Sunday, amid outside temperatures that would make any car balk at starting, the Detroit Auto Show opened its doors to the public. This year’s show is featuring lots of new models that American and foreign makers alike are hoping will jump start a badly stalled market and bring create something everyone now wants to see in the industry: profit.
Some of the cars highlighted this year include the BMW Z4 roadster (the first BMW roadster with a retractable hardtop), the new Chevy Orlando (a compact minivan that sips gas at a welcome 40 MPG), a new improved 2010 Ford Taurus (the best selling Ford ever, and with any luck, a best seller redux), the Honda Insight (which now holds five passengers, a feature Honda is hoping gives it family appeal), the Chrysler 200C EV (an electric concept car that falls somewhere between the 300 and the Sebring in style), and the Kia Soul (another super-cheap Kia that is small and, well, super-cheap). Auto manufacturers will be gauging public response attentively, hoping to discern which cars to push and which concept cars to send to production.
Tags: detroit motor show, new vehicles