Remember that goofy little utility truck Ford unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show in February? It's almost here, and Edmunds.com has just posted full pricing and options. Want a Dewalt tool link? How about doors that open 225 degrees? It's all there for the taking provided you can live with those odd headlights and even more bizarre profile.
In yesterday's press conference on the state of the domestic auto industry, President Obama gave Chrysler 30 days to finalize a deal with Fiat. With that in mind, Sergio Marchionne, Fiat's CEO, wasted no time and immediately flew to Detroit.
Chrysler released a statement late yesterday saying that it had "a framework agreement" in place with Fiat, so clearly there are still plenty of details left to iron out. With bankruptcy looming, we don't see how Chrysler will come out of the talks without a deal in place.
Kia used the Seoul auto show to unveil its first every production hybrid vehicle. The Kia Forte Hybrid, aimed at the South Korean automaker's home market, is slated to go on sale later this summer.
It combines a 1.6-liter liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) engine with a small electric motor-generator, a continuously variable transmission and what the company says will be the world's first lithium-polymer battery pack.
It's been all of a month now since the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO debuted at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show sporting a 365-horsepower, twin-turbo V6. Sure it might be hooked to an automatic, but the new SHO is still a formidable beast.
We can't help but wonder, however, if the Taurus might suffer the same fate as the new Mustang. That is, a high-powered muscle machine that gets lost in an economy that sees spending extra cash on horsepower as a frivolous waste of money.
Maybe you saw the Hyundai Genesis Coupe commercial that ran during the Super Bowl? That would be the one with the yellow coupe drifting all over Road Atlanta? Hyundai used a cut edited by Billy Corrigan, but it also offered viewers the chance to make their own version by going to its website.
Our in-house photography ace Scott Jacobs recently took a stab at a remake. What do think?
Yesterday we received full pricing on the 2010 Ford Mustang. Today, it's Hyundai's turn.
The 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is now up on Edmunds.com, so you can consider price points that range from $22,000 all the way to $31,000. There are only two port-installed options (floor mats, iPod connection), so the rest of the features are all connected to the various trim levels.
One trim level you won't see is the 2.0-liter R-Spec version that was introduced at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. Not sure what the official hold up is, but Hyundai announced a base price of $23,750 in Chicago so you can see where it fits in without much trouble.
The Corvette Stingray Concept, set to appear soon as Sideswipe in the second Transformers movie, was easily the talk of a relatively quiet Chicago Auto Show. The Stingray, which was inspired by the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray split window coupe and the 1959 Sting Ray race car, owned by GM styling king Bill Mitchell, was not actually designed for the movie though.
According to Ed Welburn, the current GM design chief, the mock-up for the concept was already sitting in design studio when he took Transformers director Michael Bay for a tour. While it will likely be remembered best as "the Transformer Corvette," the Stingray Concept is an homage to iconic GM design by GM designers taking their crack at reviving the good old days.
But unlike the Ford GT, VW New Beetle, Mini or Dodge Challenger, the Corvette Stingray Concept is less literal. What exactly makes this concept evocative of the 1959 racer and the 1963 production car? And where does it leave the past behind? And what is up with those four tailpipes, anyway?
Join up after the jump for answers to those and possibly other questions.
#CAS09 Kia isn't shy about using self-effacing humor. At its 2009 Chicago Auto Show press conference, it openly admitted that the current Spectra doesn't attract many buyers on looks alone. "It's all about value, we know that," said Tom Loveless, VP of Sales.
Of course that didn't stop Tom from pitching style as a selling point with the new 2010 Kia Forte, the Spectra's slightly less generic-looking replacement.
Kia was also quick to point out something the Spectra never had much of either: power. The Forte's optional 173-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder makes it one of the most powerful cars in its class, and even the base 2.0-liter engine delivers a decent 156 hp.
No pricing was announced, but Loveless said the Forte will maintain the Spectra's position as one of the more affordable sedans in the segment. So yeah, they're not betting the house on styling just yet. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
#CAS09 During its press conference, Ford had the 2010 Harley-Davidson F-150 playing warm-up to the Transit Connect and the Taurus SHO.
But it's hard to ignore a huge truck with 22-inch wheels, copious badging and a shiny front grille. We weren't quite prepared for how flaky the metal-flake black cherry paint is in person. But overall it's a more tasteful-looking thing than some previous Harley editions.
The front seats are inspired by bikers' jackets says Ford and they're complete with epaulets with Harley-branded snaps and a zipper-closure map pocket. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit, Inside Line
Mazda unveiled the mildly (very mildly) face-lifted new MX-5 Miata at last fall's Paris auto Show. Heck, we've already driven the new Miata. Still, the company has a history of doing Miata reveals at Chicago. So the company rolled a pack of old Miatas and concept-car Miatas to accompany the two new MX-5s on its stand.
This video is slight less exciting than watching a paperweight, but it is a pretty good walkaround of the new Chevy Spark through the eyes of its designer. Personally, I'd rather watch a wall, but that's just me. Enjoy.
#CAS09 There wasn't much to see at the debut of the 2010 Acura TSX V6. Its new 3.5-liter engine was not on display and even if the hood wasn't open, most of the engine is covered in black plastic anyway.
It's a serious engine, though, 280 hp from 3.5 liters, same one that's in the base TL. Putting that much power through the front wheels should make for some interesting steering feedback when you power out of corners, but the TL seems to handle it quite well.
Thankfully, this TSX gets an upgraded suspension that includes larger 18-inch wheels and tires. They're still of the all-season variety, but at least they look better. The lack of a manual transmission is another slight disappointment.
Expect to see the 2010 Acura TSX V6 in showrooms this summer, with a price that splits the difference between the current TSX and the base TL. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
#CAS09 Judging by the number of people from competing car companies who showed up at today's press conference, the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Spec has its competitors worried. Or at least very curious.
And they should be. This is the kind of affordable coupe import enthusiasts have been begging Honda, Nissan and Toyota to build for years. Who would have thought Hyundai would be the company to finally pull it off.
Jon Krafcik, Hyundai's current CEO, recited the usual lines about having true enthusiasts at the company making the decisions, but we have to give him some credit. This time he had the car to back it up. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
#CAS09 And the winner of the coveted Best Headline Alluding to an '80s Television Program goes to American Suzuki Motor Corporation for its inspired: "Suzuki Goes Truckin' With Hill/Street Hues."
Congratulations, guys. We're pretty sure that the headline refers in some way to the three Equator pickups the company showed, each slathered in aftermarket parts by three different truck-enthusiast magazines. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit, Inside Line
#CAS09 After last year's initial reveal of the Transit Connect commercial van, Ford started a little contest. It asked business owners to come up with the most innovative use of the surprisingly spacious little cargo mover. The five winners would each receive a free vehicle, no strings attached.
