All-New 2016 Scion iM: Five Doors, a Hatch and Room for Adventure

The Scion iM hatchback joins the all-new 2016 Scion iA sedan for a one-two punch in the subcompact and compact segments.

The all-new 2016 Scion iM is the answer for young buyers looking for a sporty hatchback, but who still need to pay for things like rent, food, school loans and weekend fun with friends. Its bodylines are ripped. The cabin is roomy, refined, versatile and high-tech-equipped. The 1.8-liter DOHC Valvematic engine is eager to rev and very easy on gas. The chassis, with sophisticated double-wishbone rear suspension and standard 17-inch alloy wheels, is ready to smooth out urban bumps and tame adventurous curves. For more hands-on driving fun, a six-speed stick shift is also available. 

For safety, the 2016 Scion iM comes with eight standard airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag and a front passenger seat cushion airbag.

Design: The Meaning of iM
In the name, the “i” stands for individual. Intriguing. Easy on the customer’s income. For the M, think modern, multi-faceted and magnetic. The iM could be a first new car, but don’t call it “entry level.” It will easily compare to hatches that start in the same price neighborhood but then demand a higher tax bracket when you add in needed upgrade options.

The Scion iM shows a familiar face, with a hexagon lower grille, sharp-eyed headlights and side bezels with honeycomb mesh pattern seen also on the brand’s FR-S sports car. That aerodynamic expression carries into the profile, which conveys dynamic movement from the lower front to the rear. It’s like a “swoosh line” rendered in steel.

Detailing on the Scion iM belies the affordable pricing. The piano black grille treatment, standard sporty body aero kit, LED daytime running lights and taillights leave an unmistakable signature. Also true to the Scion way, the color selection gives the design tremendous visual pop: Blizzard Pearl, Classic Silver Metallic, Black Sand Pearl, Barcelona Red Metallic, Spring Green Metallic and Electric Storm Blue.

One Spec: Fun
Gas prices come down. Gas prices go back up. Young buyers like to avoid pain at the pump no matter what. The 2016 Scion iM offers a sweet spot of performance and efficiency, with Scion estimating a 37-MPG highway fuel economy rating. Then comes the fun side. The 137 hp 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine uses Valvematic continuously variable valve timing (lift and phasing) technology to offer a broad torque curve, so the iM feels responsive in all situations.
For driving purists, the Scion iM has a standard 6-speed stick shift that’s a slick shift, making for an engaging and active driving experience. Got hills? The Scion iM comes standard with Hill Start Assist, which helps prevent roll-back when you’re pulling away from a stop sign or traffic light on an incline.

The optional automatic is also perfectly suited to the 1.8-liter engine. It’s an intelligent Continuously Variable Transmission that’s been sport-tuned for driving pleasure. That’s why it’s called the CVTi-S. Not all CVTs operate as responsively as the CVTi-S in the Scion iM. This one’s got both a Sport mode as well as manual shifting capability with seven stepped shift points.

In Sport mode, the CVTi-S alters shift points and also provides a livelier feel through the electric power steering programming and accelerator responsiveness. G AI-SHIFT logic detects lateral G force during cornering and maintains engine speed by restricting unnecessary shift changes.
Using the console shifter, the driver can make fast, sequential shifts through the transmission’s seven predefined steps, accompanied by the familiar sense of positive shift engagement. The 4.2-inch TFT multi-information display within the instrument cluster displays M mode activity, including the “gear” position, and other vehicle information.
 
Limited Warranty
Like all Scion models, the 2016 iM is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. It also comes with Scion Service Boost, a complimentary plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, and two years of 24-hour roadside assistance. 

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Introducing the Lincoln Continental Concept

On March 30th Lincoln introduced the Continental Concept, signaling an all-new full-size sedan coming next year and the future of quiet luxury. 

Elegant, effortlessly powerful and serene, the Continental Concept blends meticulous craftsmanship and technologies designed to create better drivers and provide passengers with a more relaxing and entertaining environment inspired by first-class travel.

“Luxury at its best is about simplifying and quietly exceeding expectations, rather than being the loudest statement on the road,” said Mark Fields, Ford Motor Company president and CEO. “The Continental Concept showcases the promise of quiet luxury from Lincoln going forward. It also is a strong indication of what’s to come next year as we introduce our new Lincoln Continental full-size luxury sedan.”With a sleek silhouette and a new centered chrome grille, the Continental Concept signals the arrival of a new face for Lincoln. A raised Lincoln badge is surrounded by a span of repeating polished aluminum Lincoln Star emblems.

 
E-Latch door handles tuck discreetly in the clean vehicle beltline. The door handle technology also provides for elegant entry. The doors open effortlessly with the touch of a button positioned on the underside of the door handle wings and close quietly.

