Crossover utility vehicles are to the new millenium what minivans were to the late ‘80s and early ‘90s – all the rage. It seems, however, that many of their designs seem to blend together, especially when friends get together and try to describe one they don’t know the name or brand of. “It’s that one with the round face and kind of rounded roofline, you know, the one that looks like an over-inflated sport hatchback…” or something like that.

GMC’s latest – the 2010 Terrain – seeks to step apart from that confusing landscape.

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The other day I was asked one of the most common questions folks inquire of me once they learn of my automotive alter ego – “Driven anything exciting lately?”

Normally I jump right in and rifle off any number of makes and models that have graced my driveway in recent weeks and months.

This time was different though, this one gave me pause. Had I driven anything exciting lately, I wondered? If so, why is that answer not spilling forth from my vocal chords as has so often happened in the past? Have I become complacent to the automotive industry of late? Am I perhaps as guilty as the general public in turning my attention away from the vehicular environment? Oh my God, is the honeymoon over?

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Ford Motor Company is taking a giant leap forward in rear seat occupant safety as they introduce new inflatable seat belts, set to debut on the next-generation Explorer SUV coming next year. They say that these new belts are being received as at least as comfortable as existing belts, if not more so, with the hopes of increasing seat belt usage by rear occupants. Here in Texas, lawmakers have already enacted legislation requiring all occupants of vehicles to be belted while the vehicle is in motion. I for one have never really found rear seat belts all that comfortable so this initiative by Ford is a big step in the right direction.

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Apparently, funky is going mainstream in the auto industry.

What began as a unique phenomena over at a little startup division of Toyota has now spread across other Asian automaker model lines. Nissan challenged the squared Scion with a Cube and now Kia has put their heart and “Soul” into the mix.

(Sorry, had to work the pun in somewhere.)

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We told you it was coming, and now General Motors and OnStar report the first successful use of their Stolen Vehicle Slowdown technology to end a carjacking in California.

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I am not sure just exactly who coined the phrase “sport utility vehicle” but I feel they were a bit remiss in the target segment they were identifying. Most of those giant grocery-getters of the past decade-and-a-half were anything BUT sporty.

Fast forward to the 21st century and we have seen an entire new breed of SUVs, yet most have been redefined as crossover utility vehicles given the nature of configuring some form of cargo box on top of a car-based platform.

We recently spent some time behind the wheel of the latest Acura RDX, junior sibling to the MDX which was given a model-line makeover at the same time a couple of years back.

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Despite building some decent midsize sedans over the years, Mazda knew it needed to undertake a significant model makeover in order to keep pace with the CD-segment, namely Accord and Camry. With this newest Mazda6 they have done just that.

Their mantra? Zoom-zoom evolution.

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True, I may be just a “Gaijin” from Texas, but I do know a work of art when I see one. The new Infiniti Essence concept car is just that.

Staring at it in adoration, I think I also broke a few commandments.

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With the arrival of Autumn it is once again time for the great State Fair of Texas and one of the world’s largest auto shows. Gate attendance each year at the fair reaches more than three million over its three-week run, with estimates that at least 75 percent of attendees visit some portion of the auto show.

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The onslaught of SUVs in the 1990s and crossover utility type vehicles of the new millennium have kept minivan sales numbers from returning to those of their glory days – but automakers are still makin’ ‘em and folks are still buyin’ ‘em.

There aren’t quite as many players in the minivan game anymore mind you, but one who held firm to delivering a quality product over the years has been Honda. Because of that, the Honda Odyssey minivan has had a target on its back almost since its inception.

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So what is it? Is this a car, a sport wagon or a sport ute? Is this the new Camry station wagon or the Toyota version of the Lexus RX?

What it is is the all-new 2009 Venza from Toyota.

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Sporty and superlative, progressive and emotive – the A4 takes Audi into a new dimension in the midsize car segment. Continue Reading

That Toyota is at it again.

The Japanese automaker has once again chosen the State Fair of Texas auto venue for a world debut.

Below is the official blurb released today along with the above picture. Not much to look at yet but stay tuned – the GearDiary team will be on hand to bring you all the details when the curtain goes up next month.

“DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS – The all-new 2010 Toyota 4Runner is headed for Dallas to make its world debut at the State Fair of Texas during a news conference on Sept. 24. More rugged than ever, the new fifth-generation 4Runner offers sure-footed off-road capability and increased comfort with added roominess. More than 1.8 million 4Runners have been sold since it was introduced in 1984, and more than 70 percent are still on the road.
The State Fair of Texas runs Sept. 25 to Oct. 18.”

Volvo, that Swedish car company whose memorable commercials included stacking car on top of car, etc., is expanding its crossover utility line with a smaller version of its venerable XC90.

The new cute ute, dubbed XC60, offers up everything big brother 90 does while allowing the automaker an appearance into the quickly expanding small premium utility segment that features standouts such as the BMW X3, Acura RDX and Mercury Mariner.

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The event takes place at the prestigious 2009 Concours dí Elegance event in Pebble Beach where Infiniti will become the first company to launch a car via a full-size virtual model.

The sedan won’t actually be there as Infiniti will become the first automaker to use virtual technology mapping to project the car on a full-size clay model of Infiniti’s flagship sedan to simulate the effect.

In-person attendees will feel like the car is actually in the room.

“On August 14 at 6:30 PM PDT, be one of the first to see the unveiling of the all-new 2011 Infiniti M through a cutting edge technology that creates a “virtual M” on a 3D form. InfinitiUSA.com will host the exclusive live broadcast from the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, one of the world’s premier automotive events, as Infiniti Design Director Shiro Nakamura unveils our newest expression of sculpted form and rejuvenating refinement.”

Link to live webcast: http://www.infinitiusa.com/about/future-vehicles.html.

So after reading this, and wondering if it wouldn’t just be easier to have the actual car at the unveiling, I started to think …

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