Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[REPORT: 2011 Audi R8 Spyder will launch with V10 only, next A8 not coming to Frankfurt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/17/report-2011-audi-r8-spyder-will-launch-with-v10-only-next-a8-n/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/17/report-2011-audi-r8-spyder-will-launch-with-v10-only-next-a8-n/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/17/report-2011-audi-r8-spyder-will-launch-with-v10-only-next-a8-n/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


2010 Audi R8 V10 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

It's been all but confirmed by Audi that the R8 Spyder is due to debut alongside the new A5 Sportback at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September, but according to two reports from Car and Driver, there will be one less vehicle on the show stand in Germany and only one engine available in the drop-top supercar.

The 2011 Audi R8 Spyder will reportedly be available with the 525 hp, 5.2-liter V10 at launch -- meaning no V8 -- with a standard six-speed manual gearbox or optional R-tronic automated transmission. The 420 hp, 4.2-liter V8 currently fitted to the standard R8 could be added later, but Audi seems to favor sticking with the V10 until the R8's replacement arrives a few years down the road.

Additionally, it was widely reported that the 2011 Audi A8 would be unveiled in Frankfurt, but C&D says that the launch has been pushed back sometime after the LA Auto Show in December. Apparently, the reason for the delay is two-fold: Audi doesn't want to risk quelling sales of the current A8 in some of its most important markets (China, Europe and the U.S.) and the automaker is (wisely) worried that the unveiling could be overlooked at a large auto show where too many models are vying for attention. As such, the A8 could be shown initially at a private event in Florida later this year, with the first public exhibition being the Detroit Auto Show in January.


Gallery: 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro


[Source: Car and Driver (1) (2)]

REPORT: 2011 Audi R8 Spyder will launch with V10 only, next A8 not coming to Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20112011 audi a82011 audi r8 spyder2011AudiA82011AudiR8SpyderA8audiDetroitAutoShowfrankfurtfrankfurt motor showFrankfurtMotorShowr8spyderWed, 17 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Vintage promo film made for Detroit's 1968 Olympic bid reveals city's precipitous decline ]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/15/video-vintage-promo-film-made-for-detroits-1968-olympic-bid-re/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/15/video-vintage-promo-film-made-for-detroits-1968-olympic-bid-re/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/15/video-vintage-promo-film-made-for-detroits-1968-olympic-bid-re/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above to watch the video after the jump

We often think of the 1950's as being the heyday for Detroit's fortunes, but even in the early-to-mid Sixties, it remained something of a modern marvel, thanks largely to its world-leading auto industry. This archival video was apparently commissioned as part of a failed bid for the 1968 Summer Olympics (which went to Mexico City instead). Reportedly filmed in 1965, Detroit - City on the Move shows the area in full bloom - a startling contrast to the shell of an empire that remains just 44 years later.

With the harmonies of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as a backdrop, Mayor Jerome Cavanagh takes us through footage of downtown streets bustling with some of the city's two million residents, shots of a startlingly clean and new Cobo Hall (including scenes of the Detroit Auto Show itself), the crisp campuses of the (then) Big Three, and of the city's once-mighty cultural draws. It even has footage of the late John F. Kennedy talking up its virtues as part of the Olympic bid.

Interestingly (and perhaps tellingly), this sanitized look at Detroit all but glosses over mounting troubles with blustery talks of 'rebirth,' it utterly omits mention of the hitmakers at Motown Records, and in retrospect, it fails to adequately address growing racial tensions in the city (Detroit's infamous riots would lay siege just two years later in 1967).

Admittedly, such promotional films show a city in its best light by design, but even still, there's no getting around the fact that the World's Automotive Capitol ain't what it used to be. This video, part of the Prelinger Archives, gives us a glimpse into what Detroit used to be, and perhaps more than anything, what it sought to be. It's an amazing yet sobering look into mid-Sixties America, and it's worth a look. Take a trip back in time by clicking on the jump.

