Tag: detroit

Autoblog Podcast #210: Camaro outsells Mustang, ‘Cuda comeback, BYD at Detroit, Toyota’s blunder

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., Buick, Toyota, Volkswagen

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Episode #210 of the Autoblog Podcast is hosted by Dan this time around, though Chris Shunk calls in, and Zach Bowman takes up his role as number three. It starts with the Autoblog Garage and then heads for the Camaro outselling the Mustang for the first time since 1985. Staying with neo-ponycars, we talk about the ‘Cuda making a comeback (possibly), and our podcasters discuss why the Hyundai Sonata may just be their car of the year. BYD’s 2011 Detroit appearance and Toyota’s recall woes in 2010 being cited as the second biggest blunder of the year finish us up before we hit a couple of your questions before we end it at 58 minutes. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #210: Camaro outsells Mustang, ‘Cuda comeback, Sonata is our COTY, BYD at Detroit, Toyota’s blunder

In the Autoblog Garage:

2011 Toyota 4 Runner
2011 Volkswagen Jetta
2011 Buick Regal Turbo

News Topics:

  • Toyota recalls named blunder of 2010
  • BYD coming to Detroit show with two cars
  • Hyundai Sonata is our informal COTY
  • Camaro outsells Mustang
  • Cuda comeback?


    Hosts:     Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman,
    Runtime: 58:26

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Autoblog Podcast #210: Camaro outsells Mustang, ‘Cuda comeback, BYD at Detroit, Toyota’s blunder originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford showcasing live teardown of F-150 EcoBoost engine during Detroit Auto Show

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Work, Ford

Ford Ecoboost V6

After surviving some of the most heinous abuse that the engineers at Ford cold dream up, the same 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 engine that pulled logs, raced in Baja and towed 11,300 pounds for 24 hours straight will be dissected in front of the crowds at this year’s Detroit Auto Show. The stunt gets started on January 15 at 11 a.m., and Ford is hoping to be able to show off exactly how well its new V6 workhorse held up against the equivalent of 160,000 miles of torture.

Ford has come out with a bare-knuckle advertising campaign to prove that it’s smaller-displacement, turbocharged engine can not only dish out equivalent power while using less fuel, but that it can stand up to the kind of work that pickup trucks are meant to endure. After wrapping up competition in the Baja 1000, Ford pulled its Ecoboost engine to perform dyno tests, and found that even after all of the beatings, the lump still churned out the same 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque that it left the factory with. Not too shabby. Stop by the Ford display at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show to check out the dissection, and hit the jump to see the press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford showcasing live teardown of F-150 EcoBoost engine during Detroit Auto Show

Ford showcasing live teardown of F-150 EcoBoost engine during Detroit Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche to live stream new concept reveal in Detroit

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Porsche

Porsche 918 Model – Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche hasn’t bothered to show up to the Detroit Auto Show for the past couple years, but the German sports car maker intends to come back with a vengeance in 2011. We’ve been promised a world premiere, and while we’ll be there to cover the unveiling from Cobo Hall, you don’t need a press pass or fly into Detroit to see the live unveiling. Porsche plans to broadcast the event via webcast at www.porsche.com/detroit, and what you’ll see during the show is anyone’s guess.

Earlier in the month Porsche told Bloomberg that it was planning “something spectacular” for Detroit, which makes us think (hope) we’ll see a production super-Porsche based off the 918 Spyder concept. Another option could be the world debut of the long-rumored sub-Boxster model rumored to based off the VW BlueSport concept. We won’t beat ourselves up too much thinking about it, though, since Detroit is only a couple weeks away. Hit the jump to read the Porsche presser.

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche to live stream new concept reveal in Detroit

Porsche to live stream new concept reveal in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia bringing KV7 gullwing concept to Detroit

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Crossover, Kia

Gullwing doors… they’re not just for SLS AMG owners or Back to the Future fans anymore. Kia is bringing its KV7 crossover concept to the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, and the ingress/egress on it looks to be pretty simple. This is very clearly just the rendering of the concept vehicle, and we’d bet a pair of DeLorean-themed Nikes that nothing with these doors or interior finish enters production. However, the KV7 could offer some subtle styling clues as to the future of Kia’s crossover design language. We’ll be in a better position to break it all down when we see it up close in Detroit.

