Autoblog

Detroit '09 Preview: Volvo S60 Concept

Alex Nunez — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Volvo

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Volvo S60 Concept

Next month in Detroit, the Volvo S60 Concept will serve up a teaser for the 2010 production sedan that'll likely debut later in the show season. The S60 Concept demonstrates that Volvo's new sedan will ditch the rather conservative duds it currently wears in favor of a new, much more aggressive visual ensemble. Profile views show off a coupe-ish roofline, while pointed headlights extend back onto the fenders and flank a reshaped, more detailed grille up front. The concept's rear is similarly detailed, with LED taillamps that hide the various signal colors until they are actually illuminated.

Gallery: Volvo S60 Concept

Continue reading Detroit '09 Preview: Volvo S60 Concept

Detroit '09 Preview: Volvo S60 Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: GM Style 2008, Music, Fashion and Cars

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Crossover, Supercars, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Saturn, Celebrities

Last Saturday night before the Press Days began for the 2008 edition of the Detroit Auto Show, the 2nd annual GM Style event took place in a huge tent set up in a parking lot near the Renaissance Center headquarters of General Motors. Like last year's event, this runway show featured cars and fashions, but the feel of it was a bit different this year. This time last year, GM had yet to make its big design comeback breakthrough, for instance. Also, the cars were almost secondary to the celebrities last January. This time around, a year after the CTS, Malibu and Volt debuted in the days following the first GM Style event, the red carpet was gone and the fashions were worn by anonymous models, with musical accompaniment from Mary J Blige, Maroon 5 and Kid Rock. For 2008, the cars were the real stars. The automotive lineup was bookended by the oldest and newest Corvettes with a group of contemporary models in between. BTW, the tall gentleman in the front row who's white brimmed hat keeps popping up at the bottom of the pics? Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: GM Style 2008

Continue reading Detroit 2008: GM Style 2008, Music, Fashion and Cars

Detroit 2008: GM Style 2008, Music, Fashion and Cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HUMMER HX Design Managers talk about their new concept

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, SUV, Hummer

Click the HX for a high-res gallery at the GM Design Dome

Much to the consternation of the communications staff at General Motors the press photos and story on the new HUMMER HX concept got published a few days earlier than planned last week. Thankfully for us the company didn't rescind their invitation to come down to the Design Dome at the Warren Tech Center to see the new vehicle and talk to the design managers before the chaos of the scrum after the official reveal at Cobo Hall for the Detroit Auto Show. Interior Designer Stuart Norris and HUMMER Design director Carl Zipfel spent a few minutes talking to us about the new Wrangler challenger. You can get an uninterrupted look at the HX in our gallery and check out video with Stuart and Carl after the jump.

[Source: HUMMER]

Gallery: Detroit 2008: HUMMER HX in the design studio

Continue reading HUMMER HX Design Managers talk about their new concept

HUMMER HX Design Managers talk about their new concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Saturn shows off Vue hybrids, plug optional

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Green, Crossover, Saturn

Update: Video of the live reveal of the Vue plug-in hybrid is available after the jump.

click above for more high-res images of the Vue hybrids

Saturn showed off the second and third hybrid versions of the Saturn Vue today at the Detroit Auto Show, both of which use GM's two-mode hybrid technology just like the big Tahoe and Yukon hybrids. For the smaller Vue, however, the entire system has been repackaged for a front-wheel-drive application. Where versions 2 and 3 differ is the battery technology. Version 2 comes late this year using the more common nickel-metal hydride type battery packs in combination with the General's direct-injected 3.6L V-6 to give a reported 50% boost in fuel economy. Version 3 comes late 2009 at the earliest and swaps the nickel battery for a lithium-ion unit. Those batteries will come with a plug that allows the owner to get a full grid charge in about 4-5 hours. That's enough juice to run around at city speeds for about 10 miles without starting the engine. If they meet their Job 1 target, GM will likely be the first manufacturer to put a plug-in hybrid into production.

[Source: General Motors]

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Saturn Vue Green Line Plug-In Hybrid

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Saturn Vue Two-Modes

Continue reading Detroit 2008: Saturn shows off Vue hybrids, plug optional

Detroit 2008: Saturn shows off Vue hybrids, plug optional originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Officially Official - It's the Lincoln MKT!

