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Archive for the ‘midsize cars’ Category

VinFast is a new manufacturer from Vietnam that brands itself as “the first volume automotive manufacturer” in the nation, as well as the first to ever take part in a major motoring venue such as the 2018 Paris motor show. It used the event to reveal its first two models in production trim, theLUX A2.0 sedan and the LUX SA2.0 SUV, models whose planned production is set to kick off in mid-2019 out of a brand new plant built in the north of the country.

Both vehicles are meant to evoke the beauty of their land of origin, and both vehicles are modern and pleasant to look at. But it’s the A2.0 sedan that looks like the classier design of the two, featuring a clean overall design with striking front and rear fascias and an interior that looks a lot like what Volvo is doing with its latest models.

VinFast apparently asked the local public to vote on the car’s design, and a reported 60,000 people cast their vote and choose out of a total 20 possible models designed by Italdesign Giugiaro, Pininfarina, Torino Design and Zagato. Most popular designs for the sedan and SUV were two by Italdesign Giugiaro, but they were further refined by Pininfarina with which VinFast collaborated to create the two cars that debuted in Paris.

After unveiling the Niro EV at the International Electric Vehicle Expo in South Korea, Kia has also revealed the European version, dubbed e-Niro, at this year’s Paris Motor Show. It comes with two battery pack options, a range of up to 301 miles (or 485 km) on one charge, and it even comes with a system called Coasting Guide Control which informs the driver of the best times to coast calculated based on a planned route.

You may also have noticed that its name sounds like the surname of Robert DeNiro and Kia has gone ahead and embraced this and featured the movie star in its TV, digital and print adverts.

In a state where SUVs rule the roads, Ford dropped four larger-than-life special edition SUVs at the 2018 Texas State Fair. One of the four models is the Explorer Limited Luxury Edition, a unique take on the popular Explorer SUV that adds appearance upgrades on the vehicle’s exterior and interior. The Ford Explorer Limited Luxury Edition is joined by the Explorer Desert Copper Edition and a pair of Expedition special editions — the Expedition Stealth Edition and the Expedition Texas Edition — in the annual fair.

Last week, BMW removed the silk covers from the all-new BMW 3 Series G20. It is possibly the most important car revealed at the Paris Motor Show and definitely the most important car BMW revealed in the last three or so years. Yet, even on the photographs, one could definitely see that the 3 Series grew quite a bit. BMW reported a 2.9 inches increase in length. When I was working on that BMW 3 Series piece I was wondering just how big the new 3 Series really is.

The answer surprised me. The new BMW 3 Series G20 is bigger than the BMW 5 Series E39. Ok, not exactly longer, but I’ll get to that in a jiffy. Considering the E39 is basically my favorite car, I was almost annoyed, but then reason took over. I asked myself, how did we become so strangely obsessed with size and getting things bigger?

The Ford Explorer was well-represented at the 2018 Texas State Fair after Ford brought a pair of special edition versions, including the Explorer Desert Copper Edition. Created to diversify its Explorer lineup, the Desert Copper Edition is based on the XLT trim of the SUV. The special edition Explorer comes with a number of upgrades in the exterior and interior. The automaker hasn’t said if the Explorer Desert Copper is going to be available to the public, but with the popularity of SUVs these days, don’t be surprised if the Explorer Desert Copper Edition arrives in a dealership near you sooner than later.

VinFast, a Vietnamese carmaker founded only one year ago, made its global debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. Vietnam’s first volume car manufacturer and also the country’s first vehicle company to take part in a major international motor show debuted not one, but two automobiles at the French event.

This is some kind of a trend that the French Automaker is following. Earlier this year, the Peugeot 508 Liftback was displayed as a First Edition model, and now even the 508 SW is set to be offered as one as well. Customers will be spoiled with creature comforts that are on offer, including a pair of high-end headphones. It can be ordered starting October 2, but the prices are yet to be announced.

After building all the hype and curiosity over the months, the fastest seven-seater to grace the Nurburgring was leaked just a day before its reveal. We had already seen it in the spy shots and teaser images, so there’s nothing surprising, really. These images show the big RS badge on the grille and the 20-inch wheels. Are we still excited about the reveal? Hell yeah!

It feels as though the Vitara just grew a little more mature. Suzuki refreshed the Vitara earlier this year, and has now added a few more pictures to its official album. It has been one of Suzuki’s most consistent products in recent times. I must admit that the 2019 Vitara looks great with the new nose-job. However, the highlight is the addition of the new engine. Continue reading to find out.

While most modern cars pack in the safety features and offer plenty of value-per-dollar, there are some out there that seem to stand above the rest. If you’re scouring the used market looking for just the right ride for your new driver, fear not, as we’ve put together a list that outlines ten models that are just a few years old, but still come with just about everything you could want.

Each entry also includes a rundown on crashworthiness, as tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, a U.S.-based non-profit organization that conducts research on almost all new cars.

So with that, read on for our list of the ten best-used cars for new drivers.

