Watch Nissan’s Chicago Auto Show Press Conference Live Streaming Here

Watch Nissan’s Chicago Auto Show Press Conference Live Streaming Here
2016 Honda Pilot Makes Chicago Auto Show Debut
2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Accessories Design Concept is Dressed to Impress
Kia Trail’ster Concept Doubles up on Powertrains
Watch the 2016 Honda Pilot Debut Live Streaming Here
Subaru Legacy and Ford F-150 Win the Canadian Car and Utility of the Year Awards

Posted:

Nissan is looking to expand its NISMO lineup at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show.

The Japanese automaker has promised that it'll debut a "never-seen-before" NISMO model in Chicago which hints at the Altima or one of the company's crossovers getting the NISMO treatment. Luckily for those not near the Chicago Auto Show, Nissan will be live streaming its press conference on the Internet.

2015 Chicago Auto Show Coverage

Other confirmed vehicles making its attendance on behalf of Nissan is the new Titan XD while rumor has it the new Altima will also be unveiled.

Plus, Nissan will, for the first time ever, display its new GT-R LM NISMO race car!

Nissan's 2015 Chicago Auto Show press conference will start at 9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET on Thursday, February 12.

Discuss this story at our Nissan forum

Loading, please wait...

2016 Honda Pilot Makes Chicago Auto Show Debut

Posted:

Honda just took the wrapper off its latest Pilot SUV. This 2016 model is the nameplate's third generation and it's significantly improved, offering more cargo space, greater performance and improved fuel economy.

The first thing most drivers will notice about this crossover is the exterior. Honda is not typically known for its lusty styling and the current Pilot is about as boxy as the crate your refrigerator came in. But no more! The 2016 model is sleek and pleasantly attractive, with a smoothly flowing front end and plenty of tasteful design elements.

Of course that candy coating conceals a lot of wholesomeness within. The vehicle is about three inches longer than today's pilot, something that allowed for more storage space, particularly behind the third-row seat. Engineers also made it easier to get into and out of that rear-most bench.

Remarkably the 2016 Pilot is up to 300 pounds lighter than today's version. Engineers scrutinized and optimized everything they could in a bid to trim unwanted mass and it appears as though they've succeeded. Despite the weight loss it's still expected to be a safety leader. Honda estimates it will ace both NHTSA and IIHS crash tests.

Adding some glitz are optional LED projector headlamps with automatic high beams as well as available 20-inch wheels. Other premium items on the menu include a panoramic roof, heated and ventilated front seats and, in upper-level models, second-row captain's chairs.

Overall the cockpit is much improved. Materials are noticeably more premium and there's a host of new features. Honda has installed a ton of different ports to serve the needs of today's connected families. There are five USB outlets, an auxiliary jack, an HDMI port and more. Also, the vehicle sports a new Android-based infotainment system.

Complete 2015 Chicago Auto Show Coverage

Drivers can also get a whole range of advanced assistance technologies including things like lane-departure warning, collision mitigation braking, blind-spot monitoring and much more — pretty much all of the latest and greatest safety and convenience features.

Power is provided by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that's pumped up with direct fuel injection. Neither horsepower nor torque are available at this time but they will be greater than what's offered in today's Pilot. For reference its port-injected bent-six delivers 250 ponies and 253 lb-ft of peak twist.

Variable Cylinder Management shuts half of the engine's pots down when full power is not required in a bid to goose efficiency. Start/stop technology will also help slash consumption, though official economy figures are not available at this time.

Honda is offering two transmissions in the 2016 Pilot. Mercifully the base unit features six forward gears, replacing the outdated five-speed unit found in today's model. Higher trim variants benefit from an all-new nine-speed gearbox sourced from German supplier ZF. Both of these transmissions will improve fuel economy and performance. Customers can opt for either front- or all-wheel drive.

The 2016 Honda Pilot is scheduled to arrive at dealerships across the country this summer. Not surprisingly pricing information is not available at this time.

GALLERY: 2016 Honda Pilot Live Photos

GALLERY: 2016 Honda Pilot Official Photos

Discuss this on our Honda Pilot Forum

Loading, please wait...

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Accessories Design Concept is Dressed to Impress

Posted:

Perhaps as a way of teasing its loyal fans, or more likely just to keep itself at the top of everyone's news feeds Mazda unwrapped a special version of its new MX-5 Miata at the Chicago Auto Show.

Called the Accessories Design Concept this roadster is dressed to impress. It wears an aero kit that includes a new front air dam, side-sill extensions and a reworked rear. It's basically the same stuff that was found on the MX-5 Global Cup car that debuted at SEMA.

