Considering there is now enough vacant land in Detroit to cover the city of Boston completely, the place is definitely hurting for some good news.

Remember what I said about car shows going downhill?  Well, a reader alerted me, and I just saw the news today myself so I’ll pass it directly on to you.  The 2010 International Auto Show in Detroit is BOOKED SOLID.

There will be seven hundred different car models on display there, and what’s more, fifty of them will be never before seen models.

I can’t understand for the life of me, however, why Detroit is putting this show on in JANUARY.  January poses one of the biggest chances for inclement weather in the entire year, possibly only matched by February or maybe December.  The key thing is, about the closer you get to mid-January, the more likely you are to get serious snow mixed with ice mixed with a slow frozen death.

There’s an old joke in Michigan, and it’s got two endings.  The joke:

People say Michigan is a four-season state.  Not true; it only has two.  The two seasons in Michigan are winter and road construction (some substitute “road construction” with “winter’s coming”).

And this is why it’s probably a terrible idea for Detroit to have this show in the Russian roulette of horrible weather that is January.

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I know, it sounds kind of like a non-sequitur, something like that insane bit in The Graduate in which the poor kid’s asked what the future is and gets the one word answer: plastics.

But it’s true–based on some advance word from the Center For Automotive Research, the word of the day is aluminum.

By replacing steel, which costs more, weighs more and is harder to come by, with lighter, cheaper, more plentiful aluminum, there’s every chance that, in a stroke of master irony, the beer cans of today will become the drunk driving vehicle of tomorrow.

Quoth the Center:

“Plug-in and hybrid electric cars contain precious little, and quite expensive, ‘fuel’ in the form of batteries,” added Bull. “Therefore, every effort must be made to utilize this stored energy to the highest possible efficiency. The solution lies in lowering the vehicle’s weight with aluminum as part of a holistic approach to also include advanced powertrains and batteries, enhanced thermal management, improved aerodynamics, and reduced rolling resistance.”

It makes sense, when you think about it.  Of course, the only problem is that these new lightweight cars are also prone to danger from high winds, rollovers, other cars and large trucks.  Think about how easy it’d be for a semi truck to roll right over a beer can…now think about how easy it’d be for a semi to roll right over the beer can car of tomorrow.

Kinda gives you pause, deoesn’t it?

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It seems that the 2010 Detroit Grand Prix will no longer happen as it was officially canceled today and isn’t scheduled to return until 2011 at the earliest.

I’m sure you can guess the reason for its cancellation if not, I’ll give you a hint: the economy.

Below Grand Prix Chairman, Bud Denker, comments on the cancellation:

“We had hoped that the economic environment would allow the Grand Prix to return to Belle Isle in 2010. Unfortunately, this continues to be a challenging time to secure sponsorship to produce a world-class sporting event… We remain committed to the future of the race and we are hopeful that the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix will return in the summer of 2011.”

Here’s to hoping the economy recovers sooner rather than later so that Detroit can again give the Grand Prix a home.

via Autoweek

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Seeing that the auto industry isn’t showing any sign of improvement, nearly 7,500 workers have opted to grab early retirement options, leaving the big three auto companies (Chrysler, General Motors and Ford), in a move that seems to be better for their end.

Since 2006 General Motors Corporation (GM) (Detroit, Michigan) has made early retirement and buyout offers to its workers three times, with more than 60,000 employees accepting. Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, Michigan) and Chrysler LLC (Auburn Hills, Michigan) have also made similar offers during this time period.

During the latest round of buyout and early retirement offers at GM however, the majority of the employees who have accepted, 7,500 to be exact, will take early retirement rather than the buyout.

(Source) Industrial Info

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Reports are not confirmed yet but it looks like Volvo is losing something else other than car sales. Award-winning design director of Volvo, Steve Mattin, has reportedly left the company but there was nothing definite on where he was headed or who will replace him.

The UK-born Mattin, who worked with then Daimler-Chrysler for 17 years, before coming to Volvo. Mattin was the design director for Volvo since 2005 and has been a great influence in the design creations of models like the C30, XC60, and lately, the S60 Concept from Detroit.

With Daimler-Chrysler, Mattin also made significant contributions to a wide-range of models including the SL, SLK, SLR, R-Class, M-Class and the Maybach line-up. Next week might prove to be more enlightening in this regard, but these are just symptoms of the crisis Volvo is facing at this time.

(Source) Auto Blog

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The 2010 Toyota Prius has been unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show and it does feature those solar panels we were talking about earlier. Unfortunatelly they are just an extra option you can request and their job will be to keep the temperature inside cool.

Here’s a quick specs list for the new Toyota Prius:

From a different point of view the new Prius will be able to go for 50 mpg which is 4 miles more than the previous version and it has a 1.8L four-cylinder engine under the hood. Power and Eco driving modes are available and there’s also an EV Drive mode which will let you run on battery for a mile.

