LA Auto Show Info: Mustang V6, Chevy Cruze, etc

[BigAls87Z28]

LA Auto Show info is being released about all the cars debuting there.

First up is the US-Spec Chevy Cruze, the car to replace the Cobalt.





"concept" showed up 2 years ago, been available in Europe and Asian for a year, and now this car is Chevy's new compact entry.

Highlights

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze will be offered in LS, LT and LTZ trims. Standard and available equipment includes:

New family of efficient four-cylinder engines, including a 1.4L turbo and 1.8L
Six-speed automatic and manual transmissions
Ten standard air bags, including frontal, side-impact, roof rail head curtain, rear seat side air bags and new knee air bags
Electronic stability control with rollover sensing
Bluetooth, USB connectivity and navigation system
XM Satellite Radio and OnStar
MacPherson strut front suspension and Watts Z-link rear suspension, with a family of 16-, 17- and 18-inch wheels
Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control, traction control and anti-lock brakes
Fuel-saving, rack-mounted electric power steering
Unexpected levels of quietness, smoothness and refinement for the segment

1.8 will be the base model, 1.4Turbo will be the uplevel motor.
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...evealed-86536/


Next up, 2011 Mustang V6
Packing 305hp out of the new 3.7 Duratec engine, Ford is claiming 30mpg




DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 30, 2009 – The 2011 Ford Mustang puts 305 high-performance horses in the hands of V-6 coupe buyers with a new all-aluminum dual-overhead cam (DOHC) engine that delivers a projected 30 mpg on the highway with a six-speed automatic transmission and fun for drivers on nearly every road.

For 2011, Mustang’s new 3.7-liter Duratec 24-valve V-6 uses advanced engineering to deliver its power and economy: Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) adjusts the valvetrain in microseconds. Aluminum construction means light weight. It’s an engine designed to crank out torque down low, rev to 7,000 rpm and deliver the mechanical music sports coupe lovers crave everywhere in between.

“Mustang is completely transformed with this new engine,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. “Everything people love about the car is still there and now under the hood is a V-6 engine that uses premium technology to deliver the power, the feel, the fuel efficiency, even the sound of the best sports coupes in the world.”

Also joining the 21st century is a 6spd manual and 6spd auto. firsts for any Mustang this side of the Snake.
Uses Electric Power Steering to help squeeze out every MPG it can.
Performance package mirrors the RS package for Camaro.
With a 300lbs weight difference, the Mustang has really brought it to Camaro

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...-30-mpg-86548/

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

I wonder what made Ford go with a "let's copy GM approach" for it's v6 Mustang instead of the EcoBoost they used to talk about for it.

[SteveR]

Both cars look nice. The only problem I can see with the Mustang is a cam swap will cost you two grand

[Z28 Heritage]

Cruze ugly as hell And for the Mustang Damn thats a sexy car!

[BurninrubberGT]

wow ford finally put a real v6 in it...whats next? a v8 that makes actual hp?

[xrelapse13]

actually yeah, if you haven't heard they're planning a 5.0l v8 that should output over 400hp

[NastyEllEssWon]

ford keeps blowing chevy away....quality products from the blue oval

[sweetbmxrider]

the cruze looks nice. two tone is kinda painful but the design and options look great.

[69BirdX]

I like the interior on the cruze............and no matter what, now the tarus is the performance car... its faster then a v8 mustang

[qwikz28]

Al- I have a question about the Cruze. Look where the E-brake is. Why does the handle location differ in the pictures and how do they plan on selling this car without cupholders?

[Scrat's_Camaro]

since the cruze is replacing the cobalt, are they gonna come out with a sport model like they did with the cobalt ss? i know the 1.4 turbo is the upgrade engine but im not impressed at all with only 138hp as the top motor.

[BigAls87Z28]

Jake: Pics are probably rehashes of the Euro/Asian model. Cup holders are like the Cobalt, just aft of the shifter, under the arm rest.

