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Detroit 2009: Most Significant Vehicles of the Show

John Neff — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show

With the state of the automotive industry and the wider economy, you could hardly blame us for expecting that this year's Detroit Auto Show would come off as cold and foreboding as the weather outside Cobo Hall. In reality, while the show's traditional glitz was definitely pared back, there was surprising depth on display, with a solid crop of new vehicle and concept introductions that point the way toward a bright future for the industry -- provided its players can navigate today's dicey waters. After taking it all in over the past few days, we've distilled down what we feel are the show's most important debuts, both production and conceptual. Click on the link below to launch our gallery list of the most significant vehicle rollouts at the show (in alphabetical by manufacturer order), and see if you don't agree.

Detroit 2009: Most Significant Vehicles of the Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2009: White Lightning - Jaguar shows 510 bhp XKRs [w/VIDEO]

Chris Paukert — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:33:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Jaguar

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Jaguar XKR

Emerging from Jaguar's press conference yesterday from a cloud of manufactured smoke and amidst the too-loud blare of the Gallagher Brothers were the stonking new XKR Coupe and Convertible.

While the exterior receives subtle changes (new front and rear bumper designs, LED taillamps), the real news is under the hood. More than just an augmented supercharger, the blown XKs receive Jag's all-new Gen III AJ-V8 that's supercharged and features direct injection, which makes it good for 510 brake horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque. That newfound power helps the 3800+ pound XKR reach 60 miles-per-hour in just 4.6 seconds. The new XKR also enjoys the same interior theater experience upon startup that debuted in the XF, including air vents that rotate around and the flush JaguarDrive gear selector.

In our time with the current XKR, we always enjoyed the shape and the interior as well as the ride, but were somewhat underwhelmed with the performance and handling. The new R promises to rectify at least the power deficiency versus some other European performance luxury coupes, so we're hoping that the handling comes along for the ride. Check out the gallery of live shots below and the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Jaguar XKR

Gallery: 2010 Jaguar XKR

[Source: Jaguar]

Continue reading Detroit 2009: White Lightning - Jaguar shows 510 bhp XKRs [w/VIDEO]

Detroit 2009: White Lightning - Jaguar shows 510 bhp XKRs [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2009: Ford reveals 2010 Taurus, party like it's 1986

John Neff — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:02:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Ford

Click above for high-res image gallery of the 2010 Ford Taurus

Last month, Ford's President of the Americas Mark Fields remarked that it was going to be like 1986 all over again when the 2010 Ford Taurus arrives. The original Taurus that debuted during the Reagan Era was certainly groundbreaking, not only for its aerodynamic design that was unique in the mid-size sedan segment of the day, but also its tremendous value versus the competition. That car went on to become the best-selling passenger vehicle in the U.S. during the early '90s before a series of successively worse redesigns saw it fall from grace. It was sold uninterrupted for 21 years until late 2006 when the final one rolled off the assembly line at the company's assembly plant in Hapeville, GA. By that time, sales to the public had ceased and Ford was only selling the Taurus to fleets and rental companies, which had become the car's biggest customers as more and more families bought Camrys and Accords.

Then came Alan Mulally. Bill Ford Jr. replaced himself as CEO with Boeing's ex-head honcho and one of this Kansas-bred boy's first actions at the Blue Oval was to resurrect the Taurus name. Ford's new large sedan, the Five Hundred, wasn't selling well, and it was thought that slapping the Taurus name on it would help things. It didn't, and despite some substantive improvements to the car, the newly minted Taurus v2.0 earned a reputation for being a good but not great car that sold just enough to justify its existence.

The new 2010 Taurus has been completely redesigned, and Ford hopes all these changes to the exterior, interior, platform and powertrain will add up to a full-size car worthy of the Taurus name. Will it become the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. again? Not likely, but it will be a new halo car for the Ford brand that's crammed with all the best technology and state-of-the-art engines. Follow the jump to find out more.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus - LIVE

Gallery: 2010 Ford Taurus

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Ford reveals 2010 Taurus, party like it's 1986

Detroit 2009: Ford reveals 2010 Taurus, party like it's 1986 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac bringing E-Flex coupe concept to Detroit

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:34:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Hybrid, Green, Cadillac, GM

We've heard scads of rumors over the past year that General Motors plans to bring a Volt-based Cadillac to market, and it looks like we'll be seeing a concept of the new E-Flex Caddy at the Detroit Auto Show.