“Some brands talk about ‘the machine,’ ” said Kumar Galhotra, Lincoln president. “Lincoln is different. For us, it is about more than the machine. It is about what our vehicles do for our clients.”New technology is a hallmark of the vehicle. It starts with the vehicle sensing your approach and lighting up to greet you inside and out.

Outside, signature full-width tail lamps feature advanced light-through-chrome technology. Powerful LED matrix head lamps with laser-assist high beams reduce glare and improve visibility.
 
Rhapsody Blue metallic paint calls back Lincoln Continental’s signature color.Inside are the brand’s most sensual materials ever, including Venetian leather seat and door panels, Alcantara^® seat inserts and armrests, satin headliner and shearling wool carpet. Rose Gold trim around the instrument cluster provides warmth. Bright chrome trim on the instrument panel adds contrast.Ambient lighting enhances the interior, creating a serene environment. Soft-gold LED lights glow from the center console and from the halo light overhead.Patented 30-way Lincoln-designed seats use a new-to-market design that conforms to passengers’ sizes and shapes. The passenger-side rear seat can fully recline by moving the front passenger seat forward with the touch of a button.
 
From a panel mounted on the through-center console, rear passengers also can control climate settings and the Revel Ultima audio system, which allows passengers to select from three surround-sound modes: Stereo, Audience and On-Stage.
 
Rear-seat comfort is further highlighted by an SPD SmartGlass^® tinting sunroof, which allows passengers to control heat from direct sunlight. With the touch of a button, the glass can cool the vehicle interior by as much as 18 degrees Fahrenheit, while blocking 99 percent of UV rays.
 
Rear-seat passengers also enjoy the convenience of a tablet-supporting lap tray that deploys from the through-center console. It also features a champagne storage compartment. Detachable, hand-crafted Venetian leather travel cases are mounted to the backside of the front seats.
 
Under the skin, the Continental Concept is powered by a Lincoln-exclusive 3.0-liter V6 EcoBoost^® engine. It also features Lincoln Drive Control ride-enhancing technologies and Adaptive Steering. The car rides on polished-aluminum, painted-pocket 21-inch wheels.
Driver assist technologies include Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Enhanced Park Assist and a 360-degree camera that displays on the MyLincoln Touch^™ screen.

“The Lincoln Continental name is associated with iconic beauty and elegance,” said David Woodhouse, Lincoln design director. “Capturing those qualities and building upon them drove us as we crafted this thoroughly modern sedan concept.”

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Volvo Cars unveils two new sedans for the US market

The Volvo S60 Inscription and the Volvo S60 Cross Country will boost Volvo’s presence in the important premium sedan market. Volvo also introduced the all new XC90 R Design in Detroit, the latest version of its seven seat SUV that was launched in the US in Los Angeles.

“These two new products, added to the all-new XC90 unveiled in LA, are a further statement of our commitment to turn around our performance in the US. Overall, we will launch seven new products in the US by 2018,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Volvo Cars. 

The introduction of these new models forms the latest chapter in Volvo’s ongoing transformation, which involves the creation of a global industrial footprint, the complete renewal of Volvo’s product range over the next five years, the introduction of a new modular chassis technology, world-first safety technologies, a new design language, a new powertrain architecture and a range of class-leading connectivity services.

The pace and depth of this transformation was underlined earlier this month after the company reported record full-year sales for 2014. Sales increased 8.9 per cent in 2014 to a new record of 465,866 cars sold. December 2014 also marked the 18th month of consecutive sales increases. Volvo Cars forecasts sales will continue to expand in all global markets in 2015.

All-new S60 Cross Country

The S60 Inscription

The new Volvo S60 Inscription will offer class-leading rear space, something consistently requested by US customers.

It will be made at Volvo’s plant in Chengdu, China, and was on show for the first time at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Chengdu is Volvo’s main production facility in China and has been built in accordance with globally monitored quality standards such as the Volvo Cars Manufacturing System, which ensures Volvo Cars’ global quality engineering, quality audit and quality assurance standards.

Levels of installed technology and equipment are the same as the company’s European facilities, as are the working environment, safety and environmental performance standards.  Exports to the US will start in the second quarter of this year.

All-new XC90 R-Design

The XC90 is a visually striking, premium quality seven seat SUV with world leading safety features, new powertrain technologies, an unrivalled combination of power and fuel efficiency and a superlative interior finish.

The new XC90 marks the beginning of a new chapter in Volvo’s history, capturing its future design direction, incorporating its own range of new technologies and utilising its new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) technology. Customers obviously like what they see. Launched in August last year and just ahead of the start of production, Volvo has already received orders for over 6,000 new XC90s.

The R-Design version of the all-new XC90 is aimed at buyers looking for a head-turner that radiates a truly sporty and dynamic look.