Just past the break, you’ll find a brief official statement from Kia on the KV7 concept. Enjoy!

[Source: Kia]

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Kia bringing KV7 gullwing concept to Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Preview: 2011 Chrysler 300

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Chrysler

2011 Chrysler 300

2011 Chrysler 300 – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s been endlessly teased and occasionally spied, and now it’s official: the 2011 Chrysler 300 has arrived ahead of its world debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month.

As we’ve seen before, the exterior of the 300 is even more audacious than its predecessor, thanks to the liberal application of chrome below the headlamps, on the grille, coating the side mirrors and partially framing the tail lights and trunk. New LEDs are fitted up front, and while Chrysler hasn’t released interior shots just yet, judging by what we’ve already spied and recently sampled in the automaker’s latest offerings, the insides should be significantly improved.

Power will come from the same engines we’ve been familiarizing ourselves with over the last year, specifically Chrysler’s new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and 5.7-liter V8, with power sent to either the rear wheels or all four depending on spec. Sales should begin in the first quarter of 2011, and expect pricing to hit closer to the 300’s debut in Detroit.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 300

[Source: Chrysler]

Detroit Preview: 2011 Chrysler 300 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Preview: Mini Paceman concept relieves Countryman of extra doors

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Crossover, Mini

Mini Paceman

Mini Paceman concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

How many Minis is too many? Mini’s about to find out as its product portfolio expands faster than a jilted lover’s waistline. The hatchback that (re)started it all and the cabrio that followed shortly thereafter have since been joined by the Clubman wagon and the Countryman crossover, with WRC and Dakar rally versions, speedsters and coupes and more in the production pipeline. But that doesn’t even take into account some of the concept derivatives that haven’t (yet) made it to production, and this is the latest.

Called the Paceman, it’s essentially a Countryman minus a couple of doors. It’s set to be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January as a concept car, but could very well make it to production as well. Taking a page out of its parent company’s BMW’s playbook, Mini calls the Paceman a “Sports Activity Coupe” (sort of like the BMW X6) and insists it’s the first of its kind in the small premium segment. A “first” is pretty easy to achieve when you define the category yourself, but to our eyes the Paceman, with its sloping white roof, looks set to take on the likes of the three-door Range Rover Evoque, only smaller.

Under the hood, Mini’s fitted the JCW turbo four with 211 horsepower, mated to the same ALL4 all-wheel drive system used in the Countryman. More details are available in the press release after the jump, along with the initial images in the gallery below. We’ll be on hand at Cobo Hall to bring you live impressions from NAIAS, so stay tuned.

Gallery: Mini Paceman Concept

[Source: Mini]

Continue reading Detroit Preview: Mini Paceman concept relieves Countryman of extra doors

Detroit Preview: Mini Paceman concept relieves Countryman of extra doors originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Preview: GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept is ready for off-road action

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Truck, GM, GMC, Off-Road

GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept

GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you think the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is too hot yet the Dodge Ram Power Wagon is too cold, General Motors’ latest concept might strike you as “just right.” This, the GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept, looks to bridge the gap between the two hardcore pickups from GM’s crosstown rivals, while still offering top-notch levels of power, refinement and technology.

The four-door 2011 Sierra HD underpins the All Terrain concept, and power comes from The General’s 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8. A six-speed automatic sends the 397 horsepower and 765 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels. Versus a normal Sierra HD, ground clearance has been increased by about three inches, width has been bumped up to 73 inches (four more than normal) and the whole package rides on 20-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in 35-inch BFGoodrich KM2 mud terrain tires. Off-road performance is enhanced with the addition of Fox off-road shocks (just like the Ford Raptor).

