2015 Audi Q3 (US)

These are pictures of the US version of the small Q3 SUV.
It is not a new model since it has been on sale in Europe since June 2011.
(After claiming the US would never get this, it looks like they changed their minds.)

Not pricing yet, but it should be a bit above the new A3 sedan which starts at $30 000.

The US model gets quite a long list of standard equipment:

-200HP 2.0 Liter Turbo (Less power than the same engine in the GTI or Beetle)
-Panoramic sunroof
-Xenon/LED lights
-Heated seats
-Leather seats

FWD is standard and Quattro is an option.

The whole thing looks Audi generic. A blend of everything else they make.

The new Mercedes GLA seems a bit roomier. And a much more original design in my opinion.
We will have to see how these 2 will be priced in the US.
As the A3 and CLA sedans are about the same price.

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2015 Chrysler 200: Inside

That looks really nice.

More very soon.

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Even more pictures of the 2015 Chrysler 200!

Again, a very nice looking car. Modern. Current, unlike the old one.

Not sure they need an "S" sport model. (interior picture). This after all a family car segment. But I guess there are slightly sportier versions of the Camry and Accord available..

Their main problem could be the rough base engine. As most people in the segment do not step up to the V6.

After all these speeches from Chryaler suits telling us how amazing the car was going to be, I was just expecting something a bit more original.
I am also tired of these fastback shapes that should be hatchbacks but are NOT . Why not?

The Fusion and Regal pictured here are both available with a hatch in their European home market.
So I wonder if the Lancia version of the 200 will too...

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The confusing VW Passat Bluemotion Concept

Confusing because "Bluemotion" is mostly used for their diesel models.
But this is not a diesel.
It is a regular US Passat using a smaller 1.4 Liter gas engine with 150HP to achieve 42 MPG HWY.
So it is really nothing new: a smaller engine will get better mileage.

Also confusing because they already offer the TDI with the same MPG rating. (Although the TDI always gets at least 50MPG HWY)

Again confusing because they just replaced the base engine in the Passat with the new 1.8 Liter with 170hp.

And wouldn't this smaller engine be better in the smaller Jetta? 150ph from a small Turbo engine doesn't seem that bad for a base engine in the Jetta.

And where is the Hybrid system from the Jetta? It would work great in the Passat.

It's just all weird and doesn't make any sense at all to me. Feels like it's coming from a very confused company with no real organized plan for the future.

On anther note, after seeing all these pictures of the new Chrysler 200, the Passat looks so old.
(That interior is the worse.) 

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More pictures of the all new 2015 Chrysler 200

A nice looking car for sure. But it still looks a lot like the Fusion on these pictures.
Nothing seems to really say "Chrysler".  Over Kia or Ford.

The market is now full of very good mid sized sedans.  There is almost no bad choices right now.
The new 200 seems really nice but doesn't stand out.

The interior is also fine.
Wood trim will also be available.

At $21 700 to start, it as also priced like its competition. But I thought Chrysler was supposed to be more upscale? More so than Dodge at least.

It is a bit confusing. For now....
Unless the decide to get rid of Dodge.... (something they keep denying)

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Chevrolet Silverado test drive coming up...

This wasn't planned and came to me as a surprised. I was told yesterday that I was driving this for the week.
Why not...

The full name is; Chevrolet Silverado High Country 4WD Crew.
Quite a high end truck.

I am not a "truck guy" as I have no need for this where I live. I do not own horses, or tow anything. And I am not a contractor.  So I will try to be open minded and see the good side of owning such an enormous vehicle in the city as a daily driver.

So far:
-It's really big
-Interior actually better than in pictures (which I had noticed at the auto show)
-Getting 15MPG in the city so far (rated at 14)
-Much more comfortable than the Ford F150 I drove a few weeks ago. (doesn't "jiggle" as much)
-No start switch. Old fashion key.
-$52 475 as tested!!!!

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2015 Chrysler 200

This is it, and it is looking good.

Although.... Not very original. I see a lot of the Fusion in here. Even some Insignia/Regal from some angles.
Of course, it is so much better than the current model. (But anything would be.)
Let's hope this will be enough for Chrysler to become a player in the mid size segment. Finally.

So far we know that the base engine will be the "Tigershark" (what a stupidly obnoxious name) 2.4 Liter with 184HP.
Which sounds all fine. But reviews have been mostly trashing that engine for being too rough and unrefined.
The step up will be the3.6 Liter V6 with 295HP.

Most buyers in that segment actually get the base engine. Which in the case of most of the competition, is a modern smooth 4 cylinder.
Let's hope the 2.4 has been revised and upgraded to better compete.

More on this very soon.

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