Well, Ford picked the winners and brought them to the Chicago auto show to hand them the keys. But that wasn't all. In a shocking twist of marketing madness, Ford went one step further and outfitted each of the five vans with the new owner's business logo and preferred configuration. The winners were pleased, almost jubilant. The fact that their new vans looked no less odd than before didn't seem to bother them a bit.
The 2010 Ford Transit Connect goes on sale this summer with a starting price of $21,475. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
HOG Butcher for the World, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler; Stormy, husky, brawling, City of the Big Shoulders
That's how Carl Sandburg described Chicago in 1916. What ol' Carl didn't know was that Dodge would make it the City of Enormous, Chromey Front Grilles with the introduction of the 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty models, which, it may be revealed, are husky and purported to be quite the freight handlers as well.
No talk of extended-range electric anything today at the Dodge stand. No, the Heavy Duty, available in 2500, 3500, 4500 and even 5500 forms, runs (primarily) on diesel fuel and ground-up Fiat 500s.
Dodge says that the 2010 model has a prettier interior, a modified suspension for better ride and a Crew Cab model. And, who could forget, Dodge also constructed some of the biggest grilles and side mirrors in the history of mankind. The big draw for most commercial truckers or those with monstrous things to tow is the 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel inline-6, though, that is basically carryover for the new truck and makes 350 horsepower and a whopping 650 lb-ft of torque. Naturally, a Hemi V8 is also available.
We're guessing, based solely on his headwear, that the guy pictured with the truck below is a fan.
#CAS09 There was nothing particularly spectacular about today's introduction of the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO. They rolled out a couple cars, received a rousing response from a group of SHO enthusiasts imported for the reveal and called it a day.
There was no revving of the 365-horsepower twin-turbo V6, or videos of the car burning its tires off the rims. Understandable, really, given that it probably doesn't sound all that mean, and its standard all-wheel-drive setup means it can't really do a burnout without sacrificing the halfshafts.
Still looks good, though, and when it goes on sale later this year it should be one of Ford's best cars in a long time -- even if it can't do a burnout.
Of the many things that the first Transformers movie has done for Chevrolet, perhaps the most predictable is the opportunity for company execs to make really dreadful puns at today's press conference announcing its involvement with the sequel: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
Here's a sampling: We don't consider these vehicles movie stars; we think of them as movie cars. Or how about this inevitable one: We're transforming the Chevrolet brand.
According to the company, it also increased awareness of the Camaro by 97 percent.
Anyway, Chevrolet rolled out all five of the vehicles it has placed in the new movie. We've seen the Camaro-based Bumblebee. We'd seen spy shots of the purple Volt (that's actually a stock Malibu under the skin). We knew about the little Beat -- although we didn't know that it would be painted in a decidedly snowmobile-like scheme. And then there was the Mudflap, played by the small Traxx showcar from a few years back. Nobody cared to even look at that.
Hot on the heels of Hyundai's Super Bowl drift commercial comes the official Rhys Millen drift racecar based on the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Millen will campaign the specially prepared, 550-hp Genesis coupe in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, Formula Drift Professional Drifting Championship and select Redline Time Attack series events.
#CAS09 Normally, carmakers wait until after they've introduced a car to unveil a special edition of that car.
But the always-ahead-of-the-curve Nissan gave a sneak peek of a special edition of its button-cute bulldog Cube this evening in preparation for its unveiling tomorrow at the Chicago auto show. And because the kids love them some crazy spelling, the company has named this model the Krom. This is supposed to be pronounced "chrome," which, come to think of it, is a crazy way to spell chrome, too. Anyway, we've taken to calling it the "kchrahm," with a guttural consonant sound produced between the back of the tongue and the palate.
It comes with front grilles that are finished in Krom and Krom-look shiny 16-inch wheels. It also comes with side skirts, a deeper rear fascia and a rear roof spoiler. Inside, the Krom comes with an iPod interface, Bluetooth, 20-color interior accent lighting and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Nissan notes that it will offer the Krom in, among other colors, "Supper Black," which sounds delicious. It doesn't look as good as the regular Cube, though.
The Krom is the work of Nissan's Specialty Vehicles Group, which promises to bring another Nissan special edition to April's New York auto show.
Incidentally, the standard Cube with a six-speed manual will start at $13,990, without destination. That's a couple thousand cheaper than the Cube's bigger, more powerful spiritual brother, the Scion xB.
#CAS09 Chevrolet held a small press conference this afternoon, the day before the Chicago auto show opens to the press, to highlight the contributions of two suppliers to the Chevrolet Volt program.
Goodyear, which will supply the tires for the 2011-model extended-range electric vehicle (GM gets mad when you call it a hybrid) revealed some details on the low-rolling-resistance rubber that should help Chevrolet attain its goal of 40-mile all-electric range. Specifically, the Assurance FuelMax tires will provide an extra mile of range in the Volt's electric mode compared to a conventional tire. According to Goodyear, the tires' rubber compound uses "functional polymers" that allow the tire to rebound more easily than a conventional tire. That's useful because the flattened patch of the tire that contacts the road regains its circular shape more easily as it rotates around. Goodyear says this equates to lower rolling resistance. And according to the company, a 10-percent reduction in rolling resistance can mean a 1-to-2 percent fuel-efficiency gain for the vehicle. Critically, this is achieved, says the company, while maintaining the grip level of a conventional all-season tire.
Bose was also in attendance, touting the new Energy Efficient Series audio system that it has designed for the Volt. The system is said to be 30 percent smaller, 40 percent lighter and 50 percent more energy-efficient than a standard Bose audio system in a similarly sized car. This is accomplished largely through proven technology, pieces of which Bose has used previously in other car audio systems. The two main components of the system are a "switching" amplifier that is lighter and more efficient than a conventional linear amp. This sort of amp has been used in other Bose applications. The system's loudspeakers also use neodymium magnets in place of a conventional speaker's ferrite magnets, which are three times heavier. Again, this variety of magnet is used by speaker makers in other applications. Bose claims that the reduction of energy use for its system is equivalent to removing 50 pounds of mass from the vehicle.
All of this indicates that a project like the Volt can push suppliers to find efficiency in unexpected places, which is great. But can we drive the car already?
Is the standard Ford F-150 not quite manly enough for you? Think it needs to be butched up a little, say by adding some 22-inch wheels and a "billet-like" grille? If so, then you're going to love the 2010 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson.
For the rest of us, this marketing exercise is growing old. No more supercharger, too much chrome and one too many zippers.
According to a report in Automotive News, Hyundai will introduce a performance version of the Genesis coupe called Spec R at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. The rear-wheel-drive coupe will be powered by a 212-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the report says.
Hyundai eliminated some standard equipment to reduce the car's weight and price to make it more appealing to enthusiasts, according to Automotive News. Look for complete coverage of the 2009 Chicago Auto Show starting Wednesday.
