Detroit Auto Show
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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Budget, Hatchback, Toyota
2010 Toyota Yaris - Click above for high-res image gallery
B-segment cars have been getting a whole lot of attention lately, what with super-good offerings like the Ford Fiesta, Mazda2 and Honda Fit setting the bar high for the class. Toyota has its friendly little Yaris, but that model hasn't seen any sort of real update since its debut in late 2006, but large changes are in the works.
Toyota's North American operations have reportedly been pushing for the Yaris to grow in size, and we should get a conceptual preview of what to expect at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. Toyota is also working on a hybrid powertrain for the Yaris in Europe, though reports state that this engine isn't slated for the United States. Odd, especially since Toyota has always talked about expanding its Prius nameplate to include a range of hybrid vehicles.
For now, we'll keep our eyes peeled for more rumors, and we'll wait to see what Toyota has in store for a Detroit Show debut next January.
Gallery: 2010 Toyota Yaris 5 Door
[Source: Autocar]
Report: Toyota to replace Yaris in U.S., concept coming to Detroit? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Detroit Auto Show, Budget, Sedan, Chrysler
We may have gotten our first glimpse at what the production version of the Chrysler 200C will look like. Website Noticas Automotivas is reporting that it has managed to get its hands on a slew of patent drawings of the car, and from what we can tell, the new, smaller four-door has stuck fairly close to the concept we first saw at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. That includes the car's stylish curled front fenders and bulging rear sheetmetal. It looks like the 200C will also wear similar shaped headlights, though whether they turn out to be as sharp looking as the LED/projection units on the concept remains to be seen.
We haven't heard a whole heck of a lot about the 200C since the car cropped up in the Motor City. With the Sebring finally on its way out for good, we knew that Chrysler had to be hard at work on a replacement - and if these patent drawings are any indication, the new model may just be the 200C. If Chrysler can manage to infuse the car with same attention to detail that we've seen in the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and shove the new Pentastar V6 under the hood, it could be a force to be reckoned with. Head over to Noticas Automotivas to check out all of the patent shots.
Gallery: Detroit 2009: Chrysler 200C EV
Gallery: Chrysler 200C Concept
[Source: Noticas Automotivas]
Chrysler 200C patent drawings leaking out? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Detroit Auto Show, Spy Photos, Coupe, Budget, Europe, Volkswagen, Rumormill, Design/Style
Volkswagen NCC patents - Click above for high-res image gallery
Take a look at what Carscoop's managed to dig up. It seems Volkswagen's been busy securing patents for its New Compact Coupe. Do these filings mean Volkswagen is seriously considering the addition of a Jetta Coupe to the lineup? Probably. After all, the coupe concept VW teased us all with last winter looked very production-ready, and it was quite well-received.
The images here show that the car has evolved somewhat since we last saw it at the Detroit Auto Show. There's now a traditional-style grille and exhaust, indicating that gas and diesel iterations are obviously in the works for the launch. If and when we'll see a hybrid version in keeping with the Detroit NCC concept remains to be seen. So, keep your fingers crossed that these patents foreshadow a classy little coupe from VW. This is a sharp-looking ride, and since it's larger than the Scirocco, it just might find an audience here in the land of the free.
Gallery: Volkswagen NCC Patents
Gallery: Volkswagen New Compact Coupe
[Source: Carscoop]
Patents filed for Volkswagen Jetta Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Budget, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Volkswagen, Rumormill, Diesel
2009 VW BlueSport Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Something is rotten in Zuffenhausen. Ingolstadt, too. Once upon a time, in the frozen wasteland that is Detroit in January, Volkswagen unveiled the turbo-diesel BlueSport roadster at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The press was awed, the car drove onto the stage amidst a flurry of dancing children, the marketing gurus at ze People's automaker were thrilled and we all expected to see the car hit production with some expediency. That didn't happen, and now we may know why. According to Automobile, the project may have been given the back burner treatment due to internal jousting between Porsche, VW and Audi.
It's no secret that all three automakers have been mulling whether or not to jump on a small, mid-engine platform, but it looks like both Porsche and Audi aren't really interested in filling their ranks with a VW creation. Porsche isn't keen on the notion of selling a new entry model that might dent sales of the upcoming redesigned Boxster, and Audi can't really make a case for adding another sports car to its portfolio.
