Straightline
January 2007
January 31, 2007
No sane Boxster owner would subject his softop sportscar to this kind of cold weather punishment, so it's pretty obvious that the Porsche in our latest spy photos is a prototype. We guessing it's the 2009 Porsche Boxster as there's minor camouflage on the headlights and taillights. The front air dam has been reconfigured as well, but the rest of the car looks unchanged. Expect the usual level of horsepower and torque enhancements, although given there's already 280 horsepower 236 pound-feet of torque in the Boxster S, the need for even more power seems unwarranted.
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The Hummer H2 was once the vehicle of the moment, with people clamoring to be the first to buy this cartoonish SUV. That moment has passed. Actually it passed some time ago.
Predictably then, Hummer is resorting to the oldest trick in the car business to try to create some excitement around the H2: the Limited Edition model...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund January 31, 2007, 8:40 AM
- Categories: Chicago Auto Show, HUMMER, SUVs, Trucks
When I first saw images of the Chevy Volt at the Detroit auto show I thought: 'hey that's cool looking,' completely disregarding the technology behind it.
Last week I saw the car in the flesh at the Washington, DC auto show, and that confirmed my initial gut feelings. Not only is it cool looking, it's flat out stunning to look at as you walk around it--and I absolutely love the unique side window treatment and almost zero rear overhang! I really think GM has some of the best car designers on the planet...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 31, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Auto Industry, Chevrolet, Detroit Auto Show, General Motors, Green Tech, Honda, Hybrids, Toyota
January 30, 2007
First pictures of F1's Kimi Raikkonen in his new Ferrari digs.
See more on Planet-F1
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
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- Posted by: Donna DeRosa January 30, 2007, 4:06 PM
- Categories: Ferrari, Motorsports
January 29, 2007
Not sure if this is the final production ready version, but if it is—and being a Subaru fan, I'm disappointed. I guess, Subaru being burned by the controversial 3-piece grille found on the Tribeca and current Impreza, has decided the bland-is-better approach is the way to go...
The funny thing is, while the Tribeca has been a slow seller, the Impreza—which is near the end of its product cycle—is selling like hotcakes. It's setting sales records almost monthly—and this is with the so-called controversial grille...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 29, 2007, 8:07 AM
- Categories: Future Vehicles, Subaru
The facelifts at Ford just keep on coming. Our latest spy photos reveal the 2008 Ford Freestyle complete with an updated front fascia and revised rear end. And to no one's surprise it looks just like the Five Hundred thanks to a three bar grille and aftermarket style taillights. We expect it will get the same 3.5-liter V6 as the Five Hundred as well, a sorely needed upgrade for the three-row Freestyle...
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January 27, 2007
Okay, before someone tells me this story is 6 month old—I know that. Still, for those uninformed it's pretty funny.
It turns out that Honda apparently misprinted a toll-free number in the owner's manual of a number of Acura and Honda cars, and when that number is called a sultry voice says: "just 99 cents per minute"… Well, you get the picture. The affected manuals were printed between August 2006 and July 2006...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 27, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Honda
According to Jalopnik, GM could be somewhat cash-strapped, and may be considering selling their medium-heavy truck Allison transmission division to raise some cash.
GM, of course denies that there is a cash shortage. Even so, here's a quote from their press release on this subject:
"This process is another potential step in GM's plan to improve liquidity through the assessment of strategic options for a business that is not central to GM's mission..."
So, you decide... Full story here...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 26, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Chevrolet, GMC, General Motors
I just got back from that show—and guess what? It's almost like the Detroit show deja vu'ed. Many of the new models that debuted at Detroit were there.
The change of the show dates has made this show much better than before...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 26, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows
January 25, 2007
It's not like we haven't seen the 2008 Mini Clubman numerous times already, but these latest spy photos are some of the clearest shots yet of the upcoming three-door. That's right, three-door as this new model from Mini will have an additional access door on the passenger side. It will also have a set of barn doors out back for easier access to the enlarged cargo area. According to Motoringfile, the Clubman will make its official debut at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show in September with U.S. sales beginning in early 2008.
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Caught just weeks before its expected debut at the 2007 Chicago auto show, this 2008 Mercury Montego prototype reveals a facelift of minor proportions. The grille is slightly different and the air dam is deeper, but we don't expect an average buyer would even notice the changes. Under the hood is where the real upgrades lie, as we expect the Montego will get the same 3.5-liter V6 as the 2008 Ford Five Hundred along with a six-speed automatic transmission.
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The entry "Ford swims in red ink" has been moved to AutoObserver.com.
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 25, 2007, 7:14 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Ford
Toyota has updated their web site with MSRPs of the all-new 2007 Tundra. Prices range from $22,290 for a entry-level 4.0L V6 regular cab 4x2 standard bed model to $41,850 for a CrewMax Limited with the 5.7L engine 4x4.
I noticed quite a spread between the CrewMax SR5, 5.7, 4x4 ($33,985); and the CrewMax Limited, 5.7, 4x4 ($41,850). That Limited must have a ton of extra standard equipment to be priced so far above the comparable SR5 model...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 25, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Toyota, Trucks
January 24, 2007
Ah, more reasons to consider buying a hybrid...
There are numerous "perks" to those who decide to go the hybrid route. These perks for hybrids can be grouped into four main categories: government tax credits and rebates, exemptions from regulations like parking fees or carpool lane access, employee cash back and consumer discounts. Since these hybrid incentives are emerging all the time and existing ones change frequently, it pays to keep one's ear to the ground, so to speak...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 24, 2007, 1:56 PM
- Categories: Green Tech, Hybrids
There's been no shortage of spy shots of the 2008 Audi A5 coupe, so of course we're here to bring you more. This time around, the prototype shows a little extra skin down the sides which reveals additional details about the profile of this upcoming coupe. Slated for a debut at the 2007 Geneva auto show, the A5 coupe will come to the U.S. with Audi's 4.2-liter V8 under the hood and a choice of three transmissions: manual, automatic, and S-tronic dual clutch. Quattro will be standard of course and sales are expected to start by the end of the year.
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig January 23, 2007, 10:53 AM
- Categories: Audi, Coupes, Future Vehicles, Geneva Motor Show, Spy Photos
The Sport Utility Vehicle Owners of America (SUVOA) announced today in their new towing guide that 99% of car towing capacity lost since the 1970s.
"The gutting of car towing capacity should be a wake up call that major lifestyle consequences could loom large as the nation contemplates the next wave of energy policy changes," SUVOA President Barry W. McCahill said. "The threat is on several fronts -- California's carbon dioxide law and the 10 states that have chosen to follow suit; the Supreme Court's upcoming decision on the regulation of carbon dioxide; and proposed federal legislation to increase federal fuel economy standards."