[Source: Archive.org]

Continue reading VIDEO: Vintage promo film made for Detroit's 1968 Olympic bid reveals city's precipitous decline

VIDEO: Vintage promo film made for Detroit's 1968 Olympic bid reveals city's precipitous decline originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>19651968Big 3Big3CobodetroitDetroit Symphony OrchestraDetroitSymphonyOrchestraDSOJerome CavanaghJeromeCavanaghJFKJohn F. KennedyJohnF.KennedyKennedymotor cityMotorCitymotownNAIASolympic committeeOlympicCommitteeolympicsprelinger archivesPrelingerArchivespromotional filmPromotionalFilmvintage filmvintage videoVintageFilmVintageVideoMon, 15 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Panel okays money for added exhibition space for relocated Detroit Auto Show - if Cobo talks fail]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/27/panel-okays-money-for-added-exhibition-space-for-relocated-detro/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/27/panel-okays-money-for-added-exhibition-space-for-relocated-detro/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/27/panel-okays-money-for-added-exhibition-space-for-relocated-detro/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The North American International Auto Show is the biggest event to hit the state of Michigan in any given year, but the location of the event has come under fire due to the advanced state of disrepair of Detroit's Cobo Hall. Earlier in the year, the state of Michigan and representatives from Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties approved up to $299 million to repair and expand Cobo in exchange for the facility being turned over to a regional authority run by all three counties.

Even though the city of Detroit would be relieved of $15-20 million per year in repairs and a $20 million cash payment, the city council turned down the Cobo expansion deal. The defeat of the proposal left the future of the show in the state of Michigan in doubt, so Oakland County executive L Brooks Patterson offered up the Rock Financial Showplace as a future site of the auto show.

According to The Detroit Free Press, that idea is one step closer to reality as a state senate panel has approved up to $135 million to expand the much newer convention center to accommodate future auto shows. The money for the proposal would come from hotel and cigarette taxes, and the money officially goes to the Novi, MI facility if a deal on Cobo isn't reached by July 1.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

REPORT: Panel okays money for added exhibition space for relocated Detroit Auto Show - if Cobo talks fail originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 May 2009 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto showAutoShowcobodetroitdetroit auto showDetroitAutoShownaiasNoviOaklandWed, 27 May 2009 09:57:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: North American International Auto Show likely to move out of Detroit, see other people]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/REPORT-North-American-International-Auto-Show-likely-to-move-out-of-Detroit-see-other-people/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/REPORT-North-American-International-Auto-Show-likely-to-move-out-of-Detroit-see-other-people/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/REPORT-North-American-International-Auto-Show-likely-to-move-out-of-Detroit-see-other-people/#commentsFiled under: , ,



In car-related news that will further disappoint an already reeling city, the chairman of Detroit's North American International Auto Show has gone on record that he is exploring ways to move the event out of the city.

The very public battle to expand the show's home, Motown's Cobo Center appears to have failed for good, after the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Detroit City Council, in effect killing plans for a $288 million expansion, a plan voted down by council members in February. For his part, city mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. is evidently declining to go to the state Supreme Court to force the issue.

So now, the search is on to take the show to a new venue, likely beyond Detroit's city limits, and potentially beyond the bounds of Southeast Michigan, as well. Automotive News quotes auto show co-chair Douglass Fox as saying:
At this point we need to consider any viable option that might be out there for us... There have been leaders -- (Oakland County Executive) L. Brooks Patterson comes to mind - who have made those overtures. We need to explore those options.
Fox and his team are expected to move quickly, but given the scope of the planning required for a major international auto show, it is perhaps likely that the NAIAS will still be hosted by Cobo next January. Beyond that, though, the city of Detroit looks set to witness yet another auto-related casualty.

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req]

REPORT: North American International Auto Show likely to move out of Detroit, see other people originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cobo CenterCobo HallCoboCenterCoboHallDetroit City CouncilDetroitCityCouncilKen CockrelKenCockrelNAIASNorth American Itnerioantl Auto ShowNorthAmericanItnerioantlAutoShowFri, 17 Apr 2009 16:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Michigan's Oakland County to grab NAIAS from Cobo?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/31/michigans-oakland-county-to-grab-naias-from-cobo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/31/michigans-oakland-county-to-grab-naias-from-cobo/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/31/michigans-oakland-county-to-grab-naias-from-cobo/#commentsFiled under: ,



We can't blame Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson one bit for thinking the North American International Auto Show might be better served by moving locations away from Detroit's troubled Cobo Center. The building itself has been in disrepair for years, with a leaky roof and a poor electrical system generally cited as its most urgent needs. When an agreement was finally reached that would have fixed most of Cobo's many woes and expanded it with an additional 166,000 square-feet of floorspace, we all let out a collective sigh of relief.

