2010 Mazda 3 Pre-Show Rumor Round Up

The Los Angeles Auto Show is almost upon us and come November 19th/20th there will be a huge list of announcements from Mazda about the 2010 Mazda 3 including new in-car options, engine output ratings, more official 2010 Mazda 3 photos and possibly even availability/pricing information.

Before the Los Angeles Auto Show begins we’re going to review what we already know about the 2010 Mazda 3 through leaked interior photos, the rumor mill and both spy and official photos of the new generation’s exterior.

The 2010 Mazda 3 is Mazda’s top selling model with Mazda selling over 80,000 Mazda 3s from January to August 2008 alone. To say the 2010 Mazda 3’s redesign is crucial to Mazda’s future success would be a significant understatement.

With the introduction of the 2009 Mazda 6, Mazda has upped the ante on the level of luxury expected in the Mazda 6’s car class. Now the 2010 Mazda 3 will also raise the bar (again) on what compact “economy” cars are capable of by adding the new dashboard layout seen in the second generation Mazda 6. One obvious difference between the Mazda 6’s new layout and the 2010 Mazda 3’s layout is in the two-tier dashboard.

Fast And The Fourious

There are Fast and the faourious posts.

Aston Martin One-77 — new image

After the seeing only a dark, single-sided image of Aston Martin’s ultra exclusive One-77 we’ve decided to shed some more light on the future supercar. Here is an exclusive TopSpeed rendering of the car that will cost £1 million (the current exchange rate puts the car at about $1.9 million.)

The new Aston should appear next year with a carbon fiber chassis and a handcrafted aluminum body. Powering the supercar should be a 7.0-liter V-12 engine that may share bloodlines with Mercedes. What especially makes this new car one for the elite is the planned production run limited to 77 cars.

Škoda announces Superb Estate pricing (UK)

Prices for the award-winning new Škoda Superb Estate have been announced. Prices start at just £17,715 OTR for the Superb Estate S with the 1.4 TSI 125bhp engine. With class-leading legroom and boot space, a long list of standard equipment and Škoda’s legendary great value, the Superb Estate sets a new standard for estate motoring.

The Superb Estate will be available in three trim levels, S, SE and Elegance. A choice of six engines will be offered, three petrol and three diesel, ranging from the entry-level 1.4 TSI 125bhp to the range-topping 3.6 V6 260bhp DSG 4x4.

The estate will carry a premium over the hatch of £1,050 for the S trim and £1,200 for SE and Elegance models. A complete price list is below.

Škoda’s newest flagship model goes on sale 26 February 2010.

Volkswagen Passat named as Large Used Car of the Decade

The fifth generation Passat, produced between 1996 and 2005, has been awarded the coveted title of Large Used Car of the Decade by the used car valuation specialists, CAP.

Now in its sixth generation, the Passat was originally launched back in 1973 and, over this 36 year period, has become one of the most successful models for Volkswagen. To date, more than 16 million Passats have been produced worldwide with over half a million being delivered to customers in the UK.

Volkswagen Routan to Feature WiFi From Autonet Mobile in the US

Volkswagen has announced they will offer Autonet Mobile Wi-Fi internet access in their Routan minivan.

The dealer installed system offers internet access for all Wi-Fi enabled devices, effectively turning the Routan into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. Built on Verizon Wireless' mobile data network, the wireless internet plan uses 3G and 2.5G cellular data networks to offer broadband speeds and extensive coverage.

Monthly subscription plans start at $29 for 1GB of access while 5GB plans cost $59 a month.

According to Autonet Mobile's CEO, Sterling Pratz, "Consumers want to extend their living room lifestyle to the vehicle and want the ability to use internet-driven applications - gaming, email, IM, internet radio, and other entertainment and information services - while on the road. We're thrilled to be a part of the revolution that is making the minivan the cool vehicle to own."

Although we doubt this will increase the sex appeal of a VW badged Dodge Grand Caravan, the usefulness of Wi-Fi internet access is hard to deny.

