Although the Geneva Motor Show is still ongoing, many car makers are already planning for the next major even – the New York International Auto Show. The car manufacturer already made a major announcement about what car enthusiasts can look forward to at the said event, which is the official debut of the Acura TSX Sport Wagon.

Here’s what Acura has to say:

All-New Acura TSX Sport Wagon to Debut at New York International Auto Show

Acura announced it will debut the all-new 2011 TSX Sport Wagon at the New York International Auto Show. The TSX Sport Wagon will offer a new solution to modern utility needs with its balanced and efficient performance coupled with bold styling and versatile cargo capabilities.

Arriving at Acura dealerships in the late fall, the Sport Wagon will join the TSX lineup, which already includes the 4-cylinder and V6-powered sports sedans.

The TSX Sport Wagon will be introduced at the New York International Auto Show on March 31, 2010 in the Acura booth. The press conference will be webcast live, followed by a Q&A on Twitter via @Acura_Insider.

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Ford has unveiled a wagon version of its Ford Focus. This model was first seen at the Geneva Auto Show. The wagon is the third body style that the Ford Focus comes available in. The first two are the sedan and the hatchback.

It’s just too bad for the American market though, because it will only get the sedan and hatchback versions. The Ford Focus wagon is aimed for other market around the globe.  It’s really too bad because the wagon version looks fantastic! I’ve never been excited about a car in a long time and this one just does that!

Take a look at these pictures:

Photo Credit: Kicking Tire

The 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show is also a time for wagons to shine! Can you take a guess which auto maker has unveiled a winning wagon? It’s none other than one of the auto enthusiasts’ favorite – Mercedes-Benz! The 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon is a beauty, if I might say so. If appearance is all that matters, this particular model looks like the perfect vehicle for the family.

It’s fit for family use because of its size. The cargo volume alone measures 68 cubic feet. It is also equipped with Mercedes’ E350 4matic that is capable of generating 268-horsepower. This 3.5-liter V-6 engine is matched with a seven-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive system. Of course handling is not neglected as its maker installed the suspension system with new Agility Control with active damping and self-leveling rear. Other useful technology features to come with this device are the collision warning system and the new Attention Assist system. Users will have a great and easy time navigating this baby through the traffic.

This will be the only available trim when the E-class wagon goes on sale early next year. However, the pricing for this model has not yet been revealed. A quote is likely to be released when the availability date is nearer.

Photo Credit: Kickingtires

Just because it’s a family car doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to be drab! Families can opt for a stylish and even an ostentatious ride if that is what their hearts desires. A great option for families is the upcoming 2010 Ford Grand C-Max that’s been recently unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show that’s taking place right at this moment. Even though it’s not yet been officially unveiled, photos of this model have been circulating the net for quite some time already.

And I must say, based from the pictures I’ve seen, the 2010 Ford Grand C-Max looks wonderful! It looks very compact for a seven-seater. Yup, it is designed to be a people hauler. It has a somewhat pointed front end. The sloping hood goes on to the big grille. The grille and air intake looks kind of big but maybe Ford is aiming to make engine cooling more convenient. However, the slanting headlight looks quite attractive and reliable. Ford calls it a “kinetic design.”

The 2010 Ford Grand C-Max is based on the company’s C-platform architecture. The C-max will get its power from the new 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder. Comfort and luxury can be found within its interior. It has a button-intensive dash that is dominated by a massive control knob that manages a small display screen.

The Ford Grade C-Max is unveiled together with its brother, the Ford C-Max. They share almost the same features, except for the size and its passenger capacity. While the Grand C-Max is a seven-seater vehicle, the C-Max on the other hand is a five-seater model.

What do you think of the Grand C-Max? Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts here!

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For anyone looking for an economical family car, the 2010 VW Jetta Sportwagen is a great option. You can’t complain about its appearance because it bears the new design that Volkswagen Chief Walter de’Silva is introducing. Jetta Sportwagen features a catchier front end. Bystanders will immediately notice the much neater headlight-grille arrangement that highlights the horizontal lines. Ad it’s not only the exterior that has a new look; the interior also bears some touchups. Only premium-quality materials are used in the interior. You’ll see that in the seats and the linings.

The 2010 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen also delivers great performance that is just right for family use. Different engines are offered in the models that are intended for the European and U.S. markets.

