2007 Automotive Sneak Peek, Part 2!
Months ago, in a related article, I covered five new or revised
car models set to be launched on the North American market. The
Jaguar XK, Saturn Sky, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Land Rover Freelander,
and Dodge Nitro are already in showrooms or soon to make their
appearance there. Beyond these five there are quite a number of
other models also being planned and some have already been
released. Let's take a look at five more models catching the
attention of auto enthusiasts everywhere.
Nissan Versa - Yes, Nissan has its own Scion fighter
planned and just in time too as two other cars, the Honda Fit
and Toyota Yaris, will also be making their debut in the fast
crowding Generation "Y" category. The Versa looks more like a
Toyota Matrix as opposed to the bread box looking Scion xB.
Available as a four door sedan or five door hatchback, the car
will come equipped not stripped and include an AM/FM/CD sound
system, air conditioning, 6 speed manny tranny, and power
mirrors as standard equipment. Best of all, the roomy Versa will
be priced at about $12,000, right in Scion territory.
Saturn Aura - Finally, General Motors is paying some
serious attention to Saturn, its "sometime" division. Now that
Oldsmobile is out of the way, GM appears ready to take a look at
how best to position the Saturn brand. Thanks to GM's European
division, Opel, Saturn looks as if it will benefit from a few
new models and the Aura sedan is one of them. Powered by a 3.6L
V6, the Aura is shapely, stylish, and much more inviting than
its "L Series" predecessor which was also Opel inspired.
Dodge Caliber - Dodge's Neon replacement goes where no
small Dodge has gone before it. The five door wagon/hatchback
sits on beefy 19 inch wheels and incorporates the aggressive
Dodge crosshairs grille so popular on all of its vehicles. Three
engine choices including 1.8L, 2.0L, and 2.4L I4s set the
vehicle apart from the crowd. Dodge will be marketing the car
well beyond North America in DCX's quest to spread the Dodge
brand worldwide. With a base price around $14,000 the Caliber
will be competitive. Still, a Mexican built Scion like "Hornet"
will likely become the entry level car within a few years as DCX
prepares to take on Scion and the coming cheaply priced Chinese
cars.
Volkswagen Minivan - A yet to be named minivan will soon
be marketed by Volkswagen. Not much has to be done by VW to
prepare for the vehicle's arrival as it will be a rebadged
version of Chrysler's successful minivans, the Caravan and Town
& Country. Yes, VW is turning to its German competitor to fill a
void in its line up. For its part, VW will be sharing technology
with DCX in the form of the Scion like Dodge Hornet to be built
in Mexico. The Hornet will be based on the VW Polo, another
vehicle that may be imported to the US market.
Ford Edge - The crossover market heats up with the
introduction of the Ford Edge. Marketed between the Escape and
Explorer, the Edge will be powered by a 3.5L V6 and be available
as front wheel drive people mover or in all wheel drive. Lincoln
gets a gussied up version of the Edge called the Aviator.
Other vehicles being introduced include full size trucks and
SUVs for General Motors, the Saturn Sky convertible, a revamped
Toyota Camry, and new offerings from Kia, Hyundai, and Honda.
The choices for consumers continues to broaden and model year
2007 will be no exception.