Here's a way to create content long after an auto show has ended, dream up a list of editorial favorite picks. Well, what the hell, we might as well be meta and report on the anti-news. Here we go blithely. AutoWeek handed out its Editors' Choice awards for the North American International Auto Show at its Design Forum on Wednesday. We can debate the relevance, but we'd rather just talk about the cars. The four vehicles that AutoWeek thought were the bee's knees are as follows:
The 2008 North American International Auto Show press preview has drawn to a close, and now it's time for the public to have its turn in Cobo. As they throw open the doors to the masses, we wanted to give you another opportunity to check out all the concepts and production vehicles that debuted over the past three days. Everything we've covered is listed and linked below along with a corresponding gallery, and at the bottom you'll find the most intriguing, strange and (gasp) educational posts from the show. Enjoy.
Business will be back to normal in the next hour, with the comprehensive – okay, obsessive – coverage of the auto industry you've come to expect. And to those of you that have been following the happenings in Detroit for the last few days, all of us at Autoblog extend our heartfelt thanks. You've helped to make this site what it is: one of the leading automotive resources on the web. And we're not forced to subsist off ramen noodles anymore... so that's a plus.
Click the image above for plenty of high-res pics.
If you've got a hankering for a V8-powered, carbon fiber-roofed über 3-series, BMW has finally named its price for the M3 coupe and sedan. $57,275 will buy you entry into the M3 Coupe, and bargain hunters willing to settle for an extra pair of doors can get the M3 Sedan in their driveway for $54,575. The M3's come a long way since it's E30 homologation-special roots. The cylinder count has now doubled from that original car, the long serving six cylinders having been jettisoned in favor of a 414 horsepower V8. The interior of the new M3s is a level of luxury unknown to the E30, too. The optional wheel-mounted M-Drive control will allow the driver to customize engine and chassis responses, and iDrive shuffles media and navigation chores. These prices will likely be less than what typical M3s roll off the lot for, as most buyers will want to add some options, and in the world of BMW, options cost.
click above for more high-res live shots of the 2009 Kia Borrego
Perhaps the biggest news about the Kia Borrego is that it marks the introduction of a V8 to the Korean automaker's powertrain arsenal. On the other hand, maybe we're just power-addled. Lobbing an entry into the midsize-SUV arena, Kia has stuck with the traditional body-on-frame strategy that many other automakers are abandoning. Styling wise, the Borrego is familial with the Kia Sorento, and neither 'Ute is bad looking. Even when blinged out with the highest trim level, the Borrego will skim along under the radar pretty easily. Those wheels, however, look like they were lifted from an unattended concept car on the show floor. Coil springs hold up all four corners, and stability and traction control are standard. Playing in the dirt will be aided by twin hill-traversing systems; Downhill Assist Control (DAC) and Hill Assist Control (HAC). One's for going down, the other's for going up, we guess.
The aforementioned 4.6L V8 will serve up something north of 300 horsepower and be affixed to Kia's first six-speed autobox. Kia's stalwart snortalicious V6 will likely have to press all of its 264 horsepower into service just to haul the Borrego, but a five-speed automatic will help proceedings. Inside, three rows of seats provide places for seven posteriors, though the third row might be a little snug (aren't they all?). Kia's first navigation system is available, offering customers the option of a rearview camera, as well. In Kia fashion, we expect the equipment list of this 2009 model year offering to be lengthier and the dollar figure smaller than the competition. The Borrego goes on sale as a 2009 model later this year.
We're back from the holidays with Autoblog Podcast episode #84. Kicking things off, we review what's been in John, Damon, and Alex's parking spots in the Autoblog Garage. After a Mazda CX7/CX9-Honda Fit-Audi S5-lovefest, we're on to real happenings. Things are ratcheting up as we head into the North American International Auto Show next week, and we'll have coverage from the show starting this weekend. Ahead of the actual show in Detroit, we've been watching as embargoes fall. GM has had all of its secrets revealed with the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V, Hummer HX, and Saab 9-4X hitting the internets prior to their official unveilings. Also uncovered, the Hyundai Genesis, which clearly has the Germans in its sights, not to mention Lexus and Infiniti. We're not sure if we're excited or skeptical, but it's hard to argue with the value that the car will likely offer. And Hyundai's not fooling around, so we'll be adding our names to the list when they finally become available for sampling. Thanks for your 51 minutes, let's do this again soon, okay?
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Through the success of the Enclave, Buick has discovered that nicely designed, well-built, high content vehicles sell. Being the first Buick in a long time to log advance orders, GM thinks it might be onto something with the Enclave formula. That recipe consists of bolder styling than past Buicks, with cues coming from the Velite and Riviera show cars. Avoiding retro, forthcoming Buicks promise to amp up the curbside drama with unabashed curves, and a lot of chrome. The Enclave has an interior that was obviously fussed over, too. If Buick can turn out a car using the same discipline that guided the successful Enclave launch, it should be exciting to watch the brand reinflate. Both the Riviera and Velite concepts have striking, tight designs that are nothing like the blobby, amorphous Buicks of the recent past. The Lucerne is a stylistic step in the right direction, and with a new LaCrosse due soon, we might start to see the return of stylish GM sedans that people clamor to buy. We'll get some indication soon, when we see what Buick brings to Detroit.
Follow the jump to see the Velite's unveiling at the 2004 New York Auto Show.
Following our report last month, Audi has confirmed it will be showing two new cars at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month. Although Audi is mute on what those two cars will be, one is reportedly a "stunning" new concept car; the second being a new production model making its worldwide debut.
We previously speculated that Audi could be showing the production TT-S, although the next new model expected to come down the pipeline from Audi is a facelifted version of the A3 hatchback, which makes it a strong candidate to fill that slot at Audi's Detroit stand. The A3 has run the longest in the line-up since introduction or refresh, followed by the A8 luxury sedan.
The "stunning" concept car is expected to be somehow based on the already-stunning R8 supercar. Some reports suggest it could be the V10 version known tentatively as the RS8, or possibly a convertible version of the mid-engined sportscar. Given the aesthetic used, the roadster would seem more fitting than the V10, although a design study could also fit the bill.
The New York Auto Show in March will provide the official venue to launch the Automotive X-Prize contest, but all 43 entrants will be making an advanced appearance next month in Detroit at the North American International Auto show. The teams vying for the Auto X-Prize have to bring a combination of functionality and fuel-efficiency in order to win the substantial chunk of change offered by the organizers.
The picture above is the Aptera, which through the use of either a plug-in gas-electric hybrid or a straight electric setup can get 300 mpg and has the potential of being retailed for less than $30,000. Some of the entrants could easily be chocked up to vaporware, but we're sure our colleagues at our greener sibling site will give us the skinny next month in D-town.
The North American International Auto Show organizers may have lost Porsche for 2008 but it looks like they have picked up five Chinese manufacturers. Sounds like a reasonable trade doesn't it? Or not! The Detroit Auto Dealers Association won't confirm which companies will be displaying their wares, but all the newcomers will all be located in the lower hall that typically is home to suppliers, specialty manufacturers and tuners. The Chinese will also be joined by two ultra-luxury builders who also weren't identified.
Here's a way to create content long after an auto show has ended, dream up a list of editorial favorite picks. Well, what the hell, we might as well be meta and report on the anti-news. Here we go blithely. AutoWeek handed out its Editors' Choice awards for the North American International Auto Show at its Design Forum on Wednesday. We can debate the relevance, but we'd rather just talk about the cars. The four vehicles that AutoWeek thought were the bee's knees are as follows: 
We're back from the holidays with Autoblog Podcast episode #84. Kicking things off, we review what's been in John, Damon, and Alex's parking spots in the 
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