You've been asking Ford to do it for years. Yes, bring over all those cool European models and they'll fly off the lots.
Well, Ford was listening, so here you go. Straight from Kocaeli, Turkey, it's the 2010 Ford Transit Connect, a compact commercial van that's just too cool to be called Econoline.
Chevrolet has announced that it will display at the Chicago auto show a new version of Bumblebee, the Autobot character played by the new Camaro from the upcoming movie Transformer: Revenge of the Fallen.
The yellow-and-black Camaro is apparently different in some way from the yellow-and-black Camaro from the first Transformers movie, although Chevy has not released any images of the new car.
Also at Chevy's Chicago-show stand will be other characters, played by Chevy models -- all good-guy Autobots, naturally. We've already seen that the Volt will make an appearance in the new movie as will the Chevy Beat concept and a Corvette Stingray concept.
Update: Thanks to the wonderful world of the world wide web, we've got some behind-the-scenes shots of the new Bumblebee during filming of the movie
An alert reader over at The Car Lounge spotted what looks to be a pair of 2010 Ford Taurus SHO prototypes testing in Florida recently. Larger wheels and tires, some slightly revised bodywork and a dual exhaust setup suggest that Ford's new twin turbocharged V6 could be lurking under the hood.
This doesn't come as much of a surprise, although we can't help but wonder what kind of market there is for such a sedan. We like the new look of the Taurus, but it's a big car with front-wheel drive roots. Even if this SHO uses all wheel drive to put down all that Ecoboost power, it's not going to be much of a sport sedan. Ford doesn't list a curb weight for the 2010 Taurus that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show, so it's safe to assume it's not surprisingly light. We'll see soon enough as it's expected to make its debut at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show in a few weeks.
Well, this is good news. Subaru, unlike many other automakers, is not bailing from the 2009 NAIAS. In fact they will have a new concept to be displayed.
My guess is that it will be a close-to-production--much like several recent Honda and Acura concepts (Pilot, Ridgeline, TL, etc.)--2010 Legacy or Outback. The last time these models were introduced, back in 2004, the Legacy was introduced first at Detroit with the Outback being announced a month later at Chicago. I suspect that will be the case again this time.
In what is turning out to be one of the strangest Detroit auto shows in history, word has it that local Nissan and Infiniti dealers will be putting up their own display. This is coming after news that the US corporate divisions of Nissan and Infiniti have backed out of the show.
"The ultimate, core purpose of auto shows is to create excitement among consumers and generate sales. That's what we're doing," said Doug Fox, co-chairman of the NAIAS and an Ann Arbor Nissan dealer.
Chicago: Yes or No?
Also, Nissan has changed their plans for Chicago. Originally the Chicago was also going to be axed by Nissan and Infiniti. Now those plans have been changed, and the corporate headquarters will once again have a display there.
"After a careful review of this decision with our North Central Region management and our Chicago dealers, we have found a way to maintain a presence at the Chicago show through our dealers," Nissan said in a statement. "The decision outlined for Chicago does not affect our decision to withdraw from the 2009 North American International Auto Show."
Joining the growing throng of automaker auto show no-shows, Nissan, and presumably Infiniti as well, have decided not to have a presence at either the Detroit or Chicago auto shows. Citing that they have no new models to display (hey! what about the Cube and 370Z?) and the worsening financial market, they felt their money was better spent elsewhere.
Ford will become the second truckmaker, after Nissan, to offer a spray-in bedliner. Introduced at the Chicago Auto Show, this Tough Bed spray-in bedliner pretty much fell under the radar of most news outlets, and as such, is just now being reported.
Tough Bed will be an option on 2009 Ford Super Duty pickups, but I would think, will also eventually be offered on F-150s as well. This is such a good idea that I would expect other truckmakers to follow suit, now that Ford has jumped on board...
Inspired by the International D-Series of some 70 years back, this new hauler is sure to be the envy of those making coast-to-coast runs with 80,000 pounds or more in tow.
Think in-car tech is just for snowboarders who currently drive a Focus, dream of owning a 3 Series and rock the faux-hawk? Think again. At the Chicago auto show, Ford unveiled some powerful tools for those who take the idea of a work truck very seriously.
One of the most compelling options in the Ford Work Solutions lineup is an in-dash computer that's outfitted with Microsoft software, Garmin navigation, Bluetooth and a wireless printer interface...
The new must-haves are tech features like navigation, premium audio, satellite radio and live traffic -- many of which the otherwise adequate Hyundai Sonata lacks. Not for long. For 2009 the Sonata gets a nav system, a USB port so you can play music through an iPod or memory stick plus a revised and more interesting XM radio interface including a voice command. Tech geeks will know that both the Accord and Altima have similar options but the voice control for XM is an interesting addition -- that Microsoft Sync system's got 'em all thinkin...
As a nice break from all the new cars and concepts, here's a few semi-oldies that have been aged to perfection:
BMW 2002 Tii
Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3
Mitsubishi Galant GTO-R73X
New models and new concepts are fine but these three automakers obviously think there's something to be said for heritage. We agree. --Brian Moody, Road Test Editor
With the two photos here and the sentence that I am right now writing, we have fulfilled our duty to cover the Nissan GT-R. Good night and fare thee well. --Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
The prospect for actually selling any of these is anybody's guess. If the 2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid follows the example of GM's hybrid SUVs and is $6 or $7 grand more than the conventional truck, we're not seeing much hope.
The truck buyers who are really serious about fuel economy spend their $6,000 to buy the Duramax diesel. It's an investment in a known quantity...
OK, you've gotta respect anybody with the engineering pluck to take a front-drive Audi TT and turn it into a proper rear-drive sports car. Funke and Will's young engineers should have mixed in some art appreciation with their technical studies, 'cause the YES! (Young Engineers Sportscar) is dreadful to look at, even by bad-Deutsche-tuner standards.
Three-point-nine seconds to 60 notwithstanding, you'd have to really want "exclusivity" to part with Porsche 911 money for this...
Hyundai's been selling a wagon in Europe, but this is the first time the Korean company will offer a wagon based on the current-generation Elantra in the U.S.
Under the hood is a 141-horsepower DOHC 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox.
For fun, Hyundai also showed a customized version of the new Elantra wagon done-up by K-Daddyz Kustomz in Bakersfield, California. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
Two years. That's about as long as we'll have to wait for an entirely new Mitsubishi Galant, which should look a fair amount like the handsome Concept-ZT from the Tokyo auto show. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi offers this 2009 version with new front and rear styling. And we can honestly say the new rear with quasi-Lancer taillight is a genuine improvement...
Having made its world debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show last September, Hyundai's i-Blue fuel-cell concept isn't exactly breaking news at the Chicago auto show.
