Chinese made Volvo cars coming to the US.

Well. We all knew it was a matter of time.
But they made it official today.
Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson mentioned that it would happen "fairly quickly".

So basically, the 1st Chinese cars to hit the US market won't be the cheap sub $10 000 stuff we were thinking about a few years ago. But near luxury models from Volvo.

I guess most buyers will never know. Since they will probably be mixed with European made cars.

Their thinking is that Americans are already buying expensive items made in China, like the iPhone or high end TVs. So why not Volvos.

What do you think?

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Acura TLX

 This is the concept version of the next Acura TSX. Which is the next TL.
Instead of a new design, we get what looks like a larger version of the ILX. Itself already a boring car.

The top one is the TLX. Basically the exact same lines as the ILX, stretched out.

I know most car makers are doing this. The different size sausage approach to car design.
But this is really pushing it.
They took a really uninspired, boring design and just made it bigger.

So now, ALL Acura models look pretty horrible and invisible...
Good luck....

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2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe

Finally, the real thing.

It is everything that was excepted, and nothing more.


I guess the ATS sedan is not an exiting looking car and I was expecting a bit more from the coupe. Something more than a 2 door sedan.

Still, there seem to be nothing really wrong here. Well proportioned, classic... I guess.

Looks like the new Cadillac logo is used for the 1st time.

The base 2.5 Liter from the sedan is not available on the coupe.
The choices are the 2.0 Liter Turbo and the 3.6 Liter V6. (As it should be)
A 6 speed manual is still available with the 2.0 Liter engine.

Wheelbase is the same as the sedan, so it could be quite roomy for a 2 door car.

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2015 Hyundai Genesis

Just a few more official pictures of the US version.

A nice looking car. In my opinion, much better than the previous model that already looked old the day it came out.

But still, another derivative design. Fusion, previous Infiniti M etc...

This is no A7...

But it could really be a nice car to drive and own. It doesn't look worse than the Infiniti M or Lexus GS. At all. 

The current model starts at $35 000. Hyundai has not announced pricing for the new one yet, but says it will stet bellow $40 000. (Which is still quite a jump.)

Even at $40 000, it would still be about $8000 to $9000 cheaper than the Lexus GS and Infiniti M37.

So still quite a deal. 

Has anyone here driven the current Genesis sedan? 

I did drive the coupe V6 and was actually quite impressed.

(Since I have had trouble getting Hyundai cars to test drive...)

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2015 Porsche 911 Targa

The return of the real Targa top. Not the glass sunroof it has been for the last few years.

And I think it looks fantastic.
It's even automatic. As the top is now soft and retracts behind the rear window.

Starts at a bit over $100 000.


Here is a video showing how the whole thing works.

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Nissan Sport Sedan Concept

This is supposed to preview the next Maxima.
I wish...

I do like the design. But I feel this will be toned way down for the Maxima.

I wish they would just keep this. With a few small changes.
(imagine how it would stand out next to the Avalon or Impala.)
But I'm afraid this is just a concept...

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2015 Chrysler 200

Officially shown today for the 1st time. But nothing new to anyone with an internet connection since pictures have leaked a few days ago.

I really like the way they designed the wood trim on the dash. It does feel quite original, for once.

But I  still think the exterior looks way too much like the Fusion. Like if Chrysler designers scrapped whatever they were doing when they saw the Ford and decided to follow the same design instead.

But. The true horror in these pictures is the gold/champagne trim in the light interior. What the hell???


Please. tell me this is just a reflection...

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