That leaves VW with one very efficient, very sexy concept and no way to bring it to reality without the cooperation of its corporate cousins. Odds are the scuffle will be ironed out after Porsche is officially brought under the VW tent once and for all, but until then, we wouldn't hold our breath for the VW BlueSport. The Porsche 918 Spyder on the other hand...
Gallery: Detroit 2009: Volkswagen BlueSport Concept
Gallery: Detroit Preview: Volkswagen BlueSport Concept
Live photos by Frank Filipponio / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Automobile]
Report: Infighting delays Volkswagen Bluesport, Audi R4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Technology, Cadillac, GM, Design/Style
2009 Cadillac Converj Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Although previously the subject of some early obituaries, it appears that the future of the Cadillac Converj showcar is indeed at a dead-end. According to Automotive News, a production future for the rakish extended-range coupe has been scuttled due to "priorities and the conviction that the Volt and Ampera will use all available capacity for years to come" - that's according to a text message from General Motors vice chairman Bob Lutz.
Lutz, who is himself retiring on May 1, openly championed the Converj, including telling members of the Society of Automotive Analysts that the car would be built after 2012. Prevailing logic also had the well-received 2009 Detroit Auto Show concept getting the green light, if only because affixing a higher-margin Cadillac badge to its flanks would presumably help GM recover some of its massive investment in the E-Rev technology it shared with the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera. However, in a Bloomberg report from earlier this month, some company managers apparently successfully argued that the business case for the Converj could not be made.
Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj
Photos by Drew Phillips / Frank Filliponio / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]
Once and For All? Lutz text message reportedly confirms Cadillac Converj is dead originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Toyota
2010 Toyota Prius - MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award winner for Best of the Year
By February of each year, we are always right in the middle of awards season, and no, we're not talking about the Golden Globes, Grammys or Oscars. We are, of course, referring to Car and Truck of the Year awards, Ten Best lists and the like. A brace of trophies had already been handed out at the Detroit Auto Show and here at the Chicago Auto Show, a few more champions were crowned. As you might imagine, Toyota is usually an oft-mentioned brand during this time of year, but we figured this year might be a little different.
Coming on the heels of several high profile recall announcements by Toyota, one might expect the once-bulletproof Japanese carmaker to at least get more careful consideration when handing out the hardware. Well, even if they have gone through closer scrutiny, that hasn't stopped multiple outlets from still rewarding them for their products. Television show MotorWeek just announced their Drivers' Choice Award winners, and the Toyota Prius is their choice for best Eco-Friendly vehicle. It also claimed the title of Best of the Year overall, making it their top pick of the 2010 models.
Other category winners are listed below and there's a long press release after the jump that includes a statement by MotorWeek host and producer John Davis. While it was probably difficult to change their minds so late in the game, the statement by Davis explaining their rationale in choosing the Prius seems to have been written some time before Toyota started making so many headlines: "If you can only buy one car for your family, the 2010 Prius is the one," said Davis. "The Prius is a no-compromise vehicle that offers impressive efficiency, cutting edge technology, smart packaging and truly iconic styling."
While all of that might still apply, it's bad timing if nothing else to be handing out a top award to the Prius. In that spirit, Davis added an additional statement to clarify and defend the show's selection. In it he explained that while MotorWeek had two different Prius hybrids in their care for several months, nothing ever went wrong with them and that the show is confident that the problems will be satisfactorily addressed by Toyota.
MotorWeek was certainly not alone on that front however, as Toyota has recently been lauded by several other organizations as well. In Japan, for instance, Toyota was honored with a government energy efficiency award. Interestingly, the company chose to decline that award, though, saying that "the honor is not appropriate for a car hit by massive recalls," according to MSNBC.
Without further ado, here are the MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award winners:
Best Small Car: Mazda3 Best Family Sedan: Ford Taurus
Best Luxury Sedan: Buick LaCrosse
Best Small Utility: Chevrolet Equinox Best Large Utility: Honda Pilot Best Pickup Truck: Ram 1500/2500/3500
Best Eco-Friendly: Toyota Prius Best Sport Sedan: BMW 3-Series Best Sport Coupe: Chevrolet Camaro Best Performance Car: Audi S4 Best Convertible: Nissan 370Z Roadster Best Dream Machine: Audi R8 5.2 FSI/Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius
[Sources: Motorweek via EarthTimes, MSNBC]
Continue reading Chicago 2010: Bad Timing Dept. - Prius MotorWeek Drivers' Choice winner; Toyota declines JDM award
Chicago 2010: Bad Timing Dept. - Prius MotorWeek Drivers' Choice winner; Toyota declines JDM award originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Detroit Auto Show
The 2009 edition of the Detroit Auto Show was depressing on a variety of levels, ranging from the number of automakers who either pulled out or didn't bring anything new, to the industry's general malaise as a whole. The show was upsetting on a regional level because attendance dropped.
