Lagonda is a La-No-Go-nda

We’ve reported on the upcoming Aston Martin Lagonda revival in SUV form, but it seems that the revival won’t be pushing through after all. The company has confirmed that it will be shelving the revival for the time being, thanks to the weak economy and the sheer lack of financial sense of launching a model that hasn’t been well-received by the public.

“We have several sources ready to invest upward of a quarter-billion pounds,” said Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin’s Chief Executive Officer. He added that the timing of the revival in the current conditions “is simply wrong. We have some work to do yet, and it takes a lot of investment.”

Many criticized the visual appeal of the Lagonda Concept showcased by Aston Martin at the previous Geneva Motor Show. Actually, “criticized” is such a tame word. “Blasted” seems more appropriate. Maybe now that the Lagonda is back on the drawing boards, Aston Martin can work on making the design more palatable–which should translate to favorable sales projections for the future re-launch.

Kia Sorento teaser image

Kia has released some teaser pictures of its new Kia Sorento compact crossover vehicle, which is slated to debut at the Seoul Motor Show this coming April. The teasers show the car’s bigger frame and more-aggressive looks.

The new Sorento will have an added third row of seats, because of the vehicle design’s shift to the platform used by the Hyundai Santa Fe CUV (which is essentially the Sonata platform). This makes the new Sorento larger and longer.

Kia will also be using Hyundai’s Theta II 2.4-liter engine, which goes for 170 horsepower at 170 lb.-ft. of torque. Buyers have an option to get a 3.8-liter V6 engine good for 275 horsepower. Either variant will likely be mated to a six-speed transmission.

The new Kia Sorento will be manufactured in West Point, Georgia.

Source: Left Lane News

Audi Q5

Edmunds.com, that hotbed of all sorts of automotive-related information, has reported that its Audi page received a spike in visitor hits right around the time the Audi Q5 crossover ads aired during the 2009 Academy Awards.

The Audi commercial, which featured the recently-released Audi Q5, contributed largely to a 26-percent increase in views for Edmunds’ Audi pages. We all know increased viewership is almost assuredly linked to increased sales.

The Crossomotive office is just experiencing a little internet suck-time, so we can’t get around to posting the video of the commercials just yet. Rest assured, we’ll have them embedded as soon as possible.

Source: Examiner.com

A Piece of the Qazana Puzzle

Remember a few posts back when we told you to “expect some teaser photos or official renderings [of the upcoming Nissan Qazana concept to be released as the Geneva Show nears“? Well, it seems Nissan intends to do this the hard way. They released the barest of teaser pics of the concept crossover: a shot of the upper left hand corner of the much-anticipated CUV’s front view.

The blue headlight thingy looks interesting, and again we see the aggressive edges in the exterior.

Well, that’s all there is to see so far. Who knows, maybe Nissan will release pics of the tail lights in a few days before showing us the completed puzzle.

If automakers still aren’t going green by design, they will soon be left without a choice. President Barack Obama has issued orders to allow US States to make their own regulations concerning fuel emissions, a move that will effectively reverse a law set in the Bush administration, which prevented some 14 states including California from setting stricter emission requirements under the existing Federal Clean Air Act.

Obama Signs Orders for Stricter Emission Rules

Obama said that the intention is “not to further burden an already struggling industry.” The goal is to “prepare for the future” and “thrive by building the cars of tomorrow.” This starts with making the EPA grant California and other states the waivers they need to set their own emission rules.

Additionally, Obama directed the Department of Transportation to impose stricter requirements on mileage and emissions come March. “It will be the policy of my administration to reverse our dependence on foreign oil while building a new energy economy that will create millions of jobs,” said the recently-inaugurated President.

Currently, federal laws require automakers to produce cars with 35 mpg economy by 2020. California, on the other hand, wants to impose a stricter level by that same year: 42.5 mpg.

So, it’s shape up or bust for automakers. Looks like change is coming faster than expected. Of course, this initiative will be met with challenges, particularly coming from Detroit and America’s automobile-producing states.

Source: Autocar, Washington Post

Mercedes-Benz is holding on to its US-produced R-Class crossover line, even with rapidly-declining numbers that likely won’t ever live up to the automaker’s expectations.

The R-Class: Staying Alive

Sales of the R-Class peaked back in 2006. A lot has happened since then, and the automotive industry landscape has changed drastically in the two years since. With other automakers cancelling slow-selling vehicle lines, it’s a surprise that MB refuses to let go of the R-Class.

CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA Ernst Lieb said, “We have reached the level we can sell it. We plan to stay at this volume.” What volume? Around 7,000 units total sold in 2008 isn’t exactly a very impressive number. Compare that to the 2,500-unit monthly sales of the car back in 2006, and it’s a no-brainer.

There’s a new R-Class for 2010, and Mercedes-Benz better make it something so good, it can revive interest and sales. There are a lot of other alternatives, which I daresay are better-looking and better-performing, so it would be interesting to see what the company adds to the R-Class to make it competitive.

Source: Autojab

So we start our North America International Auto Show catch-up series with the details on the 2010 Lincoln MKT luxury crossover, which debuted last week at the ongoing Detroit show.

