Auto Shows (Page 71)

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.

The first of two media days for the Detroit Auto Show in 2011 is showing a big emphasis on stunning design reveals in spite of the fact that most announcements today were eclipsed by the manufacturers themselves releasing news and photos ahead of time.

Hyundai announced today at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show that it wants to be known as a “modern premium” brand going forward. In other words, high quality at a lower pricepoint.

The Prius brand is growing as Toyota rolls out the more versatile Prius v midsize that joins the third-generation Prius and a Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle. A fourth Prius, the Prius c Concept, was also introduced at the Detroit Auto Show.

BMW introduced two hot new models at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit: the 1 Series M Coupe and the 650i Convertible. The latter has a much improved look from the previous generation, which always looked unwieldy.

Careers are on the upswing at Ford with the announcement of 7000 new jobs. Hiring begins almost immediately with salary employment recruitment starting Jan. 11 and 12 during the 2011 North American International Auto Show industry preview days.

The Ford Vertek concept introduced at the Detroit Auto Show is a road map to where Ford is heading with its smaller utility vehicles for the North American and world markets with its versatile new C-segment platform.

Ford has unveiled its electrification strategy at the Detroit Auto Show and it includes a plug-in hybrid C-Max Energi and a traditional hybrid C-Max. The all-electric Ford Focus was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Domestic manufacturers have swept with the Chevrolet Volt being named North American Car of the Year and the Ford Explorer being named North American Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Attention motoring public – Hyundai wants you to watch its webcast of the North American International Auto Show press conference that introduces the Hyundai Veloster and the Hyundai HCD-12 Curb Concept.

When Ford announced the specifications of the new 3.5L EcoBoost V6 offered in the 2011 Ford F150, they stated that it would featured the most torque in the segment (420lb-ft) as well as class leading fuel economy and today, they made it official – the EcoBoost V6 gets 16mpg around town and 22 on the highway.

Mercedes-Benz isn’t sharing details but it is releasing 2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTEC 4MATIC pictures in advance of the North American International Auto Show press days in Detroit that begins Monday, Jan. 10. The Mercedes introduction takes place at 11:20 a.m. at Cobo Hall.

This morning at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Ford Motor Company unveiled the Ford Focus Electric – set to hit the US market in late 2011 as their first attempt to compete with the likes of the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt.

Hyundai has released a photo of the HCD-12 concept vehicle that will be introduced at the Detroit Auto Show on Jan. 10. There’s no indication from Hyundai how close to production this vehicle is but its futuristic interior will assuredly demonstrate what Hyundai is introducing in terms of technology going forward.

We have been hearing about Volkswagen's New Midsized Sedan for months now and thanks to a not-so-subtle plug on the company website, we know now that the car known just as the NMS will be formally introduced at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.

San Diego is the place to be this weekend for Jeep enthusiasts as The Jeep brand is bringing the “Jeep Rocks & Road Tour,” an off-road driving experience, to consumers attending the 2011 San Diego International Auto Show, Dec. 30 – Jan. 2 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Calif.

Toyota’s US sales are hurting due to their seemingly endless recall issues but the Prius is still the best selling hybrid in the world, so it should come as no surprise to hear that Toyota will unveil the “Prius Family of Vehicles” next month at the Detroit Auto Show.

A lot of automotive awards are criticized for honoring vehicles not yet available to the public. Green Car Journal gets around that with its Green Car Vision Award that honors a future vehicle coming to market. The five finalists have been announced.

The 2011 Indianapolis Auto Show opened yesterday at the Indiana Convention Center, offering people from around the Hoosier state a look at the best and brightest new cars from around the American automotive industry and this year, attendees will also have a chance to win a new car.