"Achieving better fuel economy and energy independence are critical national imperatives...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 23, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, SUVs, Trends
January 22, 2007
The following was published by The Financial Times.
___________________________
By Michiyo Nakamoto and John Reed in Nagoya
Toyota, the world’s second largest carmaker by sales, is working on a radically different approach to car design, development and manufacturing in an attempt to come up with an ultra-low-cost car, according to its president.
“The focus is on low-cost technology,” said Katsuaki Watanabe, in an interview with the Financial Times. “Everything from design to production methods will be radically changed and we are thinking of a really ultra-low-cost way of designing, using ultra-low-cost materials, even developing new materials if necessary.”
The move comes as Toyota is this year set to overtake General Motors as the world’s largest carmaker and follows last week’s news that the group recalled 500,000 vehicles in the US after a year of record recalls...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 22, 2007, 9:42 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Toyota, Trends
Image: AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Deirdre Hamill
Carroll Shelby's very own 800-horsepower 1966 Shelby "Super Snake" Cobra has sold for $5.5 million at auction, a record for an American car.
A pair of bidders in a packed house to its feet Saturday at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction drove the price up. Shelby, who is now 84, tricked out the car with twin superchargers on a 427 cubic inch V8, and drove it for years.
“It’s a special car...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 22, 2007, 9:06 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Ford, Sports Cars, Trends
The entry "Detroit: Cheapest gas in U.S. " has been moved to AutoObserver.com.
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 22, 2007, 7:56 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Trends
The entry "Ford-Toyota Alliance?" has been moved to AutoObserver.com.
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 22, 2007, 7:49 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Ford, Toyota, Trends
January 21, 2007
The Jaguar C-XF concept hadn't even made its official debut at the 2007 Detroit auto show before the first spy photos of the production model surfaced. Dubbed the Jaguar XF, the replacement for the aging S-Type looks like it will retain a good portion of the concept's shape. Our new round of spy shots show what looks to be the same XF prototype caught earlier this month, but we went ahead and put them up anyway to give you a better look at Jaguar's four-door savior. Ford hasn't put Jag up on the block just yet, but if the XF doesn't prop up sales to acceptable levels we can't see Ford hanging on much longer.
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January 20, 2007
According to Strategic Vision, the best vehicles delight consumers and only a few models met this requirement in 2006. The top four vehicles identified by the company as Most Delightful include the Honda Civic, Dodge Charger, Mercedes S-Class and Honda Ridgeline.
Executives said all four of these units "broke the code" last year. "All four vehicles clearly lead on the strongest factors for their respective segments, are clearly ahead of the nearest competition and have important strengths that set them apart from others in their segments," officials explained...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 20, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Trends
January 19, 2007
Ford's Executive Vice President; and President, The Americas; Mark Fields lives in Delray Beach Florida, and commutes to Detroit once a week. Well, that's great if you've got the money to do so. The problem however, is that he's been using the Ford corporate jet to do so.
Now before you start screaming about more corporate abuses, this was part of his agreed upon compensation package. Even so, in the eyes of many, it didn't look right given Ford's iffy financial picture...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 19, 2007, 7:44 AM
- Categories: Ford
When Dieter Zetsche was running the Chrysler arm of DaimlerChrysler, he was Detroit's golden boy, unable to do no wrong. Now that he's moved back home to Germany to oversee the entire DC operation, the results have been decidedly mixed.
So, are Dr. Z's best days behind him?..
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 19, 2007, 7:29 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz
Consumer Reports just pulled a big "Whoops!" It turns out their recent child safety seat comparison test (Most child car seats fail Consumer Reports crash testing), in which most of the seats failed—also failed...
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the test results were not at the claimed 38.5 mph, but instead were in excess of 70 mph. Whoops...
Even so, 2 of the 12 seats passed, which says to me that those 2 seats must be mighty safe...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 19, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry
January 18, 2007
It doesn't reveal much, but this spy photo of the 2009 Ford Mustang does indicate there's an overhaul in progress for the Blue Oval's pony car. With competition looming from the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger, the Mustang is going to need a little refresh to stay competitive. Although the front end of this prototype bears a few similarities to the Giugiaro designed concept shown at the L.A. auto show this year, we would be surprised if the final version looks anything like the Italian stallion...
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig January 18, 2007, 4:37 PM
- Categories: Coupes, Ford, Future Vehicles, LA Auto Show, Spy Photos
Okay all you HD towing fans, Edmunds.com has a First Drive up on the new 2008 F-450 Super Duty.
The F-450 pickup, sold only with dual rear wheels, can pull up to 24,500 pounds with a gooseneck or fifth-wheel hitch, or 16,000 pounds with a conventional setup. An equivalent F-350 (a leader in towing capacity in its own class) manages 18,800 pounds and 15,000 pounds, respectively. Meanwhile, the F-450 shares the F-350's 6,000-pound payload...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 18, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Ford, Trucks
January 17, 2007
We've all seen "art cars," in which artistic owners apply anything from glued on seashells to whatever on their daily drivers. Rarely, however, do we see "restraint" or "understatement" applied to these vehicles. Most if not all the art cars I've seen hit you over the head with the visual statement they're making.
Not so with this Porsche: If you look closely you will see the silver paint very subtly picks up the paisley pattern exhibited by the racing stripes...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 17, 2007, 12:59 PM
- Categories: Porsche, Trends
NASCAR legend Benny Parsons died of lung cancer yesterday. Parsons, 65, was liked and respected by everyone who knew or raced against him. "Benny Parsons was a true champion—both on the racetrack and in life," NASCAR chairman Brian France said. "Benny loved our sport and the people that make it up, and those people loved him."
Parsons also was the first stock car driver to top the 200 mph mark in qualifying when he posted a lap at 200.176 mph for the 1982 Winston 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 17, 2007, 12:38 PM
- Categories: Motorsports
Here's an interesting study done by Ipsos, an international polling firm, that tracks different groups, and how they feel about their cars, driving, and the overall automotive experience.
How does your significant other relate to cars? Or your parents, your children or relatives? How about your boss, your co-workers or neighbors?..
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 17, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Trends
January 16, 2007
Coming soon - Fender car audio systems.
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- Posted by: Brian Moody January 16, 2007, 9:30 AM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show
“Alan Poster has an amazing Corvette story,” says David Hall, President of Corvette America. “Almost four decades after his Corvette was stolen, it was miraculously recovered and returned to Alan, and we were able to help him refurbish it to its close-to-original condition.”
