vLane Blog

Articles Matching “Crossover”

• Video: Kia gets its Tron on

  Banovsky on November 4, 2009

  "The face of marketing is changing," yadda yadda yadda. Fact is, 30-second TV commercials don't do it for us any more. So Kia, as part of their interactive marketing campaign for the Soul, decided to make a pretty kick-ass short flick about a time-travelling Nissan and Tron-slash-zombie creating Soul. Really.

  

  We love the effects… [via freshnessmag]

  So click through to see this frankly awesome-filled Internet commercial. Why? Because it's cool. And normal car commercials are typically awful.

  Read full article | Comments (2) | Filed under Video, WTF, Crossover, Advertising, Kia, Kia, 2009, Soul

• 2010 Nissan Rogue Krōm

  Banovsky on November 2, 2009

  OK, so the Nissan Rogue isn't an off-road vehicle. It's designed for urban dwellers who want some additional space, higher driving position, and vehicle content over a conventional sedan. Well, that's at least what the marketers tell us.

  

  You've gotta love that centre exhaust…

  But for 2010, the Rogue joins the Cube as the second Nissan vehicle to get the "Krōm" treatment. What's that, you ask? Well, according to Nissan, it's "…designed to offer a unique dimension to traditional compact sport utility vehicles with its aggressive sport styling, exclusive 17-inch wheels and a centre-exit sport-tuned exhaust."

  Price? No idea. But it is available in front of all-wheel-drive trim levels. And yeah — it has that sexy centre exhaust.

  Click through for more photos and the release.

  Read full article | Comments (1) | Filed under News, SUV, Crossover, Nissan, SUV, Rogue, Krom, special edition

• Why I love accessories catalogues

  Banovsky on October 16, 2009

  Yes, in my research on cars with tents uncovered the coolest option I've seen. Well, it's not really an "option" per se, but…

  

  Yeti plush toy

  Available on the Europe-only Skoda Yeti, this plush toy would sure make a kid happy. Or a grown kid.

  Oh, Skoda also has a Yeti Game (with awesome music) to try out. How cute.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Event, Crossover, 2009, Skoda, Yeti

• vLane reviews: Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V, and Chevrolet Equinox

  Banovsky on September 1, 2009

  OK, so you're in the market for a compact crossover? But which to choose? We've assembled reviews of our favourites, and want you to vote on which one you'd have in your driveway.

  The cars

  

  The Forester: "The fact that the Subaru Forester is Motor Trend’s 2009 Sport Utility Vehicle of the Year is no fluke; Subaru’s back-to-basics approach on what drivers actually need in a vehicle means that you get a lot of performance and safety for your dollar."

  

  The CR-V: "Driving the CR-V is, well, largely unexciting. Its 4-cylinder engine is punchy and moves the vehicle well, and is about all you’d ever need. Around town, you can tell that Honda put a premium on ease-of-use, driver comfort, convenience, and fuel economy."

  

  The Equinox: "…it's proof that the company is committed to producing products that are relevant to the average consumer. It's not puffed up on navel gazing market research (Malibu Maxx, anyone?) but fits the needs of a large portion of the population."

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  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Honda, SUV, Crossover, Advice , Subaru, Chevrolet, SUV, 2010, 2009, vLane, Equinox, Forester, CR-V

• The 2010 Hyundai Tuscon, sorta

  Banovsky on September 1, 2009

  I say "sorta" because although this is 99 per cent of what we'll see here, this is still a Korean market vehicle and options, trims, colours, etc. can change for our market. But still, it's a looker, ain't it?

  

  The 2010 Korea-market Hyundai Tuscon SUV

  With the domestics improving markedly — especially the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox — we think Hyundai will find the fight for compact SUV sales will be a difficult one. Still, with styling like this, it's probably the other automakers who should be worried.

  Click for a video, photos, and the official Korean-market release!

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under News, SUV, Video, Crossover, Hyundai, SUV, 2010, Korea, Tuscon

• vLane compares: Kia Soul, Honda Civic, Nissan cube

  Banovsky on August 24, 2009

  On the surface, these three models don't have much in common. Sure, the Soul and the cube look like competitors, but the Soul is much more conventional under the skin — and in design, it must be said — than the totally out-there Japanese-built cube. But if it's a conventional car you're after, the Honda Civic will likely fit the bill nicely…and put you to sleep.