Luckily, 2009 is in the books and 2010 appears to be better on nearly all fronts. While new introductions at the show seemed down this year again, the bright side is that more automakers participated and, perhaps more importantly for the struggling region, attendance was up in a big way.
The Detroit News reports that 715,000 men, women and children paid up to $12 to attend the show this year - up 65,000 from 2009's dismal numbers. Part of the reason for the increase came courtesy of surprisingly good weather (for Detroit), while the overall outlook of the industry isn't (quite) as dire as it was one year ago. Also, that higher attendance number happened despite the fact that the Audi display caught fire and cleared Cobo for one afternoon.
[Source: The Detroit News]
2010 Detroit Auto Show attendance beats '09 by 65k originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Etc., Work, Ford, GM
Well this is just too bad. As you may recall, Pickuptrucks.com was chatting with Tom Stephens, GM's vice chairman of global product operations, about GM's new heavy duty pickup trucks. Suddenly Stephens said something quite interesting:
"You know what I want to do to prove it? I want to take our truck and Ford's [new Super Duty] and chain them together back-to-back. Then I want to have them pull against each other. I know our truck will beat theirs."
How cool would that have been? Supremely cool. However, Ford chooses to think different. Via twitter, Ford was asked by a Pickuptrucks.com reader if they'd accept the challenge. Ford said, "We typically don't respond to challenges. We let the vehicles speak for themselves." Ford ended their statement with this link illustrating that the Ford F Series has been America's best selling vehicle for 33 years straight. As we used to say in 4th grade, "Oooh! Burned!"Still, we would have really loved to watch a tug of war. Who would have won? Probably a Dodge. On a semi-related note, Pickuptrucks.com's Mike Levine was bragging via Facebook about the Ford SVT Raptor he's driving this week. We asked him if he would like to chain it to the 470-hp Jaguar XF Supercharged we're driving this week and have ourselves a little tug of war. Levine's response, "Only if we do it in mid-air." Touché.
[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]
Ford turns down Heavy Duty tug of war challenge with GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Detroit Auto Show, Motorsports, Spy Photos, Geneva Motor Show, Videos, Mini, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Skoda
The Autoblog Weekender - Click above to find out what you missed
Welcome to another edition of the Weekender. The Friday goods this week come from all over the world: Formula 1 drifting on ice in Montreal, an underwater Dodge Ram in Argentina, Skodas in Monte Carlo, a Hot Tub Edition Mini in New York, and free tickets to the Chicago Auto Show.
The domestic front also brings us a Fast Company profile of Volkswagen Group of America's head honcho Stefan Jacoby, which includes him admitting, "It was clear we were not understanding of our customers. We needed to change our style in the U.S., as we are a very stubborn bureaucratic German company - and German management - to some extent. I am here to listen."
And then there was all that singing and dancing at the Detroit Auto Show, but Beyoncé provided the lyrics this time, not the Chevy Volt marketing team. Follow the jump to get your weekend fill.
Continue reading The Autoblog Weekender: Mobs in Detroit, motorsport in Monte Carlo, and the Führer has words for Ken Block
The Autoblog Weekender: Mobs in Detroit, motorsport in Monte Carlo, and the Führer has words for Ken Block originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Detroit Auto Show, Etc., Safety
Instant gratification can be an amazing thing, a fact evidenced once again by the always-on-top-of-things nature of Twitter. Apparently, Detroit Auto Show attendees were evacuated from Cobo Hall a short time ago after a reported electrical fire broke out at the Audi exhibit. Says the official NAIAS Twitter feed:
There was a small electrical fire inside Cobo. The fire is out and everything is under control... The building was cleared as a precautionary measure. The show will reopen in a couple hours.
Reports are unclear as to how the fire actually started, with some witnesses seeing sparks and others reporting flames as high as the ceiling with pieces of display falling down. Regardless, it's clear that thick smoke currently fills Cobo Hall and police, firefighters and other emergency personnel are on the scene.Showgoers can get their hands stamped in order to get a voucher to come back another day, or wait until 5PM when the doors are currently scheduled to reopen. More info as we get it. Click here for a few photos posted on Twitter. Thanks for the tip, Chris!
[Source: Twitter]
BREAKING: Fire breaks out at Cobo, Detroit Auto Show evacuated originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Etc., Chevrolet, Ford, GM, GMC, Diesel
Pickuptrucks.com sat down with Tom Stephens, General Motors' vice chairman of global product operations at the Detroit Auto Show, and during the course of the conversation, Stephens began espousing the virtues of the General's new Duramax diesel, due to be fitted to the 2011 Chevrolet and GMC Heavy Duty pickups.
Obviously, it's not rare for an exec to speak highly of a new engine, but in a rare moment of brand fervor, Stephens issued a challenge:
"You know what I want to do to prove it? I want to take our truck and Ford's [new Super Duty] and chain them together back-to-back. Then I want to have them pull against each other. I know our truck will beat theirs."
After making sure Stephens was serious, the site's intrepid editor, Mike Levine, contacted Ford to see if it was interested in the challenge. He hasn't gotten an official response yet, but he's ready to play referee and set up an event in Texas to pit the two H-D haulers against each other. Consider the gauntlet thrown. Ford? We anxiously await your response...[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]
GM challenges Ford to heavy-duty pickup tug of war originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Detroit Auto Show, Videos, Chrysler, Humor
Click above to watch video after the jump
So we found this new website after our trip to the D for the 2010 Detroit Auto Show called Do You Come with the Car? It's written by an anonymous auto show model who, as we speak, is likely standing on a platform in Cobo Hall fielding that very same question from some old guy who thinks he's funny. We've always been fascinated by this trade, so her insights into the inner workings of the auto show model profession, particularly while the Detroit show is open to the public, are interesting, at least to us.
Her latest blog post illustrates just one of the many frustrations with which auto show models have to do deal on a daily basis. A reporter from FOX Toledo roped a Chrysler model named Lauren into an on-camera interview - you may remember her from our gallery - and then uses the occasion to ask such probing questions as "Is that comfortable?" (referring to her metallic mini-dress) and remarking "I hope you can't read what my eyes are saying." Top notch reporting, creepy dude. He increases his creepiness quotient to skin crawling levels by closing the interview with a come on in his final question. Being the savvy, street smart girl we assume her to be, Lauren gives him the cold (bare) shoulder and walks away.
We're no strangers to accusations of sexism and exploitation when we publish galleries of these models after an auto show, but we very much respect them and what they do. Having been trained to speak knowledgeably about whatever vehicle they're showcasing, they probably know more about the car than most of us. Hopefully that respect comes across when we're taking their picture (we usually ask permission first unless the model is posing for a crowd of photogs) and to everyone else when we publish those galleries. We'd certainly hate to be lumped into the same class as this guy. Follow the jump to watch him go down in flames.
UPDATE: Whoever uploaded the video to YouTube has yanked it. We searched for another copy online, but no luck so far. Sorry!
UPDATE #2: Though the video has been yanked, the reporter in question has published his side of the story on the internet, which you can read here. Long story short, the model, Lauren, was in on it the whole time. He further adds that one intention behind the staged interview was to "draw attention to the kind of environment these professionals deal [with] all the time."
[Source: Do You Come with the Car?]
Continue reading Video: Reporter gets deservedly dissed by Chrysler model
Video: Reporter gets deservedly dissed by Chrysler model originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Detroit Auto Show, Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, GMC
GMC Granite concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
GMC has always been General Motors' truck and SUV marque, but the brand could break new ground if it decides to build a small urban vehicle based on the Granite concept from the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. The Granite would likely be smaller and less rough-and-tumble than any other vehicle in the GMC lineup while also carrying a lower base price tag. If GM's "Professional Grade" brand builds a Granite-like vehicle it could take the marketing road less traveled; television-less advertising.
Buick-GMC advertising director Steve Rosenblum has reportedly told Automotive News that the next step for GMC could be a four-passenger vehicle that slots below the Terrain, and the Granite certainly fits that bill. Rosenblum went on to hypothesize that a Granite-sized vehicle would be heavily marketed to car buyers under age 35, and that its marketing campaign could be focused almost entirely on the Internet. And the tried-and-true "Professional Grade" tagline? GMC could exclude it from Granite ads, says Rosenblum. Hmmm...
GMC could also focus its marketing dollars on "smart phone" advertising. Rosenblum says that by 2011, two-thirds of cell phone users under age 40 will own a smart phone. One application the ad team designed is a brochure for the Granite with bar code designs that can be read by smart phones. The codes would then lead interested parties to a website with features about the Granite, along with a social networking site where interested parties could chat with designers.
Is the Granite a smart direction for GM to be taking with GMC, or is it a bridge too far? Have your say in Comments.
Gallery: Detroit 2010: GMC Granite Concept
Gallery: GMC Granite Concept
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]
GMC to drop TV, harness the power of the interwebs to market Granite. You know, if it gets built. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Detroit Auto Show, Spy Photos, Sedan, Chrysler, Luxury
Future Chrysler models previewed in video - Click above for image gallery
If you plan on visiting the 2010 Detroit Auto Show when it opens to the public, head to the Chrysler display, specifically the area where they've cordoned off the Chrysler Lancia concept. Behind that rebadged Lancia Delta is a large video screen playing a Chrysler promotional video. Nothing special, right? Wrong. The video in question is apparently showing sneak peeks of future Chrysler models. We were too busy asking Chrysler spokespeople why the Lancia was even at the show (to which they offered little insight) to even notice.
While a few different vehicles/concepts are shown in the video, the most obvious and interesting is what could be the next-gen Chrysler 300. From what little we can see of it, the car appears to be a concept version of the next-gen 300 that we may see unveiled in the near future, possibly at the Chicago Auto Show in February or New York Auto Show in April.
While we don't have the video itself, there is some hand-held footage of the Chrysler Lancia concept on YouTube with the video playing on the wall in the background. That's after the jump, but you can also view some screen grabs in the gallery below. Thanks for the tip, Joseph!
Gallery: Future Chrysler models spotted in video
[Source: YouTube, Picasa]
Continue reading Next-gen Chrysler 300 previewed in auto show video?
Next-gen Chrysler 300 previewed in auto show video? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Aftermarket, Detroit Auto Show, Budget, Crossover, Hatchback, Kia, Design/Style
2010 Kia Shadow Dragon Soul - Click above for high-res image gallery
Is the third time really the charm? We'll leave that up to you as Kia has unveiled its third special edition Soul at the Detroit Auto Show, this time featuring automotive tattoos. The 2010 Kia Shadow Dragon Soul is available now and follows in the footsteps of the Denim and Ignition specials. As the name implies, the Shadow Dragon is done up in a special black color scheme, and it also features a Soul-first leather-trimmed interior and crowd-sourced black dragon graphics (the Korean automaker trolled the Kia forums to determine what type of ink the Soul should wear).
Besides the matte-on-gloss black graphics, the Shadow Dragon sports blacked-out 18-inch wheels like the ones on the Ignition, glossy accents in the front and rear bumpers, and a unique rear wing. Like the other two Soul specials, the Shadow Dragon starts out as a Soul+ model, so it's stuffed to the gills with options. It includes the Audio Upgrade Package with its center speaker, subwoofer, external amp and those trick speaker lights that pulse to the beat of the music. There's also an iPod connector, carpeted floor mats, moonroof, foglights and fender vents with encapsulated side markers.
On top of that, the Shadow Dragon Soul adds keyless entry, limo tint on the cargo area windows, body-color door handles and power mirrors. That's in addition to the steering wheel-mounted cruise control, Bluetooth, dual power ports, separate tweeters and usual array of cubbies and lights to make living inside the Dragon a little more hospitable. All of that for just $18,195 with a manual transmission. That strikes us as a modest price but also makes it the most expensive special Soul so far, some $695 dearer than the Ignition. Check out the press release after the jump for even more details.
Gallery: 2010 Kia Shadow Dragon Soul
[Source: Kia Motors]
Continue reading Detroit 2010: Kia channels its inner tattoo artist with limited-edition Shadow Dragon Soul
Detroit 2010: Kia channels its inner tattoo artist with limited-edition Shadow Dragon Soul originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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