Three months after buying a brand new blue Corvette for $6,000 in 1968, Alan’s Vette was stolen from a parking garage in Manhattan. Unable to afford car insurance at the time, Alan thought he had lost his prized posession forever.
In January 2006, however, US Customs found the ’68 Vette in Long Beach, California, after authorities flagged the car as stolen...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 16, 2007, 9:16 AM
- Categories: Chevrolet, Sports Cars
Early indications suggest the 2007 Detroit Auto Show may not be as big a hit with the public as it was with the press. It's still early, but if weekend attendance is any indication, the show will bring in less visitors than in the past.
Much of the blame goes to the slumping local economy. I also wonder if the perception of the hurting domestic automakers, after years of being hammered, is finally taking it's toll with those who work in that industry?..
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 16, 2007, 7:52 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Detroit Auto Show, Trends
Found this in today's edition of the Baltimore Sun, thanks to my wife. It's an article by Michael Dresser, who is the "Traffic Editor" at the newspaper.
Today Dresser takes on those who feel that; either because of their superior driving skills, or because of their superior automobile; that they have the right (entitlement?) to drive at whatever speed they want; and the rest of us be damned.
How many times have you read on these blogs, or on the Edmunds message forms, that our speed laws are antiquated, that more driver education is needed, or that accidents are mostly caused by incompetent drivers?..
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 15, 2007, 7:41 AM
- Categories: Trends
Besides the Detroit auto show, Apple Inc. (formerly Apple Computer) also held their Macworld Expo. This annual event—a religious pilgrimage for many—is like Christmas morning to members of the Church of Apple. Steve Jobs (aka Santa) announces all the forthcoming and exciting "MAC presents" which shortly can be had by worshipers of the MAC...
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BMW says hydrogen-powered cars are 30 years off, at least in terms of being available to the masses—and yes, I know, they just introduced a hydrogen-power 7-Series model. This 30-year prediction is much more pessimistic than the already pessimistic GM's 10-year prediction.
Full story here.
You know, the more I think about it, the car companies need to step up and offer their own alternative-fuel stations for any of these ideas to take hold with the public...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 15, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: BMW, General Motors, Green Tech, Trends
January 13, 2007
Here's an interesting read for a lazy Saturday or Sunday. It's about all the blog sites that have more or less become "policing agents" if you will, on any number of topics; and yes, on the subject of cars and their drivers too, which is why I'm posting it.
Chris Roth, who drives a Benz with a license tag "IDRIVFAST," has been singled out in that there have been a number of posters over on the PlateWire blog complaining about him and his driving habits. Now one could easily make the argument that he was just asking for it by being cute with his vanity tag...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 13, 2007, 7:13 AM
- Categories: Trends
More evidence that GPSs are not just a passing fad, as Blaupunkt and Kenwood plan to partner in developing portable navigation devices. Starting in 2008, the GPS devices co-developed by the two companies will be offered by each of the two partners individually.
More products mean more choices for the consumer, which is always good. Stay tuned...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 12, 2007, 7:46 AM
- Categories: Trends
The Detroit auto show is much more than just cars. It's all about gizmos and gimmicks—anything that might sway a buyer from buying "Brand A" and move over to buy "Brand B"—that's the name of the game. The result being you're seeing some silly stuff being offered, but you're also seeing some pretty neat stuff too.
As my blog buddy Karl states...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 12, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Detroit Auto Show, Trends
January 11, 2007
These are the latest spy photos from the streets of Munich and they appear to reveal the upcoming BMW Z9 roadster. Although at first glance, it may look like a next-generation Z4, the proportions on this prototype suggest a bigger, more substantial roadster along the lines of a Mercedes-Benz SL. Look closely and you can see a separate, blacked-out side window. The current Z4 uses a single pane for its ultra tight cabin. Also note the big dual exhaust pipes that suggest a possible V8 under its long hood. We haven't heard any firm dates on when this new roadster is expected to go on sale, but given how far along this prototype looks, a debut at next fall's Frankfurt auto show is possible.
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Probably lost to those engrossed with the Chevy Volt, the new Accord coupe concept, et al., at the Detroit auto show, was the Volvo BeeVan Class 8 truck concept. It was also probably lost as it was shown in 1/4 scale.
What's so neat about this truck concept is that the driver sits squarely in the center of the cab, with the huge windshield wrapping around the driver, thus giving the driver unequaled visibility.
Full story here...
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January 10, 2007
Honda CEO Takeo Fukui revealed in an interview with NEWSWEEK that his company is developing an all-new small hybrid car that he described as a five-passenger version of its unusual two-seater, the Insight gas-electric car.
“We can envision something close to the Insight with five-passenger capacity and a relatively low price for mass-market consumers,” says Fukui.
Sounds like Honda agrees with the Pruis formula, in that they are now developing a hybrid-specific family oriented vehicle, rather than just adding a hybrid powertrain to an existing model line like what they've done with the Civic and Accord.
Full story here...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 10, 2007, 4:01 PM
- Categories: Future Vehicles, Green Tech, Honda, Hybrids
Hmmm... first we had the Subaru STI vs. Mitsubishi EVO matchup, can we now expect a similar comparo with a VW Rabbit CDI vs. Mitsubishi diesel?..
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 10, 2007, 1:31 PM
- Categories: Mitsubishi
According to The New York Times, The North American International Auto Show is really the North American INTERNATIONAL Auto Show. The emphasis is clearly more global in scope and impact even though it's held in Detroit-Michigan-USA. It was especially true this year as the impending Chinese automotive onslaught is just around the corner, and all the buzz surrounding Toyota and its soon to be Numero Uno position.
A few choice quotes:
The theme this year is not about product — it’s about the international nature of the car business,” said James Lentz, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 10, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Detroit Auto Show
January 9, 2007
So you think the 600hp Viper coupe revealed earlier this morning was an exercise in pointless power? Then take a look at this Mopar concept coupe that was tucked away in the Dodge stand. Although it does feature some real Mopar Performance Parts like a cold air intake system, tubular headers and high-flow exhaust system, we're guessing most of this car's claimed 675 horsepower comes from the "race inspired" pieces like the titanium con rods, lightened crankshaft and polished intake manifold. Regardless of what kind of power it makes, this Viper's best modifications were the flat black paint and racing slicks...
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig January 9, 2007, 2:46 PM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Dodge, Sports Cars
We spotted GM product demi-God Bob Lutz (plus entourage) nosing around the Toyota stand, lingering, in particular, at the Tundra pickup truck display.
After checking out the interior of one truck he checked out the rolling chassis display of another. Pointing at a piece of the Tundra frame, Lutz said to his minions, "See? See how they weld this?"
