Honda has been known to innovate and come up with catchy car designs that captivate their customers and it looks like that same tradition will be carried on with the new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV). The all-new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour features a new and aerodynamic shape that provides a sporty looking vehicle with versatile functionality motorists are going to love.

The new vehicle concept originated from the Accord sedan. By increasing the height and perking up the styling such as a new front grille to go along with a durable lower-body appearance, wedge-shaped C-pillars and an aggressive rear stance, the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour certainly deserves to be positioned among the top tier vehicles that Honda has to offer. The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour will be start selling this Fall. No word on pricing yet.

(Source) Press

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If you are looking forward to the coming of the Crossover Buick, we are sad to inform you that it has been officially cancelled by General Motors. The supposed vehicle garnered a lot of negative feedback from the media, employees and dealerships, considering the direction that the company is planning to take. And in the end, GM just shelved the program and decided to transfer the Vue’s plug-in hybrid powertrain to another vehicle by 2011.

There is no word on which vehicle the plug-in hybrid powertrain would be transferred to. But in all, it seems that this development coincides with the new outlook that GM is envisioning. And from the look of it, it is back to the drawing boards for GM, a move that may be one of the wisest they may be making to date.

(Source) Autoblog

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GM has today detailed their intentions to produce a plug-in hybrid version of their Buick Crossover which will make its debut sometime in 2011. Included above is a teaser image of said car.

Under the hood, the hybrid Crossover will feature a 4 cylinder 2.4-liter Ecotec engine with direct injection but that’s about the extent of details we have regarding the car’s motor. In terms of fuel efficiency GM says that the car will have double the fuel economy of similarly sized SUVs.

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One car that has been quietly in the roster of vehicles of Subaru of America is the 2010 Subaru MY Outback. This all wheel-drive has been reported to achieve a 24MPG combined and 29 MPG, exhibiting better fuel economy than other vehicles under the same category. This includes the likes of the Toyota Venza, Volvo XC70, VW Passat, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer.

“The all-new 2010 Subaru Outback combines great on- and off-road capability, comfortable space, incredible cargo carrying ability and fuel economy all for a great price,” said Tim Mahoney, senior vice president and CMO of Subaru of America, Inc. “We think this new Outback will really raise the bar in the crossover segment.”

The new Subaru Outback starts at an entry-level price of $22,995. It is a great alternative vehicle for customers looking for more room than a midsize sedan and features the off-road capabilities of an SUV.

(Source) Press

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To many, it will most likely be familiar as the controversial Cash for Clunkers deal. But regardless, Suzuki Motor Corporation is all for it, looking forward to the formal implementation of the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS).

The new CARS law will provide consumers up to $4,500 when they trade-in their old cars for a new one. The qualifying cars under this new law signed by U.S. President Barack Obama covers cars, mini vans, SUVs and small light-duty trucks that get less than 18 mpg, and large light-duty trucks that get less than 15 mpg city/highway combined.

However there are certain conditions for passenger cars. If the new vehicle is at least four mpg more fuel efficient than the old vehicle, consumers will receive a $3,500 voucher toward a new vehicle. If the new vehicle is at least 10 mpg more fuel efficient than the old vehicle, the voucher is good for $4,500.

For reference purposes, here are the cars that Suzuki detailed as eligible for the new CARS law:

• All SX4 Crossover models
• All SX4 Sedan models
• All Grand Vitara models
• All XL7 models
• All Equator models (4-cyl and 6-cyl)

(Source) Press

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Saab’s break from General Motors and pending sale to supercar company Koenigsegg will apparently have no great affect on the Swedish automaker’s future model launches, specifically that of the upcoming 9-4X crossover. The new crossover will share much in common with the recently-revealed Cadillac SRX. According to GM’s executive director of product and marketing for Cadillac, Hummer and Saab, Steve Shannon, the new model will be launched next year as a 2011 model.

According to earlier reports, the 9-4X will run a 284hp V6 gas engine paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox. For European markets GM is also expected to offer a turbodiesel unit delivering 250hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. While development of the 9-4X appears to be nearly complete, Saab will introduce other two models before the arrival of the new crossover – the smaller 9-3X crossover and the 2010 9-5.

