2013 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SUV Announced For Global Markets

The TrailBlazer is set to return following an announcement by Chevrolet this morning that a new-generation of its popular mid-size SUV is planned, though it may not be sold in the U.S.

Chevrolet plans to introduce the new TrailBlazer as a 2013 model early next year, but so far sales in only global markets have been confirmed.

There is one factor that bodes well for the new TrailBlazer’s chances in the U.S. It will be based on the redesigned Colorado pickup truck destined for production and sale in local showrooms sometime next year.

This platform, developed by GM engineers in Brazil, is available in both rear-drive and all-wheel drive variants and can be powered by either gasoline or diesel engines.  

Pictured above is a teaser of the new 2013 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, which will make its official world debut at the 2011 Dubai Motor Show next month.

Stay tuned for an update.

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2012 Murano and Murano CrossCabriolet Pricing Announced

2010 Nissan Murano

Newsletter Stay up to date on car reviews, buying guides, articles and more

We have good news and bad news. The good news is that Nissan has just announced pricing for the 2012 edition of the popular Murano crossover. The bad news is that the automaker has also announced pricing for the 2012 Murano CrossCabriolet, which is perhaps the most-hated vehicle on the American market.

But good news first: pricing for the 2012 Murano will begin at $29,290 for the front-wheel drive S model. Tack on things like 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, a new Nissan Navigation System, and an exclusive Sapphire Black paint job, and the price will go up a bit. At the top of the line sits the 2012 Murano LE with all-wheel drive, which rings in at $39,900. In-between those two, you'll find six other models: the Murano S AWD, Murano SV FWD, Murano SV AWD, Murano SL FWD, Murano SL AWD, and Murano LE FWD. All eight variants come with a new paint option for 2012: Pearl White.

And now the bad news: Nissan is still producing the Murano CrossCabriolet, which Nissan has described as "the world's first all-wheel drive crossover convertible" and critics have described as "an artichoke with wheels". In fact, the Murano CrossCabriolet is widely believed to be the most hated car of 2011. (That's quite an accomplishment, since we're just wrapping up September.)

If there's a silver lining to be found here, it's that there's only one version of the CrossCabriolet, which will make its demise much quicker when death surely comes. That one model clocks in at $44,540 -- no small potatoes for a vehicle that's been beaten up for its poor performance on the road and its distinctly offbeat looks.

Since the CrossCabriolet is just a couple of months old, there aren't many changes between the 2011 and 2012 versions, though Nissan's Hard Drive Navigation System now comes as a standalone option, and like its more attractive older sister, the 2012 Murano CrossCabriolet also comes in Pearl White.

Both the 2012 Nissan Murano and the 2012 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet are now available at dealers nationwide. 

View the original article here

2012 Murano and Murano CrossCabriolet Pricing Announced

2010 Nissan Murano

Newsletter Stay up to date on car reviews, buying guides, articles and more

We have good news and bad news. The good news is that Nissan has just announced pricing for the 2012 edition of the popular Murano crossover. The bad news is that the automaker has also announced pricing for the 2012 Murano CrossCabriolet, which is perhaps the most-hated vehicle on the American market.

But good news first: pricing for the 2012 Murano will begin at $29,290 for the front-wheel drive S model. Tack on things like 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, a new Nissan Navigation System, and an exclusive Sapphire Black paint job, and the price will go up a bit. At the top of the line sits the 2012 Murano LE with all-wheel drive, which rings in at $39,900. In-between those two, you'll find six other models: the Murano S AWD, Murano SV FWD, Murano SV AWD, Murano SL FWD, Murano SL AWD, and Murano LE FWD. All eight variants come with a new paint option for 2012: Pearl White.

And now the bad news: Nissan is still producing the Murano CrossCabriolet, which Nissan has described as "the world's first all-wheel drive crossover convertible" and critics have described as "an artichoke with wheels". In fact, the Murano CrossCabriolet is widely believed to be the most hated car of 2011. (That's quite an accomplishment, since we're just wrapping up September.)

If there's a silver lining to be found here, it's that there's only one version of the CrossCabriolet, which will make its demise much quicker when death surely comes. That one model clocks in at $44,540 -- no small potatoes for a vehicle that's been beaten up for its poor performance on the road and its distinctly offbeat looks.

Since the CrossCabriolet is just a couple of months old, there aren't many changes between the 2011 and 2012 versions, though Nissan's Hard Drive Navigation System now comes as a standalone option, and like its more attractive older sister, the 2012 Murano CrossCabriolet also comes in Pearl White.