  The cars

  

  The Soul: "Gimmicks aside, this $13,300 hatchback might just be the coolest thing to come out of Korea since the barbecue." (review)

  

  The Civic: "I wish the Civic traded a slice of performance for a bit more refinement. I’m also annoyed that for all its swoopy good looks and futuristic interior, the Civic remains a pretty conventional car." (review)

  

  The cube: "The cube’s engine makes it move, and that’s fine. It’s not the point — this square is more than the sum of its parts." (review)

  
  

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  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Hatchback, Sedan, Crossover, Advice , Kia, Nissan, Kia, 2010, 2009, vLane, Poll, Opinion, Civic, Soul, cube

• Upcoming: #carchat 24; August 19 @ 8PM EST

  Banovsky on August 19, 2009

  This week, we're talking about the amazing turn of events, apparently based in Twitter chatter, that led to the demise of the (lame) Buick CUV. We also talk about other models we'd kill with 140-character tweets, and our predictions for the North American Car of the Year 2010. That and more on this week's #carchat!

  If you're confused, check out the #carchat How-To. Anyone can join us at 8PM EST August 19, but you'll need a Twitter account to ask questions and participate.

  However, if you'd like to follow things live, go here at 8 PM EST.

  And if you'd like to suggest topics for next week, please tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat."

  This week:

  • Discussion: Can we give #GM credit where credit is due in listening?
  • Discussion: What other vehicles, from any manufacturer, would we kill via Twitter?
  • Discussion: Predictions for North American Car of the Year 2010
  • Discussion: Our first cars (thanks, @sassygirlzmom!)
  • Help-A-Shopper: Carl Acampado

  So click through and read a few links, see some photos, and check out a video related to tonight's discussion.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Industry, Future, Green, WTF, Concept, Crossover, Advice , Humor, This week, Discussion, Social Media, carchat, Chevrolet, Detroit, Twitter, vLane, Buick, Bob Lutz, Fritz Henderson, LOL, Jalopnik

• Reviewed: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

  Banovsky on August 14, 2009

  A few weeks ago, I panned the Camaro. And that's fine, because in the Chevrolet lineup, it's the good-looking high school football all-star who will eventually Jäger away his scholarship, find the love of his life on a brass rail, experience 'roid rage, and live out his life in a trailer with five satellite dishes on top.

  

  2010 Chevrolet Equinox

  Maybe that's too harsh, but it's where all the real Camaros seem to end up. And if that was the company's great hope, we should turn off the RenCen's lights now. Thankfully, the Camaro has a slightly younger, chunkier, and far more intelligent younger brother, the Equinox crossover SUV.

  It's a significant vehicle for two reasons. First, it's the first modern General Motors product you can choose on merit over the competition in the most crowded vehicle segment (small crossover vehicles.) (The 2008– Malibu sedan, FYI, was almost there; but not quite.)

  Second, it's proof that the company is committed to producing products that are relevant to the average consumer. It's not puffed up on navel gazing market research (Malibu Maxx, anyone?) but fits the needs of a large portion of the population.

  Highlights:

  • Best-in-segment highway fuel economy of 32 mpg
  • Standard 6-speed automatic
  • Fuel efficient 4-cylinder engine available on every trim level
  • Prices start at just over $22,000

  Click through for the rest…

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, SUV, Crossover, Review, Chevrolet, SUV, Photos, Detroit, 2010, vLane, Equinox

• Future Buick CUV to be a plug-in hybrid

  Banovsky on August 6, 2009

  Remember our Future of GM series? The one where we talked about the upcoming Buick CUV? Turns out, our analysis was pretty much dead-on.

  

  The as-yet-unnamed (rebadged Saturn Vue) 2010 Buick crossover SUV

  The teaser shot GM released along with some details shows a clearly reworked front-end from the current Saturn Vue. GM CEO Fritz Henderson's assertion that he's not a fan of badge engineering is getting weaker by the second, as this new model is undeniably a re-badged Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid.

  With that model due out in the market next year before Saturn was sold means the development work on the Buick must nearly be completed.

  Look for this mystery Buick early next year in showrooms.

  Click through for the GM release.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Saturn, Future, Green, SUV, Crossover, Technology, SUV, Detroit, 2010, 2011, Buick, Fritz Henderson

• The Wilcraft ice fishing car is awesome

  Banovsky on August 4, 2009

  Secret: I live in Canada. And I've been ice fishing. Well, once. It was awful. Dangerous, cold, and boring, ice fishing is for the truly dedicated. But what if you had a machine that made things more simple?

  

  The Wilcraft ice fishing vehicle and its inventor, Tom Roering. [Photo credit: David Friedman Photography]

  I spied this inventor and the Wilcraft as a profile piece on David Friedman Photography, and had to share. So how does this contraption work?

  
  

  Here are some stats:

  • Powder-coated aluminum construction
  • Approximately 500 lbs vehicle weight, 600 lbs capacity
  • 11" of ground clearance
  • Ground pressure approx. 2 lbs/in2
  • 305cc engine
  • Two-speed gearbox with reverse
  • Locking differential
  • Hydraulic disc brakes
  • Three 10" fishing holes
  • 20mph top speed
  • MSRP $10,495

  Still confused? Click through to view some videos!

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Environment, Feature, WTF, Crossover, Misc, Technology, Design, LOL, ice fishing, Wilcraft