Inside, GM has fitted the All Terrain concept with a Denali-spec interior with additional satin metal finishes and a leather-wrapped dash. What’s more, a next-generation stereo system with an 80-gigabyte hard drive has been fitted inside this concept, and we’ll soon be seeing this new system across the full GM product range.

Currently, there are no plans to create a production version of the All Terrain HD concept, though word is that if a road-ready version of this ultra-tough Sierra is produced, it probably wouldn’t come off of a GM line – it would likely be crafted with the assistance of a second-tier firm (think: Roush). We’ll be seeing the All Terrain concept in person at the Detroit Auto Show in just a few weeks, but for now, click through our high-res image gallery below, or follow the jump for the official release.

Gallery: GMC Sierra HD Concept

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Detroit Preview: GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept is ready for off-road action

Detroit Preview: GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept is ready for off-road action originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Chevy to unveil Volt-based Amp crossover in Detroit

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM, Rumormill, Electric

Chevrolet Volt MPV5 at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show

Chevrolet Volt MPV5 at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Car and Driver, General Motors may have something special planned for the Detroit Auto Show in January. Word on the web is that The General is planning to pull back the sheets on the next vehicle to use the extended-range hybrid drivetrain from the Chevrolet Volt. The next branch in GM’s electrified family tree will be a five-seat crossover, potentially called the Chevrolet Amp. Using the same basic architecture, engine, motor and batteries from the Volt, a production Amp would help GM spread its substantial Voltec development costs over more than one model.

GM has been making noise about a crossover with Volt guts for some time, and thanks to the sleuth work of the detectives at Car and Driver, we know we may be closer than ever to seeing the vehicle become a reality. The company has gone through the pains to register a host of web domain names associated with the Amp moniker, some of which were snapped up as recently as October. Combined with the unveiling of the Volt MPV5 Concept at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show, there’s a good chance that a battery-operated Crossover will grace Detroit with its presence next month. Thanks for the tip, Phrime!

Gallery: Beijing 2010: Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept

Photos copyright (C)2010 Sam Abuelsamid / AOL

[Source: Car and Driver]

Report: Chevy to unveil Volt-based Amp crossover in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda teases 2012 Civic before Detroit debut

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Honda, Design/Style

Civic Concept Sketch

Civic Concept Sketch – Click above for high-res image

Here’s our first official glimpse at the face of the next-generation Honda Civic. This sketch is intended to give the world an idea of what we can expect from the Civic show car Honda will display at the Detroit Auto Show in January. From the looks of things, the compact coupe will take the look of the current Civic and throw in some additional attitude. Along with some aggressively swept headlamps reminiscent of the European Civic Type R, the sketch also shows off a fascia with more menacing proportions. A large air inlet down low and slit fog lights help pull the car from the throws of anonymity.

Of course, it’s always difficult to tell what will survive the transition between design sketch and reality. We don’t expect to see those huge wheels nor the wildly flared hips make their way to production. Speaking of production, Honda has a long history of rolling out concepts that are nearly identical to the real deal, so keep your eyes on Detroit for what could be the first look at the next Civic.

[Source: Honda]

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Honda teases 2012 Civic before Detroit debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford to introduce Escape/Kuga concept in Detroit

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Crossover, Ford

Ford Kuga

Ford Kuga – Click above for high-res image gallery

A source within Ford Motor Company has reportedly revealed that a near-production crossover concept will be heading to the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. When this concept vehicle takes its production shape, it will serve as the replacement for the venerable Ford Escape and Kuga crossovers.

Based off of the 2012 Focus’ platform, the new Escape/Kuga is expected to go into production in the second half of 2012 and be sold as a 2013 model in the United States. At this time, it is unclear as to whether or not Ford will keep both the Escape and Kuga names in the vehicles’ respective markets. The automaker’s “One Ford” global product strategy would call for a single name for vehicles sold in different regions, and the Blue Oval team will surely face a similar problem with the redesigned Fusion and Mondeo sedans in the near term.

We’ll have the full scoop direct from the Cobo Hall in January, so stay tuned.

Gallery: Ford Kuga

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: Ford to introduce Escape/Kuga concept in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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