NEW YORK 2009: Subaru Ruins the Liberty/Outback
Why did they do it? The current Liberty and Outback are pleasant looking cars, even if they are a little bland. But they've just made it hideous. Yep, this is the new Subaru Liberty and Outback, ready to take up the fight with the Mazda6 and Honda Accord Euro - but it has huge disadvantages before it even steps into the ring with the other two.
It's clear that they tried to make the new Liberty more macho and aggressive - we now get flared wheelarches, lots of sharp surface detailing on the bonnet, and aggro, flared-up headlamps. But for some reason, they didn't complete the job. Even without noting that the face of the car looks like a stunned rabbit, you can't deny the door handles look like they've been lifted off a Toyota Yaris, the alloy wheels couldn't have been plainer if they had tried, and the rear end looks so much like a toned down Honda Accord (the other one, not the Euro) it isn't funny.
And it's not like you can take solace in the interior, either. It looks quite similar (though thankfully not the same) to the interior of the new Impreza, which is odd, because I can't think of anyone who really likes the interior in the new Impreza. It really is a shame, because I was expecting a truly wonderful new interior for the Liberty. This was, of course, because the last Liberty had a fantastic interior. In fact, I think that this one may well be a step backward:
And the Outback isn't any better. At least its face doesn't look cross-eyed like the Liberty, but at the back, we have the worst-designed reflectors I have ever seen in a long time. How hard is it to integrate reflectors into the design of a car? They look as out of place as elephant tusks on a sausage dog.
In terms of specs, we have three engine choices: a 2.5 Litre, 127kW revision of the old engine, a turbocharged 198kW version of that same engine (for the Liberty GT models) and instead of the old 3.0 Litre, we now have a 3.6 Litre 191kW six-cylinder engine which no longer requires premium grade fuel like the old one. In transmissions, you can now get a 6-speed manual as standard, but the standard automatic has now become a CVT (continuously variable transmission). It remains to be seen how much confidence Subaru have in this kind of automatic transmission, because you can only get a standard 5-speed auto in the 3.6 Litre version.
Gains have also apparently been made in interior space, which is great, but the old Liberty wasn't as roomy as it could have been, so you'd hope the gains are fairly significant. In another sign of changing priorities for Subaru, they've also fitted a dreaded electronic parking brake. A normal parking brake would have been just fine, thanks.
GENEVA 2009: Hyundai ix-onic Will Become ix35 Tucson Replacement
Ahead of it's official launch at the Geneva Motor Show, Hyundai has released preliminary pictures of the ix-onic Concept, which will become the Hyundai ix35 at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year, which will effectively replace today's Hyundai Tucson. Hope that all wasn't too confusing. At only 4.4 metres long, this new ix-onic concept proves that 4x4 cars don't need to be big and bulky to look cool - it will enter a market segment populated already by the Nissan Dualis, but will also head off the upcoming Peugeot 3008. If this concept is anything to go by, the Koreans will make a car that is sexier than both of them put together.
Obviously, the ix35 isn't quite going to look as good as this concept. But, as we've seen from the new i20, Hyundai are increasingly making cars that look as good as the best in the business. And if there's one thing I know, it's that style is the number one factor in getting people into showrooms. I swear it's 100% true.
This concept has a very attractive 1.6 Litre turbocharged petrol engine, which is likely to go to production on the ix35. This is wonderful news indeed, since this engine will pump out 125 kilowatts of power while emitting less CO2 than any of it's 4x4 competitors (149 g/km). That's something I like to hear.
NEWS: Audi A4 Allroad
Just days after the Saab 9-3X has been revealed, Audi has decided that this is a market it wants in on. For some reason. Well, anyway, it has jacked up the ride height of the A4 Avant, and given it a funky two-tone paint job. If you get a lighter shade in the main colour, the complementary colour will be a dark grey, but if you get a darker shade for the main colour, you get a lighter, silvery-grey for the complementary colour. This, of course, looks rather questionable if you choose the poo-brown colour - check it out in the picture gallery below.
NEWS: Saab 9-3X Turns Swedes Butch
The long and short of this is that Saab have converted their 9-3 SportCombi (read wagon) into a Subaru Outback-like AWD wagon. In other words, it gets a raised ride height (an extra 35 millimetres), some tough looking cladding, and as chief designer Simon Padian says, "we are offering a vehicle that will do what's required in more comfort and style than a heavier SUV." Which of course, sounds great, and is an idea that may well work. The idea isn't new, however. There is the aforementioned Outback, the Audi A6 Allroad and the Volvo XC70. The Audi and the Volvo aren't exactly sales sensations, but that does not mean the Saab 9-3X is unlikely to find buyers.
Compared to the Volvo and the Audi, the Saab will be far more competitively priced, and represents a very practical and upmarket alternative at a cut price. And of course, it is far more handsome than the Audi and Subaru, probably on par with the Volvo. This car will share its engines with the 9-3, and in some markets will also have a front-wheel-drive version, which I doubt will come to Australia. In any case, it's set to hit showrooms late this year, a few months before the 9-4X (Saab's take on the Cadillac SRX) arrives in 2010.