According to a report by BusinessWeek, the two-door coupe concept will use the same range-extending EV drivetrain as the Chevrolet Volt, although there's no word on whether the Caddy concept will send power to the front or rear wheels. BW sources say that the vehicle is smaller than the CTS and will feature a bolder exterior design than the CTS coupe. We'll be on hand in Detroit beginning this Sunday to see the Caddivolt concept in person, if it decides to show up.

[Source: BusinessWeek]

Cadillac bringing E-Flex coupe concept to Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another one bites the dust: Mitsubishi pulls out of Detroit Auto Show

Michael Harley — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Mitsubishi

Eight weeks from now, the 2009 Detroit Auto Show will open its doors at Cobo Hall. And... Mitsubishi won't be there. Like a handful of other high-profile manufacturers who have pulled out (including Rolls-Royce, Land Rover, Ferrari, Suzuki, and Porsche), the Japanese automaker based its decision on cost - the market for Mitsubishi automobiles in the Detroit area just isn't significant enough to warrant the expenditure in today's economy. The automaker's move is rather significant as the Detroit show is considered one of the most prestigious in the world. However, skipping the 2009 show doesn't prevent Mitsubishi from coming back in 2010. Regardless of whose left at the show come the second week of January (hey, at least Chinese automaker BYD will exhibit), Autoblog will be there to cover everything in detail.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

Another one bites the dust: Mitsubishi pulls out of Detroit Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and Land Rover pass on 2009 Detroit Auto Show

John Neff — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari

The global economic downturn is affecting other things than the availability of credit, the unemployment rate and the fate of the world's largest automaker. We had already heard that Suzuki was planning on skipping this year's 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January (Porsche passed on the 2008 show), but the small Japanese brand has now been joined by a few heavyweights that compete at the very high end of the automotive spectrum. It turns out that Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and Land Rover are all three not attending this year's Detroit show, presumably because they don't have anything exciting to announce and the money could be better spent elsewhere.

What's surprising about this trio of top shelf brands missing out on Detroit is that we always thought luxury goods were least vulnerable to a crappy economy. Sure the middle class and poor get poorer, but the super wealthy usually have a few million stuffed under their mattresses to see them through. Thus, if not less expensive Land Rovers, at least Ferraris and Rollers would still be bought in decent numbers. Apparently that's not the case, as even the most expensive of autos are seeing sales slow and if they don't have a new production vehicle or concept car to show, then a trip to Detroit is the vacation nobody wants to take.

[Source: LA Times, Photo by STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty]

Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and Land Rover pass on 2009 Detroit Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next-gen Prius coming in January with more power, efficiency

Dan Roth — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Green, Toyota

The current Prius is baked from a refined recipe that results in a roomy, practical and efficient vehicle lurking under an eco-statement exterior, or at least we thought so. Five years on, it's still the most popular way to conspicuously consume under the guise of saving the planet. Toyota hasn't been resting on the success of its green badge of targeted consumerism, so we're going to see a new Prius at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in January, according to Toyota President Watanabe. The 3rd-generation Prius will grow in size, and engine displacement will be bumped to 1.8 liters to increase performance. Despite the increase in size and sprightliness, weight will reportedly hold steady. Further changes are in store after the launch, with plug-in and Li-Ion updates to come.

The nameplate will also move beyond a single model and become a sub-brand during the reign of Prius the III. More body styles are coming, and if you think the Prius is a roachy-looking thing, the concept hints Toyota has given us are possibly even weirder. The sub-1,000 pound 1/X might offer a glimpse at another type of Prius, though more realistically, the sad-eyed Hybrid X vannish concept suggests the way things are headed without the ridiculous pronunciation of its featherweight companion. If things go according to Toyota's plan for world domination, the Prius will become one of the pillars upon which the marque is built, next to the Corolla and Camry institutions.

Gallery: Review: 2007 Toyota Prius Touring

[Source: Auto Observer]

Next-gen Prius coming in January with more power, efficiency originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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