{also piping hot}
Makeover madness at Chevrolet: It’s normal for an automaker to update one or two of its models each year. The so-called mid-cycle refresh mostly involves minor body changes, new wheels and paint schemes, and possibly powertrain changes. Mild stuff, really. However The Sleuth notes that GM’s Chevrolet division has chosen to update a whole slew of passenger cars at the same time. For the 2019 model year, the Malibu, Camaro, Spark and Cruze sedan and hatchback will receive modest revisions. Noticeably absent from the list is the Sonic subcompact and the full-size Impala, the latter of which will be retired either at the end of this year or part way into 2019. Changes to the Camaro and Spark won’t be too obvious, but the Malibu and Cruze grilles will appear similar to what’s found on the new-for-2018 Equinox utility vehicle.
The 2019 Jetta appears to be right on the money Volkswagen is a major player among automakers in Europe, but has struggled to move up from its second-tier status in North America. The Spymaster believes, however, that the 2019 Jetta small sedan might just be a major game-changer. The new model is bigger, so it comfortably seat four adults (five in a pinch). The conservative-chic body panels that attach to a more rigid platform represent a major design improvement, too. The carryover turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine — rated at 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque — is a punchy little number and can be had with a six-speed manual transmission, or optional eight-speed automatic.
Buick’s next new model could be“Enspire-ing”: No, that’s not a typo. The Sleuthy One’s intel claims that the Enspire name will be attached to an electric vehicle that this General Motors division will take to the production stage some time in 2019. The hatchback/wagon Enspire is being revealed in China and is the first of what Buick says will be a total of 20 all-electric and plug-in gasoline-electric vehicles that it plans to make available by 2023. Buick’s largest customer base is in China, however, so it’s likely that most of the brand’s electrified vehicles will be available only in that nation.
In case the Colorado ZR2 isn’t quite offroady enough . . .: The Spymaster’s sources have heard that Chevrolet will unveil an even more off-road-capable version of the Colorado ZR2 pickup. Named the Bison, the model is based on a concept that was recently displayed at a dealership in Las Vegas, Nev. Apparently, the Bison’s suspension will be stouter than the ZR2’s, while the fender flares will be widened to enclose meatier off-road tires. There will also be more underbody protection for the suspension and powertrain. Other available equipment is said to include a built-in refrigerator as well as an air compressor. The Bison is expected to arrive by the fourth quarter of 2018.