2010 PRUIS PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

POWERTRAIN

1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with VVT-i

Engine horsepower: 98 hp @ 5,200 rpm

Engine torque: 105 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm

Electric motor: Permanent magnet synchronous motor

Electric motor power output: 80 hp/153 lb-ft torque

Hybrid system net horsepower: 134 hp

Emission rating: SULEV (with AT-PZEV)

Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission

Drive System: Front-wheel-drive

Hybrid battery pack: Nickel-metal hydride

Estimated fuel economy: 50 mpg (combined)*

DIMENSIONS (inches)

Overall Length: 175.6

Overall Width: 68.7

Overall Height: 58.7

Wheelbase: 106.3

Ground clearance: 5.5

Coefficient of Drag: 0.25

Wheels: 15-inch alloy wheels

17-inch alloy wheels (optional)

Tire Size: 15-inch: 195/65R15

17-inch: 215/45R17 (optional)

Seating Capacity: 5

EPA class rating: Midsize

* Preliminary figure based on Toyota’s internal testing. Actual mileage will vary.

via Press

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The official announcement for the 2010 Toyota Prius should be made sometime tomorrow. However details about the car have already been leaked so why not take a look at them.

– similar to the power of 2.4l engine – 164 hp?
– 1.2 mil Priuses sold so far
– better mpg than before
– solar ventilation for interior, built into the moon roof
– remote air conditioning activation even when car is off (world first)
– by mid may it should be sold everywhere
– 90% all new hybrid system
– highest fuel efficiency of any sedan
– LED headlights
– hybrid info screen at the combination meter
– S-VSC (small modifications of steering wheel angle done by the VSC)
– precrash (and radar distance control?)

I guess we will return with the official version of the 2010 Toyota Prius soon. In the mean time enjoy the pictures!

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Take a look at that beauty right here. Is it a Volkswagen or is it something else? It sure seems similar to an Audi TT but don’t be fooled! This is Volkswagen’s Concept BlueSport. Given the current economical situation, a new roadster is less likely to be produced by any manufacturer but we do need the concept cars for the future.

The Concept BlueSport has a diesel engine which will get you 177 hp and a dual-clutch automatic transmission. The car can accelerate from 0 to 62 in just 6.6 seconds. Despite being a sports car it will go for 55 mpg which is quite remarkable. The Eco mode has an engine auto-stop feature which will help you save more gas.

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It’s never to late to take a look at a Jaguar, and Jaguar always has something for car lovers. If you can’t afford one yet, you still get to look at it. And the Detroit Auto Show will let you look at anything. Check out the 2010 Jaguar XKR here. It will offer you an impressive design, an impressive interior and an impressive engine.

The engine has so many horses for you that you will have trouble remembering their names. The new AJ V8 engine comes with direct injection, variable valve timing and a variable-geometry intake manifold which will get you some 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. 0 to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. And there’s no increase in fuel consumption and the carbon emissions are lower. What do you say about that? Too much power? Jaguar also has a 385 hp and 380 lb-ft naturally aspirated version for you. Both models will get the ZF 6-speed automatic transmission bundled with that JaguarDrive Selector.

We’d like to give you an idea about pricing but we have no such details yet. Go ask the official in Detroit, maybe you will be in better luck.

via Press

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Look at the car in the picture here and then think about the Tesla Roadster. Now tell me what do you think they have in common? Yes, they are both cars although one is more of a car than the other. And yes you got it, they are both electric. But Toyota has decided to create a concept electric, the FT-EV which is nowhere near as amazing as the Roadster.

The FT-EV will work on electricity and it will have a 50 mile range. When will it arrive? By 2012. And it will probably have an accessible price too. If it looks similar to the iQ micro-car it’s because it is based on it. Luckily it’s just a concept and things could still be improved by 2012. Toyota hasn’t released any real specs yet so we have no idea what’s inside there. I bet you’re wishing that Chrysler survives and makes that Circuit EV available sometime soon!

via Kicking Tires

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Well look at that marvel. It’s the Dodge Circuit EV. Or is it the Lotus Europa? Well you can always go to Detroit and ask those Chrysler representatives what car they have displayed here. We’re going to call it the Circuit EV and we’ll emphasize the EV part. This Dodge is an electric sports car so lets give Tesla a call and see what they think about this little baby right here. It does 0-60 in under 5 seconds which means the Roadster from Tesla will beat the Circuit from Dodge. The range is estimated from 150-200 miles which is also a little lower than the Tesla’s.

Nobody has tested the Circuit besides Chrysler or Lots so nobody can really tell us exactly what this baby can do other than sitting pretty. Will we see the Circuit EV go on sale from Chrysler or will Chrysler die by the time that happens?