Brembo brakes with bright-red calipers stand in stark contrast to the body's metallic paint and undoubtedly give drivers fade-free stopping power, time after time after. Wispy-looking forged BBS wheels are slathered in black paint and wrapped in sticky 205/45R17 tires.

Complete 2015 Chicago Auto Show Coverage

The car also features a luggage rack so you can carry more than just a bag of oranges or half a case of bottled water. This accessory is made from carbon fiber, weighs less than two pounds and features an integrated CHMSL, that's shorthand for Center High Mount Stop Lamp.

The new MX-5 is shaping up to be an awesome little car and it's interesting what Mazda has done with this particular concept because. You see, back in 1989 the first-generation Miata actually made its global debut right here in Chicago. The 2016 model is slated to go on sale this summer.

Discuss this story on our Mazda Forum.

Loading, please wait...

Kia Trail’ster Concept Doubles up on Powertrains

Posted:

Kia pulled the wraps off of a new concept car in Chicago today, previewing a possible off-road capable version of the Soul.

The Trail'ster concept is based on the Soul, but with an extra 2.5 inches of ground clearance, aluminum skid plates to protect the under-body and an unusual powertrain that offers highly capable, but efficient all-wheel drive. It wears Pirelli Winter Carving tires that are 245 millimeters wide all around and meant for offering traction over sketchy surfaces like snow and mud.

Kia refers to its newest concept as a means for people who live in cities to escape their crowded environment in favor of spending time outside. Accordingly, the roof has a retractable cloth panel that offers some of the characteristics you might expect in a convertible.

But what really makes this concept special isn't visible from the outside, although it does carry a tougher look than the standard Soul.

2015 Chicago Auto Show Coverage

Instead, it has Kia's 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the hood to make 185 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque that it sends to the front wheels. Meanwhile, there's also an electric motor that can power the rear wheels under acceleration and as a regenerative brake to recoup power while the car is slowing down. The electric motor can carry the car under light acceleration without using any gasoline for an admittedly meager two to three miles, but otherwise it works beside the internal combustion engine for a total system output of 220 hp and 285 lb-ft of torque.

The two systems aren't mechanically linked and operate independently, which is something that Kia says will enhance fuel efficiency. While the Korean manufacturer didn't release specific fuel economy estimates, it said the concept can return approximately 25 to 30 percent better city fuel economy and 10 to 15 percent better highway consumption than the 2.0-liter gasoline-powered Soul.

Kia is keeping quiet about production plans for now, but it also looks much closer to being production ready than to other recent concept vehicles like the GT4 Stinger and Track'ster.

Discuss this story at our Kia Soul forum

Loading, please wait...

Watch the 2016 Honda Pilot Debut Live Streaming Here

Posted:

Honda will debut its newest Pilot at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show.

If you're anxious to see what the Japanese automaker has up its sleeves for the 2016 Pilot and you're not anywhere near Chicago, AutoGuide.com has you covered with a live stream of Honda's press conference from the 2015 Chicago Auto Show.

2015 Chicago Auto Show Coverage

The next-generation three-row crossover is expected to be slightly larger than the current model but will utilize the same 3.5-liter V6. The company has released a teaser image of the Pilot, which appears to move away from its boxy shape for something sleeker.

The Honda press conference will kick off at 7:30 AM PT / 10:30 AM ET on Thursday, February 12.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

  Discuss this story at our Honda Pilot forum

Loading, please wait...

Subaru Legacy and Ford F-150 Win the Canadian Car and Utility of the Year Awards

Posted:

After analyzing 1,640 test drives, 106,405 data points and 500 category ballots, the Automobile Journalist Association of Canada (AJAC) has announced the winners of the 2015 Canadian Car of the Year and 2015 Canadian Utility of the Year awards today in Toronto.

Every year AJAC members participate in the annual TestFest event to determine what are the best new vehicles on the market. This year saw 73 of Canada's top journalists evaluate the latest new cars, trucks and SUVs separated into 15 categories. The winners of each of these categories were trimmed down to four finalists for car of the year and three for utility of the year.

Last year the title of the 2014 Canadian Car of the Year went to the new Mazda6 sedan while the 2014 Jeep Cherokee took home the 2014 Utility of the year honors.

This year, the Canadian Car of the Year category finalists were the Mercedes-Benz C 300 4Matic, the Hyundai Genesis Sedan, the Subaru Legacy and the Volkswagen Golf. After all the votes were tallied, the Subaru Legacy took the honors as the 2015 Canadian Car of the Year.

In the Canadian Utility of the Year category, the finalists were the Ford F-150, Porsche Macan S and Subaru Outback. Taking the title of the 2015 Canadian Utility of the Year is the Ford F-150.

For more information on the AJAC organization and the evaluation process, visit AJAC.ca.

Loading, please wait...

Car Reviews

Thursday, 12 February 2015