Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - (Page 25) NOVEMBER 24, 2008 • 25 2009 Nissan 370Z Engine: 3.7-liter, 332-hp V-6 Transmission: 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic Estimated fuel economy: 18 city/26 hwy Suspension: 4-wheel independent, double-wishbone front, 4-link rear Base price: Estimated at $30,000 ’09 Nissan Z delivers more of what fans like Richard Truett rtruett@crain.com DALE JEWETT Even with a sleeker body, new interior and more powerful engine, it could be tough going for Nissan’s redesigned 370Z sports car, due in January. Nissan pulled the wraps off the Z last week at the Los Angeles auto show. But the market for small sports cars has cooled dramatically. Through October, U.S. sales of the 350Z had dropped 43 percent to 9,320. Still, the redesigned car delivers more of what Z fans like about the classic Japanese sports car: a punchy, 332-hp, 3.7-liter V-6. That is 26 hp more than the outgoing 3.5-liter engine. The Z also delivers new technology and sharp styling and weighs less. On the technology front, Nissan says the 370Z’s new SynchroRev Match system will enable faster and smoother shifting of the six-speed manual transmission by matching engine speed with transmission gear speed. The Z is the first car to have such a system, Nissan says. A sevenspeed automatic is optional. Engineers reduced weight while stiffening the Z’s body. The car weighs 95 pounds less than the 2008 model. It also rides on a wheelbase four inches shorter. On the inside, the 370Z sports an interior that addresses one big problem of the old model: The intrusive rear brace that rendered the rear storage area useless has been removed. Two models are due in January: the entry-level 370Z and the 370Z Touring. No prices have been announced. A convertible is due in 2010. c Nissan Cube joins the box brigade Mark Rechtin and James B. Treece mrechtin@crain.com Bentley’s Azure T gets 500 hp Bentley rolled out the Azure T, a special edition of its big V-8 convertible with 500 hp — 50 hp more than the standard model. The Azure T also has a special trim package and new wheels. It will be priced about $50,000 above the standard opentop Azure, which starts at $342,495, including shipping. Only 400 will be produced, with about 100 coming to the United States. The U.S. debut is expected next summer. Scion did it first. Then Honda followed with the Element and Kia with the Soul. Now Nissan is adding to the barrage of box-shaped vehicles. The Cube goes on sale in North America next spring as an entry-level combatant. The third generation of what was formerly a Japan-only city car is as boxy as its name implies. Styling touches include an asymmetrical, wraparound side/rear window, which aids rear visibility. The Cube seats five, with a sliding, reclining, theater-style rear seat that allows a 6-foot passenger to fit comfortably behind a 6-foot driver. A 1.8-liter, 122-hp four-cylinder engine, borrowed from the Nissan Versa small car, provides power to either a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission. Mileage ratings aren’t available yet, but Nissan expects the Cube to deliver more than 30 mpg on the highway. Al Castignetti, Nissan Division general manager, said the Cube’s pricing will be almost identical to that of the Versa, except for the lack of a strippeddown base model. That means the Cube will start at around $13,000, with a loaded version approaching $20,000. Castignetti declined to give a sales target. He said he doesn’t expect the Cube and Versa to compete much against each other. 2010 GLK priced below rival The Nissan Cube goes on sale next spring. RICK KRANZ “The Cube has a different buyer because it’s such a unique vehicle,” Castignetti said after the Cube was unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show. “We expect to attract mostly youth. However, because of Cube’s packaging, we expect, just as Scion did, to attract some of the older demographic as well.” c 2009 Nissan Cube Wheelbase: 99.6 in. Length: 156.7 in. Width: 66.7 in. Height: 65.0 in. Engine: 1.8-liter inline-4 Horsepower: 122 Torque: 127 lbs.-ft. Mercedes-Benz has priced its 2010 GLK compact SUV well below its chief rival, the BMW X3. The GLK 350 with two-wheel drive will start at $34,750, and the allwheel-drive version, at $36,750. Both go on sale in January. BMW’s X3 xDrive30i with awd starts at $40,225. Prices include shipping. Porsche won’t stall Panamera Unlike BMW AG, which canceled its range-topping CS coupe sports car because of the economic slump, Porsche will go ahead with the 2009 launch of its Panamera four-door, four-seater. Detlev von Platen, CEO of Porsche’s U.S. sales arm, says the Panamera won’t be delayed, but he wouldn’t say when the car will go on sale in the United States. Production is expected to start in April. Honda: Don’t count on CR-Z gasoline variant