Nevertheless, the Hyundai concept's aerodynamic form still looks cool enough to post a couple of new photos from the show floor. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
"The Porsche RS Spyder was launched in this same Chicago room a year ago," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, "and look at the successful year it had."
But superstition isn't the only reason Porsche decided to unveil its new 2008 Cayenne GTS in the Windy City. As Schwarzenbauer explained, "Chicago is the fifth largest Porsche market in North America, and 50 percent of Porsche sales in Chicago are Cayenne."
Porsche is hoping Chicagoans will embrace the 405-horsepower Cayenne GTS, complete with a Cayenne Turbo front fascia, standard 21-inch tires and sport seats for front and rear passengers.
Two new colors will be exclusive to the Cayenne GTS: Nordic Gold and GTS Red. Unfortunately, we're forced to show you the SUV in everyday silver...
For all those of you who complained that the BMW M3 has become too soft in its current form, have a look-see at this, the coolest car on the Chicago auto show floor: the M3 ALMS racecar.
The Rahal/Letterman team will campaign the car in American Le Mans Series racing in 2009. BMW reckons the V8 makes about 485 horsepower. The car weighs 2,535 pounds and carries 15-inch front and 13.1-inch rear brakes...
Hyundai used the Chicago auto show to unveil its updated 2009 Sonata, touting the fact that the midsize sedan is gaining popularity in a highly competitive segment.
Offered with a 175-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine or 249-hp 3.3-liter V6, the Sonata is a nice alternative to your friends' Toyota Camry or Honda Accord.
A starting price of $18,795 makes the 2009 Sonata even more attractive. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
Here, captured in one mediocre photograph, is the danger to a manufacturer in bringing one of its legendary old cars to provide a boost for a new introduction. Honestly, which car is cooler: The 2002 tii or the Concept 1 Series tii? That's what we thought.
The trim little 2002 makes the 1 Series look, well, pregnant in a very not-good way. We're sure the new one is much faster, if that's any consolation...
If the overwhelming reception to the Mitsubishi Raider is any indication, we expect big things from the Nissan Frontier-based Suzuki Equator, but not really. It goes on sale at the end of this year at which point you could buy one. Maybe you prefer the Suzuki's front grille to the Nissan's. We do. But not that much...
Volkswagen of America's President and CEO Stefan Jacoby announced that the Windy City was an appropriate place for the 2009 VW Routan debut as there is a "fresh wind" at VW. Perhaps "winds of change" may have been a more appropriate translation.
Either way, with "Come and Get Your Love" playing in the background, Jacoby and Volkswagen R&D Chief Ulrich Hackenburgposed happily for a photo op with their, er, Chrysler's baby, the Routan minivan.
We say Chrysler's baby, because underneath its shiny VW sheet metal, the Routan is really a Dodge Caravan without the benefit of Chrysler's handy Stow 'n Go seat option...
Although the 2009 Ford Edge Sport was hyped before the Chicago auto show opened to the media, it apparently didn't make the cut to be included in the actual Ford press conference.
Sure, it's mainly an appearance package and not a real sport package, but in a show that's running low on major debuts, we'd have listened politely to Ford executives detail the Edge's new look.
Not to dis the large front airdam or rocker sill and rear skirts, but the optional 22-inch polished wheels alone would've grabbed our attention for at least a minute or two. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
So you're GMC. You're selling somewhere around 450,000 professional-grade products (read: trucks) a year. You are the second-best-selling brand in all of General Motors. You're selling like 7,000 Acadias per month...
Ford's big announcement in the Windy City this afternoon was its new Transit Connect mini cargo van. Although the vehicle has been around in Europe since 2003, Ford has decided that American small businesses could make use of the Transit Connect's 143 cubic feet of storage space (enough space to hold 45 cases of wine), side sliding doors, and 270-degree opening rear doors.
Local Chicago businesses, including My Chef Catering and Schaefer's wine shop were given Transit Connect's to outfit for their transportation needs.
Lucky for us, the press conference quickly disintegrated into a food-and-drink-laden party...
The award for the most-hokey-yet-somehow-endearing press conference goes to...Chevrolet and its unveil of the utterly predictable but still attractive Traverse three-row crossover ute.
Sue Wilson, Vehicle Line Executive for the roughly $30,000 ute, was convinced (or compelled or cajoled) into bringing her actual family to help introduce the vehicle. It's a family vehicle, you see. Three of her kids and her old man rode along as Wilson drove the Traverse onto center stage and then recited some scripted jokes...
The song that they used to lead up to the GM unveiling had bass so deep I could feel it in my teeth. Because of the music, I expected the first debut would be the 2009 Hummer H3T, but instead it was all about the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. When I got up to leave, I saw the Hummer sitting quietly about 15 feet behind me. Having made its Internet debut over a week ago, it's now considered old news...
Because Acura was the only manufacturer that refused to give us early information on what it was showing in Chicago, one might have anticipated big news. But Acura's debut turned out to be less than its super secrecy might have indicated.
Acura pulled the wraps off its 2009 RL, which to the naked eye, looks much like the current model. While the Japanese automaker is positioning it as a redesign, we prefer the term "refresh" for this one...
Comparing the efforts of automakers to sell you a vehicle to presidential candidates seeking your vote, Troy Clarke, General Motors Corp. group vice president and president, GM North America, says, “Let there be no doubt – General Motors wants your vote.”
Every candidate must have a platform, and sure enough, GM has one: “Energy Solutions.”
Clarke opened media days at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show by saying GM knows how important fuel-efficiency and environmental sustainability are to customers, so the company is going all-out with fuel-efficient technology that will lead to vehicles that provide those energy solutions.
Clarke says GM knows it must produce “what people want to buy, not what we may want to sell them.”
Sounds like a plan.
Technology will be crucial for future stuff, sure, but Clarke takes the time to reiterate what we expect to a recurring GM theme for the next several years: Ethanol is the best, most immediate way to reduce the nation’s dependence on imported oil...
Well, you're not here, literally. But Inside Line is here. And that's exactly like being here at the Chicago auto show -- without the face-blistering cold.
Surviving in the shadow of that auto-show bully Detroit, Chicago is a bit, um, quiet...
GMC will be showing this flex-fuel, 2-mode hybrid 4.9L V8 pickup concept at the Chicago auto show.
As we all know SUVs have been getting serious makeover in that many (most!) are now adapting many car-like engineering features (IRS, etc.), and now we're starting to see this occurring also on pickups. Well, concept pickups that is—but, if you read between the lines here, you just know it won't be too long before some of these ideas will hit the showroom. In fact one already has: the Honda Ridgeline—and I expect more to follow...
Mitsubishi will use the Chicago Auto Show to introduce their "freshened" 2009 Eclipse. The 3.8 V6 engine gets bumped up to 265 horsepower / 262 pound-feet of torque, as well as getting a few other tweaks. It can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic with manual shift control.