“R-Design is created for people with a passion for things that add spice to life,” said Alain Visser, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Customer Service of Volvo Cars. “It appeals to customers that love active driving and a personal, expressive design.”

The visual promise of a dynamic ride is confirmed by the driver-centric interior featuring R-Design sports seats in Nubuck textile and perforated leather. A choice of Drive-E powertrains offering up to 400 hp and the completely new XC90 chassis ensure an agile driving experience.

The S60 Inscription, S60 Cross Country and XC90 R-Design will be available for delivery from the second quarter.

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Infiniti reveals Q60 Concept in Detroit

Infiniti today revealed its Q60 Concept, the precursor to a premium sports coupe that will go into production in 2016. The exhilarating concept was unveiled during Infiniti's press conference at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit this morning.

Showing a sweeping, angular exterior that underlines its power and performance intentions, the two-door coupe in concept form hints at the captivating dynamics that await premium customers.
Q60 Concept was introduced by Roland Krueger, President of Infiniti Motor Company, Ltd., in his first appearance representing the company on an auto show stage.

"One look and it is clear: Q60 Concept is a strong statement from Infiniti designers that the exhilaration is real," said Krueger. "Design is a key driver for developing a strong brand. Q60 Concept is another building block in Infiniti's quest to refresh its portfolio with a strong and consistent design language. And in 2016, we will launch a new model heavily inspired by the Q60 Concept."

Infiniti has indicated the expansion of its portfolio into smaller premium vehicles such as the upcoming production Q30, while also showing a tantalizing vision for a full-size sedan in the form of the Q80 Inspiration concept in Paris last October. The striking Q60 Concept signals Infiniti's plans to bolster offerings in the middle of the product lineup.

On the outside, the Q60 Concept boasts a road-hugging stance etched out by sharp character creases and deep recesses in the body side. The hallmark Infiniti headlamp gives the coupe a high-tech stare, with fine fiber optics like the lines of the iris radiating from the pupil.
Inside, the high-quality finishes are seen and felt in the smallest detail, from the handcrafted leather-wrapped instrument panel and steering wheel to the premium leather and quilted stitching of the seats.
Living up to its sports car image, the Q60 Concept showcases superior power from the next-generation 3.0-liter V6 engine with direct injection and twin-turbocharging – part of a new family of lighter, smaller, more efficient and more powerful engines.

With its striking design, sure sense of performance, and painstaking finish to the last detail, the Q60 Concept paves the way for Infiniti's premium sports coupe to come.

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2015 Ford F-150 Atlanta Media Drive

Today I was invited to be one of the first to drive the all-new Ford F-150 before it hits dealerships later this year. The new F-150 is designed to deliver more towing and hauling capability than the previous generation, it comes fully equipped with high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy for the body and bed. The engine is really impressive packed with a 2.7L EcoBoost that provides a great low-end torque and capability combined with efficiency, bringing EcoBoost technology to a new level. 

I won't share too much because if you are in the Atlanta Area you can can get behind the wheel of the all-new 2015 Ford F-150 from November 18-23. To participate, just sign up in advance at F150drive.com

This available four-camera system lets you to see all four sides of the truck

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Lexus introduces all-new 2015 Lexus NX at the UPTOWN Uncorked event

On Thursday July 31st, Lexus partnered with UPTOWN Magazine and Diageo to present UPTOWN Uncorked - a private, premium culinary experience showcasing an eclectic mix of food, wine, culture and fine automobiles. Guests were treated to delectable cuisine by premier African American chefs and restaurateurs and exquisite wines courtesy of Diageo.

The NX is Lexus’ first entry into the compact crossover segment. Its edgy and striking design was developed to appeal to new customers seeking urban and active lifestyles. The NX exterior has been designed to provide a feeling of agility not usually associated with an SUV while also being suitable for urban use. It embodies an aggressive form that makes its functionality and higher performance evident at a glance.

Photo Credit: C. Mitch/CME 3000

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Nissan announces U.S. pricing for 2015 Versa Note

Nissan today announced U.S. pricing for the 2015 Nissan Versa Note hatchback, which is on sale now at Nissan dealers nationwide. Following its highly successful debut as a 2014 model, the Nissan Versa Note enters its second year of production with a number of significant enhancements – led by the addition of new Versa Note SR and Versa Note SL trim levels. There are now a total of five models: S, S Plus, SV, SR and SL.

Read the complete release on NissanNews.com.

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The design and details of the new 2015 Nissan Murano unveiled in NYC

The all-new Murano is making its world debut at the 2014 New York International Auto Show. Pierre Loing, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America and Taro Ueda, vice president, Design, Nissan Design America give their thoughts on the design and details on Nissan’s newest entry into the crossover market.


Check out the video below:

 Read the complete release on NissanNews.com

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