2013 Mercedes A Class

The A class will finally make it into the US with the 3rd generation.
The sedan is a sure bet. And we might even see the hatchback over here as well.

These would do battle with the all new A3 from Audi, as well as the Lexus Ct200h.

2013 Audi A3

These illustrations match spy shots and concepts we have already seen.
So they are really close to the production model.

Just like other Audis, there will be no surprises. The hatch looks barely new compared to the current car.
And the new 4 door sedan is supposed to become the volume model for the US.
Let's just hope the hatch is still offered over here as well.

2013 BMW 1 series

Still just illustrations, but as usual, our 1 series coupe and convertible will pretty much be "trunk added" versions of the hatchbacks sold in Europe.
The one currently sold in the US is still based on the "old" Euro version.

So these illustrations are pretty close to the real thing we will be seeing late this year or next year.
Expect the inline 6 cylinder engines to be replaced by 4 turbos. Just like in the new 3 series.

2013 Volvo V40

Sorry for the blurry pictures, but that's all we'll see for a bit.
Not sure what engines will be offered, but things will be smaller. 4 cylinders instead of 5, and maybe even 3 with Turbos.

So far it does look really nice.

More very soon.

More 2013 Nissan Pathfinder pictures

The interior seems OK. Nothing new.
If wood is your thing you'll love it. Although another finish might be available in other trims.

This doesn't seem to stand out in any way. Maybe that's enough for most people.

2013 Chevrolet Cruze wagon

Finally, after all these years.
This will be on sale soon, pretty much everywhere the regular Cruze is sold.
Except, like the hatchback, the US.

Next year we are getting the diesel version, but the the hatch, and not this wagon.
Unless they change their minds....(Like they did with the diesel...)

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander

I always thought that the current Outlander looked pretty nice.
But after test driving 2 versions of it, I was never a fan of the car.
A terrible interior, bellow par driving experience and cheap feeling all around would put it at the bottom of anyone's list.
This new design doesn't really look better than the old one.

The rest of the car would have to be much. much improved to made a difference.

Good luck...

2013 GMC Acadia

GMC will bring quite a few revisions to the Acadia crossover for the new year.
Which also means an all new one is at least a couple of years away...

The front end and back are all new. And the interior has been redesigned as well.
It doesn't seem as simple and modern as the previous one, but of much higher quality.
At least it seems on that picture.
Powered by n improved 6 speed auto, and the same 3.6 Liter V6.

I guess this means we'll be seeing a new interior in the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse soon.
The Buick is fine the way it is, but the Chevrolet version is in desperate need of a better interior...

2013 Hyundai Elantra coupe

I must say, I am just a bit disappointed by this one.
It just looks like a 2 door sedan.

You can say what you want about the Civic or Accord coupes, but they do have their own designs when compared to the sedans.
This just looks like a 2 door version of the regular Elantra. And somehow, even a bit less original.
Plus, the wheels look too small.

I usually do like 2 door cars better, but in this case, the new GT hatchback seems much more modern.
With a better Euro interior and the glass roof....

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT

This new model is replacing the Elantra Touring.
And it is pretty much exactly the same car as the new 130 sold in Europe.
Which is great news.
Same great design, same new interior and same glass roof option.

It is powered by a 1.8 Liter engine with 148hp. Good for 28/39MPG.
Both a six speed manual and automatic are available.

This seems to be only good news so far.

2013 Acura ILX

Here are the first pictures of the production version. (The grey car is the Hybrid version)
I just wonder why they even bothered to show us a fake "concept" a few weeks ago.
I guess that's just what they do...

There will be 3 models:
-2.0 Liter with 150hp and 5 speed Auto. Good for 24/32 MPG
-2.4 Liter with 201hp and 6 speed manual. Good for 20/29MPG
-1.5 Liter Hybrid and CVT. Good for 35/38MPG.

None of these numbers seem impressive to me.
Its most direct competitor (or so it seems), the new Buick Verano, gets 180HP from its 2.4 Liter engine and manages 21/32MPG.
It also uses a 6 speed auto, not 5.

I really like the fact that they are offering a manual version. Which is great. But a compact sedan should be getting more than 32MPG these days.
The hybrid numbers are not great either. (The next Jetta will average 45MPG in both city and HWY.)

Not sure yet if this is replacing the TSX or not, but it sure doesn't look better.
The "old" TSX gets the same 21/29MPG numbers from the same 2.4 Liter engine.
So there has been zero improvement ...

2013 Nissan 370Z

Just a few small revisions for the new year.
As you can see, mostly up front. With new LED lights, just to be like everyone else.
Redesigned wheels and not much else.