Racecar spelled backwards is racecar. And there are a lot of racecars on the floor of the Detroit Auto Show, one is even hung on the wall. We've already showed you the Dodge's Avenger stock car that will go NASCAR racin' later this year. But here are a few more including the Le Mans winning Audi R10 TDI, a Subaru World Rally car and the championship winning Porsche RS Spyder...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham January 9, 2007, 2:18 PM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Motorsports
Maybe Dodge officials think midsize sedans are boring, too. Or, maybe they think the 2008 Avenger sedan doesn't have the chops to roll up to a crowd unaccompanied. Whatever the case, an Avenger in NASCAR drag upstaged the normal Avenger at the last press major conference of the '07 Detroit show. Especially when ex-F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya emerged from the winged NASCAR beauty. As part of his quest to become one of the "good old boys," he'll be driving an Avenger when the Nextel Cup competition begins this spring.
"It's a well-balanced car and I'm confident it will do better than everything else in the field," Montoya said.
We're not so confident about the regular '08 Avenger's prospects in the midsize sedan segment, though we do expect to like it more than the '07 Sebring, mainly because of the top-of-the-line Avenger R/T. This smoked-headlight, chrome-grilled, chrome-wheeled car has a standard 235-hp 3.5-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission -- good for a 7.7-second 0-60 time. And compared to a Sebring Limited (with the optional 3.5L), the R/T has stickier tires (215/55R18 Bridgestone Potenzas), higher spring rates and firmer shock valving, said Larry Lyons, vice president of DaimlerChrysler's Front Wheel Drive Product Team.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches January 9, 2007, 9:23 AM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Dodge, Motorsports, Sedans
Hello? Is there anybody in there? (add echo effect here)
Award for the strangest (and quietest) auto show stand goes this year to Aston Martin. Well, we say "stand," but it's really nothing of the sort...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund January 9, 2007, 9:09 AM
- Categories: Aston Martin, Auto Industry, Detroit Auto Show, Ford
Scoop!
Finally, finally, finally, the Dodge Magnum SRT-8 hotrod station wagon gets the hood scoop that it has been denied (and has so richly deserved) all these years. The Charger SRT-8, with the same 425 hp 6.1-liter Hemi V8 as the Magnum, has had a hood scoop since its introduction. Does the hood scoop add any more horsepower? No sir, it does not...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund January 9, 2007, 8:38 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Detroit Auto Show, Dodge, Wagons
Bobbie Thomas, host of the Style Network's show Fashion Police was on hand at this morning's debut of the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, giving Chevy General Manager Ed Peper a crash course in Fashion 101 before the Malibu made its way to the stage.
Strangely, after all of this high-fashion hype, Peper appeared in a sedate gray suit and the Malibu with just an average gray paint job. But despite the uninspiring paint the Malibu's makeover looks promising. It gets more power from a new pair of engines, a 252-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 and a 164-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder, plus a completely new interior replaces the old Malibu's cheap, dated cabin...
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke January 9, 2007, 8:13 AM
- Categories: Chevrolet, Detroit Auto Show, Sedans
"Development of the Panamera is on schedule and going very well," explained Wolfgang Durheimer over the din of the crowded Porsche display. Durheimer is the Executive Vice President of Research and Development at the German automaker, so he should know how the development of Porsche's first sedan is progressing. "We're finished with the design and the car is looking really sharp," he added. "We started with a brand new platform, the car will be state of the art and future Porsche sports cars will benefit from the development of the Panamera."
When the 2009 Panamera reaches dealers Durheimer pegs the Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes CLS and BMW M5 as it main rivals...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham January 9, 2007, 7:49 AM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Porsche
It's the last press day of the Detroit Auto Show, and Inside Line's video team is hard at work putting together a final video showcasing the highlights of the show from the past few days. Check out the 20-plus videos that are already live on Inside Line, and make sure to check back for the highlight video early tomorrow. --Kelly Toepke
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke January 9, 2007, 7:46 AM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show
Image: Robin Buckson / The Detroit News
Last year at Detroit Chinese automaker Geely gingerly tiptoed into Cobo Hall, barely registering a blip on the Wow Meter. This year the Chinese are back with Changfeng Motors putting up a display of five models, two SUVs, two pickups and a concept car. Surely the Wow Meter was wowed a bit more this time around...
Changfeng promises to enter the US market at some point, but no date has been announced yet...
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Not to be lost among all the new car news at Detroit is the fact that Ford is zooming in on a short list of serious bidders for the Aston Martin brand.
Executive Vice President Lewis Booth said the sale will occur "sooner rather than later" this year, he said today in an interview at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. "We're assessing the bids," while declining to discuss specifics.
Full story here...
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January 8, 2007
Until today we'd never heard of a "hammerhead" spoiler. Honestly, after seeing the one on the 2008 Pontiac G6 GXP Street edition we still wish we were in the dark. It's an option, so we considered cutting Pontiac a little slack, but the grotesque nature of the offense eventually forced our hand. The taste police have been alerted and we understand GM's performance division will be paid a little visit...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham January 8, 2007, 4:18 PM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Pontiac
Pontiac didn't have a press conference for the new Torrent GXP. But we'll tell you about it anyway.
It's the performance version of the brand's fairly innocuous crossover SUV and it's powered by GM’s new 3.6-liter V6. The engine, which is also used in the new Saturn Aura and Saturn Outlook, features double-overhead cams and variable valve timing to make 263 hp...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham January 8, 2007, 3:16 PM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Pontiac
Kia gets Soul
Improbably, Kia announced today at its press conference that it would produce the Soul, a boxy little sport-ute/people carrier. The Soul concept was unveiled at last year's Detroit auto show. The production model, which will remain faithful to the concept's style according to Kia, will go on sale in 2008. -- Daniel Pund
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund January 8, 2007, 3:08 PM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Detroit Auto Show, Kia
Bright lights, Motor City. Amidst an intense flashing red light show, Mitsubishi's Prototype X "concept" vehicle made its way to the stage.
C'mon, Mitsu. You know you wanna brag about the all-new Lancer Evolution X and its magnesium alloy paddle shifters, so let's drop this concept act and shout your intentions to the high heavens...
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke January 8, 2007, 2:26 PM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Mitsubishi, Sports Cars
I saw the interior shots during a lunch with Bob Lutz over two years ago. I saw the final production vehicle two months ago. Now I can finally share my thoughts on the all-new CTS (beyond the "wow" I let slip back in November).
First, if you think this car looks good in photos you still haven't really seen it...
