New Pics of The Chevy Orlando Hit The Internet: Neon Blue Awesome

Next month, at the Paris Motor Show, Chevy will finally release their seven-seat family concept car, the Orlando. Unfortunately for Chevy, some snapshots made it to the internet pre-launch. They look like pictures from backstage during a promotional shoot. Either way, here they are.

The Orlando, based on the Chevy Cruze platform, is supposed to be this sporty MPV in a small package. It has a GM turbo diesel putting out 150 horsepower, five doors, seating for seven and home theater style setup in the back, which makes it a modern alternative to the big bulky gas eaters that large families need today. I quite like it, but for more that just those reasons.

Check out the pics after the jump:

You RideLust readers may or may not be aware, but I’m an EPCOT freak. EPCOT Center is the greatest place on Earth and if I had my way I’d live there on it’s magical technological paradise grounds and never step foot back in the “real world” again. So having a vehicle named after the Mecca of all things fantastic and wonderful, Orlando, Florida…well, Chevy just needs to make this a production car.

Really, I liked the name when I heard it, I liked the look when I saw it, and now, after seeing the blue lights all around that fit perfectly with the EPCOT theme I had in my head, I love it.

So without further blahblahblah…PICS:

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Sneak Peak: The Saab 9-X Air Hybrid Speedster

Anticipated as the 2-door companion to the Saab 9-X Biohybrid sedan that debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in 2007, the Saab 9-X Air is two-door, four-passenger, convertible speedster. With a 200-hp, 1.4L Saab BioPower engine under the hood, the Saab 9-X air is engineered to run efficiently on E85 biofuel [85% ethanol, 15% gasoline] and is expected to average an estimated 107g/km in CO2 emissions. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the green machine is the Saab 9-X Air’s Targa-designed Canopy Top, which isn’t under the hood at all, yet makes a great contribution to the 9-X Air’s efficiency as a hybrid. Made out of lightweight fabric to reduce overall vehicle weight, and according to the press release, “folds neatly in three small sections under a rear tonneau cover in the trunk deck.” While not in itself a particularly noteworthy feature, a soft-top Saab is definitely a new design direction for the Scandinavian auto manufacturer, and I’d be very interested to see what a production model would look like.

Although this specific model isn’t guaranteed to ever see production, AutoBlogGreen reports that a variant of the 9-X Air might debut on GM’s Delta platform later, simultaneously lending its powertrain to the 2011 Chevy Cruze.

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A Lithuanian, a Destroyed Mercedes CL, and Some Polyurethane Foam

I love human ingenuity, like those mechanics in Africa who create their own tools from old scrap metal and re-build cars and engines from several completely different machines. Human ingenuity is an amazing thing. Latest example? This Lithuanian man who took a totaled Mercedes CL and turned it into something special using only polyurethane foam and his massive brain.

Check out the pictures:

Fantastic. Utterly fantastic. Pictures from EnglishRussia.com

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Hyundai Motor America design chief Piaskowski resigns

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hyundai

The Genesis Coupe isn't even out yet and the primary pen behind it is leaving the company. Joel Piaskowski, Hyundai Motor America's chief designer since 2003, is walking out the door.

Besides his work on the upcoming Genesis Coupe, Piaskowski is also known as being the driving force behind Hyundai's HCD concepts like the Hellion (above), and has been credited with beginning to develop a consistent design language among the automaker's vehicles.

For an interesting interview on car design featuring Piaskowski, General Motors' Ed Welburn, Franz von Holzhausen (formerly of Mazda, now with Tesla), and the New York Times' Phil Patton, check out this video on the Charlie Rose show by clicking here.

Piaskowski's tenure ends at the end of this month, and there is no word yet on where he is expected to end up.

[Source: Automotive News, Sub Req.]

Hyundai Motor America design chief Piaskowski resigns originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read |  |  | 

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A Moment Of Silence For The Quiet Death of A Dream

During my daily troll through the hot rod classifieds, I found a babied 1953 Chevrolet 150 hot rod that is being reluctantly put out to pasture. To add insult to injury, the asking price has apparently been drastically lowered due to lack of buyer interest - just barely over 2 grand. With a rebuilt Chevy 305 engine, Edelbrock intake manifold, MSD ignition, dual exhaust, the engine modifications this guy has made easily cost twice that. The car has never been driven under any conditions other then bright blue California skies and even though it has a transmission that “shifts like butter”, it’s never, ever been raced. Obviously, judging by the awards and photographic evidence, the car is incredibly well cared for.

So what’s motivating the sell?

According to the seller, “I’m getting married, other wise i would never get rid of it. Weddings are very expensive.”

I give it 3 years, tops.

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You Gotta Fight For Your Right To…Repair?

There is a piece of legislation currently trying to push its way through Congress known as the Right to Repair Act. According to the explanation on the bill’s website, the Right to Repair Act “…would develop regulations requiring car companies to share the same information and tools that they make available to their franchised dealers with the independent service industry and car owners.”

To the everyday consumer, this sounds like a great idea. Finally, you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to have your ten-year-old Benz serviced at the dealership just because your neighborhood mechanic is terrified to even attempt to fix the crankwalk. I myself understand this unique problem, as I own a 12-year-old Volvo. Although I perform most of the maintenance myself, when I’m in over my head I take it to a professional mechanic. Invariably, upon hearing the word “Volvo,” one of two expressions appears on the master-technician’s face, either:

1. Dollar signs as he begins tabulating the cost of each part he will be forced to order directly from the manufacturer since Volvo parts are not interchangeable

Or

2. Sheer, unadulterated, grown-man, terror, at the prospect of having to stumble through a mass of intricately individualized, sophisticated electrical and mechanical codes (true fact: the Mobile Audio guy at Best Buy literally took one look at the after-market sound system I wanted installed, put it down gently on the car seat, and slowly backed away).

