Vince Burlapp Car Page

Samsung SM3 as Saturn?

2009-07-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

Saturn's new owners have already mention they had talks with Samsung about providing cars for the US market.
The Vue and Aura will be around for a couple of years, but Saturn needs something smaller to replace the Astra.

The all new SM3 is basically a Renault Megane with a trunk, and from Korea. So this car might very well end up over here.

Would you consider one?

Audi A5 sportback

2009-07-15T08:42:00.000-07:00

Again, nothing original.
It just looks like an Audi A4 with a hatch.

And it i still not planned for the US...

2010 Dodge Caliber

2009-07-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

Just like its cousins Patriot and Compass, the Caliber gets a new interior. A year after the others.

Sure, it seems a lot better. But I don't think it's enough to change the fact that the Caliber is mostly seen as a rental car.
We'll see...

Hyundai Equus in the US

2009-07-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

The "very big" Hyundai is heading for the US market next year.
Where it will"hope" to compete with the S Class, 7 Series and Lexus LS.

I don't think anyone considering a BMW or a Mercedes will even look at this over chromed Hyundai.
But they might steal some sales from Lexus.

It will be priced at around $50 000. The LS starts at around $64 000.
Still, most people will have a hard time spending $50 000 in a Hyundai, no matter how good it is.

Especially if it looks that vulgar....
More chrome and more wood is such an old idea of what a luxury car should be.

2010 Acura RDX

2009-07-14T19:09:00.000-07:00

Besides the small cosmetic changes, it will now be available in 2WD as well as AWD.
good news.

But it seems most people don't even know that thing exists. I've just seen a few around.
What I do see is a lot ( I mean a lot) of the new Mercedes GLKs. And they are as ugly on the road as on the pictures.

2010 Jaguar XJ illustration

2009-07-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

I really think that Auto Express illustration from a while ago looks better than the real thing we've seen last week.

What do you think???

Production version of the Peugeot RC Z

2009-07-13T17:12:00.000-07:00

What a stunning design. And very close to the concept.
Based on the 308, this coupe version s a 2+2. Engines will top at over 200hp.
Another choice will be the 1.6 Liter Turbo with 175hp used in the Mini Cooper S.

The whole thing sounds like the TT. Which is its main competition.
I always liked the Audi TT, but it's good to finally see some competition.

Just too bad we'll never see one over here...

Audi Q3

2009-07-12T19:15:00.000-07:00

Just another illustration of what the compact Audi SUV could look like.
I thought the Q5 was supposed to be the
compact Audi SUV", I guess not.
The Q5's base engine is the GTI's 2.0 Liter Turbo.
And I can't really imagine this one getting a smaller engine. Just like the A3 and A4 I guess.

BMW is getting the X1 and Mercedes is also working on something smaller than the GLK, so why not a Q3?

All these SUVs coming out, just when most people are switching back to cars....

Next Caprice or Impala?

2009-07-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

A reader sent me this.
Looks like a Holden based large Chevrolet sedan. With its own design.

I remember talking to a GM exec while in Memphis (for a Malibu introduction) and he was telling me about them working on a RWD Impala. So this might have been it.
Or not. Who knows...

Mercedes SLS AMG

2009-07-11T14:49:00.000-07:00

This will be a new version of the old classic Gullwing.

They are talking about 571HP from the 6.2 Liter V8.
So this will be much more expensive and exclusive than the SL.
Later an all electric version is planned with 4 electric motors for a total of over 530HP!
That sounds pretty amazing....

No doubt a striking car, but I really think round headlights would have looked better...

Chevrolet Caprice Back???

2009-07-11T11:59:00.000-07:00

Bob Lutz just mentioned (After just a few hours on his new job at GM) that GM is now considering selling the Pontiac G8 as a new version of the Chevrolet Caprice.
Which is the opposite of what GM had been saying since they announced the death of Pontiac.
What's next? Saturn Sky as a Chevy too?

The picture above is a Chevrolet Lumina (Sold in the middle east and South Africa), which is basically a Holden Commodore with a Chevy front end. Just like our G8 is a Commodore with a Pontiac front.

It could work. But why not just have this ca as the new Impala?
Unless the next Impala is already to far along in design...

We'll see...

Next Saab 9.5?

2009-07-10T08:08:00.000-07:00

The oversized wheels make me think this is still just another illustration.
but it does look really good.

We should see the real thing soon....

A talk with Fritz

2009-07-09T18:20:00.000-07:00

Interesting interview.

I just wonder if all the non car people he's talking about are really a good idea for the "new GM".
That's exactly what is missing in these companies, car people.

2010 Jaguar XJ Interior video

2009-07-09T13:23:00.000-07:00

Seems like they did try to make it as shinny as possible.

I just wished the whole thing could look a bit simpler.
Simplicity shows maturity in design.
This doesn't, really...

2010 Jaguar XJ Video

2009-07-09T13:20:00.000-07:00

Notice how they really try to avoid the rear of the car. And they especially don't spend much time on these weird looking black panels.
That means they know. They know it looks really bad. The rest of the car is actually OK. The front looks really nice.
That's why they have so many shots of it.

More pictures of the all new 2010 Jaguar XJ

2009-07-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

Still the same, a really good looking front and and a weird, cheap looking rear view.
The black panels surrounding the rear window are just plain weird.

And the interior seems also really busy. Just like the exterior, it looks like too many people worked on it.
From what I've seen so far, I think this design is a mess.
And I do love Jaguars.

2010 Jaguar XJ

2009-07-08T14:04:00.000-07:00

So that's it.
The all new Jag.
From these pictures, at least, it looks like a weird cartoon of a Jaguar. Something a kid would draw.
Looks like a bunch of designs put together. Like about 6 designers worked on the car without ever talking to each other...

Or maybe it's just the pictures.
Who knows...

New B2001 Buck Lacrosse pictures

2009-07-07T19:28:00.000-07:00

At least from these, it doesn't look like this car could turn Buick around.
Would you really consider it if you never thought of getting Buick before?

Looks like GM will need tons of advertising money to even try to change people's mind about Buick not being a car for the over 70 crowd...

Buick Excelle

2009-07-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

The new Excelle will be based on the Opel Astra. A sedan version will still be offered, just like the old model.
The Excelle has been, so far, an exclusive model for the Chinese market.
But there has been rumored about bringing the small Buick to the US where it would be positioned under the upcoming Regal.

Alfa Romeo Milano

2009-07-04T17:40:00.000-07:00

Again, this is supposed to make it over here. I guess the main competition will be from the Audi A3.
Unless it can be made in the US cheap enough to go against a loaded Mazda3.

We'll see...

Another BMW 3 series Hatch illustration!

2009-07-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

New Saab 9-5

2009-07-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

Another picture of the covered up sedan.
We have seen spy pics for this car for over 28 years now.

BMW 3 series GT

2009-07-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

Just another illustration of what the next 3 series hatchback could look like.
I'm sure there won't be any surprises when it comes out. And that it will be pretty close to what we can see here.

Alfa Romeo Milano

2009-07-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

The upcoming all new Milano is supposed to be coming over here.
Not sure yet if it will be sold as an Alfa, or rebadged as a Dodge or Chrysler.

I just hope they sell these cars under the Alfa Romeo brand. The Chrysler and Dodge brands have been pretty much worthless for years.
Do you actually now many people who really want to buy a Dodge, or a Chrysler. These brands aren't even on the map of most buyers anymore.

2009-07-01T18:18:00.001-07:00

What am i driving this week?