vLane Blog

Articles Matching “News”

• 2010 Nissan Rogue Krōm

  Banovsky 5 days ago

  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 (0) | Filed under News, SUV, Crossover, Nissan, SUV, Rogue, Krom, special edition

• 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty

  Banovsky 5 days ago

  I'll confess: I'm not of a truck guy. The only thing I've towed was a small trailer behind a golf cart. Lame, I know. But I do completely understand the need for many people to have a truly formidable work truck. The 2010 Dodge Ram HD looks like it will impress in that respect.

  

  2010 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie Mega Cab 4x4

  
  

  Here are some stats:

  • 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 regular cab ST 4x2 with an 8-foot box has a starting MSRP of $28,165 (including $950 destination) or $1,970 less than the 2009 model
  • Optional 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, which produces 350 horsepower at 3,000 rpm and 650 lb-ft. of torque at only 1,500 rpm
  • 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty is available for the first time with an available crew-size cab
  • Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups offer the only standard exhaust brake on diesel models in the segment
  • With the Max Tow Package, Gross Combines Weight Rating increases to 25,400 pounds on 3500 dually models

  Click through for more photos and the release.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under News, Truck, Diesel, 2010, Dodge, Ram, Mega Cab, 2500, 3500, Laramie, Power Wagon, Cummins

• That thing you do: Mitsuoka Viewt

  Banovsky on October 21, 2009

  We love interesting cars here at vLane. They don't have to be the best-looking, fastest, or safest. Don't get us wrong, we love Porsches and things — but sometimes "normal" vehicles are just plain boring.

  

  Mitsuoka Viewt

  Cue Mitsuoka. This tiny Japanese manufacturer takes existing vehicles (usually Nissans) and attaches a stylish retro body. Think of them as old Jaguars, shrunk in the wash — but reliable.

  Here's their latest, the Viewt. What do you think?

  Click through for more photos.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under News, WTF, Japan, Weird, Mitsuoka

• Autoline Daily Week in review, October 12 to 16, 2009

  Banovsky on October 19, 2009

  With veteran automotive journalist John McElroy at the helm, this daily automotive webcast is the best way to fill up on automotive news. So, joining us from Detroit, Michigan is Autoline Daily, from Autoline Detroit.

  We've decided to package all of the week's videos into one post, complete with descriptions of each episode. There's no better way (or place) to catch up on what you may have missed in the car world.

  Topics from the week include:

  • October 12: Ford and the UAW have a tentative agreement that would give Ford the same basic agreements GM and Chrysler received. U.S. transportation secretary Ray LaHood is in Detroit this week to meet with all three American automakers. Russian carmaker AvtoVAZ is pushing for more government aid.
  • October 13: India and China car sales are on fire, Ford’s sales soar in Europe, and Bugatti expands its dealer base.
  • October 14: Ford gets stuck with another big recall, Tesla starts making house calls, and Vauxhall will keep a couple plants open.
  • October 15: GM’s latest ad campaign has some surprising results, Tata tries to fill a gap in its lineup, and Citroen plays with “augmented reality.”
  • October 16: More details about the Volkswagen/Porsche alliance emerge, Ford battles industrial espionage, and BMW pioneers a greener metal casting process.

  Click through to the episodes, after the jump!

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under News, Video, This week, Autoline Detroit, Detroit

• Autoline Daily Week in review, October 5 to 9, 2009

  Banovsky on October 12, 2009

  With veteran automotive journalist John McElroy at the helm, this daily automotive webcast is the best way to fill up on automotive news. So, joining us from Detroit, Michigan is Autoline Daily, from Autoline Detroit.

  We've decided to package all of the week's videos into one post, complete with descriptions of each episode. There's no better way (or place) to catch up on what you may have missed in the car world.

  Topics from the week include:

  • October 5: Two top executives abruptly quit at Chrysler. Ford may have a new bidder to buy Volvo. And the Holden Statesman will become a Caprice cop car.
  • October 6: Strong yen clobbers Japanese automakers. Bosch may post its first loss in over half a century. And Toyota gives us a sneak peek at what it will unveil at the Tokyo auto show.
  • October 7: Mark LaNeve, who had been running all sales for General Motors in North America, is leaving the company. LeNeve will leave the auto industry all together. GM has not named a replacement.
  • October 8: Docherty replaces LaNeve at GM. VW says the car market won’t recover until 2013 at the earliest. And Nissan’s latest concept car banks as it goes into turns.
  • October 9: General Motor’s deal to sell part of Opel to Magna could be running into trouble. GM’s sales in China are up 55% this year, blowing past the company’s own optimistic forecasts. VW puts the Camry in its crosshairs as it takes a bead on the American market.

  Click through to the episodes, after the jump!