Unfortunately, in what our own John McElroy called "a stupefying move at the 11th hour," the Detroit City Council voted down the proposed plan by a five-to-three tally, saying that the $20 million the city would be paid to give up power over the dilapidated building wasn't enough. Naturally, this action drew ire from a number of important sources, not the least of which being the automakers who are growing increasingly fed up about the horrid state of affairs at the Detroit Auto Show.

Here's where Patterson comes into play: "If this thing goes down, I'm done," Patterson has told The Detroit News. "I'm not going to go back to Detroit to try to resurrect the deal. Five years is enough." Unfortunately, Patterson's plan to move the annual event to another location in the Detroit area has a few potential snags of its own. The next largest nearby venue is the Pontiac Silverdome, which is about two-thirds the size and has been empty since the Detroit Lions left the stadium in 2002.

And what does the embattled Detroit City Council have to say about Patterson's proclamations? "He's bullying us as usual... he just wants everything on his own terms" says councilwoman Barbara-Rose Collins.

This is one sordid affair that seems likely to drag on for years with no end in sight.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Michigan's Oakland County to grab NAIAS from Cobo? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cobocobo centercobo hallCoboCenterCoboHallDetroitdetroit auto showdetroit city councilDetroitAutoShowDetroitCityCouncilNAIASNorth American International Auto ShowNorthAmericanInternationalAutoShowOakland CountyOaklandCountyTue, 31 Mar 2009 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[British Motor Show toast for 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/19/british-motor-show-toast-for-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/19/british-motor-show-toast-for-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/19/british-motor-show-toast-for-2010/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The British Motor Show has been canceled for 2010, as poor attendance and a weak economy have conspired to deep-six the bi-annual event. The news comes after a meeting of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the owners of the show for over 100 years. The British Motor Show was once a vibrant event for showcasing new cars and trucks in Britain, but recent shows have been a near total bust. The event once attracted over 900,000 visitors, but recent shows have drawn half that number. The show was even relocated to London in 2006, and organizers were rewarded with a further drop in attendance for their efforts. While the loss of the 2010 show is depressing for car-lovers, some are speculating that the show may be scuttled all-together due to its long and painful decline.

News of the cancellation follows tough results for auto shows world-wide. Several automakers skipped out on North American International Auto Show in Detroit, while rumors have persisted that the Tokyo Motor Show will be canceled altogether. In Australia, the Sydney show has been canceled, as well. This is bad news for auto show lovers everywhere (*raises hand*), and we're hoping the trend reverses itself soon.

[Source: Car Magazine]

British Motor Show toast for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>british motor showbritish show cancellationBritishMotorShowBritishShowCancellationThu, 19 Mar 2009 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/27/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/27/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/27/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/#commentsFiled under: ,

THE AMAZINGLY STUPID DETROIT CITY COUNCIL

Nobody reading this blog needs to be told how much trouble Detroit is in. Whether it's the Detroit Three, the city of Detroit, or the greater Detroit area, the story's the same: we're in trouble!

One of the very few events that provides positive media coverage for Detroit every year is the North American International Auto Show. I'd rate it as one of the top three auto shows in the world. It brings in thousands of members of the media, as well as executives from automakers and suppliers in Europe and Asia. They fill up every hotel for a 40-mile radius. Thanks to the exhibits that get built, the special events that are held, all the restaurant meals that are ordered and all the taxi rides needed to get around, the show brings in a half billion dollars of desperately needed economic activity every year.

The show is held in Cobo Hall, which was built in 1960. Everyone has known for years that it needs to be renovated and expanded, but that's going to take several hundred millions of dollars and the city is broke.