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:03:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Crossover, Ford, Lincoln

click above for more high-res images of the Lincoln MKT

We first saw spy photos of the Lincoln MKT concept only a week ago, and it's now here as a concept at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. Based on the fact that a development mule was spotted already, you can ignore Lincoln when it says the MKT is a potential new vehicle for the brand. It is a new vehicle for the brand. The new premium CUV is believed to be based on the platform of the Ford Flex and follows the Explorer America concept in being powered by one of Ford's new EcoBoost engines. Like its sedan sibling, the MKS, this one gets a turbocharged 3.5L V6 that allows you to choose between either E85 or premium grade petroleum-based gasoline. The premium requirement is the result of the engine being optimized for the higher octane ratings of the biofuel. The upside is that output jumps from 340 hp/340 lb-ft to 415hp and 400 lb-ft. All of that twisting force is transmitted through a six-speed automatic transmission and distributed to all four wheels for propulsion. The voluminous interior of the MKT has also been optimized for comfort and luxury with only four seats allocated for passengers. If a production version with a third-row bench arrives, this looks like the likely candidate to replace all those Town Cars in livery fleets. The body work incorporates more of the new Lincoln design cues that first turned up on last year's MKR concept but were too late for the MKS. That body work is formed from "upcycled" plastics produced by Sabic Innovative Plastics, the same people who produced the materials used on the Chevy Volt and Hyundai Qarmaq concepts.

Follow the jump for Lincoln's official press release with more details than we can muster at this late hour, and check back later today for live shots of the MKT from the floor of the Detroit Auto Show.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Detroit 2008: Officially Official - It's the Lincoln MKT!

Detroit 2008: Officially Official - It's the Lincoln MKT! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Audi unleashes its diesel monster, the R8 V12 TDI

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Supercars, Audi

click above for more gorgeous high-res shots of the Audi R8 V12 TDI

Today Audi brought some more of its Le Mans-conquering technology to the street in the form of the new R8 V-12 TDI. The R8 V12 TDI is a concept that melds the 6.0L V-12 diesel from last years Q7 concept with the award winning R8 sports car. The concept engine shares a cylinder count with the race-winning R10, but it's actually a completely new engine with a 60-degree bank angle instead of the 90 degrees used on the race engine. While the 500 hp is only par for the course in its class, the 738 lb-ft of torque is enough to shred all four tires with ease. While the R8 V12 TDI storms to 62mph in 4.2 seconds and maxes out at 186mph, it also manages to get 23 MPG. The combination of a 29,000-psi direct-inject fuel injection system, particulate filters and urea injection allows this beast to pass 2014 EuroVI emissions standards, too. Check out our live high-res images of the R8 V12 TDI in the gallery below. These are our best shots from the show so far, so enjoy!

UPDATE: Video of the live reveal added after the jump!

[Source: Audi]

Gallery: Audi R8 V12 TDI Concept

Continue reading Detroit 2008: Audi unleashes its diesel monster, the R8 V12 TDI

Detroit 2008: Audi unleashes its diesel monster, the R8 V12 TDI originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Ford Verve Sedan concept

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:15:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Budget, Sedan, Ford

click above for more high-res images of the Ford Verve Concept

The rise in gas prices has increased demand for smaller, more fuel efficient cars in the American market, a call to which Ford has so far only paid lip service. The debut of the 2008 Focus at last year's Detroit Auto Show following the debut of several recent European market models like the Mondeo also caused people to call on Ford to bring its European Kinetic design to the U.S. Ford has finally responded on both counts, or at least it will for 2010 when the production version of this concept finally goes on sale here.

The Verve debuted as a three-door hatch at the Frankfurt Motor Show and then grew a trunk at a Chinese show last fall. It now comes to Detroit with a revised front fascia and taillights. The Verve certainly brings a new level of style that small US market Fords have lacked for a long time. Ford doesn't specify which fuel efficient 4-cylinder engine the Verve will get, but the 1.4L EcoBoost and the PowerShift dual clutch transmission would seem like a prime choice for the US market.

UPDATE: Gallery now contains 34 high-res pics

[Source: Ford]

Gallery: Ford Verve Sedan Concept - US Version

Continue reading Detroit 2008: Ford Verve Sedan concept

Detroit 2008: Ford Verve Sedan concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Fashion, Music, and a few cars, It's GM Style

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:10:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Etc., Supercars, Chevrolet

click above for more high-res images of the Corvette ZR1 at GM Style

For the second year in a row, General Motors kicked off the North American International Auto Show festivities with its celeb-studded GM Style Event. The show this year featured music from Mary J Blige, Maroon 5 and Detroit-area native Kid Rock. The star of the show, however, was the new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. The 620hp+ sports car was the finale of the runway fashion show that featured an assortment of GM production and concept cars. We'll have more on the rest of the GM Style Event later, but for now, just enjoy the ZR1.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Corvette ZR1 at GM Style

Detroit 2008: Fashion, Music, and a few cars, It's GM Style originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO/PICS: Your Corvette ZR1 questions answered by design manager

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Videos, Supercars, Chevrolet, GM

click above for brand new images of the Corvette ZR1

General Motors invited Autoblog down to its design dome at the Warren, MI Tech Center to have a look at a couple of the vehicles that will be displayed at the Detroit Auto Show next week. Fortunately, it was one of those rare instances where they allowed us to bring in cameras and we took full advantage. One of the two vehicles on display was the recently-unveiled Corvette ZR1. At the time, there was some controversy in our comments about certain design elements of the ZR1, including the window in the hood, the side vents, the carbon fiber and the wheels. We had the opportunity to talk with Corvette Exterior Design Manager Kirk Bennian at the design dome and ask him about all of your concerns. Before you all get riled up, the car we were allowed to photograph was not mechanically correct, but rather a standard Z06 used by the design staff to test out exterior parts. That means it doesn't have the carbon brake disks and there's an LS7 under the plastic window instead of the new LS9. For all of you who thought the ZR1 badges on the previous press photos looked cheesy and tacked on, that's because they were. The proper badges weren't available yet when GM did its original photo shoot. This car does have the proper badges. View our video tour and interview with Kirk after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Gallery: 2009 Corvette ZR1 in the GM Design Center

Continue reading VIDEO/PICS: Your Corvette ZR1 questions answered by design manager

VIDEO/PICS: Your Corvette ZR1 questions answered by design manager originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Buick Riviera Concept debuts in US

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:03:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Buick

Ed Welburn talks about the Buick Riviera concept

At the Max Fisher Music Theater in Detroit yesterday, GM VP of Design Ed Welburn and Buick Design boss Dave Lyons showed off the Buick Riviera concept for the first time in the US. Yes, we know the Riviera is hardly new. It debuted at the 2007 Shanghai Motor Show and was in fact designed and built by GM's Shanghai Tech Center. This concept is important, however, for a number of reasons. First, it shows that while Chinese manufacturers may largely have their heart set on creating cheap knock-offs of established designs from the west, Chinese designers are actually capable of creating some great designs. Although GM refuses to say whether Buick will get a new coupe based on the Riviera, they do say that design elements of the car will appear on a new production Buicks to be unveiled later this year as well as other future models.

[Source: Buick]

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Buick Riviera concept

Gallery: Buick Riviera Concept - Studio Shots (new)

Continue reading Detroit 2008: Buick Riviera Concept debuts in US

Detroit 2008: Buick Riviera Concept debuts in US originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V revealed with 550 HP

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:25:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Cadillac

click above for more high-res images of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V

Our friends over at Jalopnik say the CTS-V is officially fair game now, so here we go. Now that the second generation Cadillac CTS is on the streets and garnering largely positive reviews for its looks, performance and handling dynamics, the time has come to turn it up a notch. The 2008 Detroit Auto Show will bring us the second generation high-performance CTS-V model. Just as the original 2004 version used an engine derived from the top Corvette of the time, so too does the new model. The 2009 CTS-V leap-frogs its chief competitor - the BMW M5 - with GM's new LSA V8 derived from the LS9 in the Corvette ZR1.

The goal of the CTS-V development team was to create a car with the poise and sophistication of the best luxury sedans melded with the outstanding performance of a high sports car. To achieve that they installed the supercharged 6.2L V-8 with an output of 550 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque into a heavily upgraded chassis and then went about dressing up both the interior and exterior to match. Read all about the new CTS-V after the jump.

[Source: Cadillac]

Gallery: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V

Continue reading Detroit 2008: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V revealed with 550 HP

Detroit 2008: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V revealed with 550 HP originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept for real this time

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Green, Crossover, Saab

click above for more high-res images of the Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept

The doors have been unofficially thrown wide open on the Saab 9-4x BioPower concept after a Dutch media outlet spilled the beans earlier today. The 9-4x is badged as a concept, but the reality is that we will see new CUV probably sometime in 2009. The 9-4x and a new Cadillac that will likely look almost exactly like the Provoq Concept and ~~are expected to be based off an updated version of the Theta platform that's also used for the Saturn Vue~~ will be based on an entirely new CUV architecture not connected with currently sold GM models like the new Saturn VUE. Unlike the Trailblazer-based Saab 9-7x, the 9-4x actually has some real Saab styling cues that tie it to the rest of the lineup as well as the heritage of the brand.

During the preview of the 9-4x, it was stated that Saab has tremendous support from the corporate overlords to be stewards of a niche brand. Saab has avoided the quirky aspects of its heritage while bringing forward elements like the shape of the forward sloping D-pillar, which reflects the contours of the classic Saabs like the 99 and 900. Similarly, the blacked out A-pillars recall the wrap-around windscreens of those classic Swedes and the Aero X concept. They've focused on the clean, crisp aspects of Scandinavian design while eliminating any fru-fru like cladding or imitation fender vents. When GM Design VP Brian Nesbitt talked about the 9-4x, he spoke of the design language being the look of Saab going forward. Read on after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept

Continue reading OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept for real this time

OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: Saab 9-4X BioPower Concept for real this time originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CES 2008: Cadillac Provoq Fuel Cell Concept revealed!

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, CES, Green, Technology, Crossover, Cadillac

Click on the Cadillac Provoq concept for a high-res image gallery

Following the introductions of the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Flextreme during 2007 auto show season, Cadillac is bringing forth a third design based on the E-Flex architecture. The Cadillac Provoq concept is intended to help give the brand an image of premium sustainability by updating the fuel cell E-Flex powertrain that was shown in a Chevy Volt at the Shanghai Motor Show last year. The Provoq is a luxury crossover design that's considerably larger than the Volt.

With updated Cadillac styling cues on a 180-inch long CUV body, it's stretched 10 inches longer than a Volt to allow comfortable seating for five passengers. The Provoq is built around GM's fifth-generation fuel cell stack combined with a 9kWh lithium ion battery pack. The electrical energy is used to power a 70kW AC motor driving the front wheels and a pair of 40kW hub motors at each rear corner. Like the other E-Flex vehicles, the Provoq has plug-in capability and the battery has enough capacity for about twenty miles of driving range. Combined with the 6kg of compressed hydrogen gas stored in its two tanks, the Provoq has a total range of about 300 miles. Clay Dean's Cadillac design team incorporated some of the aerodynamic lessons learned by the Volt crew, including thermostatically controlled slats in the grille to minimize drag when cooling air flow isn't needed. Check out AutoblogGreen for more details on the Provoq concept.

UPDATE: More high-res pics added to gallery, now 23 total.

[Source: General Motors, AutoblogGreen]

Gallery: Cadillac Provoq Fuel Cell Concept

Continue reading CES 2008: Cadillac Provoq Fuel Cell Concept revealed!

CES 2008: Cadillac Provoq Fuel Cell Concept revealed! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Ford Explorer America Concept says bye-bye to body-on-frame

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:02:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Crossover, Ford

click above for 50 high-res images of the Ford Explorer America Concept

For more than a decade the Ford Explorer was the top-selling SUV in the US with annual sales topping 400,000 units for many years. The best days of the body-on-frame SUV are clearly behind it, though, as the market has shifted toward crossovers like the smaller Escape and Honda CR-V, as well as larger vehicles like the Ford Edge. Ford has seen the light and the next generation Explorer is finally abandoning the traditional setup in favor of a new unit body design.

The new Explorer America concept that Ford is debuting at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show is the first public hint of where the Explorer is going in the coming years. When the Explorer is replaced around the end of this decade, the new model is expected to look much like this concept. The basic proportions and size are very close to the current Explorer, but the styling is a more modern look for this Ford stalwart. The combination of rising fuel costs and new fuel economy rules is pushing Ford to increase the efficiency of all their vehicles including the next generation Explorer.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Detroit 2008: Ford Explorer America Concept says bye-bye to body-on-frame

Detroit 2008: Ford Explorer America Concept says bye-bye to body-on-frame originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: Ford launches EcoBoost gas turbo direct injection engines

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Technology, Ford

Ford is using the 2008 Detroit Auto Show to kick off the transition of a significant portion of their engine lineup to what they are calling EcoBoost technology. EcoBoost consists of smaller displacement engines with direct fuel injection and turbocharging (GDTI) to provide a fuel economy boost without any loss of performance. Ford first showed the idea in the 2007 Lincoln MKR concept when it was called Twin-Force. The Twin-Force name has been set aside in favor of one that emphasizes the efficiency aspects of the technology. Thanks to the combination of small low-inertia turbos, the direct injection and variable valve timing, the new engines should have no lag and a much fatter, flatter torque curve.

The first EcoBoost engine out of the gate is the 340hp 3.5L V-6, This will be the optional engine in the Lincoln MKS starting in 2009 in place of a V-8. Besides having higher specific efficiency than a larger normally aspirated engine, the smaller EcoBoost units also save weight and size. The 3.5L saves over 150 lbs. compared to the 4.6L V-8 also helping contribute to fuel efficiency savings of up to 20%. Following the MKS with EcoBoost will be the Ford Flex and the new Explorer based on the Explorer America concept. The new SUV is expected to use GDTI engines exclusively, with a 275hp 2.0L four as the base engine and the 3.5L six as the option. Ford is by no means the first to do this, with Volkswagen pushing the tech for several years already on their TSI and TFSI engines. aMazda and GM also use the same principle. Ford really wants to make it mainstream, however, with over half a million EcoBoost engines annually within five years. Read more about EcoBoost over at AutoblogGreen.

[Source: Ford, AutoblogGreen]

Gallery: Ford EcoBoost GDTI engines

Continue reading Detroit 2008: Ford launches EcoBoost gas turbo direct injection engines

Detroit 2008: Ford launches EcoBoost gas turbo direct injection engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: 2009 Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Green, Crossover, Saturn

Click the Two-Mode Vue for a high-res gallery

In 2006, the Saturn Vue Green Line became General Motors' first production hybrid vehicle when it debuted with the company's mild hybrid system. In fall 2007, a updated BAS-equipped Green Line version based on the second-generation Vue went into production. GM has now added the second of three hybrid variants to the Vue lineup with the2009 Saturn Vue Green Line 2 Mode. The 2 Mode Vue is based on the same technology used in the award-winning Tahoe and Yukon full-size SUVs. The Vue has the first transverse mounted front-wheel drive application of the 2 Mode system.

The 2 Mode transmission is paired up in the Vue with GM's 3.6L twin-cam V6 equipped with direct fuel injection. ~~Like the big SUVs, the engine is equipped with a cylinder deactivation system that allows it to run on three cylinders under light load conditions~~. The V-6 is equipped with a fuel shutoff during coast down conditions. The combination of the advanced hybrid system and the V6 helps maintain the V6 Vue's 3,500 tow rating while still achieving a fifty percent boost in urban fuel economy. There's more on the 2 Mode Vue over at AutoblogGreen.

[Source: General Motors]

Gallery: Detroit 2008: 2009 Saturn Vue 2-Mode Hybrid

Continue reading Detroit 2008: 2009 Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid

Detroit 2008: 2009 Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit '08 Preview: Mercedes Vision GLK FREESIDE

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:45:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Crossover, Mercedes-Benz

Click the Vision GLK for a high-res photo gallery

After countless spy photos and leaks, the Mercedes-Benz GLK is finally officially official. The new compact SUV from Stuttgart will get its public debut in two weeks at the Detroit Auto Show. At 14.8-feet. long, the GLK is only about three inches longer than a Ford Escape. It borrows a lot of the sharp edged styling cues of the big GL SUV, but carries them somewhat awkwardly on its much shorter body.

The GLK Vision is powered by Daimler's latest 168-hp 2.2-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder paired up with a seven-speed automatic transmission. The diesel uses the latest fourth-gen common rail injection system that operates at 29,000 psi on the inlet side with Bluetec urea injection to clean up the exhaust. Mercedes has reworked the 4MATIC all wheel drive system to reduce friction to the point where it's as efficient as a two-wheel-drive setup. The new GLK won't show up in European showrooms until this fall with a U.S. launch planned a year from now. The Mercedes press release is after the jump for those want details straight from the automaker's mouth.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Detroit '08 Preview: Mercedes Vision GLK FREESIDE

Detroit '08 Preview: Mercedes Vision GLK FREESIDE originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit '08 Preview: Toyota A-BAT hybrid pickup concept

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:18:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Truck, Toyota

click above to view more images of the Toyota A-BAT Concept

Perhaps in response to the criticism that Toyota has received over the past year from environmentalists for its ever larger and thirstier trucks, the Japanese automaker is switching direction with its 2008 Detroit concept - the A-BAT hybrid pickup concept. Toyota and Nissan pioneered the idea of modern compact pickup trucks in the U.S. market, but Toyota has largely left it behind over the past decade. The new A-BAT concept pickup is 27 inches shorter than an extended cab Tacoma and nine inches shorter than the regular cab model. In profile, the uni-body truck looks somewhat like a shorter Honda Ridgeline with rounder contours. The A-BAT is the first Toyota to have a mid-gate allowing cargo longer than the standard four-foot bed to extend into the cab. With the tailgate down, drivers can pack the proverbial 4x8 sheet of plywood. Power for the A-BAT comes from Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive mated to a four-cylinder engine, although so far there is no indication of which wheels get propulsion. Based on the snub-nosed styling, it seems probable that the engine is transversely mounted and driving the front wheels, but we'll find out for sure when the A-BAT officially debuts at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month.

[Source: Toyota]

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Toyota A-BAT Concept

Continue reading Detroit '08 Preview: Toyota A-BAT hybrid pickup concept

Detroit '08 Preview: Toyota A-BAT hybrid pickup concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2008: The King is back atop the hill - 2009 Corvette ZR1

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:19:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Supercars, Chevrolet

Click the ZR1 for a high-res photo gallery of the new King of the Hill

The King of the Hill has returned! The new Corvette that has been variously known as the "Blue Devil" and SS for at least the past five years has now been officially designated as the ZR1. The new monster from Bowling Green has revived the ZR1 designation for the first time since the C4-based original faded away in 1995. Stories and spy photos of this mythical machine have been circulating the web and print media since well before the current C6 generation Corvette debuted in 2005.

The program has reportedly been killed and revived several times, but it is now very much alive and we have all the details of the fastest, most expensive production 'Vette of all time. Given the recent developments with fuel economy regulations (35 mpg fleet average by 2020) this new King may well turn out to be last and greatest member of this blood-line. The Corvette will no doubt live on with a C7 set to debut in the next few years. But like the descendants of the Porsche 917/30 Can-Am car of the early 70s, nothing may reach the heights of this ZR1. Of course, the same has been said many times before and look at where we are today. For now just follow the jump to find out what $100,000 will soon be able to buy you.

Related: Detroit 2008: The Heart of the King, the LS9 is born!

[Source: General Motors]

Gallery: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Continue reading Detroit 2008: The King is back atop the hill - 2009 Corvette ZR1

Detroit 2008: The King is back atop the hill - 2009 Corvette ZR1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Preview: North American debut for Buick Riviera concept

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Buick

click above image for more high-res pics of the Buick Riviera Concept

One of the stylistic highlights of the 2007 Shanghai Motor Show was the Buick Riviera concept. The gullwing coupe was developed by GM's Chinese design team, who did a bang-up job. The Riviera reportedly gives a pretty good preview of the design direction for future Buicks, especially ones sold in China. If so, Buicks will finally have some real character besides those fender portholes. The Riv would make an attractive variant of the Zeta platform, although those gull-wing doors are unlikely to go any further than the concept. North American audiences will finally get a firsthand look at the new Buick when it kicks off its tour on this continent at the Detroit Auto Show.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Gallery: Buick Riviera Concept - Action Shots

Detroit Preview: North American debut for Buick Riviera concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Dec 2007 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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