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under News, Video, This week, Autoline Detroit

• Video: Puma makes a Formula One car from clothing

  Banovsky on October 12, 2009

  Marketing sure is clever. Years ago, you'd have a pitch man holding up a shirt — maybe with an F1 car in the background — asking you to consider their product. Now, all you need to sell something is 48 seconds on YouTube and a bunch of talented visual stylists — and you get nearly 200,000 views.

  

  Ferrari logos and all…

  Click through the video!

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under News, Video, Ferrari, Advertising, Puma, Formula 1

• Toyota's floor mat fix

  Banovsky on October 8, 2009

  Yes, 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus products have been recalled because of floor mats that can catch under the gas pedal and result in a runaway vehicle. (Only if you're not paying attention – Ed.) We were holding off posting about it until we saw how Toyota would be fixing the affected cars.

  

  Photo: Jalopnik. We added Red Green.

  Yes. That's a zip tie. As we discussed on #carchat, a better situation is to not panic, put the vehicle into neutral, turn on the hazard lights, and use the handbrake to safely pull to the side of the road. Easy. You won't only look smarter, your floor mats won't look like they were attacked by Red Green.

  Jalopnik has a full run-down of the fix, including scans of the service document.

  Click through for a bonus Red Green clip where he makes two K-Cars into one all-wheel-drive one…

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under News, Video, WTF, Technology, Toyota, LOL, Jalopnik, Recall, Red Green

• 2010 Volkswagen GTI pricing announced

  Banovsky on October 6, 2009

  Packing the same horsepower (200) and torque (207 lb.-ft) as the 2009 model, the better-looking 2010 GTI rings in at $23,990.

  

  2010 Volkswagen GTI

  That's for the two-door. If you want the top-line four-door with the DSG, prepare to save up $25,690 — barely changed from the current model.

  A GTI equipped with the dual-clutch DSG gearbox will return 32 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg in the city — not too shabby for a high-performance hatchback.

  Two packages stand out: the "Dynaudio Advanced Sound" package for $476, and the "Autobahn" package for $2,795 — that includes partial leather seats, sunroof, and front sport seats.

  Click through to our search engine to find a good deal on one of the last 2009 GTI models!

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Pricing, Hatchback, News, Volkswagen, Turbo, Turbo, 2010, GTI

• Autoline Daily Week in review, September 28 to October 2, 2009

  Banovsky on October 6, 2009

  With veteran automotive journalist John McElroy at the helm, this daily automotive webcast is the best way to fill up on automotive news. So, joining us from Detroit, Michigan is Autoline Daily, from Autoline Detroit.

  We've decided to package all of the week's videos into one post, complete with descriptions of each episode. There's no better way (or place) to catch up on what you may have missed in the car world.

  Topics from the week include:

  • September 28: A sinking dollar is hurting Japanese automakers. Attendance at the Frankfurt show was way down. And BMW comes out another really weird concept car.
  • September 29: GM’s new marketing campaign is showing promise. Honda works on new stamping techniques. And Fed-Ex converts older trucks into hybrids.
  • September 30: Toyota launches a safety recall involving floormats. Fiat dumps Magna-Steyr. And a peek at some of the concept cars coming to the Tokyo auto show.
  • October 1: Penske fails to finalize a deal to buy Saturn. Every non-Japanese automaker drops out of the Tokyo auto show. And a look at the new Ford Raptor.
  • October 2: Post clunker sales are down in the American market. They’re way, way down in Germany. And Honda develops nanotechnology for electronics.

  Click through to the episodes, after the jump!

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under News, Video, This week, Autoline Detroit

• Chevrolet Caprice police car to criminals: don't run

  Banovsky on October 5, 2009

  Usually, police cars are slow and ponderous. Sure, there's the old adage, "You can't outrun the radio," but let's face it: if the officer doesn't get a look at your Lamborghini, there's no way the wheezy 240-horsepower Crown Vic he's driving will catch you. That may soon change with this, the Holden Statesman Chevrolet Caprice police car.

  

  2011 Chevrolet Caprice police package

  Imported from Australia, the Caprice will be sold only as a police car. Equipped with a 6.0-litre V8 engine, it'll hit 60 in under six seconds — far faster than most other dedicated police vehicles.

  Some features:

  • Powerful 6.0L V-8 with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability delivers expected best-in-class 0-60 acceleration (sub six seconds) and top speed; a V-6 engine will also be offered, beginning in the 2012 model year
  • Optional front-seat-only side curtain air bags allows a full-width rear-seat barrier for greater officer safety
  • Two trunk-mounted batteries, with one of them dedicated to powering various police equipment
  • Designed for five-passenger seating, meaning the upper-center section of the dashboard can be used for equipment mounting without the concern of air bag deployment interference
  • Compatibility with in-dash touch-screen computer technology
  • Special front seats designed for the long-term comfort of officers whose car is their effective office, including space that accommodates the bulk of a typical equipment belt

  Click for more photos and the release!

  [via Jalopnik]

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Grey Import, Government, Future, News, Sedan, Chevrolet, police, Australia, Holden, 2012