Today General Motors released a teaser photo of a new five-passenger crossover. The vehicle is an addition to its entry-luxury Buick line, which will be fully released in late 2010 and offer direct-injected gasoline plug-in hybrid version of engines in 2011, thus becoming the first mass produced SUV of its kind.

The teaser photo of the new Buick (the company hasn’t named the car yet) is in some way identical to Saturn Vue, which was first introduced in 2008.

With the production of the new Buick, GM intends to win over customers interested in the brand’s full-size Enclave crossover SUV who don’t need something that large. “Some customers who have been drawn to the Enclave were looking for something a little smaller, but they didn’t want to give up craftsmanship or a quiet ride to get there,” said Susan Docherty, general manager of Buick-Pontiac-GMC. “We believe this new Buick will excite those customers, and will continue to broaden the appeal of the brand.”

According to GM, the Buick crossover will be available standard with a 2.4-liter direct-injected 4-cylinder and offer an optional 3.0-liter direct-injected V6, which is expected – deliver 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway.

The company will announce more detailed information on the new Buick SUV closer to the vehicle’s launch date.

Acura’s largest SUV model, the MDX has received a mild facelift for the 2010 model year. Changes include a new 6-speed automatic transmission, chassis refinements and improved look and feel of interior trim materials plus the addition of new technology features.

On the outside, the 7-seater MDX gains Acura’s new corporate grille, retrimmed front and rear bumpers, new exhaust tips, revised hood, new side sills and reworked taillights with brighter LEDs. The available 19-inch aluminum-alloy seven-spoke  wheels complete the exterior upgrades.

Moving on to the interior, Acura says that the 2010 MDX benefits from higher quality trim materials, a thicker steering wheel grip, increased use of LED interior lighting and revised cockpit controls along with relocated front seat headrests for improved comfort and more detailed leather stitching.
Acura has presented several new technology features on the RDX such as the AcuraLink Real-Time Weather and Traffic Rerouting systems, a new full VGA 8-inch navigation screen, an upgraded rear view camera with three unique view choices and updated audio and rear entertainment systems.
Under the hood, the 2010 model year MDX receives an updated version of Acura’s 3.7-liter VTEC V6 engine linked to an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission. The V6 features cylinder heads with new intake valve springs, improved cooling, a new EGR system, unique long-reach spark plugs, a larger throttle body.

The 2010 MDX, in combination with the new transmission, returns an EPA estimated city/highway fuel mileage of 16/21 mpg which is an improvement of 1 mpg city and 1 mpg highway over the 2009 model.

Acura declares that the MDX’s ride and handling have been enhanced thanks to the revised power steering system, stiffer rear trailing arm mounting and the body rigidity improvements.
The 2010 MDX is expected to go on sale in the U.S. sometime in September.

All-new 2010 ZDX has been revealed ahead of its US market debut later this year. The ZDX was first shown as a pre-production concept at the NY Show this past April.

With the exception of a few minor cosmetic details such as the head- and tail-light trims, the alloy wheels, the lower bumper designs and the interior trim, the production ZDX is identical to the NY Show concept.

The five-seater ZDX will be offered with a 3.7-liter V6 engine producing 300 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque which is paired to an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel mounted paddle and Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system.

Acura said that when the ZDX goes on sale in the U.S. this winter it will be offered with three trim levels: ZDX, ZDX with Technology Package and the premium, ZDX with Advance Package.

All models will be equipped with a panoramic glass roof with moveable sunshades, hand-stitched leather interior, Bluetooth connectivity, power tailgate, and a high powered audio system with CD player as standard.

The ZDX will be positioned and priced  between the MDX luxury SUV and the RL luxury sedan, with pricing set to be released at a later date.

The X1’s exterior design is not changed from last year’s so-called “X1 concept study”. The only visible change between the two models concerns the subtly revised tail light design, but that’s about it. For the first time, we also get a complete look at the X1’s interior.

The X1’s dashboard pretty much follows in the lines of the X3. However, as with the latest generation 7-Series, the X1’s center console is slightly tilted towards the driver which is a welcome change.

Since BMW has not made the release official, we do not have the technical specs. But we do know that the X1 is based on a modified version of the 3-Series platform, and that the soft-roader is be equipped with the Bavarian firm’s ‘xDrive‘ all-wheel-drive system.

According to previous reports, the initial petrol range will include an entry-level 2.0-liter four cylinder with outputs of 143HP and 170HP and a 3.0-liter straight-six producing 265HP while the diesel lineup will consist of a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit available with 143HP, 177HP and 204HP.

Roughly 110mm shorter, 60 mm narrower and 140mm lower (4.3, 5.5 and 2.4-inches. respectively) than the X3, the new X1 will be marketed as an upscale alternative to compact SUV offerings like the VW Tiguan, Ford Kuga, Toyota RAV-4 and the Honda CR-V.