As of now, there are no plans for a SS Cruze, but I expect to see it, maybe along with the Cruze coupe in about a year after the sedan.
The Cruze is the car that will save GM. Now that GM can turn a profit on small cars, it will need to use this car to help fund the Volt, which will also be released around the same time. They share the same platform.
IMO, the Cruze does sound like the better buy if you are looking for maximum milage. Volt is perfect for city drivers, or people with light duty commutes. 40MPG is great
Funny part is...by next year, the Cruze will have navigation, but the 27k Malibu wont even have the option....till the new one in 2 years.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by NastyEllEssWon

ford keeps blowing chevy away....quality products from the blue oval

How so? Aside from the Fusion I wouldn't touch any other Ford product.

The Focus? REALLY? The Mustang...no thanks...up until the new V6 NEITHER make good power and are so uncomfortable to drive.

[BigAls87Z28]

Eh, I wouldnt even give the Fusion the edge of the Malibu as far as quality.
Features and depth in product, yes. Malibu cannot match the hybrid or sport, but what the Malibu lacks in depth of product, it makes up in beauty and style.

I will say, that witht he Mustang's new engine line up, the Mustang does have the edge as of 2011. Its interior is marginally better. But Camaro is getting an mid-cycle enhancement for callender year 2011, and they will show its new stuff off, including a better interior, more features, and the convertable model.
Probably an enhancement to the 3.6 as well as the new Gen V V8 engines, complete with direct injection to push the needle towards 460hp or more.

I took Nasty's comment to just be a way to draw me into a fight.

Camaro has tons of room to grow. Its chassis is designed to handle over 600hp without enhancements.
Mustang has reached its peak. The GT500 has so much chassis bracing that the car just cannot handle any more. Hell, they made special floor pans for the GT500 to be thicker then the standard GT so that they dont warp under load. Yah....

[BurninrubberGT]

Originally Posted by xrelapse13

actually yeah, if you haven't heard they're planning a 5.0l v8 that should output over 400hp

last time i checked it was still a rumor and ford said they werent doing it


the cruze's interior looks 100x better than the cobalts

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Mustang has reached its peak. The GT500 has so much chassis bracing that the car just cannot handle any more. Hell, they made special floor pans for the GT500 to be thicker then the standard GT so that they dont warp under load. Yah....

Did not know this. Happen to have a link?

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Eh, I wouldnt even give the Fusion the edge of the Malibu as far as quality.

I would, both are great cars but my comment about the Fusion wasn't in comparison to the Malibu...it was more along the lines of being the only Ford car I'd buy, and now maybe the SHO but not for that price.

[SteveR]

Originally Posted by Frosty

How so? Aside from the Fusion I wouldn't touch any other Ford product.

The Focus? REALLY? The Mustang...no thanks...up until the new V6 NEITHER make good power and are so uncomfortable to drive.

The Taurus is pretty nice too. It's based off the Volvo S80.

[Frosty]

Is the new one based off the of the old S80 chassis like the Ford Five Hundred was? That's odd.

[BigAls87Z28]

Yes, the current Taurus is based off the same platform as the last Taurus, which was a warmed up 500, which is the last generation S80.
Most if nto all of Ford's cars are based off either a Mazda or a Volvo platform.

As for the GT500's thicker floor pannels, I read it in a GT500 press release last year.

[BigAls87Z28]

[sweetbmxrider]

man the cars look great but the interiors are fugly two tone! if gm redesigned their grill and logo/placement, they'd look real high end

[BigAls87Z28]

I kinda like dual port/shield grill. And I looooved the two tone.

[sweetbmxrider]

no i like it, but its like i dono. its different on the bottom so it throws it off for me. one of the better grills in recent years, that two-tone scheme blows!

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

man the cars look great but the interiors are fugly two tone! if gm redesigned their grill and logo/placement, they'd look real high end

Yeah the car does look really good. I don't mind the two-tone....just not on the dash.