Autoblog

Detroit 2009: Ford Taurus turns up in new duds [w/VIDEO]

John Neff — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:50:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Ford

Click above for high-res live images of the 2010 Ford Taurus

We exhaustively told you about the new 2010 Ford Taurus last night, but we've just seen the car in person, sat in it and left our fingerprints on all the shiny parts. Make no mistake, the new Taurus is an entirely different vehicle than the one it replaces, at least in terms of looks. It also feels like a more expensive car, with soft-touch materials, high quality plastics and creamy leather everywhere. While rear seat accommodations are commodious, front seat passengers will feel snug as a bug sitting on either side of the tall center console.

We also got a chance to see a Taurus SEL, which is one trim level below the Limited model that we've previously seen. Bathed in beige and wearing a different wheel design, even this more base level model looked rich and inviting with a light-and-dark two-tone interior.

Oh, and while we didn't manage to grab a pic, the trunk is large enough to fit at least five dead bodies. Just saying.

Check out our original reveal post on the 2010 Ford Taurus and our new gallery of high-res live images below. Video of the live reveal has been added after the jump.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Ford Taurus Live

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Ford Taurus turns up in new duds [w/VIDEO]

Detroit 2009: Ford Taurus turns up in new duds [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Preview: Kia Soulster

Chris Shunk — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:33:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Crossover, Kia

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Kia Soulster

Our initial guess that Kia would bring a Soul coupe to next week's Detroit Auto Show seems to be holding up with the release of a new teaser bearing the name "Soulster." Naturally, the two-door Soul will keep its boxy profile, with a redesigned hatch that incorporates blacked-out pillars into the tinted windows of the greenhouse. Unfortunately, that means that a Soulamino is out, but we see how well that worked for GM.

Detroit Preview: Kia Soulster originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:33:00 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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