Both the 2012 Nissan Murano and the 2012 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet are now available at dealers nationwide. 

View the original article here

2012 Murano and Murano CrossCabriolet Pricing Announced

2010 Nissan Murano

Newsletter Stay up to date on car reviews, buying guides, articles and more

We have good news and bad news. The good news is that Nissan has just announced pricing for the 2012 edition of the popular Murano crossover. The bad news is that the automaker has also announced pricing for the 2012 Murano CrossCabriolet, which is perhaps the most-hated vehicle on the American market.

But good news first: pricing for the 2012 Murano will begin at $29,290 for the front-wheel drive S model. Tack on things like 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, a new Nissan Navigation System, and an exclusive Sapphire Black paint job, and the price will go up a bit. At the top of the line sits the 2012 Murano LE with all-wheel drive, which rings in at $39,900. In-between those two, you'll find six other models: the Murano S AWD, Murano SV FWD, Murano SV AWD, Murano SL FWD, Murano SL AWD, and Murano LE FWD. All eight variants come with a new paint option for 2012: Pearl White.

And now the bad news: Nissan is still producing the Murano CrossCabriolet, which Nissan has described as "the world's first all-wheel drive crossover convertible" and critics have described as "an artichoke with wheels". In fact, the Murano CrossCabriolet is widely believed to be the most hated car of 2011. (That's quite an accomplishment, since we're just wrapping up September.)

If there's a silver lining to be found here, it's that there's only one version of the CrossCabriolet, which will make its demise much quicker when death surely comes. That one model clocks in at $44,540 -- no small potatoes for a vehicle that's been beaten up for its poor performance on the road and its distinctly offbeat looks.

Since the CrossCabriolet is just a couple of months old, there aren't many changes between the 2011 and 2012 versions, though Nissan's Hard Drive Navigation System now comes as a standalone option, and like its more attractive older sister, the 2012 Murano CrossCabriolet also comes in Pearl White.

Both the 2012 Nissan Murano and the 2012 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet are now available at dealers nationwide. 

View the original article here

T-Mobile Announced As Data Provider For U.S. Audi Connect Services

Source: AllCarTech.com

Luxury brand announces its technological sophistication by partnering with AT&T's now-downwardly-mobile 'cheap brand.'

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For those of us who have already been reading seemingly endless reports and speculation about the proposed merging of operations of two major U.S. cellular providers, it was hard not to see Audi's apparently-only-ill-timed release as that.

Audi gave the official nod to T-Mobile as its official U.S. service provider for its Audi Connect navigation and infotainment system—the day after it was announced that cellular provider AT&T had offered to buy T-Mobile from Deutsche Telekom for $39 billion.

The automaker says that it chose T-Mobile for its reliable network, leadership in telematics, and strong record for customer satisfaction. Of course, that latter assurance now...well...needs some new assurance.

Last month, Audi revealed that the Internet connection the A8 gets uses that new LTE data connectivity standard, which allows higher data-transfer speeds of up to 100 Mbits per second—more than six times faster than standard 3G. The speed could in theory be used to stream video to the vehicle.

While most analysis so far has concluded that the deal can only be a bad thing for consumers, the AT&T-and-T-Mobile deal might actually be a good thing for high-speed data applications like this—if early speculation proves correct. As mentioned by the Dallas Morning News, AT&T plans to repurpose all of T-Mobile's existing 3G frequencies for 4G LTE—which could give AT&T subscribers a big boost in data speed and reliability, to the disappointment of T-Mobile customers who recently purchased smartphones. But with SIM cards that could easily be swapped out for AT&T, that could be a good deal in the end for Audi.

With Audi Connect's roll-out, on the all-new 2012 Audi A7, the system will include Google Earth, Google Local Search, and Sirius Traffic Information with Google Earth imagery. Users can get real-time news, weather, and fuel prices in addition to the traffic info, and the system can be turned into a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The system uses a 'ruggedized,' enhanced SIM card that inserts into the MMI Navigation Plus system. SIM cards come with the vehicle and they can easily be activated at any time during or after a six-month free trial.

Audi Connect will be available in the 2012 A7 this year, along with the 2012 Audi A8 this summer, as well as the 2012 Audi A6 and Q7 models. The upcoming Q5 Hybrid and other future models will also have Audi Connect, says the brand.

The press release from Audi, released more than a day after the communications-company news broke, didn't acknowledge the deal.

[Audi]

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