Aston Martin Carbon Black Edition V12 Vantage And DBS Announced, Earmarked For Australia

ASTON MARTIN HAS announced special versions of its DBS and V12 Vantage supercars, bearing the name Carbon Black Edition.

While specific numbers have yet to be revealed, Aston Martin has confirmed to TMR today that a total of four Carbon Black Edition models have been allocated for Australia.
Of the Carbon Black Edition, three V12 Vantages and One DBS have been confirmed for Australia, if the orders are there,” Marcel Fabris, Operations Manager for Aston Martin in Australia told TMR.

The special edition Astons are finished in a ‘Carbon Black’ paint, which Aston says has been formulated with a subtle metallic twist for “a deep rich patina”. Applying the unique paint by hand takes 50 hours, and is a process that includes a number of stringent quality checks.

The V12 Vantage gets a genuine carbon fibre side strake, backed by a black mesh, while special gloss-black 10-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels feature at each corner.

A bright finished grille, along with parking sensors - an optional extra for the ‘regular’ model - completes the exterior treatment.

Obsidian black leather features inside, with contrasting silver coarse hand-stitching. A piano black finish is featured on the centre stack and centre console, along with anodised black tread plates and Carbon Edition sill plaques.

The standard seats of both cars are replaced with light-weight carbon fibre and Kevlar versions, saving 17kg over the regular items.

Local delivery dates and pricing have not been revealed, but more information is expected to be revealed early in the new year. UK and European deliveries commence from March 2010.

2011 Chevrolet Volt Cars

2011 Chevrolet Volt2011 Chevrolet Volt will likely cost between $35,000 and$40,000.2011 Chevrolet Volt will have an estimated total driving range of 640 miles.

A sports-styled Freelander 2 for the 2010 model year

In showrooms early next year, the Freelander 2 Sport will be available with two derivatives and two colours – Santorini Black and Lago Grey. Both will feature exclusive 19" limited edition diamond-turned alloy-wheels, a unique two-tone interior together with a rear spoiler, colour-keyed exterior trim and matching door handles and mirror casings.
There is a standard model available in both Black and Lago Grey with cloth interior and one with a sports styling pack available only in Lago Grey.

A unique two-tone interior is introduced on both derivatives, in contrasting Ebony and Storm. The derivative featuring the sports styling pack will offer a leather interior and the standard version with a cloth/leather interior. The sporty theme continues through the cabin, with an Ebony-coloured centre-console and lower fascia complemented with two-tone door casings
The Freelander 2 Sport goes on sale in January 2010, priced from £26,695 on-the-road.

Škoda Scoops Two Top Gear Awards with Yeti and Superb

Škoda is delighted to receive not one but two BBC Top Gear Magazine Awards - for the recently launched Yeti and the class-leading Superb

Top Gear, one of the industry's most recognised and respected publications, named the Yeti as its 'Family Car of the Year' while the Superb was voted 'Luxury Car of the Year'. In its 10th year, the Top Gear Awards run across 24 international editions and recognise the most exciting and innovative cars launched in the last 12 months.

First official photos of new Volkswagen Amarok

The Amarok, which will be available as a four-door double cab version from launch with a single cab model to follow in 2011, combines the robustness of a pick-up with innovative technology, high safety standards, excellent fuel economy and Volkswagen standards of comfort, quality and durability.

Production of the Amarok is about to start at the Volkswagen factory in Buenos Aires, Argentina ahead of its worldwide launch starting in its native South America in early 2010 and in Europe next summer, with first models expected to be in UK Volkswagen Van Centres in September 2010.

The Amarok has a generous payload capacity of up to 1.15 tonnes and maximum towing limit of 2.8 tonnes. Its 2.52 m² cargo area has the largest dimensions in its class at 1,555 mm long and 1,620 mm wide, plus a best in class width between the wheelarches of 1,222 mm, which means that for the first time on a mid-size pick-up, it is possible to load Euro pallets sideways, saving on space.

Volkswagen will be putting the Amarok to the test as a support vehicle in the tough Dakar rally in South America in January.