Just as almost every automaker is stirring into the SUV skid, Nissan is stirring against it with the launch of the sixth-generation Altima. The Japanese auto brand is pulling out all the stops with the new version of the midsize sedan that, according to the company, represents “one of the highest investments in the history of Nissan.” The new Altima sits on a new platform, a new engine, and a new all-wheel-drive system.

Skoda’s first RS-badged SUV will be the Kodiaq RS, a mean looking seven-seater with Nurburgring-honed handling. We still haven’t had a good look at it yet, because it’s only been teased via design sketches and one darkened shot of its headlights and grille, but we already know plenty.

Citroen plans to woo future C5 Aircross buyers with chunky SUV looks, striking fascias, and colorful design details. What you’re essentially looking at here is not an SUV, but the evolution of the European people carrier which Citroen chose to launch before the long overdue replacement for the C5 sedan and wagon.

First revealed for the Chinese market last year, and set to make its European debut at the Paris motor show this October, the C5 Aircross has been confirmed to arrive in showrooms by the end of 2018 with minor changes. Underpinning it is the same EMP2 platform used for the Peugeot 3008, 5008, and the Opel Grandland X – like these models from within the PSA group, the new C5 Aircross also lacks an all-wheel-drive option and only features Grip Control.

Previous C5-badged Citroens all used to feature the firm’s excellent hydropneumatic adjustable suspension, but here it’s been ditched in favor of what they call Progressive Hydraulic Cushions – basically two hydraulic stops on each corner: one for rebound and one for compression – and this is said to provide a very smooth ride, although the system is nowhere near as advanced as the previous one.

Who can actually give birth to a new car company? The process can be jump-started with innovative technology ( think Tesla or Rimac), or created from scratch by a really, really massive company like Hyundai or Lexus. In this case, I am writing about the birth of the first car company from Vietnam, ever. Called VinFast, the first Vietnamese automotive producer may sound like a joke at first. It is anything but. Behind it is the largest Vietnamese private conglomerate Vingroup JS. It is backed by automotive minds from the depths of the American and European car industry, its foundation is German technology, and its soul is Italian design. If you ever thought that money couldn’t buy a car company, think again, because I think VinFast is the definition of money making/buying a car company.

This is a car company built from scratch after the completion of a complicated business plan with a bunch of SWOT analysis, market research, and competition assessment. Welcome, VinFast.

Kia has chosen to reimagine its next-gen ProCeed as a five-door fastback-like wagon, ditching the three-door layout of the previous model. Called a shooting brake by the company, and set to be revealed to the public next month at the Paris motor show, it is essentially a more rakish looking version of the load-lugging Ceed Sportwagon for those looking to blend practicality with making a more dramatic entrance.

This new ProCeed is slightly longer than the Sportwagon (by 5 mm) and a fair chunk shorter too (by 43 mm) and it even has a lower ground clearance too (also by 5 mm). Kia promises it’s still almost as practical as the actual wagon, though, offering only 30 liters less load volume.

Proceed will sit at the top of the Ceed lineup and Kia actually calls it “the most emotionally engaging car in the range.” It will, however, carry over all the engines found in the regular Ceed and also be offered as a sporty-looking GT Line model or warmed up GT.

Ram has been serving customers with a big appetite and big pockets. Post the discontinuation of the Dakota, the smallest pickup truck in their lineup has been the Ram 1500. Given how the market trend has been changing lately, it is essential for Ram to slot a truck at the entry-level that brings them volumes, and after a 7-year exile, they have exactly done that. On Friday, FCA announced that a new truck will be entering the lineup below the 1500 by 2022.

The Genesis brand has finally confirmed its plans to enter the crossover and SUV market, beginning with its first SUV offering, the GV80. Named directly after the concept version that the company unveiled last year, the GV80 will usher in a lineup of crossovers exclusively developed and sold under Hyundai’s premium brand. In addition to the GV80, a smaller crossover, called the GV70, will also arrive at a later date.

The Genesis brand has finally confirmed its plans to enter the crossover and SUV market, beginning with its first SUV offering, the GV80. Named directly after the concept version that the company unveiled last year, the GV80 will usher in a lineup of crossovers exclusively developed and sold under Hyundai’s premium brand. In addition to the GV80, a smaller crossover, called the GV70, will also arrive at a later date.

A newborn Vietnamese automaker is looking to make a name for itself in the auto industry using old parts from BMW. That’s the direction VinFast is taking as it prepares to present its first two creations at the 2018 Paris Motor Show next month. Both models are still unnamed, but a report from Autocar states that the two models, a sedan and an SUV, will use BMW platforms, among other parts from the German automaker. Likewise, the two models will feature designs that VinFast developed in collaboration with legendary Italian design house Pininfarina.

A newborn Vietnamese automaker is looking to make a name for itself in the auto industry using old parts from BMW. That’s the direction VinFast is taking as it prepares to present its first two creations at the 2018 Paris Motor Show next month. Both models are still unnamed, but a report from Autocar states that the two models, a sedan and an SUV, will use BMW platforms, among other parts from the German automaker. Likewise, the two models will feature designs that VinFast developed in collaboration with legendary Italian design house Pininfarina.