Saturday, February 10, 2018

Pontiac Phoenix

Here is a Pontiac Phoenix sighted last summer (2017), a first on this blog.


Nice grille! I have it down as a second-generation 1980-84 Pontiac Phoenix.


This one is a five-door hatchback, an LJ trim, one up on the base version but one down from SJ.




Here is that wikipedia entry:


In 1980, the Phoenix was downsized and moved to front wheel drive, and was available as 2-door coupe or a 5-door hatchback. The base, LJ, and SJ models were still available for this generation. There was a minor exterior refresh in 1983 (including a name change for the LJ and SJ to LE and SE, respectively).
Available engines were a 2.5 L 4 cylinder and a 2.8 L V6, mated to a 3 speed automatic or 4 speed manual transmission.
As with its sister cars (the Chevrolet Citation, Buick Skylark and Oldsmobile Omega), the Phoenix's image suffered because of poor workmanship, two recalls for 1981, and a dangerous tendency for the car to lock the rear wheels upon braking.
The car was replaced in 1985 by a revived Grand Am on the FWD GM N-body platform.


I don't know though whether this one is a pre- or post-1983 "minor refresh". Probably the former. Edit: actually it's definitely a pre-1983 refresh LJ model.


It doesn't appear to be capable of moving though, mainly because the interior all messed up (you can't see it in these pictures).





Here is a rather detailed promo video from 1984 of the second-gen Pontiac Phoenix in two versions but with a slightly different grille because a post-1983 refresh.


Thursday, February 8, 2018

2018 Kia Stinger In Russia

In somewhat dated automotive news, Russia also gets the 2018 Kia Stinger.

Per Autostat

Russian dealers of KIA began the accepting of preliminary applications for Fastbuster Stinger - the first in the history of the brand car of the class "Gran Turismo". Deliveries to customers in Russia will start in March of 2018. The new model will be available at a price of 1 million 999 thousand 900 rubles, informed the press service of KIA Motors Rus.
For this amount will be offered a base version Stinger 2.0 T-GDI with a rear-wheel drive and a self-locking differential. It is equipped with a 2.0-liter engine family Theta II with direct fuel injection and turbo charging. Power of the power unit was adjusted taking into account the specifics of Russian taxation and it is 248 hp, and the maximum torque is 353 Nm. It provides a 5-door fast-track with the acceleration up to 100 km / h for 6.0 seconds. Also will be presented the all-wheel drive version of model Stinger 2.0 T-GDI, developed specially for Russia.
KIA Stinger in the most powerful GT version is equipped with a V6 engine of the Lambda 3.3 T-GDI family with direct fuel injection and a double turbo ("biturbo"). Its power is 370 hp, and the maximum torque is 510 Nm. With this engine, the new fastback can accelerate up to 100 km / h for 4.9 seconds, making it the most dynamic production car of the KIA in the history of the brand.
For the Russian market, the Stinger V6 3.3 T-GDI is equipped with only the all-wheel drive system. All versions of the KIA Stinger are equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission of its own design, which has a manual shift mode, including with paddle shifters. Prices for the remaining versions, as well as more detailed information about the complete sets will be announced in February of 2018.

2018 Kia Stinger on video


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