LOS ANGELES — Honda Motor Co. plans to launch a hybrid CR-Z sporty sedan for the 2011 model year. Dealers have asked Honda to produce a gasoline-powered version as well. Honda is considering a gasoline version, says Dan Bonawitz, vice president of automobile corporate planning and logistics for American Honda Motor Co. But he was not enthusiastic. “I think the dealers are thinking historically,” he says, back to when “we had the CRX.” With the hybrid CR-Z, Honda will offer a sporty car that also is fuel-efficient, says Bonawitz. It will be “a melding of two different concepts.” Bonawitz also opened the door for Honda to introduce rear-wheel drive in its Acura luxury brand. Until now, Honda has said that offering allwheel drive is enough. But Honda is trying to raise the Acura brand to the same luxury level as Mercedes, Lexus and BMW, he says. “To do that,” Bonawitz says, “you have to do certain things, productwise.” — Alysha Webb Mazda3 gets new look, powertrains Kathy Jackson kjackson@crain.com LOS ANGELES — Mazda unveiled the redesigned 2010 Mazda3 sedan last week at the Los Angeles auto show. The compact, Mazda’s best-seller in the United States, sports a new look and big powertrain changes. Its size is about the same, and the car still will be offered in two versions: i and s. Horsepower and torque are unchanged on the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that powers the entry-level i. A five-speed manual transmission remains standard on the i. A five-speed automatic is available, replacing the four-speed automatic. backrests are 1.4 inches taller. Cars with power seats have a three-position memory function. More features RICK KRANZ The Mazda3: A five-speed automatic Torque is 168 pounds-feet, up from 135. Fuel economy is 21/29 for the manual and 22/29 for the automatic. For the current s version, fuel economy is 22/29 for the manual and 22/28 for the automatic. “One of the biggest changes is the adoption of the five-speed automatic” for the i, says Ruben Archilla, r&d manager for Mazda North American Operations. “There is a 10 percent improvement in fuel economy.” Outside, the most dramatic change is the five-point grille, which looks like a big, bright smile. The single grille replaces the upper and lower grille on the current model. Inside, the Mazda3 has better ergonomics. All controls are at steering-wheel level, and the gauges are closer to the driver. The front seat cushions have been extended by nearly an inch, and the New engine, better mpg With the new five-speed automatic, the i version’s fuel economy improves to 24 mpg city/33 highway from 22/30 on the current i. With the manual transmission, fuel economy climbs to 25/33. A new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine has been added to the s, replacing the 2.3-liter four. And a six-speed manual transmission is standard on the s, replacing the five-speed. The fivespeed automatic remains an option. The 2.5-liter engine makes 167 hp, up from 148 hp for the 2.3-liter. On the safety side, the Mazda3 is stiffer, with 35 percent high-strength steel, up from 18 percent in the current car. But key safety features such as antilock brakes, stability control and traction control remain an option. Other features, as standard or options, include a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound system, eight-way power seats, rain-sensing wipers, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity for cell phones, and leather and heated seats. “Even with these economic conditions, we think the C segment is important,” says David Matthew, Mazda3 vehicle line manager. Matthew says the segment represents 20 percent of all sales in the United States. The Mazda3 went on sale in the United States in 2003. The 2010 sedan and five-door hatchback go on sale in the first quarter of next year. Only the sedan, which represents 70 percent of all Mazda3 sales here, was displayed at the show. The company did not discuss sales projections or pricing for the redesigned car. c Lincoln MKZ gets a makeover Lincoln has made midcycle changes to the 2010 MKZ sedan, which arrives in the spring priced in the mid-$30,000 range. Most noticeable: a redesigned front fascia and hood. A revised 3.5-liter V-6 propels the MKZ to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, a halfsecond improvement. The front and rear suspensions were re-engineered for a more comfortable ride. Infiniti upgrades powertrains Infiniti has added power and improved transmissions on the 2009 G and M model lines. The G37 sedan gets a new 3.7-liter V-6 with 328 hp, up from 306 hp. An optional seven-speed automatic has Drive Sport mode, downshift rev matching and paddle shifters. The G37 coupe, which already has the 3.7-liter engine, now offers the new transmission as well. The 3.5-liter V-6 in the base M35 gets an upgrade to 303 hp, up from 275 hp.
