World of Wheels

2011 Hyundai Sonata arrives at L.A. show

Hyundai took the wraps off its new 2011 Sonata yesterday at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The North American intro of the sixth generation midsize sedan introduces the automaker’s new “Fluidic Sculpture” design language and an all-new, only four-cylinder, engine lineup.

The Sonata will debut early in 2010 with Hyundai’s new Theta II GDI 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with Gasoline Direct-Injection (GDI). It’s the first midsize sedan to adopt GDI technology as standard equipment in a naturally aspirated powertrain. Horsepower and torque will be 198 and 184 lb-ft, while delivering “class-leading” fuel economy.

Later in 2010, a 2.0-litre Theta II turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine will be added and a 2.4-litre Hybrid Blue Drive model using a lithium polymer battery pack. Details will be announced at the 2010 New York Auto Show.

Henderson out at GM

General Motors has announced that its president and CEO, Fritz Henderson, (above left) has resigned. He is the second head of GM to leave this year, following Rick Wagoner who was ousted by the Obama Administration during the automaker’s bankruptcy proceeding in March.

There’s no official word from GM why Henderson, 51, is leaving, but reportedly, part of the reason stems from the failed attempts to sell the Saturn and Saab brands, plus pulling out of a deal to sell the European Opel division to Canada’s Magna International last month.

In the interim, chairman Ed Whitacre (above right) will take the reigns at GM “while an international search for a new president and CEO begins immediately.”

Pony up: Ford Mustang gets new 305 horsepower V6, host of other improvements for 2011

Ahead of its unveiling at the L.A. Auto Show later this week, Ford has released a load of info on its significantly redone 2011 Mustang V6 model.

Traditionally, the volume-seller over the much-hyped V8 model, the entry-level ‘Stang just got a whole lot more interesting.

It starts with a new, all-aluminum 3.7-litre V6 engine, making 305 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. It can be mated to new six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The latter improves fuel economy by 25 percent over the 2010 model and delivers best-in-class highway consumption numbers. (The old 4.0L SOHC V6 delivered 210 hp and 240 lb-ft).

The DOHC Duratec engine uses Ford’s Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) technology and now revs to 7,000 rpm. Our enthusiast side is also happy to hear the new V6 wears a cold air induction system and dual exhaust.

Villeneuve visits Lotus

Former Formula 1 champ and fellow Canadian Jacques Villeneuve recently visited Lotus headquarters in Norfolk, UK, touring its operations and test-driving the new Evora sports car.

The 1997 champion was in Britain to visit with his friend Gino Rosato, VP of corporate affairs at Lotus, who’d recently taken up the roll after working at Ferrari.

Villeneuve also meet Clive Chapman (son of Lotus’ founder Colin Chapman) and the two shared stories of their father’s days competing in F1.

Oshawa to build new Buick Regal for North America

General Motors announced yesterday that its Southern Ontario Oshawa Car Assembly will add the production of the new Buick Regal alongside the Camaro in early 2011.

“The new Regal gives Buick a modern performance sedan and its production here in Oshawa is terrific news for our employees, the CAW, dealers and suppliers,” says Arturo Elias, president, General Motors of Canada. “Combining Buick’s top position in the industry in terms of brand quality with the Oshawa Car Plant’s long-standing reputation for top quality assembly means customers’ highest expectations will be met with this midsize sport sedan.”

The Regal slides into the Buick lineup under the LaCrosse sedan. It’s based heavily on the award-winning Opel Insignia – the 2009 European Car of the Year. GM promises the Regal will retain all of Insignia’s award-winning design, technology and European-inspired performance when it launches in North America.         

Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR recaptures Laguna Seca lap record; may get Italian DNA down the road

With all the doom and gloom at Chrysler, it’s great to report some positive news. In this case, Dodge’s Viper sports car, recently saved from extinction, is still one seriously fast machine – and one that may receive some Italian DNA in the future.

An SRT10 ACR (American Club Racer) model just recaptured the lap record for a production car at Laguna Seca raceway in Monterey, Calif. It did the deed in 1:33.915, shattering the previous record by more than 1.1 seconds.

At the wheel was Street and Racing Technology (SRT) vehicle dynamics engineer Chris Winkler, who was still learning the intricate details of Laguna Seca, having spent only one other session on the 3.5 km, 11-turn course.

Sixth-gen BMW 5 Series bows in

 
BMW has taken the wraps off the sixth generation of its midsize 5 Series sport sedan.

Not only does the new ‘5’ now offer the longest wheelbase in its class, it now shares a platform with its big brother, the 7 Series, and is built at the same plant in Dingolfing, Germany.

The new exterior design closely follows the example set by the new 7 Series and the hatchbacked 5 Series Gran Turismo. Of course that kidney-shaped grille and Hofmeister kink at the bottom of the C-pillar are ever-present.

The new BMW 5 Series will launch in June of 2010 (as a 2011 model year). Initially, it will be available as a 535i and 550i. The 528i and xDrive all-wheel drive variants of all three models will arrive later in the year.

Mitsubishi delivers electric i-MiEV in Vancouver

Mitsubishi made history last week when three examples of its mass-produced, all-electric, zero-emission, i-MiEV hatchbacks were presented to the City of Vancouver and BC Hydro. Their delivery fulfills a promise made in April to have the cars online for testing and evaluation before the end of 2009.

“This is a first in every sense of the word,” said Tomoki Yanagawa, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc.’s vice president sales/marketing & corporate planning “The i-MiEV is the world’s first highway-capable, mass-production electric car.  It’s a first for Vancouver and a first for North America.”

The delivery of the i-MiEVs (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle) represents the first time that a production all-electric vehicle, designed and built by a major international manufacturer, has been put into service on public roads in North America (The Mitsu went on sale to the public in Japan this past summer).

Mercedes goes it alone in F1 in 2010

Mercedes-Benz will enter the 2010 Formula 1 season with its own team. Parent company Daimler AG and the automaker’s largest shareholder, Aabar Investments, have bought 75.1 percent of the championship-winning Brawn GP team.

The move means major changes are afoot going into 2010. First and foremost, the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team is no more, as the German automaker has ended its 15-year on-track relationship with the British company.

Meanwhile, Brawn GP ties-up with Mercedes, creates the new Mercedes Grand Prix team. Brawn GP was born last year from the tatters of the Honda F1 team. Technical director Ross Brawn, transformed the outfit into a winning concern and will continue to lead the new M-B factory team.

Production Chevrolet Cruze headed to L.A. show

Chevrolet has confirmed that it will unveil the North American-spec version of its new compact Cruze sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show in December.

Already on-sale in Europe and Asia, the Cruze will reach our shores in the third quarter of 2010. Chevy says, with more than six million kilometers of quality and durability testing worldwide, its “one of the most globally tested Chevrolet products prior to a [North American] launch.”

Chevy says Cruze will offer class-leading highway fuel economy. It new family of engines will include a 1.4-litre turbo (do we see hints of Ford’s EcoBoost mentality here?).