So it's taken years to carefully craft a deal that involves the governor, the state Senate and House, three different county executives, as well as the mayor and the city council of Detroit. But in a stupefying move at the 11th hour, the city council voted 5 to 3 to reject the deal.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit" and daily web video "Autoline Daily". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy

Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autolineautoline dailyautoline detroitautoline on autoblogAutolineDailyAutolineDetroitAutolineOnAutoblogcobo hallCoboHalldetroitdetroit auto showdetroit city councilDetroitAutoShowDetroitCityCouncilfeaturedjohn mcelroyJohnMcelroynorth american international auto showNorthAmericanInternationalAutoShowFri, 27 Feb 2009 19:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit City Council kills plan to expand NAIAS home]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/25/detroit-city-council-kills-plan-to-expand-naias-home/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/25/detroit-city-council-kills-plan-to-expand-naias-home/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/25/detroit-city-council-kills-plan-to-expand-naias-home/#commentsFiled under:



Each year, thousands of journalists arrive in Detroit to see the best and brightest concepts and production vehicles automakers have to offer. It's estimated that the Detroit Auto Show brings in $500 to $600 million dollars annually to the region, which is struggling more than most due to the global recession. For years, the City of Detroit has failed to expand Cobo, and each year there are threats that the NAIAS will be taken away from the Motor City. The state of Michigan has been working with executives from Wayne and Oakland counties and the city of Detroit to upgrade Cobo, but yesterday the Detroit City Council voted down the proposed plan by a five-three tally. The proposed expansion was to add a much needed 166,000-sq. ft. of floorspace at a cost of $288 million.

The part of the plan that isn't sitting well with Detroit officials is a stipulation that hands control of the aging facility to a regional authority controlled by the tri-county area and representatives from the city and state. The city would receive $20 million dollars in funds to cede power of Cobo, but the council feels they aren't getting fair value for the venue. The city, which has been knee-deep in debt for years, operates Cobo at an annual loss of between $13 and $15 million. Due to disrepair, analysts say the building is worth a negative $284 million dollars.

We love the Detroit show, but the fact is that Cobo is a bit of a dump. The escalators don't always work, the cars are crammed into the limited floor space, and last year a fork lift collapsed into the Cobo floor. Automakers have been making their concerns known, with several pulling out of Detroit this year and a few more revealing no new products. NAIAS organizers say that Cobo must be repaired in 2010 or the city could lose its International designation. Exactly what the struggling city and region don't need right now.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Detroit City Council kills plan to expand NAIAS home originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cobo hallCoboHallDetroit Auto ShowDetroitAutoShowNAIASWed, 25 Feb 2009 08:03:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Cadillac considering four-door Converj]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/02/report-cadillac-considering-four-door-converj/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/02/report-cadillac-considering-four-door-converj/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/02/report-cadillac-considering-four-door-converj/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Cadillac Converj Concept

GM is beating on the drums -- softly, to be sure -- and the message they're sending is that the Cadillac Converj Concept could see production. The first issue with building such a car is money, and GM's problems in that arena are already well-documented. If that hurdle were to be cleared, GM has said that the next question is the number of doors: two or four?

A four-door car has a much better chance at the kind of volume GM would need in order to make the Converj a worthy proposition and Lutz apparently said that a production Converj would be as close to the concept as the production Camaro. If GM adds an extra set of doors while maintaining the go-fast profile, it would still have a car that could drive straight into a buyer's heart.

But how much would it cost? The Volt -- under the mass-market Chevy brand -- is expected to run about $40,000 when it arrives. Add in the brand premium and the requisite luxury accoutrements, and when it's tallied up, a theoretical Cadillac version is likely to wear a substantially higher sticker price. Would buyers be ready to embrace it?

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj


[Source: Motor Trend]

REPORT: Cadillac considering four-door Converj originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternativecadillaccadillac converjcadillac converj conceptCadillacConverjCadillacConverjConceptconcept carConceptCarconverjcoupegmhyrbridsaloonsedanMon, 02 Feb 2009 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[2010 Detroit Auto Show media days cut down by one, starts on Monday]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/2010-detroit-auto-show-media-days-cut-down-by-one-starts-on-mon/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/2010-detroit-auto-show-media-days-cut-down-by-one-starts-on-mon/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/2010-detroit-auto-show-media-days-cut-down-by-one-starts-on-mon/#commentsFiled under: ,



It looks like we'll have one less day to report on all of the debuts from Detroit next year. According to the Detroit News, the North American International Auto Show's organizers have decided to cut the number of media preview days from three to two for next year's show. The move will bring the show in-line with other domestic shows that typically only have two days of media press conferences.