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The Mini press conference began normally enough, as Dr. Michael Ganal, BMW board member, stood at the podium and said, "I would like to give you a short overview of last year's retail figures -- this is a tradition here in Detroit." Yes, indeed, just as it's tradition at all BMW press conferences. As Dr. Ganal ran through the numbers, we noted that someone had placed a cute shag-carpeted mat behind the podium for him to stand on. This was the only cute thing we noticed for the next 10 minutes.
Finally, after a lengthy discussion of the redesigned Mini Cooper hatchback, which goes on sale in the U.S. on Feb. 17, Dr. Ganal noted, "The idea of making the Mini Cooper Convertible more attractive seemed to present itself." Right, since it's an old-gen carryover this year.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches January 8, 2007, 1:49 PM
- Categories: Convertibles, Detroit Auto Show, MINI
As part of a three year restructuring plan, Mitsubishi says a main focus is platform sharing among new global models. Making good on that promise, the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer is set to ride on the all-new 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander platform. This platform is expected to carry several future vehicles, with a potential sales volume of three million vehicles worldwide.
Mitsubishi says the 2008 Lancer is new from the rubber to the roof with more than 50 new features and enhancements...
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke January 8, 2007, 1:33 PM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Mitsubishi, Sedans
Und now is the time at Kia ven ve dance.
With a new design center nearing construction in Irvine, California, and a new global design chief in former Audi designer Peter Schreyer, Kia is feeling pretty designer-y. So it should come as no surprise that Kia is saying that unique design will be their way forward (if Ford will excuse the use of its catchphrase). Proof of this came in two forms:
1...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund January 8, 2007, 1:09 PM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Detroit Auto Show, Kia
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is planning to announce at the Detroit show plans to revise future car crash testing, as there has been mounting criticism that the current testing standards are too weak.
Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said, "They need to do something that will accelerate vehicle design improvements," Lund said. "If everyone gets four or five stars, that's not useful."
Full story here.
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 8, 2007, 12:59 PM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Detroit Auto Show, Trends
The big news at the Maserati press conference wasn't. We've known the company's Quattroporte sedan was getting a full-fledged automatic transmission for about a year, and today it officially did. Maserati hopes the 6-speed automatic will widen the car's audience, especially in the United States where the company says customers are used to long journeys and are particularly attentive to driving comfort. Americans that still want to drive can still opt for the DuoSelect transmission, which Maserati says will continue to appeal to the current more performance-oriented customer...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham January 8, 2007, 11:42 AM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Maserati
Two years ago in Detroit, also in the Riverview Ballroom, Lexus announced its intent to build a supercar with the unveiling of the LF-A, a front mid-engine, rear-drive car with a sub-5.0L V10 engine. Two years on, we're seeing the car again with styling updates and air management enhancements, based on the company's testing at Toyota's Higashi Fuji Technical Center and on track at Fuji Speedway. Don't get too excited: Despite the "F" badge on the LF-A's front fender (signifying the brand's new performance division), this is still a concept made of fiberglass.
Key differences from the original include reshaped headlights and air inlets (both in the front fascia and just ahead of the rear wheels).
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- Posted by: Erin Riches January 8, 2007, 10:44 AM
- Categories: Coupes, Detroit Auto Show, Lexus
Stodgy Lexus allowed a team of rouge engineers to let loose on the Lexus IS platform, and a new performance marque was born. Bob Carter, Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager, said the F designation, first applied for production as the 2008 Lexus IS-F, will be used on additional future products as well.
This 400-hp 5.0-liter V8 powered sedan comes ready for a day at the track. Best of all, an all-new three-mode Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system, offers Normal, Sport and Off...
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke January 8, 2007, 10:09 AM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Lexus, Sports Cars
In a darkly shrouded room below Cobo Hall, Porsche introduced its new 2008 Porsche Cayenne. The German automaker says it touched every part of the Cayenne in order to make it more attractive for the future. Not that the Cayenne has been floundering since its introduction in 2002. The first generation has sold 150,000 units to date, 60,000 of those in the U.S...
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke January 8, 2007, 8:30 AM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Porsche, SUVs
Come 2008, calling a midsize, front-wheel-drive coupe won't immediately call your aesthetic sensibilities into question. In their efforts to attract younger, cooler buyers, manufacturers are putting an unusual amount of effort into making these ordinarily conservative cars look good. In LA, it was the Nissan Altima coupe, and today in Detroit, it was all about the Honda Accord Coupe Concept. "This is an accurate representation of the what the next Accord coupe will look like," John Mendel, Honda's senior vice president of automotive operations, told the audience at Cobo.
And to us, the Accord coupe concept looks like a BMW 3 Series coupe in profile, an authoritative combination of Audi and BMW in front, and from the back, sort of a Bentley Continental GT. Mostly German, then, and a refreshing follow-up to the shapeless form of the current Accord.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches January 8, 2007, 8:30 AM
- Categories: Coupes, Detroit Auto Show, Honda
We're just venting.
Listen, I like a front fender vent as much as the next guy--possibly more. I love them on the Range Rover. I loved them on at least two generations of Corvettes. I like them when they are functional (in venting heat from the engine bay) and when their only function is to look cool...
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Nissan-Renault chief executive officer Carlos Ghosn predicts a grim year for automakers this year.
Ghosn told a group of reporters at the Detroit auto show that he predicts sales will drop to 16 million vehicles in 2007, from this year's 16.56 million, a number that was lower than Nissan had forecasted.
Worse, Ghosn said all automakers will be in their third year of rising commodity prices, which must be absorbed by automakers and can't be recovered by increasing the price of vehicles. Further, it isn't merely a U.S...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 8, 2007, 7:36 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Detroit Auto Show, Nissan, Renault
After a day of blinking at oversized video displays, we were comforted by the low-techiness of the Rolls-Royce booth. We also liked the fact that Rolls felt no need to crash the 2008 Phantom Drophead Coupe through a wall. Instead, two attendants (female, of course) tenderly pulled back the sheets accompanied by a driving yet mournful techno beat.
Although positioned at the top of the lineup, the Drophead is meant to have a less formal attitude than the Phantom sedan, said Ian Robertson, Rolls-Royce chairman of the board and CEO, and "will more often than not be owner-driven.
