Monday, January 11, 2010 12:39PM - By Chris Weiss
Starting 2010 off on the right foot, Ford has taken home North American Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year honors for the Fusion Hybrid and Transit Connect respectively, a rare feat of one company winning both awards. The awards are voted on and bestowed by a group of U.S. and Canadian journalists, writers and editors and announced at the North American International Auto Show.
The Transit Conncect is a small commercial van originally offered in Europe but recently introduced to the U.S. market. The 2010 Fusion Hybrid was described as “simply the best one (hybrid) ever built” by one of the judges. [via USA Today]
Friday, January 8, 2010 10:00AM - By Chris Weiss
Wrangler Islander Edition
I’m not sure that a few more Jeeps that look ever-so-slightly different from other available Jeeps is the best means toward Chrysler’s clawing out of its giant hole, but they’re doing it anyway. The three new Jeeps are the Liberty Renegade, Wrangler Islander edition and the Wrangler Mountain edition.
The Liberty Renegade will be positioned between the Sport and Limited models and will feature “classic Jeep design” with premium, rugged appearance. The Jeep will be offered in an exclusive paint scheme: Salsa Red Pearl Coat.
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Thursday, January 7, 2010 3:01PM - By Chris Weiss
Back in mid-December, Mini announced its upcoming Beachcomber concept that will appear at the North American International Auto Show. While the thought of an off-road Mini crossover is rather terrifying, the Beachcomber’s styling works as a concept and we are looking forward to seeing it in Detroit.
Piquing our interest a little more, Mini has released a new teaser video of its concept. For some reason, they don’t actually show the Beachcomber until after more than half the video has run, but whatever, it’s a short minute out of our day.
Check out the video below, and see what you think of the open-door look infiltrating the Mini. [via Motor Authority]
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Tuesday, January 5, 2010 8:00AM - By Chris Weiss
The 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe promises to be one of the brighter spots of the North American International Auto Show. In anticipation of the show, Cadillac has rolled out all the details and pictures of its new, sexy coupe.
Outside of the loss of two doors and a few lbs., the commanding coupe is nearly identical to the sedan–it features the same 556-hp supercharged LSA V8 paired with choice of manual or automatic six-speed, and the same wheelbase as its older brother. The coupe does get a widened rear track to boost handling, however. Further assisting the car’s handling capabilities is GM’s Magnetic Ride Control with Sport and Tour modes. The CTS-V Coupe offers a claimed 0 to 60 mph time of 3.9 seconds.
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Wednesday, December 30, 2009 12:10PM - By Chris Weiss
The fanfare is a little less than what surrounded the e-tron, but Audi is reportedly preparing to show a new concept at the North American International Auto Show. Audi hasn’t offered much information about the new car outside of stating that the “showcar underscores Vorsprung durch Technik (advancement through technology).” It’s speculated that the new concept could be the next-generation A3 or A6, but so far we don’t know for sure. Stay tuned for this one when the show gets underway on the 11th. [via WCF]
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 8:00AM - By Chris Weiss
Fiat 500C
With the good ol’ gasoline-driven Fiat 500 prepping for a 2010 Chrysler showroom invasion, Chrysler is planning on showing off an electric 500 at January’s Detroit Auto Show. So far there’s no word of plans to offer the electric version on the market.
Joining the EV in Chrysler’s display, other U.S.-bound 500 models including the 500C convertible and top-end 500 Abarth will be flaunting their stuff. Those models are expected to hit the market in 2011.
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009 8:30AM - By Chris Weiss
Cadillac is being coy about exactly what type of concept that it will be launching at the North American International Auto Show next month, but it has teased a little bit of grille and headlight, and we like what we see so far.
In a statement, GM offered: ““This latest concept advances the brand’s Art & Science philosophy that has included a series of acclaimed concept cars in recent years, such as the Cadillac Sixteen, CTS Coupe Concept and Converj.”
Consider our interest piqued.
In other Caddy news, the 2011 CTS-V Coupe will also make its world debut at the show. [via egmCarTech]
Friday, December 18, 2009 9:00AM - By Chris Weiss
If you couldn’t tell from the out of place capital E, the ActiveE is a new electric concept from BMW that has been announced for world debut in Detroit. The concept is based on the 1 Series Coupe and uses a purpose-built electric motor worth 170 hp and 184 lb-ft. The brain behind the brawn is a lithium-ion battery pack developed jointly with SB LiMotiv. The batteries deliver a 100-mile range and take about 4 1/2 hours of charging time.
Performance has been provided as 9 seconds for the dash to 60 and a 90 mph top speed.
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Thursday, December 17, 2009 5:13PM - By Chris Weiss
2007 C30 ReCharge Concept
Volvo let the world know about its full-electric C30 concept months ago, but so far hasn’t shown it off in any obvious public venues. That’ll all change this January when the Swedish automaker will show the car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The all-electric C-30 will use a 24 kWh li-ion battery pack that will juice the car up for 93 miles of driving on a charge. Charging of the pack takes eight hours. The car is capable of an 11-second 0 to 60 and around an 81 mph top speed.Volvo has yet to give all the details on the electric’s powertrain, so we’ll have to wait until Detroit draws nearer. [via LeftLaneNews]
