click above image to view high-res gallery of the 2008 Pontiac G6 GXP
Do you love it or hate it? Either way, you’ll need to fork over some extra cash if stepping up to the new top model in Pontiac’s G6 line up, the G6 GXP. The 2008 Pontiac GXP Coupe will start at $26,595 and the sedan version will base at $26,795. Both prices include a delivery fee of $650.
If you’re really daring, you can hand the dealer another $990 for the Street Edition Package that violates all manner of civilized taste. Included in the Street package is a “hammerhead” spoiler that could easily seat two for lunch, as well as all sorts of “scoops and bezels” on the hood. As far as we can tell the G6 GXP comes with that garish nose regardless of whether you choose the Street Edition Package.
The front-wheel drive G6 GXP comes with GM’s 3.6L V6 producing 252 horsepower and 251 ft-lbs of torque and a six-speed automatic transmission. That should be enough to squirt the car past that chuckling mob of onlookers, although push it too hard and torque steer might drive you right into them. The car’s also feature a performance-tuned suspension and 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. If you can’t tell, we’re not big fans of the G6 GXP’s styling, but otherwise it’s got some decent hardware to back up being labeled a GXP car.
[Source: Inside Line]
The Saturn Astra may be the most exciting all-new small car to hit US shores in some time. The Opel version of the Astra is one of the most popular compacts in Europe, which is saying something when you consider all the great small cars available overseas. While Europeans are OK with paying a premium for smaller vehicles, we in the US tend to equate value with size or performance, so price point is key.
To see if the Astra is priced right for you, go no further than the Saturn website, where a mini-brochure awaits your perusal. While priced higher than entry vehicles from Honda, Toyota, and Ford, the Astra will focus on refinement and features instead of volume. The base XE five-door will sell for $15,995, the upscale XR five-door retails for $17,545, and the option-rich three-door stickers at $18,495. Options include 18′ rims (three door only), stability control, and a dual panel sunroof. The entry price is still a little higher than the competition, but with gas prices affecting buyer’s decisions, now is as good a time as any for the General to unleash the Astra on the buying public. From everything we’ve heard, the Astra should be far superior to any small car GM has ever produced for US consumption, and that’s a good thing.
[Source: Saturn]
Gallery: 2008 Saturn Astra
click above image for 50 high-res pics of the 2008 Honda Accord Sedan
During the night, Honda opened the flood gates and officially unveiled the 2008 Honda Accord, the eighth generation of the automaker’s perennial best-seller. There’s too much new stuff to talk about, so we’ll hit the highlights here and you can check out Honda’s exhaustive press release after the jump.
The Accord for 2008 is available as a sedan, which has grown large enough to be classified a large car by the EPA, or a coupe. There are three basic engines available, including a 3.5L iVTEC V6 producing 273 horsepower and 250 ft-lbs. of torque. Do the math and you’ll realize the ‘08 Accord with this engine is the most powerful Honda ever produced. It also features a new Variable Cylinder Management system when ordered in the sedan that can power the vehicle on three, four or all six cylinders to achieve an excellent 19/29 mpg. The other two mills are a 2.4L inline-four producing 200 horsepower/170 ft-lbs., and another 2.4L producing 180 horsepower/166 ft-lbs. All models of the ‘08 Accord can be ordered with a five-speed automatic, while four-cylinder models can also be had with a 5-speed manual transmission, and the V6 Coupe can be optioned with a six-speed manual.
Read on after the jump for more.
[Source: Honda]
Gallery: 2008 Honda Accord
Continue reading 2008 Honda Accord unveiled!
Reports are coming in that BMW will be launching an all-wheel-drive 335xi Coupe sometime in the first half of next year. It will be the first time all four wheels will be powered on a 3-Series coupe, and the car will stand as a direct competitor to Audi’s A5 Quattro coupe. Being coupled with BMW’s 300-hp twin-turbo inline-six means the 335xi Coupe can reach 60 mph in 5.2 seconds for the manual version (0.1 second quicker than the RWD model) and 5.3 seconds for the automatic (0.2 seconds quicker than the RWD model). It turns out the additional traction more than compensates for the extra weight of BMW’s xDrive AWD system. We hear the base price will be $42,600, which we assume is in USD since it falls right above the $40,800 starting price of the 335i (shown) in the U.S.
[Source: edBMWBlog]