I'm sure it's all well and good, but I find it a bit ironic that Mitsubishi's "sport coupe" to be less exciting than their EVO "sedan." Anyone else agree?
The car manufacturer Funke & Will AG, headquartered near Dresden, Germany, will be bringing over their stunning YES! 3.2 roadster.
Now imagine a 2200 pound roadster powered by a VW 3.2L V6, both naturally aspirated and in turbo formats, and you too will scream YES!
The base model will be generating 255hp and go 0 – 60 mph in 4.8s. The Turbo gets another 100hp, and will do 0 – 60 mph in 3.8s, despite gaining 40kg (88lb) in the process...
In the latest episode of embargo-gate, there is now an image of the new Frontier-based Suzuki Equator up on the Net. The image was first provided by Truck Trend, and is now all over the Internet. An even better image arrived today thanks to Mike Levine over at PickupTruck.com.
As much as I hate badge-engineered vehicles, I have to say from the front this looks pretty good...
Although it’s scheduled to debut at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, we can bring you the goods on the 2009 Hummer H3T now. As expected, it’s essentially a standard H3 with a utility bed out back. A 22-inch-longer wheelbase helps to accommodate the bed without sacrificing interior passenger room. The cargo box itself will offer GM’s bed rail accessory system, so although it’s only 5 feet long it should prove more useful than your typical SUT add-on.
Everything else about the H3T is identical to the standard SUV model. Base models get the 3.7-liter inline five-cylinder while the H3T Alpha gets the 5.3-liter V8. Hard-core off-roaders will appreciate the fact that the optional off-road package adds front and rear differential lockers along with lower transfer case gears and 33-inch tires. No word on whether the standard H3 will offer the same upgrades for 2009. Production of the 2009 Hummer H3T starts in the third quarter of this year, so expect to see it in dealers by August. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
VW has announced that their new Routan minivan will debut at the Chicago Auto Show.
Never heard of a "Routan," you say? Well, it's a byproduct of a VW-Chrysler get together. Chrysler's done the heavy lifting here, with VW sprinkling some people's car fairy dust upon it...
Why wait for the Chicago auto show when you can see the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 now? Caught outside Chrysler’s Auburn Hills technical center, this production spec Challenger shows off all the details we’ve seen in the teaser shots. It’s also the first time we’ve seen the stock Challenger in anything but orange. Who would have thought it would look so good in silver?
Found this image first over at Chrysler Weblog and shortly thereafter over at PickupTruck.comhere, and it's now up on other sites as well. It originally made its way on to the Net via DodgeTalk.com. Since nothing is known about the image, there has been some question as to whether it is real or Photoshopped.
My gut says it's real—in fact I'm willing to bet my first-born on it, as it pretty much agrees with everything that I've read to date about the new Ram...
No, the picture above is not it, but rather a Suzuki Grand Vitara-based concept that Suzuki showed in Tokyo a few years ago.
Anyway, Suzuki is going to show a new pickup at the Chicago Auto Show, and it's expected to wear the Equator name tag.
It had been long rumored that Suzuki partnered with Nissan to do a pickup, and it was to be spun off the Frontier. Now as many folks here know I'm no fan of badge-engineered vehicles; never have been, never will be...
These are the latest and greatest shots of the 2009 Dodge Challenger. Caught roaming the streets of suburban Detroit, this prototype wears the usual front and rear camouflage along with a set of blacked out, five spoke wheels. A small peek through the front end cover shows a set of headlights that look very similar to those used on the concept. It also looks as though the B-pillars shown in previous shots of the Challenger's body shell are in fact headed for production...
It's no secret that the Detroit auto show leaves something to be desired. Cobo Hall is old—and more important is really showing its age. The area hotels and restaurants could be better, as well. Auto journalists and industry types have complained about this for some time now. And most recently Porsche stated that they would no longer display at the Detroit show, as they sell few vehicle in Michigan.
Other factors coming into play are the other major U.S. auto shows, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, are making headway in terms of prestige. Each of these other shows out-Detroit in any number of ways. Even so, Detroit seems to holding its own, at least for the short term.
Following the Chicago auto show announcement that the upcoming 2008 Pontiac G8 will be heavily based on Australia's Holden Commodore, we packed-up our test gear and headed down-under to see what all of the fuss was about. In addition to testing the freshly redesigned 2007 Holden Commodore SS, we also sampled its arch rival, the soon-to-be-refreshed 2007 Ford Falcon GT.
But wait, there's more. While in Australia, we saw the "ute" variants of both of these cars in great numbers...
With production of the 2009 Dodge Challenger slated for next spring, it was only a matter of time before prototypes started showing up. What we have here isn't quite a full-blown prototype just yet, but our newest spy photos show what appears to be the front clip of a Challenger grafted onto the body of a Charger R/T. This is a common practice when engineers want to test airflow to the engine of a car that has a radically different grille design compared to existing models. Despite the heavy camouflage, it's clear the Challenger's front end will look almost identical to the prototype which should come as no surprise given that Dodge officials have already promised minimal styling changes for the production Challenger...
The 2007 Chicago Auto Show may have many of the same cars as the Detroit auto show, but look hard enough and you can always find plenty of local color. In the case of the International truck painted in Chicago Bears livery, you don't even have to look that hard. With the show winding down, we figured a photo gallery of what's cool on the show floor would be a good way to wrap things up. Next stop on the show circuit, the 2007 Geneva Auto Show in March. — Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
The wacky kids over at wacky Scion got a wacky idea. Biting off a bit of Volkswagen and Mini's mojo, Toyota's youth brand brought the fun and games to the somnolent Chicago auto show. Yes, the company showed off a couple of goofy-looking little cars. And, yes, the company handed out CDs containing music sure to confound and annoy your average car journalist...
Scion's promise to keep its lineup fresh was kept today, when the xA was replaced by the xD and the xB was replaced by the new xB. Both are 2008 models with five doors, four-cylinder power and Scion's now signature urban edge.
"The xD is a clever new take on a five-door urban subcompact, with style and flair to match its efficiency and utility," Mark Templin, Scion vice president told us. "The xD's aggressive styling is wrapped in a small, agile package, while its interior offers impressive details and a spacious cabin."
And to help along the xD's urban edge, or street cred, as they say on the street, is this tuned version, which Scion unvieled to ooooos and ahhhhhs at its morning press conference...
Nissan's press conference was a low key affair with Larry Dominique, the company's vice president of product planning, giving a 15-minute lowdown on the 2008 Titan, 2008 Pathfinder and 2008 Armada. Highlights include a new Crew Cab long bed Titan, the Pathfinder's first V8 engine and the larger 8-inch screen for the Armada's optional DVD Entertainment Package.
