its Elmiraj coupe concept that debuted in 2013.
Based on the statement of Johan de Nysschen, the president of Global Cadillac, the Escala embodies the next design language of the luxury car brand. It also possesses the technology that future Cadillac models will carry. Moreover, the vehicle signifies the brand’s comeback to the top of the premium car market.
The company explained that Escala is a Spanish word for “scale.” They chose to name the luxury sedan concept as that because it is considered to be the larger, more elite and expressive companion to the 2016 Cadillac CT6.
The Cadillac Escala measures 210.5 inches in length. It is approximately six inches longer than the CT6 model. On the other hand, its width is at 76.7 inches while its height and wheelbase are 57.3 inches and 127.1 inches, respectively.
The Escala is fitted with a 4.2-liter twin turbo V8 engine that Cadillac has been developing. So far, there’s no word yet regarding the output of the power unit but the company revealed that it has an Active Fuel Management technology. The feature allows better fuel-saving for the four-cylinder operation of the car. Again, the unit is expected to be carried over to the upcoming models of the luxury automaker.
Among the other noteworthy features of the Escala include Cadillac’s signature vertical headlamps. The lighting is equipped with organic light emitting diode (OLED) for better illumination. The grille design takes a three-dimensional precision pattern as well. To top it all off, the automaker fits the car with 22-inch wheels with two-layer spoke designs.
Other technological treats that the Escala has in store for customers is its better connectivity functions, including voice and gesture controls.
The surfaces inside the Escala are covered in hand-tailored fabric. The materials and styling are made possible by the partners of the brand in the fashion industry.
2017 Honda Accord Lineup Includes Sport Special Edition
Honda has a special treat for all Accord lovers. The new Accord lineup will introduce the 2017 Honda Accord Sport Special Edition sedan, which sits somewhere between the Sport and EX levels of the 2017 Honda Accord’s multi-trim model line.
The Sport Special Edition is built on the existing content found in Accord Sport based on reports. It has the same 189-horsepower four-cylinder engine, but added features such as heated leather seats with red stitching inside and a Special Edition badge on the outside.
The base model will have a six-speed manual transmission, and will cost $26,250. The continuously variable automatic (CVT) costs an additional $800.
The new Accord Sport Special Edition costs exactly $1,000 more than the 2017 Accord Sport. That cost stands for heated leather seats and the badge to remind that you’re very “special” to Honda.
Compared to the standard Accord Sport, the rest of the range increased its price by $150. The least expensive Accord, which has a six-speed manual and produces 185 horsepower, now begins at $23,190.
The package includes a rearview camera, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
Other available options are a CVT for $800 and Honda Sensing (but only with the CVT) for $1,000. Honda Sensing will come with safety features such as forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, among others.
These two options are also available on the sportier LX-S coupe that has a starting price of $24,860 and Sport sedan. They can also be included with the package for EX coupe ($26,985) and the EX sedan ($26,565).
The leather-lined four-cylinder EX-L coupe is priced at $29,830 while the sedan starts ar $29,655. Both will remain for CVT only.
Adding Honda Sensing adds $2,000 because it’s paired with a navigation system.
If you want more power, the Accord EX-L also offers Honda’s 278-horsepower V-6 engine.
All sedans are paired with a standard six-speed automatic transmission ($31,730) while the coupe can be paired with either a six-speed manual ($32,005) or the automatic.
Finally, the Touring models ($35,210 coupe; $35,655 sedan) will have both the navigation and Honda Sensing as standard equipment.
They will also come packed with LED headlights, automatic high-beams, and rain-sensing wipers.
The Next BMW 3-Series Will Be Made In Mexico
Four years ago, there was a rumor that BMW plans to make its 3-Series sedans in Mexico. Not much has been heard in the next years, until BMW finally confirmed it today.
On Thursday, BMW started constructing a factory in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi, which will be the home of the BMW 3-Series sedans in the next years. Based on a report, it will begin rolling off cars by 2019, reports added.
The 3-Series sedans to be manufactured in the plant will be next-generation models, which were spotted testing its prototypes. These are also due to be revealed sometime next year. The cars built in the San Luis Potosi plant will be exported to the United States.
But why Mexico?
Mexico is an ideal location for car manufacturers because of its low wages and free trade agreements with the United States and Canada. Some Asian and South American countries also enjoy FTA with Mexico.
Moving its production and manufacturing plant in Mexico will help BMW answer to the demand, speed up delivery, and hedge against currency fluctuations. In the long run, BMW will be saving up in production costs, as well as in export fees and taxes. Whether this would reflect on the cars’ prices remains to be seen.
In fact, such is the attraction of Mexico that some of BMW’s competitors are also planning to use Mexico as a manufacturing hub. Audi will build its next-generation Q5 in Mexico later this year and Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz both confirmed plans to build some compact cars there as well.
