Comments for AutoReport

Comment on Chevrolet’s All-New TrailBlazer SUV Breaks Cover in Dubai by Andrew Charles

Andrew Charles — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:06:20 +0000

Aside from Thailand and the Middle East confirmed markets so far include Australia, where it will be sold as he Holden Colorado 7. Other Asian markets are likely, as are Russia, South Africa and most markets in South America.

Comment on Chevrolet’s All-New TrailBlazer SUV Breaks Cover in Dubai by Andrew Charles

Andrew Charles — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:03:03 +0000

No word on whether GM will build this midsize SUV alongside the Colorado in the US as well as Thailand and Brazil, however since it is essentially just another Colorado body-style (a wagon to join the single-cab, extended-cab and crew-cab), even minimal sales would justify the investment. This is a nice truck and should do well against the Pathfinder, 4Runner, Land Cruiser Prado etc. If they can sell a mere 3,000 a month in the US that could add more than 50% to mid-truck production volumes in Wentzville.

Comment on Electric Vehicle Maker THINK™ Resets for a New Start by Andrew Charles

Andrew Charles — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 03:38:36 +0000

It appears Think has as many lives as a cartoon cat. You have to ask, can Think survive without additional sources of revenue, or a parent company willing to subsidize the business? Venturi and Tesla not only charge much more for their EVs, they started converting an existing IC platform (Venturi’s Fetish began as a gasoline-engine Elise rival, while Tesla’s roadster was based on the Elise itself); and have crucial contracts to convert vehicles for larger manufacturers (PSA and Toyota respectively). More direct rivals Aixam-Mega and Polaris (the new owner of GEM) have profitable synergistic businesses selling IC-powered low-speed and off-road vehicles. Investing in Think may give Valmet an independent product line to compliment its contract manufacturing business. Ener1 gets a guaranteed outlet for its battery technology, but with demand for batteries growing, does it really need one? Bailing out Think could prove to be simply a big cash drain for both companies.

Comment on GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept Takes Heavy-Duty Capability To New Ground by Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:31:09 +0000

GM needs to stop coping Ford and try to come up with their own ideas! This thing just screams I wish I was a Raptor!

Comment on Nissan Unveils New Global Sedan at the 8th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition by Andrew Charles

Andrew Charles — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:46:40 +0000

Better than the Tiida/Versa, and probably better than the Corolla. Unfortunately that leaves it in the bottom 10% of the world’s compact sedans, so unless it’s as cheap as a Logan or New Sail, then this effort deserves an F.

Comment on Major SUV Fuel Economy Gains, Technology, Style Highlight Reinvention of Ford Explorer by Andrew Charles

Andrew Charles — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 02:52:05 +0000

Some commentators have questioned whether Ford does not have too many crossovers now, with the Escape, Edge, Explorer and Flex. On the face of it, one could argue "no"—The Escape is a small compact, the Edge a small midsize (with the recent update it is in fact closer to the CR-V and RAV4 in length), and the Flex large. There should be room in the lineup for a larger midsize crossover with 7 seats, something like the Pilot or Highlander. Unfortunately the new Explorer is not that gap-filling crossover. Instead it is almost as large as the Flex, and far, far larger than the Pilot or Highlander. Like the Dodge Durango and Chevrolet Trailblazer it risks being neither fish nor fowl—too big to be seriously considered as a midsize crossover, and not quite big enough to compete well against full-size crossovers such as the GMC Terrain. Perhaps it has been compromised by the positioning of the Flex as a large crossover, rather than a minivan, and the Edge as midsize rather than compact. It is as if Ford wanted a vehicle to compete with the popular Terrain, but which would not be so large as to undermine the Flex (not a problem if only the Flex were slightly more like a traditional minivan).

Comment on Small, Green, and Fun: Ford Start Concept a Design Inspiration for the Mega City by Andrew Charles

Andrew Charles — Sat, 01 May 2010 22:29:20 +0000

Comment on SAIC-GM-Wuling Signs Agreements to Export Mini-Commercial Vehicles to South America, Middle East and North Africa by Andrew Charles

Andrew Charles — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:36:59 +0000

The L200 and L300 are Mitsubishis. So far it appears only the N200 is being sold in export markets. Check out GM Colmotores and GM Egypt for more info. The N200 has a half-ton payload capacity (1235 lb/560 kg), a cargo volume of 111 cu-ft (3150 L) and a fuel economy of around 35 mpg.

Comment on Nissan Juke: Bringing the Small Car Market to Life by Andrew Charles

Andrew Charles — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:57:01 +0000

One should always be wary of claiming “firsts”. Nissan absent-mindedly ignores the Fiat Sedici, Suzuki SX4, Chevrolet Niva, Ford EcoSport, Honda HR-V, Volkswagen CrossFox, the Daihatsu Be-Go/Terios, Toyota Rush, and Perodua Nautica triplets, not to mention the first two generations of the Toyota RAV4, each of which is as much or more a “small crossover” as the Juke. While the RAV4 was certainly not the “original SUV”, as a recent ad claims, when introduced 15 years ago it could legitimately claim to be the first B-segment “crossover”.

Comment on The 2011 Sonata: The New Standard for Midsize SedansSonata Injects Emotion, Advanced Powertrains and Superior Quality into Bland Segment by Andrew Charles

Andrew Charles — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 09:16:24 +0000

A 2.4 Turbo would be analogous to the version produced by Chrysler for the Caliber (285 hp), but that is an unusual choice. Most manufacturers prefer to make better use of a more robust, smaller-displacement engine. Like Hyundai, Mitsubishi turbocharges the 2.0 L version of the World Engine, but with more boost it produces up to 291 hp, and offers more torque than the 2.4 Turbo. The latest direct-injection version of GM’s classic 2.0 turbo is being sold with up to 296 hp, and the earlier port-injection version with up to 266 hp. In the past both Nissan and Toyota offered their own 86×86 mm turbo fours with over 250 hp. While there are regulatory and tax advantages to the 2.0 L engine, the superior robustness of the design is its main advantage for turbocharging. GM’s 2.0 L block has reportedly been reliably pushed to nearly 370 hp. With more experience Hyundai should be just as capable of pushing the 2.0 Turbo into the 280-300 hp range.

Whether there is a 2.4 L Turbo or not, the Sonata SE still has just a 2.4 GDI engine with 200 hp.