"At the heart of it, you do have the aluminum space frame. In shortening the platform by around 9 inches, we actually produced an even more nimble vehicle. And more importantly, we've produced a vibration-free vehicle." Should make for an interesting comparison to the cheaper, VW-engineered Bentley Contintental GTC, which also weighs in the mid 5,000-lb range and has impressed us with its high level of rigidity.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches January 8, 2007, 6:02 AM
- Categories: Bentley, Convertibles, Detroit Auto Show
January 7, 2007
What's a suitable and appropriate sports car for the 21st century? Toyota suggests one answer to that question, in the FT-HS concept car unveiled in Detroit. The name sets no new standards for originality (Toyota Future -- Hybrid Sports) but the technology might. The idea was to bring edgy, aero-efficient styling together with advanced hybrid technology to explore what might be possible in an exclusive 2+2 coupe. Projected performance? Try 0-60 in the 4-second range from 400 hp. It's an intriguing notion, trying to marry the usually antagonistic values of power and performance on one hand, and responsibility and sustainability on the other.
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig January 7, 2007, 5:56 PM
- Categories: Coupes, Detroit Auto Show, Future Vehicles, Toyota
You can see right through it!
One of the most pleasant retro design touches we've seen on a new car in the last few years is the frameless glass hatchback on the tail of the C30. So we were happy to see the rear of the XC60 Concept, with its even bigger glass tailgate. It's a good look. But wait, the front and rear seats of the XC60 Concept have vertical channels right through the seat backs, meaning if you squat behind the XC60 you can see directly though the tailgate, the rear seat and the front seat all the way up to the steering wheel...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund January 7, 2007, 5:15 PM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Detroit Auto Show, Volvo
"What happens when a young person's lifestyle crosses over?" Brad Bradshaw, Nissan USA senior VP of sales and marketing, asked the crowd at Cobo. Tough question. Death, perhaps? Or, maybe he meets his evil doppelganger? Uh, turns out he ends up buying a 2008 Nissan Rogue, which is, says Bradshaw, "for young people whose lives are crossing over into additional responsibility." Oh... kids.
But since the recently redesigned entries from Toyota and Honda (RAV4, CR-V) already pretty much own the small SUV segment, the Rogue "needs to be a bit of an overachiever," he notes. A noble, if predictable mission, but we're not sure Nissan has accomplished it.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches January 7, 2007, 4:52 PM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Nissan, SUVs
Time to play guess the grille
Jaguar was apparently not all that happy last year when some journalists said that the grille of its new XK looked like that of the Ford Taurus. So this year, with the introduction of the C-XF four-door coupe concept, Jag gave journalists a little hint to what they should say its grille looks like: The first Jaguar XJ sedan. And, indeed, it does have the same nearly-square shape. The recessed rectangle also looks a little like the punched-in grille of the now-dead Chevrolet Uplander...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund January 7, 2007, 4:44 PM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Detroit Auto Show, Jaguar
Getting the most bang for its V12 buck, Lamborghini showed the 2007 Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Roadster to the Detroit crowd, just as it did to LA onlookers at their show back in November.
But in Detroit the Italians were able to impress us with their 2006 sales figures as well. Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann proudly announced the small automaker sold 2,087 cars in 2006, 876 of those in the United States. In case you haven't been tracking Lambo's annual sales, only 1,600 cars were sold the year before...
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke January 7, 2007, 3:30 PM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Lamborghini, Sports Cars
It was the first auto show press conference for new Ford CEO Alan Mulally, so surely he would roll up in something special right? Well, the 2008 Ford Five Hundred did get a new engine and a few styling updates that make it a little less forgettable than before, but we doubt it was the show stopper Mulally would have liked.
He tried his best to look enthused though. After stepping out of the refreshed sedan he let loose with a, "Wow, I love this car" as he tapped the roof like a proud new owner. It was a less than convincing performance, but he's an engineer not an actor. In fact, it's his background as an engineer that gives us some hope that he can turn Ford around. We've heard he's already tearing into some of Ford's legendary bureaucracy to get things moving again. Good luck with that Alan.
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig January 7, 2007, 3:26 PM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Ford, Sedans
Smart Unveils The Virtual Press Conference
Smart is sort of the pilot fish to Mercedes-Benz' shark, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that the minicar division didn't have its own press conference to unveil the Fortwo model that it's bringing to the U.S. Instead, it just rode along with Mercedes and used a few of the main company's press-conference minutes.
In fact, there wasn't even an actual Smart anywhere near the conference. Instead, Roger Penske, who will head the U.S...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund January 7, 2007, 2:47 PM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Detroit Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz, SMART
Getting weirded out by Detroit show press conferences is not something you expect. Usually, all the vehicles fit neatly into the cute little niches engineered by product planners. But not the Nissan Bevel. This concept car rolled onto the stage with the face of a vacuum cleaner, the profile of an FJ Cruiser and the rear of a Scion xB, and we got all ready to hear the 18-34, gen Y, active, demanding young people speech.
Then, Brad Bradshaw, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Nissan USA, said, "The Bevel is designed for that period in life that people, particularly men, look forward to -- the kids have moved out of the house and..." And then the target age group flashed on the display -- men ages 45 to 60. What?? "This is one of those rare cars that's all about the owner," Bradshaw continued. "In fact, we see the Bevel owner driving alone 90 percent of the time."
A depressing thought to say the least. Why, we asked Bradshaw after the press conference, would such an individual choose the Bevel over the more obvious choice for this stage of life -- the Porsche 911? "This is the person in the neighborhood who has all the tools, the hero of the neighborhood," was his reply. "He's not really a guy who is into sports cars... he's the coach of the soccer team.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches January 7, 2007, 2:27 PM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Hatchbacks, Nissan, Trends
Stuffed in the back of the GM display is Pontiac. And stuffed in the back of the Pontiac section of the GM display is this G6 GXP.R racecar. Set to replace the championship winning GTO.R as Pontiac's entry in the GT class of the 2007 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, the GXP.R will debut on the racetrack later this month at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, where it will compete against factory teams from Porsche and BMW.
Built to the specifications of the Grand American GT class, the rear-wheel drive, tube chassis GXP.R is powered by a racing version of the pushrod LS2 V-8 engine that produces approximately 450 horsepower...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham January 7, 2007, 1:56 PM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Motorsports, Pontiac
What? There were no ponies available?
Perhaps something was lost in the translation from English to German, but apparently no one has told Mercedes that when people say "Dog and Pony Show," they don't mean a show with actual canines and small horses.
Mercedes brought no ponies but they did bring a dog-sled team to the show and set them loose on the ice rink they'd built at their show stand. We're not making this up...
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Acura's new Torrance-based design facility isn't yet ready to house the LA-based Acura design team, but that doesn't mean they've been resting on their haunches prior to the big move. Responsible for the V10-powered Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept, Acura's principal designer, Jon Ikeda, said that this sleek new concept was a chance for his team to "let their imaginations run wild." Ikeda says this edgy wide, low concept was designed to be as "powerful and precise as a sling slot."
