Filed under: Sedan , Hyundai , Luxury , South Korea Hyundai Equus Limousine - click above for high-res image gallery Hyundai has just launched a new Equus limousine in its home market designed to appeal to executives that really need extra stretch-out room. The new Equus VL500 has had 12 inches of extra length inserted in between its axles. The extra length means that the already large Equus now bests other competitors like the Lexus LS460L and Mercedes S500L by almost 15 inches in rear leg room. For those not in a hurry, the new limo uses the Lambda 3.8-liter V6 as the standard powerplant. The new 5.0-liter version of the company's Tau V8 is optional with 394 horsepower. As befits such a ride, the longer Equus incorporates features like power rear footrests and massaging seats. Korean customers can order the factory stretch now at prices ranging from the equivalent of $113,000 to $122,180, but at this time, Hyundai America has no comment about a possible U.S. variant to accompany the previously-announced standard-length model . Be sure to check out the press release and video available after the jump. Gallery: Hyundai Equus Limo [Source: Hyundai] Continue reading Hyundai develops stretched Equus limo for home market [w/VIDEO] Hyundai develops stretched Equus limo for home market [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:29:00 EST.

Filed under: Concept Cars , Frankfurt Motor Show , Hybrid , Europe , Marketing/Advertising , Hatchback , Lexus , Design/Style , Luxury Lexus LF-Ch Concept - click above image for hi-res gallery Earlier this month at the Frankfurt Motor Show, we got our first glimpse at Lexus' LF-Ch , a five-door hatchback concept. The car is said to presage a premium hatchback model for Toyota's upscale line - but that model isn't likely to come to the U.S. - word is that the production model is being crafted with Europeans in mind. That's something of a pity considering how visually dynamic the LF-Ch is, but not unexpected considering the chilly sales reception premium hatchbacks have received in the States - Mini excepted. In any case, if you're interested in seeing something like the LF-Ch in American Lexus showrooms, while we would normally suggest that your best course of action would be to inundate Lexus with pleading love letters, syrupy poetry, and, well, whatever else you care to cram into an email or phone call, this time, Lexus has set up a feedback channel of sorts for the LF-Ch on its website. It's actually a survey that asks rather generic questions like "Which angle of the car do you like best?" and "Do you like the exterior color?" Yet it also asks meatier questions, like whether the showcar's five-door bodystyle is an attribute or a demerit, or whether hybrid technology for a car like the LF-Ch would be a deal-maker or a deal-breaker. Us? We're in favor of anything that might invigorate Lexus' traditionally safe-as-houses lineup. You refresh your memory by checking out our high-res below before clicking on the link below to tell Lexus how you feel. Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Lexus LF-Ch Concept Gallery: Lexus LF-Ch Concept [Source: Lexus ] Want to see a production LF-Ch make it to American showrooms?

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show - Click above for complete list of vehicles covered You're looking at a Porsche Panamera S with a trailer hitch. We're looking at an empty bottle of scotch and 11-hour plane rides. But never mind all that - what you really need to know is five hacks blogged over 60 posts and approximately ninety-billion photos in two days. Why so many cars? We're thinking that the OEMs had a ton of new metal lined-up pre-Great Recession then got spooked by the economic meltdown. Frankfurt proved to be a dumping ground for all the new stuff - or at least it felt that way. But hey, what's better than new cars? For us and you, not a whole lot. Follow the jump for a list of every car we covered in Frankfurt and discover exactly how we felt walking back to the hotel after being (almost) forcibly removed from the media room. At least you can't accuse us of not trying.

Filed under: Concept Cars , Frankfurt Motor Show , Hybrid , Hatchback , Toyota Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery And now for your viewing pleasure, we bring you these live shots of the Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept (seriously, could Toyota have come up with a longer name?). Technically, the vehicle shown in our image gallery below is listed as a concept car, but every indication is that it's not all that different than what will be rolling out of Burnaston factory in England sometime during the second half of 2010. We wouldn't necessarily count on the dash-mounted solar panels that feature trays to recharge your electronics - though, how cool would that be? - but the rooftop cells may make it into production to help keep the cabin cool on sunny days as a similar system already is optional on the 2010 Prius. In any case, Toyota's 1.8-liter four cylinder and Hybrid Synergy Drive ought to ensure stellar fuel economy and carbon emissions of below 100 g/km - both important considerations across the pond where gas is especially pricey and taxes are high. Hit the jump to reread the press release and refresh your memory on all the little concept-appropriate details. Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Toyota Auris Hybrid Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept needs a shorter name Frankfurt 2009: Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept needs a shorter name originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Coupe , Jaguar To put it mildly, sales of the Jaguar X-Type have never quite lived up to worldwide expectations, and that's especially true in the American market where the car did way more damage to the automaker's reputation that its middling sales numbers were ever worth. Jaguar is hoping that its upcoming XJ restores some of the leaping cat's lost luster, and if that happens, exciting prospects may very well open up for the classic British automaker. Not surprisingly, there are no plans to replace the X-Type in Jaguar's line, but there are a number of options that the automaker could explore for future automobiles - not the least of which is the rumored XE compact sportscar . Engineering chief Mick Mohan tells Autocar that another possibility would be an entry-level coupe that could sport a sticker price several thousand dollars under that of the XF: Personally, I'd love to make a compact coupe - an Audi A5 or BMW 3 Series coupe rival. There's plenty of profit to be made on those cars, and our aluminum platform technology gives us the opportunity to make one. I think we'd make a really good one too. One more interesting tidbit from Mohan is that Jaguar has absolutely no intention of following Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz into the crossover market. "Utility will never be what we're about", he says, and somehow, we're thankful for that. [Source: Autocar ] X-Type Redux? Jaguar reportedly considering entry-level coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:58:00 EST.

