NAIAS
Detroit 2010: Hyundai Donates $50,000 to Children’s Hospital
Hyundai’s Hope on Wheels program donated $50,000 to the Detroit Medical Center Children’s Hopsital of Michigan. The Hyundai Hope on Wheels Tour traveled across the nation and raised more than $1.3 million for pediatric cancer research, and the DMC Children’s Hospital as the final stop. The $50,000 donation will fund research by the hospital’s pediactric…
Detroit 2010: Kia displays GRAND-AM Challenge Series Forte Koup
Kia displayed one of its two race-prepped Forte Koups entered in the 2010 GRAND-AM Continental Tire Challenge Series at the Detroit Auto Show. The #10 Infinity Kia Forte Koup will compete in the Street Tuner (ST) class with drivers Nic Jonsson and Andy Lally. Kia will enter a second car, the #12 Forte Koup, with…
Detroit 2010: BYD e6 Electric Crossover Coming to America in 2010
Chinese manufacturer BYD (Build Your Dreams) presented its e6 electric crossover at the Detroit Auto Show and announced plans to bring it to America later this year. Powered by BYD’s Fe battery, the e6 boasts a range of 205 miles on a single charge in cruising mode, less than the 249 miles from previous reports…
Detroit 2010: Kia Delves In the Darkness of its Soul with Shadow Dragon
Kia introduced a new special edition Soul dubbed the “Shadow Dragon” at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. From afar, the Shadow Dragon gives off a sinister impression with its black paint, but Kia kept its usual sense of fun at the car’s unveiling at the Detroit Auto Show. Kia’s press unveiling was…
Detroit 2010: Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, First Live Photos
The coupe variant of the high-powered Cadillac CTS-V has just launched at the Detroit Auto Show, with an incredible 556-hp at 6100 rpm and 551 ft-lbs of torque at 3800 rpm. That’s enough to propel the 2+2 seater to 60 mph in an incredible 3.9 seconds. But the CTS-V Coupe is so much more than…
Detroit 2010: 2011 Lincoln MKX Gets Major Updates, Including First Application of MyLincoln Touch
Technically a mid-cycle refresh, Lincoln has decided to do more than just minor updates to its entry-level MKX crossover for 2011. An important model for Lincoln, the company says that more than half of MKX buyers are new to the brand and that seven in 10 of those buyers purchase another Lincoln. Joining the rest…
Detroit 2010: Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept is a 350-hp Plug-In Hybrid
Cadillac wasn’t secretive that it was showing a concept version of it’s upcoming XTS flagship, but GM’s luxury brand certainly did hide the fact that it was a plug-in hybrid. Until now. Set to be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show later today, the XTS Platinum Concept certainly looks like a true flagship for the…
Detroit 2010: BMW 740i Brings 7-Series to a Slightly More Affordable Level
BMW has officially unveiled a new entry-level version of its flagship 7 series sedan at the Detroit Auto Show. Priced from $71,025, it undercuts the current 750i by roughly $11,000 bringing the 7-Series into a slightly more affordable bracket. Using BMW’s twin-turbo inline-six cylinder engine, the 740i (and extended-wheelbase 740Li) make 315-hp at 5800 rpm…
Detroit 2010: 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Mild Update Includes Big Changes
Hyundai officially introduced the 2010 Santa Fe with two new engine options, a more efficient 3.5L v6 and a 2.4L inline-four. Mated with a six-speed automatic “Shiftronic” transmission, the four-cylinder claims better fuel economy than the 2009 2.7L V6 Santa Fe. With 175 hp and 169 ft-lbs of torque, less power than the old 2.7L,…
Detroit 2010: Jeep Unveils Liberty Renegade, Plus Two Special Edition Wranglers
With the Jeep Grand Cherokee set to launch later this year as a 2011 model, Chrysler’s Jeep brand is adding a new Liberty trim level as well as two new option packages for the Wrangler. Officially debuting at the Detroit Auto Show are the Jeep Liberty Renegade, Jeep Wrangler Mountain Edition and Jeep Wrangler Islander…
Detroit 2010: BMW Z4 sDrive35is Debuts With 335-hp
BMW has just released an all-new high-performance version of the Z4 at the Detroit Auto Show. Called the Z4 sDrive35is, this roadster’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six gets a new air intake system and higher boost pressure to produce a bump in power. With an extra 35-hp and 32 ft-lbs of torque, the new model makes 335-hp…
Detroit 2010: Chevy Aveo RS Concept Previews 2011 Aveo
The Aveo RS Concept, which Chevy has just debuted at the Detroit Auto Show, is intended to give a glimpse at what the future Aveo small car will be like. If the production model is close, we’ll be impressed. As it stands the Aveo RS is a mean-looking sub-compact with a Mitsubishi EVO-styled front fascia…
Detroit 2010: MINI Beachcomber Concept, First Live Photos
MINI’s new Countryman crossover hasn’t even officially debuted and yet the creative minds at the fun British car company have already turned the platform into a new concept: the MINI Beachcomber Concept. Based on the Countryman’s platform, the MINI Beachcomber Concept takes the crossover’s capable ALL4 all-wheel drive system and sets it free on the…
Detroit 2010: Buick Regal GS Show Car Presented at NAIAS
Buick introduced a high-tech, higher-spec version of the new Regal at the Detroit Auto Show. Dubbed the Buick Regal GS, paying homage to Buick’s Gran Sport heritage while showing the potential of the company’s new sedan. “We designed the Regal GS to explore the appeal of a high-performance variant of the Regal,” said Craig Bierley,…
Detroit 2010: First Live Photos of Updated, Rear-Drive Audi E-Tron
Audi has just unveiled a significantly updated version of the E-Tron electric sports car concept that originally debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show last year and the new look is much improved. Looking far more like a street car, this E-Tron is smaller, rear-wheel drive and a little less powerful. The rear-drive E-Tron uses two…
Detroit 2010: Audi Q5 and A8 Hybrid Coming This Year
During a press conference that focused on Audi’s E-Tron electric concept, the German automaker didn’t give much time to hybrid technology – except to add on that hybrid versions of the Q5 and A8 are coming…. soon. Audi continues to put the main focus on its electric car developments, while quietly following the same hybrid…
Detroit 2010: Mercedes-Benz Design Concept Defines the Term Abstract
Taking the idea of a concept car to a whole new level, Mercedes-Benz has just unveiled the new Mercedes-Benz Design Concept at the Detroit Auto Show. Called “abstract” by Mercedes CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche, we couldn’t agree more. In fact, it’s almost like they took a DTM C-Class with it’s imposing front grille that hugs…
Detroit 2010: First Live Photos of Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet
Mercedes chose a frigid day in Detroit to launch the convertible version of its all-new E-Class model. The E-Class Cabriolet extends the E-Class range to four models, which also include the sedan, coupe and wagon/estate. Styled more aggressively like the C-Class coupe, the convertible will initially be offered with two engine choices: an underwhelming 268-hp…
Detroit 2010: Audi Shows-Off Updated E-Tron With Another Ridiculous Torque Number
Audi is continuing to demand the auto industry focus on it’s E-Tron electric sports car, with a revised version of the concept on display at the Detroit Auto Show. First unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show and then paraded in front of the media in brilliant tangerine at the LA Auto Show, this new E-Tron…
Detroit 2010: GMC Granite Concept Poised to Take on Scion xB With Added Boxiness
GMC introduced its new Granite concept model at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, presenting a “urban utility vehicle” with a boxiness rivaling the Scion xB. “Granite was conceived as a new type of vehicle from GMC – one that could stretch people’s ideas of what a GMC can be,” said Lisa Hutchinson, product marketing director…
Detroit 2010: Ferrari 599XX A Bright Red Diamond in the Rough at Chrysler Stand
In stark contrast to the Dodge Caliber, just a few feet away at the Chrysler booth at the Detroit Auto Show is the ultra-rare and even more ultra-expensive Ferrari 599XX. Ferrari claims to have no official presence at the show, with the Ferrari a part of a three-pronged Fiat, Maserati, Ferrari display within the Chrysler…
Detroit 2010: Toyota FT-CH Concept Previews Compact Prius Model
Toyota has announced that it will expand the Prius name to become an entire family of dedicated hybrid vehicles. Launched today at the Detroit Auto Show, the FT-CH Hybrid Concept is a look at what the next model in the Prius lineup is likely to be. Inspired by 8-bit technology made famous by early Nintendo…
Detroit 2010: Volkswagen New Compact Coupe Concept a Sporty Hybrid
Volkswagen is showcasing what it calls the New Compact Coupe (NCC) at the Detroit Auto Show. A stylish looking VW, this Jetta-sized model is actually a hybrid. A 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder makes 148-hp and 177 ft-lbs of torque and is mated to a 27-hp electric motor. When combined with VW’s 7-speed DSG transmission, the NCC…
Detroit 2010: 2011 Ford Focus World Premiere
Ford has just unveiled the first example of its new One Ford philosophy, the 2011 Focus. Offered as both a five-door hatchback and four-door sedan, both models look quite unique but offer the same aggressive front end and high-quality paint. At launch one engine will be offered, a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with direct-injection technology that makes…