Here’s a little specs sheet from the press release for you:

Dodge Circuit EV – Vehicle Specifications

Vehicle Type Battery Electric Vehicle,
2-passenger performance coupe

Weight and Dimensions
Length 153.5 inches / 3900 mm
Width 67.5 inches / 1714 mm
Height 45.3 inches / 1150 mm
Wheelbase 91.7 inches / 2330 mm
Track front / rear 57.4 inches / 1457 mm 58.7 inches / 1490 mm
Turn circle 38.0 feet / 11.6 m

Powertrain and Suspension
Layout Rear-wheel drive
Motor Power: 200 kW (268 hp)
Regenerative braking
Battery Lithium-ion battery
Suspension Front – Independent
Rear – Independent

Wheels and Tires
Tire size front P195 / 45ZR17 23.9 inches / 607 mm
Tire size rear P235 / 40ZR18 25.4 inches / 645 mm

Color Scheme
Exterior Tangoreen
Interior Black Leather with Satin Silver accents

Key Performance Attributes
0-60 mph (0-100 kph) less than 5 seconds
Standing ¼-mile low-13 seconds
Top speed greater than 120 mph (approximately 193 kph)
All-electric range 150-200 miles (approximately 241-322 km)

via Press

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It’s time for a new Taurus and Ford has just the thing for us. The 2010 Ford Taurus will be unveiled in front of your eyes at the Detroit Auto Show. Earlier versions of the Taurus became the best-selling passenger car in the USA during the 90s but then the Taurus lost its appeal.

What better way to revive it than with a fresh model for the near future. The 2010 Taurus has been completely redesigned, but will it be as successful as its predecessors? With these difficult economy times people won’t probably rush out of their houses to get a new car soon. Or will they do exactly that for a new Taurus?

Besides the exterior new look we’re going to be surprised once we enter the vehicle too. It has safety and technology written all over it. Intelligent Acces, Push-Button Start, MyKey, the latest Sync version (which we have already told you about), Sirius Travel Link, the Blind Spot Information System or BLIS and the Cross Traffic Allert system are all present.

Need I say more? Oh yes I do! The 3.5L Duratec V6 engine will power these babies. It can get you 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque. A twin-turbo, direct-injected EcoBoost 3.5L V6 is also in the works. The basic models will sport a six-speed automatic gearbox while the SEL and Limited models will get the extra SelectShift paddles to the steering wheel.

All of that and much more is available at the Detroit Auto Show for you to explore. And all of that will be available for the same price the 2009 Taurus sells: $25,995 and up.

via Press

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Is that a Mercedes in the picture there? It’s surely a Mercedes! I can tell you that! The company decided to announces its new Concept BlueZero ahead of the Detroit Auto Show. The BlueZero will get you an idea of what the future line of Mercedes B-Class cars will look like.

The car is designed to work with any of the three powertrain options. The E-Cell will take the juice out of a 35kWh lithium-ion battery pack which will give it a 120-mile range, the BlueZero F-Cell version will get twice that mileage with a 90kW hydrogen fuel cell. The third version is the E-Cell Plus and you will have a 67-hp three-cylinder engine snatched from that Smart ForTwo mounted where the spare tire usually sleeps. Combined with the electric power this third version will get you about 400 miles of range. That’s with a single gas tank. Driving the Mercedes on that battery juice alone will get you about 60 miles of range but then you will have to start up that engine.

Production will start later this year for the fuel cell version and in 2010 Mercedes should produce the battery versions. Interested already? Go to Detroit to find out more!

via Press

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The Detroit Auto Show starts in only 10 days, and all eyes will be on the Big Three and what they have to offer in the way of alternative vehicles or sneak peeks at alternative concept vehicles.  Ford will debut the new Mercury Milan and Ford Fusion 2009 hybrids, both set to go on sale around the end of March. By all accounts the mileage ratings on these two are expected to blow the competition off the map. The Milan and Fusion hybrids are both expected to come in at 41 MPG in the city, 36 MPG on the highway pr better, easily surpassing the EPA fuel efficiency ratings of Toyota’s comparable hybrids.

The MSRP for the 2009 Milan and Fusion have not yet been announced, but automotive experts are placing the entry level price point for the 2009 hybrid Milan at 27,500, with the 2009 hybrid Fusion several hundred dollars below that. In recent years, Ford has been consistently ahead of the R & D curve when compared to GM and Chrysler, and all the best guesses have them staying there for the near future.

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Is this the 2010 Volvo S60 or jut a concept? It looks drivable enough right? It’s a concept from Volvo but it looks exactly like a daily down-to-Earth car. The car will appear at the next Detroit Auto Show so that’s when we’ll have more juicy details.

We have LED head and tail lamps, sustainable materials, no B-pillar and there’s a gear shifter that will give you the choice between automatic or manual. The Volvo Collision Warning Auto Brake System will activate all 4 brakes if there’s a person walking in front of the S60. The Auto Cruise Control will help you drive it but I’m sure you’ll want to drive it yourself.

The S60 has a 4-cylinder engine which will get you 179hp and 47 miles to the gallon. Gas emissions? At about 120g/km.

via Yanko Design

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