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - November 24, 2008 Iacocca tip: 'Equality of sacrifice' Ch. 11 would hit dealers hard â fast Detroit 3: Bankruptcy = doom Down the road and a continent away Used-vehicle demand shrivels O'Neill will lead Power GM tweaks production plan Mitsubishi: No to Detroit Ford will cut more output Nardelli: Chrysler is running on fumes GMAC on brink of bankruptcy, S&P warns Off with their heads! (But whose?) In defense (kind of) of Detroit Bailout Motors? Britain went down that road CEOs could have pre-empted the grilling Ford: We still want Mazda expertise Imports clog ports as sales plunge Volvo's N.A. boss will resume leases to boost volume Nissan expects Chrysler pickup deal will survive Toyota: Venza is a trendsetter, not a crossover It's time to put partisanship aside; Detroit needs help What GM needs is GMAC.2 'Buy American' talk won't help industry Readers weigh in on auto industy woes No one bailed out Oldsmobile It's time to move to mass transport We still need manufacturing Bankruptcy is a bet Let's get wages under control Will America be better off? First step: Bring the jobs home America owes it to GM to help The answer is simple: Leasing What about dealerships? Detroit 3 CEOs must offer to quit Oct. truck sales fall 17.4% Honda plant adds parts center They're sold on Camaro Drawn to Ferrari Japan poised to control key batteries Europe's worst month hits all automakers Dealers BMW: Diesel 7 series could come to U.S. Honda's FC Sport mixes green and go Infiniti G37's hard top retracts in 30 seconds Redesign of Lexus RX series hard to see Mini electric: Jolt comes from sticker Ford hybrid sedans aim at Camry After only 3 years, Ford revamps Fusion Hyundai plans new crossover, turbo engine Restyled Mustang: More refinement, horsepower Honda: Don't count on CR-Z gasoline variant '09 Nissan Z delivers more of what fans like Mazda3 gets new look, powertrains Nissan Cube joins the box brigade Infiniti upgrades powertrains Lincoln MKZ gets a makeover Porsche won't stall Panamera 2010 GLK priced below rival Bentley's Azure T gets 500 hp Detroit 3 squeezed by credit, cash â politics Waxman could mean trouble for Detroit GM formulates a 'Plan B' if it doesn't get federal loan Infiniti replaces Igo Sharks vs. Jets, D.C.-style What's good for â uh, how'd that go again? Mazda deal imperils Ford training ground More like Toyota, Honda? Careful what you wish for Maybe he's Buck-a-year Bob now Romney: Bankruptcy, not bailout Automotive News - November 24, 2008 Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Detroit 3: Bankruptcy = doom (Page 1) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Detroit 3: Bankruptcy = doom (Page 2) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Ford will cut more output (Page 3) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Off with their heads! (But whose?) (Page 4) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Off with their heads! (But whose?) (Page 5) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - CEOs could have pre-empted the grilling (Page 6) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - CEOs could have pre-empted the grilling (Page 7) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Volvo's N.A. boss will resume leases to boost volume (Page 8) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Volvo's N.A. boss will resume leases to boost volume (Page 9) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Toyota: Venza is a trendsetter, not a crossover (Page 10) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Toyota: Venza is a trendsetter, not a crossover (Page 11) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - 'Buy American' talk won't help industry (Page 12) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - 'Buy American' talk won't help industry (Page 13) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Detroit 3 CEOs must offer to quit (Page 14) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Drawn to Ferrari (Page 15) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Japan poised to control key batteries (Page 16) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 17) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 18) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 19) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 20) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 21) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 22) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Mini electric: Jolt comes from sticker (Page 23) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Restyled Mustang: More refinement, horsepower (Page 24) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Bentley's Azure T gets 500 hp (Page 25) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Bentley's Azure T gets 500 hp (Page 26) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - GM formulates a 'Plan B' if it doesn't get federal loan (Page 27) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Infiniti replaces Igo (Page 28) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Infiniti replaces Igo (Page 29) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Romney: Bankruptcy, not bailout (Page 30) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Romney: Bankruptcy, not bailout (Page 31) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Romney: Bankruptcy, not bailout (Page 32)
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