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show , Budget , Europe , Hatchback , Kia Kia Venga - Click above for high-res image gallery If you're going to ape the design of another automaker's product, it's best to choose one that's attractive. Therefore, we give Kia kudo points for making its Venga look something like a smoothed-over Ford Fiesta, a car we've gone on record multiple times as admiring. In any case, the Kia Venga is a somewhat derivative but all-in-all attractive take on the single-box hatchback bodystyle. If you're hoping to put a Venga in your driveway and you live in the United States, sorry to burst your bubble. While anything is possible, Kia has yet to give any indication that the Venga is headed Stateside. That being the case, feel free to gaze longingly at our gallery of live shots below. If you happen to live in Europe, all you need to do is wait a few months as the Venga is set to hit the showroom floor later this year. Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Kia Venga Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: Kia Venga is nice... and a little Fiesta-riffic to our eyes Frankfurt 2009: Kia Venga is nice... and a little Fiesta-riffic to our eyes originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:27:00 EST.

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show Frauleins of Frankfurt - Click above for high-res image gallery Yes, that's a Lamborghini in the picture above. We think. Could be a bar stool. As we do with every auto show, Autoblog is happy to present the one post that we're sure at least some of you have been waiting for since we touched down in Germany to cover the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show . It's time to honor those women (and one dude in a furry suit ) who are charged with keeping our attention focused on those vehicles they've been paid to lean against. These sirens of chrome (not our label, see here ) are sometimes controversial (are the women objectified, do we need this service anymore, who does their hair?), but always a pleasure to behold. Check out the gallery below for our roundup of an admittedly smaller group of car models than years past (damn global recession!). Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: The Frauleins of Frankfurt Frankfurt 2009: The Fraulein of Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Concept Cars , Frankfurt Motor Show , Renault , Alternative Fuel Renault Zero Emission line-up - Click above for high-res image gallery The more we see of Renault's all-electric line-up on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show , the more we want to hang out at company cocktail parties. Something delicious and potent must be on tap there. From the elegant and unexpected lines of the Zoe (above, note the recycle logo) to the buggy quirkiness of the Twizy , Renault is displaying some truly fun-looking electric cars here. Now if only these things were available to drive off the lot today, we'd really be getting somewhere. As we said yesterday when we got Renault's official pics , these cars demand a second look in high-res. Have at it in the gallery below. While you do, we'll hunt down more information on Renault's Quickdrop battery exchange station and what role Better Place has with the technology. Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Renault Twizy, Zoe, Kangoo and Fluence EVs Photos copyright (C)2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc. Frankfurt 2009: Renault goes Twizy (with Zoe and Fluence and Kangoo) originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show Frauleins of Frankfurt - Click above for high-res image gallery Yes, that's a Lamborghini in the picture above. We think. Could be a bar stool. As we do with every auto show, Autoblog is happy to present the one post that we're sure at least some of you have been waiting for since we touched down in Germany to cover the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show . It's time to honor those women (and one dude in a furry suit ) who are charged with keeping our attention focused on those vehicles they've been paid to lean against. These sirens of chrome (not our label, see here ) are sometimes controversial (are the women objectified, do we need this service anymore, who does their hair?), but always a pleasure to behold. Check out the gallery below for our roundup of an admittedly smaller group of car models than years past (damn global recession!). Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: The Frauleins of Frankfurt Frankfurt 2009: The Frauleins of Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Motorsports , Canada Felipe Massa passes the casino on Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve It's only been a year, but it's been a long one for Formula One fans in North America. Last year Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA canceled the Canadian Grand Prix - a regular fixture of the F1 calendar and the only stop the circus makes in North America - when race organizers and local governments rejected demands for increased fees. Negotiations failed to bring the race back, but following purported pressure from the remaining manufacturers in the series and renewed contact with officials on the ground, the race has been confirmed to return for next season. According to previous reports , Ecclestone's demand of $175 million to secure the race for several years was reduced to just $75 million, a price which supporting parties are apparently willing and able to pay in order to bring the grand prix back to the Gilles Villeneuve circuit. [Source: Autosport | Image: Paul Gilham/Getty] Return of the Prix: F1 confirmed back in Canada for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink