With the first half of 2009 coming to a close, preparations for the 2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards have already begun. The initial list of contenders was released on Monday night and it features a fairly even cross section of the American, European and Japanese vehicles.
To be eligible, a vehicle must be "all new" or "substantially changed" from the previous model and be on sale to the public by early 2010 at the latest.
Notable entries on the list include the Honda CrossTour, an wagon version of the Accord that has yet to be shown publicly and the Suzuki Kizashi sedan which is expected to debut in the fall. The existence of the Toyota 4Runner on the list also indicates that a redesign is on the way by the end of this year.
This is the 2011 Ford Fiesta sedan, at least in prototype form. Not surprisingly, it looks very much like the Fiesta concept sedan shown at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Back then it was known as the Verve and it wasn't a bad looking little car.
It still looks better than most compact sedans, but we hope that Ford does the right thing and offers the hatchback too. It's a much more compelling car even if it's a given that the sedan would sell better.
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans will cost substantially less than their 2009 counterparts according to a report in Automotive News. In order to bring the new sedans closer to its traditional transaction prices, Mercedes-Benz reduced the base price of the E350 sedan by $4,600 to $49,475. The base E550 sedan gets a $5,400 price cut to $57,175.
The new 2010 E-Class Coupes, which replace the current CLK Coupes, get only minor reductions in price. The base E350 coupe will start at $48,925 while the E550 coupe will start at $55,525.
A diesel-powered E350 sedan is slated to arrive next March followed by a wagon in June and a convertible around the same time.
It's been the big dog on the auto show circuit for awhile now, but some behind-the-scenes political fighting threatens to derail the Detroit Auto Show altogether. Daniel Howes details the issues in his latest column for the Detroit News and it's not pretty.
It begs the question: Does anybody still care? With so much bad blood surrounding the Big Three and their respective financial issues, is Detroit still enough of a draw to lure the world's major manufacturers to a show in Michigan in the dead of winter?
Yesterday, Motor Trend reported that the Cadillac Converj concept had been approved for production.
Today, Cadillac officially denied the report to Inside Line News. "There is no change to the status of Converj," said Cadillac spokesman David Caldwell. "It is a concept -- a proposal -- and it's being reviewed, and the review is not completed."
Audi officials have told Inside Line that the much anticipated R8 convertible is on the way, but not until next year. Prototypes caught testing last summer showed R8s with a full convertible top, a feature that product planners in the U.S. preferred over a less complicated targa setup. "We fought for a full convertible instead of smaller targa roof," an official from Audi USA told Inside Line.
The extended time frame will allow for more time between the launch of the convertible and the V10-powered R8 5.2 FSI Quattro. There was some initial hesitation from Audi USA regarding Stateside sales of that model, but it has now been confirmed for arrival later this year. And will the V10 fit with the convertible top? "Yes, it all fits," the Audi official told us.
This Taurus X-looking test mule is actually an early prototype for the 2011 Ford Explorer. Since gas guzzling body-on-frame SUVs are out of favor these days, the next-generation Explorer will switch to a car-based, front-wheel drive platform.
Only the front clip of this prototype has actual Explorer bodywork, hence the minimal camouflage. From what we can see, the nose shows only limited similarity to the Ford Explorer America concept shown in Detroit last year. We're guessing it probably doesn't have a diesel powerplant either.
Okay, now before you get all goofy, these images are photo-illustrations from the Japanese auto rag Best Car via NASIOC, so take that for what it's worth... Actually, I think they're probably pretty close--but know that they are not the real deal.
It turns out that there have been a couple of recent news leaks on the all-new Legacy, one that originated from a dealer (here and here), and one coming from Canada on the north-of-the-border-spec version.
Land Rover hasn't come out and said it just yet, but a recent press release all but confirms a production version of the LRX concept shown in Detroit last year. The release was issued on account of the British government offering up help in the way of a roughly $32M grant for production of a new vehicle.
"We welcome the Government's support for this project, which would form a key part of our future product plans and which we very much want to put into production," said Phil Popham, Managing Director of Land Rover.
Don't have to read between the lines on that one very hard. The only confusion left now is how the vehicle will be positioned in the lineup. "It would be the smallest, lightest and most efficient Range Rover that we've ever built," Phil added. "The compact size, lighter weight and sustainability-focused technologies of the LRX Concept showed how Land Rover is planning to respond to the needs of a changing world."
Not sure what "smallest Range Rover" means, hopefully more than just a really expensive LR2.
More bad news from a struggling automaker. Inside Line has learned that Mitsubishi Motors of America has closed its west coast design studio in Cypress, CA. All of the roughly 50-60 employees were laid off.
The design studio was responsible for many of Mitsubishi's concepts over the years including the Concept RA shown at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show.
Introduced to the world at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the 510-horsepower Jaguar XFR is the company's latest super sedan. We always liked its overlooked predecessor, the S-Type R, so it came as no surprise that this supercharged version of the XF is a fine piece of machinery.
According to European Editor Alistair Weaver, "Jaguar has finally delivered the car they've been promising ever since Ford began pumping money into the company in 1990. It's ironic that new owner Tata Motors will be the one to get the credit."
So what do you think? Is the XFR a real M5 killer?
There are plenty of interesting details buried within GM's latest rescue plan, but one in particular caught our eye. In the "product plan" section, it states:
Planned Chevrolet Volt and two additional models sharing Volt's extended range vehicle technology
Now we know that GM plans to roll out the Opel Ampera at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show next week, but the third vehicle is a little tougher to pin down.
Going for a face-lift must be a terrifying experience. For every Demi Moore, there's a Mickey Rourke. The opportunity to make hash of something sound is colossal, and it's the same in the automotive world. There was little wrong with the old Jaguar XKR that a quick trip to the surgeon's couldn't enhance.
Chief surgeon Ian Callum has carved some faux air intakes into the front fender, while the new LED taillights will tip you a wink. It's supposed to look sportier and it does. Inside, the once cheapo buttons have been smothered in chrome and the old gearstick's been replaced by a gently rising rotary knob, pinched from the XF sedan. It's better, but the fascia still looks a bit old-school next to the XF.
Hiding under the shapely hood - hinged at the front, just like an E-Type - is Jag's new 503-horsepower supercharged 5.0-liter V8, shared with the XFR. In face-lift terms, this is a giant pair of implants and could ignite the XK's career. The XKR was never a bad car, but it's suddenly hit its sweet spot and is now nothing short of brilliant.
The surprise announcement that the Chevrolet Orlando concept would go into production in 2011 didn't get much attention at the Detroit Auto Show. Maybe these spy photos of the Chevrolet Cruze-based crossover will help out the cause.
Judging by this prototype, the 2012 Chevrolet Orlando will come to market with very few changes. Slightly larger side mirrors and a taller overall greenhouse are the most obvious differences. There was a turbo diesel four-cylinder engine under the hood of the concept, but we're expecting to see GM's Ecotec gas engines powering the U.S.-bound models.
It was the star of the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, but the 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI may not make a Stateside return. When asked when the V10-powered R8 would go on sale in the United States, an Audi spokesman told Inside Line, "The 5.2 FSI isn't yet fully confirmed for U.S.A."
Blame yet another death on last year's erratic fuel prices. A new rear-wheel drive platform that was set to underpin full-size sedans for Ford and Lincoln has been cancelled according to a report in Automotive News.
J Mays, Ford's worldwide design chief, told the industry trade paper that the company is completely focused on fuel efficiency, a change in strategy which leaves no room for large rear-wheel drive sedans.
Deep in the land of hideous prototypes, otherwise known as the Arctic Circle, our chilled-to-the-bone photographers caught this 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS out for a test drive. As is customary now for German prototypes, this test mule was clad in all sorts of hard plastic which covers up the vast majority of the actual sheetmetal.
Strangely enough, they didn't see fit to mask off this prototype's roofline, which seems a bit odd given the fact that this is the defining trait of the CLS. Compared to the roofline of the current model, not much has changed. The shape of the C-pillar looks exactly the same, so expect to see most of this sedan's upgrades in the design of the nose and tail sections.
Based on the same chassis as the recently introduced 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, this CLS will most likely retain the same 5.5-liter V8 as its base engine with an AMG upgrade available on the top end.
When the redesigned 2009 Mini Cooper convertible officially debuted last week at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Mini released a bunch more photos, including some rare shots of the car moving down the assembly line. The 2009 Cooper Convertible ($24,550) and Cooper S Convertible ($27,450) go on sale in the U.S. on March 28. We'll be getting a turn behind the wheel very soon, but until that first drive goes up, here are some of the best pics.
Rivaling the Lexus LS in terms of in-car hardware and sound quality is not easy but Hyundai has done it with the Genesis thanks to a new Lexicon audio system.
Lost among all the endless electric car hype at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show was that other alternative energy: Ethanol.
You remember Ethanol right? It's sort of like gasoline except for the oil-pumped-out-the-Middle-East part. It was supposed to help wean us off foreign oil, but so far it's merely been a good way of keeping corn farmers in business.
Lower gas prices and limited availability have left Ethanol on the sidelines, but GM is still aiming to make 50% of its fleet Ethanol capable by 2012. Ford has several flex fuel capable models as well, but as Jim Farley, Ford's executive vice president of marketing communication, told Green Car Advisor, ""...now the mojo is behind electrification technologies."
As good as the XFR looks and sounds going that fast, a separate report from the Financial Times tempers that feeling slightly. Jaguar Land Rover, subsidiary of Tata Motors, announced it will cut 450 salaried employees from its UK workforce.
Another of the more striking cars revealed at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show was the Volvo S60 concept, which is destined for production as the second-generation Volvo S60 sedan midway through the 2010 calendar year. We've put together a gallery of all the best images Volvo has released.
Of all the concept cars unveiled at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the Audi Sportback drew some of the biggest crowds -- so much so that everything short of physical blows were traded between photographers after the press conference. Below is a gallery of all the nicest media shots Audi has released of the A4/A5-based, hatchback/4dr-coupe vehicle that's said to become the production A7. You can finally get a look at the interior, too, which is every bit as interesting as the sheetmetal.
As the car audio aftermarket continues its slow decline towards dinosaur status, like many A-list names in the business, Alpine is stepping up its OEM offerings. The company has in the past been a marquee nameplate in luxury vehicles such as Jaguar (before getting bumped in favor of fellow Brit's B&W) and Lincoln. At the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Alpine announced it has scored a trifecta and unveiled new tech that will appear in vehicles from BMW, GM and Mercedes-Benz.
These include a whopping 8.8-inch in-dash display in the center stack of the 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster (rear-seat entertainment systems in some minivans don't have a monitor that size), a new head unit for a global Mercedes platform and the first infotainment system -- OEM or aftermarket -- with 2 GB of flash memory for the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and 2010 Cadillac SRX.
In an interview at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Susan Docherty, vice president of Buick/GMC/Pontiac, gave us a hint at what the future holds for Pontiac. There are two different paths currently being discussed, Docherty told us.
One idea is to keep Pontiac faithful to its current leanings as a performance brand. There would be two or three low-volume, rear-wheel-drive models and that's it. The path is more traditional, but also more risky, as Pontiac would become more of a halo brand and have less money-making potential.
And the other possible scenario? Turn Pontiac into a brand that favors sporty, high-tech cars that fall a little lower on the pricing scale. Think Pontiac Vibe. And when additional models are added, they would aim to compete with Honda and Scion instead of Toyota and Ford. Hardly Pontiac's traditional role, but there's more growth potential down the line.
There's no doubt in our minds which way GM should go. If you were running Pontiac, what path would you take it down? -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
This is the new 5.0-liter supercharged V8 that powers the Jaguar XFR and XJR models introduced at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. It's not exactly the most remarkable engine in terms of its design or power output, but have you ever seen a BMW V10 levitate? That's what I thought. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
#DAS09 Several reporters and I met and had a brief conversation with Italdesign director Fabrizio Giugiaro tonight at the 2009 Michelin Challenge Design reception a few doors down from Cobo in Detroit.
Giugiaro's favorite concept car of the show is the Cadillac Converj, though for different reasons, he also likes the Volvo S60 concept. Naturally, he's a fan of the Volkswagen Concept Bluesport, as he worked on an early iteration of this well-received, easily translatable-for-production roadster concept.
And he likes what Audi has done with the Sportback concept, though he conceded that the tail is awkwardly truncated on this car. He's confident, though, that this detail will be resolved on the anticipated A7 production car: "This is one case where the production car will look better than the concept."
The Sportback breaks with current Audi designs, he added, and the company needs that. "Q5s look like Q7s. A3s look like A4s." -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
You know what? Putting a little hybrid and electric-car track in the basement of the Cobo Center is a cute idea. I mean they had the space, what with the Chinese manufacturers getting promoted to the upstairs this year.
Looked good, too. Some greenery. Some rocks. A fountain. It's a regular paradise. Except that here's the thing about nature: Sometimes it smells...bad. The place is packed with huge mounts of sour mulch. The vinegar stench has drifted up through the escalators into VW's otherwise pleasant booth and spread mustard-gaslike through that end of the hall.
Your green is polluting my environment, man. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
The people, they love the Fisker. Have a look at the crowd at the Fisker booth shortly after the little plug-in-hybrid-maker-that-could unveiled its ruby red hardtop convertible concept vehicle as well as the production version of the Karma sedan the company unveiled at last year's Detroit show.
The Karma S concept, as the company is calling the convertible, is a good-looking thing. But so is the Karma sedan on which it is based. The Karma S shares its aluminum structure with the sedan. The concept and production sedan use the same dual electric motors and turbocharged GM 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Presumably, the Karma S would have essentially the same performance as the sedan, which is to say zero to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds.
Also, according to Fisker, the Karma and presumably the Karma S has "EcoChic." The sedan will cost $87,900 (or $80,400 after U.S. government tax credits). The company promises it will start making deliveries in the fourth quarter of this year. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
#DAS09 The saccharin-infused happiness on the 2010 Mazda 3's face makes us uncomfortable. Yet, when the car, in this case the 2010 Mazda 3 five-door hatchback, is parked next to an RX-8, it almost looks fine. Apparently, all Mazdas are super-smiley and we hadn't realized.
Of course, the Mazda 3 hatch looks even better from other angles. We're not sure we like the rising beltline that resembles the subcompact Mazda 2's, but the detailing on the tail looks great. So the 3 hatchback still looks better than the sedan. And as in the past, the hatchback comes standard with the larger of the U.S.-spec 3's two four-cylinder engines -- this time a 2.5-liter good for 167 hp. Nothing's changed really. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
#DAS09 No official presence for Bugatti at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, but evidently someone wanted a Veyron here and figured the car would speak for itself. It's parked on cheap carpet under really bad light. Nobody's stopping by to say hi. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
Last night over edibles I asked Ford CEO Alan Mulally how he wants the American public to think of Ford. His answer was a batch of quick hits. "Great car. It's cool. Great to drive," he said before pausing for a second. Then he continued "Affordable. Fuel-efficient. Ford is back. We've got the products, we just have to get the word out."
Is he right? What do you think? -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
#DAS09 After yesterday's hair toss, Lamborghini's fashion show this afternoon at Cobo was a bit of a letdown. Well, for some of us, anyway. Lambo's models were all done up in winterwear from the automaker's catalog; and cargo pants and coats will never be, um, uh, as scintillating as a Matt Blue Gallardo. Also, the models at Lambo's Paris fashion show had better hair.
Fortunately, a few of the coats came off toward the end of the show. Pants remained fully secure. All photos are enlargeable. -- Erin Riches, Senior Content Editor
#DAS09 We've given you the full low-down on the 2010 Prius. We've mentioned its stunning sub-10-second 0-60 mph times. We've written about its 50-mpg average EPA fuel economy.
But here are two pieces of Prius truthiness:
The 2010 model is the most aerodynamically slippery production car in the world with a drag coefficient of 0.25.
And the name Prius is Latin for "before" or "formerly." Toyota was probably thinking about the former and not the latter when it came up with the name. And here we always assumed that the name was just one of those made-up names like Achieva, Altima and Aveo.
Maybe by the time Toyota introduces the fourth generation Prius we'll have figured out why the company's three-oval badge looks like it does. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
#DAS09 Chinese automaker Brilliance garnered display space on the main floor of this year's Detroit auto show, but didn't have any new product info to offer.
A 15-minute press conference was barely audible to the crowd of media gathered 'round the Chinese executive (and his translator).
We think they said they're happy to be here, but then again, we're not really sure. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
#DAS09 There's not much to complain about when it comes to the Audi R8. We've lived with one for months now, and it's about as drivable as a supercar gets. Then again, next to other supercars, the R8 is a little short on power. Not any more.
The 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI fixes that little problem. With 518 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque available from its 5.2-liter V10, this R8 will go from zero to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds according to Audi. Its top speed has been bumped to 197 mph and there are a few cosmetic tweaks like new wheels and wider side vents to make it identifiable at a glance. Doesn't look bad in red either. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
#DAS09 I don't know if it says more about me or about modern cars, but it seems every auto show, I get drawn in by the old racecars various manufacturers trot out for their booths.
And so it goes with Maserati at this year's Detroit show. There, behind the shiny new Quattroportes and GranTurismos is the 1939 and '40 Indianapolis 500-winning #1 Boyle Special car that was piloted by Wilbur Shaw.
The small-displacement supercharged V8 car is cool enough from the outside. But take a look inside the cockpit and you get a sense of ol' Wilbur's dedication. The exposed driveshaft runs directly between the driver's legs, as does the steering column and a fair amount of air apparently, because there is no floorboard under the driver's thighs. That provided just enough room for Wilbur's outsized equipment. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
This morning, on a stage, far, far away, Jim Farley, Ford's top marketing executive, introduced the 2010 Lincoln MKT. It wasn't a surprise like the Lincoln C Concept, but the new three-row MKT was no less important. It is, after all, one of the first vehicles to offer Ford's much talked about, yet never-seen-in-a-production-car EcoBoost engine.
And although Mr. Farley spent ample time extolling the virtues of the MKT's optional twin-turbo, V6 power plant, a photo of the MKT remains elusive. Neither the MKT on the stage nor the MKS Sport, which also gets the new V6, were so equipped. Seems a shame as the engine is an impressive piece on paper with power (355 hp) and torque (350 pound-feet) that are unmatched in the three-row crossover segment. We'll keep stalking the Lincoln stand; until then you can check out our full story on the Lincoln MKT for more details. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
#DAS09 At the unveiling of 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class at Detroit's Park Cadillac Hotel on Saturday night, Dr. Thomas Weber, a research/design director on Daimler-Benz's board of management, spent a lot of time talking about the company's Concept BlueZero cars. The BlueZero E-Cell, F-Cell and E-Cell Plus concepts are all variations on the electric-car theme and all are built on Benz's B-Class platform.
Though the E-Class isn't on display in Cobo, the all-electric BlueZero E-Cell is in the Mercedes booth, though curiously it's adjacent to an animated display of the SL63's 518-horsepower, 6.3-liter V8 and seven-speed automatic. So electricity is really the future, hmm?
Still, Daimler has announced that it intends to produce lithium-ion batteries in-house, instead of using an outside supplier, so there's a level of commitment here. Also, the sandwich floor structure of the B-Class is apparently ideal for packaging lithium-ion batteries.
#DAS09 As we reported yesterday, General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner did indeed announce this morning that GM will open both a battery production plant and a 31,000-square-foot laboratory on Michigan soil later in 2009. He thanked Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and key leaders in the state legislature for their support -- in the form of tax incentives.
Wagoner also announced that LG Chem will supply the lithium-ion battery cells for the Volt, and noted that GM will continue to expand the supplier base, potentially contracting with A123 Systems (as Green Car Advisor has reported) and Hitachi.
In addition, Wagoner says GM will continue to add to its staff of engineers and technicians working on electric cars and series hybrids like the Chevrolet Volt.
Finally, GM is partnering with the University of Michigan to establish a lithium-ion battery lab on the main campus in Ann Arbor. The automaker will also help develop a curriculum to train a future generation of battery-tech engineers.
There wasn't a Volt on stage, but there were Rick Wagoner, Bob Lutz, Peter Kim (CEO of LG Chem), various government officials and a lithium-ion battery pack. Only Lutz's iconic face stood out from the mob. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
#DAS09 For the love of God, Lincoln, stop haunting my dreams!
We thought that we were done with Eva, the super-creepy disembodied head that acts as the avatar for Lincoln's C Concept Sync communications system. When we showed up at this morning's first press conference, there she was, floating above the crowd on a huge screen talking like some computerized Nurse Ratched.
If you're interested in the concept car Lincoln unveiled, and you should be because it's pretty weird, you should link over to read our full coverage of the Lincoln C.
Now if you'll excuse us, we need to go scour out our cranium. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
GM will use its press conference tomorrow at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show to announce the opening of a new lithium-ion battery production facility in Michigan, according to a report in The New York Times. A new advanced battery test facility located at the company's global electric-vehicle engineering center in Warren, Michigan, is also part of the plan. The two facilities will provide battery packs for the upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Volt and possibly a production version of the Cadillac Converj, a two-door coupe that uses the same Voltec propulsion system as the Volt. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
Walter De Silva, director of design for the Volkswagen Group, is Italian. So we can't really blame him for wanting to drop into his native tongue to describe the new Volkswagen Concept Bluesport at today's world premiere. It sounded quite nice, actually. The fact that we only understood every eighth word or so didn't matter, as this isn't a car that needs much explanation.
#DAS09 Executives from Subaru told Inside Line that the Subaru Legacy Concept that debuted today at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show will go into production later this year as the 2010 Subaru Legacy. They said to expect few changes from what we saw on the show stand. We'll try to dig up more details, but expect to see the next-generation Legacy in dealers by the fall. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
#DAS09 It has been nearly a decade since the launch of the Volvo S60 sedan, and despite the redesign of all its relatives (S80, V70 and XC70), it continues on in its original form. A redesign really is coming, though. We're told the redesigned S60 will debut midway through the 2010 calendar year.
This Volvo S60 Concept, unveiled at the very last press conference of the day at Detroit's Cobo Hall, is a very good look at the 2011 Volvo S60. The sheetmetal is a study in modern Scandinavian design mixed with the current trend toward sedans that resemble coupes. We like it a whole lot. In fact, we'd like this look even on a production sedan that didn't have a pillarless door design. Inside, Volvo is again working with an ultra-thin center stack design, but this is a concept, so it's crystal. The gear selector is a strange piece -- you turn it one way for automatic operation and another for manual operation.
Expect all sorts of safety technology in the final production car, including an all-speed adaptive cruise system that will bring the car to a standstill if it senses you're delinquent behind the wheel. There's also a pedestrian detection feature in the S60 concept -- radar detects a human and an on-board camera confirms and monitors said human's position. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Legacy sedan this year, Subaru offered a glimpse of the car's future with the new Legacy Concept.
Like the Honda Accord and Mazda 6, the next Legacy is going to be considerably larger than the current model. The concept rides on a 108.3-inch wheelbase, stretched from 105.1 inches. It has also grown approximately 3 inches in overall length, width and height.
Designed as a four-passenger sedan, the Legacy Concept uses Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system mated to a 3.6-liter six-cylinder boxer engine.
This Subaru has officially moved from funky to chunky. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
We've already told you everything you could possibly want to know about the 2010 Ford Taurus. But today, Ford announced pricing for the new D-segment sedan. The base model SE starts at $25,995. The SEL comes in at $27,995. And the Limited tops the range and starts at $31,995. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
During the Chrysler press conference, Vice Chairman and President of Chrysler Jim Press said this, "The market will continue how it ended last year. We don't see much growth."
Press then went on to say that Chrysler Corp. will introduce 24 new products in the next 48 months, including eight in the next year.
In other news, during the Chrysler dog-and-pony, a particularly snarky journalist was overheard saying, "That HD monitor is not doing these Chrysler execs any favors." As soon as we finished LOLing we expressed our dissatisfaction with his inappropriate behavior. -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
Lamborghini, a former tractor maker from Southern Europe, seems to have this whole style thing down cold. We dig the shiny black wheel thing they've been doing lately, particularly in combination with the matte-white paint the company has been using on its cars at recent auto shows.
At Detroit, Lambo wanted to introduce you to someone they like to call "Matt Blue," which is matte-blue paint. And it is stunning. The color will be available as part of the company's Ad Personam personalization program. So, you should totally get one. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
#DAS09 Photos of the Audi Sportback concept leaked out yesterday, but the four-door coupe hatchback labradoodle made its official debut at this afternoon's Audi press conference at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.
It's based on the A4/A5 platform architecture, and if it goes into production, we'd expect it to be called the A7. Yet, at 195 inches long, this concept is almost 13 inches longer than the A5/S5 (and only 5 inches shorter than Audi's Q7 SUV). It's also 3 inches wider (76 inches) and 1 inch taller (55 inches).
In person, the Sportback looks disturbingly like a lowered BMW X6. However, we heard people raving about the car and the adoring mob around it was so thick, the flesh began to coagulate. This is a good sign for Audi, as company officials say the Sportback heralds the future of its production designs.
#DAS09 The Audi A3, remember it? It's that nice looking, entry-level hatchback that undercuts the A4 Avant on price, but delivers a similar reduction in cabin space. It does quite well in Europe, but hasn't really caught on in the U.S. Audi sold just 4,749 of them in 2008 while BMW unloaded over 12,000 1 Series coupes.
Audi gave the A3 some help last fall with a mild refresh and the addition of quattro all-wheel drive as an option on 2.0T models. Today it announced another new feature: TDI clean diesel power.
Nothing like a game of press conference volleyball to take your mind off a snowy day in Detroit. Least that's what the Kia folks believed as they unveiled the Soul'ster concept car (truck?) amid beach balls and ice-cold Corona.
Based on the new five-passenger Soul, Kia calls the Soul'ster an "efficient front-drive car" with an abbreviated truck bed. The Soul'ster gets a shortened windshield, fold-flat rear seats, and manual crank windows.
Power comes from a 120-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission, or a 140-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder with either the five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.
Kia estimates fuel economy for both engines at 30 mpg.
Beach balls (and beer) not included. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
Which would be your preferred scalp-ripper: The 217-mph Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss, or the 195-mph Bentley Continental GTC Speed? -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
Chrysler introduced five vehicles at its press conference. Which one do you think the assembled media decided might matter? -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
#DAS09 During GM's wide-ranging press conference at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Troy Clarke, president of GM North America, slipped in a surprise announcement that quickly got lost among all the hysteria over the Cadillac Converj. The Chevrolet Orlando, a seven-seat concept shown at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, will arrive in U.S. showrooms by 2011.
Built on the same platform as the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, the Orlando concept has a 108.6-inch wheelbase. That's about 3-inches longer than the Cruze. The Orlando also has a wider front and rear track than the Cruze to open up more space inside. A 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine powered the concept, but expect the production vehicle to switch to a similarly sized gasoline engine for the U.S. market. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
#DAS09 Ford released information and photographs of its new Shelby GT500 weeks ago. So what else are they going to do when their press conference for the car rolls around? You do what everyone will do in a Shelby GT500 with 540 horsepower. You do a burnout.
All right, it wasn't a full-scale, rubber-flinging smoker. But there was a respectable amount of squealing as the two GT500s exited Cobo arena's concrete floor. And it did stink in there afterward. So that's partial credit.
One of the two GT500s -- the convertible -- carried crayon-blue paint with red stripes. When Ford gave us a sneak peek at that particular car a couple weeks back, a designer introduced it by saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Superman!" We're going to have to take off a few points for that. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
Today's first real surprise at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show drove onto the Chrysler stand, a midsize rear-wheel-drive electric sedan concept called the 200C EV, a rolling ambassador for the automaker's new Uconnect system.
Built on a modified version of the LX platform, the 200C EV's wheelbase is 4 inches shorter than the Chrysler 300's and the same as the Dodge Challenger's.
Frank Klegon, Chrysler's executive VP of product development says the 200C EV concept is good for 268 horsepower in its current state and is a "palette for powertrains."
Like the other ENVI range-extended electric vehicles, the 200C EV has a 400-mile total range, and a 40-mile all-electric range with zero fuel consumption.
Chrysler hasn't announced whether it plans to build the 200C, but Klegon says the usage of the modified platform creates production possibilities. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
Apparently, the only thing more graceful and clever than the two-piece, aluminum retractable hardtop on the 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster is a human acrobat. His specialty was fabric and for two minutes he twisted and contorted in a fabric sash suspended from the ceiling of Detroit's Cobo Center. Perhaps he was mocking the old Z4's fabric top. When the sheet came off the 2009 Z4, he disappeared into the rafters.
Alongside the simplicity of a man in a unitard is the complexity of the post-flame-surfaced Z4 Roadster. Still, the addition of retractable metal panels hasn't visibly fattened up the tail, though as you'll read in our full story on the 2009 BMW Z4 Roadster, the car has put on over 200 pounds. Then again, with the 300-hp, twin-turbo inline-6 now the top engine choice, the extra poundage might not matter.
The hard-top 2009 BMW Z4 goes on sale this spring. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
#DAS09 Like virtually all other automakers at this year's Detroit show, Ford is big on electric vehicles, partially electric vehicles, vehicles that look, sound or smell like electric vehicles.
Ford, in the person of Mr. Ford hisownself, announced today some details on one of two full-electric vehicles it plans to produce in the coming few years. The first of them is a commercial vehicle for 2010. This you needn't worry about. But the other one is a Ford Focus-based electric the company plans to sell to actual private citizens in 2011. The car, done in partnership with Magna International, will be powered by everybody's favorite future-car battery, lithium ion. Ford is estimating a range of 100 miles and the company says that it will sell only about 5,000-to-10,000 annually in the first couple of years.
The company was offering drives in a prototype car around Cobo Hall. It looks exactly like a current Focus, which is not at all what the real thing will look like. We imagine driving it feels much like driving an electric car. Maybe we'll take Ford up on its offer of a drive later on this very day.
The company also announced that in 2012, it will introduce its next generation of hybrid cars, including a plug-in hybrid. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
#DAS09 You can read all sorts of serious and informed observations on the 2010 Lexus HS 250h in our full story.
The HS doesn't photograph all that well, but at the press conference today in Cobo's Riverview Ballroom, it looked far more like the sporty Lexus IS than expected. Well, aside from the fact that it is much taller and narrower.
And aside from the fact that it's front-wheel drive. Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president, told us the 2010 HS 250h is built on Toyota's global small-car platform and that its closest relative is the European-market Toyota Avensis. The HS has the same 106.3-inch wheelbase as the Prius, so it's all in the family, you know. The HS 250h does differ by its double-wishbone rear suspension, but we're guessing this has more to do with opening up trunk space than anything else.
Templin also tells us that Lexus hopes to sell 30,000 HS 250h sedans in a full 12-month calendar year. Since the car doesn't go on sale until late summer of this year, you can probably cut that in half for 2009. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
#DAS09 Well, GM did it again in Detroit, an actual surprise at a major auto show. This time it was the Cadillac Converj concept, a low slung-coupe powered by the same system found in the Chevrolet Volt.
Product boss Bob Lutz called it "a logical extension of GM's plan to reinvent the automobile." He also announced a name for GM's electric vehicle technology -- Voltec.
Consisting of a large T-shaped battery, electric motor and a four-cylinder motor generator, the Voltec system is capable of producing 273 pound-feet of instant torque and can push the Converj to 100 mph.
Like the Volt, the Converj's range is 40 miles on electric power alone and several hundred miles with the help of the motor generator. GM says the recharge time is 8 hours when using a typical household outlet.
...the Ford F-150. #DAS09 No surprise to this NACOTY juror or the world. In fact, the Ford won by a landslide over the Dodge Ram, 259 points to just 167. The Mercedes ML320 Bluetec received just 74 votes. -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
...the Hyundai Genesis. #DAS09 Yeah, we were surprised, too. Although this NACOTY juror thinks the Genesis is well deserving of the honor, the consensus has been that the Ford Flex would pull it out thanks to the number of Detroit-based journalists on the voting jury. Maybe the auto press isn't as predictable as the world thinks we are.
Still, it was close. The Genesis won with 189 points, only nine more than the Ford. The Jetta TDI was a distant 3rd place with just 131 points.
Congratulations, Hyundai.--Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
#DAS09 Images of the Audi Sportback concept leaked out ahead of its official debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show yesterday. As expected, the new Audi concept is a low-slung four-door "coupe" much like the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Volkswagen CC. We'll have more details and photos later today after its official rollout.
#DAS09 Mercedes-Benz took over three floors of Detroit's Book Cadillac Hotel (now by Westin) tonight. A good 600-700 people showed up for the jazz band, wine and the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The redesigned E-Class goes on sale in Europe on January 12 and arrives at European dealers in March. We'll see it here in the fall of 2009.
Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Daimler's board of management, gave what is now becoming a familiar speech to warm up the crowd. "Every automaker is feeling the pain right now," he said. "But the automotive sector is the victim of the situation, not the cause."
#DAS09 If you caught the third installment of our 2009 Detroit Auto Show preview earlier today, you already know that we were expecting to see the debut of the 2010 Jaguar XFR. Well thanks to some website we've never heard of, photos and details on the new Jaguar super sedan are now available.
As expected, it's powered by a new supercharged 5.0-liter V8. The slightly larger engine is rated to produce 510-horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque which puts it right up there with the BMW M5, Cadillac CTS-V and Mercedes-Benz E63, at least in terms of horsepower. Jag says it's enough power to get the XFR from 0-to-60 in 4.7-seconds while the top speed is electronically limited to 155mph.
Like most cars of its ilk, the Jaguar XF-R gets a revised front fascia, extended sills, a small decklid spoiler and quad exhaust tips. A set of 20-inch are standard as well. Interior upgrades are limited to new dashboard trim, sport seats and a sport steering wheel. Expect to see the Jaguar XFR in dealers this spring.
So Detroit is hurting and the Asian automakers are pulling out of Detroit. So what's left?
Plenty of room for the Europeans apparently. There will be no less than ten world debuts from the other side of the pond at this year's show, a sign that although our market is down, it's can still make or break a new product for most manufacturers. Here's a rundown of what the German et al. will have on display next week.
#DAS09 Well, it was destined for a debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, but thanks to the leaky pipes of internet, the Kia Soul'ster concept has been revealed early.
This is actually a good thing, as it will give us more time to ponder the hidden meaning buried within the oddly-placed apostrophe. What has been left out one might ask? An inquiry with Kia would inevitably yield something along the lines of, "It can stand for anything you want it to. Just insert your own letters and drive!"
So there you go, it's the Kia SoulnSter, or SoulasSter, the possibilities are endless, and at the same time meaningless. For a more substantive look at this little Korean wonder, check our full test of the 2010 Kia Soul instead.
#DAS09 GM let loose with the goods on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse last night. It's easily one of the better looking Buick sedans to come along in awhile, but it does appear to have some awkward lines when viewed from certain angles.
For a better look at this new entry-level luxury sedan, check the attached video showing the LaCrosse as it takes a few leisurely laps around GM's proving grounds. Doesn't look too bad on the road.
In a surprise announcement on everybody's favorite fluffy news program, Vice President of Global Design Ed Welburn told the Today's Show's Matt Lauer that GM would bring a production version of the Chevrolet Beat to the Detroit Auto Show. He even did the now trademarked "GM executive sheet lift" which revealed the nose of the subcompact hatchback. Welburn divulged no details, but we're guessing it will be fuel efficient, inexpensive and, of course, a "surprise".
#DAS09 The 2010 Buick LaCrosse isn't going to save the brand from the chopping block all by itself. It's not that dramatic in either its proportions or performance, but it does the move the styling needle enough to get some attention from import-minded buyers who think a Lexus ES350 is a stylish sedan.
Our Senior Editor in Detroit, Dan Pund, has a full run down on the 2010 Buick Lacrosse, but here's an abbreviated version. It's about the same size as before, there are two V6 engines, the only transmission is a six-speed automatic, front-wheel drive is standard, all-wheel drive optional and it gained roughly 400-500 pounds depending on the model.
#DAS09 Have you seen enough of the 2010 Cadillac SRX yet? Oh good, then you'll enjoy this short video on the interior of Cadillac's new compact SUV. Not surprisingly, it looks much like the current CTS in terms of its overall design and detailing. And that's not a bad thing at all. The CTS has what is arguably GM's best looking cabin, so spreading it around a little can only do Cadillac some good.
#DAS09 For your viewing enjoyment, yet another teaser shot of the Kia Soul concept destined for Detroit. And judging from this little snippet, the slightly anticipated new concept will arrive under the Soulster nameplate.
The 2009 Bentley Continental GTC Speed might be the least surprising debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. After rolling out high-performance "Speed" versions of the GT coupe and Flying Spur sedan, the GTC was the only worthwhile model left.
Like the Continental coupe and sedan, the GTC Speed gets a 600-horsepower W12 engine along with a few minor suspension tweaks. Bigger wheels and high-performance summer tires are also part of the performance upgrades. The interior gets cool stuff like diamond-quilted seat trim and drilled alloy pedals. And the price? Let's just say it's more than a Corolla and less than a Maybach.
Well, no one was really expecting a huge showing from the Big Three, but it's the absence of several of the Asian automakers that will really make this year's show seem slow. With nothing from Acura, Hyundai, Infiniti, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan or Suzuki, the show schedule is a little light. Much of the void will be sucked up by some major debuts by Honda and Toyota along with a few interesting additions from Kia and Subaru for good measure.
The addition of a full LED lighting system to the Audi R8 5.2 might not seem like big news, but it does represent a major shift in technology that could radically shift future car designs. It's one of those technologies that's been promised for a long time and is only now making its way into production.
Did you see the 2010 Cadillac SRX that broke cover over the weekend? Well, if not, you can get all the details in our full story on the new compact SUV. If that's not enough to get you all excited about Cadillac's first turbocharged vehicle in the U.S., there's now some running footage of the vehicle after the jump, on paved roads and everything.
Doesn't leave much to look forward to at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show next week, but don't forget that there have been rumors swirling about a possible plug-in hybrid Cadillac and this SRX would be a logical choice for such a system. We'll see next Sunday.
So it's not going to be a banner year for the home team at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Chrysler, Ford and General Motors are about as beat down as major industrial giants can get, but this is a chance for each company to convince the public that there's still some life in the Motor City.
We can't say this is the future we envisioned for the 2010 Cadillac SRX. Set for an introduction at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, this new, smaller SRX is squeezing Cadillac into the compact luxury SUV segment currently occupied by the likes of the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLK and soon-to-be-released Audi Q5.
It's a promising category with a good business case, but the fact that the current SRX never caught on is a shame. It was one of GM's best vehicles - a solid rear-wheel drive chassis, plenty of passenger space, six- and -eight-cylinder engines, and a well-trimmed interior. The SRX's biggest deficiency was the fact that it looked like a tall wagon instead of a shrunken SUV, which of course is not really a deficiency at all depending on who you're asking.
So here it is, the first "surprise" of 2009, the 2010 Shelby GT500. As you might expect, it's much like last year's GT500 except for the new bodywork and a healthy bump in horsepower. Our man in Detroit has all the details on the 2010 Shelby Mustang here, and rest assured it is quite the potent pony car.
We will take a moment, however, to point out one annoying trend that we hope disappears like Madoff money in 2009: the fuel efficient muscle car. It's not that we don't appreciate a few extra miles-per-gallon here and there, but when the first paragraph of a Shelby GT500 press release talks about its improved fuel economy on the highway we just want to puke.
Remember Ford, it's a 540-horsepower, supercharged Mustang, not a Focus.
Fisker will be showing their Karma S (for "Sunset") at the NAIAS. Not much is known at this point, other than it's a plug-in hybrid. The automaker claims a 50-mile range from a single charge of the lithium-ion battery, before the gas engine kicks in. Also claimed by Fisker is that the car produces up to 408 hp.
The new 2010 Toyota Prius will debut shortly at the NAIAS, a show that appears to be heading south this year. So to help spark a little interest in the show, as well as the car, Toyota has engaged the super-cool Blue Man Group to tease you with a video until the introduction takes place.
Lexus will debut their first purpose-built hybrid at the NAIAS, the HS 250h. It's believed that this luxury hybrid, like other Lexus models, is to be spun off an existing Toyota platform; that being the next-gen Toyota Prius--also to be unveiled at Detroit.
The official reveal of the 2010 Cadillac SRX is set for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January, but an early teaser video has already been posted by Cadillac. It doesn't give up anything good like specs or features, but it does give a pretty clear look at the styling of this new, smaller SRX. See for yourself below.
This is it, the 2010 Lincoln MKT on the streets of Dearborn. It's scheduled for an official debut at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, but like the 2010 Ford Taurus seen yesterday, this prototype is nearly uncovered.
No big surprises here as the finished product looks much like the concept shown at last year's Detroit show. You've got your big waterfall grille up front, an interesting up kick in the beltline toward the back and a full width taillight treatment across the tailgate.
This particular prototype also wore an "Ecoboost" badge, so Ford's new twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 is most certainly under the hood. No word yet on what the final horsepower numbers will be, but something in the 350 horsepower range is expected. And judging by the size of this sucker, it's going to need it.
The interior is fully finished and it looks pretty good. A thick-rimmed steering wheel, minimal button clutter and some high quality wood trim make it look like a proper luxury vehicle. Figure on three rows of seats and all the latest gadgets like Sync, a THX sound system and optional DVD screens in back.
More signs that things are not well at Toyota, as President Katsuaki Watanabe has canceled his plans to attend the Detroit auto show. Sounds to me that this is more of a "gesture" to show that Toyota too is suffering. Yeah, Toyota posted a loss for the year, something they have not seen since 1938! Even so, they surely could afford to send their top guy to this show.
So was that blurry cell phone shot of the 2010 Ford Taurus that surfaced earlier this year the real thing? Well, after catching this 2010 Ford Taurus prototype on the streets of Dearborn it would appear as though it was indeed quite genuine.
The redesigned sedan will get a sleeker shape and a slightly less chrome-laden grille. A slightly rising beltline gives it a more aggressive stance while the rear end is finished with a pair of nicely integrated taillights. This is the first time we've seen the interior and it looks like a solid step up from the current model. Nothing ground breaking, but plenty of wood trim and some decent looking leather. We'll have pictures of the finished product after it debuts at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January.
Chevy will debut an all-new 2010 Equinox CUV at the upcoming NAIAS. The vehicle will be available with either a 2.4L, 182 hp, 4-cylinder model; or a 3.0 V6 putting out 255 hp. Both models have direct injection, will be available in either FWD or AWD, and will be coupled to a 6-speed automatic.
The vehicle looks good and the spec sheet is pretty impressive. The question is, can Chevrolet convince customers cross-shopping the CR-V, RAV4 and Escape to pick this new Equinox over those models?
