Belated Happy New Year from us here at Crossomotive.com!
We’re looking forward to 2010 bringing more crossover goodies to the market!

Teaser image for the upcoming Buick hybrid crossover

Buick has released a teaser image for its upcoming plug-in hybrid crossover vehicle, and shortly after, news surfaced that the company has another crossover in the works.

The hybrid crossover is pegged for a 2011 release date, and with that timeframe, it should become the first widely-available commercial plug-in hybrid x-over.

The second crossover looks to be different from the hybrid one, with indications that it won’t just be a gas version. Sources say that the second vehicle could be based on the Chevrolet Aveo

According to a study, Washington proved to be the riskiest United States city for driving. How’s that go, Mr. Obama?  The study, made by America’s largest publicly-held insurance firm Allstate, says that the average driver in the Capital goes 5.1 years between accidents.

Traffic near the Washington Monument

Compare that figure to what the study deemed as the safest driving city in the US, Sioux Falls. The average driver there goes a whopping 13.5 years before another accident occurs.

Another noteworthy city is Phoenix, which is just 8.8% over the national average when it comes to collision likelihood. That’s a good mark for a big city.

Other major cities that need improvement in terms of driving risk are Baltimore, Philly, and San Francisco.

The study is the fifth annual America’s Most Improved Driving City study, which takes the biggest 200 cities in the US and takes into account the average time between accidents and collision frequency.

Of course, we don’t think it’s the most appropriate label for the cities. I mean, it’s not the city’s fault if drivers there are more aggressive or just plain old careless. Still, pointing out where the major risk cities are could help pinpoint the factors that contribute to that city’s collision frequency and address those issues more effectively.

Audi will be giving the Audi Q5 compact crossover SUV a couple of new engines, although these engines aren’t headed for US releases anytime soon.

Two new smaller engines for the entry-level Q5, only in Europe for now

Along with the Audi A4 Allroad, the Q5 will be getting the 143-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI diesel engine and the 180-horsepower 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder gasoline power plant. The two will be leaned on to give buyers more options in the entry-level segments, along with better efficiency and savings options.

It is unclear when the Q5 equipped with the new engines will be released Stateside, if at all. The A4 Allroad executive car isn’t even released in the US.

There’s no question that the Crossomotive team loves the Volvo XC60 crossover. We loved it when it initially came out, as seen in our preview on the car. We loved the XC60’s City Safety system, even if there aren’t any figures yet that show how effective it is. We even featured the mixed-review XC60 ski campaign.

Now, Volvo is giving XC60 lovers and crossover lovers alike a new treat, as it will be releasing the sporty Volvo XC60 R-Design edition, which is set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The XC60 R-Design gets a sporty setup, with a new body kit and a lowered sports chassis. The car gets standard 18-inch Cratus aluminum wheels, but buyers also have the option to upgrade these to 20-inchers. The car’s lower part is color-coordinated with the body (although we personally prefer the matte black on the standard model’s lower parts).

There are also premium R-Design elements for the interior. The steering wheel has aluminum inserts, and there are also door moldings, aluminum pedals, and a new center console. There’s a new dual-tone design for the leather seats, too. Perforated-leather trimming and an R-Design engraving on the sports steering wheel round out the interior premiums.

The bottom line: If you loved the XC60, then you’ll definitely love the sportier XC60 R-Design.

Advanced Happy Independence Day!

Advanced Fourth of July greetings from us here at Crossomotive.com! Here’s a trio of (the now-cancelled) Saturn Vue crossover–in red, white, and blue.

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

GM will be letting go of the Saturn brand pretty soon. That means the completed two-mode hybrid system slated for the used-to-be-upcoming Saturn Vue needs to be shifted to a different model.

The recipient? The Chevrolet Equinox crossover.

GM confirmed that the Vue’s system will be tweaked to fit the Equinox’s 3.0-liter V6 engine (the Vue uses a 3.6-liter V6). The company says that the vehicle should be ready by 2011.

An Automoblox Crossover-style

Chances are, you’ve had one or two wooden cars when you were young. You would roll these cars across imaginary stretches of ever-changing terrain, making up collisions and hazards, and pushing the cars to whichever scenario catches your fancy. For the modern wooden car, we present: Automoblox.

Automoblox brings the fun back to back-to-basics playtime, and offers extensive fundamental learning thanks to the toy cars’ interchangeable parts. With sturdy construction and even some limited-edition models, these wooden cars are great for kids and collectors alike.

Neat, huh? Visit automoblox.com for more information.

The upcoming Acura CUV

Acura will be unveiling a new crossover in next month’s New York International Auto Show, which, according to sources will likely be named the MSX. It will be marketed as a 2011 model.

It’s expected to have Acura’s 3.7-liter V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic.

More details as they are revealed. In the meantime, we’ll have to settle with the barely-visible teaser image.

The C200 concept shown in 2008

South Korean car manufacturer Ssangyong will usher in a new monocoque design generation when it unveils the C200 crossover at the Seoul Motor Show in April.

Designed by Giugiaro, the C200 will be competing in the same market segment as better-known crossovers like the Toyota Rav4 and the Honda CR-V.

It is powered by a 2.0-liter diesel capable of 173 bhp, mated to a six-speed auto. An alternative manual transmission could be made available.

More details as they get leaked. Stay tuned!