The X1 will go on sale in Europe shortly after its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. North American sales are slated to begin sometime in early 2011.

According to Ward’s Auto Lexus is planning to launch a new version of its GX mid-size SUV by the second half of the year. The current GX debuted in the U.S. in 2003 as an ’03 model. Lexus hoped to sell 20,000 GX units in the SUV’s first full year of sale in 2003, but sales in recent years have been declined. Sales in April were as down as 66.1% from like-2008 to 2,210 units.

The source also informs that new model of GX will get a new interior design and features including a next-generation navigation system, reworked sheetmetal and fascias, including a different rear door assembly. The mid-size SUV will retain its body-on-frame construction.

The new Lexus GX receives  the  310 horsepower 4.6L V-8 engine from the Toyota Tundra, which replaces the current 4.7L V8 engine rated at 263 horsepower.

Audi Chairman of the Board revealed that the automaker is planning to present the next-generation A8 in November and extend its range with the new A5 Sportback sometime in 2009. Stadler confirmed earlier reports that Ingolstadt based company is also working on a hybrid version of the Mercedes GLK rivaling Q5 SUV and that the A1 minicar is due for a 2010 market launch with the Q3 small SUV following in 2011.

The A5 Sportback is in essence the production version of the sleek-lookingSportback Concept that was first shown in Detroit in the beginning of the year. Expect to see a familiar Audi engine lineup, including the latest 2.0-liter TSI with 211HP, the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with 290HP and a 3.0-liter V6 diesel cranking out 240HP.

The A5 Sportback is precisely what they’re looking for. This vehicle will pose a genuine innovation in the B segment: a revolutionary vehicle concept offering the ideal blend of functionality and aesthetics.

As for the brand new A8 sedan (see the spy shots here), Stadler said claimed that it will be the sportiest model in its segment and that it will redefine people’s notions of a luxury car’s interior.

The A8 will be the sportiest luxury sedan in its class – and set new standards with regard to interiors. Its precision and build quality are second to none. This model naturally means a great deal to us, because it played a greater role than any other car in the rise of the Audi brand. And we will unveil it to the world in a remarkable fashion in late November.

Today Infiniti announced pricing for its new 2010 Infiniti QX56. The full-size luxury SUV is already available in the Infiniti dealerships nationwide with the prices starting at $56,050 for the 2010 QX56 two- wheel drive and $59,150 for the QX56 four-wheel drive models.

Both models are equipped with a standard 320-horsepower 5.6-liter DOHC V8, 5-speed automatic transmission and leather seats. Other features of the car include a satellite radio, Hard Drive Navigation System with a seven-inch LCD screen, NAV Traffic, a 9.3 GB Music Box hard drive, as well as 12-speaker Bose audio system.

QX56 will have optional features including a Technology Package with Intelligent Cruise Control and front Sonar System for parking; and an Infiniti Mobile Entertainment System (MES) with DVD player, 8-inch color screen, two wireless headphones and remote controller. A Tow Package, which is standard on the 4WD model, is also optional on the QX56 2WD.

Like the new LR4 and classic Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport also gets plenty of upgrades for the 2010 model year. Like the regular RR, the Sport gets the same 5.0L direct-inject V8s from Jaguar in either naturally aspirated or supercharged guise plus a new six-speed automatic transmission. The NA puts out 375 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque while the force fed mill creates 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, the latter good for 5.9-second sprints to 60 mph. The Sport’s exterior has also been tweaked with a new two-bar grille centered in the revised front end and new rear tail-lamps nestled above a redesigned rear bumper. The interior has also been redone with higher quality materials and a new steering wheel that includes paddle shifters on the supercharged model. Throw in enough electronic nannies to make even the Queen look like a good driver and you’ve got an eminently more capable sports SUV than the one it replaces.

General Motors is expecting to add another SUV to its hybrid vehicle fleet, in this case wearing the Yukon’s top-level Denali trim. Till now there is not so much information to report here, as the Yukon Denali Hybrid will feature the same exact drivetrain that’s fitted to its siblings from The General, including the non-Denali Yukon. That means we’ll see a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 engine with 332 hp and 367 lb-ft of torque mated up with GM’s sophisticated 2-Mode hybrid transmission. Expect EPA fuel economy ratings of 21 city, 22 highway for two-wheel drive models and 20/20 when equipped with four-wheel drive.
The hybrid Denali will make its debut at the New York Auto Show, joining the new-for-2010 GMC Terrain, which is based on the equally new Chevy Equinox. GM will debut a new 2.4-liter four cylinder engine in the Terrain and Equinox that will manage 30 mpg on the highway. Optional will be a 3.0-liter direct injected V6 that will get an estimated 18 city and 25 highway.