To date we've been hearing nothing but bad news regarding the upcoming Detroit auto show, with all the no-shows and all. Despite all that, Joe Serra (pictured) the auto show senior co-chairman, says the show this year is actually growing a bit this year. It will have more exhibitors, more world premieres and the high interest from international media remains.
Even so, there's no getting around the fact that many premier names will be MIA. There's just no getting around that fact, and for many, that's going to be a downer.
"The key word is efficiency, in both cars and displays," said Serra. "We will still be a global stage to the world, but perhaps with a little less glitz and glamour."
Here you go Subie fans: an image of the Legacy concept has surfaced over at DrivingSports.com (and on other sites as well). This is very close to what the actual 2010 Legacy will look like. Under the hood resides a 3.6 H6. Since the image shows no hood scoop there's no turbo; a turbo is expected to be part of the model mix, but most likely in 4-cylinder format. The car will debut at the NAIAS next month.
Volvo will be showing this S60 Concept at the NAIAS. The styling is more aggressive than what we're used to seeing from Volvo. Interesting to note that the car has "suicide" rear doors. Since this is a Volvo (safety and all that...), maybe they have discovered that this door configuration is actually safer than the conventional door setup?
BMW will use the 2009 NAIAS to debut their all-new Z4 sports car. The new Z-car (sorry Nissan) has grown a bit, softened the styling a tad, and has added a folding hardtop. Power will come from the existing 3.0 6-cylinder engines. The naturally-aspirated sDrive30i puts out 255 hp, and the twin-turbo sDrive35i offers 300 hp. The base model (I hate those silly names) will come with either a 6-speed manual of 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. The twin-turbo will be offered with the 6-speed manual and a 7-speed dual-clutch tranny.
I've never been a fan of the Z3 or Z4 in terms of styling. This one, now with numerous 7-Series styling cues, is better than the past models, but it's still not my cup of tea. Hopefully my mind will be changed once I see it in the flesh.
Mercedes will be bring three new eco-concepts to the NAIAS, all including the name BlueZero.
Named the E-Cell, F-Cell and E-Plus; and are all variations on the electric vehicle concept. The E-Cell uses a pure-ev design, with lithium-ion batteries and electric motors powering the vehicle. The E-Plus uses lithium-ion batteries and electric motors to drive the wheels. It also features a gas-powered engine to charge the batteries for greater range between charges. Lastly, the F-Cell uses hydrogen fuel cells to power the electric motors.
Official images have been leaked of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The car is all new, and reflects some of the styling cues seen on recent Benz models; that being a somewhat tortured and overdone skin, with a few too many wrinkles and creases. The car will debut at the NAIAS in January.
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.
Honda has released an image of the production version of their Prius-fighter, the Insight hybrid.
Some may say it's a Prius rip-off, and that's cool. I don't think so. Regardless it's still better looking than the Prius. I predict Honda has another hit on their hands here--if they can convince people to buy cars once again.
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."
With Porsche, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Ferrari, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce, Nissan and Infiniti being no-shows at the NAIAS, that gives the Chinese automakers a better chance to display their products. Formally these vehicles have been delegated to pretty much second-class floor space in the basement of Cobo Hall, better known as Michigan Hall.
Not anymore, as there is now some prime real estate now available up on the main floor. Two Chinese brands moving up to the "show" are BYD Auto and Brilliance.
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.
We mentioned that GM had canceled any and all announcements at the LA auto show. Porsche has passed on the Detroit show, as will Suzuki. Now word is out that Ferrari, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce have backed out of the Detroit show. Wow...
According to Jalopnik, (via PriusChat.comhere) this is the real deal.
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We sat down with Toyota PR this morning, showed them the pictures and they've confirmed that yes, this is the new 2010 Toyota Prius set to be revealed officially at the Detroit Auto Show in January. And yeah, that's all they're willing to tell us at this time.
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Okay, so there you have it. The only image link here that I question is the first thumbnail which clearly shows a different headlight and foglight treatment from the full-view image.
Interesting that a Toyota spokesman confirmed this with both Inside Line and Jalopnik. The fact that the Toyota guy didn't seem upset, and wiith all the "buzz" surrounding the new less expensive (and very handsome) Honda Insight, you gotta wonder if the leak was planned.
The question isn't why, but rather why did it take so long to come to this decision. To me it's a no-brainer. More and more folks want to keep their luxury as they downsize from larger vehicles. The evidence is everywhere. All the premium brands are putting more emphasis on smaller vehicles. Heck, even mainstream automakers are gussying up some of their smaller offerings. The time is now for luxury small cars.
The car will first debut in Europe in 2010, and then likely make its way over here. It will be based on the all-new Prius that will announced this winter, at the Detroit auto show, I believe.
The 'new' new Mini has been on the street for some time now, all except for the drop-top version, that is. That model is scheduled to debut at the upcoming Detroit auto show in January.
Well guess what folks? Official looking images have been leaked, and they are now up on the Net. Surprised? I didn't think so.
Also not much of a surprise is that the car hasn't changed much visually from the Gen-I new Mini. Yeah, it's got all the other new-new Mini upgrades, plus a few special items unique to this model. So if you loved the old-new Mini drop-top, you will love this new-new Mini drop-top as well. The car will go on sale next Spring.
Ummm... Not sure about this illustration. It's soooo far from what we've come to expect from Nissan. It has none of the current Nissan truck styling cues, especially from the front. Plus for a HD truck, it's not very macho looking. Then again, that's not a primary concern as commercial customers are more interested in what the vehicle can do, and for how little in terms of $$$.
At any rate, Nissan is reportedly going to show a heavy-duty pickup, a full-size van, and a smaller van at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show.
We got a pretty good look at the 2010 Cadillac SRX just a few months ago, but these latest spy shots from Michigan show even more detail. The Cadillac styling cues up front are unmistakable while the profile mimics the Provoq concept as we expected. The rear end gets a pair of tall, vertical taillights and a relatively small window. Look for the official debut of the 2010 Cadillac SRX at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.
The folks over at NextAutos.com have posted some spy images of the all-new next-generation Toyota Prius, which is rumored to debut at the Detroit auto show in January.
The images show that the overall profile will remain much as it currently is. However, the car is reportedly larger and more powerful--and more fuel-efficient. It's also expected that there may be other body styles, perhaps a wagon and convertible. Sounds like a win-win for hybrid fans.Full story here.
The above composite image is from two Japanese publications. The illustration on the left appeared several months ago and the image on the right recently showed up here.My take, based on these illustrations, and from what I've heard, I think we're fairly close here. Both these images show a common stying direction even though some of the details differ. I expect the car to debut this winter, perhaps at the Detroit auto show, and will go on sale here next spring. Interesting to note that in the story with the latest image, it's mentioned that there will be a hybrid version. It's expected that a CVT will show up replacing the current 4EAT; not sure if it will replace the 5EAT found on turbos and H6 models, however.
The future of Cobo Hall is beginning to look as overcast as the image above. This past year Porsche dropped out of the NAIAS, next year Suzuki will be passing on it, and now there's word of another luxury car brand that's considering on not showing up.
So what brand is it? More important: what's going on here? Don't know, and don't know, but clearly Cobo Hall (and Detroit) have a problem on their hands here. One of those problems is that people come to this show to ooh, ah and dream--but they don't buy. Now that may sound strange, but that's what Manny Lopez of The Detroit News says.