The front-engine, rear-wheel drive Advanced Sports Car Concept is just a shell with no interior, and there's limited technical information as well. Details include a 108.8-inch wheelbase, 19-inch wheels in the front with 20-inchers in the rear, and custom billet-machined, polished aluminum wheels that shield ventilated carbon ceramic brake discs and eight-piston calipers.
Takeo Fukui, Honda's president and CEO says the Advanced Sports Car Concept showcases the direction of Acura's design future and enthusiasts should look forward to the next phase which Acura will debut at the Tokyo Motor Show this fall...
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke January 7, 2007, 12:53 PM
- Categories: Acura, Detroit Auto Show, Sports Cars
Just spent 20 minutes jabbering with Jim R. Hopson, the Communications Manager for Pontiac. You remember Pontiac don't you? It's GM's excitment division...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham January 7, 2007, 12:42 PM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Pontiac
The Q7 will be Audi's first BlueTec vehicle with a diesel, 3.0-liter engine. It will be sold in all 50 states in 2008. Audi thinks clean diesel could represent 10 percent of new car sales by 2015.
But the big news in Detroit is the V12 TDI concept Q7...
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"This is the most American product launch in our history," Toyota's Jim Lentz told the crowd in the Riverview Ballroom, and moments later, a 2007 Toyota Tundra CrewMax crashed through a faux wall of girders... all Dodge style. Although Lentz called the CrewMax "the biggest of them all," it's actually not quite as long or tall as the Dodge Ram Mega Cab -- or Toyota's own long-bed Tundra Double Cab.
However, it does have the most rear legroom (44.5 inches) of any pickup on the market and with the sliding/reclining seat scooted all the way back, six-footers can cross and uncross their legs without once grazing the front chairs with a steel-toed workboot or moldy flip-flop.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches January 7, 2007, 11:37 AM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Toyota, Trucks
The times they are a changin’—but not really.
Some guys find Mercedes Gullwings buried under boxes in a barn; our neighbor finds 40-year-old copies of The Detroit News behind old kitchen cabinets. As my father used to say to me, with what I now regard as a suspicious frequency, “No one promised life was going to be fair.”
It was so musty, I smelled it before he brought it into my office. But wait, part of that edition from December 1, 1968, was a 20 page special section on the 1969 Detroit Auto Show (that was before it got all uppity and called itself the North American International Auto Show). I expected, leafing through it, to feel as if I was rummaging through a time capsule, quaint and silly. And some of it is. The cover illustration of a man wearing a bowtie and a hat stolen from a Dixieland band leader, is, indeed, silly.
The other 19 pages were something quite different. They are distressingly like how a special section for the 2007 show might appear. It is apparently the conceit of every generation to believe that their immediate forbears, while having accomplished great feats, were somehow less sophisticated—less, advanced—in their approach. It is curse of every generation that their kids will someday think of them in the same way.
Here are the highlights:
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Each year Ford's Group Vice President of Design, J Mays, affords Detroit show goers a chuckle with a tongue-in-cheek concept vehicle. Remember the little Brinks' truck in 2004, the Ford SYNus?
This year's party truck, the highly-polished Ford Airstream, is a collaborative effort between RV manufacturer Airstream and the Blue Oval. Billed as a crossover, the Airstream Concept looks more like a kitchen appliance or a vacuum cleaner...
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke January 7, 2007, 11:03 AM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, Ford
It's not glaring but Lincoln pointed out that the MKR's twin grille hints at that of a '41 Lincoln Continental. The MKR bears virtually no resemblance to any current Lincoln and we mean that in a good way, well, good for the MKR that is. Sleeker, sportier and ultimately fresher than any Lincoln to come along in quite some time we hope the MKR will light the way for the look of future Lincolns.
True, the MKR's see through roof won't exactly show up on a production car but it sure does look cool...
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- Posted by: Brian Moody January 7, 2007, 10:57 AM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show
The Ford Interceptor Has An Independent Rear Suspension...Again!
In our early story on the very American, very muscular, very blue Ford Interceptor sedan we faithfully reported that the concept carries an independent rear suspension. That's what Ford told us. And since the car wasn't finished being built when Ford told us that and we couldn't see the actual car, we took the company's word for it. Later, we called a Ford rep to ask how the company could justify saying the concept was built on the stick-axle Mustang platform if it has an IRS and a different front suspension...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund January 7, 2007, 10:40 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Detroit Auto Show, Ford
For the last handful of people who haven't noticed, technology and brand name electronics are the horsepower wars of today. Ford has been a little behind in this area lacking even widespread availability of navigation systems until recently. But with its new "Sync" product (first showing up on the redesigned Focus and Five Hundred) they're catching up and hoping to pass the competition in one giant leap forward.
Microsoft powers Ford's new wired and wireless in-car technology so Bill Gates joined the Ford presentation via a large video screen from the Consumer Electronics Show...
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- Posted by: Brian Moody January 7, 2007, 10:21 AM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show
As everyone waited for the first press conference of the day at Cobo, I wondered if DaimlerChrysler was sending the right message about its redesigned 2008 minivans. An oversized "bag" of Wonder Bread declared the Dodge Grand Caravan "vantastic," while a "Land O' Vans" butter box put forth the Chrysler T&C as a "sweet family vehicle." Wonder Bread? Butter? Aren't they at least partly responsible for Americans being overweight and sickly?
Ah, but that's why Chrysler Group vice president and CEO, Tom LaSorda, shed his jacket, donned an apron and beckoned chef, Bobby Flay, of Food Network semi-fame, to cook up a couple new delectables to represent the redesigned minis. For the "bold and powerful" Dodge, it was spice-rubbed pork tenderloin with habanero-infused mango salsa. For the "smooth and sophisticated" Chrysler, it was a chocolate layer cake coated in ganache.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches January 7, 2007, 9:39 AM
- Categories: Chrysler, Detroit Auto Show, Dodge, Minivans
2007 North American Truck of the Year goes to the Chevrolet Silverado, while Car of the Year is the Saturn Aura.
That's a sweep for GM this year, which has to add some momentum to GM's positive direction in the past few months.
Congratulations GM!
—Karl Brauer
The new 2007 Chevrolet Camaro concept convertible is unveiled at the GM Style event in Detroit, Michigan Saturday, January 6, 2007. The GM Style event brings together celebrities, fashion and General Motors vehicles from around the world on the eve of the North American International Auto Show.
—Michelle Krebs
Image: General Motors Photo/Tom Pidgeon
The new 2007 Chevrolet Camaro concept convertible is unveiled at the GM
Style event in Detroit, Michigan Saturday, January 6, 2007. The GM Style event
brings together celebrities, fashion and General Motors vehicles from around
the world on the eve of the North American International Auto Show.
