2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: Driven
Mitsubishi's idea, last year, of previewing its Outlander Sport by making it the first model ever that could be remotely test driven, live—via a virtual system that promised way more than a tilt-and-pan virtual showroom tour—was the first of its kind. And it's definitely one of the coolest launch ideas of this past year.
The messaging, in a way, prepared us for an unexciting yet tech-laden vehicle; it sounded like the kind of marketing gimmickry that's applied to vehicles that aren't much fun to drive.
In both respects, that's not the case. The Outlander Sport doesn't boast much (if any) more onboard tech extras than most other vehicles in its class, but thankfully it's not at all bland from behind the wheel. For a 'tall small' whatchamacalit, the Outlander Sport shows surprising athleticism, with the excellent steering that we've come to expect in all of Mitsubishi's smaller vehicles.
More than a hatchback, or not quite a hefty crossover?
It makes sense when you consider that the Outlander Sport is, according to Mitsubishi, a lighter, shorter version of the Outlander crossover vehicle—about a foot shorter but the same in wheelbase, with nearly the same overall width and height. But to us, it drives quite differently. A lot of the heft is gone from the experience, replaced by better responsiveness, and it feels a lot more like the Lancer sedan, which also shares some underpinnings. Its 3,100-pounds weight and excellent steering contribute to the light-and-nimble feel, no doubt, and drives a class smaller than most compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, or even the Kia Sportage—but it also doesn't feel as anesthetized as the Scion xD or xB in their standard tune.
2011 Scion xD Release Series 3.0 Will Cost You At Least $17,625
Toyota's Scion brand has released its first special edition of the 2011 model year into the wild--and it's safe to say if you like teensy hatchbacks and the color brown, you're in luck.
The new xD Release Series 3.0 may sound as if it needs an engineer to write a bug ticket, but it's the long-ish name attached to the special version of the 2011 xD. This version gets body add-ons front and rear, and side skirts to match. The color? It's "xPRESSO," which violates all sorts of capitalization and spelling rules, all by itself. It's also unique to this model. Carbon-fiber stickers on the B-pillars finish off the cosmetics.
Pricing starts from $17,625 including destination charges, for a manual-shifted version. With the automatic, the price rises to $18,425.
The current Scion xD scores a rating of 7 out of 10 from TheCarConnection's editors. It rates most highly with an 8 for available features--Scion dealers let customers have free rein to tweak their cars--and lowest for comfort and utility, with a score of 6 reflecting its small, inexpensively finished interior.
For more information, specifications, pricing, photos and related news, head over to TheCarConnection's 2011 Scion xD page.
[Scion]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Rendered: Kia’s New Premium VG
Korean automaker Kia seems to be on a roll these days -- at least on the design front. Its boxy Scion xB/Nissan Cube competitor, the Kia Soul, has held its own in the face of discerning auto journalists, and the sporty Kia Forte Koup looks to do similarly well. Now the company has shared renderings of its new premium model, the VG, which will arrive in Korean showrooms later this year.
The VG debuted at the Seoul Motor Show last spring as a front-wheel-drive concept dubbed "KMD-5", and rumor has it that the VG will remain a FWD when it makes its first American appearance at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. Depending on public and press reaction and a number of other factors, it's expected to roll onto U.S. lots later that spring. (Interestingly, Kia says in a press release that it doesn't intend to bring the VG to the UK.)
The VG would seem to be poised for success stateside -- although its FWD may nudge some performance-loving luxury buyers toward Hyundai's new high-end RWD model, the Equus. The VG's lines are smooth, with a nice crease detail on the side panels, and the overall look is sleek and contemporary. Add to that America's increased awareness of the Kia brand, and the future for VG may be very good, indeed.
[Autoblog]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2009 Chicago Show: Scion tC RS 5.0 Is VIP
Scion yesterday announced a special edition of its sports coupe, the tC, which will be on display at the Chicago Auto Show from February 11-22. This 2009 tC RS 5.0 features unique styling elements draped on a lowered suspension with 18-inch alloys. Numerous mechanical enhancements also give the vehicle a more aggressive driving demeanor.
Outside, the aforementioned 18-inch multi-spoke alloys (matte black with red accents) are supported by lowered springs from TRD to give this bespoke tC aggressive curbside swagger. The vehiclel is bathed in gloss black, and an available rear lip spoiler adds some attitude at the rear.
On the inside, the black and red theme continues. A black leather steering wheel with red stitching continues the color theme inside, as do black seats with red inserts and TRD floor mats. Finally, each 2009 tC RS 5.0 will come complete with individually numbered badges.
Mechanically, a TRD rear antiroll bar increase cornering prowess, and a TRD sport muffler barks a more aggressive tone (and conceivably reduces back pressure at high RPM).
Scion will build 2,000 tC Release Series 5.0s. MSRP for the cars is $2,300 higher than a base Scion tC; that comes out to $19,300 for the manual, $20,100 for the automatic.
Look for the 2009 Scion tC RS 5.0 at dealerships beginning this March.
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This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