Reuters is reporting that that high-end trim models of the next-gen Toyota Prius (note that above image is a guesstimate) will have solar panels. These solar panels will be used to power accessories such as air conditioning, etc. The vehicle will debut next year, probably at the Detroit Auto Show.
Citing that they weren't allocated enough floor space at the upcoming Detroit auto show, Suzuki has announced that they would skip this show for 2009.
Jeff Holland, a Suzuki spokesman, said that Suzuki's plans for more active displays couldn't be accommodated. Suzuki plans to introduce three new products in the next 18 months, and other cities better fit their marketing needs, Holland said. "It's recognizing that we can't be everywhere and recognizing that opportunities are better in shows in other parts of the country," said David Boldt, product public relations manager for Suzuki...
Nissan is reportedly going to show their light commercial vehicle (or vehicles), otherwise known as LCV(s), at the next Detroit auto show in January. As has been reported, Nissan plans on introducing three LCVs in the United States within the next few years. One is expected to be a van, quite possibly based on their Primastar van (pictured), which is sold in many other markets worldwide. If so, it's most direct competitor here would the the Dodge/Freightliner Sprinter vans, which have proven so popular with delivery services and tradesmen...
Recently Straightline confirmed that the next Titan and Dodge Ram are going to be kiss'n cousins. Now we have some more info on that model, as well as some new info on the yet-to-be-seen HD Nissan pickup.
As to the Titan, the doors and roof panels will be shared by the Titan. Other exterior body panels will be unique...
It looks like it won’t be long before the 2010 Cadillac CTC hits the road. These shots taken recently in Michigan reveal some very production looking bodywork. From the detailed grille to the quarterpanel vents, this looks more like an early prototype than a test mule. As we reported months ago, the 2010 Cadillac CTS coupe will go into production in the spring of 2009...
Or so the saying goes; Maybach, an automaker arguably on the ropes, is pulling out all the stops as they've given a production okay for the Landaulet. A concept study was recently shown at the Detroit auto show.
It sounds like we may be seeing some off-road-ready vehicles using hybrid power sometime in the future. At the recent NAIAS Jeep showed a hybrid Renegade (above) and Land Rover displayed their urban cruiser LR-X, both using hybrid power. In addition, the U.S. Army is developing a new diesel-electric ‘Alternative Mobility Vehicle’...
The hoopla is now past, and we can now digest all the "new and wonderful" stuff automakers threw at us last week. Is it all as great as they, the automakers, would lead you to believe? Well, AutoObserver has done much of the work here for you with their reflections of the show.
Actually, there are two editorials from AO on this—and they don't agree on everything...
You can add the Chinese to the list of countries with weird concepts, and even weirder names. I present you with the Detroit Fish. I guess because it was shown in Detroit and it's an amphibious people carrier. It can be seen at the Detroit (of course) Auto Show...
The Toyota FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Edition sort of slipped under the radar of most reporters at Detroit, as there wasn't a big deal made of it. Either that or most probably figured it was just another specially-prepped show car.
It's basically a designer edition hardcore off-roader—an oxymoron if ever there was one! How it differs from your basic FJ, is as follows:
First off, it comes with a white roof and body with black trim pieces...
If you happen to be in the neighborhood of Cobo Hall, you might want to stop in and see all the new cars, trucks and concepts at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show.
The editors of IL have created a visitor's guide highlighting the cars that you won't want to miss.
If you are in the Detroit area and will be attending the show the week of January 21, join Edmunds/Inside Line editors for a walking tour of the show. Kick some tires with us, hear what we think of the headliner vehicles on the floor, tell us what you think, and ask any questions you have. Come on along on one of these informal strolling chats around the new production and concept cars at the Detroit show. Look for the Edmunds/Inside Line booth in Cobo Center's entry hallway, right at the Jou Louis statue, and sign up for a walking tour...
If XM Radio has its way, this is what the display screen will look like while you're listening to XM in your car:
This type of layout will start showing up as a factory-installed option within the next few months -- I'm guessing Acura, maybe the new TSX? The pictured setup is really cool because it graphically displays each channel and what's playing on that channel right now. XM says they're already sending the logos and all data needed to run this kind of interface. It's now up to the automakers to adopt it...
This is a working prototype of Panasonic's new 16-inch in-car video screen. It can split and play two video sources or play one source in a variety of aspect ratios. This demo vehicle is a Saturn Outlook but look for it to show up in other all-new vehicles Panasonic already provides video screens for -- Chevrolet, Nissan, Honda, Lexus and Toyota. In fact, the Nissan Quest will soon be getting an entertainment system branded as Panasonic...
From the creators of the Matrix trilogy comes a live-action version of Speed Racer. To promote the upcoming movie, Warner Bros. showed this life-size Mach 5 replica. Look for the movie to be out by May...
Shockingly enough, Mazda did not want to spend much time today talking about the 2009 RX-8. Details on its new front fascia were left unsaid, and the new R3 sport package that adds Bilstein shocks, Recaro seats and urethane-filled suspension crossmembers was barely mentioned. So when a Mazda official told us after the press conference that the car was also 45 pounds lighter than before we were skeptical. Turns out the optional 19-inch wheels that come with the R3 package are actually lighter than the stock 18s. And apparently those Recaro seats are much lighter than stock. Combined with the new shorter rear end gear, this RX-8 might actually feel new from behind the wheel. That would have been worth talking about. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
The blond and photogenic Franz Von Holzhausen, Mazda's North American design chief, had the pleasure of "driving" the Mazda Furai concept onto the stage during the press conference today in Detroit. (For most of the show, the Furai sat uncovered, but the company whisked it out of sight just before its official debut.)
Von Holzhausen revved the mid-mounted, three-rotor 20B rotary engine before disembarking, commenting, "It sounds good, doesn't it?"
Indeed. As we reported in our full article on the Furai, this concept sports car is built on a racecar chassis from the American Le Mans Series. It's fully driveable, and the engine develops some 450 horsepower.
The concept of a hybrid that looks like a version of the Maserati Gran Turismo appeals a great deal to us.
And obviously it appeals a great deal to Henrik Fisker. The former BMW and Aston Martin designer launched off on his own to produce modified versions of BMW and Mercedes-Benz vehicles a few years ago. Fisker has since seen the light and has conceived of the Karma, a hybrid sport-luxury coupe...
For my money, this is the coolest car at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. It's a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Spyder Touring and I found it in the Louis Vuitton Classic Concours booth. According to the signage, the car is the 2007-2008 LVCC winner and it won best of show at the Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance in the Detroit area.
Bodied by Carlo Bianchi Anderloni from a design by Vittorio Jano, the Alfa is now owned by Ray Scherr of Westlake Village, California...
For years now, we've been saying the Chinese are coming. In case you haven't noticed, they have yet to arrive. For the second year in a row, Changfeng Motor held a press conference in Detroit to discuss its latest models and announce its intentions to start selling cars in the U.S. And for the second year in a row, it appears as though it's not any closer to selling cars in the U.S...
With the first half of 2009 coming to a close, preparations for the 2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards have already begun. The initial list of contenders was released on Monday night and it features a fairly even cross section of the American, European and Japanese vehicles. 
