Hot off the press!
With a name like Orlando, it better be for sale here!: General Motors’ volume brand will use the Paris, France, auto show (which began Sept. 30) to preview a seven-seat tall wagon aimed at the European market. But the Sleuth hears the Chevrolet Orlando could arrive here in about 18 months. The Orlando will be based on the upcoming Cruze small sedan’s Delta II architecture, though it will be a larger and therefore more versatile vehicle. GM says the “O” would showcase the automaker’s latest-generation 2.0-liter turbo-diesel and will feature three rows of seats. The interior will be quite similar to what the Sleuth’s moles have seen in the Cruze with a waterfall center stack and switchgear out of GM’s current models. For a concept, the Orlando looks very production ready.
Ford rolls out next Harley series: The market for trucks might be soft, but Ford still has some excitement in the pipeline with its latest Super Duty pickup truck, the Harley-Davidson F-450. Ford and Harley have been building special edition F-Series pickups for almost a decade: 11 different models so far. This 12th iteration is the biggest and baddest one yet: a dual-rear-wheel, one-and-one-half-ton hauler with a curb weight of 8,700 pounds and the capability to tow 24,500 pounds, or about 24 Harley-Davidson motorcycles. You’ll also get blue “tribal” flames etched in the paint, a chromed grille and side vents, Harley-Davidson’s name embossed in the cargo box sides, unique wheels with Harley shields in the center caps and a fancy black leather interior with, you guessed it, even more Harley badging.