Add these refreshed trucks to the product onslaught Nissan is unleashing this year. The Altima, Versa and Sentra have just hit the streets and the Altima Coupe, Sentra SE-R, 306-hp 350Z and Rogue crossover are all just around the corner...
At the last newsworthy press conference of the day, Kia breathed some life into the Chicago show with its light-hearted unveiling of the Kia Rondo SX concept car. The Rondo's new marketing campaign includes a rainbow of singers belting out "Let the Sun Shine In," and that same cheery group made a live appearance on stage this morning.
The Rondo SX concept is based on the all-new Kia Rondo which went on sale in December 2006. Compared to the standard Rondo, the SX gets more aggressive front and rear fascias, a dramatic new grille and 18-inch cast-alloy wheels with 235/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport tires...
Today's press introduction of the 2008 Scion xB was pretty conventional. You had your loud music, your concert lighting and plenty of teleprompters telling executives what to say. It was almost as if Scion had gone straight and abandoned its relentless drive for urban street cred. Then again, if you were watching the press conference in Scion City you might have thought differently. Don't know where Scion City is? Well then, you are clearly not cool enough to have generated an electronic alter ego in Second Life. It's the much hyped computer-generated world complete with its own currency, retail stores and yes, even corporate-sponsored media events. Scion's press conference was the first time a manufacturer has used Second Life for a major product introduction, and judging by the number of avatars (those would be people) in attendance it may be the last. And as far as the car goes, if you liked the original xB you'll like the 2008 version, too. — Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor
Most of the Dodge truck news coverage at the Chicago auto show focused on the new face-lifted Dakota midsize pickup. To me that was the "little" story. The "big" story as I see it, is the fact that Dodge finally—FINALLY! is entering the Class 4-5 medium-duty truck market with the new Ram 4500 and 5500 models...
Interesting that in the scrums with journalists at Ford press conferences here, it sounds like Ford is copying GM in some ways. Under CEO Alan Mulally, who joined Ford last fall from Boeing, Ford has appointed a product-developing champion along the lines of GM’s Bob Lutz. Mulally also is pushing Ford to follow GM’s lead in leveraging its global vehicles. He has said Ford may bring some models from Europe to the U.S...
At 3:15 this afternoon, the Pontiac press conference was the place to be. Everybody wanted to see the new rear-wheel-drive G8 sedan. And we mean everybody. The Pontiac press conference was without a doubt the most crowded of the day...
Chicago auto show traditionally is as much about trucks as cars. Last year, for instance, Toyota unveiled its critically important Tundra here. Chrysler continued the Chicago truck tradition today by unveiling its revised 2008 Dodge Dakota pickup and its new medium- and heavy-duty pickups for commercial fleets. Chrysler's product development chief Frank Klegon probably spent more time than he needed for this consumer crowd on the details of the commercial trucks -- a very specific market that the general audience pays little attention to and understands even less...
On the surface the U.S.-spec 2008 Volkswagen R32 introduced today in Chicago doesn't look much different than the previous R32 sold in 2004. It has 250 horsepower, all-wheel drive and a bunch of cosmetic upgrades. When we dug a little deeper with Volkswagen Product Specialist Andres Valbuena, however, the 2008 R32 sounded a little better. Turns out this R32 is tuned to the exact specifications of the European model...
BMW sucked the life out of onlookers during its boring 2007 BMW Alpina B7 press conference, but all is forgiven since the supercharged, 500-horsepower 4.4-liter V8 7 Series is finally coming to the United States.
The Alpina B7 has been on sale in Europe since 2004 while our professional athletes have been forced to make due with the confines of a BMW M5 or a 438-hp BMW 760Li.
$115,695 will put you, or Yao Ming, behind the wheel this spring. — Kelly Toepke, Manager of Vehicle Testing
A couple of themes immediately jump out on this first press day of the Chicago auto show. Much of the buzz is around car names. It started with Ford renaming the Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego and the Ford Freestyle as the Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable and Ford Taurus X, respectively. The pros and cons of Ford's move were debated...
When the highlight of your press conference is a dump truck full of chips, you've got a problem. Then again, when all you have to show is a lightly restyled 2008 Dodge Dakota, offering up massive amounts of junk food can't hurt. The rest of the press conference was used to highlight the details of Dodge's new heavy-duty chassis cab trucks and how to "upfit" them. We would venture to guess that few of those in attendance know what a chassis cab truck is, let alone why you would want to upfit one...
Ron Fellows has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, owns a silver Corvette Z06 and is the only man to ever have a special edition Corvette with his name on it. Nice life. This is the 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Ron Fellows ALMS GT1 Championship and the man up there on the turntable leaning against it is Corvette racecar driver Ron Fellows.
"Obviously, this is a huge honor," Fellows told us in the GM booth at the Chicago auto show...
The debut of the 2008 Saturn Vue Red Line isn't the biggest news at the Chicago show, but nonetheless, the restyled Red Line deserves its 15 seconds of blog fame.
Available this fall in front-wheel- or all-wheel-drive configurations, the Vue Red Line gets a 250-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 with a six-speed automatic transmission, a lowered-, sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels.
A large front airdam, rear spoiler and chrome-tipped exhaust pipes help the Red Line stand apart from the standard Vue. — Kelly Toepke, Manager of Vehicle Testing
On May 27th of this year, a Corvette that looks just like this one will pace the Indianapolis 500. It will be the ninth time and the fourth year in a row that a Corvette has paced the Indy 500, but it's the first time since 1998 that you can buy a replica of the special edition. In 1998 the Corvette pace-car replica was purple with bright yellow wheels and seats. It was like driving around in a 300-hp Shaquille O'Neal, or Kobe Bryant depending on your taste in Lakers superstars of the time...
Saturn dealers will be receiving the restyled 2008 Saturn Vue in just a few weeks, but shoppers interested in a Green Line hybrid version will have to wait until later this year.
We'd tell you more about the 2008 Green Line but why bother? The 2009 Saturn Vue Green Line will offer GM's new two-mode hybrid system instead of the current technology, so today's buyers will be getting yesterday's lunch.
GM claims the future two-mode hybrid Vue will offer a 45-percent improvement in fuel economy over the non-hybrid model...
The press preview day of the Chicago auto show is only a few hours old and yet, we've already heard every possible joke about Ford renaming its Five Hundred, Freestyle and Montego to Taurus, Taurus X and Sable. We've even told a few ourselves.
So we're overjoyed to bring you an exclusive to Inside Line's Straightline blog: The Mercury Montego, er, Sable can drive on water! Oh sure, Ford marketing guy, Cisco Codina, pretended as if he didn't notice, but there it was on the show stand...
