Kia KOUP Concept

The New York Auto Show marked another interesting premiere, the Kia KOUP Concept, a very aggresive coupe concept, designed at the Kia Motors America Design Center in Irvine, Calif and which, as Tom Kearns, chief designer at KMA, “represents the future of the Kia brand and its dynamic vehicles that speak to our core philosophies. Kia strives to appeal to the emotional side of car enthusiasts who seek adventure and want to take a leap into the future with style and advanced technology, and the KOUP effectively delivers.”

The aggressive appearance of the Kia KOUP Concept is given by the front fascia, featuring a tab-shaped upper grille and the LED headlamps, plus glowing, carbon fiber and black chrome elements used. The concept also features a cool panoramic-view glass with two panels extending from the windshield through the roof to the backlight.

The car is build on a front-wheel-drive platform and is powered by a 2.0-liter Theta II turbocharged engine which produces 290 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. This is possible by using a GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) twin scroll turbocharger for greater power and efficiency.

So, overall, the Kia KOUP Concept is one of the coolest concepts from New York and if Kia is really serious about the KOUP previewing future Kia design philosophy, things look really great.

Suzuki Kizashi 3 Concept

Suzuki continues its Kizashi concept series with the latest one, the Suzuki Kizashi 3 Concept. And we find Suzuki’s approach with the Kizashi concepts very interesting. Instead of presenting one very futuristic concept and then going straight to a lot less impressive production version, Suzuki chose to unveil these concepts, developed by Suzuki’s Advanced Design Group, one at a time, each one being closer to the final, production-ready version.

After presenting the Kizashi 1 at Frankfurt and the Kizashi 2 at Tokyo, now the Kizashi 3 was unveiled at the New York International Auto Show, which is taking place these days in NY. Not as impressive as the first one, the Kizashi 3 is a sport sedan concept and it previews Suzuki’s upcoming competitor in this market. Like the other two concepts, this one’s front part is very aggressive, emphasized by the impressive headlights.

Built on a four-wheel drive platform with Advanced i-AWD system, the Kizashi 3 is powered by a 3.6-liter DOHC V6 engine which develops an estimated 300 hp and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission (with paddle shifters on the steering wheel).

So, overall, not a bad addition to the Kizashi series and we’re waiting now for the fourth.

Hoss Fly Pictures

Nissan Maxima Pictures

Scion Hako Concept

After we’ve seen the Porsche Traveller design study and now the Scion Hako Concept, we’re beginning to ask ourselves if the designers aren’t in some kind of designers strike (after the writer’s guild model). Because these concepts have some faces only their mothers would love.

The Scion Hako was inspired by the Scion xB and it’s a bizzare mixture of cubic and curvy. Plus, it seems that the designers never heard the “aerodynamics” term, because the concept is probably as aerodynamic as a brick. Not to mention this hilarious part from the press release: “the silhouette is accentuated by slim, race-car-inspired side mirrors”. Yeah, right!

There are no drivetrain specs, because, fortunately, the Scion Hako Concept is only a design study and we don’t want to be mean, but we hope we’ll never see it on the street.

2009 Honda Fit

At the New York Auto Show Honda presented the all-new 2009 Honda Fit, for the first time in the United States. Dick Colliver, Executive Vice President of Honda USA said: “Critics and customers alike have voted the Fit among the best small vehicles on the road […] This new Fit raises the bar even further, taking what was already great about the Fit, making it even better and throwing in a healthy dose of refinement.”

The new Fit will be powered by a new 1.5-literi-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and Honda will offer either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed automatic transmission (with paddle shifter mounted on the steering wheel for the Honda Fit Sport). Honda paid a lot of attention to safety and the new Fit features plenty of systems destined to make the car as safe as possible. We have Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure technology, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), active head restraints, dual-threshold front airbags, dual front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) and side-curtain airbags.

That’s about all the details we have so far, but Honda announced that more details on the 2009 Honda Fit will be made available closer to launch date, which is scheduled for this fall.

2009 Dodge Challenger

At the New York International Auto Show which is currently taking place in NY, Chrysler announced the entire Dodge Challenger lineup and, maybe the best news, the car’s pricing will start a little over $20,000. 35 years after the original Challenger, Dodge tried to create the modern American muscle-car and will offer three models of the 2009 Dodge Challenger in North America: Dodge Challenger SRT8, Dodge Challenger R/T and Dodge Challenger SE.

The Dodge Challenger R/T will be powered by a new 370 hp 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission that produces 398 lb-ft of torque (540 Nm). For the Challenger R/T, Dodge also offers a precision-shift six-speed manual transmission that produces 375 hp (280 kW) and 404 lb-ft of torque (548 Nm) when running on premium fuel and takes the car from 0 to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds.

The 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 features an SRT-exclusive 425 hp 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine mated with a new six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic transmission with Auto Stick that generates 420 lb-ft of torque (569 Nm) and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds.

The Dodge Challenger SE will be powered by the 3.5-liter High Output V-6 with a four-speed automatic transmission which produces 250 hp (186 kW) and 250 lb-ft of torque (339 Nm).

Dodge has also fitted the new Challenger with a lot of safety features such as Supplemental Side-curtain Air Bags, ABS, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Brake Assist, Traction Control, Hill Start Assist (HSA) for Manual Transmission, Automatic Headlamps and Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM).

Also, being a modern muscle car, the Dodge Challenger is offered with plenty of new technologies, including MyGIG multimedia system with built-in navigation, UConnect Hands-free Communication System, SIRIUS Digital Satellite Radio, Keyless Go or Remote Start.

The all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger will be built at the Brampton Assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, on the same assembly line as the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger.