New Car: 2012 Mazda 6 Venture Edition

The new Mazda 6 Venture Edition has been announced, hot on the heels of the Mazda 2 Venture Edition.

The special 6 is based on the TS model, but adds a sports grille, 17-inch gunmetal alloy wheels and privacy glass, while Dolphin Grey Mica paint is available exclusively to the Venture Edition.

Inside, there’s a TomTom satellite-navigation system, an integrated Bluetooth system, plus heated front seats with part-leather trim.

As it's based on the TS model, the Venture Edition also gets front, side and curtain airbags, parking sensors front and rear, auto wipers, a leather multifunction steering wheel and a six-speaker stereo with six-disc CD changer and Aux jack.

Only 257 Venture Edition models will be made, and it will be offered in either hatch or estate bodystyles. Two engines are available: a 161bhp 2.2-litre diesel which returns 53.5mpg and 140g/km of CO2, or a 153bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine returning 40.9mpg and 159g/km of CO2.

The Mazda 6 Venture Edition is on sale now from £21,000, with prices ranging from £340 to £480 over the equivalent TS model. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Unofficial Picture: 2013 Fiat Viaggio

As is often the case, a new car has leaked online before it is scheduled to be shown at a major auto show. This time the car in question is the Fiat Viaggio sedan, which is supposed to debut at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show. The Viaggio is a restyled and rebadged version of the 2013 Dodge Dart sedan.

As we’ve previously heard, the Viaggio will go on sale in China under the Fiat-Guangzhou brand. Measuring 183.1 inches long, 70.5 inches wide, and with a 106.4-inch wheelbase, the Viaggio’s promised dimensions closely mirror those of the Dodge Dart. The teaser photos show we can expect a new look for the Viaggio, with more chrome trim than the Dodge Dart, as well as a rounded-off grille, integrated trunklid spoiler, and unique taillights.

The Fiat Viaggio is said to use a turbocharged 1.4-liter T-Jet inline-four engine in two flavors, one with 120 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque and the other with 150 hp and 170 lb-ft. A similar turbocharged 1.4-liter Multiair inline-four makes 160 hp and 184 lb-ft in the American-market Dodge Dart. The Serbian website also suggests that the Viaggio will be sold with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, which is not offered in the Dodge Dart.

After launching the Viaggio sedan later this year, Fiat may consider selling a hatchback version in China. However, we don’t expect that model will ever be sold in the U.S. market. For now, the Dodge Dart will likely remain a sedan.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Recall Up Date: 2012 GM's Full-Size Crossover

Roughly 50,000 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave SUVs are being recalled by General Motors for windshield wiper arms that could fail due to snow and ice in northern states.

The Problem: Due to snow and ice buildup that can occur on the windshield of the GM crossovers during winter months that can restrict the movement of the wiper arm, the arm may become loose and, eventually, inoperable. With the front windshield wipers not working, visibility is greatly reduced and could potentially lead to a crash.

Affected cars are only being recalled in the following states: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.

The Fix: GM will notify owners starting on April 27 and dealers on April 16 of the recall. Dealers will tighten wiper arm nuts at no charge. Customers can also contact GM or NHTSA regarding recall campaign number 12036.

Number of Vehicles Affected: An estimated total of 50,001 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave crossovers are being recalled; specifically 2011 vehicles built from May 27 to June 1, 2011, and 2012 models built from February 15 (Traverse), February 16 (Acadia), and February 17 (Enclave) to December 1, 2011.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

New Concept Car: Citroen Numero 9

This stylish concept car is the Citroën Numéro 9, and it debuts at the Beijing Motor Show as a way for the French automaker to celebrate the launch of its DS line of cars — the DS3, DS4, and DS5 — in China. Citroën reveals that this sultry concept previews the design of future DS-line sedan, SUV, and executive sedan models.

The Numéro 9′s squat proportions initially remind us of the Volkswagen Scirocco. The car is only 50.0 inches tall but 194.1 inches long, producing a lengthy hood and a tiny greenhouse area. For reference, that makes the Numéro 9 just one inch taller than a Mazda MX-5 Miata, but about as long as a Volkswagen Passat.

The front end starts with LED headlights, a stubby grille, and a gently sculpted hood. Twenty-one-inch wheels sit in wide fenders, while extremely skinny mirrors perch on buttress-like A-pillars that are designed to reduce aerodynamic drag. The glass roof terminates in a large C-shaped spoiler, while a rounded and tapered rear window, LED taillights, and twin rectangular exhaust tips round out the car’s tail.

Citroën’s concept car, designed in Paris, also packs a number of clever mechanical features. A plug-in hybrid drivetrain can accommodate either gasoline or diesel engines depending on the market. In Beijing, it will be shown with a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four gas engine making 225 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque, which powers the front wheels. The rear axle has a 70 hp electric motor linked with a lithium-ion battery pack. With a fully charged battery, Citroën says the Numéro 9 concept can drive for 31 miles on electricity alone, and return the equivalent of 138 mpg.

The powertrain can also use a “boost” mode with both the gas engine and motor working together to produce 295 hp, enough for a 5.4-second run to 62 mph and a top speed of 152 mph. It also acts as an all-wheel-drive system. Finally, the Numéro 9 features hydraulic self-leveling suspension.