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For its safety design features, the Audi Q5 has earned the nod as the Top Safety Pick award after receiving high marks on its front and side crash rating from U.S. safety regulators. A battery of results made showed that the Audi Q5 Crossover scored well in side impact, offset frontal and rear impact seat tests. The vehicle had garnered a five-star rating on all the tests.

“Audi engineers place unwavering emphasis on the protection of motorists and their passengers,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “These outstanding ratings for the Audi Q5 confirm our intent to meet the most rigorous safety standards found anywhere in the world.”

Every Audi sold in the U.S. has standard four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system, an electronic stability program, daytime running lights and a standard tire pressure monitoring system.

The Audi Q5 also features quattro permanent all-wheel standard on all models, providing high levels of active safety and traction on virtually any surface. All of these features are designed to help reduce the chances of a collision.

(Source) Press

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If you happen to see a new hatchback type of a vehicle at the next Toyota showroom you happen to come across, don’t be surprised. It is probably the Toyota Urban Cruiser, the new town-friendly crossover released as Toyota’s bet against the Nissan Qashai, Kia Soul and Suzuki X4.

The new Urban Cruisers are pick up from the RAV4, the previous 4×4 vehicle that Toyota has in the market. With the new Cruisers, it aims to provide an off-roader look with hatchback for city driving.

The Urban Cruiser offers impressively green motoring. Both its powerplants emit less than 130g/km of CO2 – the petrol assisted by a standard-fit stop/start system. It’s priced from £14,500 for the two-wheel drive 1.3-litre petrol version, or £16,400 for the 1.4 D-4D turbodiesel with four-wheel drive.

(Source) Which

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Apparently Nissan is moving forward with its plans to build a convertible Nissan Murano crossover SUV. No one really knows why, especially in this market. Initial rumors cropped up up late last year, but nothing was heard since – until recently. The report seems credible, suggesting that the vehicle will be sold as a 2011 model, featuring a soft top and will get its power from the regular Murano 265hp (197kW) 3.5L V6, according to Edmunds.

What is most interesting, the Murano convertible will supposedly be a two-door configuration, making it a sort of SUV-crossover-roadster. Who can forget the sensational success that was the Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro concept, which was a vehicle most people in their right mind would not buy. If it actually does get built, here’s wishing Nissan success.

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With the impending era of electric car vehicles practically a done deal, Better Place today achieved a milestone in accelerating the mass-market adoption of electric vehicles by demonstrating the world’s first battery switch technology along with electric car charging spots. This simple range extension technology delivers a cleaner, more convenient experience for drivers.

Better Place was the only foreign company invited by the Japanese Ministry of Environment to demonstrate its switch technology, which provides a viable solution to make electric vehicles a reality by offering drivers virtually unlimited range.

Better Place showcased its battery switch platform today using a modified NISSAN electric crossover SUV to demonstrate how to switch a depleted battery for a fully charged one. The company also demonstrated its commitment to open network standards by charging a fixed battery electric car, via one of four Better Place charge spots installed at the demonstration site. Recharging of the vehicle batteries is made possible by Sharp Corp. photovoltaic solar panels, creating a truly zero emission solution.

The switch technology featured in the Yokohama exhibit will be further developed into production for the commercial switch stations, which will be deployed in Better Place markets around the world.

(Source) Press

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Ford is thankful that it has one vehicle doing well in the market. The vehicle is their Ford Fusion and thanks to the growing popularity of this vehicle, they have moved up in the retail market share for April.

In April, the Ford Fusion paced the share performance. Fusion sales totaled 18,321, a record for any month. April was the first full month of sales for the redesigned 2010 model and the new Fusion Hybrid version, and April is believed to be the first month that Fusion was among the top three-selling mid-size sedans. Recent independent studies rate Fusion and the Mercury Milan – the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedans in America – as having the best predicted reliability among all mid-size sedans.