The 2010 Detroit Auto Show will officially kick off on Monday, rather than on its traditional Sunday launch. There will be about 30 time slots for press conferences during two full days of festivities, eliminating the usual half day on day three. Industry days will continue to be held on Wednesday and Thursday. While this probably means very little to all of you, we're looking forward to sleeping in on Sunday. Hey, if nothing else, we figure to be that much better-rested come Monday so that we can bring you all of the latest news. That said, we don't imagine local hotel and parking lot owners are terribly excited about this development.

[Source: The Detroit News]

2010 Detroit Auto Show media days cut down by one, starts on Monday originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Detroit Auto Show2010 NAIAS2010DetroitAutoShow2010NaiasdetroitDetroit 2010detroit auto showDetroit2010DetroitAutoShownaiasnorth american international auto showNorthAmericanInternationalAutoShowFri, 30 Jan 2009 11:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota EV coming to the U.S. in 2012?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/toyota-ev-coming-to-the-u-s-in-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/toyota-ev-coming-to-the-u-s-in-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/toyota-ev-coming-to-the-u-s-in-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click on the image above for a high-res gallery of Toyota's FT-EV concept
Toyota has announced that they will be selling a new pure electric vehicle in the U.S. by 2012. We're guessing that it could be a production version of the FT-EV concept that Toyota showed at the Detroit Auto Show. Based on the iQ urban runabout sold overseas, the diminutive city car could meet some of Toyota's stated goals pretty easily. Toyota's national alternative-fuel vehicle manager, Bill Reinert, said the company is "looking for a 50-mile range right now," even when features like the defroster, heater, windshield wipers and stability control are in operation.

The car is expected to be powered by lithium-ion batteries. Reinert wants a charge time of about six hours using a conventional 110-volt household outlet or about two hours using a 220-volt outlet. Toyota still hasn't decided whether or not the car will be available for purchase or if it will be lease only. Where and for how much they'll be sold hasn't been ironed out yet either, but we'll be sure to fill in some of the details as they are issued.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Toyota FT-EV Concept


[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]

Toyota EV coming to the U.S. in 2012? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ft-evft-ev conceptFt-evConcepttoyota evtoyota ft-evtoyota ft-ev concepttoyota ftevToyotaEvToyotaFt-evToyotaFt-evConceptToyotaFtevTue, 20 Jan 2009 20:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit 2009: The odds, the ends]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/detroit-2009-the-odds-the-ends/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/detroit-2009-the-odds-the-ends/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/detroit-2009-the-odds-the-ends/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of odds & ends from the 2009 Detroit Auto Show

Auto shows throw massive amounts of promotions, marketing, branding, communications and event planning brainpower into one little bowl. Everyone is trying to be distinctive, and sometimes they do it with the cars, sometimes with the merchandise, sometimes with lures that are meant to get you to their stand at all. Yet there are only so many positions in which to mount a car and so many ways to put a logo on a jacket, right? Inevitably, that means you come across a few nifty novelties, and you also discover a few more things that fell through the cracks and make you wonder "What is this... doing here?" These are few of those odds and ends we found at last week's 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: The odds, the ends

Detroit 2009: The odds, the ends originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best ofBestOfdetroitdetroit 2009detroit auto showDetroit2009DetroitAutoShowmiscellaneousnaiasnaias 2009Naias2009odds and endsOddsAndEndsTue, 20 Jan 2009 14:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Limited cash to keep GM from green-lighting Cadillac Converj?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/report-gms-limited-cash-may-keep-cadillac-converj-from-product/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/report-gms-limited-cash-may-keep-cadillac-converj-from-product/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/report-gms-limited-cash-may-keep-cadillac-converj-from-product/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Cadillac Converj concept unveiling
Click image above for a gallery of Cadillac Converj live shots

General Motors' increasingly empty coffers could consign the Cadillac Converj show car to 'concept only' status. The Detroit Auto Show coupe has been the subject of production rumors since before it rolled onto the stage in Cobo earlier last week, but now Automotive News is reporting that GM may not have enough money to make Converj a reality.