Initially, BMW plans to have its Mexico plant produce some 150,000 units. It will be employing about 1,500 staff for the factory. The new Mexico plant will join BMW’s growing presence in the Americas, including the plants in Spartanburg, South Carolina, which specializes in SUVs. There are also two smaller facilities in Brazil.
2016 Honda Accord V-6 Sedan Has Better Handling, Suspension
The new 2016 Honda Accord V-6 Sedan is not offering anything luxurious in terms of styling, interior materials or even drivetrain options. But it does offer a superior and pretty spectacular chassis that does all the work, and more.
Honda used a top-of-the-line chassis that enables the car to handle more than it should. Although not made for rough road, that chassis will allow the Accord to handle it better than it was able to in the past.
The suspension is incredible, and you’ll feel nary a juggle when the car passed by a broken pavement or turned a sharp corner. The steering wheel may not be as quick as a sports car, but who wants that for a family car?
The steering wheel is competitive enough, and has the ability to make the driver feel what’s happening on the front-wheel-drive system. The chassis is on a completely different level—Honda has won on this matter.
The brakes, according to reviews, feel strong and can handle terrains very well. The 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces makes 278 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque is just enough to make it easy for the driver to maneuver through daily traffic.
When your car has a light load, there is pthe option for the cylinder deactivation, which then allows for better fuel efficiency. The current ratings stand at 21 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.
If you want better fuel efficiency, you may want to choose the four-cylinder option. It has a rating of 30 mpg, tests revealed.
Transmission-wise, you’ll get a six-speed gearbox that has a Sport mode for better engine handling in certain situations.
Inside, nothing much has changed, and the lack of upgrades on the infotainment system may even cause some clients to turn their backs on the 2016 Accord V6.
Mercedes-Benz To Introduce Four Electric Vehicles By 2020
Mercedes-Benz is looking at releasing four electric vehicles by the end of the year 2020. Sources said the company will be producing two sedans and two SUVs to comprise the first tranche of electronically powered vehicles Merc is looking at developing.
Each electric vehicle model will share the basic elements of models already part of Merc’s current lineup, but the company also promised that the models will have distinct designs to set them apart from their conventionally powered counterparts.
This move came on the heels of the German government’s announcement of sales subsidies for all EVs priced at less than €60,000, or $67,150 based on current exchange rate.
This German government policy is part of the bigger scheme to attract would-be buyers to consider EVs instead of gasoline- or diesel-powered engines.
Of course, such a decision from Merc can also be seen as the company’s attempt to keep up with the fast-rising EV market, something other automakers have taken advantage of in the past months. Tesla Model 3’s 370,000 orders certainly made an impact.
Merc has reportedly taken a €500 million expansion of their existing battery production facilities in Germany to prepare for their EV plans.
Although not a surprise, Merc’s move is still a welcome development. There are no details released regarding this new direction the company is taking, but R&D chief Thomas Weber hinted that the current C-Class and S-Class models, as well as the GLA and GLC SUVs, will be the templates for the four EVs planned.
In particular, the GLA-based SUV model will tap the reworked version of the MFA platform that Merc is already using on its B-Class Electric Drive, which is technically Mercedes’ first EV. The other three models, on the other hand, will probably use the evolved version of the MRA, which was developed particularly for electronic vehicles.
Holden Introduces Commodore Black Edition 2016 Model
GM’s announcement that it will shut down all Australia production in 2017 had as thinking that the Commodore will be discontinued, meaning the facelift for the 2016 model will be the last one. And since it won’t be in production next year, Holden is now on the race to churn out as many special editions as possible, including the Black Edition.
The new Commodore Black Edition will be available in sedan, sportwagon and ute bodystyles from mid-April. It will be based on the popular SV6 and sporty SS models, so it can effortlessly blend with substance to ensure the best Commodore experience ever.
Based on the SV6 and SS models, the Black Edition would have the following content: Auto Park Assist, Rear View Camera with Reverse Traffic Alert, and MyLink infotainment system with an eight inch colour touch screen display.
But the Black Edition goes further with a stylish black exterior and unique 18-inch alloy wheels. This gives the Black Edition a stronger presence on the road. Inside, its red contrast stitched seats give off that premium interior feel.
Other additional contents are Color Head Up display, satellite navigation, black grille, DRL surrounds and mirror scalps, black lip spoiler for the sedan version, unique “Black Edition” carpet floor mats for the front, and exterior Black Edition badging.
In terms of drivetrain, there is no major change. Depending on the trim, you can get either a 3.6-liter V-6 or a 6.2-liter V-8. The 3.6-liter with the Commodore V6 can produce 280 horsepower and 260 pound-feet. It has six-speed manual transmission as standard and a six-speed automatic with Active Select as an option.
Then, there’s also the more powerful 6.2-liter V-8 is offered with the SS trim. This can churn out 408 horsepower and 420 pound-feet with transmission choices of six-speed manual and six-speed automatic.
The Black Edition comes with an additional $1,000 price tag over the current retail price of the Commodore.