The new Fusion Hybrid is one of four hybrid models offered by Ford. Hybrid models also are offered in the Mercury Milan mid-size sedan and the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small utility vehicles. All Ford hybrid models are the most fuel-efficient vehicles in their class, and the Ford Escape and Ford Fusion recently were named to Kelley Blue Book’s list of Top 10 Green Cars. In April, combined sales of all hybrid models totaled 2,299, up 21 percent versus a year ago.

Other new Ford products contributed to the retail share performance, including the new F-150 pickup, America’s best-selling vehicle, and Ford Flex, the distinctively styled crossover utility that had its best sales month ever (3,190).

(Source) Press

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BMW lovers can now map out how they can get their hands on the BMW X5M and X6M as their prices have been made public. The X5M will ding your budget to the tune of $85,400, while the X6M will set you back $88,900.

But for nearly $90,000, you get what, for now, are the two most powerful BMWs on the road. Both models will reap the benefits of a 555 hp, 500 lb-ft twin turbo 4.4L V8. That’s 55 hp and 105 lb-ft more than the M5 or M6; two vehicles that cost more than their crossover counterparts. The M treatment will also add more aggressive aesthetics, torque-vectoring AWD, and massive 15.6 inch front rotors to help these flying bricks stop on a dime (or 900,000 dimes, really).

Does that make the X5M and X6M a compelling value? If you’re in the market for a 550 hp crossover, we guess so, because outside of the substantially more expensive Porsche Cayenne Turbo S ($124,000) these new Bimmers are the only other family-haulers with that kind of muscle.

(Source) Autoblog

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Regardless of the type of auto in the market today, anyone of them will get hit by the economic problems plaguing the world today. Retail new-vehicle sales during the first 17 selling days of March were down by 40 percent compared with the same period one year ago, according to J.D. Power and Associates, which gathers real-time transaction data from more than 10,000 dealerships across the United States.

New-vehicle retail sales for the entire month of March are projected to come in at 633,000 units, compared with 1.07 million units a year ago. Retail sales in February totaled 557,000 units. To better reflect consumer demand for new vehicles, J.D. Power and Associates focuses on retail sales, which include only dealership sales and leases to private parties and does not include fleet sales.

The crossover utility vehicle (CUV) segment is generating the greatest year-over-year segment share growth, up by three percentage points since March 2008. In contrast, the traditional utility vehicle, compact car and midsize car segments are generating the greatest year-over-year declines in segment share. A proliferation of new CUV models has been introduced to capitalize on this shift in consumer demand. A total of nine new models have been introduced since February 2008.

(Source) Press

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Hyundai will be unveiling its Hyundai Santa Fe, a mid-sized SUV similar to the Honda CRV. The Hyundai Santa Fe is a mid-size crossover SUV based on the Hyundai Sonata platform. It was introduced for the 2001 model year as Hyundai’s first SUV, released at the same time as the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute and Pontiac Aztek.

The Hyundai Santa Fe was a milestone in the company’s restructuring program of the late 1990s because, despite receiving criticism from journalists for its obscure looks, the car was a hit with the American buyers. The car was so popular that at times, Hyundai had trouble supplying the demand.

The rugged SUV Santa Fe seems to borrow its style and design from coupe and promises to quench the thirst of a buyer for sportiness as well as style. It will possess the ground clearance and power of a SUV but the visual appeal of a stylish coupe.

(Source) Khabrein

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Nissan is scheduled to launch a wide array of new cars at the Geneva Auto Show and leading the pack is their niche vehicle, the Qazana Concept Car. The Qazana is a show car providing good indication of the compact car that will be produced at the Nissan Sunderland plant from 2010, safeguarding around 1,100 jobs.

Best described as a small Crossover, Qazana has been conceived to challenge conventional wisdom about what buyers of small five-door cars should expect.

The striking design is dominated by large, wide wheel arches and a lower shape which gives a feeling of strength, while the upper body is dynamic, assertive and sporty. Qazana is a five-door, with the rear doors opening forwards once the front doors have been opened, in the style of ‘suicide doors’.

Qazana will reinforce Nissan’s position as a pioneer of Crossovers, building on the success of Qashqai and the recently introduced Qashqai+2.

(Source) Easier.com

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