Auto Shows (Page 70)

American Honda Motor Co., Inc, has introduced it’s 2012 Honda Civic concept model at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show press conference this week, and confirmed the inclusion of the natural gas powertrain amongst the range of options.

Even before the start of Press Days at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Toyota stock broke out of its sideways price channel.

We have known for some time now that the Chevrolet Aveo would receive a name change for the 2012 model year as the new Chevy Sonic as GM attempts to shed the less-than-great reputation of their b-segment lineup and to help with that, the 2011 Detroit Auto Show also brought us the Sonic Z-Spec Concept.

Heide Performance Products (HPP) of Madison Heights, Michigan has become a regular with their custom-built modern muscle cars at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas but with the help from the folks at Mopar, HPP used the 2011 Detroit Auto Show to expose the sinister side of the new 2011 Chrysler 200 with the Mopar Super S Concept.

Electric Avenue at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, also known as 2011 NAIAS, was moved from the main floor to the lower level at Cobo Center, but lit the way even more toward free rides and drives of electric vehicles.

When the 2012 Buick Verano was unveiled at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, the industry was introduced to the second use of the platform first seen for the new Chevrolet Cruze but the Verano is far more than just a rebadged Cruze.

The key focus of the 2011 Detroit Auto Show is showing off new production and concept vehicles from around the American auto industry but the basement of Cobo Hall has spent the past few years as a low-speed driving course for the greenest (zero emission) vehicles in attendance and this year, the 2011 Chevy Volt was among the vehicles available for a test drive.

The 2011 Detroit Auto Show and the NAIAS organization missed the presence of Porsche last year. For its return appearance, the company showed its creativity with the 918 RSR, and the panel of judges all agreed it deserved Best Concept.

Kia has put the 2011 Detroit Auto Show firmly in its rearview mirror with the release of sketches of the 2012 Kia Rio that will be shown at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show in March. So, apparently the Kia KV7 concept literally is yesterday’s news.

Toyota already enjoys plenty of notoriety with its Prius Hybrid. Now the 2011 Detroit Auto Show shows Toyota doing more than expanding the vehicle’s length with the V and showing a sportier C concept. It’s the expansion of the platform’s marketability.

Some years at auto shows like the Detroit Auto Show are more visionary than others. No matter what the mood, though, you can always depend on the two major creative displays by students: Michelin Design Challenge and the College for Creative Studies (CCS).

It’s not likely that 100 years from now Chevrolet will look back on the introduction of the Chevrolet Sonic at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show as a highlight in its history but the new compact is the first new model to kick off Chevrolet’s centennial celebration.