AN quotes GM vice chairman Bob Lutz as saying that the Converj is far from a done deal:
"Ready to go? Well, first we have to prove to ourselves that we have the money... and then that it's a high enough priority to displace something else, and that we can actually make money on the vehicle, and that there is potential customer interest and so forth. We haven't done any of that work yet."
Our take? The angularly gorgeous Cadillac was designed around the same extended-range Voltec architecture as Chevrolet's forthcoming Volt, itself a spectacularly expensive research and development effort. GM is clearly committed to making the Volt a production reality, and if it ever has hopes of making money on its plug-in hybrid technology, a higher-priced, higher-margin product like from an upper-crust brand like Cadillac would seem like one of the best ways to defray R&D costs. In short, GM may still have to conduct due diligence on the Converj's business case, but if there's any money at all left in the company's bank accounts, we still think the future for the showstopper is a bright one. Given the 2011 date attached to the Volt, we would expect the Caddy to roll into showrooms for 2012.

Let's just hope it arrives in showrooms wearing a new name.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj

Gallery: Cadillac Converj concept


[Source: Automotive News: subs. req.]

Limited cash to keep GM from green-lighting Cadillac Converj? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bob LutzBobLutzCadillacConverjGMLutzNAIASNorth American International Auto ShowNorthAmericanInternationalAutoShowMon, 19 Jan 2009 13:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit 2009: Hot Wheels]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/17/detroit-2009-hot-wheels/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/17/detroit-2009-hot-wheels/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/17/detroit-2009-hot-wheels/#commentsFiled under:



Sure, there were a few brands missing from the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, but we never got the feeling that things were bleak... until we went looking for ten cool wheels. After walking the floor twice, we were able to come up with nine. America's premiere auto show had left us walking in circles, one wheel short, debating whether an ugly wheel with internally-mounted calipers was cool enough to make the list. And it was then that the real tragedy of this show hit us: not the subtracted brand count, but the lack of concept cars. With money reduced to growing on tumbleweeds and not on trees, those big-dollar flights of fancy had been (mostly) grounded. Instead, there were some magnificent production vehicles (the humongous 2010 Ford Taurus FTW!), and hereby we present the best wheels we found among them.

Detroit 2009: Hot Wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best ofBestOfdetroitdetroit 2009detroit auto showDetroit2009DetroitAutoShowfeaturednaiasnaias 2009Naias2009rimswheelsSat, 17 Jan 2009 12:03:00 EST<![CDATA[No Spark: What happened to GM's promised 5-door microcar in Detroit?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/16/no-spark-what-happened-to-gms-promised-5-door-microcar-in-detr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/16/no-spark-what-happened-to-gms-promised-5-door-microcar-in-detr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/16/no-spark-what-happened-to-gms-promised-5-door-microcar-in-detr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Chevrolet Beat Groundhog Day edition

Earlier this week, when General Motors rolled out the very same 3-door Chevrolet Beat concept that it showed back in 2007, we were a bit confused. After all, GM's Ed Welburn teased all of America when he pulled back the tarp on a related (but clearly different) subcompact during NBC's Today Show (video here), only to trot out the same vivid green three-door that has been steadily making the show circuit rounds for some time now.

Well, Kicking Tires has unearthed the back story, and evidently the tarp-pulling session with Matt Lauer revealed a foam model of the production Spark five-door. Understandably, GM couldn't very well drive a foam block up the ramp and onto the stage, so it simply left it out of its press conference and substituted the old concept. We thought GM might quietly put the five-door out on the floor later, so we checked back at their display during yesterday's supplier days, and unfortunately Chevrolet's stand never did get the mockup.

Kicking Tires evidently had to place repeated calls to GM's communications team in order to get them to admit that they had pulled a switcheroo. Eventually, GM's Klaus-Peter Martin noted that: "...any misunderstanding was unintentional, and that the company had always intended to reveal the production Spark in Geneva." That may be true, but we have trouble understanding why the car was teased on national television and a press shot of the five-door was circulated with the Detroit Auto Show press release.

