Nik J Miles

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Lexus recently unwrapped a striking new hybrid 2+2 sport coupe that they shows the future design direction for Lexus and an emphasis on a driver-focused vehicles.

Penned by the Toyota Calty design studio in Newport Beach, Calif., the new LF-LC concept redefines the Lexus-look with avant-garde beauty and an emphasis on advanced technology, while remaining within reach  of typical premium buyers.

“The concept hybrid 2+2 liberates the idea of a sport coupe and pushes the boundaries of performance, style and technology,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. Read the rest of this entry »

Kia showed the latest version of their UVO eServices recently at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and debuted a new In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) concept, both which show the same type of innovation that has so quickly advanced Kia in the automotive market.

New for UVO is a telematics suite (“eServices”) powered by a free smartphone app.  It provides drivers with an innovative in-vehicle connectivity experience including navigation, diagnostics capabilities and added convenience features. Powered by Microsoft^® .

UVO is short for “Your Voice,” and provides consumers easy-to-use voice and touch-activated experiences to manage music files and hands-free mobile phone operation Read the rest of this entry »

 Buick will expand its luxury lineup early in 2013 when they add  the all-new Encore luxury small crossover.

“Buick Encore is a great-looking, smart choice for those who want luxury crossover amenities in a more maneuverable and agile vehicle,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing. “It represents a luxury alternative for a new audience of Buick customers, and delivers features and flexibility not typically found in vehicles of its size today.”

About the same size as an Audi A3 or a Scion xB, the Encore follows Buick’s global design language with sculpted and elegant styling traits – including sweeping character lines.  From first glance, there is no doubt that Encore looks like a Buick with features like the waterfall grille, chrome accents and surrounds, portholes on the hood and painted lower panels, similar to the Enclave. Read the rest of this entry »

Lincoln is showing and introducing some serious indications of the rebirth of the upscale brand with two models showing the technological and performance enhancements..

“If you want to drive the future of Lincoln, there’s the new MKS and MKT coming this spring. They signal the direction Lincoln is heading when it comes to delivering a refined and engaging driving experience.” said Scott Tobin, director, Lincoln Product Development. Read the rest of this entry »

Ford is trying to put the Ford back into the NASCAR with a new Sprint Cup car that closely resembles the new Ford Fusion.  Over the years, the NASCAR Cup cars have evolved to almost a generic look often with little resemblance to the original car.

There used to be a correlation between race cars and car sales with the idea “win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” Ford is hoping to reinforce that idea with the new design.  Unveiled recently at the Charlotte Motor Speedway the new Fusion was developed by Ford designers in an effort to bring brand identity back to the sport. The result is undeniable with the 2013 Sprint Cup car mirroring the recently unveiled 2013 Ford Fusion production car. Read the rest of this entry »

If history repeats itself, the striking new Honda Accord Coupe concept shown recently at the Detroit and Chicago auto shows should be a close rendition of the final product when it arrives at dealerships in the fall.

Described as athletic and muscular, the exterior has a distinctive wedge shape and complex sculptured sides.  The front has a revised four-sided honeycomb grille and deeply set multi-reflector headlights. The rear taillights sweep around to the side panel for better visibility and a trunk -lid spoiler follows a natural extension of the sculpted sides.  The rear end is finished with large exhaust finishers on either side of a rear grille.

This ninth generation Accord coupe is available with two all-new powertrains including Honda’s new Earth Dream a 181-hp, 2.4-liter i-VTEC® four-cylinder direct injection engine.  The engine is mated with either a six-speed manual transmission or new Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Read the rest of this entry »

Chevrolet has gone into a unique partnership with its customers on its two most recent concept coupes, the Code 130R and Tru 140S.

According to U.S. Census data, there are 80 million American consumers approaching 30. They represent 40 percent of today’s potential car-buying public and a combined $1 trillion in purchasing power.

To help tap into that gigantic market, Chevrolet has conversed with young consumers across the United States, over the past year.  Based on their feedback, the Chevrolet concepts explore the styling and functionality this group of new buyers says they are looking for in a car.  Read the rest of this entry »

Nissan has sent the rugged Nissan Pathfinder away to one of those fancy finishing schools, and it’s back with a new level of sophistication, comfort, fuel-efficiency and innovative technology.

Available at dealers in fall 2012, Pathfinder is one of 20 new or redesigned products Nissan has scheduled for dealers in the next two years.

“Nissan is in a great position today. Sales are up, market share is increasing and our dealers have a great selection of 2012 Nissan cars, trucks and SUVs in inventory,” said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. “This new Pathfinder Concept is just the beginning of a far-reaching wave of new products on the horizon for Nissan. By the end of 2012, more than 70 percent of our sales volume will be all-new or redesigned.” Read the rest of this entry »

Cadillac is chewing off a very big bite this summer as it goes after the venerable BMW 3 Series with a smaller sedan called the ATS.  New from the ground up, ATS starts with an all-new lightweight architecture and then creates new bodywork, which has a strong resemblance to the popular CTS.  In fact, unless you compare the ATS and CTS piece by piece, you swear might just be a restyled CTS, although it does look a little smaller.

The rear-drive ATS sedan is aimed squarely at the BMW with further intentions of taking a bite out of the C-Class Mercedes-Benz, Audi A4, Lexus IS and Infiniti G37 sales.  Built with a blend of the latest technologies and with an eye on the Cadillac’s continuing effort to be among the world’s best driver cars, the ATS has the benefit of starting with one of the lowest curb weights (under 3,400 pounds) in the smaller sport sedan segment. Read the rest of this entry »

The 2013 Focus Electric is the first Ford vehicle to have an interior made from 100 percent clean technology.  Its seats are made from REPREVE®-based fabrics, which are made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET).  It takes about 22 recycled bottles to make the fabric for the Focus seats.

“Ford is committed to delivering vehicles with leading fuel efficiency while targeting at least 25 percent clean technology in interior materials across our lineup,” says Carol Kordich, lead designer of Sustainable Materials for Ford. “The Focus Electric highlights this commitment as Ford’s first gas-free vehicle, and the first in the automotive industry to use branded REPREVE.” Read the rest of this entry »