http://www.autoinsidernews.com insider news for the auto enthusiast Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:44:02 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Mazda is considering another crossover that will slot in beneath the CX-7, according to U.K.'s Auto Express. The new compact crossover, likely to be called the CX-5, will be inspired by the Hakaze that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. Featuring a distinctive grille and sporty profile inspired by Hakaze, the ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/23/mazda-considering-hakaze-inspired-cx-5/ Canadian supplier Magna International and an unnamed private equity group have placed a bid for the Chrysler Group, according to KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Brett Hoselton. The bid for Chrysler is worth approximately $4.7 billion. Given most analysts stating that Chrysler is worth anywhere from nothing to around $13 billion, ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/23/magna-offers-47-billion-for-chrysler/ Following the unveiling of its M3 Concept at the Geneva Motor Show, BMW has revealed details of the M3's new V8 powerplant. The first eight-cylinder for the BMW M3 will deliver 420-hp from just 4.0L. Not only is the new V8 more powerful than the outgoing inline 6 cylinder, it is ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/22/bmw-details-new-420-hp-v8-for-next-m3/ Ford will unveil the production version of its Fairlane people mover concept (shown) at the New York Auto Show. The production model will be called the Flex, when it makes its debut on April 4th. The Flex is designed to help replace Ford's minivans that were discontinued last year. The Flex ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/22/production-ford-fairlane-crossover-to-be-called-flex/ Bob Lutz, General Motors product guru, has confirmed plans for a new Cadillac V12-powered flagship sedan. The new sedan is expected to be inspired by the popular Cadillac Sixteen coupe car, and will compete with the Mercedes S-Class and Lexus LS. Lutz said in an interview that GM's Holden division is ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/22/lutz-confirms-v12-powered-cadillac-flagship/ Honda has said that it will recall about 165,000 2005-06 model year vehicles in the United States to fix a potential engine problem. The vehicles being recalled include 2005 models of the Acura RL, TL and TSX sedans, 2005 Honda Accord coupes, sedans and hybrids, 2005 Odyssey minivans and 2006 ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/21/honda-recalls-165000-cars-and-trucks-in-the-us/ BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has confirmed that the automaker is still considering a small crossover that would be positioned below the X3. Tentatively called the X1, the new crossover would ride on the 1-Series platform. According to an interview in German magazine AutoZeitung, Reithofer said the vehicle is expected by ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/21/bmw-considering-x1-small-crossover/ Volkswagen announced that its new special edition Wolfsburg Edition Passat is now available at dealers nationwide. Volkswagen will build approximately 6,000 of the special edition Passats. The Wolfsburg Edition Passat is powered by a 2.0L 200-hp turbocharged engine mated a six-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission. Each special edition Passat sedan includes unique ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/21/volkswagen-announces-wolfsburg-edition-passat/ As we have previously reported, BMW will expand its 1-Series with coupe and convertible versions. Spy photographers have snapped the best shots yet of the coupe variant of the BMW 1-Series during testing in Munich. There are rumors of a version powered by BMW's new 3.0L twin-turbo, and possibly an M ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/21/spy-shots-bmw-1-series-coupe-2/ Over the last month, Saab has taken prototypes of its facelifted 9-3 out for cold weather testing, and we've shown spy shots of both wagon and convertible models. Spy photographers have once again caught a prototype of the facelifted 9-3 Convertible during testing. Featuring the same Aero X-inspired front end ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/21/spy-shots-facelifted-2008-saab-9-3-convertible-2/ Last month, we saw the first spy shots of Ford's all-new lifestyle crossover, which is inspired by the Iosis X concept. Spy photographers have again caught the crossover during cold weather testing, and have even put together an illustration of what the crossover could look like. Inspired by the Iosis X, ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/20/spy-shots-2009-ford-iosis-x-crossover/ General Motors has announced the 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid will have a starting base price of $22,695, including destination, which just makes it the lowest-priced hybrid on the market for 2007, undercutting the Toyota Prius by $100 and the Honda Civic Hybrid by $500. The IRS has certified ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/20/saturn-prices-2007-aura-green-line-hybrid/ Last week, Hyundai announced it would add a second engine plant at its assembly facility in Montgomery, Alabama, but there was no announcement what the engine plant would produce. With the current engine plant in Montgomery building Hyundai's V6 used in the Sonata and Santa Fe, we figured the plant ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/19/hyundai-to-build-four-cylinder-gema-engines-in-alabama/ We've seen several shots of BMW's mystery roadster that has sparked much debate among auto spies as to this car's identity. While many thought this was BMW's SL-challenging Z9 (or Z6) roadster, there are others that think this is the next-generation Z4. The next Z4 is expected to grow to ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/19/spy-shots-more-top-down-shots-of-bmws-z4/ Kia is preparing a new concept that the automaker will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year. According to Auto Express, the new concept will go head-to-head with the Audi TT. The car's designer is none other than Kia's new European design head, Peter Schreyer, who was responsible ... http://www.autoinsidernews.com/2007/03/19/kia-concept-targets-audi-tt/