Regardless of GM's intent, we look forward to seeing the production Spark in March, and eagerly await its arrival on America's roads in 2011.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Chevy Spark, aka Beat


[Source: Kicking Tires]

No Spark: What happened to GM's promised 5-door microcar in Detroit? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CoboCobo CenterCobo hallCoboCenterCoboHallGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGMNAIASNorth American International Auto ShowNorthAmericanInternationalAutoShowFri, 16 Jan 2009 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #111]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/15/autoblog-podcast-111/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/15/autoblog-podcast-111/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/15/autoblog-podcast-111/#commentsFiled under: , ,



It's time for Episode #111 of the Autoblog Podcast! It's a post NAIAS wrapup, as Chris, Sam, John, and Dan sit down and contemplate what went down in Cobo at the Detroit Auto Show. We kick the ball around about what we thought was significant at the show, and then Editor Neff reveals some very special news later on in the show. Next week, we're going to try to do an all-questions show, so ping us at Podcast at Autoblog Dot Com with your submission, maybe it'll make the show! See you next week

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Autoblog Podcast #111 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblog podcastautoblog podcast 111autoblog podcast detroit auto showautoblog podcast episode 111AutoblogPodcastAutoblogPodcast111AutoblogPodcastDetroitAutoShowAutoblogPodcastEpisode111detroit auto showDetroitAutoShownaias 2009Naias2009podcastThu, 15 Jan 2009 16:59:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #111Autoblog66:00<![CDATA[2010 Lincoln MKT will start at $44,995; EcoBoost, AWD add five grand]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/15/2010-lincoln-mkt-will-start-at-44-995-ecoboost-awd-add-five-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/15/2010-lincoln-mkt-will-start-at-44-995-ecoboost-awd-add-five-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/15/2010-lincoln-mkt-will-start-at-44-995-ecoboost-awd-add-five-g/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for live, high-res images of the new 2010 Lincoln MKT

Ford just announced pricing on the 2010 Lincoln MKT we saw earlier this week at the Detroit Auto Show. The Ford Flex's big brother will go on sale this summer for a starting price of $44,995 with the base V6 and front-wheel-drive. EcoBoost and all-wheel drive together add five grand to that total, so prices for the premium model start at $49,995. You can get AWD by itself though, along with the base 3.7L, at $46,990. While all MKTs will come with tons of standard features, the company is also offering a few options.

For instance, the Elite Package will be available for $5,000, which includes a bowl of alphabet soup with things like Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Warning with Brake Support (gives the driver a "head-up" warning on the windshield), Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Cross Traffic Alert (BLIS for backing out of a parking space), Voice-activated Navigation, and a power-opening Panoramic Vista Roof. Stand-alone options will include Active-Park Assist (literally "steers" the MKT into a parallel parking spot while the driver controls the throttle and brakes), 20-inch polished wheels, a DVD system with dual headrest-mounted LCDs, second-row buckets that are heated and cooled, a second-row console-mounted refrigerator, and class III trailer-towing capability.

A fully loaded 355-hp EcoBoost AWD MKT should come in around $55,000, or a few thousand less than a similarly equipped Audi Q7. The Lincoln promises better fuel economy, more interior space and some features you can't even get on the Audi, like the Active-Park Assist. There's a full press release after the jump and our gallery of the MKT from Detroit available by clicking any image below.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Lincoln MKT live


Live photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading 2010 Lincoln MKT will start at $44,995; EcoBoost, AWD add five grand

2010 Lincoln MKT will start at $44,995; EcoBoost, AWD add five grand originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ecoboostlincoln mktLincolnMktmktThu, 15 Jan 2009 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit 2009: Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition is an excuse to issue a press release]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/14/detroit-2009-saab-9-5-griffin-edition-is-an-excuse-to-issue-a-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/14/detroit-2009-saab-9-5-griffin-edition-is-an-excuse-to-issue-a-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/14/detroit-2009-saab-9-5-griffin-edition-is-an-excuse-to-issue-a-p/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition

We really feel for the folks at Saab, and not just because we love the 9-5 SportCombi and that we pined for a Turbo 900 with the Aero package for what seemed like all of the '80s. Yet look ahead 20 years - specifically to the 2009 Detroit Auto Show - and all we have to get excited about is the Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition. Frankly, the press release is more exciting.