For Europe, the Jetta will have In Europe, the new model is offered with a naturally aspirated, 80-hp, 1.4-liter four; a 122-hp, turbocharged 1.4-liter; a 105-hp, 1.6-liter turbo-diesel; and a 140-hp, 2.0-liter turbo-diesel. A naturally aspirated, 102-hp, 1.6-liter engine will be added later, along with VW’s highly complex, 160-hp, 1.4-liter TSI engine. On the other hand, the U.S. model will retain its 2.5-liter 5-cylinder and 200hp 2.0-liter 4cylinder engine.

The new Jetta Sportwagen is hoped to be released during the 3rd quarter of this year.

Photo Credit: Autospectator

If you want to have an idea as to what the safest vehicle is, don’t ask common car owners. Trust only what the experts’ say. And experts say that the Hyundai i20 is one of the safest vehicles in the market today. The Euro NCAP awarded the Hyundai i20 a maximum 5-Star score because of its exceptional scores in adult occupancy, child protection, pedestrian protection, and safety assist.

Having this award is a great achievement for Hyundai, especially for its supermini segment where the i20 is a part. Hyundai Motor Europe Vice President Allan Rushforth said, “This is a proud moment for Hyundai. The i20’s five-star rating is recognition of our commitment to providing customers with superior quality and top-class safety. Across our range we offer exceptional levels of life-saving equipment as standard, and we continue to research and develop new ways to protect drivers and occupants of Hyundai cars.”

The Hyundai i20 five-door model is really built with excellent safety features so it’s not surprising that it was given the maximum rating. Adult occupants will really be kept safe using the standard active head-restraints, front seatbelt pretensioners, and six airbags. It also has some of the best safety assist systems and devices like the Electronic Stability program (ESP), which reduces the risk of skidding.

Congratulations Hyundai!

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The wagon is an advantageous vehicle to have if you constantly have to lug lots of people in addition to the cargoes. But of course, style shouldn’t be sacrificed even though you want those kinds of functionalities. Meeting all these needs is the 2008 Suzuki Forenza wagon.

The Forenza wagon adds 6.9 cubic feet more luggage space. And with the rear seats folded down, 42.5 cubic feet is added. Because of this capacity, stowing large cargo into the large hatch opening is made easier. Aside from the cargo space, passenger space is also huge. Headroom and legroom is never a problem.

The 2008 Suzuki Forenza wagon is actually offered in two trims – Base and Convenience. Both the base and the Convenience trims offer a 2.0L I4, 16-valve engine that produces 127 horsepower at 5600 rpm. This engine is matched with a 5-speed manual transmission. It has good fuel economy rating from EPA – 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. They differ in the standard features.

Some of the standard features that they have in common are the braking and traction that is made of front power vented disc and rear power solid disc brakes, dual front and side airbags, tire pressure monitoring system, six-speaker CD stereo, air conditioning, 15-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, and power amenities. These power amenities include the windows, door locks, and heated exterior mirrors. The Convenience trim has steering wheel-mounted audio controls and remote keyless entry with security system.

The 2008 Forenza wagons attraction is not only on the inside. Outside you’ll find silver-painted roof rails, color-keyed front and rear bumpers, multi-reflector jewel-type headlamps. Daytime running lamps are also installed for better navigation. Color-keyed door handles are also in place for convenience.

The 2008 Suzuki Forenza is a very viable option for the purpose of hauling a number of passengers and cargo at the same time.

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With the many automobile styles available today, it’s not surprising that some people are already confused about them. Take for example the station wagon. Some people mistake this for a hatchback and even an SUV! To avoid making such a mistake again, we will explore the station wagon’s world – the types, the characteristics, and advantages over other vehicle styles.

The station wagon or wagon is a passenger car whose body style is similar to a sedan. The big and most glaring difference it has from other vehicle styles is its extended rear cargo area that ends with a more vertical door.  Many station wagons are only modified sedan-type car bodies. The roofline is extended to be more curved and have the full height of the passenger cabin. Another marked characteristic of the station wagon is its rear door that extends up to the rear bumper. And this rear door is usually hinged at the top.

History

The station wagons of today are so much different from those produced in the 1940s. At that time, station wagons were made of wooden materials, which was disadvantageous because of the excessive noise they produced and the constant maintenance that they need. Then, in 1946 the first all-steel station wagon was built. This was the Jeep Station Wagon. After that many other brands – Chevrolet, Plymouth, and Dodge – followed suit.