Image: General Motors Photo/John F. Martin
The new 2007 Chevrolet Camaro concept convertible is surrounded by
celebrities as it is unveiled at the GM Style event in Detroit, Michigan
Saturday, January 6, 2007...
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In exactly two hours the first press conference of the 2007 North American International Auto Show media days will begin. Chrysler is up first this year is expected to unveil its redesigned minivans to thousands of assembled members of the motoring media.
Inside Line's coverage of the Detroit Auto Show officially begins right now, and will continue non-stop for the next 72 hours. Unofficially we've been covering the Detroit show for about two weeks...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham January 7, 2007, 6:27 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Detroit Auto Show
January 6, 2007
Only at a fashion show in a tent beside the Detroit River would you ever combine volleyball goddess Gabrielle Reece, Radiohead’s “Creep” and a Buick Enclave crossover sport ute.
Apparently this makes perfect sense to GM, which held its GM Style fashion/car show/minor-celebrity-sighting event on the eve of the Detroit auto show. There was someone named Nick Cannon and someone else named Cari Dee sashaying down a makeshift runway, followed by one or another GM vehicle. Why? Something about raising GM’s cool factor.
Whatever, Carmen Electra and Petra Nemcova looked stunning and the Camaro Convertible Concept—the introduction of which was the real point of this whole affair—looked almost as good. Oh, and host Jimmy Kimmel wore a mustache.
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund January 6, 2007, 10:21 PM
- Categories: Detroit Auto Show, General Motors
Musician John Legend performs on stage with the new 2007 Chevrolet
Camaro convertible concept during a sound check prior to GM Style event in
Detroit, Michigan Saturday, January 6, 2007. The Camaro convertible concept
will be unveiled during the GM Style event that brings together celebrities,
fashion and classic General Motors vehicles on the eve of the North American
International Auto Show.
A member of musician John Legend's band performs on stage during a sound
check prior to GM Style event in Detroit, Michigan Saturday, January 6, 2007.
The GM Style event that brings together celebrities, fashion and classic
General Motors vehicles on the eve of the North American International Auto
Show...
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Garmin has updated their Nuvi and StreetPilot portable navigation devices with wireless technology that enables users to get real-time traffic, gas prices, weather and movie times on the devices. Now here's even more reason to opt for a portable GPS unit.
The only bummer here is that you have to subscribe to MSN Direct, as both devices will use Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Direct wireless network to supply the live data. The service will be free for a year and cost $49.95 a year thereafter...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 6, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Trends
January 5, 2007
Not good news for parents here, as they are thinking that their child is safe buckled up in a car safety seat. The magazine tested 12 car seats and they found that 10 didn't provide adequate protection. The good news here is that CR states that any car seat is better than no car seat.
These car seats have already passed the federal government crash tests, which are conducted from the front at 30 miles per hour...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 5, 2007, 1:48 PM
- Categories: Auto Industry
Chevy will show this Camaro drop-top at the Detroit auto show next week. As Inside Line states, it will be a showstopper, for sure. It reportedly is very close to what you might expect to see in Chevrolet dealers in the not too distant future.
Full story here: Detroit Preview: Chevy Drops Top on Camaro Concept
ANY good mystery must eventually uncover a villain, and in a recent documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car?”, the filmmakers duly pointed the finger at General Motors. The reality is not quite so simple, but there is little doubt that when GM pulled the plug on its EV1 battery-powered car a decade ago, other manufacturers followed the giant carmaker's lead.
AFP
Carlos is still not convinced
Yet GM has now recharged its enthusiasm for electric vehicles—or at least for their close cousins, hybrid cars. At the North American International Auto Show, which opens in Detroit on January 7th, the company, hitherto an also-ran in the fast-growing hybrid market, is expected to unveil a prototype that overtakes existing hybrids, such as Toyota's popular Prius...
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The difficulty, says Jim Hall of AutoPacific, a consultancy, is that lithium-ion battery technology is not quite affordable or reliable enough to meet the demands that will be placed on it over the seven to ten years of a typical car's life. But things are improving “quite quickly”, says David Cole of the Centre for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The first plug-ins could go on sale by 2010, he says.
And as batteries improve, all-electric vehicles will become more feasible...
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A fact not known by many, myself included, is that Mercedes-Benz has been in the AWD business since 1907. Pictured here is the '07 AWD “Dernburg Wagen” along with the AWD GL420 Bluetec 4Matic concept which will be shown at the NAIAS.
The extended choice of all-wheel drive vehicles from Mercedes-Benz now comprises seven model series and impresses with its great diversity: it starts with the C-Class and E-Class, both of which are available with 4MATIC in Sedan and Estate form, and includes the new S-Class and the R-Class touring SUV, both of which are available in two body variants. Furthermore, the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer offers the GL-Class and M-Class off-roaders...
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January 4, 2007
Official photos of Chrysler's new minivans are out and the pictures don't look half bad. When they go on sale next fall, the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country and the 2008 Dodge Caravan will be the only domestic entries in the minivan segment. It may be a declining category, but Chrysler still sold more than 350,000 minivans last year. More photos and info to come in our 2007 Detroit auto show coverage.
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VW has just announced the next-generation TDI in Germany. Being part of the consortium of German auto manufacturers developing the Bluetec diesel technology, VW claims this new TDI will be the cleanest diesel on the planet. Hmmm... I wonder how this compare to the ultra-clean diesel Honda is working on?
The new 2.0 liter common rail diesel engine is different from the urea injection systems used in other Bluetec vehicles, in that a nitrogen oxide reservoir in the catalytic converter is used to help it meet even Californian's most stringent emission standards, the Tier 2 / Bin 5 levels...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 4, 2007, 10:02 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Diesels, Green Tech, Honda, Trends, Volkswagen
Anyone not living under a rock knows that the Internet has changed the way news is dispersed. This has become an increasingly challenging job for those involved in handing out automotive news (the carmakers) and those who receive automotive news (Edmunds.com et al.).
This past year there have been a huge amount of news embargo "breaches," and it's likely to continue. The bottom line here is the whole idea of news embargoes is now coming under question...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 4, 2007, 7:39 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Trends
Toyota passed DaimlerChrysler to become number three in terms of U.S. auto sales. Toyota ended the year with 15.4 percent of the U.S. Automotive market...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 4, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Toyota, Trends
January 3, 2007
Here's the video of the December 22, 2006, Charlie Rose Show, which focused on alternative energy and Internet technology. There's also information here (and a link) to the ALT CAR EXPO that took place earlier in December.
Full story here.
In related news, here's a story Edmunds.com did on this subject: Ethanol?..
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