The grille is spruced up with matte chrome. Besides the fact that it looks like plastic, doesn't a matte finish defeat the purpose of chrome? Inside, as always with Saab, the two-tone seats are terrific places to plop one's rear, and the things covered in leather have the look and feel you want in your quirky luxury sedan. Elsewhere... well, it's the same thing Saab owners have been looking at for years, but with some of the plastic in different places. It isn't bad. It's "Why?"

It comes with almost everything; the only options being metallic paint, ventilated seats and navigation. But when this is everything, and everything in sedan form costs $42,775, who's looking for this? Oh Saab, wherefore art thou? You can read the press release after the jump, and check out the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition is an excuse to issue a press release

Detroit 2009: Saab 9-5 Griffin Edition is an excuse to issue a press release originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9-59-5 griffin edition9-5GriffinEditiondetroitdetroit 2009detroit auto showDetroit2009DetroitAutoShownaiasnaias 2009Naias2009saabsaab 9-5saab 9-5 griffin editionSaab9-5Saab9-5GriffinEditionsedanspecial editionSpecialEditionWed, 14 Jan 2009 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit 2009: First look at the production 2010 Chevy Camaro]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/14/detroit-2009-first-look-at-the-production-2010-chevy-camaro/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/14/detroit-2009-first-look-at-the-production-2010-chevy-camaro/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/14/detroit-2009-first-look-at-the-production-2010-chevy-camaro/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS

It seems like eons since Chevy initially unveiled the Camaro concept in Detroit. Since then, we've seen so many camouflaged test mules and pre-production cars that we were starting to worry the design would feel too familiar before the Camaro hit dealerships. In reality, three years is a relatively short time for car to go from concept to reality, and from the reactions we saw on the show floor, the Camaro has nothing to worry about. Despite the focus on green cars, the Camaro was still one of the most popular vehicles at the Chevrolet display and we had to wait our turn to get a look inside. We are big fans of the overall design and love the retro look, but were somewhat disappointed with the overall feel and quality of materials used inside -- the 2010 Mustang easily trumps the Camaro in terms of interior quality. Still, the true test will come when we can fire up the LS3 V8 and take advantage of the 400 horsepower and six-speed transmission.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS


Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro RS


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Detroit 2009: First look at the production 2010 Chevy Camaro originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Chevrolet Camaro2010 Chevrolet Camaro RS2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS2010ChevroletCamaro2010ChevroletCamaroRs2010ChevroletCamaroSsCamaroChevroletChevrolet CamaroChevroletCamaroDetroitDetroit 2009Detroit Auto ShowDetroit2009DetroitAutoShowNAIASWed, 14 Jan 2009 13:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit 2009: Dodge Challenger R/T accessorized by Mopar]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/14/detroit-2009-dodge-challenger-r-t-accessorized-by-mopar/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/14/detroit-2009-dodge-challenger-r-t-accessorized-by-mopar/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/14/detroit-2009-dodge-challenger-r-t-accessorized-by-mopar/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Mopar-accessorized Dodge Challenger R/T

The Dodge Challenger remains by far one of the most exciting offerings in Chrysler's lineup, and in addition to the R/T Classic edition, Dodge had on display an R/T on display complete with the latest products from its Mopar catalog. The car you see here comes with Nostalgia wheels ($561 each), Go-Wing spoiler ($307), carbon fiber engine cover ($313), cold air intake ($359), cat-back exhaust system ($1,155), performance shifter ($680), coilover suspension kit ($1,704), Katzkin leather seats ($1,240), T/A hood, and more. Some of the parts seem a little expensive, but the Moparized Challenger looks absolutely retrotastic in a more subtle way than the aforementioned Classic R/T. Decide for yourself by browsing the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Dodge Challenger R/T with Mopar accessories


Live Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Detroit 2009: Dodge Challenger R/T accessorized by Mopar originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChallengerDetroitDetroit 2009Detroit Auto ShowDetroit2009DetroitAutoShowDodgeDodge ChallengerDodge Challenger Mopar accessoriesDodge Challenger RTDodgeChallengerDodgeChallengerMoparAccessoriesDodgeChallengerRtMoparNAIASWed, 14 Jan 2009 12:58:00 EST