It appears as though Toyota is bowing to the pressure for plug-in hybrids with the new 2008 Toyota Highlander. Although only a passing mention of it was made during Toyota's Chicago auto show press conference, there will be a new "EV mode" on the all-new Highlander Hybrid which goes on sale in August. Push the "EV" button on the dash and the Highlander will run on electric power only up to 25 mph as long as there is sufficient battery power. Current Highlander Hybrids can run on electric power, too, but the gas engine kicks in sooner to help out. According to Toyota, EV mode is a simple means of getting the most out of the current battery pack, although it acknowledges that a true plug-in hybrid will require a far more advanced battery system.
This morning Saturn's general manager, Jill Lajdziak, officially pulled the wraps off of the 2008 Saturn Astra, the little darling of this year's Chicago show. One of two new nameplates debuting this week (Pontiac's G8 is the other), the Astra isn't really new, just new to the U.S. Sold in Europe as the Opel Astra and in the U.K. as a Vauxhall, the Astra has already enjoyed success abroad as Lajdziak reported more than a half-million Astras were sold in Europe last year...
Scott Burgess of The Detroit News thinks that while the Chicago auto show may be bigger than the Detroit auto show in terms of show square footage, etc., it may not be better in terms of new vehicle announcements. In terms of sheer volume of announcements, he's correct. In terms of importance of vehicle announcements...well, that's harder to judge. It will be interesting to hear from the Edmunds editors on the show floor (and showgoers) as to whether they agree with Burgess...
Less than an hour ago Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, addressed the motoring press at the Chicago auto show's Midwest Automotive Media Association breakfast. Fields spoke for 20 minutes, but failed to say much. Topics he touched upon included Baby Boomers, Millenials, iPod, sleep deprivation, personal downtime, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks. He also blew up the obvious meter by stating, "Ford needs to create more products more people want."
This just in: The sky is blue.
Fields also confirmed for the 2,468,343rd time that the Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego and Ford Freestyle will all be renamed for 2008...
The Dodge Dakota has been struggling in the market ever since it got redesigned a few years ago. That version (v.2.0) was flat out awful looking, so the fact that it did so poorly was no surprise. It got a facelift (v.2.1) not too long ago, which was a slight improvement, but still no real gains in terms of market acceptance.
So now we have v.2.2 for 2008, which is considerably better looking than either previous efforts...
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...
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...
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.
For those who are addicted to auto show press conference schedules, here's your fix:
The main press announcements occur from Tuesday, Feb. 6 – Thursday, Feb. 8; with the show opening to the public on Friday, Feb. 9 and running through Sunday, Feb...
GM announced yet another new Saturn today. The 2008 Saturn Astra will hit the market late next year in both three-door and five-door hatchback configurations. Recently unveiled at the Bologna auto show as the Opel Astra, Saturn's version will debut at the 2007 Chicago auto show virtually unchanged.
GM and Ford not only have to battle Toyota, Honda, et al, but they also have to battle perceptions of many Chicago auto show visitors that they may be going out of business.
"They come in thinking we are going out of business, and we have to get rid of the fear factor," said John Czech, a salesman from Haggerty Ford in West Chicago who was working the Ford display. "We tell them we're going to be around a long time and aren't going anywhere. And once they understand, the fear is gone," he said...
This is interesting. According to Business Week, the 2007 Tundra shown at the Chicago may be a replacement for the current extended cab, and not the crew cab!
Snippet: The version that Toyota showed at the Chicago Auto Show today has full-size doors front and back, which replaces its current extended cab Tundra that has half-doors for the rear occupants. But Toyota will also have a full crew-cab version of the Tundra with even more interior room.
If that's true, that would explain the coupe-like rear door windows—and would mean the "true" crew cab version would be a (Dodge) Mega Cab competitor!..
The '07 B9 Tribeca rolls into the new model year with a minor facelift and some subtle mechanical upgrades. The grille is now blacked out and there is an optional SE package, which has a chrome mesh grille, chrome wheels and XM satellite radio. The SE package will be offered on all Tribecas.
The Tribeca's styling changes are good, but I had wished for much more...
I would be shocked if Dodge didn't release an SRT version of its new Nitro SUV, but don't get your hopes up for a Hemi under the hood. Chief Engineer Rick Reuter told me he thought of that already and it didn't work out. "Too hard to make it work. It just wouldn't fit with all the crash test regulations required up front...
Maybe if I hadn't seen the Navigator yesterday, I'd be more delighted with Subaru's Special Edition package for the '07 B9 Tribeca. But probably not. Chrome grille that looks like a chainlink fence, 18-inch chrome wheels and XM satellite radio, all for a $1,295 stipend.
You win some, you lose some; that sort of sums up the '05-06 Nissan Quest.
I'm glad to see Nissan quickly changed some of the features that had put off potential customers (center-mounted instruments!) of previous models. The only thing, from what I've seen, that they didn't address, is the lack of a split-folding 3rd-row seat. Also, I was hoping for AWD, like what the Sienna offers, at least as an option...
Very, very impressive. 3 engine choices, 3 cab configurations, 6-speed automatic, and (1/2-ton) class-leading 10K towing. It also has looks that should appeal to the truck crowd.
The only thing I don't care for is the small porthole-like rear door window...
Toyota played it straight with the introduction of the next-generation 2007 Toyota Tundra. No goofy skits. No stale jokes by blue suited executives. Just one huge truck that Toyota President Jim Press called, "the biggest, boldest, bad-ass truck in Toyota history." Here are some interesting specs to consider. Toyota didn't give horsepower or torque numbers for the new 5.7-liter V8, but the engine will use a six-speed automatic and give the Tundra a maximum tow rating of over 10,000 pounds. A 4.7-liter V8 and 4.0-liter V6 will also be available. There will be three different body styles. The four door truck in the pictures is called a double cab but it will replace the current Tundra access cab in the lineup. An even larger crew cab will be introduced later. There will also be three different bed lengths and three trim levels for a total of 30 different styles. Sales will begin in January of 2007.
I have to admit, the announcement of a Honda Civic Si 4-door completely caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting this at all. However, I'm thrilled to see Honda will be offering this vehicle to the public.
So there appears to be life in American Honda afterall...
Last year, when I was at the Detroit car show, and saw the then-new Honda Ridgeline, I knew I had seen the future of pickup trucks. I was convinced then (and still am) that the Ridgeline would have a profound effect on the way future personal-use pickups would be designed.
Yesterday at the Chicago auto show we saw the first post-Ridgeline response: the Dodge Rampage concept. From what I've seen so far at Chicago (and from what I've seen at LA and Detroit), this is far and away the most interesting vehicle on the show circuit...
There's not much that hasn't been done already when it comes to auto show introductions, but Mercedes pulled out a new one for the reveal of the ML63 and R63 AMGs. In the middle of its very typical looking show stand sat an ice rink big enough to allow a pair of figure skaters and two hockey players room to show off a few moves. When they were done the two all wheel drive AMGs pulled out onto the ice without slipping a single tire despite having a 504 horsepower V8 under each of their hoods. Maybe not the most dramatic thing I've ever seen, but it got the point across...
