Author: Tabitha
Cadillac will pull the plug on the Chevrolet Volt-based ELR luxury plug-in hybrid coupe at the end of its production cycle in 2018. As costly as it is underappreciated, the ELR has been a slow seller since its debut in 2014, according to auto-information Web site, Autos Cheat Sheet. With the ELR starting at a hefty $75,995, dealers sold just 1,024 units in all of 2015, which marketing chief Uwe Ellinghaus called Òa big disappointment.Ó Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen confirmed there would not be a second-generation ELR, Òbut I plan to continue admiring it as one of the most…
The Blue Oval automaker, The Sleuth hears, will add a diesel version of the top-ranked aluminum-bodied F-150 for the 2017 model year. The powertrain will consist of a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 connected to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Currently, Ford’s twin-turbo V6 “EcoBoost” gasoline engine is really no more fuel efficient than competing V8 engines from Chrysler and General Motors, but the upcoming diesel will help, while the additional torque will assist the towing and hauling capabilities. Full-size diesel competitors from Ram and Nissan are already in the marketplace as is a mid-sized Chevrolet Colorado. Ford will build a diesel version…
The Sleuth hears that the Bavarian automaker will soon add a new sedan to its burgeoning lineup, a car that’s smaller than the 3 Series and priced below the current 2 Series coupe. The new 1-Series four-door will be based on the automaker’s Compact Sedan concept that was first spotted at the 2015 Guangzhou Auto Show in China. As with other Bimmers, all-wheel “X-Drive” versions will be available, but intel concerning the 1 Series powerplants is proving difficult to come by. Nevertheless, The Sleuth speculates that the turbocharged three- and four-cylinder engines from the Mini division are strong possibilities. The…
Production of the first purely electric driven Audi wagon will begin at a plant in Brussels, Belgium, in 2018, the automaker says. The plant will also produce its own batteries. The Audi E-tron Quattro concept presented at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany provides a clear indication of the final product version, Audi relayed in a statement. The electric tall wagon will fit between the full-size Q7 and the smaller Q5 in the product portfolio. Equipped with three electric motors and a high-capacity battery, the E-tron will have full everyday practicality with a claimed maximum range of more than…
Honda’s entry into the embryonic hydrogen-fuel-cell market, the 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, will be available in certain parts of California later this year, priced “around $60,000,” with a monthly lease rate of “under $500.” That’s close to the $57,500 base price and $499 lease rate for the 2016 Toyota Mirai, which is already on sale at eight California Toyota dealers, notes alternative-vehicle Web site, Green Car Reports. The Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell is also available for lease in California for $499 a month as select Hyundai dealers. All three automakers are limiting their initial fuel-cell vehicle sales to California…
Not the bump-and-grind 1970’s kind, but an all-new Land Rover Discovery that The Sleuth hears is heading this way in late 2017 for the 2018 model year. As a replacement for the long-in-the-tooth LR4, the Discovery will be larger than the Discovery Sport that arrived for the 2015 model year and it will likely somewhat resemble the Discovery Vision concept vehicle (pictured). And with an all-aluminum structure and body panels, you can expect the Discovery to weigh considerably less that the portly 5,700-pound LR4 . An all-new turbocharged six-cylinder engine producing about 350 horsepower with keep this Disco dancing. The…
More than a year ago, the Sleuth was present at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich., where it was announced that General Motors’ Cadillac division would introduce an entry-level sedan that’s even smaller than the small-ish ATS. True to the company’s word, it appears that a direct competitor to the Mercedes-Benz CLA, Audi A3 and BMW 2-Series is already in the pipeline. The yet-to-be-named model will use a scaled-down version of the rear-wheel-drive ATS chassis and will offer all-wheel-drive as an option. Power choices are expected to include turbocharged 1.6- and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines connected to…
On-the-go types who spend much of their working day behind the wheel will appreciate this handy item. The LapTopper portable table fits securely over the steering wheel and unfolds to form a handy work surface. You can also use it as a portable fast-food tray that keeps the crumbs and condiments away from your clothes. For work, the LapTopper is also robust enough to support a 17-inch notebook. For rear-seat applications, simply slip the product over the front-seat headrest. When not in use, the seven-ounce LapTopper folds flat and stores in the glove box or behind the sun visor. Order…
When it’s cold and/or rainy outside, or when you’re just plain bored, a jigsaw puzzle is a great alternative to watching TV or playing video games. And to satisfy your inner gearhead, Serious Puzzles offers an extensive selection of automotive-themed tests of determination (and your patience). Included in the mix is a 1,000-piece license-plate puzzle that with current and older tags representing all 50 U.S. states. Serious Puzzles also carries a variety of classic-vehicle and city-themed puzzles, many of which were previously created as poster art. Prices range from $10-$20, depending on the subject matter and whether the puzzle is…
Hyundai will launch a hydrogen-powered fuel-cell tall wagon by 2020, whose drivetrain and platform are likely to be used on a new compact Kia tall wagon, reports alternate-fuel webmag Green Car Reports. Sae-Hoon Kim, head of fuel-cell research for Hyundai and its Kia brand, said Hyundai is aiming for a 500-mile range, which would likely translate to around 400 miles on the more stringent U.S. testing cycle. It will replace the current Tucson Fuel Cell with its 265-mile range. It could achieve that in part by using bigger hydrogen tanks; the automaker expects to make efficiency gains through a dedicated…