Over the years, I’ve come to anticipate these reactions and have become fairly adept at handling the “virgin” mechanic. It requires much the same patience one would demonstrate when attempting to coax a skittish deer out of the forest: no sudden movements or loud noises. It also helps if you lure them slowly to the car while uttering non-threatening, soothing messages like, “It’s just routine maintenance…don’t be afraid little guy…” and “…why don’t you come over, nice and easy like, and we’ll have a look under the hood? I promise it won’t bite…”

Despite the fact that I can empathize with difficult-to-repair European-model car owners though, I don’t support the Right to Repair Act. It’s a frivolous piece of legislation that neglects to take into consideration the fact that cars are not a right.  There is no constitutional statute that guarantees the inalienable right of every American citizen to own a really sick ride. That’s a luxury, and as such, it is ludicrous to hold an automobile manufacturer responsible for anything other than what is explicitly stated in the service agreement. Car companies are being portrayed as these huge conglomerates whose sole intention is to make money, and who don’t give a damn about whether you the consumer can afford to keep up with their standards of living - and you know what? That’s a dead-on-balls accurate assessment. They don’t give a damn about affordability, because they don’t have to. The automobile industry is exactly that - an industry, it’s a business. It’s not a philanthropic endeavor, nor should it be. Lamborghini does not spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on the brightest engineers in the business so you can go and stick a Ford Taurus intake filter in your Diablo. If you’re looking for a vehicle that can be routinely serviced with Bondo and some strategically placed duct tape, then bypass that 3-series BMW and take a look at a Geo Prism. Or take the bus.

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New York 2008: Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

Following its official debut in Geneva the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 has given its next stage performance at the New York Auto Show. While using the original 5-year old, and top selling, design of the Gallardo as an influencing template Lamborghini set off to make an all new car that would result in an all improved Gallardo LP560-4. The wider rear and lowered snout combining with the minimalist lines of the shell of the Gallardo LP560-4 do nothing to reveal the new chassis, new engine and all new 4 wheel drive transmission.

The number signature of the Gallardo LP560-4 seem a bit odd for Lamborghini but they are directly derived from the specs. from the car. The “LP” comes from the “Longitudinal Posterior” of the rear engine. The “560″ comes directly from the number of horses being produced by the new 5.2 liter V10 engine. The “-4″ represents the number of wheels being turned by the four-wheel drive transmission of the car. Rather than change the name from a model that has sold 7100 vehicles from the Lamborghini factories, and since Gallardo-2 or Gallardo “The Next Generation” are a bit cheeky, the designation LP560-4 must have seemed simple enough.

However, tucked within the details provided by Lamborghini in their Official Press Release is the secret detail that will be sending this Gallardo LP560-4 flying out of the factories. With their new V10 and despite a 3.2 second zero-to-sixty-two rating, the Gallardo LP560-4 has reduced its Carbon emissions by 18% from its prior model. That gives the Gallardo LP560-4 a CO2 rating of 327 g/km with the paddle shifters or 351 g/km with the manual transmission. ….Okay, so they are not Prius numbers, but what could you expect?

For more details on the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 check out the full photo gallery, the marketing video and the very lengthy and extensive Official Press Release provided by Lamborghini that follows. (more…)

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What is causing the disparity in sales between Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky?

The Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky were released at the same time in 2005 to many raving responses. The Solstice was the greased lightening for Pontiac right out of the box as the waiting list for the new roadster stretched out for many many months. Now two years later and the Sky is the steady date and the Solstice is sitting along the side of the gym waiting for someone to ask her to dance.

The New York Times tackled this subject and focused the microscope on the reputations of the two GM brands. What they found is that no matter what Pontiac builds their cars will eventual suffer from the brands poor reputation; no matter what the initial response is when the car is unveiled. The Transformers movie could not even Jazz-up the status of the Solstice to the car buyers eye (making the fact that Jazz, the Solstice in the movie, was killed off even more foreshadowing for the car and brand).

The 400 Saturn dealerships across the U.S. are cranking out on average one Sky per month (with a lower production total than the Solstice). With 2,700 Pontiac dealerships selling the Solstice they are achieving an average of 1 car every 2 months. Thus Pontiac is on pace to sell approximately 18,000 of the 20,000 Solstices scheduled to be built in 2007.

When the Vice Chairman of your parent company, Bob Lutz, is referring to your brand as “damaged goods” and your own marketing dollars tend to favor the youngster of the brands over the tainted older sibling a rough road is surely ahead. GM will need to reassign some creative resources in engineering, design and marketing on the Pontiac brand if they hope to revive the one time powerhouse. So far there are no indications that GM is inclined to make that effort.

Source[NewYorkTimes]

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Jeep JT Pickup Rumors Spoiled Again…

After numerous concepts and showings and a tease just yesterday of spy shots of a Jeep JT Pickup testing it turns out yet again… No Jeep Truck For You! According to a clarification from Off-Road Magazine the test mule of the Jeep JT are for a line of military Jeeps aimed toward Isreal and Egypt.

So if the contracts get done with Isreal or Egypt and Jeep actually builds their pickup it will be yet another vehicle that we can add to the list of autos not available in the U.S. No make matters worse it was reported that the JT Pickup is powered by a European prefered diesel engine. Now if Jeep can provide a diesel engine for the overseas version of a Jeep not to be sold here why can they not do the same for a Wrangler that is sold in North America?
(more…)

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