Citroën has sold 200,000 copies of its DS-line cars since they went on sale two years ago. Showing the Numéro 9 in Beijing not only previews the cars’ launch in China, but also is a preview to the design of the aforementioned sedan, SUV, and large sedans that will join the DS lineup in the next few years.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

New Car: 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche Black Diamond

The Chevrolet Avalanche will soon be headed to the big ski slope in the sky: General Motors will axe the model at the end of the 2013 model year.

The Chevrolet Avalanche was arguably groundbreaking when it first took to the streets in 2002, thanks to its half-and-half philosophy. The Avalanche had four doors and five seats, but also a pickup truck bed. The party trick, however, was the so-called midgate: stow the rear window, fold the rear seats, and lower the panel separating the cargo bed from the cabin, and you could extend the pickup bed by nearly three feet. In 2003, Chevrolet sold nearly 93,000 units.

Sadly, Avalanche sales just aren’t what they used to be. With annual volumes hovering around the 20,000-unit mark for the past two years, it would seem that the Chevrolet Avalanche is ready for retirement. It doesn’t help the Avalanche’s case that Silverado sales are now predominantly crew cab models, which offer much of the same convenience and usability.

Chevrolet will mark the end of the line with a special Black Diamond Avalanche. The Black Diamond Avalanche gets body-color bed surrounds, special Black Diamond Avalanche badging, and slightly different trim levels. LT models now get a standard rear camera, while LS models get standard rear parking sensors, a rear camera, power adjustable pedals, fog lamps, and remote start.

With the Chevrolet Avalanche on its way out, one would think its sibling, the Cadillac Escalade EXT, is in trouble. The EXT has sold one-tenth as much as the Avalanche in the past two years (only 4118 units), and only accounts for 10 percent of Escalade sales. General Motors hasn’t announced any plans for the future, but it’s safe to bet that the luxo-truck’s days are numbered.

The 2013 Black Diamond Avalanche, with a 5.3-liter V-8 engine and rear wheel drive, will start at $36,975.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

New Car: 2013 Mercedes G-Class

Mercedes-Benz has updated the seriously old-school G-class SUV for 2013, but you’d never know it by looking at the rig’s exterior. That’s because almost nothing changes outside; this is a good thing. The rest of the G-class’s upgrades reside under its hood and behind its bank-vault-solid doors: A new interior, more modern amenities, and a new engine for the AMG model. Last year Mercedes sold only the standard G550 model, but this year the beastly AMG version of the G-class is back after a yearlong vacation. Along with the new engine, the AMG’s badge changes from G55 to G63. It should remain one of the most bad-ass things on four wheels.

To save you the effort, here’s a list of the three significant exterior changes. First, the G gets LED running lights; second, there are turn indicators in its side mirrors; and third, the AMG gets a new bumper and grille. Mercedes-Benz’s brochure for the 2012 G550 describes the truck as “crafted by hand, untouched by time.” Untouched by time, indeed: The G’s styling has changed little since it was introduced as a spartan military vehicle some 33 years ago.

Relative to the nearly untouched exterior, the 2013 G-class’s interior was bitch-slapped by time. Mercedes re-sculpted the dashboard and center console to bring its appearance into this century, and added a color multifunction screen to the gauge cluster. The 2012 G-class had a central COMAND infotainment screen buried low on the center stack; that screen moves up to the top of the stack in the new G, and there’s now a COMAND controller just behind the shifter on the center console. The latest mbrace2 telematics system also is on board.

For those concerned that the G has gone soft, worry not: Mercedes kept the row of differential-lock switches right up near the top of the center stack where they can be easily, er, looked at. (For some reason we doubt many G-class owners actually operate the front, rear, and center differential locks—but the buttons sure do look cool.) The meaty passenger grab handle survived the refresh, as did the pinched-leather door-panel coverings. The steering wheel and gauges, however, are new.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

NY Show 2012 Highlights: 2013 Toyota Venza

The yin to the Honda Crosstour’s yang, Toyota’s Venza enters 2013 with mildly revised exterior styling, several new standard convenience features, and a smattering of updated option packages.

Up front, the Venza’s grille is a bolder, cleaner interpretation of its original chrome arrangement. The lower inlet trades egg-crate mesh for a more traditional crosshatch pattern and is now ringed in chrome. The fog lamps remain set into the lower fascia, but now feature restyled chrome surrounds.

Three new colors—Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl, and Cosmic Gray Mica—join the Venza’s options for 2013, with a set of freshly designed 19-inch wheels rounding out the exterior updates. The V-6 equipped model comes with 20-inch, five-spoke alloys as standard.

The big news in Venza technology for 2013 is the arrival of the Entune multimedia system. Aimed at integrating smart phones and the car’s navigation, entertainment, and information services, Entune supports a host of mobile apps, including Bing, movietickets.com, Pandora, and iHeartRadio.

Toyota claims the ordering process has been simplified and value increased for 2013 with the addition of numerous standard features to all three trim levels: LE, XLE, and Limited. The Venza LE includes a blind-spot mirror and outer mirror turn-signals with puddle lamps. A dual-zone automatic climate control system with second-row-seat vents, a 3.5-inch LCD multi-information display, a 6.1-inch touch-screen infotainment interface, an auxiliary audio jack, a USB port, a six-speaker stereo, and Bluetooth connectivity round out the LE’s features.

Thanks to: Car and Driver