Which is just fine by me...

More pictures of the new VW Up! 4 door

This will be very popular in Europe.
And I think there is room in the US for a smaller/cheaper VW than the Jetta.
Since they won't send the Polo over here, why not this?

I really think there would be a market for a $12 000 VW in the US.
Which means a loaded one could still be priced right under the Jetta.

If they really want to sell 10 billion cars a year over here, they'd better explore more segments of the market.
It would be such a nice alternative to the dreadful Versa....

What a difference...

This is a recent European crash test of the all new 2012 Beetle.
With excellent results.

Not for the old one...
Quite a nightmare. And what a difference a few decades make.

Clint and Chrysler

I must say I was a bit dissapointed when I saw this .
There is just not enough Clint. And, especially, not enough cars.

The patriotic message seems to be lost when you know that Chrysler is now pretty much owned by Fiat.
It is basically the least American company in Detroit.
Which is not a bad thing. But it seems to be the wrong thing to be pushing...

What do you think?

Nissan Invitation Concept

Looking pretty much production ready.
Which means it could be replacing the Nissan Note in Europe.

Not sure this would fit in the US line up. Where we already have the Versa.
So it's probably not for us...

The famous Lincoln door concept

We have seen this before, mostly when one of these prototypes came up for sale last year.
But I hadn't seen this official video.

I think this looks fantastic. Lincoln need something like this to put themselves back on the map.
The next MKZ will have an interesting giant sunroof option. Something that slides all the way back above the rear window, which could be pretty cool.

We'll see...

2013 Acura ILX

Here is the 1st official look at the new Civic based Acura ILX sedan.
Pretty much the same car we saw a few weeks ago as a "concept".
Except for the lowest part of the bumper.

Not sure yet if this is replacing the TSX, which seems larger since it is based on the Euro Accord.

2013 Hyundai Tucson

Looks like the Tucson id getting a bigger grille for next year.
I guess to match the one in the new Santa Fe.
It's kind of too bad. It looks just fine the way it is now.

2013 VW Beetle TDI

We new this was coming. The return of the Diesel Beetle.
Which is good news.

Which is not good news as the MPG rating. 29 in the city but only 39HWY.
Which is less than some other small cars. And diesel, at least where I live, is about $1 more a gallon than regular.
Still, what you get is 236 pound feet of torque. Which is unmatched by the competition.
And, I did get over 53MPG on the HWY when I test drove the Golf TDI. A car rated at 42MPG.
So real life numbers could be much higher than 29/39.

The TDI will also be available in the convertible version coming out soon.

2013 Mazda 5

This is the new front end of the japanese version.
Which should be making it over here during the year, I would think.

Another car maker obsessed with making sure all it's models have the same front end.
Which happens a lot.

I don't think this is an improvement. But it doesn't seem to make things worse either.

And it really won't make a difference in sales. The Mazda 5 has not been popular in the US.
Not sure a new grille will change anything....

Chevrolet Volt Super Bowl Commercial

I actually kind of like this.

Although the CGI work could be better...

I do like the Volt, and am quite curious about it.
Scheduled to get one for a week next month. Which should be quite interesting...

2013 Kia Forte

Once again, based on the Hyundai Elantra, the Forte is getting an all new look for the next year.

I drove a few versions of the current model and was always pretty impressed.
So an even better car can only be great news.

And we will probably be getting the European Cee'd as the hatchback version over here.
Just like Hyundai is sending over the European i30 in the US as the Elantra Touring later this year.

2013 Mercedes A Class

First picture of the real thing, or so it seems.

It also looks to have a more agresssive bumper and grille than the spy pics we've seen before.
Which would suggest an AMG version.

We are supposed to be getting, for the fisrt time, a version of the A Class in the US sometime next year.
The upcoming sedan version os a sure bet here, competing with the equally new A3 sedan in the US.
But we could be getting the hatchback as well.

We'll see...

2013 Fiat 500 L

So this is not a 4 door version of the cute 500. Instead, an all new car with a similar face.
It is longer and wider. Europe will get both 5 and 7 seats versions.
We will be getting the 5 seats only here.

I guess they really wanted to use the 500 name.
No matter what its called, it is still cute and with 2 extra doors, will be more popular than the regular 500.
Especially in the US, where we are supposed to be getting in sometimes in 2013.

This is something that will be a huge help to US Fiat dealers, who are now selling only one model.

2013 Viper?

Obviously just an illustration.
And let's hope this is wrong. Completely wrong.

The next Viper should just look striking, not conveluted like this thing.

We'll see the real thing pretty soon.