As time went on, the wagons improved. The full-sized station wagons produced after 1964 were made to accommodate 6-9 passengers. The seating arrangement was three passengers in front, three in the rear on the bench-type seats. A third bench seat is installed to seat a total of nine persons. Nowadays, station wagons are built on smaller platforms so you’ll usually see them accommodating five to six passengers only.

Aside from the full-sized wagons, some manufacturers also developed two-door wagons which were basically made with solid panels instead of rear side windows. Most of the two-door wagons were used as delivery cars back then.

From bulky designs, the station wagons evolved into the beauty they are today. As you can see, the wagons cruising along the highways are more streamlined and compact than their predecessors. 

Advantage

One of the most obvious advantages of a station wagon is its huge cargo capacity. It enhances a vehicle’s cargo space without changing the car’s basic form. Even though a wagon is considerably bigger than a sedan, it still offers similar driving dynamics.

With these cited information do you think you’ll be able to easily distinguish a station wagon from the rest of the automobile styles out there today? Well, I hope so.

Leave a message if you find this post useful!

Photo Credit: Emercedesbenz

Are you in the market for a new family car? Why don’t you try the new 2009 Saab 9-3 Wagon? This is one of the most affordable full-size wagons available in the market today. And on top of its affordable price, the 2009 Saab 9-3 Wagon has high ratings in reliability and safety. Saab actually calls this model the SportCombi because it is a wagon that looks like a sport sedan. It totally has new front and rear styling. The rear has clear tail lamp as accent to complement the edgier front end.

The Saab 9-3 Wagon SportCombi comes in two trims – the base 2.0T and the high-performance Aero. These two models have varying features.
• Base Model – Has 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 210 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. This comes with a optional Premium Package which consists of a rear obstacle-detection, power passenger seat, memory system, wood interior trim, and Xenon headlamps with fog lamps. Moonroof, heated seats, navigation, roof rails, 17” wheels, and premium leather trim for all the seats.

• Aero – Is equipped with a 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 engine that generates 255 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Other features of the Aero is a unique bodykit with dual visible exhaust outlets, more aggressive tow-tone seats, aluminum interior trim, 17” alloy wheels and a lowered, stiffened sport suspension. This also includes a Bose audio system with a CD changer, a power passenger seat, power passenger seat, and a power moonroof, and Xenon headlamps.

Both of these models have six-speed manual transmission. Both also have the standard equipment like leather upholstery, OnStar, a trip computer and alloy wheels.

Saab’s 9-3 SportCombi Wagon garnered excellent ratings in crash tests. Traction control system, electronic stability program and an antilock braking system are features that boost driver and passenger safety. 

So, what can you say about the 2009 Saab 9-3 SportCombi Wagon?

Photo Credit: Motortrend

Do you need a safe, affordable, and versatile car for 2009? The 2009 Kia Rondo is an excellent option open for you. This vehicle has undergone a series of drive tests and the Kia Rondo has come out 7th out of 8 full size wagons. Because of this finding, the 2009 Kia Rondo is one of the great cars for family use.

If you are one of those who don’t want a huge car to manoeuvre like a van or an SUV, a wagon would be an excellent choice. The 2009 Kia Rondo is that so, it’ll surely fit your needs. Aside from its excellent crash test score, this wagon is capable of seating up to seven people. A family of four or five will have plenty of room when travelling. And if they want they can even take grand pa and grand ma along for the trip. And even if the wagon is full of people, there is still enough room left for baggage and other thingamajigs you want to take with you.

Compared to the previous models, the new Kia Rondo is more powerful and more stylish, and it’s filled so many new features. It’s available in two trims – LX and EX – which both come with 175-hp 2.4-liter 4-cylinder or 192-hp 2.7-liter V6 engine. The 5-cylinder models are equipped with 5-speed automatic transmission and the 4-culinder ones are installed with 4-speed automatic transmission.

What makes the 2009 Kia Rondo a great family car are its safety features. It has traction control, ABS, antiskid system, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags. Comfort and convenience are not sacrificed as well because it comes with power windows, locks, and leather upholstery.
It’s also one of the most affordable family cars. Price ranges from $17,000 (base model) to $22,000.

Photo Credit: Automobilesreview