The 2010 Lincoln MKT Crossover

The concept debuted two years ago at the NAIAS, too, and Lincoln upheld its plan to make the final model by the 2010 production year.

Exterior

When the concept first popped up, we always thought it was going to be one of those love-it-or-hate-it designs. Here comes the production model, and it still leaves us undecided whether to go nuts over the exterior or, well… go nuts.

Let’s just go ahead and say it: The front is HUGE. Naturally, the grille and the headlights are huge, too. Love the stylized grille design, though. As for the rest of the exterior, it’s pretty much run-of-the-mill crossover design, and we daresay it looks even bland. It’s a very sleek design overall, however, with the beveled edges and elegant window framing.

Silver, black, and red colorways were on display at the auto show.

Interior

The interior features true luxury vehicle stuff: seats that are trimmed with genuine leather and equipped with floating armrests, a central console for the second row of seats, and an instrument panel lined with LED detailing. There’s a folding rear bench seat and a refrigerator mounted on the rear console.

Customers can also choose between 7-seat or 8-seat options. There’s also the option to go for the fixe panoramic roof or a power roof.

Technical Specs

The basic MKT package, which starts at $44,995, is a front-wheel drive model with the standard petrol 3.7-liter Duratec V6 engine capable of 268 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque.

The $49,995 variant features all-wheel drive and the more powerful EcoBoost powertrain. This setup goes for upwards of 355 horsepower with 350 lb-ft of torque. Lincoln is banking on this v8-comparable output at v6 fuel economy to draw consumer interest.

The MKT also features adaptive cruise control, Ford’s new Active Park Assist system, keyless entry, adaptive headlamps, Blind Spot Information System, reverse camera system, driver preference settings using MyKey, navigation system, and Cross Traffic Alert.  There’s also a new rear suspension system that drastically improves shock absorption. Owners will also enjoy the 5.1 surround sound system, which is equipped with 14 THX II speakers.

Conclusion

The make-or-break element for the 2010 Lincoln MKT is the design. When it debuted last week, reception on the car’s exterior has been mixed. However, the MKT really is a feature-packed luxury crossover targeted at mid-range consumers. It’s got a load of the latest technology in it and, along with added performance and comfort, should be able to provide considerable value for money. Who knows, it might even be able to give its contemporary, the Ford Flex (with which it shares the same platform), a run for its money.

Sources: Motor Authority, Left Lane News

The 2009 Chevrolet Traverse

Many experts believe that the global financial crisis will continue in 2009, and that the automotive industry won’t be able to recover until 2010. There are many developments that point to these expectations, including massive cutbacks on manpower and production, car show commitment cancellations by big-name automakers, and the dropping of several car models.

But the people here at Crossomotive will remain optimistic.

We hope to see more interesting crossover concepts debuting at 2009’s initial car show offerings, first and foremost among which is the currently-ongoing North American International Auto Show in Detroit. We expect greener crossovers that cater to the flagging market’s demands of environment-friendly and cost-efficient vehicles. We’re sure that automakers recognize the direction they have to make to survive this troubling time, and we trust that they will make the necessary adjustments to usher in a new era of automotive excellence and innovation.

ETA: After the Obama inauguration, it is clear that the new President of the United States of America will try to transform the nation to better adapt to a changing economic landscape. This, of course, involves the many industries of America, not the least of which is the automotive industry. With Detroit’s bailout plan set in motion, we can only hope that automakers step up and make the most of this second chance.

Rumors are circulating that Cadillac is thinking of coming out with a crossover that’s going to be run using a Volt powertrain technology. Not only that, but as part of the rumors, it’s being said that this crossover is slated to appear at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show.

In case you’re unaware what this Volt powertrain technology is all about, here’s the lowdown. The Volt powertrain is a hybrid technology used by General Motors. By using this technology, GM is able to allow the vehicle – who happens to have this power train installed – to run about 40 miles on battery power alone. This enables the vehicle to consume less fuel, helping it enhance its fuel economy.

So how true are these rumors? No one knows for sure as of the moment. But its seems plausible since during the unveiling of the Volt concept at GM’s 100^th anniversary bash, vice chairman Bob Lutz specifically stated that “there’s definitely room for an electric Caddy.” That pretty much leaves the door open for this Cadillac-powered Volt to come in.

Although this looks like good news for Cadillac (as it gives them another vehicle to market and earn from), the drawback with producing a vehicle with this type of powertrain will probably be its steep price tag. Since the Cadillac brand is marketed as a luxury brand, expect the Volt-powered Cadillac to be priced more than the current amount charged by the Volt vehicle (which is roughly around $36,000 to $40,000).

However, if this project does push through, don’t expect Cadillac to be only one to use the Volt powertrain. Reports are also indicating that companies like Opel and Vauxhall are most likely to jump in the bandwagon and use this technology as well.

Hopefully, this project does push through. With the recent economic crisis affecting the automotive industry, the release of the new Cadillac Volt could help the brand and General Motors from getting back whatever they lost during the recent recession.

Sources: AutoBlog, AutoWeek