In one breath, John Mendel, senior VP at American Honda, called the Civic Si sedan a concept. In the next, he said, "The 2007 model year will mark the first time in the Civic Si's 20 years in the U.S. that it will be available with four doors."
So it's settled.
Couldn't get much hard performance information out on the Honda officials on-hand, but spokesman Chris Naughton assured me "this won't be a watered down version of the Civic Si coupe" despite the standard Civic sedan's longer wheelbase and less aggressive suspension tuning (compared to the standard coupe)...
A minute ago Mitsubishi took the sheet off the 2007 Galant Ralliart, a hot rod version of its midsize sedan. The car looks good, but the three tuned up Eclipse and Eclipse Spyders also parked in the Mitsubishi booth look even better. Although they're stock, the two Lancer Evos parked to the left of the stage don't suck either.
I'm sitting in the Nissan booth waiting for the press conference to begin.
In a few minutes Nissan will debut the new Quest minivan, which gets a new
interior for 2007. Problem is I just realized the Camaro Concept sitting
over in the Chevy booth wears the same grille as a Murano. Bummer.
After Kermit the frog warmed up the crowd from atop a Ford Escape Hybrid, suddenly Magic Johnson strolled onto the stage at the Lincoln stand. "Are you up for a little one-one-one?" Kermit teased.
Turned out Magic was actually there "to share some really big news about Lincoln today."
That big news was of course the 2007 Lincoln Navigator and new Suburban-size Navigator L, and the odd exchange between a muppet and a former basketball pro helped smooth the transition from frugal hybrid to gluttonous luxury SUV.
"Lincoln is like myself about class and style," Magic told the crowd...
Before digging into the '07 Navigator/MKZ introductions, Ford officials spent a lot of time talking about ethanol and hybrids. No surprise that Ford wants to show that it, too, is serious about E85 use after GM's recent announcements.
More interesting is the company's new partnership with the city of Chicago to put Escape Hybrids in the city's taxi cab fleet. Apart from reduced emissions, it's hard to imagine cab drivers getting much of a fuel economy benefit from driving hybrids...
Dodge put on its typical shtick with a rarely rousing rendition of the dating game in order to introduce the Caliber SRT4, Nitro SUV and Rampage concept truck. It was complete with a ditzy actress "contestant" who just couldn't decide which one she liked best. That is until NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne popped out of the Caliber to give her some help. It was as corny as it sounds, but the three new vehicles made up for it. The Nitro looks great, the Caliber SRT4 sounds great and even the Rampage concept drew applause. Goofy presentation or not, this Dodge press conference was worth seeing.
The blaring classic rock music filling the Chevrolet booth immediately before and after the world debut of the 2007 Chevy Avalanche pickup truck included favorites from the Steve Miller Band, Sheryl Crow and Tom Petty. Nobody danced, but Gary White the Vice President and Vehicle Line Executive of Full-Size Trucks at GM is quite a toe tapper.
More on the 2007 Chevy Avalanche can be found here.
If you buy a Lexus ES, you buy it because you want most luxury possible at the $35,000 mark and couldn't care less about performance, right?
Well, says Paul Williamsen, Toyota product education manager, the new ES will offer "a real level of luxury but with a driving experience that doesn't disappoint." Important to this mission is a new 272-hp 3.5L V6 and six-speed automatic that get the car to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, according to Lexus. The ES doesn't ride on an all-new platform, but Lexus says it has been substantially modified to match the engine's capability.
"There were some in the past who might have recognized the ES as a Lexus, as an entry-luxury car, but might have found its reputation to not be a high enough level of dynamic driving experience," Williamsen added. "With this car, we'll add a new level of consideration among those buyers."
Should you give yourself over to these considering masses?..
Jim Press, the President and COO of Toyota, just told the assembled
automotive press that the secret to Toyota's success is "We find out what
customers want and we try and give it to them through the best dealers in
the industry."
Sounds so simple, doesn't it.
Wait, I forgot to mention there were a bunch of Toyota dealers in the room as well.
At the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) breakfast, which
kicks off the Chicago Auto Show every year, keynote speaker Jim Press, the
President and COO of Toyota Motor Sales, said he predicts the industry to
move 17.2 million cars and trucks in 2006. That's a 1 percent increase over
2005 and it would make 2006 the second best sales year ever.
He also told the packed ballroom he thinks annual industry sales of 20 million is within reach during the next decade.
Hot on the heels of the 2007 Ford Expedition and Expedition EL announcements, Lincoln will introduce the 2007 Navigator and the all-new long-wheelbase Navigator L at the Chicago auto show. You can read about it here on Inside Line.
The new Navigators share many of the same upgrades that the Expeditions received. The big news here is that Lincoln now has model to go head-to-head with the long-wheelbase Escalade...
The striking new Dodge Nitro is based on the Jeep Liberty, and is sure to cause a stir in the marketplace.
The Nitro will be availabe in three models: Dodge Nitro, Dodge Nitro SLT and Dodge Nitro R/T. Available on the Dodge Nitro and Dodge Nitro SLT is a 3.7-liter SOHC V-6 engine. It produces 210 hp (157 kW) @ 5,200 rpm and 235 lb.-ft...
As before, the 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche is a cross between a Silverado and a Suburban. While I don't yet have the specs on it, I think it's save to assume that most of what you see on the new Tahoe will also be on this truck.
I've always like the Avalanche, as it presented some really innovative thinking, and I was happy to see it receive acceptance in the marketplace, in spite of its over-the-top and rather forced styling. The new model should do even better, as its styling is far more palatable...
An '07 Toyota Tundra image has showed up on the Net. As one might expect, it's big and bold, but also safe and predictable; classic Toyota design, if you will. The "official" debut of the 2007 Toyota Tundra will be at the Chicago car show in a few weeks. Stay tuned...
Disappointed that your favorite new model didn't show up at either the Detroit or L.A auto shows? Well fear not, as we still have the Chicago auto show (Feb.) and the the New York auto show (late March). These two shows are also big shows for the automakers, so you can expect some major announcements. Plan on seeing the new Toyota Tundra, Lexus LS460 hybrid, and the Wrangler 4-door...
Is it possible to turn out a bad Mini concept? I don't think so, or at least I haven't seen one. The Mini Traveller concept is yet another retro show car. This time based upon the original Mini Traveller of some 40-odd years ago...
Despite all their problems, GM is going all out at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, to show that they are far from being dead and buried. They plan to make a big splash with the introduction of new production and concept vehicles.
"They are showcasing their turnaround," said Erich Merkle, director of forecasting for IRN Inc., a Grand Rapids-based automotive consulting firm. "They're saying, 'We're serious about it...
